June 16: YOU ARE HERE
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Revelation 6:14
This has yet to occur, but based on the previous two verses, it provides a “you are here” moment for the reader. It is possible that the events described in the previous two verses could occur again; if so, they will occur much closer together in time. Either way, we need never presume upon the mercy of our Savior and the forewarnings of His soon return. Each of us must be just as prepared for His coming as we are for a sudden end of our life here. At this very moment, there is a type of testing (tribulation) for every person on earth. Bear in mind that even worldly wealth and prosperity (see Jeremiah 22:21) that so many strive to gain or keep, can become a severe test of character. Jesus told His disciples:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matthew 24:29
We are living between stars that fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens...shaken. Revelation 16:20 parallels the point in time described in our opening verse: Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
The Old Testament refers to God’s final judgment as the Day of the Lord, not to be confused with the Lord’s holy Day (Isaiah 58:13; Revelation 1:10) which is His appointed weekly Sabbath. The Day of the Lord is the day of Christ’s return and is consistently associated with the phenomena mentioned in verses 12-14. His awesome power is more than matched by the tenderness of His love. It is a love that has patiently awaited for His beloved to voluntarily come to Him. Over and over we are told that His valiant return for His bride is assured. You and I must make certain that this day does not catch us by surprise, as a thief in the night, but rather let each of us daily renew our commitment to Him whose faithfulness is great, whose compassions fail not, and whose mercies are new every morning! (see Lamentations 3:22-23).
The Day of the Lord will bring redemption and deliverance to God’s faithful ones, and annihilation to the unrepentant. It will be so intense that He generously provides repeated calls to get ready, to be ready, and to stay ready. A life of readiness for this great day is a blessed life that will also bless others. This readiness is to be shared with as many as will listen. One of the most popular last-day delusions is that somehow those who are unprepared will be given a second chance to “get it right” that lasts for seven years. There is no such loophole in His plan and no mention in the Scriptures of such an idea. Peter gives us a clear reminder of how events will play out on the day of the Lord’s return:
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 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… 2 Peter 3:7, 9-10
For further study: Psalm 91:8; Isaiah 11:4; 24:1,3; Jeremiah 4:23-26; 25:33