​Sunday, aUGUST 9, 2020

​THE DAY OF THE LORD
 
Day of the Lord – time of God’s purging the earth of effects of sin
                              - time when man’s day comes to an end; cup of man’s sin full
                              - time of the wrath of God = 7 trumpets & 7 bowls
 
Day of the Lord – has NOT yet come
2 Thes 2:1  “…coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…our gathering together to Him,”
             2:2  “…not…shaken…disturbed…that the day of the Lord has come.”
             2:3  “…it will not come unless…apostasy…man of lawlessness is revealed…”
             2:4  “who…exalts himself…displaying himself as being God.”

             2:8  “…that lawless one…revealed…the Lord will…bring to an end…”
             2:9  “…in accord with the activity of Satan…”
            2:10 “…with all deception of wickedness for those who perish, because
                          they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”
 
Day of the Lord – follows the resurrection of dead & rapture of living believers
1 Thes 4:13 “…do not want you to be uninformed…about those asleep…”
             4:14 “…God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
             4:15 “…we who are alive…shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
             4:16 “…the Lord Himself will descend…with the trumpet of God…
                           the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
                         - God blowing His trumpet gathering His people (as in Num 10)
                         - resurrection of dead believers
             4:17 “…alive and remain shall be caught up…to meet the Lord in the air…”
                         - rapture of the living believers
             4:18 “…comfort one another with these words.”
                         - our “blessed hope”
                            no matter how long or difficult this journey – assurance of &                                                            hope                                                                                                         
 
Day of the Lord – believers alert to, but wicked oblivious to
1 Thes 5:1   “…times and epochs, brethren, you have no need…”
                        - understanding of God’s redemptive history & revealed prophecies
                        - not looking for something that is sign-less or imminent
             5:2   “…the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”
                        - unbeliever caught completely off guard
             5:3   “…they…them…they will not escape.”
                        - unbeliever to destruction
             5:4   “But you, brethren (believers), are not in darkness, that the day
                          (day of the Lord) should overtake you like a thief;”
             5:5   “…you are all sons of the light…sons of the day…”
          5:6-7  “so then let us not sleep…but let us be alert and sober.”
             5:8   “…we are of the day, let us be sober…
                           put on…as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
                         - hope of resurrection or rapture, the “blessed hope”
             5:9   “For God has not destined us for wrath,”
                         - not destined for the day of the Lord
                      “but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
             5:10 “who died for us…awake or asleep…may live together with Him.”
             5:11 “…encourage…build up one another…”
 
Day of the Lord – recognizable to discerning believers
Matt 24:32  “…learn the parable from the fig tree…”
                         - parable = take known & ‘throw alongside’ to aid teaching
                         - fig tree – not Israel (olive tree), but certain things can see
                       “…when…you know that summer is near.”
                         - telling summer is getting close; approximate & general time
                         - when you see scriptural indicators, will know Day of Lord is close

Matt 24:15   “…when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION…”
                          - when you see the antichrist clearly revealed                     
 
Matt 24:33   “…when you see all these things, recognize that He is near…”
                          - discerning believers will not be caught off guard  
 
Matt 24:34   “…this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
                          - the generation that will see these spiritual truths unfold
 
Matt 24:35   “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.