The introductory vision of Revelation (Rev. 1:12-18) centers on a glorious picture of Jesus. He is the Son of Man (1:13), the one who died and is alive forevermore (1:18). Based on Daniel 10:5-6 and a number of other OT texts, this vision portrays the kind of Jesus who was seen only at the Transfiguration during His earthly ministry. The characteristics of Jesus in the vision are repeated throughout the seven messages of chapters two and three. The vision is like the stage backdrop to the first act of a play. The envelope of verses 11 and 19 make it clear that John received the vision of the entire book between those two verses.
In addition to the vision of Jesus (1:12-18) this section of Revelation also addresses the location and time when John received the vision (1:9-11). John received the vision on “the Lord’s Day.” That phrase has received a lot of attention from scholars of Revelation.
The most popular view of Revelation 1:10 among commentators is that the “Lord’s Day” of Revelation 1:10 is Sunday, the first day of the week. The strength of this view is that later Church Fathers used the phrase with reference to Sunday, and the Latin equivalent, dominus dies, became one of the names for Sunday in the Latin Church. But all clear references to Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” are much later than Revelation and thus cannot serve as evidence for the meaning when John wrote.
The best explanation for the Lord’s Day in Revelation 1:10 is that John was referring to the seventh-day Sabbath. While the exact phrase “the Lord’s Day” (kuriakê hemêra) is never used elsewhere in the New Testament or in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, many strong equivalents refer to the seventh-day Sabbath. The seventh day is “a Sabbath to the Lord (kuriô) your God” (Exod 20:10; Deut 5:14). “The Lord” (kurios) often refers to the seventh day as “my Sabbath” (ta sabbata mou– Exod 31:12-13; Lev 19:3, 30; 26:2; Isa 56:4-6; Ezek 20:12-13, 16, 20-21, 24; 22:3-8; 23:36-38; 44:12-24). In the Hebrew of Isaiah 58:13 Yahweh calls the Sabbath “My holy day.” And finally, all three Synoptic Gospels (Matt 12:8; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 6:5) quote Jesus as saying “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (kurios tou sabbatou). It would be strange, therefore, if John used the phrase “the Lord’s Day” for any other day of the week than the one we call Saturday.
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
… The first chapter of Revelation is really important. It sets the tone for the rest of the book. All of the major themes of Revelation are drawn from this chapter and further expanded on through the rest of the book. This means that in order to fully understand the book of Revelation, one must have a really good grasp upon the 1st chapter. The 1st chpter provides the context and backdrop of the book of Revelation.
We will discover,
In verse 1 God deals with the KINGDOM OF GLORY that He will set up in the earth.
In verse 2 God deals with the Word of God, the Testimony of Jesus (Spirit of Prophecy & Straight Testimony) that will be preached into ALL the world, then the end will come (Matt. 24:14). This is the “gospel of the kingdom” that finishes the gospel work. The Kingdom of Glory that is set up in verse 1 cause God’s people that join it to proclaim the gospel about it and welcomes all to join!
In verse 3 God deals with the “BLESSINGS” of receiving the Revelation of Jesus and joining His everlasting “Kingdom of Glory”. This blessing is ultimately the blessing of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in Latter Rain power—THE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS.
In verse 4 God deals with the final message to the church that He is purifying & preparing to be ready for His soon return.
In verse 5 God deals with the message & truth of the cross which reveals the PLAN OF SALVATION.
In verse 6 God deals with the final product of His work in His saints to make them His representatives in the earth—“Priests & Kings” for Him.
In verse 7 God deals with the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ.
In verse 8 God deals with the definition of prophecy and declares the truth about Jesus, the Lord of Prophecy. Ultimately, Jesus IS prophecy.
In verse 9 God deals with the setting of John (the church) receiving the revelation “in tribulation”.
Now we look at verse 10, which is a continuation of the setting & backdrop of John receiving the revelation. Understanding this is very important because the same setting & backdrop of John receiving the revelation will be the same setting & backdrop for the church to receive the FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. John represents the church. He is a TYPE of the church. John receives the revelation while suffering under persecution. So the church will receive the FINAL REVELATION while suffering under persecution.
