Dale Rumble
Dale Rumble
The great and terrible day of the Lord is surely coming; a day that is great for believers but one that is terrible for the unsaved. What is significant about this day?
The word “day” indicates that time is significant in the answer to this question. In Greek, time is defined by two words, chronos and kairos. Chronos denotes a space of sequential measures of time that make up an age or duration, whether large or small. Kairos defines an epoch or specific time at which something takes place. When we consider the day of the Lord, we discover that both definitions are applicable.
This wonderful day has a “kairos” beginning, and it will take place over an indefinite “chronos” period of time.
The day of the Lord begins at a specific time that is known only to God. It will begin at exactly the moment He has chosen; it takes place at the return of Christ! Both of our Lord’s advents were predetermined to occur at precise times chosen by God.
The events that follow His return, which complete the day of the Lord, are events that mark the passing away of one era of history and the ushering in of a new era.
The purpose of this tract is to stress the vital importance of being fully prepared for this day of transition.
The following are four important events that must take place before the day of the Lord arrives.
Since the day of Pentecost, in obedience to the Lord’s command, believers have proclaimed the gospel, bearing witness of the love and mercy of God in many lands. However, the Lord has declared that every nation will witness the gospel of His kingdom before He returns.
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come. (Matthew 24:14)
The Father has given His Son an inheritance of souls from every nation, including Islamic lands (Psalms 2:8; Haggai 2:6-7).
While Satan is not disturbed by an anemic social gospel, he is vehemently opposed to the gospel when preached and demonstrated in its fulness. For this reason, as the present age comes to a close he will cause a time of growing darkness and persecution of believers to take place. In response, the Lord will manifest His power and glory in the church, as the full gospel is proclaimed to bring in a bountiful harvest of souls. The following scripture describes this ingathering.
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)
The five Arabic names listed in verses six and seven of this chapter point to a harvest from Islamic lands.
The church age has experienced many visitations of the Lord, where His presence (parousia) has brought great revivals, both to localities and to nations. However, the visitation of the Lord at the closing of this age of grace will be, by far, the greatest of all. I believe it will be fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. God will use the advance technologies of communication and display of information of that particular time. The deepening darkness in the world means that the harvest will be gathered in through much tribulation and spiritual warfare against forces of evil. Nevertheless the sovereignty of God reigns over all, and He will accomplish His purpose.
A significant happening in the end time harvest will be the salvation of Israel (Romans 11:25-27). This spiritual phenomenon of God’s grace takes place in stages over a period of time.
Suffering and persecution play an important role in the purpose of God for the church. Affluence and social acceptance have historically weakened the spiritual life of believers; on the other hand, persecution, tribulation and even martyrdom have given rise to revivals of righteousness. Persecution brings purity! When God’s people repent and cry out to Him for deliverance from forces of evil, He hears and comes in revival power. God’s answer to darkness in the world is His glory rising upon the church.
Nothing is as important to success in evangelism as the manifested love and power of God. His glory expresses His character. He is compassionate, gracious, full of mercy and truth, slow to anger, forgiving and just (Exodus 34:6-7). These are the divine ingredients that equip believers to become intercessors and laborers in the harvest fields. Such virtues are essential since so much of the end time harvest will be made up of the diseased, poor, oppressed, crippled, blind and lame of the nations (Luke 14:21-23). The day of the Lord will be a time of judgment, but during the harvest, mercy will triumph over judgment. The gospel of the kingdom will replace the “user friendly” gospel that is so common today.
The great tribulation period will be a time of divine restoration of the church, a time when the bride prepares herself for her soon-coming Bridegroom. The return of Christ does not take place until the period of restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). The early church is the model for restoration. Jesus must become central in everything! The goal of restored body ministry is not simply to have more manifestations of spiritual gifts and ministries; it is to experience the reality of Christ’s lordship and headship in the church. Jesus Himself, not ministry, must come to have first place in everything, for it is in the head of the body, not in the members, where the fulness of God dwells (Colossians 1:18-19). We are hidden with Christ in God, and as we stay hidden He will be seen.
As His Lordship is established in individual lives, His headship over the church will become evident.1 Intimacy with Jesus will bring new release in prayer and worship as well as new understanding of how to do church. Small groups will flourish.
