THE DAY OF THE LORD Cecil ducille At the very beginning of this word it is necessary to make a few points clear in order to understand the title of the message. First we must settle it in our minds whether we are talking about a twenty-four hour day or one of God s thousand year days: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8). In determining this we must also come to the conclusion as to the validity of our answer from the scriptures. We know that the days of creation were twenty-four hour solar days because at the end of each day s work, the Word in Genesis, Chapter 5, tells us that the earth made one revolution: Verse 5: And the evening and the morning was the first day. Verse 8: And the evening and the morning was the second day. Verse 13: And the evening and the morning was the third day. Verse 19: And the evening and the morning was the fourth day. Verse 23: And the evening and the morning was the fifth day. Verse 31: And the evening and the morning was the sixth day. The Hebrew word here for evening comes from a root word (6150 in the Strong s Concordance) that is described as, to grow dusky at sundown. So a twenty-four hour day began at one evening and would go through the night to the next evening. Since the day includes both darkness and light, the Biblical phraseology which says evening and morning must therefore be interpreted to mean that the word evening represents the darkness and the word morning represents the light. Morning, therefore, must go to its end where another evening will begin another day. When my Bible repeats a phrase six times I know that it must carry some profound meaning. However, let us for the moment just say that this phrase http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 1 of 12
says that the day begins with evening and ends with afternoon. In God s divine purpose He began the day in the evening (when light begins to give way to darkness), so that it would go into night and past midnight before it comes to dawn. This same Divine wisdom would never end the day in darkness. If it had begun with morning, then it would end with the darkness which comes before dawn, but the way in which God in Scripture makes the day, the very darkness becomes a promise of light. It is said that the darkest part of the night is just before dawn. We need to see from Scripture which of these seven natural days was called The Day Of The Lord. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:1-2) Without contradiction, we can clearly see that the seventh Day is the Day of the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ, in explaining this mystery to us, said The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. (Mark 2:27,28) The Lord of the Sabbath says to us here that the Sabbath was made for man, which means that when God rested it was not because He was tired, but that He did it for man. According to the promises of God, all the mysteries of the scriptures will be revealed to the Church before the end of the age, and surely God is not leaving us in the dark concerning these truths. Revelation 10:7 states that the mystery of God will be finished in the days of the voice of the seventh angel. We understand that whatever God did on the seven natural days of creation, He brings to its fulness or completion during the seven corresponding thousand year periods of time which follow. We know, or we should know, that God generally begins with the natural, and from there develops to the spiritual, and then to the fulness of His purposes: Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual, (1 Corinthians 15:46). A good example of this is that on the fourth day God created the sun, moon and stars, and on the fourth thousand years He brought forth Jesus (the sun); the Church (the moon); and the Sons of God (the stars). But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die, (Gen.2:17) http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 2 of 12
The Lord told Adam that he would die in the day that he ate of the forbidden fruit, but the devil came to Eve and told her, Ye shall not surely die. Satan introduced the lie by playing the natural against the spiritual. The natural twenty-four hour day brought spiritual death, and the spiritual onethousand year day brought natural death. Satan turned it backwards and lied to Eve. Since God gave that word no man ever lived for a thousand years. Methuselah, who was the oldest living man, died at the age of nine hundred and eighty-seven years (Ref: Genesis 5:25). He never lived to see the thousand years. Man will regain his thousand-year s longevity in Christ during the millennium. Einstein the great physicist and mathematician brought forth the theory of relativity showing that as you approach the speed of light, time slows down considerably. Einstein was not perfect in his theory, but he came close to discovering a truth of God that a thousand years of our time would pass while it would be only one day. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8). Peter could only have gotten this from the Spirit or the Word, because we know he was not a learned man and that Einstein s theory of relativity is a fairly modern discovery. We must conclude from the foregoing that because God is light and dwells in light, that He had ordained a divine plan to complete His work of creation in six thousand years, and that the completed man will rest from his own works, even as God rested from His during the seventh millennium. The seventh day, therefore is the DAY OF THE LORD, which would make the seventh millennium the total fulfillment of THE DAY OF THE LORD. This being established, we would need to consider when will this day begin and when will it end. We know, according to Genesis, that the day begins with the evening. This means that the seventh millennium must begin with evening, which comes at the end of the sixth millennium. We need to look into scripture to discover how long this evening will be, and thus determine some measure of accuracy as to when the Day of the Lord began, or will begin. One very important thing to note is that in looking into the account given in the Scriptures, God seems to always dovetail time. By this I mean that He begins one time before the other one is over. For an example of this, let us look at the period of time relating to Noah and the flood. http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 3 of 12