Let us turn our attention to the verse of focus.
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
The first thing we notice upon reading this text is that John is in the Spirit. In order to receive and understand the revelation, John must be in the Spirit. The same is for us.
*1 Corinthians 2:9-14, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
…Here is a powerful passage. We all know the text that says, “eye has not seen, nor ear has heard”, but we hardly read the verse after that verse. Verse 10 says , “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit”. This is a powerful promise!
God promises to those who are fully in the Spirit, that He will reveal HEAVENLY themes to them! This is what John is experiencing while he is “in the Spirit” receiving the Revelation of Jesus Christ! John sees heavenly realities, heavenly themes, and even heaven itself at the end of the book! John sees Christ, 24 elders, the angelic throng, the temple in heaven, and so much more! John is given a glimpse of heaven!
The wonderful promise doesn’t stop at the Spirit revealing unto us heavenly realities. The promise includes “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God”. Here God promises to reveal unto us the “deep things of God”.
We are told,
“In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God.” {Acts of the Apostles p. 584}
…This means that the book of Revelation can only be understood by the leading & guiding of the Holy Spirit. And because this is the LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, and we are dealing with the FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS, we need the LAST/FINAL OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in order to FULLY understand it.
God is now beginning to pull the curtain back upon the final understanding of this book as the time is at hand.
We will discover,
THE FINAL REVELATION begins with the OUTPOURING OF GOD’S SPIRIT—THE LATTER RAIN!
As we see in our text of focus, one must be “in the Spirit” in order to receive & understand the book of Revelation.
This is why a blessing is pronounced upon all who read and study this book. The ultimate blessing is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Latter Rain power, the SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS.
This is why “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. We can only understand the revelation in light of the Holy Spirit’s guidance, “but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
We must study “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little” (Is. 28:10), thus comparing “spiritual things with spiritual”.
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
…John became oblivious to the things of earth and aware only of the impressions conveyed to him by the Holy Spirit. Natural perception gave way completely to spiritual perception. So it is with us.
Only as we “turn our eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, then the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.
*Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;…”
*Romans 16:25-27, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
We have already seen a major piece of the backdrop & context of the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, and that is—THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
John was “in the Spirit” in order to receive and understand the revelation. So it must be with us.
The next major point to consider is that John was “in the Spirit” “on the Lord’s day”.
Every verse and every line is very important in Revelation chapter 1. It all sets the backdrop & context of the rest of the book.
Here we are told that John was in the Spirit on THE LORD’S DAY.
Understanding this point is VITAL to our understanding of the context that John received the revelation in. For we have already discovered that it is this same context we will find ourselves in when the FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST is being given to the church first, then the entire world.
What is the Lord’s day?
Let us turn to God’s Word to answer this most important question.
*Mark 2:27-28, “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”
…We know that according to the Bible, the Biblical Sabbath of the Lord is the 7th Day Sabbath (Gen. 2:1-3, Ex. 20:8-11, etc.).
The 7th Day Sabbath is the Lord’s Day. John received the REVELATION on the Sabbath.
“It was on the Sabbath that the Lord of glory appeared to the exiled apostle. The Sabbath was as sacredly observed by John on Patmos as when he was preaching to the people in the towns and cities of Judea. He claimed as his own the precious promises that had been given regarding that day.” {AA 582}
What does this mean?
This Means Gods People Must Have The Sabbath Experience In Order To Receive & Understand The Revelation.
We have already discovered that THE FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST BEGINS AT THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT—THE LATTER RAIN.
John was IN THE SPIRIT.
And John was in the Spirit, ON THE LORD’S DAY.
These two points go hand in hand.
…In order to receive the LATTER RAIN, we must first be grounded IN the Sabbath and tested On the Sabbath.
The experience of the Sabbath & The Holy Spirit accomplish the same work in the believer.
*Exodus 31:12;16-17, “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign [seal] between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign [seal] between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”
…Notice here in Exodus God says the Sabbath is a SIGN/SEAL that He is the Lord that does “SANCTIFY” those that keep it.
*Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
…Here Paul says it is the Holy Spirit that seals us.
*Romans 15:16, “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
…Here Paul teaches the truth that we are sanctified by the Holy Ghost. In John 16, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will “lead us into all truth” and that we are “sanctified by the truth” (Jn. 16:13, 17)
Add all of these Scriptures together, the point is clear. The Bible teaches that we are SANCTIFIED by the Holy Spirit AND we are sanctified by the experience (message/truth) of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the SEAL and the Holy Ghost SEALS us.
The Sabbath & the Holy Spirit go hand in hand. They are TWO sides of the same coin—the work of God in the believer.
Both the experience of the Sabbath & The Holy Spirit make us “HOLY”.
THE FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST will determine if we are prepared for the TEST OF THE SABBATH & THE TEST OF THE HOLY SPIRIT—THE LATTER RAIN.
In order to receive the LATTER RAIN, we must first be grounded IN the Sabbath and tested On the Sabbath.
We are told,
“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.” {5T 214}
…Here we are told that the LATTER RAIN will not fall upon us until we receive the seal of God.
“The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided…. [Revelation 13:11-17 quoted.] …
This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who proved their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast.”
(Letter 11, 1890) {7BC 976}
…And here we are told that we will not receive the seal of God until we are tested by the “Mark of the Beast” which is the Sunday law test. “This is the test that the people of God must have BEFORE they are sealed.”
If you put these statement together, the point is that we are tested on the Sabbath before we are sealed. Once we have passed the final test on the Sabbath (Sunday Law Test), then we receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—The Latter Rain.
Hence, the Sabbath & The Holy Spirit go hand in hand.
John was IN THE SPIRIT on THE LORD’S DAY.
He had both the fullness of the Spirit and the Sabbath truth in his mind/heart. So it will be with us if we are to receive the FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
…There is still one more point to consider about the Lord’s day. And no doubt, we must consider its PROPHETIC significance. As we are told to study “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (Is. 28:10), we are to compare “spiritual [things] with spiritual” (1Cor. 2:13). God does not want us to miss this point. He has explained it all throughout the Scriptures, the law and the prophets.
The message of the Sabbath is all throughout the Word of God, and so it only makes sense that if there is any prophetic significance concerning the Sabbath, that it too will be all throughout God’s Word. Indeed it is. John being in the Spirit on the Lord’s day is very important.
We have discovered so far that understanding the context of John receiving the revelation is very important because as we have seen, the same setting & backdrop of John receiving the revelation will be the same setting & backdrop for the church to receive the FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. We have already proven that John represents the church, John is a TYPE of the church. John receives the revelation while suffering under persecution. So the church will receive the FINAL REVELATION while suffering under persecution. John received the revelation IN THE SPIRIT. So the church will be IN THE SPIRIT under the showers of the LATTER RAIN when she receives the FINAL REVELATION. John was in the Spirit on THE LORD’S DAY. So the church will be tested & sealed by the message of the LORD’S DAY (The Sabbath) and must stand upon it.
We now see how important Revelation 1:10 is…
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
There is one more piece to understand.
When explaining prophecy, Jesus used the approach of Luke 24:25-27,32.
*Luke 24:27, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
…We must do the same. Let us prayerfully do a study through Moses (the Law) and the prophets to unlock the key of the Lord’s day in order to understand its prophetic significance.
In its prophetic sense, Revelation 1:10 gives us a time-frame to the book of Revelation. The vision of the apocalypse comes to John while he is in vision on the Lord’s Day. That’s the first point. The Lord’s Day gives us the context of the vision.
John was given information & prophecies related to the Lords day. In the first sense, the Lords day represents the Sabbath of the Lord (Mark 2:28). But in a prophetic and deeper sense, the Lords day represents a specific period of time. The Old Testament writers referred to this day or time-frame in many places in the Scriptures. The Bible calls it the Day of the Lord. The “Day of the Lord” is “The Lord’s Day”.
