THE DAY OF THE LORD. Joel 2:1 An alarm and a trumpet to be sounded as an introduction to that day. If it were nigh at hand in the days of the Prophet Joel, how much closer it is today. Joel saw that day as a day of extreme darkness. A day of gloom, a day of misfortune. A time when mankind will realize that they had missed the day of salvation. A day of thick clouds shutting out the light. Amazingly, he is describing a mass of people, like a great cloud spread across the horizon, a great army, such as had not been nor ever shall be again. Any army that the Lord assembles will be victorious. This one cannot be stopped.
ALAS FOR THE DAY. Joel 2:31 Significant signs that must take place
before the return of the Lord. The sun to be darkened, what blackness and
darkness. The moon to be turned into blood, the sign of the Son of man. These are events that precede that great day but it is also one horrible day
for the ungodly. Zeph. 1:14-15 Another prophet declaring that great day. It
will be a day of bitter tears for the man of strength and wealth, neither will
avail. A day where the wrath of the Lord will be displayed creating troubled
and distressed people. All the works of men will be destroyed. Again it is a
day of great darkness, gloom. clouds and darkness. Acts 17:31 The Lord has determined a day in which He will judge the world by Christ Jesus. That
is a set day and nothing can nor will be done to alter it.
THE LORD SHALL ARISE UPON THEE. Isa. 40:2 True to the past workings of the Lord once again in the time of darkness He will manifest His glory. The word arise (Heb. zarach, is well chosen here, for it means to irradiate [or shoot forth beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun), to appear). The entirety of the glory of the Lord will be manifest in His bride. Song 6:10 The expression of the heart of The Lord toward His bride. She is the beauty of the ages of time and eternity. She will appear as the most beautiful of sun rising. The breaking forth of a new day. She has been created for that new day, that eternal day. Without her, the plan of God would have been thwarted. She is the ultimate, the intent and the very plan of the Lord. Salvation is important, without it she could not have been brought into being but the BRIDE is the full achievement of all the plans and purposes of the Lord. After all, she is HIS bride. She is HIS Queen. The one most important to HIS heart. She is as beautiful as the moon. The moon turned to blood, the sign of the death of Christ. Her beauty comes from her redemption. As the moon lightens the darkness of the night, so the Bride will shine her brightest in the utter darkness of the day of the Lord. The Hebrew word for moon (lebanah) means; the white. Is there anything more pure than the bride who has made herself ready? She has put on the garments of holiness and righteousness. She is majestic in her shining forth of the glory of the Most High. All languages are like a pauper when it comes to describing her. Her beauty is far beyond the ability of man to portray her. She is the ultimate beauty. She is clear (Heb. bar, beloved, pure, empty, choice, clean). Sanctified and emptied of self, making her the object of his great love. She shines forth as the sun. No wonder for she is filled and clothed with the everlasting glory of the Lord. She is the accomplishment of the ages of redemption. She is a fearsome sight to unsaved and ungodly. They see her not as an object of beauty but as an
enemy and a great destroying army. What is glorious to the Lord is always
a source of fear and fright to man. Light to the righteous, darkness to the
unrighteous.
THE PROCESS OF THE LORD. Isa. 43:1 A people who are redeemed.
The intent and purpose of the Lord can only be accomplished in a people
who have been washed by the blood of Christ. Those who hold the sacrifice
of the Lord Jesus on Calvary in highest regard and honor that offering of God. The Father gave His Son that He might redeem a people unto Himself. 1 Pet. 1:18 That which cannot redeem; the corrupt finances of silver and gold. Redemption cannot be purchased. Vain conduct, the traditions of the fathers or the Law and all accompanying practices. v. 19 Ransomed form the grip of sin and death, only by the precious blood of Christ. There is no other way. Heb. 9:12 Our great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, gained entrance into the presence of His Father, only by His own blood. As sinless and perfect as He was, heaven could only be gained by the sacrifice and offering of His blood. Jesus was a man, a human being, born of a woman and therefore had to be redeemed as all other men must be. If He gained access by blood alone and not by His good works, how much more must all mankind be redeemed by His blood, and not by works.