Paul loved the courage and growth that the church of Thessalonica had shown in the face of difficulties and trials.  He perhaps felt a burden that his time with them had been so short.   It seemed that there were many heretics attempting to create fear and doubt in their hearts.  Not that different from our world except, we have the Bible readily available if we choose to read it.  Paul had gotten back a report again concerning some of the churches difficulty in understanding the wrath, judgement and triumph surrounding the Day of the Lord.  Additionally, they wanted to understand more as to when this could occur and ascertain they had not missed it.  As Paul continued to explain this, he gave a beautify exhortation as to the purpose of it all.  That the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be Glorified.

Surrender In Faith: the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified

   ¹¹ Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, ¹² that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ  2 Thessalonians 1

There is a lot to unpack in these two verses, for they are rich in theology.  But that is not unusual with Paul.  So, where do we begin?  Well, lets begin with the beginning of this chapter.  It is always good to begin in the beginning. 

The Salutation

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The true church are those who are in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are sealed unto the day of promise by the Holy Spirit.  We are then “in Christ”.  Think of this. He is in us. We are also filled by the Holy Spirit.  So, God is in us. Additionally, we are in Christ who is one (united) in the Father.  That is a lot of protection.  He is in us. And surrounds us with His magnificent power to overcome. 

Therefore, grace and peace are ours.  A Gift from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Manifest Evidence of God’s Righteousness and the Name Of Jesus Christ Glorified

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and ^[a]tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest^[b] evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

So, here Paul commends this little church for their faith, their growth, and their love toward each other.  He goes so far as to say he boasts of them to other churches, presenting them an example of true faith. Part of their exemplary faith comes from the demonstration of patience and faith while surrounded by a multitude of persecution and tribulation.  He goes further to say that their suffering is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God.  Tried as though by fire, until every blemish of sin is removed.  The name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified through their faith shining forth as light into the darkness of the world.

The Certainty of Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ

whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  Romans 8:30

That is a certainty.  He is always about the work of our Sanctification—transforming us into the image of His son.  This He never stops doing from the day we first accept Him until the day when the work is completed, and we stand before the throne of our Lord Jesus Christ Glorified.  Therefore, because He loves us, we suffer that we might grow.  Otherwise, we become too complacent with our own search for love and happiness in all the wrong places.  So, we face persecutions and tribulation as manifest evidence of the righteous judgement of God.  And so we might be counted worthy, even though on our own we are not worthy. 

For we are bought with a price as told in 1 Corinthians 6:20. Therefore, He has also chosen to cloak us in His righteousness.  We then have a righteousness, not our own.  He then transforms us into that image of righteousness. 

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as ^[b]by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3 (NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in Judgement

Some even then wanted to say, God would never punish the unrepentant sinner.  After all isn’t He love? Yet, we who have been cleansed and washed by the Blood of Jesus, must face pain and suffering as part of our transformation to righteousness.  If God then gave a blanket pardon to the rest, would we think it fair?  No. We would not.  Neither would we think it fair that evil go unpunished. 

⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with ^[c]tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who ^[d]believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

One day

He will return and set up His Kingdom.  What is the final purpose of it all? 

That the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified to the Glory of the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  John 1

Colossians 1

⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

That ye might walk Worthy

There we have that again.  That we might walk worthy as though we must obtain worthiness.  However, that is not what it means.  It means, let our life so reflect the light and the transformation.  Were we to see a very rich man or woman walking around in filthy rags and no baths, we would not believe them worthy?   In other words, to walk worthy is to walk in a manner that displays who we are in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Furthermore, knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is returning in full judgment, why do we think we can do a better job of revenge against an enemy than He can.  If we are forgiven of all our sins against Him, what is so grave an offense another can perpetrate against us that we cannot forgive them?

And so, we are back to this prayer which Paul prayed for the church.

1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

¹¹ Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, ¹² that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Count you worthy.  It is His grace that counts us worthy, with all our unworthiness and shame.  Only He can fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power.  When we understand this and are so mesmerized by Him, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in you.  In every action, every deed, every prayer.  And you are glorified in Him according to the Grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hannah is an example of that.

After years of pleading with God, desiring a baby, she decided to promise to give God that first born for His service.  So, when Samuel was born, she determined to do as promised.  When he was two or three, she took him to Eli the priest and left him there.  Her only chance to see him would be once a year as they made the journey to worship God.  Still, this was her prayer and I think we can learn a lot from it. 

