Bible Doctrine

Does The Most Important Part Of The Christian Church Remain Locked Outside The Door In These Closing Hours Of The Church Age?

As the Church Age comes to a close, we are reminded that while it will end in failure corporately, the invitation to each and every one of us individually to ‘open the door’ to Jesus Christ remains in gloriously full effect. And when we do, Jesus promises to come in and ‘sup’ with us in intimate fellowship.

Published

8 years ago

September 2, 2018

Geoffrey Grider

jesus-first-day-heaven-revelation-3-20-knock-door-church

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Do you remember what it was like the moment you called out to Him in your anguish of soul, asking nothing more than to be cleansed of your sin, and the overflowing joy that followed when Jesus saved you?

The only place in the New Testament where it talks about an actual church building is found in the book of Revelation, in the message from Jesus to the angel of the Church at Laodicea. Laodicea is a very busy church, materially prosperous, and it represents in type the end of the Church Age where we now find ourselves. But it is also the church of the ‘closed door’, and on the other side stands the One whom we claim to follow, asking for anyone who cares enough to open the door and let Him in. How sadly ironic for the One who is The Door to be relegated to the outside of the very thing He shed His blood to create.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:20-22 (KJV)

Revelation 3, in verses 14 through 22, shows us the state of the Body of Christ at end of the Church Age, that is about to experience the Pretribulation Rapture, described to us in type starting in chapter 4. But the Church Age is not ending in triumph, it is ending corporately in lukewarm apostasy, self-seeking and self-enrichment. We’ve become callous and religiously hardened, having reduced the love of Jesus Christ and the love for Jesus Christ, to a series of bullet point presentations that purports to show us how to have a ‘better life’ but actually do nothing of the kind.

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” Revelation 1:5 (KJV)

In short, we have fallen out of love with the very One who has redeemed our souls with His own blood. The same One who at this very moment stands at the door, knocking, asking to be let in. Asking you and asking me to let Him in. Why would He bother to patiently stand and knock when He could simply speak and start everything all over again? Why does He love us so much?

That’s My King, Do YOU Know Him?

Do you remember what it was like when you first got saved, back when you didn’t know much more about the the Bible than John 3:16? Do you remember what it was like the moment you called out to Him in your anguish of soul, asking nothing more than to be cleansed of your sin, and then the overflowing joy that followed when Jesus saved you?

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9 (KJV)

The true message to the Laodicean Church Age

I remember when that day was for me 27 years ago, on my knees in my bedroom, with a King James Bible open to John 3:16, asking God to save me with tears streaming down my face. I had come face to face with Jesus, and felt the burden of sin peeled away from me like so much old wallpaper being removed from the parlor. It was exhilarating, it was liberating, and most of all I was in head over heels in love with a Jewish Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)

I immediately began to witness to anyone who would listen, or not listen, so excited to show them the freedom that I had found in Jesus Christ. My message wasn’t about ‘religion’, it wasn’t about trying to get anyone to church, and it wasn’t about trying to show people how to ‘improve thier lives’ with a new way of thinking. No, my only message was to tell people about a Person, a Man, an actual Individual with whom they were invited to have a relationship with who just happened to be the God of the entire universe.

But if God would have back then showed me the future that yes, would include amazing victories, souls saved and mountain top experiences, but also the times where I would functionally deny His Name and return to living for myself and the world, I would have ran screaming out of the room. How could I ever turn away from such amazing love? How could you? Yet according to Jesus in Revelation, somehow we did. Peter asked the same question.

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:61,62 (KJV)

This I believe is the message to the angel of the church of Laodicea, a church that had replaced the love of a living Saviour with the lukewarm outer vestiges of religion. The true church is not a building, it’s the redeemed people who make up the Body of Christ. We’re not called to church building programs and membership drives, or even about ‘sharing the message’. We are called to tell a lost and dying world about a person, Jesus Christ, and to invite them to have a saving relationship with Him. And while we do that, to personally open the door to let Jesus back in to our own lives as individuals.

