UNPREPARED – FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD
By W. G. Guy
The Day of the Lord refers to the day of His coming, and also a Day of Judgment and Retribution. Either day refers to the day of revealing His presence and His divine rule. However, most people who identify themselves as Christians are not prepared for His return, to either redeem or to judge. It will catch them by surprise!
Luke 21:34-35 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
The phrase, “that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come,” means that this event will shock most people because it catches them unprepared. Why are they unprepared? Because they are so caught up in their self-indulgence and daily affairs, and not noticing the deteriorating conditions surrounding them: the deteriorating conditions such as immorality in society, education, entertainment, government and even in churches.
Luke 21:29-31 – And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Jesus foretold what to expect as His return draws close. He gave us an illustration of recognizing when a fig tree is to produce its fruit. He gave us these warning signs so we would recognize the time to be prepared and expectant; and not caught by surprise.
Luke 21:25-28 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Jesus tells us that things on earth are going to get tough to endure as His return approaches. Some of what He said would happen we have already experienced as proof that the rest of what He predicted will be fulfilled.
Luke 21:10-11 – Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Will your faith and trust in Him and His promises carry you through the days that lay ahead until He comes for us? There will be much to experience that we will not like and will be a threat to our current way of living. Such threats are already occurring in other parts of the world to those who claim to be Christians.
Is there a reason why God will allow such conditions to be experienced by His people? The church in America as it exists today is certainly not ready for Christ to return for it. It is full of corruption from traditions and doctrines of men and demons. It is full of spots, wrinkles and blemishes that do not belong in His Body of Believers. All such must be purged out.
Ephesians 5:26-27 – that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Consider what was written by the prophet Malachi:
Malachi 3:2-3 – But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, (His servants) and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Conditions in the world are going to be challenging to say the least. Difficult times that are coming will put your faith to the test. Those who truly are believers in Christ will draw closer to Him and further away from the corruption of this world. Others who are more prone to cling to the things of this world will obviously be separated from true believers as they become more dependent on our corrupt government who will be our oppressors.
I sense that in the months ahead we will see and experience events that are totally unexpected and out of the ordinary; thus unprepared for. Great fear will become the norm as Jesus foretold as this age draws to a close. Many of us realize that things cannot continue to go on as they are now.
One of the problems that I see in churches is that the pure Word of God is not being brought forth. One reason is because our current form of the Institutional Religious System, the I.R.S. being a non-prophet organization. Simply, churches do not recognize the Christ ordained Office and role of the Prophets. Thus they do not hear the warnings that the Lord wants to convey to the churches. The main role of a prophet is to call God’s people to repentance and to return to follow Him, walking in His truth and righteousness. So without prophets, the Lord has to resort to other means to bring the church to its knees and to seek Him.
Another big problem in many churches is not understanding what the Word of God says, or misunderstanding it. One issue is when does the rapture, or preferably the resurrection, occur. Too many teach that we are out of here before the Antichrist appears. This is NOT what scripture says!
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
This verse clearly shows that the church will be here when the Antichrist is revealed. This means we will be subject to his evil influence. The Lord wants us to be able to recognize the signs of His approach so that we can be prepared.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 – But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
According to this scripture, we can know the time and the season of His return. This is because as a woman, pregnant with child, does know the approximate time or season of her delivery; but she does not know the day or the hour: that can happen suddenly. This is what is meant when we say, “she is expecting”: thus, so should we be expecting the time of His return and prepared for it.
The Bible tells us that there will be a great upheaval as that time nears. Most likely every institution of man will be affected as anything that is not founded and grounded in, and on, His Word, as a foundation of rock, will crumble.
Hebrews 12:25-27 – See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Are you and your family founded and rooted on the Rock, Jesus Christ and His Word? Everything else will be shaken and fall. Are you prepared for what is coming? There is a little time before things get worse; and it will likely happen suddenly!
Amos 5:18 – Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.
As the spiritual darkness increases in these last days believers need to increase their prayer life, just as Jesus instructed.
