THE COMING DAY OF GOD

By Dan Luehrs

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10-13 (NKJV)

Many of us wonder what the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will look like. Look no further than the verses above, He is coming in great fire and glory that will change not only all of us but the earth and the heavens. When I speak of the heavens I am not talking about the sky or space. I am referring to the three spiritual realms around us in which we as Christians have the right to access as being born of the kingdom of God. In the beginning God created the heavens, (that being plural) and the earth being one. Five times in 2 Peter 3 he speaks about the heavens in this short chapter. He is trying to drive a point home about the heavens that exist around us, even though most Christian never even think of them or spend any time there to receive strength from the Lord’s presence. Most Christians live out of the earthly and soulish realm rather than the spiritual which Jesus died to give back to us. We are spiritual beings!

These three heavens Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:2 will dissolve right before the eyes of all mankind, every person simultaneously will see the Lord and morn that they had missed out on serving God by faith and knowing Him. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Rev 1:7 (NKJV). Just like a curtain that falls to the ground to reveal something new, so will the day of the Lord be! Yes, all the people of the earth will greatly be blessed as they repent and turn to the Lord but they will suffer great loss in their eternal rewards when they are handed out because they did not follow the Lord by faith. The fire of God’s glory will test every ones work, whether it be of God or themselves. Blessed will be those who have believed and do not see in the natural!

Each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor 3:13-15 (NASU).

I am sure that the three heavens were created for many reasons unknown to us right now, but one reason the heavens or the spirit realms where created was so that man was protected from God. He has made it so that the only way we can see Him is through the eyes of faith, even though we cannot see God with our natural eyes we can still see Him with the eyes of our heart which is far more rewarding for us because God is a spirit being that cannot be touched. If everyone could see God in the natural they would serve Him, but because God has shut us up in faith He rewards us for believing that He is!

We also know that the devil, principalities, and the demonic beings exist in a heavenly realm which we believe is the second heaven. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph 6:12 (NKJV). We know at some point in time these evil power will be cast out of the heavens and cast to the earth when the church is strong enough to overcome them and rule over them, God has made us to do this. Adam gave up this realm when he obeyed the devil rather than God. Soon all this is going to switch when the church rules over all with Jesus.

WHERE RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV)

Let me give you a shocker, there is no sin in heaven! Not one Angel or glorified saint will ever sin in the presence of God. So why is it that many Christians chose to live in sin here? Are we not here to be prepared for living in eternity with God and our loved ones? Oh yes we try to justify ourselves by saying we are just human, but God says, “Be holy for I am holy.” There is no misunderstanding with this command. When we sin we must confess it, repent of it and go on with life not living in shame or guilt of the past. There is grace and forgiveness in Christ from the moment we were born to the time we die, however God has not given grace so that we can stay living in sin!

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-13 (NASU)

FREED FROM THE SHADOWS

I was sitting in my chair spending time with the Lord when all of a sudden I found myself in a car driving down a road. There were trees and other debris on the road ahead of me and I thought for sure my car would hit it and I would have come to a sudden halt, but the car continued to go forward like nothing was there. As far as I could see down the road it was covered with debris, then all of a sudden I could see that it was shadows and not real debris that was covering the road. This verse quickly came to me.

So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Col 2:16-17 (NASU)

I ask the Lord what the vision meant. He said, “The road is Jesus, and the car you are in is the Holy Spirit moving you down the road of life in Christ, and the shadows are the law that is in your flesh and is always trying to hinder and distract you from enjoying your journey down the road of life in Christ, Who is your true life. You must keep your eyes on Jesus and not on yourselves and the distractions to stay on the road of life with joy and peace.”

SHADOWS

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 (NASU)

I never realized how much the Bible has to say about shadows, this much I know there are no shadows in God! Just what is a shadow? Darkness! It is where the light is not shining because of something blocking the light. 1 John 1:5 says, “…God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” If we have things in our heart that is blocking the full light of God’s word from shining in, it’s not God’s fault, the enemy of our soul is the one casting shadows on the path of life keeping us from seeing the truth of God’s word and will for our life.

“John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.” John 3:27 (NASU)

EVERY good and perfect gift comes down from God. As humans we only see things that are new and shiny that make us feel good as something perfect and good from God. However, the Bible says that when we are disciplined from God or our parents, that is a good thing! There is nothing in our life that can touch us unless God allows it too. Satan had to get permission from God to touch Job and Peter and he must get permission to touch us in anyway, he gets no free shots unless we open the door for him through sinning willfully. Even then God’s hand of protection is lifted off our lives to teach us right from wrong. I have found in life, if I am serving God with my whole heart I will suffer when I’m obedient and if I am serving sin I will suffer the consequences. Only suffering for righteousness sake has any redemption in it, but God will work all things for good that love Him. Nothing is wasted in Christ! The shadows in our life are the things we are not seeing clearly.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:5-9 (NASU)

ONE WITH OF GOD

The story of Lazarus is written in John 11 where Jesus proclaims Himself as the “Resurrection and the Life” to Martha. She did not fully understand Who Jesus really was when it came to the point of raising her brother Lazarus from the dead. How can a person possibly believe for life to come into a body of someone that has been dead for four days? That seems even impossible for God, let alone with a man that was standing before her, but this resurrection foretold the plans of God for the resurrection of the Son of God a few months down the road to His disciples and to the nation of Israel. Somehow this resurrection was to give them hope that when Jesus would be put in the tomb, He too would rise again to life because He is the resurrection and life, death could not hold Him in the ground! Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" John 11:40 (NASU)