The book of Revelation focuses its attention on the great final day of the Lord and events leading up to it. For John to be “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” means that he was carried in vision down the stream of time to witness events connected with the Day of the Lord.
The phrase day of the Lord identifies events that take place at the end of history and is often closely associated with the phrase “that day”.
One key to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history, directly or indirectly (or both), to accomplish some specific aspect of His plan. In this case it is the FINAL REVELATION. It is God’s FINAL & MOST DRAMATIC INTERVENTION in this earth’s history. God will intervene among the nations to show who is KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORD’S, the kingdoms of this world will be the kingdoms of our Lord (Rev. 11:15).
The day of the Lord in Scripture is associated with a period of time that will occur when Gods will and purpose for His world and for mankind will be fulfilled. It will be a period of time when Christ will reign throughout the world while He is cleansing His church and the heavenly sanctuary spiritually before He cleanses heaven and earth physically/literally at the 2nd Coming in the clouds of glory. This period of time will lead up to the actual literal day when Christ returns to earth to redeem His faithful.
The phrase the day of the Lord is used nineteen times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5) and five times in the New Testament (Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It is also alluded to in other passages (Revelation 6:17; 16:14).
The Old Testament passages dealing with the day of the Lord often convey a sense of imminence, nearness, and expectation: Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! (Isaiah 13:6); For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near (Ezekiel 30:3); Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand (Joel 2:1); Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14); Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near (Zephaniah 1:7). This is because the Old Testament passages referring to the day of the Lord often speak of both a near and a far fulfillment, as does much of Old Testament prophecy. Some Old Testament passages that refer to the day of the Lord describe historical judgments that have already been fulfilled in some sense (Isaiah 13:6-22; Ezekiel 30:2-19; Joel 1:15, 3:14; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18), while others refers to divine judgments that will take place toward the end of the age (Joel 2:30-32; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:1, 5).
The New Testament calls it a day of wrath, a day of visitation, and the great day of God Almighty (Revelation 16:14) and refers to a still future fulfillment when Gods wrath is poured out on unbelieving Israel (Isaiah 22; Jeremiah 30:1-17; Joel 1-2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1) and on the unbelieving world (Ezekiel 3839; Zechariah 14). The Scriptures indicate that the day of the Lord will come quickly, like a thief in the night (Zephaniah 1:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2), and therefore Christians must be watchful and ready for the coming of Christ at any moment.
Besides being a time of judgment, it will also be a time of salvation as God will deliver the remnant of Israel, fulfilling His promise that all of Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), forgiving their sins and restoring His chosen people to the land He promised to Abraham (Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:19-31, 40; Micah 4; Zechariah 13). The final outcome of the day of the Lord will be that the arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day (Isaiah 2:17). The ultimate or final fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the day of the Lord will come at the end of history when God, with wondrous power, will stand in final judgment, punish evil and fulfill all His promises.
In considering the Day of the Lord, we at once are plunged into a tremendous Old Testament doctrine, a doctrine that covers many pages in the Old Testament. Before examining the Scriptural revelation, it is necessary to determine precisely what this expression, the day of the Lord means. Many say that the present age is the day of grace. This does not mean that there was no grace shown by God in the previous dispensations. Obviously, many of Gods dealings with man from the Garden of Eden down to the present day have manifested the grace of God. But God in this present age has especially singled out the doctrine of grace for display (understood correctly), revealing grace as the basis & foundation for salvation and for our Christian life leading to a life of faith which works by love. Grace speaks of Gods unmerited favor to us through Christ who loved us and who died for us & transforms us back into His image. The Scriptures picture that after this day of grace has come to its close the Day of the Lord will begin.
The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. Today a man may be a blasphemer of God, an atheist, can denounce God and teach bad doctrine. Seemingly God does nothing about it. But the day designated in Scripture as the day of the Lord is coming when God will punish human sin, and He will deal in wrath and in judgment with a Christ-rejecting & truth-rejecting world. One thing we are sure of, that God in His own way will bring every soul into judgment.
