The Day of the Lord, and Events Which Succeed It

Peter, in his second Epistle (Ch. 3), speaking of "the day of the Lord," says: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;" here we have the suddenness of its approach. He then goes on to say, "in the which," (not at its first approach, but) "in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.... Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
This promise we find in Isa. 66:22: "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain." Its connection here is with the permanent blessing of an earthly people, even Israel.
The more complete unfolding of this subject is found in Rev. 20 and 21, where the order of things is very distinctly marked.
1. We have the millennium, or thousand years' reign, Satan being bound during the whole of that period. The Church reigns "with Christ." The laws and the nations are ruled over.
2. At the end of the thousand years, we find Satan loosed, and, as if to prove that a long period of punishment does not make a sinful being better, he comes forth with more hatred and revenge than ever. In mad fury he gathers together the nations from the four quarters of the earth in open revolt against God, and judgment falls upon them.
3. The devil is now cast into the lake of fire, to be "tormented day and night forever and ever.”
4. The great white throne is now set. The Lord Jesus, as the "Judge of all," sits upon it. It is at this period of the day of the Lord that the heavens and the earth "flee away," or, to use the words of the Apostle Peter, "pass away," and are "dissolved." The dead are judged, and "whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.”
5. All evil being now cleared away forever, God introduces the eternal state of blessedness. "Behold, I make all things new.”
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:1-4. GOD shall be "all in all." 1 Cor. 15:28. W.C.B.
Editorial
Many episodes of terrorism have been felt in various parts of the world in the past year. One definition of terrorism is that it is the premeditated murder, maiming and menacing of innocent people to frighten and to gain a political victory. The ruthless murder of 21 Jewish worshipers in the synagogue in Istanbul is a prime example. Kidnapping, hijacking, bombing and hostage-taking are increasing.
Quite naturally, questions arise as to why these things are happening. What is the cause? Is it something new and will it stop? No, it is not new and it will continue. Since this world rejected the Prince of Peace and chose a murderer and robber, it has increasingly suffered from murderers and robbers and has had no peace.
Three cases of banditry or terrorism are cited in the book of The Acts. Gamaliel in chapter five says, "For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to naught. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed." Also in chapter twenty one the chief captain said, "Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four hundred men that were murderers?”
Treachery, terror and treaty-breaking have been the world's history from those days till now. True, it does seem that these things are increasing and we believe that they will increase. We are in the last days of this period of grace and next will come the terrible delusion and dreadful hatred and unrestrained wickedness of men's hearts under Satan's influence in the time of the great tribulation.
Today's terrorism springs mostly from a collaboration of Marxist and Muslim radicalism against the West, the nations of Christendom. The Adversary, the devil, already seems to be exerting what power he can through atheism and Mohammedanism against professing Christian and Jewish lands.
The great power in the background is Russia. Twice the inspired prophet Isaiah tells us something of her character of treachery. "The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously." Isa. 24:16. Again, "Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee." Isa. 33:1.
In order to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty we ought to pray earnestly for the powers that be. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." 1 Tim. 2:3. The Holy Spirit indwells each believer and so we have the comfort that "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. Also in 2 Thess. 2:7, about the Holy Spirit it says, "He who now letteth [hinders] will let [hinder], until He be taken out of the way." This will occur at the rapture when all believers are caught up. Then the poor world will not have the direct restraining action of the Holy Spirit and terrorism surely will be everywhere. Ed.