For Ever and Ever… Section One

Introduction

 

When crisis are our daily bread

 

August 2011 was a typical month of lately. A platter of crisis served in various flavours.
The world’s financial and political leaders were expected to paddle harder, yet they continued to fall short in delivery. Nagging doubts of insecurity continue to dominate the advanced world. Many see international stability about to capsize.
Is this a mere cyclical phenomenon or, are we on the slippery side of something terminal?

Secular ups and downs and opinions vary. The bible is more consistent, that barometer is now pointing toward the perfect storm.
The bible is the only true Met Office. It’s forecasting is more than just accurate, it is fact. This article is the forecast.

WINDS FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION

Mr Camping once again brought the ‘rapture’ back into the headlines. Other articles, in increasing frequency, raise the subject of the Great Tribulation and when it may begin.

Neither of these events are what the bible focuses on. Instead it points, by using several expressions, to a wider overall period of time in which Christ takes a direct ‘hands on’ approach to how this world responds to Him. Biblically this overall time is referred to as the Day of the Lord, a period lasting seven years. Starting with nothing more than an ambiguous ‘dream’ it escalates in rapid-fire succession to end with Christ’s literal return at Armageddon.

Phrases used by Christ for this ‘hands on’ period are: ‘the hour the Son of man comes’, ‘the day of the Son of man [being] revealed’, ‘the days of the Son of man’. The most consistent in both Old and New Testament is ‘the Day of the Lord’. In all cases it is simply referring to the time Christ takes control of the steering wheel for this world’s destiny.
Sixteen New Testament verses speak of one factor involving this event. How sudden and unexpectedly it started.

The Day of the Lord has a definitive start and there will be no signal in advance that it is about to take place. Sixteen verses saying there will be no warning at all is a very emphatic way of making that point. Understanding the ‘no warning’ factor has far reaching consequences in comprehending prophetic scriptures. Many popular theories factor in certain events as ‘preludes’ to knowing when the ‘end time’ is near. That is not possible. What we will see is no change. This is just as important to take into consideration. The status quo will be as it is: a mixed up, muddled up world trying to find solutions but never quite getting there. No all-encompassing global changes will have taken place prior to the Day of the Lord beginning.

 

Chapter 1

DAY OF THE LORD OVERVIEW

A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED START BUT WHEN?

Possibilities: long term or short term?

The bible mentions ‘knowledge shall increase and people shall run to and fro’. Technology is expanding at an exponential rate. Andrew Marr (BBC) stated ‘there are those alive today that will live to be a thousand years old’. He was referring to stem cell research as being a frontier from which our entire concept of living as human beings will change. The Wall Street Journal has been running articles on the same subject; a novelty idea in the past that scientists are now taking very seriously.
Genetic engineering is on the cusp of providing entirely new genres of food, both animal and vegetable. We are also on the doorstep of outer space. If you phone Virgin Galactic; they are taking bookings now (have your card ready first).
All this could be commonplace within fifty years and that would seriously change everything.
Notwithstanding Daniel’s conversation with the Angel, nowhere in the bible can we see any concept of a world beyond what we have now, let alone what it might be in a hundred or two hundred years. The answer must be short term. If this is so, then we are about to come face to face with the ‘end time’.

No specific detail of the Day of the Lord is easy to digest. To make sense of it all, to see light at the end of the tunnel we need a purpose, an objective. If we can see where God is going with all this, then the scale of human trauma will take its rightful place in the phrase ‘the end justifies the means’.

When all is said and done that is what God gave us His word for.
The answers should be there.

Before the details of the Day of the Lord (and the sixteen verses) are examined several fundamentals need to be covered.

• Is the Return of Christ, the ‘End time’ really the end of the world?

• What is the Kingdom of God?

• What is the wrath of God?

• What is the purpose of the Day of the Lord?

IS THE RETURN OF CHRIST AND THE ‘END TIME’ THE END OF THE WORLD?