The word day is used in the Bible in various ways. Sometimes it is used to refer to daylight; for instance, the hours between dawn and sunset. Sometimes it is used to refer to a twenty-four hour day. The Jewish day began at sunset and continued to the next day at sunset. That also is referred to as a day. Sometimes the word day is used in the Bible as a period of time, just as we use it in English. We speak of the day of our youth; what do we mean by that? We do not mean that we were young only one day, but we mean the extended period of time in which we were young. In 1 Thessalonians 5 the Day of the Lord is used in the sense of an extended period of time, but having the characteristics of a twenty-four hour day. That is, it is a day which begins at midnight or in the darkness, advancing to dawn and then daylight. It will close again with another period of darkness after daylight has passed. That apparently is the symbolism involved in the Day of the Lord. A few sample passages, out of literally dozens of them in the Old Testament, will give the general content of this period.
*Isaiah 13:6-11, “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”
…Here the prophet Isaiah says the DAY OF THE LORD is a time of “destruction”. It’s a time that will “destroy the sinners” out of the land. Its a time when there will be signs in the heavens letting all know that Christ is at the door. God will “punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity”. This is a time of FINAL JUDGMENT.
*Joel 1:15, Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
*Joel 2:1-2, “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”
…Notice here in Joel God says to “blow the trumpet in Zion” to prepare for the DAY OF THE LORD. John was in the spirit on the Lord’s day and he hears behind him the voice of a trumpet (Rev. 1:10). This is the same imagery that the prophet Joel saw. This day is a day of “darkness”, “gloominess”, a “day of clouds”, and of “thick darkness”. This imagery is taken from Exodus where God called Israel to Mount Sinai to receive the Law of God and to enter into covenant relationship with God. (Ex. 19:16-20) That experience was a TYPE of judgment for Israel.
*Zephaniah 1:14-15, 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.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
…The prophet Zephaniah says THE DAY OF THE LORD is a time of “wrath”. The book of Revelation certainly speaks about the time of God’s wrath. Zephaniah says it is a “day of trouble”. Daniel calls it a “time of trouble”. This is a major focus of the book of Revelation.
If we tie all of these texts together we can see a picture.
The time-frame of the book of Revelation is pointing to the Lords day or the day of the Lord, which is a time of destruction, darkness, wrath, and trouble. John was to write in the book the things the Lord showed him about events that lead up to & transpire during the day of the Lord. These particular events will lead us to the second coming of Christ. The purpose of Revelation is to blow the trumpet of warning to the churches and the world to prepare for the last days and time of trouble ahead of them! The time-frame points to the final conflict or final battle between Christ & Satan!
This is the prophetic truth concerning THE LORD’S DAY or THE DAY OF THE LORD.
IT IS THE TIME OF FINAL JUDGMENT.
We have already discovered that the FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST begins at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—THE LATTER RAIN.
We have also discovered that in the FINAL REVELATION, THE WORD OF GOD WILL BRING ON THE FINAL JUDGMENT.
The Final Judgment will be taking place because God’s Kingdom will have been established in the earth and God’s Kingdom brings the fullness of God’s Spirit—The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit/The Latter Rain. If the fullness of God’s Spirit is being poured out, that means the fullness of sin is being revealed, the fullness of righteousness is being revealed, and the fullness of judgment (the final judgment) is taking place (Jn. 16:7-11).
This lines up with the truth of THE DAY OF THE LORD.
THE FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST & THE DAY OF THE LORD ARE ONE & THE SAME!!!
Please do not miss this point. John received the vision of the revelation on the Lord’s Day.
Both the REVELATION and the DAY OF THE LORD reveal Jesus.
Both the REVELATION and the DAY OF THE LORD reveal end time events and the final judgment.
Both the REVELATION and the DAY OF THE LORD reveal the apocalypse.
Both the REVELATION and the DAY OF THE LORD begin with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—THE LATTER RAIN.
[Joel 2:23-32 says the Day of the Lord is the time of the Latter Rain]
This is why Satan absolutely HATES the book of Revelation and the SABBATH! (THE LORD’S DAY/THE DAY OF THE LORD)!
Both the REVELATION and the DAY OF THE LORD teach the prophetic truth of THE CLOSE OF PROBATION.