And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My [a]horn is exalted in the Lord.
[b]I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “No one is holy like the LORD,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed.
4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.
6 “The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and brings up.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.
“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
And He has set the world upon them.
9 He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
“For by strength no man shall prevail.
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
From heaven He will thunder against them.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to His king,
And exalt the [c]horn of His anointed.”
I Samuel 2:1-10

Concluding thoughts

Think of this, she just left her young baby boy.  Yet, little did she know it would be her son who lead the nation out of darkness.  One of the greatest priest, judge, and prophet of the Bible.  So when the world looks all upside down, remember this.  God is on His throne.  Knowing all things will work together for good, stand firm in hope and joy. The more we trust Him, we become the light which shines forth the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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Because God is Faithful, I Am Fearless in Truth and Love.  Are you?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        In a world turned upside down, conflict surrounds us.  In such a world, how do we overcome the fear and anxieties of life?  News travels at unfathomable speeds from around the globe. Yet can we really trust all that we hear, or see?  As a human being, we are driven to react, to feel, and to choose with the datasets given us.  But how do we know what is truth? Even harder, how do we love as Jesus loves?  Paul tells us that because God is faithful, we can be fearless in truth and love.  It is His faithfulness that will sustain us, guide us, sanctify us, and give us the strength to march on with our eyes focused on Him.

We are surrounded by crowds who deny Him.  Worse yet, some say they know Him, but twist the truth.  Often proclaiming evil good and good evil. Then they declare us haters for loving them enough to say, no, only Jesus is the way!  Yet, this is not new.  It has gone on since the days of Cain and Abel.  Certainly, it was the case in Thessalonica. Yet, we are called to be fearless in truth and love because God is faithful.

Admonitions of truth and love.

Paul had commended the church of Thessalonica for their faith and strength in tribulations.  Being a follower of Christ in their day was not easy, nor is it today. (Particularly if we are bold enough to speak up as we should).  Paul had reminded them of the truth of the rapture and the day of the Lord.  Hard times would come and already were here; but our hope is not in this world.  If indeed our hope is in this world, we, above all, must be pitied. 

Then Paul begins to give them some instructions in how to live; because they are to be the light to the world.  As Paul lists the actions that should represent a Christians life, he then ends the letter reminding them God is faithful.  We are not alone in this.  He is with us to complete the work He began in us.  What a comfort that is.  Because God is faithful, I am fearless in truth and love.  I cannot do this on my own; but God can. 

Actions of Truth and Love from I Thessalonians 5 (NKJV)

¹¹ Therefore ^[b]comfort each other and ^[c]edify one another, just as you also are doing.

¹² And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and ^[d]admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ Now we ^[e]exhort you, brethren, warn those who are ^[f]unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this ^[h]epistle be read to all the ^[i]holy brethren.

How do we do this? We are able only Because God is Faithful.

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify^[g] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

More Verses: I Am Fearless in truth and love, because God is Faithful

Now to Him who is able to keep ^[m]you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
²⁵ To ^[n]God our Savior,
^[o]Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and ^[p]power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.   Jude

Ephesians 3:

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 8:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who^[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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Who Alone can Restore America with Strength, Prosperity, and Glory?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        As we look around us, we see evil invading our world.  I daresay, it is less visible in my day-to-day life.  It would be easy to ignore the news that blares forth from throughout the nation and the world.  However, that does not deplete the reality of the suffering, pain, and devastation that envelops the world. And ravages in the streets of America. Suicide, drug addiction, violence, hate, and human trafficking are merely manifestations of the devastating illness that eats away at the core of our nation.    In this century, we have witnessed terror attacks, poverty, political unrest, racial divisions, natural disasters, a deadly plague, and now sky-rocketing inflation.  Yet, through it all, we keep looking for someone to restore America with strength, prosperity, and Glory.  But Who Alone can do that?

Our nation was founded to be a city on the hill. A beacon of light, hope and freedom shining forth into a broken world.  The founders were human and did make mistakes.  However, they recognized their own ineptness and foolish. Turning repentantly to God for wisdom, America grew.  Blessed by God, America grew in strength, power and prosperity.  Then the nation cast God aside for a humanistic view. People declaring themselves the victors of their own destiny, ignored God. That is where we are.

It is not the first time. But I fear this time may be the last.  Unless we turn in full repentance, as a nation and seek God, our destiny may be already determined. Like that of the divided nations of Israel and Judah when right before they were destroyed. They were overthrown by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians.  Why? Because They failed to heed the warning.

Why the Wrath must come

God knows that humans left to their own imaginations will ultimately destroy all that is righteous and good; therefore, He must intervene. Love demands it. What mother or father would allow their children to do whatever they desire? Standing by as they injure the most vulnerable. Holding fast to the idea of survival of the fittest and allowing the weak and innocent to be destroyed. Would we call that love? A world with no justice! Or would you prefer a world of robots incapable of truly feeling love, gratitude, joy or glory. Ah, but God did not see that as a loving action either. For to truly know and feel all that we are capable of, we must have been given choice. But with choice comes danger of choosing badly.