The Lord will expose the deception of New Age mysticism. He will break the power of religious spirits, especially the spirit of Jezebel.2 He will move to establish transparency and accountability in leaders. Godly elderships will emerge.3 The Lord is more interested in character than in charisma. Local churches will begin to relate through the ministries of prophets and apostles.
Certain practices that have been common for generations will lose their relevancy, such as titles, offices and man-centered religious spheres which have divided the body of Christ. The Lord’s prayer for unity in His body will be answered (John 17:22-23). The Lord will restore His church to a united, living organism in the Holy Spirit with freedom for each member to serve. Young people will be anointed for service (Psalm 110:1-3). The ministry of angels will be evident from time to time.
Those who have no heart for God will fall away, even while multitudes are being saved. Darkness and glory at the same time!
Some may find it difficult to realize that church restoration will take place during times of persecution and tribulation. One reason for such difficulty comes from failing to understand God’s purpose for the last days of this age of grace.
A new teaching on eschatology emerged over the past century that has influenced churches primarily in the West. It teaches that the church will be caught away (raptured) before the great tribulation begins. Specifically, the Lord Jesus will return twice; first, to catch away all believers, and then after the tribulation, He will return again to judge the world.
This teaching has done great disservice to the purpose of God for the last days, since it removes the need for believers to prepare themselves as overcomers to endure the evil that they will face. We are called to be overcomers; and we are called to gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Glory comes from godly character that has been proven through suffering and endurance (Romans 8:17-18; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Christ suffered for us, and He left us an example of how we are to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:24).
He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Revelation 21:7)
Believers in past generations have suffered for Christ; why should the church of today be exempt?
Scripture is very clear that the day of the Lord will not take place until after the antichrist, the man of lawlessness, is revealed.
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
The spirit of antichrist has been manifest though out the church age in many individuals. However, the greatest manifestation of evil power and deception by Satan will occur in a man of lawlessness during the close of this age.
Children, it is the last days; and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming . . . . (1 John 2:18)
Nothing takes place without God’s permission. He will use the antichrist in His strategy of harvest. Tares have always existed among the good grain. They have never been removed in past revivals. However, in the final harvest, God is going to gather out the tares from His kingdom (Matthew 13:37-43). This will take place before the Lord returns to harvest the church (Matthew 13:30). All who exist among the righteous, but who are false brethren, stumbling blocks who commit lawlessness, will be gathered out for destruction.
The Lord accomplishes this separation by allowing all who will not receive the truth and be saved, to be deceived by the false signs and wonders that Satan will manifest through the antichrist.
Then the lawless one will be revealed . . . that is, the one (antichrist) whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)
Removal of the tares will purify the church!
God initiates the events that will lead to revelation of the antichrist when He directs the archangel, Michael, to wage war with Satan in the heavens (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:7-12). The consequence of this warfare is that Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven onto the earth. The spirits of accusation, condemnation, deception, depression, etc., that mark Satan’s presence and activity in the heavens will no long be over the church. The mystery of lawlessness is no longer in the heavens; it is on earth. The heavens will then be clear and open between the Lord and His people. Great power will rest upon the church, while great tribulation will encompass the earth from the wrath of Satan, who knows that he has but a short time.
In his second epistle to Thessalonica, Paul explains how the evil, restraining influence by Satan in the heavens is brought down to earth, and is manifest through Satanic impartation in the antichrist.4
Let us examine verses 6, 7 and 8 of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to better understand this mystery of lawlessness. In verse 6, the Greek text does not contain the word “him.” This verse reads as follows:
And you know what restrains now, so that in his time he may be revealed.
There is nothing in the Greek text or grammar that prevents the one restraining from also being the one who is revealed. The verb “restrains” refers to Satan’s evil restraint of believers by spirits of accusation, deception, condemnation, etc. Having been cast down to the earth, Satan will impart His evil nature into the antichrist in order to deceive as many as possible. In heaven, Satan was invisible; now he will be physically visible as the antichrist. He will display himself as being God, and influence political, economic and religious spheres worldwide.
In verse 7, two Greek words are mistranslated in some Bibles. The Greek word, ginomai, which means “to come into being” or “to become” is sometimes translated “taken.” The Greek word, mesos, which means “in the midst,” is sometimes translated as “way”! This verse is correctly translated as follows:
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, only he who now restrains will do so until he comes to be out of the midst.