The true joy and beauty of Heaven is Jesus

The image that I use in this article is from a painting called ‘First Day In Heaven‘, and to me it really captures the incredible joy that awaits the born again Christians – made up of both Jew and Gentile – in Heaven. It has nothing to do with anything that the physical place of Heaven contains, as amazing as all that will be, and everything to do with Who is waiting there to receive us. Safe in His arms, never again to be apart, all tears wiped away forever more.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:1,2 (KJV)

Look at the expression on the girl’s face in the painting, she is finally with the One who loves her more than anyone else could possibly love her, and her soul is filled to overflowing. What inexpressible joy we will know in that day! In that moment she knows that the only thing that mattered in this life, or will matter in the life to come, is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

As the Church Age comes to a close, we are reminded that while it will end in failure corporately, the invitation to each and every one of us individually to ‘open the door’ to Jesus Christ remains in gloriously full effect. And when we do, Jesus promises to come in and ‘sup’ with us in intimate fellowship.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27,28 (KJV)

Return to your first love while time remains

Christian, ask yourself this. Where is Jesus in your life right now? Does He occupy the place He did when you first got saved, or has He faded into the dull routine of your daily life? Listen to see if you can hear Him knocking on the door of your own heart, inviting you in to eat with Him and be restored to true fellowship. Throwing off the shackles of Laodicea and returning to your first love. Taking worthless religion and throwing it in the trash where it belongs, the true Christian life is about Jesus who gives us the victory in Himself.

Over the past 8 and a half years on NTEB we have talked about an amazingly-wide range of topics covering differing religions, politics, the Bible and issues related to the Last Days. But there is nothing more important than opening the door to Jesus as He knocks for us. To the getting away from creeds and rituals, and getting back to the One that saved us and redeemed us with His own blood. Going forward this ministry will seek to make sure that Jesus occupies the place He so rightly deserves.

He is worthy of praise, His mercy endures forever, and He loved you and I so much that He took our punishment on Himself and paid for our ransom in full. He is Jesus of Nazareth, and He loves us more than we have the ability to understand it. Revelation 3 and the message to Laodicea was not written to lost people, it was written to redeemed people who had lost their way. It’s not about anything we can do for Him, and everything about what He has already done for us.

Listen as He stands knocking, open the door and let Him in. It’s all about Jesus.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:28,29 (KJV)

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Bible Doctrine

How Roman Catholic Fulfillment Theology Replaces Israel’s Literal Prophetic Future With A Spiritualized ‘Church System’ That The Bible Never Teaches

Published

4 days ago

April 25, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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Fulfillment Theology Versus Dispensational Truth Shows The Critical Difference Between Spiritualizing Israel And Rightly Dividing Scripture

Fulfillment theology is the belief that the promises, prophecies, covenants, and kingdom expectations in the Old Testament are “fulfilled” in Jesus Christ and, often, in the Church. In simple terms, it teaches that many things God promised to Israel are now spiritually fulfilled in Christ and the Church, rather than requiring a future, literal fulfillment for national Israel. But the danger is that Fulfillment Theology can become a softer, more polished version of Replacement Theology. It may avoid saying “the Church replaced Israel,” but it still spiritualizes Israel’s land, kingdom, throne, and national restoration promises into the Church. That is absolutely not what the Bible teaches.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32,33 (KJB)

God promised Israel a land, a kingdom, a throne, and national restoration. Fulfillment theology may say those promises are fulfilled spiritually in Christ and His people today. But the Bible says those promises still await literal fulfillment for Israel in the future kingdom. Fulfillment theology says that Israel’s promises are fulfilled in Christ and the Church. Dispensational theology says that Christ fulfills prophecy, but God’s literal promises to Israel remain intact and will be fulfilled in Israel, while the Church has its own distinct heavenly calling in this present dispensation. We see these things when we follows Paul’s command in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJB) to ‘rightly divide’ the scriptures. If you don’t have a King James Bible, then it doesn’t say that in your bible because the Greek and Hebrew ‘scholars” removed it so you wouldn’t know to do it. This is why we stick with the God-honored King James Authorzied Version Holy Bible.