It is Satan’s desire that no one would see the truth revealed by the Revelation and the DAY OF THE LORD. Satan wants no one to see the truth about Jesus, the Sabbath, end time events, the final judgment, the apocalypse, the Holy Spirit & Latter Rain, and the Close of Probation.
Truly the REVELATION OF JESUS & THE SABBATH (LORD’S DAY/DAY OF THE LORD) are one and the same. And Satan hates it.
We are told,
“Says the great deceiver: “We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also. {TM 472}
…”The same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.” Satan seeks to “hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended”. This is called “THE CLOSE OF PROBATION”.
“hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviours mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he [Satan] seeks to accomplish. {GC 518}
…Satan seeks to hold the people in darkness until the Saviour’s mediation is ended at the CLOSE OF PROBATION.
“Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of Gods people from the present truth and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth and was pure in heart was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty. Satan knew this, and he was at work in mighty power to keep the minds of as many people as he possibly could wavering and unsettled on the truth.” {Early Writings p. 43}
“Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God’s people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over His people, and it will soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power for His people; and Satan will be permitted to work also.” {Early Writings p. 44}
…Satan seeks to hold the church and the world in darkness until the sealing is passed and probation is closed! He wants all of mankind to be lost and to cry out those sorrowful words, “the summer is ended, the harvest is passes, and we are not saved!” (Jer. 8:20)
THIS IS WHY GOD MUST SEND THE FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST & THE DAY OF THE LORD!
This is why the Sabbath must be understood and proclaimed “MORE FULLY”.
“And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. {Early Writings p.33}
This is why we must understand the truth & message behind the Sabbath as we gain the experience intended. We must understand the Lord’s Day—THE DAY OF THE LORD.
Many believe the climax of the book of Revelation is the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ in the clouds of glory. While this is definitely a high point and finale of the book (and the blessed hope), the climax of the book of Revelation is actually THE CLOSE OF PROBATION. Satan knows everybody believes Christ will come again. But he doesn’t want the church and the world to know that it is actually the close of probation that determines who will be ready for the coming of the Lord. We must be ready for the close of probation BEFORE Christ comes in the clouds. This is the truth brought out in the REVELATION and THE SABBATH! “The same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward.” {TM 472}
How does the Sabbath teach the truth of the Close of Probation? I am glad you asked.
Read Exodus 16. This passage deals with the falling of the manna, bread from heaven. Manna fell every day. On the 6th day, there was a double portion. However on the SABBATH, NO MANNA FELL. Probation closed on FRIDAY sunset, which is the beginning of the Sabbath, for gathering manna. Manna represents God’s Word the bread of life. Jesus also said that He is the living bread which fell from heaven. The manna typified Him. This is all to say that on the Sabbath, there was no more access to the Word of God or to Christ Himself because PROBATION HAD CLOSED! The Sabbath is supposed to be a time where we rest in Christ for what He has accomplished in our lives (with our cooperation) during the 6 days of labor. The Bible speaks of a time where there will be a famine in the land for hearing the Word of God! (Amos 8:11). The Bible speaks of time where the Lord will not be found! (Is. 5:6) He will finish his work as mediator and his intercession will be complete! Mercy will no longer plead for the world. Probation will be closed! Anyone who tried to gather manna on the Sabbath was stoned—cut off! Those who are not ready for the close of probation and try to seek Christ and his forgiving intercessory power will realize that they have been cut off—eternally lost! This is why on the 6th day, Friday-PREPARATION DAY, the double portion was critically important. The double portion made provision for God’s people. It carried God’s people through the Sabbath by giving them enough food necessary to make it through. Likewise we need to take PREPARATION TIME seriously by receiving a DOUBLE PORTION of God’s Spirit (The Early & Latter Rain) to carry us through the prophetic Sabbath before us—THE DAY OF THE LORD & CLOSE OF PROBATION.
This is the prophetic message behind the Sabbath, the Lord’s day/Day of the Lord. This is the whole point of the book of Revelation.
