On That Day
Pastor Albert Almore
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.”
Acts 17:16-17
“A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.”
Acts 17:18
“Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?”
Acts 17:19
“You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)”
Acts 17:20-21
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.”
Acts 17:22
“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”
Acts 17:23
In other words, let me tell you about this, "Unknown God.”
““The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.”
Acts 17:24
“And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
Acts 17:25
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”
Acts 17:26
“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
Acts 17:27
We know that He’s not far from any of us because of verse 28,
“‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
Acts 17:28
““Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.”
Acts 17:29
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Acts 17:30
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
Acts 17:31
“When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.””
Acts 17:32
Verse 31 again…
“For HE HAS SET A DAY WHEN HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
Acts 17:31
When they heard about this, some laughed. They thought it was funny, they made a joke about it. Others believed what Paul was saying and said, "When you get a chance, can you share more with us ABOUT THAT DAY?”
I want to speak to you today from this subject,
ON THAT DAY
What Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:11 is rising to the top of my heart this morning. It reads,
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11
One of the most searched questions of all time is what’s after this? What happens when we die. Whether we admit it or not, at one point this question has rang out in all of our hearts and minds, you know why? Because He has set eternity in every human heart that’s on this earth. I believe every now and then that eternity calls out to eternity to remind us that there’s more to this life than we know. I believe every now and then eternity calls out to eternity to remind us that this world as we know it won’t always be this way. This is what Paul was talking about in Acts 17:31 when he said,
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
Acts 17:31
I’m regards to that day, Jesus says in Matthew 24:36,
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36
There will come a day when the Father will look at the Son and say, "It’s time.”
When Paul tried to talk to them about that day, some laughed at him thinking it was a joke. This wasn’t the only time that Christ’s second coming was mocked, they mocked Peter for it as well. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:1,
“This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.”
2 Peter 3:1
I need to refresh your memory because I don’t want you to forget about His 2nd coming. I don’t want you to get so caught up in your day to day that you lose sight of ETERNITY. I’m writing you this letter to try to awaken your mind to life beyond the grave.
“I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.”
2 Peter 3:2
The Holy prophets proclaimed that Jesus was coming into this world born of a virgin, live as a sinless man, be crucified for our sins, rise from the dead on the third day AND HE DID! The prophets were right. Now you have the apostles proclaiming to you that this same Jesus is coming back into the world a second time, this time not just as the Lamb of God, but as THE LION FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH to judge the world. Peter goes on to say in verse 3,
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.”
2 Peter 3:3
“They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.””
2 Peter 3:4
Peter goes on to say in verse 8,
“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”
2 Peter 3:8
It hasn’t been that long in the eyes of God. You can’t compare time to eternity. You can’t even fathom what eternity is like, but every now and then you get a nudge from it, because He’s placed eternity in the hearts of mankind to remind us that we will live forever in a place called heaven or a place called the lake of fire. Verse 9 is one of the most powerful verses of all time. It says,
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
2 Peter 3:9
📝 It’s not a lack of power that’s holding Him back from fulfilling His promise of the second coming of Jesus Christ. It’s LOVE.
“But the day of the Lord WILL COME as unexpectedly as a thief…”
2 Peter 3:10
Where did Peter get this theology, this way of thinking from? He got it from Jesus Christ HIMSELF. Jesus said in Matthew 24:37-38,
““When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.”
Matthew 24:37-38
“People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”
Matthew 24:39
““Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
Matthew 24:40-41
Which one will you be? Will you be the one taken, or the other one left behind?
““So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 24:42
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.”
Matthew 24:43
“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Matthew 24:44
When he comes, what is he coming to do??? 2 Peter 3:10 says,
“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”
2 Peter 3:10
On that day….
📝 ALL WILL BE JUDGED.
II Corinthians 5:10 says,
“For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
II Corinthians 5:10
Jesus says in Matthew 12:36
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for EVERY idle word you speak. Matthew 12:36
On that day, all will be judged. Revelation 20:12 says,
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. THE DEAD WERE JUDGED according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Revelation 20:12
The Bible says, "…And the books were opened.”
📝 Our prayer must be, "God, OPEN THE EYES of those around us to the truth that one day THE BOOKS WILL BE OPENED.”
We know we can pray this because Ephesians 1:18 says,
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”
Ephesians 1:18
2 Kings 6:17 gives us this pattern as well as it reads,
“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
2 Kings 6:17
Our prayer must be, "God, OPEN THE EYES of those around us to the truth that one day THE BOOKS WILL BE OPENED.” On that day, all will be judged. Revelation 20:13 says,
"The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.”
Revelation 20:13
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:14-15
This is what Jesus was referring to in Luke 10:20 when He said,
“Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, BUT REJOICE THAT YOUR NAMES ARE RECORDED IN HEAVEN.””
Luke 10:20
📝 As long as there’s breath in your body, then there’s still time to ADJUST what’s written about you in the Book of Life.
Paul said,
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done IN THE BODY, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” II Corinthians 5:10
📝 The greatest thing that one could ever do while in this body is ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST as LORDand SAVIOR!
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10
“For this day in the city of David there has been born for you A SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah).”
Luke 2:11
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:25
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
II Corinthians 5:21
📝 Nothing can take HIS PLACE for taking OUR PLACE.
There is no sin, there is no mindset, there is no setback that can outweigh what He’s done. He took our place, and Nothing can take HIS PLACE for taking OUR PLACE. Colossians 1:13-14 says,
“For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].” Colossians 1:13-14
The greatest thing that one could ever do while in this body is ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOR so that you can boldly declare Job 19:25 along with the rest of us,
“For I know that MY REDEEMER LIVES, And He shall stand at last on the earth;”
Job 19:25
📝 ON THAT DAY ALL BELIEVERS WILL BE REUNITED.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
📝 ON THAT DAY ALL WILL BE MADE WELL.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says,
“He has made everything beautiful in its time...
Ecclesiastes 3:11
On that day, all will be made well. Every tear that you ever cried. Every question that you ever had. Every concern that’s ever been on your mind, He has made everything beautiful in its time, and on that day, all will be made well! Revelation 21:1 says,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.”
Revelation 21:1
“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
Revelation 21:2
“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.”
Revelation 21:3
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be NO MORE death or sorrow or crying or pain. ALL THESE THINGS ARE GONE FOREVER.””
Revelation 21:4
On that day, all will be made well.
Isaiah saw this day coming recorded Isaiah 60:20,
Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end. Isaiah 60:20
“And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.””
Revelation 21:5
“And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”
Revelation 21:6
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
Revelation 21:7
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.””
Revelation 21:8
To this, Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:13,
“But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:13
“And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.”
2 Peter 3:14
“And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved…
2 Peter 3:15
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
Acts 17:31
“When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.””
Acts 17:32
📝 ON THAT DAY ALL WILL SEE.
Jesus says in Matthew 24:27,
“For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.”
Matthew 24:27
“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. AND THEY WILL SEE the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:30
““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.”
Revelation 1:7
On that day, ALL WILL SEE. Revelation 19:11 says,
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.”
Revelation 19:11
“His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.”
Revelation 19:12
“The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.”
Revelation 19:14
“Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”
Revelation 19:15
“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and Lord of Lords.”
Revelation 19:16
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
Acts 17:31
Church….
ARE YOU READY FOR THAT DAY?