Yet in the midst of it all, God gave us so many gifts to draw us to see Him in His Glory. Surrounding us with nature and beauty and surprising us with joy. Perhaps a sunset. A gentle kiss of love. The arms of a mother cradling her baby. Or a Father lifting one high on his shoulders. All these to remind us we are more than a mere creature of chance. Yet, as a nation we sought after other gods of our own making. Pride, money, self-indulgence, and power. All promising happiness, but unable to deliver or fulfill that longing in our hearts. So now what? Who Alone can restore America?

2 Chronicles 7—Who Alone Can Restore America?

¹³ If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

¹⁹ But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; ²⁰ Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. ²¹ And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? ²² And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers

So, which will it be?

God Sent a Humble Servant to Restore America

On November 2, 1980—one day before the election, Ronald Reagan spoke these words;

Do not mistake me, no reasonable man who sees the world as it is, who views the deterioration of our economy, the waning of our relationships with our allies, the growth of Soviet might and the sufferings of our recent past could underestimate the difficulties before us.

But I wonder if those who doubt America have forgotten that just as in the lives of individuals so too in the lives of nations: it is always when things seem most unbearable that we must have faith that Americas trials have meaning beyond our own understanding.

Since her beginning America has held fast to this hope of divine providence, this vision of man with God.

It is true that world peace is jeopardized by those who view man not as a noble being but as an accident of nature, without soul, and important only to the extent he can serve an all powerful state.

But it is our spiritual commitment more than all the military might in the world that will win our struggle for peace.

It is not bombs and rockets but belief and resolve it is humility before God that is ultimately the source of Americas strength as a nation

Our people always have held fast to this belief, this vision, since our first days as a nation.[1]

And A Warning came in his speech.

Then in that same speech, Reagan repeatedly the warning on which we were founded.

I know I have told before of the moment in 1630 when the tiny ship Arabella bearing settlers to the New World lay off the Massachusetts coast. To the little bank of settlers gathered on the deck John Winthrop said: we shall be a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.

So, which will it be?  Will we become merely a byword?  The one whom other nations will ask what happened, with the reply being, “Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers”

Therefore, who alone can restore America with Strength, Prosperity, and Glory?  It is God Alone who can.  He is waiting, patiently to do just that if only we would as a nation repent and turn to Him.  But that begins with you and me.  Are we willing to pray as did Daniel for his nation?

Daniel 4:4-18

"O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day…"O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us …. ",all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O Lord our God, …we have sinned, we have done wickedly! "O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned ….. Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

---

And So

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

²⁰ That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers

Deuteronomy 30; 10-20

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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The Great Day of The Lord is Near! A Day of Wrath. Did You know?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

[1] https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/election-eve-address-vision-america

The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord‘s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.  Zephaniah 1:14-18

There are many nights I awaken and pray, “Lord, hold me tight.  Fill my heart and mind with You.  For You Lord are the truth I seek in a world whirling headlong into darkness.  Evil surrounds us and envelops us with sorrow, questions, pains, and battles we cannot fight alone.  We seek for truth. 

The Great Day of the Lord is Near! And yet

We must remember and hold tight to the only real hope and truth.

 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. The creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:18-23

That is what Paul wanted to remind the church in Thessalonica as he wrote:

I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV).

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,^[a] you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children^[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 

⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV).

He had just previously spoken of the rapture.  Now he addresses the Day of the Lord, a day of judgment and wrath. 

The Day of the Lord, a Day of Wrath

Throughout scripture the day of the Lord was used to refer to the wrath of God that must come against sin.  Heaven cannot be heaven if God allowed all evil in.  He must cleanse the nations and the people of their sin.  Yet, He has stretched forth His hand with Mercy and Grace.  Patiently awaiting all who will come to know Him as Lord, because of His amazing love for each one.  He cannot imagine heaven without each one of us; therefore, He waits.

⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,^[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies^[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.^[c]  2 Peter 3 (ESV)

So, What about The Day of The Lord?

There are many times in scripture in which the use of The Day of the Lord referred to an event that was coming.  Much as a warning calling the people to turn around and repent.  Such was the case in Isaiah 13.

