Throughout the Bible God’s prophets, apostles and even Jesus Himself have warned us of the coming of the Day of the Lord. On this Day, Jesus will return to judge the nations and usher in the reign of a New Kingdom. However, no one knows when exactly this Day will come. (Matthew 24:36)
But whilst the exact date of Jesus return is uncertain, one thing is made clear about it, it will come at an hour we do not expect. (Matthew 24:44)
Some people will be surprised and unprepared when Jesus arrives. But if you are a Christian, the Day of the Lord will not take you by surprise, and this is why.
Why the Day of the Lord Will Not Take You by Surprise
In the book of 1 Thessalonians the Apostle Paul says something enlightening:
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (NKJV) (Emphasis mine)
What Paul is telling us here, is that as true followers of God who are “sons of light and sons of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:5) we will not be taken by surprise when Jesus returns! How amazing!
This is because as Christians, we are not in the dark about the future like unbelievers are. We have the honour of being privy to God’s plans for the earth. (Psalm 25:14) These plans are laid out for us in the Bible, the Word of God.
As we read the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, we begin to understand what will take place at Jesus’ return. What’s more, we are given signs to look for that will show us when the Day of the Lord is near.
You Will See the Signs
In the Bible, Jesus gives a list of events and occurrences that will take place before the Day of the Lord.
Jesus informs us that there will be rumours of war, nations will rise against nations. There will be pestilences, earthquakes and famines and the sun and moon will go dark. (Matthew 24: 1-31) The list goes on. All these things will serve as signs to show us that Jesus is close to returning.
If you are a Christian who actively reads the Bible, you will be aware of all this. And if you are watchful (1 Thessalonians 5:6), you will see the signs and know when the Day is approaching. As a result you will not be taken completely by surprise when Jesus returns.
God is so loving and gracious. He has given us all these warnings to ensure that we are not left in the dark.
God Has Not Left Us in the Dark
God says through the prophet Amos,
Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 (NKJV)
The Lord always warns His people of what is to come. As the passage of Scripture tells us, He never leaves His saints in the dark. If you carefully read through the Scriptures, you will see that this is true.
Before any major event took place God would warn His people, as He has warned us.
God told Abraham that his descendants would become slaves in Egypt (Genesis 15:21-16). He warned Israel of coming judgment by His prophets. (Amos 1:1-5) God even forewarned Noah before He sent the Flood.
Take Notes from Noah
During the time of Noah, the world was filled with evil. (Genesis 6:5) The earth itself had begun to suffer from the effects of man’s violence and wickedness. (Genesis 6:13)
The condition of the earth grieved the Lord so much that He decided to destroy everything and everyone. (Genesis 6:6-7) But Noah, who was a just man who walked with God, found grace in God’s eyes.
So before the Lord sent a flood to destroy the earth, he warned Noah.
And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood…
Genesis 6:13-14 (NKJV)
God not only told Noah what was going to happen, but He told him how to prepare for it. So, thanks to God’s warning the flood did not take Noah by surprise. Noah knew what was coming.
By the time the rain fell on the earth Noah and his whole family were safe in the ark.
It’s true that Noah was given a more precise date for when everything would happen (Genesis 7:4; 7:10-11). But that does not change the fact that he was made ready before hand, just as we have.
You Will Be Ready
Just like Noah was ready for the flood, you will be ready for the Day of the Lord. God has given us ample warning from the Bible and through past and present prophets.
He has also told us what we need to do to ensure that Day doesn’t take us by surprise. That is, to be watchful and keep yourself blameless, growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and keeping yourself from wickedness. (2 Peter 3: 14; 17-18)
So if you remain steadfast in your faith and faithful to God, diligently doing all He has commanded, when the Day of the Lord arrives you will not be taken by surprise. You will be fully prepared and ready.