This is why the Sabbath is the seal! The Sabbath is very important in these last days. This is why we are told to be ready for the Sabbath “an hour before sunset”. This is because practice makes perfect in this preparation time. The prophetic hour of scripture is the “hour of His judgment is come”. Before Christ comes in the clouds, there is judgment and the close of probation. Once sun sets it is too late to be ready for the FINAL SABBATH—THE FINAL REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST—THE DAY OF THE LORD.
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
…Now we can move forward to look at the last part of this verse. John hears behind him “a great voice, as of a trumpet”.
We have discovered that John is in the spirit during the prophetic Day of the Lord. Old Testament prophets also called this time “the great day”. Truly, it is the “great day of the Lord”. There was only one day in the Jewish economy that was called “the great day”—THE DAY OF ATONEMENT.
The Day of Atonement was the great day in Israel. It was peculiarly holy (just like the Sabbath-The Lord’s day), and on the Day of Atonement no work was to be done. The Jews called it “YOMA”, THE DAY. The Day of Atonement occurred on the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri).
John being in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day also means that He was in the Spirit during THE DAY OF ATONEMENT.
We have already seen that the Sabbath points to the close of probation, the Day of the Lord points to the close of probation, and the Day of Atonement also points to the close of probation.
We have seen that the Day of the Lord is the time of FINAL JUDGMENT. Likewise, the Day of Atonement is the day of judgment. The message is clear. John was in vision during the time of final judgment right before the close of probation.
This is why there is a “voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet”. The solemn feast of the Day of Atonement came after the FEAST OF TRUMPETS.
John is in the Spirit during the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Trumpets is behind him. The Feast of Trumpets is a 10 day feast. The last day of the Feast of Trumpets is the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Trumpets was preparatory to the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Trumpets was also a solemn call to all of Israel to prepare to meet their God. It announced to them that the day of judgement was coming, and that they must get ready for it. It was a merciful reminder to them of the need of confession and consecration. It was the time of preparation to stand in the time of judgment on the Day of Atonement.
If you heeded and responded to the trumpet call during the Feast of Trumpets, you would be prepared to stand during the Day of Atonement.
So John was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind [him] a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
The trumpet was as a voice behind him.
*Isaiah 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
…God’s voice is as a trumpet and John is hearing the trumpet BEHIND him as Isaiah states that God’s people will hear a word BEHIND them saying “this is the way, walk ye in it”. By heeding God’s word, we will be able to stand in these last days and be ready for the final issues and the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:9 says, “…Satan, which deceiveth the whole world”. Revelation 13:3 says, “…the whole world wondered after the beast”. How then do we avoid being deceived if the whole world is deceived? The answer is in the prayer of Christ for his disciples till the end of time.
*John 17:14-17, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
…Here we are told that because God has given us His Word, we are NOT OF THE WORLD. The world hates us as it hated Christ because we have the Word of God as Christ did. We are to be sanctified by the truth, sanctified by God’s Word. This is what enables us to avoid being deceived. BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD, WE ARE NOT OF THE WORLD. We must receive the love of truth. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-13).
God’s voice is as a trumpet. The first place we see God’s voice as a trumpet is when God brought Israel out of Egypt and called them to Mt. Sinai to receive the Law of God and enter into covenant relationship with Him. This was also a TYPE of judgment.
*Exodus 19:10-20, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.”
…Here Israel was to be prepared and “sanctified” in order to meet God. As God came to meet them, they heard the voice of the trumpet.
*Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
The book of Revelation is giving the final trumpet call to the church and the world to prepare to meet their God. Those that heed the sound of the trumpet will stand on the Lord’s Day, the Day of the Lord, The Day of Atonement. This is why after the message to the church (Rev. 2 & 3), and after the unfolding of the 7 Seals (Rev. 5-6) comes the trumpet call to the world in the vision of the 7 Trumpets (Rev. 8-10). The trumpet call gives the last warning message to the world while God’s judgments mixed with mercy are falling. God is not willing that any should perish, but He is longsuffering and gives every warning to bring mankind to repentance before it is everlastingly too late.
*Hosea 4:12, “…prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”