The Day of the LORD in Perspective

Yesterday was June 6, 2006 (a.k.a. 6/6/6). The Day of the LORD was widely mentioned by the religious and secular, either scoffingly, jokingly, or hysterically. Reactions that were delivered Biblically went mostly under the radar. Some held their breath expecting fire to fall from Heaven and Satan to appear roaming the Earth, but nothing unusual happened. In fact, looking back from the day after, I can see that this world is still reeling from its normal troubles. I'm sure that some people have looked at yesterday in comparison with today like I have, but had the reaction that this is just another proof that there will be no great and final judgment on this Earth by God.

Biblically speaking, this coming time of judgment is called "the Day of the LORD" and it is a recurring theme throughout the whole Bible. One such instance of its mention is found in Zephaniah 3:8-9, where God says, "Therefore wait for Me... until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; all the Earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord." (NKJV)

It has been understood before in such times as World War 2, that there can be no peace without war. The human world is at war with God, but will be defeated in God's judgment. This is not something that is debatable Biblically, nor something that should be unreasonable logically. The Apostle Peter spoke of this fact, saying, "...scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.' For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..." (2 Peter 3:3b-10a, NKJV).

Whether it seem likely or reasonable, God will judge this world. But is that a bad thing? Well, when seen from the right perspective, the answer is clearly "No." What God said in Zephaniah 3:9, concerning God giving all the people of this world one "pure" language, is a big hint at the good outcome of "the Day of the LORD" for mankind. There would still be one language on this planet if it had not been for God's interference at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. When "the whole earth had one language and one speech" (Genesis 11:1, NKJV), mankind rejected God and faced His judgment for it, but when God has judged the Earth once and for all, mankind will have one "pure language" to "serve" and "call on the name of the LORD" (Zephaniah 3:9, NKJV)!

To call on "the name of the LORD" is to call upon the only one who can save you from the coming judgment on this world, but more importantly from the personal judgment that you face from sin. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NKJV) Jesus Christ is the "name of the LORD" that you must call upon for salvation, as the Bible explains in Acts 4:12b, "...there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (NKJV) If you call on that name, you will not be dissappointed, "For whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!" (Romans 10:13, KJV)

"Thank-you, Lord God, for being my Savior. Help me never to get over the salvation that You have given me, nor to stop searching the depths of its benefits. As I study Your word, I truly see that Your mercies are like new every morning! Amen."