The Lord Judges

[Truth Files]

The current world that we live in is under the Lord's coming judgment [hour of trial] and He will personally intervene at the end of this age for the purpose of bringing human rule to a close.

This will include an array of both natural and supernatural catastrophic events. His purpose will be to focus attention on and confirm His rightful position as creator and ruler of the earth.

His previous judgment of the earth recorded in Biblical accounts include one related to satan's fall and rebellion against His position, authority, and control. [Ezekiel 28:11-19]

This rebellion occurred long before humans were introduced as an act of the Lord's creation recorded in Genesis. Satan considers himself equal to or above the Lord and he commands one third of the angelic realm who joined his rebellion.

Genesis 1 introduces us to the concept and truth that the Lord created all things in the beginning.

We are next given a description of the earth which indicates a condition of cataclysmic judgment, upheaval, and massive destruction. [Genesis 1:2; Jeremiah 4:23-26]

This is not a description of the earth in the form of its original creation. This later judgment of the earth by the Lord was against satan's rebellion.

The next judgment was directed toward satan, his angelic followers, and humans in the form of a worldwide flood on the earth which destroyed all life except for Noah and his family. [Genesis 6, 7, 8; Matthew 24:37-39]

The corruption of all humanity had reached a level that was beyond the Lord's tolerance which led Him to His intervention and subsequent actions.

The world is currently approaching another judgment by the Lord for refusal to believe the truth about personal salvation through Jesus Christ and for similar conditions as they existed before the flood.

Because of these things He will send strong delusion in the form of satanic deception to an unsaved world. Most of the world's population will not be expecting the Lord's sudden intervention just as they did not anticipate the flood. [Matthew 24:37-39; 2Thessalonians 2:3-12]

He has said that this generation [existing at the time of the end of this present age] shall not pass away [end] without all of these judgments taking place upon them which will lead up to His visible return to the earth. This verse is primarily focused upon a regathered nation of Israel that will be in the lans during the coming 70th week decreed for the nation, but entire earth will be subjected [Matthew 24:34; Revelation 6:12-17]

Paul tells believers that this sudden intervention will begin without warning and will catch the world off guard. He also links this beginning of the day of the Lord to the immortalization of believers just before. [1Thessalonians 4:16; 5:2-11; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 3:10; 3:16; 18:4]

Believers are not appointed to the Lord's coming wrath, will not be caught off guard, and will escape the coming time of His judgment against an unbelieving world. [1Thessalonians 5:1-9; Revelation 3:10]

His judgments against the fallen angelics, the pre-deluvian world, an intransigent unbelieving world at the end of this present age, and against another human rebellion at the end of His coming millennial kingdom on the earth are noted in the following scriptures:

2Peter
2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

2:8 For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;

2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.