____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ November 6, 1994 ____________________________________________________ The "Last Day" by Tom Edwards One of these days the earth will cease to exist--a day which the Bible refers to as the ``last day.'' When will this day be? God's word does not specify the date, but it does tell us certain things that will happen at this time: 1) The righteous will be raised and given eternal life (John 5:28,29; 6:39,40). 2) The wicked will also be raised and judged (John 5:28,29; 12:48). 3) There will be a great judgment for all (Matt. 25:31,32; John 12:48). 4) Eternal destinies of heaven or hell will be received (Matt. 25:31,32; John 6:39,40). 5) The kingdom will be delivered up to the Father in heaven (1 Cor. 15:24). 6) The lost will be cast into hell (Matt. 25:41). 7) The earth, along with the entire universe, will be utterly destroyed (2 Pet. 3:10-12). Jesus speaks about this time when the righteous will be raised in John 5:28,29 as being ``an hour'' that is coming ``in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth''--both the saved and the lost. The Lord again shows that both the saved and the lost will be present for this when He comes in the last day with his angels. It's a time when He will ``sit on His glorious throne'' and ``all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats'' (Matt. 25:31,32). Even in the phrase ``last day,'' we should be able to understand that this day will conclude time as we know it. Jesus will return, the dead will be raised, and all shall be judged. Then each will go to their eternal destination, whether heaven or hell. Just these simple--but weighty--truths indicate to us that there will be no time for a ``seven-year tribulation,'' a ``thousand year reign,'' or any other event on earth--as the Premillennialist would have us to believe--after the ``last day.'' For the earth, as well as every element in the entire universe, will be utterly ``destroyed with intense heat'' (2 Pet. 3:10-12). Peter also points out that this will occur when Jesus returns. Notice how unexpectedly of a return this will be: ``But the day of the Lord will come like a thief....'' (2 Pet. 3:10). Still, many today continue to set dates for the ``exact time'' of Christ's arrival; but how could they know? According to the Scriptures, they can't; for Jesus will come ``like a thief''--at a time unexpected. No one will be able to have previous knowledge as to when this will be. One of the theories, however, proposed by the Premillennialist is that there is coming a time when the world will experience a ``Great Tribulation,'' which will last for seven years. But at the beginning of this, the church will be ``raptured,'' or ``snatched out'' of the earth. Then at the end of this seven- year tribulation, Jesus will return to establish His kingdom; and He will sit on a literal throne on earth and reign in His kingdom for a thousand years. First of all, this notion that there is coming a time when there will be a ``Great Tribulation'' worse than any ever known is a false belief. Jesus spoke about the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, in which an estimated one million Jews perished, as being ``a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall'' (Matt. 24:21). Secondly, the premillennial ``rapture'' theory is not Biblical. As we saw in the verses concerning the ``last day,'' both saint and sinner will be resurrected and brought before the great judgment at the same time--not with seven years, one thousand years, or any number of years between. Jesus states that this universal resurrection will occur for all in the same ``hour.'' Thirdly, the kingdom will not be ``set up'' when Christ returns, for it has already been in existence since the time the church was established--almost two thousand years ago. Rather, when the Lord returns, it will be the time in which He will deliver up the kingdom to His Father in heaven (1 Cor. 15:24). Daniel had prophesied that the kingdom would be established during the days of the Roman Empire (Dan. 2). Jesus, John the baptist, and the Lord's apostles (who all lived during the time of the Roman Empire) all taught the kingdom was near even during their lifetime (Matt. 4:17; 3:2; Matt.10:7). Just how near was it? Jesus declares in Mark 9:1, ''...Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.'' In other words, the kingdom would come during the lifetime of some of these people whom the Lord was addressing. The conclusion: either it came or these people are still alive somewhere on our planet--who are close to 2,000 years old! The apostle John testified toward being in the kingdom (Rev. 1:9), and Paul speaks of himself and the Christians as being ``delivered...from the domain of darkness, and transferred...to the kingdom of His [God's] beloved Son'' (Col. 1:13). Furthermore, when we consider the conditions one must meet to be a part of God's kingdom, they are the same as those which lead to entrance into the church--and vice versa; and the same laws that are to govern those in the kingdom are also used to govern those in the church--and vice versa. Obviously, the words ``church'' and ``kingdom'' are two terms speaking about the same thing when referring to where God's people are in the New Testament. Are you in God's kingdom now and living as a faithful servant unto Him so that you may be ready when the ``last day'' comes? If not, why not obey the gospel this very day? To do this, you must hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus (Jn. 8:24), repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), acknowledge your faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36,37), be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21), and remain faithful unto God throughout your life (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:35-39). When you come to the ``last day,'' you'll certainly have no regrets if you have obeyed the Lord; but if you don't take heed to His word.... Need I say more? ___________________________________________ For Sale One cross, nearly new; I cannot carry it and keep up with the world and its crowd. One pound. New except barely shelf-worn. It has been laid up for years in a napkin. One five-piece set of armor. All pieces in good shape; only needs polishing. One bundle of Christian opportunities. Contained in this bundle are some of the greatest opportunities in the world...attending all services of the church, winning souls to Christ, and working in the Lord's vineyard; I seldom use these opportunities so have decided to let them go for sale. One badly used Christian influence. Buyer may be able to repair this influence if carefully planned. One seat in the Bible classes at the church--perfect condition except dusty. The above mentioned articles are stored in the basement of my home, located on the corner of Careless Avenue and Neglected Street. -- Selected ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________