Kingdom Secrets Revealed
Talk about God’s secrets, He readily divulged His future plans to the Old Testament prophets, revealing all kinds of mysteries. These prophets lived in various locales at various times of history, so they didn’t compare notes. And much of the time, they didn’t fully understand the events they wrote about, because those events were (and still are) future.
But there’s one event mentioned in nine of the prophetic books. It has to do with the theme of the Bible, which is the establishment of Christ’s kingdom and Him finally reigning over all and getting the glory that is due Him. It is called the day of the Lord. How do I know that? I did a Bible search on the phrase day of the Lord. Then I read all those 29 verses. The day of the Lord is the second coming of Christ. It’s not the rapture. It is when Christ returns and stands on the Mount of Olives and splits the mountain and all hell breaks loose with the Battle of Armageddon, because He has come with vengeance to wipe out all the ungodliness that He’s been patient with—up until then. And then He rules.
The reason all this is such a secret to most of us is because we don’t read the Old Testament prophets very much. It’s not the low-hanging fruit devotionally. But study this out. The wrath of God carried out by Jesus Christ and the saints who come with Him arrives on the day of the Lord. That and its immediate aftermath of incredible millennial peace with Jesus ruling is called that day. If you’d like just one spot to visit in the Old Testament that discusses this, go to Zechariah 14. Actually, the whole book is heavy on the second coming, but that day appears seven times in that chapter, and we know it refers to the day of the Lord from 14:1. It’s a study for you to do on your own.
We think of a day as 24 hours. That day is 1,000 years. This should not mystify us. After all, Peter wrote, But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8) And by the way, the context is the second coming of Christ—the Day of the Lord. Peter tells us not to be ignorant of that time equation. So let’s not be ignorant of it. That day is the 1,000 year reign of Christ, and it’s a day God is looking forward to.
As believers, we are looking forward to the rapture, when we will be delivered and be with Jesus. God is looking forward to that day when Christ will get the victory and glory and will reign in His Kingdom.
Let me quote from Mark Trotter, a great Bible “studier” and expositor. (I think he would hate to be called a theologian. That’s too snooty of a word for him.)
“There is a day on God’s ‘calendar’ that He has circled, underlined, starred, exclamation pointed, and ‘smiley faced.’ It is the most important day in history. It is NOT, however, the day most Christians think. It is NOT the day God watched His only begotten Son brutalized on the cross. It is the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns in all of His glory to set up His kingdom on the earth, and for the first time since man sinned in the Garden, He will finally receive the glory that is due His name! The theme of the Bible is Christ’s Kingdom Glory or the day of the Lord.”
With this understanding, let me close with two New Testament verses that might have deeper meaning to you now.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat 6:33)
And then, the Lord’s Prayer… And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come… (Luke 11:2a)
Let’s make His kingdom desire our desire. Start glorifying Him now. Let’s not keep Him and His splendor a secret from those around us.
Jody