When is the "last day"? What happens on this day? Does the Bible give us any information with regard to it? It sure does! Let us begin by first looking at several passages that speak of the "last day." Then we will move into some other information to help round out our study on the "last day."
WHEN IS THE "LAST DAY"?:
“All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. … No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. … He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:37-40, 44, 54).
Whenever the “last day” is, four times in this passage Jesus states that He will raise the righteous to life on that day. Could this be the day in which the "Rapture" takes place? We will soon find out. In John 11:24, Martha acknowledges that Lazarus would be raised up on the “last day.” So we definitely know that there is a resurrection that takes place at this point in time.
John 12:44-50 says, “And Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.’” According to this passage, judgment also takes place on the “last day.” Resurrection unto eternal life for the righteous, and condemning judgment for the wicked. The “last day” also seems to include blessings and curses. Sounds an awful lot like Matthew 25:31-46:
Job 14:12 says that man will be resurrected when “the heavens be no more.” Jesus said “Heaven and earth will pass away…but of that day…no one knows…but the Father alone” (Matt. 24:25-26, emphasis supplied). In 2 Peter 3:10-12, Peter states that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (emphasis supplied). This is exciting, brothers and sisters. We learned above that the resurrection takes place on the “last day,” but we were not sure when that day was. Here, we are told that man will be resurrected when the heavens and Earth pass away. Further, we are told that “the day of the Lord” brings the passing of the heavens and Earth. Are you starting to see the picture clearly? I am!
CONCLUSION:
The day of the Lord is a singular event referred to as “that day” and the “last day.” The day of the Lord is that day wherein Jesus Christ returns like a thief (Matt. 24:37-44; Luke 12:36-40; 1 Thess. 5:1-4; 2 Pet. 3:10-12; Rev. 16:15), both the righteous and wicked dead are raised (Job 14:12; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:38-40, 44-45, 54; 11:24; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:22-24), all men and nations are judged (Matt. 25:31-46; John 12:44-50), receiving blessings (Isa. 4:2-6; 30:26; Hos. 2:18-23; Joel 3:9-21; Amos 9:11-15; Mic. 4:6-8; Zeph. 2:7; Zech. 14:6-9; 2 Tim. 1:12, 16-18; 4:7-8) or curses (Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zech. 1:14-15; Matt. 7:21-23; 24:35-39; Luke 10:8-12; 2 Thess. 1:9-10; John 12:44-50), and the heavens and Earth are destroyed (Job 14:12; Matt. 24:25-26; 2 Pet. 3:10-12).
WHEN IS THE "LAST DAY"?:
“All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. … No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. … He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:37-40, 44, 54).
Whenever the “last day” is, four times in this passage Jesus states that He will raise the righteous to life on that day. Could this be the day in which the "Rapture" takes place? We will soon find out. In John 11:24, Martha acknowledges that Lazarus would be raised up on the “last day.” So we definitely know that there is a resurrection that takes place at this point in time.
John 12:44-50 says, “And Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.’” According to this passage, judgment also takes place on the “last day.” Resurrection unto eternal life for the righteous, and condemning judgment for the wicked. The “last day” also seems to include blessings and curses. Sounds an awful lot like Matthew 25:31-46:
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ … Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.’”THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HEAVENS:
Job 14:12 says that man will be resurrected when “the heavens be no more.” Jesus said “Heaven and earth will pass away…but of that day…no one knows…but the Father alone” (Matt. 24:25-26, emphasis supplied). In 2 Peter 3:10-12, Peter states that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (emphasis supplied). This is exciting, brothers and sisters. We learned above that the resurrection takes place on the “last day,” but we were not sure when that day was. Here, we are told that man will be resurrected when the heavens and Earth pass away. Further, we are told that “the day of the Lord” brings the passing of the heavens and Earth. Are you starting to see the picture clearly? I am!
CONCLUSION:
The day of the Lord is a singular event referred to as “that day” and the “last day.” The day of the Lord is that day wherein Jesus Christ returns like a thief (Matt. 24:37-44; Luke 12:36-40; 1 Thess. 5:1-4; 2 Pet. 3:10-12; Rev. 16:15), both the righteous and wicked dead are raised (Job 14:12; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:38-40, 44-45, 54; 11:24; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:22-24), all men and nations are judged (Matt. 25:31-46; John 12:44-50), receiving blessings (Isa. 4:2-6; 30:26; Hos. 2:18-23; Joel 3:9-21; Amos 9:11-15; Mic. 4:6-8; Zeph. 2:7; Zech. 14:6-9; 2 Tim. 1:12, 16-18; 4:7-8) or curses (Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zech. 1:14-15; Matt. 7:21-23; 24:35-39; Luke 10:8-12; 2 Thess. 1:9-10; John 12:44-50), and the heavens and Earth are destroyed (Job 14:12; Matt. 24:25-26; 2 Pet. 3:10-12).