The other day I was discussing Moses' prayer in Exodus 32 and how I sensed urgency in his prayer because he understood God's impending judgement on those that sinned. As we discussed urgency in our prayers and actions for the lost my friend recoiled. She felt many have been abusive in their approach and that she "just wanted to introduce people to Jesus." I commented that many have been (and will continue to be) abusive but that our goal wasn't to just casually introduce people, it was to boldly proclaim the Gospel - and that this was to be done with a sense of urgency. There is a judge and some will be condemned (Jn 12.48). I'm still surprised that I find myself surprised by the aversion many Christians seem to have with God being a righteous judge and the immanent judgement for those who have not received forgiveness and submitted to His leadership.
But that's not the point of this post. The point is when this judgement will occur. According John in Jn 12.48 it will be "at the last day" and in Revelation 20.11-15, it will be a quite sobering experience. Here a general resurrection has occurred at the same time a cosmic renewal takes place. Those who have rebelled will be consumed in fire. The idea of this awesome event being at the last day is repeated by John in Jn 6.39-40, 44, 54; 11.24. This is the great resurrection (Dan 12.1-4; Jn 5.28-29).
It is at this time, when we are changed in the twinkling of an eye that death will lose it's sting (1 Cor 15.50-54; quoting the same concept prophesied by Isaiah in Isa 25.6-9; 26.19). All of this, the judgement of both the wicked and the redeemed, is happening in a single event (Mt 13.37-43; 25.31-46). And it will happen when our Lord is revealed from Heaven (1 Thess 4.14-17; 2 Thess 1.6-9).
Maranatha!
Technorati Tags: eschatology
2 comments:
Before or after the tribulation? :-)
after
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