A common view held is when Christ returns there will be a rapture of the ‘good’ people to heaven. The rest of the world is burnt up and physically ends.
There are many other opinions, but the most prevalent is Christ’s return accompanied by His wrath and judgement add up to the end of this world.

Alternatively at the other end of the spectrum are many scriptures that point to Christ residing here on earth and the nations overcoming all their problems enjoying an unparalleled time of peace.

A more objective question might help: what is the connection between the Return of Christ and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God, once started, never ends.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. Isa 9:7

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Dan 2:44

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Psalm 45:6

The LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. Micah 4:7

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:33

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Heb 1:8

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Rev 11:15

These are just seven of the verses that say the kingdom shall be forever. Already though we have seen expressions that are somewhat ‘worldly’. ‘On David’s throne’, ‘the house of Jacob’, ‘the kingdoms of this world’ does not sound as if they are part of heaven.
Several verses show those resurrected when Christ returns are described as kings and priests.

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Rev 1:6

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 2 Peter 2:9

These next two verses show those same ‘kings and priests’ reign with Christ on earth. The second one also indicates that the nations are still here on earth a thousand years later.

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Rev 5:10

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Rev 20:6

In view of these scriptures the world does not physically end when Christ returns.
The concept of ‘forever’ is continued next in explaining what the Kingdom is.

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

The verses above all state that Christ will establish His kingdom ‘forever’. The kingdom once started never has an end. ‘Never ending’ in human terms is a concept not entirely spelt out in the bible.

The kingdom lasts forever for which there is no end, what about the start?

The Daniel 2:44 and Revelation 11 verses explain when this takes place. ‘When all the kingdoms are consumed’ which takes place at the ‘seventh trumpet’. This is the culmination of the Day of the Lord; the nations that still resist Christ are finally removed at Armageddon.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Rev 11:15

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Rev 16:16

The ‘reward to the servants and prophets’ will be allotted at that time; the positions as kings and priests. To the twelve disciples in particular, each had been promised a kingship over one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:29

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matt 19:28

These statements are consistent with being on earth.

40 DAYS OF EXTRA TRAINING

When Christ left the earth, it was after giving 40 days of specific instruction concerning the Kingdom of God (and Israel) to the disciples.

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

The question on their mind was also ‘when would the kingdom be established?’
Judging from the way they phrased the question “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel”, clearly the kingdom and Israel are synonymous.
There are a multitude of scriptures concerning Israel yet to be fulfilled. David will be back. The disciples themselves kings over nations of Israel under David. After 40 days of instruction that we are not privy to, the disciples were a lot more comfortable on how these developments would pan out. They were excited and understandably, a little impulsive.

WHEN? CHRIST DID NOT SAY

It was just a matter of when. Christ tantalizingly did not give a direct answer.
The future kingdom plainly involves the twelve tribes of Israel, much more on that later.
Other verses show Christ ruling all nations of the world. The world is still there. The transition to this new status will not be easy or even welcome.

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev 19:14

In this verse several points come together. The nations must submit to Christ and He will then rule them. We are not talking about ‘spiritual’ nations or resurrected Christians in heaven, but non believing peoples on earth that oppose God and Christ when He returns. This closely follows what Daniel 2:44 outlined.

Christ is the King, arriving with Him are others described as those in ‘fine linen, white and clean’. They are the resurrected Saints that return with Christ, the ‘wedding’ having already taken place (verse 7, 8).
The eventual result is a peaceful world where nations that had been habitual enemies for millennia are in harmony with each other.

And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. Isa 19:22

We could use this verse (and many others) to sum up the events of Christ returning. A dysfunctional world forcefully resists its own Creator and yet God’s love for them triumphs and everyone benefits.

WHAT ABOUT FOREVER?