Luke 21:36 – Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
By W. G. Guy
The Day of the Lord refers to the day of His coming, and also a Day of Judgment and Retribution. Either day refers to the day of revealing His presence and His divine rule. However, most people who identify themselves as Christians are not prepared for His return, to either redeem or to judge. It will catch them by surprise!
Luke 21:34-35 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
The phrase, “that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come,” means that this event will shock most people because it catches them unprepared. Why are they unprepared? Because they are so caught up in their self-indulgence and daily affairs, and not noticing the deteriorating conditions surrounding them: the deteriorating conditions such as immorality in society, education, entertainment, government and even in churches.
Luke 21:29-31 – And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Jesus foretold what to expect as His return draws close. He gave us an illustration of recognizing when a fig tree is to produce its fruit. He gave us these warning signs so we would recognize the time to be prepared and expectant; and not caught by surprise.
Luke 21:25-28 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Jesus tells us that things on earth are going to get tough to endure as His return approaches. Some of what He said would happen we have already experienced as proof that the rest of what He predicted will be fulfilled.
Luke 21:10-11 – Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Will your faith and trust in Him and His promises carry you through the days that lay ahead until He comes for us? There will be much to experience that we will not like and will be a threat to our current way of living. Such threats are already occurring in other parts of the world to those who claim to be Christians.
Is there a reason why God will allow such conditions to be experienced by His people? The church in America as it exists today is certainly not ready for Christ to return for it. It is full of corruption from traditions and doctrines of men and demons. It is full of spots, wrinkles and blemishes that do not belong in His Body of Believers. All such must be purged out.
Ephesians 5:26-27 – that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Consider what was written by the prophet Malachi:
Malachi 3:2-3 – But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, (His servants) and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Conditions in the world are going to be challenging to say the least. Difficult times that are coming will put your faith to the test. Those who truly are believers in Christ will draw closer to Him and further away from the corruption of this world. Others who are more prone to cling to the things of this world will obviously be separated from true believers as they become more dependent on our corrupt government who will be our oppressors.
I sense that in the months ahead we will see and experience events that are totally unexpected and out of the ordinary; thus unprepared for. Great fear will become the norm as Jesus foretold as this age draws to a close. Many of us realize that things cannot continue to go on as they are now.
One of the problems that I see in churches is that the pure Word of God is not being brought forth. One reason is because our current form of the Institutional Religious System, the I.R.S. being a non-prophet organization. Simply, churches do not recognize the Christ ordained Office and role of the Prophets. Thus they do not hear the warnings that the Lord wants to convey to the churches. The main role of a prophet is to call God’s people to repentance and to return to follow Him, walking in His truth and righteousness. So without prophets, the Lord has to resort to other means to bring the church to its knees and to seek Him.
Another big problem in many churches is not understanding what the Word of God says, or misunderstanding it. One issue is when does the rapture, or preferably the resurrection, occur. Too many teach that we are out of here before the Antichrist appears. This is NOT what scripture says!
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
This verse clearly shows that the church will be here when the Antichrist is revealed. This means we will be subject to his evil influence. The Lord wants us to be able to recognize the signs of His approach so that we can be prepared.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 – But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
According to this scripture, we can know the time and the season of His return. This is because as a woman, pregnant with child, does know the approximate time or season of her delivery; but she does not know the day or the hour: that can happen suddenly. This is what is meant when we say, “she is expecting”: thus, so should we be expecting the time of His return and prepared for it.
The Bible tells us that there will be a great upheaval as that time nears. Most likely every institution of man will be affected as anything that is not founded and grounded in, and on, His Word, as a foundation of rock, will crumble.
Hebrews 12:25-27 – See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Are you and your family founded and rooted on the Rock, Jesus Christ and His Word? Everything else will be shaken and fall. Are you prepared for what is coming? There is a little time before things get worse; and it will likely happen suddenly!
Amos 5:18 – Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.
As the spiritual darkness increases in these last days believers need to increase their prayer life, just as Jesus instructed.
Luke 21:36 – Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
