The Day of the Lord: Part Two By Joel M. Killion E-mail: joel@innerlifeministries.com Web-site: innerlifeministries.com
	The Day of Wrath Throughout the Scriptures, “the day of the Lord” is called by many names. Each one identifies a special aspect of the Lord’s Day; each one unveils a deeper significance. Here are a few; take some time and study each one very carefully: “The Day of Trouble” [a.k.a. “Jacob’s Trouble”] (Ps.20:1; 50:15, 16; 77:2; 86:7; Ezek. 7:7; Nahum 1:7; Hab. 3:16 - KJV); “The Day of Battle” (Job 38:23; Ps. 78:9; 140:7; Prov. 21:31 - KJV); “The Day of Thy Power” (Ps.110:3 - KJV); “The Day of Vengeance” (Prov. 6:34; Isa. 34:8; 61:2; 63:4 - KJV); “The Day of Adversity” (Prov. 24:10 - KJV); “The Day of Visitation” (Isa. 10:3; 1 Pet. 2:12 - KJV); “The Day of His Fierce Anger” (Isa. 13:13; Lam. 1:12; 2:22 - KJV); “The Day of Slaughter” (Jer. 12:3 - KJV); “The Day of Affliction” (Jer. 16:19 - KJV); “The Day of the Whirlwind” (Amos 1:14 - KJV); “The Day of Judgment” (Jesus called it this in Mt. 10:15; 11:22-24; 12:36; Mk. 6:11; 1 Jn. 4:17 - KJV) “The Day of His Coming” (Mal. 3:2 - KJV); “The Day of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6,10; 2:16 - KJV); “The Day of Salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2); “The Day of Redemption” (Eph. 4:30). The Day of the Lord is also called “the day of the Lord’s wrath” (Zeph. 1:18, KJV; also look at Ps. 110:5; 11:4; Ezek 7:19; Rom. 2:5). Revelation 6:17 (AMP) states that “…The great day of His wrath (vengeance, retribution, indignation) has come” and then asks a very important question: “…Who is able to stand before it?” Have you ever asked yourself this question? If not, why not? The Scriptures make it explicitly clear who the recipients of His wrath are. The wrath of God is… Upon those who do not “believe” on the Son (Jn. 3:36) - What does it mean to “believe” on the Son? It means to “adhere to, trust in and rely on” the Son; it means to “obey, fear and reverence” the Lord; Upon “all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men [including confessing “believers”], who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18, KJV) - These are those who “call evil good, and good evil”, who “put darkness for light, and light for darkness”, who “put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5: 20, KJV); these are those who “hold the Word of Truth” according to “their” own understanding, without a meek and teachable heart according to the Spirit of Truth; Upon the “hard” and “impenitent” (calloused) hearts of men (Rom. 2:5); Upon “…them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness…” (Rom. 2:8, KJV) - The word “contentious” speaks of “factions and strife” (Strong’s 2052); these are those who “fight against” the Truth and obey what is false; “Upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:4, KJV) - But what is “evil”?  “Evil” is anything that the Word of Truth calls “evil;” the “world’s” definition is altogether different and unreliable to say the least but this is obvious to the righteous; it is time for us to re-discover the difference between “good” and “evil;” Upon the children of dis-obedience (Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6); Upon the disobedient, unbelieving and heard-hearted (Heb. 3:7-19; 4:3) - Did you know that the unbelieving heart, which is a dis-obedient heart, is an “evil heart”? (Heb. 3:12, KJV). Selah; Upon those who have worshipped the beast (Adam, self) and his image (Adam’s imaginations) and have received his mark (his signature or the sign of his nature) on their hands (works) or forehead (thoughts) (Rev. 14:8-10); Upon the earth (carnality and fleshly systems) (Rev. 16:1); Upon Babylon [religious-political confusion] (Rev. 16:19) and… Upon the nations (Upon the abomi-nations of the imagi-nations and denomi-nations) (Rev. 19:15). Isaiah 2:12-16 says that “the Day of the Lord of hosts” is “upon”: “…Every one that is proud and lofty…” “…Every one that is lifted up…he shall be brought low…” “…All the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up…” “…All the oaks of Bashan…” “…All the high mountains…” “…All the hills that are lifted up…” “…Every high tower…” “…Every fenced wall…” “…All the ships of Tarshish…” “…All pleasant pictures…” Simply said, the wrath of God is appointed unto every “nook-n-cranny” of that which is not in “full” agreement with the will and purpose of King Jesus.  Every ungodly way within our lives (from the inside out and from the top to the bottom), which we have tirelessly sought to “hide”, will be found and dealt with sooner or later. The inevitable cannot be delayed. Many – in their ignorance – say, “We will never experience the severity of God!  We’ll never experience His wrath.  He loves us too much to let us suffer in the time of trouble.  He is a good God. He loves us.”  Then they use Scriptures such as First Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9 to prop up their self- preserving concepts.  Yet the truth is that everything in our lives that is not “of” Him, “for” Him and “from” Him is going to drink the full cup of His wrath. Remember, this is His love in action (Ps. 23:4; Prov. 3:11, 12; 13:24; Heb. 12:5-11). If we have anything within our lives that is not “fully committed” to Him, then we must “judge ourselves” and repent (change our minds) or we will have to face His indignation; in other words, His indigo-nation will shatter our imagi-nations and denomi-nations, which are, in fact, “heathen nations.” But, as you may have noticed, this is contrary to what many are saying for the wrath of the Lamb is not necessarily directed toward the unsaved “alone.” First Peter 4:17 is crystal clear: “For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God…it begins with us…” (AMP) “It's judgment time for Christians. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message!” (Message) “The Day of the LORD is at hand, the day of His glory, and ‘eyes like a flame of fire’ are going to consume the dross from the silver pot of God's refining flame.  God says that His judgments must first begin at the house of God.  We anticipate the day of His glory.  But even as we do, let us humble ourselves now in His presence lest His light shine upon us suddenly, and we be found naked. For He says to you and me and God's people everywhere who have known His workings in times past... “‘Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent’ (Rev. 2: 5).” [Quote from “The Day of the Lord” by George Warnock] Selah. Click here to read part three of the Day of the Lord.