This however is far from the end of the story. Those that expound a millennium, a logical and solid conclusion given the prolific number of verses that fit, still fall far short in providing a ‘rest of the story’. What about forever? Where does that fit?
‘A thousand years is as one day’ says Peter. Even the millennium is a stopgap arrangement in the plan of God.
For now the scriptures viewed so far indicate Christ ruling all the nations here on earth after He returns. Also noted is certain ‘servants, prophets and saints’ have already been changed into eternal spirit beings. The rest of the world was not included in the first resurrection, they can still pinch themselves if they wish to check that out.

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven. Heb 12:23

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev 20:

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Cor 15:20

These verses recount that there is an order to being resurrected. Christ is technically the very first resurrected being. Next, those that are ‘His’ when he comes also referred to as the ‘firstfruits’ and then others, very many, at the end of the thousand years.
To be heavily emphasised is that part that says: ‘in Adam all humans shall die…’, that is be under a death penalty caused by sin. That is the condition every single human has been caught up in. However, in Christ that same all of humanity shall be made alive again. ‘In their order’, in the overall order of events, in this case during the period related to the thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Rev 20:5

At that time all of humanity that ever existed will be resurrected to become spirit beings. Only the complete incorrigibles will not make it into eternity.
We have seen that there is a sequence or stages of proceedings. That indicates a plan, a purpose. Mankind goes from being human to something else. What does Paul say about this?
Quite a lot. A lot more than meets the eye at first glance. We also have a conclusion to the question about the kingdom.

HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED?

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Cor 15:35

• Man was not designed to be ‘flesh’. That is only his preparatory stage. Just as seeds come in one form and later undergo a dramatic change to something entirely different, so will humans. Man will become more of a ‘celestial’ being in contrast to terrestrial. ‘And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly’.

• We will be ‘raised in power’. An understatement typical of the bible.

Ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt 17:20

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:12

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken. John 10:34

The ‘greater works’, moving mountain ranges by thought process alone and being ‘gods’ was in Paul’s mind when giving an account for the original blueprint for the universe.

For the [creation] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:20

• Lastly Paul states the obvious. The future for mankind, made in the image of God (as is the case with a ‘seed’), was always in conjunction with the creation of the universe. Mere mortals are not designed for that. We will need to be eternal beings, exactly as planned. The universe is impatiently waiting, ‘groaning’ in anticipation.

Here is an overlooked principle of the bible found in John 5:17:
My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

If Christ and the Father ‘work’ and that is their normal occupation, how they spend their ‘time’, and we are to join them – it will be in that work. Moving mountains, moving whole planets. Landscaping galaxies, ‘to dress it and keep it’. Gen 2:11

This is the Kingdom, it completely transcends time, and it is forever. It is for us.

WHAT IS THE WRATH OF GOD?

Essentially, Christ is returning to establish the early stages of the kingdom of God. One would think the world would rejoice at the opportunity:
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9
Why would the world reject Christ? The best answer to that is what is described as the Stockholm Syndrome. (From: Ask Yahoo)

“This describes the behaviour of kidnap victims who, over time, become sympathetic to their captors. The name derives from a 1973 hostage incident in Stockholm, Sweden. At the end of six days of captivity in a bank, several kidnap victims actually resisted rescue attempts, and afterwards refused to testify against their captors.
The most famous incident in the U.S. involved the kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst. Captured by a radical political group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974, Ms. Hearst eventually became an accomplice of the group, taking on an assumed name and assisting them in several bank robberies. After her re-capture, she denounced the group and her involvement.
What causes Stockholm Syndrome? Captives begin to identify with their captors initially as a defensive mechanism, out of fear of violence. Small acts of kindness by the captor are magnified, since finding perspective in a hostage situation is by definition impossible. Rescue attempts are also seen as a threat, since it’s likely the captive would be injured during such attempts”.

The world rejects Christ simply because it has been kidnapped by Satan. Since exiting the garden we become a marionette subject to the strings of the manipulator. We no longer recognise where we came from. Our own parents are our enemy.
The world does not want to be rescued; it will forcefully fight back against any rescue attempt.