The Main Biblical Differences Between Fulfillment Theology And Dispensational Theology

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJB)

The Bible recognizes three distinct classes of people in God’s dealings: the Jews, the Gentiles, and the church of God. Fulfillment theology tends to merge those distinctions by teaching that Israel’s promises are fulfilled spiritually in Christ and the Church. Dispensational theology rightly divides the word of truth and keeps God’s promises to Israel, the Church, and the nations in their proper biblical places. These three groups are not the same, they never were the same, and they will never be the same.

I. The Difference In How Each System Views Israel

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25 (KJB)

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:26 (KJB)

“For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:27 (KJB)

“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.” Romans 11:28 (KJB)

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29 (KJB)

Fulfillment theology says Israel’s promises are fulfilled in Christ and applied spiritually to the Church. Dispensational theology says Israel is presently blinded in part, but not permanently cast away. God still has a future national restoration for Israel because “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” But Israel’s unbelief did not cancel God’s covenant promises. God’s dealings with Israel are paused during this present dispensation, not abolished. The Church has not replaced Israel.

Do not become “wise in your own conceits” by spiritualizing away what God clearly and plainly promised to Israel.

II. The Difference In How Each System Views The Church

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,” Ephesians 3:1 (KJB)

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:2 (KJB)

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” Ephesians 3:3,4 (KJB)

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” Ephesians 3:5 (KJB)

“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” Ephesians 3:6 (KJB)

Fulfillment theology often views the Church as the continuation or fulfillment of Israel. Dispensational theology teaches that the Church is a mystery body revealed through Paul, made up of saved Jews and Gentiles in one body during “the dispensation of the grace of God.” The Church was not the subject of Old Testament prophecy in the same way Israel’s kingdom promises were. It was a mystery “not made known” in other ages. The Church is not Israel improved, Israel expanded, Israel spiritualized or Israel completed. The Church is the body of Christ, disctinct and seperate from the Jews and the nation of Israel.

EVERY STUDY OF THE BIBLE MUST HAVE THIS BOOK IN THEIR LIBRARY, IT CLEARLY SHOWS YOU THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO KINGDOMS, CLICK TO ORDER!!

III. The Difference In How Each System Views The Kingdom

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6 (KJB)

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:7 (KJB)

Fulfillment theology often says the kingdom promises are fulfilled spiritually now through Christ’s reign in the Church. Dispensational theology says the kingdom will be literally restored to Israel in God’s appointed time. Notice carefully: the Lord Jesus did not rebuke the apostles for expecting the kingdom to be restored to Israel. He corrected their timing, not their expectation.

“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matthew 21:43 (KJB)

The kingdom of Heaven is a literal, visible, Jewish, Davidic, and earthly kingdom. Christ will reign, Israel will be restored, and the promises of God will be fulfilled exactly as spoken. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, given to the Gentile Church, and you must be born again to enter into it.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (KJB)

IV. The Difference In How Each System Handles Prophecy

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJB)

Fulfillment theology often uses a spiritualizing method: land becomes heaven, Israel becomes the Church, David’s throne becomes Christ’s present spiritual rule, and national promises become general Christian blessings.

Dispensational theology uses a literal, grammatical, historical reading unless the Bible itself indicates otherwise. Israel means Israel. Jerusalem means Jerusalem. David’s throne means David’s throne. The Church means the Church.

Remember to always ask this one key question when reading prophecy: To whom is God speaking? Is He speaking to Israel? The nations? The Church? Tribulation saints? The apostles? Paul? The answer matters. If you miss who God is speaking to, you will invariably arrive at the wrong conclusion.