GOD’S GOAL ONENESS

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12 (KJV)

The whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth is so that man would be brought back to oneness with creator God. Jesus came that we may have life, and life comes from oneness, fellowship, and relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son. There is no other way possible! We the people of God who are born again are walking miracles of the resurrection power of God. The life of Jesus in us is the same power that raised Him from the dead, we truly are sons of the resurrection of Jesus. He not only died for us individually, but corporately as a body so that we together in oneness would display His love and power to a dying and mostly dead world around us. “And not for the nation only, but that also the children (son’s) of God, who have been scattered abroad, he may gather together into one.” John 11:52 (YLT). This word was given by the Spirit of the Lord to show us that we through the resurrection are called to be one with Him and all those who are called to be the sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. “Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” Luke 20:37 (NKJV). Our unity and oneness with one another will come to pass, because this is the central purpose of God for us, to be the city of God. Our calling is oneness, first with God, then with each other. “Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:16 (CJB)

In a nut shell, Jesus is going to resurrect the sons of God! Right now we seem to be in the tomb, there seems to be no real raw power of God or the life and resurrection of Jesus being displayed anywhere that I know of in the earth. Can I ask you, when was the last time you saw an arm or leg grow out of someone, or someone being raised from the dead when they were dead for four days? Get ready, get ready because the love and power of God is going to astound us all! The resurrection and life of Jesus is now calling the sons of God from their tombs and every promise of God to them will come to pass from the beginning of time!

For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything, should bring the Initiator of their deliverance to the goal through sufferings. Heb 2:10 (CJB)

In order for the sons of God on earth to come into the glory we will need the assistance of God, we cannot raise ourselves from the dead, only God can deliver us from this body of death that we carry around with us. Resurrection day is upon us, we will overcome all sin and death in the flesh. This is where the story of Lazarus is our story, his name means, (Assistance of God). Just as he got God’s assistance to be raise from the dead, so will we in this coming day of God. Be ready!

THE DAY OF ASSISTANCE

And after these things I saw another messenger coming down out of the heaven, having great authority, and the earth was lightened from his glory. Rev 18:1 (YLT)

To assist someone means to help them out. God knows we need all the help we can get! In fact, the Holy Spirit is called our HELPER. In the coming outpouring God will do just that for us, by the power of the Holy Spirit He will deliver us from this body of death to being swallowed up into His life becoming the glorious bride of Christ. Right now this looks impossible in our own eyes, but nothing is impossible with God!

I have been serving the Lord for almost forty years by His help (assistance) of grace. Through these years I have seen many Christians come and go in my life and many of those same people do not follow the Lord any longer. When I look back over those years I have experienced times of the refreshing of the Lord that has kept me on the path of life. Without these times of refreshing I am sure that I to would have turned from the path and followed my own way that I thought was right for me. I can tell you assuredly that God has kept me unto this day as I am sure He has you also.

Revelation chapters 18 and 19 tell of a time coming, and I believe is now for this great outpouring of God that will change the tide of sin and death this is working through you and me. It is coming through the power of His word! Just as He created and keeps all things by the power of His word, He will now deliver His people through the spoken word of God. We see this in Revelation 18:1, “And after these things I saw another messenger coming down out of the heaven, having great authority, and the earth was lightened from his glory.” A messenger or Angel can be a man or women that carries the anointed word of God to the people on earth. We as believers have the right to ascend into the realms of God (heaven) to receive the word or assignment to deliver mankind from sin and death.

With this message comes such great authority that the earth will be lit up from the messengers of glory! This is what I call the last days outpouring of glory that will change and destroy the spirit of Babylon (the man of sin) that is working in the earth and the church, which is in you and me. The eyes of our understanding will be opened in such way that the revelation of Jesus Christ will come forth through this outpouring of the Spirit of God even greater than the day of Pentecost.

THE MESSAGE

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues. Rev 18:4 (NASU)

The message that is carried from heaven is, “Come out of her my people!” She is the great mother of harlots in chapter 17, she rides on the back of beast system of the world and the religious church that has no power or authority from God.

HE SUDDENLY COMES

"For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. …For in one hour your judgment has come.” Rev 18:8, 10 (NASU)

This outpouring of the glorious fire of God will be awesome for the people of God that are prepared for Him to come suddenly like a thief. But it will be judgment for those who do not love God’s word and Spirit. In fact, it will be hell to them at first until they repent of their sin and get right with God, then they too will enjoy His glorious presence.

Through this last great outpouring of the Spirit of God, the spirit of the world “Babylon” will be, “…Thrown down with violence and will be found no longer!” Rev 18:21. And because of this great victory chapter 19 is fill with hallelujah’s from the saints of God and abundant praises are sung from the throne of God because Babylon will be found no more in us or in the earth. Hallelujah!

THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write, ' Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God." Rev 19:7-9 (NASU)

“These are the true words of God!” He is saying there will be a people prepared and readied by this last outpouring of the Spirit of God in the earth. Within this marriage supper we will eat the full revelation of Jesus. Now the question I have for us is, will we be ready to receive and deliver the word and power of the Lord to the church and then to the world? All we can do is consecrate ourselves to Him and make ourselves available for whatever He chooses to do through our lives. Be open, be readily available to Him, for you are the bride of Christ!

Dan Luehrs

PO Box 341

Intercession City, FL 33848