The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Vision of the Day of the Lord, #10

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (Matthew 24:43)

The Day of Christ will fall on the sinners in the earth suddenly and ferociously. Antichrist and his armies will attempt to resist the invading saints but the rebels will be crushed and their bodies given for food to the birds of the air. Satan and Antichrist have had their allotted hour. Now God and His Christ are having Their Day.

By comparing Joel, Chapter Two and Matthew, Chapter Twenty-four we discover that both chapters are speaking of the same event—the coming of Christ in the Day of the Lord.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: (Joel 2:10)

These are the signs of the Day of Christ.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (Matthew 24:29)

Joel 2:10 and Matthew 24:29 are speaking of the same point in history. It is not likely that there will be two different times when the heavens will shake, the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will withdraw their shining. These phenomena have not occurred as yet and they certainly will not take place after the Lord Jesus returns.

It is not reasonable to conclude that there will be two different times between now and the coming of the Lord when the heavens will be shaken, the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will withdraw their shining. Therefore it is clear Joel 2:10 and Matthew 24:29 are referring to the same event.

Both of these passages are describing the Day of the Lord.

The proponents of the "rapture" often quote Matthew 24:40: "Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left."

The word "then," in Matthew 24:40, is speaking of "the coming of the Son of man" (Matthew 24:37). Matthew 24:37 refers back to Matthew 24:29, which is associated with the marching of Joel's army. Matthew 24:29 takes place after "the tribulation of those days."

The "one" who is "taken" from the field (Matthew 24:40) is the member of Joel's army who is caught up to meet the Commander in Chief in the air in preparation for the onslaught of Armageddon. He or she not a feeble believer who is unable to cope with the great tribulation or Antichrist.

As soon as the signs have been given in the heavens the trumpet of the Lord will sound.

To be continued.