AT NTEB, WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WROTE THE BIBLE DISPENSATIONALLY THAT REVEALS ITSELF WHEN WE RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURE AS PAUL COMMANDS US TO, CLICK TO ORDER THIS AMAZING COMMENTARY!!

V. The Clear Difference In Their End Result

Fulfillment Theology Produces:

A merged people of God, where Israel’s national future is minimized or spiritualized.
A present spiritual kingdom emphasis, often at the expense of a future literal kingdom.
A tendency to make the Church the heir of Israel’s covenants.
A prophetic system where many plain promises lose their literal force.

Dispensational Theology Produces:

A clear distinction between Israel, the Gentiles, and the Church.
A future restoration of Israel.
A literal Second Coming and earthly kingdom.
A proper understanding of Paul’s gospel, Paul’s apostleship, and the mystery of the body of Christ.A Bible that remains clear when rightly divided.

The issue is not whether Christ fulfills Scripture. He absolutely does. The question is whether Christ’s fulfillment cancels, transfers, or spiritualizes God’s literal promises to Israel. Dispensational theology says no. Christ is Israel’s Messiah, the Saviour of the Church, and the coming King over all the earth. Fulfillment theology often compresses those truths into one spiritualized program. Right division lets every truth stand in its own place.

Hold the line where the Bible holds it: Israel is Israel, the Church is the Church, and the Kingdom is the Kingdom. When those distinctions are lost, prophecy collapses into confusion. When they are kept, the Bible opens up exactly as God wrote it. We invite to join our online Radio Bible Studies every Sunday Night from 7:00 – 9:00 PM EST.

Listen as recent Roman Catholic convert Carrie Prejean Boller and Tucker Carlson declare that “Christians are the new chosen people” and that the “land of Israel has become meaningless”. This is not only heresy, this is Replacement Theology at it’s finest. Sadly, this belief is… pic.twitter.com/eJvhOyEfjQ

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) April 22, 2026

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Bible Doctrine

Politicians In Washington Have Spent Many Years Stealing 2 Chronicles 7:14, Pretending America Can Claim A Promise God Gave To The Jews And Israel

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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America Is Not Israel, The Capitol Is Not The Temple, And Washington Needs To Stop Hijacking 2 Chronicles 7:14 To Sell A False Hope Of National Healing

For years, politicians in Washington have been quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14 like God was speaking to the United States of America, but He was not. That promise was given to Solomon concerning Israel, the Temple, and the land God gave to the Jewish people. America is not Israel, the Capitol is not the Temple, and wrapping a Jewish covenant promise in the American flag does not make it true. It only makes the biblical confusion worse. When professing Christian steal a promise God gave to the Jews and Israel alone and apply it to the Church, that’s called Replacement Theology, and it’s deadly and demonic.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJB)

Every election cycle, every national prayer breakfast, every staged moment of patriotic religion eventually seems to come back to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Politicians love that verse because it sounds holy, hopeful, and nationalistic all at the same time. It gives them the language of humility, prayer, repentance, and healing without requiring them to rightly divide the word of truth. But no matter how often they quote it, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is not a promise to America. That verse was spoken by the LORD to Solomon after the dedication of the Temple. The context is Israel. The house is the Temple in Jerusalem. The people are the Jewish people. The land is the land God gave to Israel. The surrounding verses make it impossible to miss unless someone is determined not to see it. God warns that if they forsake Him, He will pluck them up by the roots out of “my land, which I have given them.” That is not America, and it never was.