⁹ Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. …¹¹ And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible…¹⁷ Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.¹⁸ Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.¹⁹ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

And so, it happened.  It was not the first time, nor will it be the last.  It was hundreds of years that God waited.  Judgements would come as warnings.  Brief revivals would even occur; however, the people in their own arrogance pushed forward to rebuild themselves.  Their pride and arrogance pushed God out of the picture repeatedly.  And so, God allowed them to be destroyed.  That is all but the remnant who were faithful. 

The Day of the Lord—yet to come

In Revelations and in Zechariah 14 we read of the Day of the Lord still future.   This will be in two phases at the end of the Tribulation and at the end of the Millenial Reign of Jesus. 

Zechariah 14 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. ² For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city ³ Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Why Must there Be a Day of Wrath?

He tells us in Isaiah 13:

⁶ Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.⁷ Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:⁸ And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

⁹ Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.¹⁰ For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.¹¹ And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Daniel 9:  ²⁴ “Seventy weeks^[c] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

To end evil. To finish the transgression.  Oh, how I long for this!  To end all evil even in my own heart. And the world around me.  How I long for that day!  Yet, until then we must cling to the truth. 

But what about now? In America.

Some would say that we are much like ancient Israel and some see the parallels of warning that came to them and now to us.  America began as a country founded upon God.  From our constitution to the little church where Washington and the congress met to pray after his inauguration.  We are a nation that has been overwhelmingly blessed by God, but too as a nation have turned away.  Are we in the pangs of judgement now.  Has the near Day of the Lord arrived, building up to the final day of the Lord?  So, too let us be reminded as Paul reminded the church of Thessalonica,

since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV).

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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Are You Joyfully Awaiting the Great Reunion Called the Rapture?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Certainly, we look around us at the brokenness that fills the world with so much sorrow, pain, and turmoil from every side.  Yet, what we may not realize it has been that truth since the days of Christ.  Paul often reminded the early Christians, that this is not our final destiny.  Furthermore, there will be a day when Christ returns to take us home.  This was part of the gospel message of hope he proclaimed to the world. So, all the early Christians with great anticipation were joyfully awaiting the Great Reunion called the rapture?  The were always thinking today might be the day. 

        Indeed the Thessalonian church wanted to know whether those who died would miss out on the miraculous reunion as they were so galvanized to work each day spreading the gospel while awaiting his return.  Look at what was reported of them to Paul and he wrote this.

1 Thessalonians 1(AMP) The Great Reunion

⁸ For the word of the Lord has resounded from you and has echoed [like thunder], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place [the news of] your [great] faith in God has spread, so that we never need to say anything about it. ⁹ For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to [look forward and confidently] wait for [the coming of] His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who [personally] rescues us from the coming wrath [and draws us to Himself, granting us all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him].

So, they expectantly, joyfully awaited the great reunion.  Yet, they wondered about their family, friends and others who had already died.  Would they be a part of the great reunion when Christ returns?  After all, the strength to continue working for Him, spreading the gospel, standing firm for Jesus Christ, in a hostile word that wants Him gone comes from the strength of knowing Him.  And from knowing He will return.  We know that He has won the victory.  Whatever we face in this world, we know it is a blink of the eye compared to eternity.  That fortifies us.  If only we can keep focus on this truth, we would be joyfully awaiting the great reunion, the rapture.

But until that day we are to keep working for Jesus.   Imagine the reunion party?  For me, seeing Jesus is my greatest desire of all.  Just to rest in His arms, His presence.  I can imagine He can give us each a hug individually all at the same time. 

Joyfully Awaiting the Great Reunion Called the Rapture

 When they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 

¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.  Acts 1:6-11 ESV

We are not to just stand still staring into heaven; but we are to remember He is returning.  It is that which Paul wishes to address as he writes to the church in Thessalonica.  Remember they most likely had never seen Jesus, even when He walked the earth—he was in Nazareth, Samaria, and Judea.  For us, it is similar only even farther away from the time He walked on the earth.   We too need to be reminded so as not to be dismayed.

1 Thessalonians 4:

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 

We are not hopeless as others in the world.

¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 

At the time of the rapture, Jesus will bring all our loved ones with Him.  They are with Him, although their bodies are still here.  So that the reunion is complete, they will come with Him.

¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,^[d] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  

They will then be joined with their bodies, though their soul/spirit have been in heaven with Jesus.

Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5: 6-8

How exciting is that! The Great Reunion

¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

How would your life today be if you are joyfully awaiting the reunion called the rapture? Would you be running from place to place to tell the truth and to lead others to Christ? Let us be the light reaching into the darkness. We must be the truth dispelling all the lies. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Who will you tell today the Good news of the Gospel.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previous

How do I Learn to Do More Because of Love for Jesus Christ?

Establish Your Heart Blameless at the Coming of Our Lord Jesus!  How?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.