Verse 8 continues as follows:
Then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.
In other words, the restraining influence of Satan’s lawlessness in the heavens will continue until he and his angels are cast down to earth. Then, out of the midst of the people, into a man chosen by him, Satan will impart his evil power and lawlessness. It will mark a time of deepening darkness that will be cut short by the return of Christ.
The following are some scriptures describing the evil power and deception of antichrist that will take place before the return of Christ: Daniel 7:19-25; Matthew 24:21-26; Revelation 12:12-13, 13:11-18. This will be a time of testing that separates the wicked from the righteous and tares from the good grain. It is a time that believers today must prepare themselves for.
Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever. (Daniel 12:3)
Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. (Daniel 12:10)
Whether by life or death, the righteous will overcome!
And they overcame him (antichrist) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:11)
There are four specific characteristics that will distinguish the return of Christ. These four distinctions were revealed through the words of two angels who appeared to the disciples at the Lord’s ascension to heaven.
. . . this Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)
From their words, the following four truths become obvious:
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him . . . (Revelation 1:7)
There is no suggestion of a secret, invisible return of Christ to catch away believers, that will be followed by a second return to judge the nations. There is but one return of Christ!
On the island of Patmos the Lord revealed to John, the apostle, details of things that would occur in the future.
. . . come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. (Revelation 4:1)
What was revealed to John, as recorded in the next ten chapters of Revelation, is not one sequential chronology of events; rather, it is three different scenarios of what is taking place at the time of Christ’s return. Apparently three scenarios are required to fully describe the horrific conditions that will face inhabitants of the earth. First of all, there are the consequences of Satan’s wrath, his deceptions and persecution of men, especially of Israel and the church. Secondly, there are judgments by the Lord’s angels to give mankind a last opportunity to repent and be saved. Mercy is still being offered, for the Lord’s wrath does not begin until He has returned. Let us examine each scenario.
The first scenario is contained in chapters 6 and 7. The Lord’s return is pictured in Revelation 7:9, 14. A multitude so large that no one could count it, taken from every nation on earth, can only refer to the church.
Verse 14 reveals the conditions that exist for believers at the time of Christ’s return.
These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation.
It is quite clear that the church will be raptured out of the great tribulation, and not before it takes place (Matthew 24:21-30).
The second scenario is recorded in chapters 8-11 of Revelation. It reveals vivid symbolic details of seven angels of God who blow trumpets of judgment. God protects His people (Revelation 9:4). Blowing of the seventh, or last, trumpet signals the return of Christ. When Jesus returns in His glory, believers will be caught up and revealed with Him in glory. They will have become like Him (Colossians 3:4). Thus, the mystery of God will be finished. The return of Christ is expressed as follows:
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God is finished as He preached to His servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
The third scenario describes this unique period of time in chapters 12, 13 and 14:1-16. The primary emphasis of this scenario is the importance of believers resisting the temptations of antichrist (Revelation 13:7-18; 14:12-13). It is a time that calls for the saints to exercise and persevere in their faith (Revelation 14:12).
The return of Christ is pictured in the following scripture:
Then I looked and beheld, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:14-16)
These three scenarios jointly provide vivid details of the climactic events that bring the day of the Lord to pass. It is vital that believers prepare themselves to overcome and be ready for their Lord’s return.
Although not limited to four, the day of the Lord is primarily an epoch of four divinely important happenings, out of which the purpose of God will flow into the ages to come. How we might interpret this future flow of events is really unimportant; what is important, is being prepared for the following four events of the “day of the Lord.”
In the days of Noah, God judged the first world by water, but He has declared that the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:4-7).
Our God is a consuming fire; Jesus told His disciples that He had come to cast fire upon the earth (Luke 12:19).
Christ died for the sins of all mankind. However, only those who repent and receive His forgiveness will enter into eternal life with Him. Those who reject Him will experience a terrifying judgment and fury of a fire that will consume them (Hebrews 10:26-27). This begins on the day of the Lord. They will be judged for their sins and eventually cast into the fires of hell.
Satan and his angels will be cast into the lake of fire.