The Day of the Lord is the transition period when God takes this world out of the clutches of Satan and restores it to its correct equilibrium. Note: this should not have been a surprise.
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Act 3:21

The change that takes place at the onset of the Day of the Lord is profound. The reason is quite simple. God loves mankind but cannot tolerate sin. From the moment Christ re-enters the world arena as pointed out ‘spoken of by the prophets since the world began’, conflict is inevitable. God has not caused it per se, we departed from ‘the law’ that has always been there. Now due to the new circumstances, the rule of ‘law and order’ is to be enforced rigidly.
Once again whose fault is that, and who is to be blamed for the carnage that results?

We could liken it to God the Rock, placing Himself as a granite cliff squarely in the middle of a motorway. A huge sign plainly states ‘Driving conditions have changed! Proceed with utmost caution’.
If drivers ignore the warning and plough headlong into the cliff face at full speed, car wreckage and bodies will be everywhere. That is the inevitable outcome.

The facts for the Day of the Lord are gruesome to say the least. When all is said and done this is simply a result of man’s refusal to accept God.
Can we really accept that that is the wrath of God? By His standards it is. God is love; He no more wants this state of affairs than we do.

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Ezek 18:23

This one verse really sums up our next section on the purpose of the Day of the Lord and getting man’s destiny back on course.

 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD?

The history of man has been allowed to run it’s own course for enough time to experiment with every conceivable form of government possible – except one: the original instructions God gave us.
Man has always been faced with choice. Satan was placed here for that very reason. We are free agents and God wants it that way. Being able to choose right from wrong defines ‘righteous character’; God’s ultimate goal for man.

We will still have choice during the final seven years before Christ assumes sole leadership. This time the choice is very limited. Accept Christ without condition… total surrender in every sense or alternatively reject Christ and tough it out against the Creator of the universe. Many choose the latter.

It would seem that this choice is a no-brainer, except for one thing. Satan has this world psychologically held captive and it does not want to be ‘set free’. Neither does Satan want them to be free. He wants those that are being offered all that could have been his – wiped out. If he can’t have it, no one will.
There will be a lot of cross currents and tensions pulling in every direction.
From God’s side everything will be in the open and above board; plenty of warning and more than adequate representation on hand to explain His case. As mentioned there will be a big road sign warning ‘conditions have changed, drive carefully’ (See: How the Day of the Lord begins p 64).

Satan for his part will use every devious trick in the book. Ultimately each and every individual will have to make a choice. For many it may include loss of life. Christ says not to worry about that; physical life is not all there is to ‘life’. Just make the right choice when it counts.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matt 10:39

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? 1 Cor 15:53

In the end there is no way possible to survive the entire Day of the Lord without completely turning to and relying on God. This is the purpose of the Day of the Lord.
In our modern western world we don’t depend on God for our crops. We go to the supermarket. Water comes from a tap, not the sky. If we have an accident or severe health problem, it is ‘patched up’. When we are old the state looks after us. Society no longer feels the need for a God.
The Day of the Lord sees all that change.

You can try as hard as you like. Nothing, repeat, nothing will get you through this period without first understanding there is a God. Next, our habits and our complete thought patterns must change. Once we have acknowledged the reality of God, then He is there to turn to for help.

Following any of Satan’s alternatives will rob you of far more than you want to give.
For some nations it seems that the only way to survive is to comply with the state system. Accepting the ‘mark of the beast’ will appear to be the sole means of securing food or any other necessity of life. Complete faith in God is the alternative and this will be tested to the limit.

Of our own free will we must choose to follow Christ. Satan will contrive whatever barrier is necessary to discourage that path. All around the world, in one form or another this set of circumstances will exist.

God continually provides ‘incentive’ to make the right choice. Despite this many not only refuse, they make life as difficult as possible for those trying to choose ‘life’.

 

GO TO SECTION TWO