Donald Trump given 2 Chronicles 7:14 to read

US President Donald Trump is expected to contribute a recorded reading from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 as part of the event. Organizers said the passage was specifically reserved for him due to its longstanding use as a call to prayer in the United States. His reading will be delivered from the Oval Office. source

President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS / @realDonaldTrump) will be reading Scripture for America Reads The Bible (@AmericaRTBible). He will
be reading 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 from the Oval Office on Tuesday, April 21 between 6 pm-7 pm ET. This will be a defining spiritual moment in the… pic.twitter.com/UOUPI6TfV8

— America Reads the Bible (ARTB) (@AmericaRTBible) April 18, 2026

And yet for decades Washington has treated this verse like a standing covenant promise to the United States. Why? Because it feeds the myth that America is somehow a modern Israel, a specially favored nation that can claim Old Testament promises made to the Jews. That is not Bible belief, that is theological fraud wrapped in civil religion. It is politicians using scripture they do not understand to create a false sense of national destiny. Or maybe they do understand, and the deception is intentional. Take your pick, it works either way.

America does not have a covenant with God like Israel did. America was never promised a holy land. America was never given a Temple. America was never placed under the blessings and cursings of the Mosaic covenant. So when a senator, president, governor, or public preacher stands up and applies 2 Chronicles 7:14 directly to this nation, he is not preaching revival, he is misusing scripture. That confusion has done enormous damage. It has taught generations of Christians to chase patriotic restoration instead of biblical truth. It has made them think that national healing comes by claiming Israel’s promises instead of preaching the gospel of the grace of God. It has replaced right division with emotional nationalism, or to be more specific, Christian Nationalism. This lie has convinced many sincere believers that if enough Americans pray, then God is somehow bound to heal this country under a promise He never made to it.

The Church is not Israel. The Body of Christ is not an earthly nation with land promises, a Temple, and kingdom covenants. The Church is a heavenly people, and our doctrine for this present age comes through Paul’s epistles. Yes, there are spiritual truths we can learn from 2 Chronicles 7:14 about the seriousness of sin and the importance of repentance. But the passage itself belongs to Israel, doctrinally and prophetically, and ought never to be hijacked for America. What this country needs is not another politician waving 2 Chronicles 7:14 from behind a podium. America does not need a misapplied covenant promise. America needs the gospel. America needs men in pulpits who will stop flattering the nation with stolen verses and start telling the truth. The answer is not pretending the United States has taken Israel’s place. The answer is preaching salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ to lost sinners while there is still time.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Bible Doctrine

Here Are The 5 Main Attributes About The Day Of The Lord Time Period That’ll Help You To Understand The Day Of Christ And The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble

Published

4 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

Geoffrey Grider

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The Day of Christ is the Rapture of the Church and the Day of the Lord as an event is the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble, they are not the same

There is some confusion today about the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord, just as there is a similiar confusion between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. When we search the scriptures, comparing scripture with scripture, we see clearly both the difference and similarities between these things subjects that are so passionately debated in our day. So today we present you the first article in a series devoted to the topic of the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. “ 2 Timothy 2:15,16 (KJB)

The Kingdom of Heaven is the kingdom that the Lord Jesus Christ establishes as KING OF KINGS on this Earth at the Second Advent. It is a literal, visible and physical kingdom set up in Jerusalem on the throne of David, and it is for the Jews. The Kingdom of God, on the other hand, though it might sound similiar, is quite different. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom that you must be born again to enter into, it is for the Body of Christ, and it is the gospel that Paul preached. I am talking about this because, in much the same way, people have also conflated the Day of Christ – for the Church, and the Day of the Lord – for Israel, and they cannot possibly be the same thing, either. For more detailed information, we refer you to our Radio Bible Studies on this topic about both the Day of Christ and the Day of the Lord.

5 Main Attributes Of The Day Of The Lord

Is the Day of the Lord an actual day on the calendar? Yes. Is the Day of the Lord also the 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble? Yes. Is the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church, the Day of Christ, the first event that takes place at the start of the Day of the Lord time period? Yes. Is the Millennial Reign also the Day of the Lord? Yes. So we see that the Day of the Lord as a period of time, different from the Day of the Lord as either a 7-year event or a singular calendar day, encompasses all the end times events for Christians and the Church, as well as for the Jews and Israel. It’s a prophetic package deal. Now, I’ll grant you it’s a lot to swallow at one time, which is one of the reasons why Isaiah calls this – all of this – God’s ‘strange work’ and His ‘strange act’. “For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.” Isaiah 28:21 (KJB)