And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years, (Genesis 9:28). We know from the chronology of the Scriptures that Noah lived to the time of the very end of the second millennium. We see then, that three hundred and fifty years before the end of the second millennium, God brought the world to an end with a flood. Those first two millenniums represented the Outer Court of time. Just as the temple has an Outer Court, a Holy Place, and a Holy of Holies, so does time. The Outer Court therefore, must be destroyed, since it will not fulfill the purposes of God (Ref: Revelation 11:2). Three hundred and fifty years is 50 X 7 or fifty weeks of years. Fifty is a significant number in scripture meaning jubilee, a time when all prisoners are set free and debts are forgiven. God s midnight came early because of the wickedness of man, and Noah died on the year of jubilee in the new age. In the case of Noah, the flood should have been at the end of the first two thousand years, but it was 350 years before, and Noah died at the 2000 years. So, from this instance and others in scripture, we see that one day starts while the other is still existing. That is apparently how God handles time. If we would take a look in the Scriptures at all the different times, we would see that God would bring in the one time, and the two times would seem to run together. One case in point was the coming of Jesus Christ to birth. Galatians 4:4 states: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. So here was a time where law and grace were running together until Christ died and brought it to an end. He was a child of the law, yet He brought in grace. Of particular importance to this article is the question of where are we in time. While we are now in the very last part of the Sixth day, it is more importantly vital to see that we are also well into the evening of the Seventh day as well. We are in fact approaching midnight of the Seventh day. To understand this we need to see how God handles time and how He makes the transitions in the evening times between one day and the next. THE FULNESS OF CHRIST The next millennium which is of great importance to us is the Fourth, which brought Jesus Christ on the scene thirty years before He took up His http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 4 of 12
ministry. This ministry of Jesus Christ was designed of God to culminate in the fulness of Christ coming forth at the end of the Sixth millennium. We must note that in the beginning of the sixth day (it could have been in the early darkness), God created the beast, and in the closing evening light in the end of the same day He made man in His own image. This correspondingly means, in the progression of time since, that in the beginning of the sixth thousand-year day the beast has already come forth, and in the closing evening of the sixth millennium (which we are now in) He will complete man not only in His image, but in His likeness. The Christ who appeared in the earth in the closing evening of the fourth day (which is the beginning of the fifth) will fulfill His mission of bringing forth many Christ sons into being in the closing evening of the sixth day (which will be the beginning of the seventh). (The evening and the morning is the day). But, we also have cause to believe that it is also well past evening now and far into the night. The Lord gave us signs that would tell us it is night. We know that when the light which lights the world begins to fade below the horizon that the darkness will follow, which we call night: For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee, (Isaiah 60:2). This is the darkness which precedes the dawn, but which comes after the natural light has faded. We are trying to say that the Christian Church which is the light of the world has faded and is now plunging the world into darkness as it has never seen before. However, part of this church will escape the darkness and become the dawn of the new and glorious day. This is what the teaching of the Gospel says would happen. Let us look at the scriptures to confirm this thought: Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), (2 Thessalonians 2:3 Amplified Bible). Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, (1 Timothy 4:1). And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 5 of 12
shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (the last three and a half years of this age) (Daniel 7:25). WHEN DID THE DAY OF THE LORD BEGIN? If we use the coming of Jesus Christ as a typical point of reference for the coming of the Day of the Lord, then, we would have to step back thirty years to 1970, and come to the conclusion that the day of the Lord would begin in the year 2000. Our only problem would be to find out when would really be the year 2001. However, we have a wrong calendar and no man has ever been able to correct it. So we cling to Pope Gregory s errors, which the Roman Catholic theologians claim is four years wrong, while others claim that it is seven, etc. If we were to accept that it is four years error, then the year 2000 would really be in 1996; If we accept seven years as being the error, then it would be more serious: 1993. This would mean that in or about 1993, or 1996, the ministry of Christ would begin in the overcomers. These implications are far reaching because it means that if man is to be brought to his full stature in the image and likeness of Christ then the beast spoken of in Daniel and the book of Revelation would already have been perfected. Let me give you a scripture for this thought from Daniel, where he was speaking of the kingdom of Alexander the Great being broken into four parts and the future of these parts up to the end of the age: And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up, (Daniel 8:23). This passage has much more to it, which we cannot deal with in this short work, but we can clearly see from scripture that at the end of the Sixth day (the end of the age) that the transgressors will come to their full, which means that the world will see man at his diabolical highest. In the calculations of man, however, there must be errors; so although we know that this is the season for things to happen, we must be prepared to see things happen before or after the dates we think are reasonable. This particular point is rather painful to doubters, since it would give them something to chew on. Nevertheless, that which shall be, shall be which neither faith nor doubting will enhance, change, nor deter. http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 6 of 12