All the works of God’s children, not their salvation, but what they have built during their lives on earth, will be tested by the fire of God. Wood, hay or straw will be burned up, while gold silver and precious stones will survive and bring a reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Everyone will be salted by fire (Mark 9:49). The prophet Isaiah declared that:
Only the righteous will be able to live with the continual burning. (Isaiah 33:14)
The following are some scriptures that describe the fire of God’s wrath and judgment: Revelation 14:17-20, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Isaiah 2:7-21, 24:1-21; Matthew 13:40-42.
For generations the gospel of the kingdom has invited men to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and to become part of God’s kingdom. The day of the Lord has a different message. There is no longer any choice!
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
King Jesus will now reign with eternal sovereignty over all kingdoms, and He will do so through His body (Hebrews 2:5-11). The prophet Daniel prophesied of this great day.
Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest one; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. (Daniel 7:27)
This will fulfill our Lord’s prayer: “Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Now in the day of the Lord, His words to His disciples will be:
. . . come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:34)
At His ascension, Jesus was raised up and seated at the right hand of the Father having received all authority to rule. In the day of the Lord, the final harvest is complete, and Jesus now visibly manifests His authority to reign. The Father has summed up all things in His Son for the fulness of the times, both in heaven and on earth.
He (God) has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him (Jesus) with a view to an administration (stewardship) suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. (Ephesians 1:9-11)
The lordship of Christ in His kingdom is not separate from His headship over His body, through who He will rule and reign. It is in this sense that all things will be put in subjection under the feet of man (Hebrews 2:5-8).
Since human flesh and blood is perishable, it cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). Believers must put on a glorified body like Christ has, in order to reign with Him. When we are saved we receive the spirit of adoption. This is a promise for our future when Christ returns in glory. At this time the Church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and believers receive their glorified bodies, whether by resurrection or by transformation. The word of God describes this miracle of change as “the adoption of sons.”
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)
Since the fall of creation is a direct result of man’s fall, it is necessary that the full redemption of man takes place before creation will be renewed; and creation eagerly waits for this revealing of God’s sons.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility (decay), not willingly but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:19-21)
Adoption of sons is the first step in renewal of creation.
Before the day of the Lord begins, the church is symbolically referred to as an army (Joel 2:11, 25; Song of Solomon 6:1-10). This is particularly applicable during the time of harvest and spiritual warfare that closes this age of grace. The church is a bride in army boots.
Later, after the heaven and earth are made new, the bride of Christ is referred to as the New Jerusalem, the holy city where God dwells among His people. The city has been adorned and clothed with the glory of God to make her ready as the wife of the Lamb (Revelation 21:2, 10-11).
What is significant about the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)? Apparently it is a time chosen by the Lord to honor those who have made themselves ready for their place in God’s eternal city of rest.
All believers will bear the image of Christ in their resurrection, but not all will have the same glory (1 Corinthians 15:41-42; 2 Corinthians 5:1-3). Glory will distinguish between the five wise and the five foolish virgins; and glory will distinguish between the bride and those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Lord’s promises of glory are to overcomers.
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it any more; and I will write on him the name of My God, and name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven from My God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12)
The question we face is simple; are we ready for the day of the Lord?
When we receive our glorified bodies at the return of Christ, we will have His mind. We will know even as we are known, and we will understand the purpose of God in what takes place. For this reason, it is unprofitable for believers today to be divided over how events will unfold after the day of the Lord. It is unimportant whether one’s interpretation of the future is millennial, amillennial or something else. The supremely important issue is how well we are prepared for the day of the Lord!
The intention of God is to fill the earth with His glory, and for His children to gain that glory. In the time of deep darkness ahead of us, His glory will rise upon the church. Signs and wonders greater than ever seen before will take place, even as some are martyred for their faith (John 14:12). The centrality of Christ will be essential. Believers must not promote or over emphasize any ministry or manifestation of the Holy Spirit. All eyes must be on our wonderful Lord. His words to us are: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Even so, come, Lord Jesus
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References
1. Dale Rumble, BUILDING ON GOD’S CORNERSTONE, Fountain of Life tract.
2. Dale Rumble, THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL, Fountain of Life tract.
3. Dale Rumble, SHEPHERD MY SHEEP, Fountain of Life tract.
4. Dale Rumble, BEHOLD THE HARVEST, Shippensburg, PA; Destiny Image, 1998; PP 163-168.