1). THE DAY OF THE LORD IS A PERIOD OF TIME: All the Old Testament prophets talk about the Day of the Lord, leaving out the ‘mystery’ of the Church Age Rapture of course, but this is dealt with in the New Testament by Paul. The Day of the Lord at its highest level is a period of time where God is visibly inserting Himself into the affairs of men, beginning with the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church, and lasting all the way to the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium. All these events that take place during this 1,007+ year period all fall under the heading of the Day of the Lord time period. If you miss that, every conclusion you come to hereafter will be off. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:24,25 (KJB)
2). THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE KICKS IT OFF: The very first event of the Day of the Lord is actually the Day of Christ, also called the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church. For the first time in 2,000 years, God shows Himself visibly to his born again children, and pulls them up into the clouds to be with Him. The Day of Christ is the first in a long series of end times events called the Day of the Lord. The prophets do not mention this event, but Paul with the revelation given him of this mystery, tells us everything we need to know about it. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 (KJB)
3). THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE IS NEXT: After the Body of Christ, the Church is removed, God then turns His attention to the Jewish people and Israel in a 7-year long event called the time of Jacob’s trouble that includes the great Tribulation in it’s last 3.5 years. “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7 (KJB)
4). THE CALENDAR DAY OF THE LORD HAPPENS NOW: We must also remember that the Day of the Lord, in addition to being a period of time, also has an exact calendar day attached to it. On this Day, King Jesus mounts up with His Body on white horses, and we return with Him to Earth at the Second Advent. The purpose of this trip is to fight the Battle of Armageddon, rescue the believing Jewish remnant, and to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on the Earth for a 1,000 period of perfect rule and reign. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” Revelation 19:11,14 (KJB)
5). GOG AND MAGOG & THE GREAT WHITE THRONE: When the 1,000 years are over, the battle of Gog and Magog takes place, the Great White Throne Judgment happens, and everything on every level is finally set right. This concludes the entire Day of the Lord time period, Jesus having now said and done everything the apostles and prophets said He would do, and He ushers in Eternity. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 20:12 (KJB)

The Day Of Christ Is To Be Desired

Here are just a few of the many Bible verses about the Day of Christ being the ‘blessed hope’ and ‘comfort’ of the born again believer:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJB)
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3 (KJB)
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)
“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16 (KJB)
“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” Philippians 1:10 (KJB)

The Day Of The Lord Is To Be Feared

The Day of the Lord is the polar opposite of the Day of Christ, as you can see in these verses:

“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 if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?” Amos 5:18-20 (KJB)
“Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.” Isaiah 13:6 (KJB)
“Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” Joel 1:15 (KJB)
“And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” Joel 2:11 (KJB)
“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.” Zephaniah 1:14 (KJB)

The Day of Christ is similiar to the Day of the Lord (Jacob’s trouble) in the sense that the first is the culmination of everything the born again believer has been waiting for since they got saved, while the second is the culmination of all the promises made to the Jewish people by the prophets. The are both monumental and irrevocable events that forever change the participants. The main theme in your King James Bible is the coming King and the coming Kingdom. All the events connected to it, whether for the Church or for the Jews, are all part of the overall Day of the Lord in the preparation of His coming kingdom. Also please remember that at the Second Advent, King Jesus comes with His Body – the Kingdom of God – to establish His kingdom on Earth – the Kingdom of Heaven. The Day of Christ perfects and redeems the Body of Christ, and the Day of the Lord, as a 7-year event, perfects and redeems the Jews. With this, we have perfect scriptural harmony and excellent understanding of the time period known as the Day of the Lord.

In a follow-up article to this one, Lord willing, we will address the argument that the Day of Christ does not apply or refer to the Rapture of the Church, but instead refers to the Jews in the Tribulation.