Because the day begins in the evening, then the Day of the Lord must begin in the evening time, which comes at the end of the sixth day (which is the day of man). The evening must then become night ( darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people ) and the night must progress to midnight, then midnight must give way to morning. WE HAVE LONG PASSED THE EVENING OF THE SIXTH DAY. IT IS JULY 1992, AND THE NIGHT IS FAR ADVANCED. These are things that I do not have the opportunity here to fully share upon, but which I hope to cover in detail in a future writing. Each of us should pray and search the Word and ask God for His understanding concerning the time we are in. The thing that I am seeing and that has both frightened me and excited me is the thought that we have long been sitting down saying, We are in the Sixth day. We do not realize that the Seventh day is upon us, and we are only waiting for midnight and the dawning. In other words, we are so much further on than we really thought. WHAT THE WORD SAYS OF THE DAY OF THE LORD (1) ONLY THE WICKED WILL BE BURNED UP (Not The Whole World, As Some Teachers Believe): For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch, (Malachi 4:1). In the above passage, only the proud and them that do wickedly shall be stubble. It will not burn the righteous. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up, (2 Peter 3:10). http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 7 of 12
In this verse, earth speaks of the carnal realm. Only earth, or the carnal realm, and the carnal works of man shall be burned up. The heavens that shall pass away is that realm in us where both God and Satan dwell. This must pass away to make way for a dwelling place of God where there is only righteousness. (2) THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE HEALED BY THE COMING OF CHRIST: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, (Malachi 4:2). This healing will occur when the day breaks; that is, when Christ appears in His temple in us. 3) HIS FIRST APPEARING WILL BE WITHIN THE BELIEVER: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts, (2 Peter 1:19). When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, (2 Thessalonians 1:10) Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom (Matthew 16:28). Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! God is within you, (Luke 17:21). for, behold, the kingdom of (4) DAY OF DARKNESS AND TERROR: Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 8 of 12
nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, (Joel 2:1-2). But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, (Romans 2:5). For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:17). (5) LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT (WITHOUT WARNING): For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, (1 Thessalonians 5:2). But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up, (2 Peter 3:10). But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up, (Matthew 24:43). (6) ANGELS TO BE JUDGED: And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, (Jude 6). (7) A TIME OF WAR, FAMINES AND EARTHQUAKES: And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 9 of 12
be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places, (Matthew 24:6-7). (8) THE DEVIL BOUND: And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2). (9) ONE THOUSAND YEAR DAY: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, (2 Peter 3:8). (10) THE MORNING OF PEACE FOREVER: For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees, (Isaiah 66:12). as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong, (Joel 2:2). (All these passages are referring to the Day of the Lord.) (11) THE DAY HAS ALREADY BEGUN: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day, (Genesis 1:31). http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 10 of 12
If the evening and the morning is the day, then since we have passed evening in the Sixth Millennium and are already far advanced into the night, then we are in the Seventh Day. (12) MIDNIGHT MUST COME BEFORE MORNING: And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle, (Exodus 12:29). Israel was delivered at midnight from the bondage of Egypt, so it is that the Body of Christ will be delivered from its carnal dependence at the very time the earth is experiencing its darkest hour. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man (Boaz) was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman, (Ruth 3:8-9). Boaz covered Ruth with his mantle at midnight just as the Lord will cover the Church in the darkest hour and take away her shame. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, (Judges 7:19). Gideon s three hundred men represent the company of the sons of God (firstfruits). It is at midnight that they will win the battle over self. They had their lamps in their left hand and the trumpets in the right. It was only when the pitchers (the flesh) were broken at midnight that the full light of God could shine forth. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron, (Judges 16:3). This is the picture of the last day Church arising out of its harlotry with the false church, and taking away their gate (defenses), removing it so far away that they could never retrieve it. http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 11 of 12
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him, (Matthew 25:6). The greatest event of midnight is the Coming of the King. When you therefore shall see all these things begin to come to pass, be not distressed, but be joyful, for our redemption is at hand. http://sonlightdevotional.org/ 12 of 12