Present Truth: The Day of God

From: The Christian Shepherd: 1998 By: Henry Edward Hayhoe

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

The expression “the day of God” in 2 Peter 3:12¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:12) refers to the eternal state. In the millennial reign of Christ, righteousness “reigns,” but in the eternal state, righteousness “dwells.” (See 2 Peter 3:13¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13).)

First Corinthians 15:28 refers to the eternal state when Christ, as Son of Man, is head over all things.

Revelation 21:18¹⁸And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. (Revelation 21:18) refers also to the eternal state—the first 5 verses, the state of the blessed; verses 6-7, the call in view of this; and verse 8, the awful state of the unbelieving.

First John 3:8⁸The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8) tells us that “for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy [“undo,” JND] the works of the devil.” This will be the eternal state when all evil will be done away from the new creation.

The wicked are under the judgment of God still evil in their nature. In Revelation 22:11¹¹He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. (Revelation 22:11), they are unable to enter the new creation of manifested glory. The solemn, awful thought given of the Lord Himself is this: “The wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36³⁶He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).

Paul could find no words to convey the blessedness of coming glory for the believer, but the awful future of the unsaved is very solemn eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)).

The Lord’s Coming in Judgment

Every Old Testament scripture that speaks of the Lord’s coming reveals judgment. The prophetic page of Scripture is full of such warnings. The Lord in His ministry while on earth often referred to these coming judgments. This can be seen from Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 17 and 20. He will then purge out of His earthly kingdom all things that offend and those who do iniquity (Matt. 13:41⁴¹The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (Matthew 13:41)). Then earthly Jerusalem will be the center of government and the witness of righteousness and glory (Jer. 3:17¹⁷At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17); Ezek. 48:35³⁵It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. (Ezekiel 48:35); Joel 3:20-21²⁰But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. ²¹For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion. (Joel 3:20‑21); Amos 9:15¹⁵And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God. (Amos 9:15)).

Psalm 99:14 tells of the righteous judgment on the earth in that day. This will be the beginning of the day of the Lord, and its fruit will be millennial rest for a thousand years.

The New Jerusalem of Revelation 21 must not be confounded with the above. It is the “heavenly bride” and comes down from God out of heaven. It is seen above the earth not on it. This heavenly city is the church with Christ in glory the “better thing” of Hebrews 11:40⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40).

H. E. Hayhoe

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