The Great Day of God
—Judgment and retribution
Judgment of the Beasts (Revelation 12-20) >Seven Final Visions >2nd vision >Woe to Babylon >Excursus on Judgment Day
The Great Day of God is one of the great themes of the visions which John saw, and recorded in the book of Revelation. As the visions approach their climax, the day of judgment is more and more in view.
Hebrews 9:28 announces, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him".
The book of Revelation has much to say about the judgment of those who are not waiting for Jesus to welcome him, but who have sided with Satan to oppose Jesus.
1 The Hour of God’s Judgment
- Revelation 16:14 tells of "the great day of God Almighty". The visions of Revelation build up to that day of judgment and wrath. There are certain things about this day that you ought to be aware of, and nothing should concern you more than these things.
- Revelation 6:14-17 describes a vision of the kings of the earth and their peoples running for cover among the rocks and the mountains trying to escape "the great day of their wrath" and in terror of the Lamb (cf Romans 2:5, Hebrews 10:27).
- Revelation 14:7 shows an angel telling all the world, "Fear God and give him the glory, because the hour of his judgment has come!" In coming lessons, we are going to look at several scenes, toward the end of the book of Revelation which symbolically depict "the great Day" of God Almighty.
2 Now, Not Then, is the Time for Decision
On that great day there will be no time for decision, no time to "repent and turn that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). It will be too late. "Behold now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation" (1Corinthians 6:2). Not then.
To be sure that the Day of God goes well for you, you must have "your robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb" and you must "take part in the first resurrection".
Where can you find the blood of Christ to cleanse you so that your sins will be erased from the record? Where can you find the first resurrection that the second death might have no power over you? The answer is simple: In the death and resurrection of Christ, which you may enter by faith through the waters of baptism (Romans 6:3-4).
3 The Two Invitations
In the last words of Revelation we find two invitations to "Come!".
- One is to you: "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"
- The other is to Jesus, "Come Lord Jesus!".
You should respond with your Amen to both.
If you have not already come unto Jesus, will you answer the Lord's invitation and come to him now? Will you become his friend, and add your voice to all who say to him, "Come Lord Jesus!"?