The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Vision of the Day of the Lord, #2

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:2)

The Day of Christ will be one of darkness and gloominess, and this is why the Lord's people are to tremble. The anger of God is exceedingly great, and Christ is coming to execute judgment on the nations of the earth and on those believers who did not remain faithful to Him.

The Day of the Lord will be a frightful time for the hypocrites in the Christian churches; for those who are wasting their God-given gifts and ministries; for those who have not renounced the world, who have not taken up their cross and followed Christ.

The teaching of the "rapture" is that there will be a sudden removal of those who profess Christ so they will not experience suffering. This is not true. There is no scriptural basis for such a concept.

The teaching of "unconditional grace" is that once we make a verbal pronouncement concerning the Lord Jesus we can never be lost to the purposes of God. This is not true. The result of this error is multitudes of Christians who are leading worldly lives. They are under the impression they never will be punished severely for their lack of dedication. Such is not the case.

No believer will participate in the first resurrection nor go to meet Christ in the air to be with Him until he first has undergone the most exacting judgment and cleansing of his personality. The first resurrection must be attained. (Philippians 3:11.) It is for the "blessed and holy" to come forth (Revelation 20:6). A lukewarm, worldly "Christian," who has given his mental and verbal assent to the doctrine of the atonement but who is not walking in the fear of the Lord, is neither blessed nor holy.

The Christian believers are under a misconception of what is facing them in the near future. Those who are teaching them error (and it appears this includes the majority of Christian and charismatic preachers and teachers of the present hour) will experience a double torment. They will be judged for their own sins and they will be forced to watch as those whom they deluded with their false words are dealt with by an angry Christ.

The Lord will deal with preacher and listener alike concerning their sins and self-seeking. Christ will not come and by "grace" catch them up to Himself in glory in their present state of lukewarmness. There shall be weeping and great torment.

To be continued.