HoHum:
This verse reminds me of a horror movie. The people are desperately trying to get away and many times they do only for some of them to meet their demise after escaping several times.
Vs. 19- They escaped from a lion, a bear, only to enter their house and be bitten by a snake.
Also we see that their situation goes from bad to worse. Illustrations:
1. Cruelty to Animals- Two animal rights protesters were outside a meat packing plant in Bonn, Germany protesting the cruelty of slaughtering pigs. There protests were ignored and their attempts to stop the slaughter of these animals was unheeded. However, things went from bad to worse when the pigs became agitated, broke down the fence close to where the two protestors were standing, and trampled them to death.
2. The Terrorist- An Iraqi terrorist, named Khay Rahnajet, didn't put enough postage on a letter bomb when he sent it. He was upset with himself when it came back stamped, "return to sender." In fact, he was so upset that he forgot what he was doing and he opened the letter bomb. It exploded and almost killed him.
The Escapee- A man escaped from a jail in Florida and was on the run from the law. He ran through the everglades and stayed in the forest. He could hear the hounds chasing him in the distance. He came to a large fence with razor wire at the top. He climbed over the fence, cutting and scrapping himself in the process. Shortly after climbing into the fenced area lights and sirens went off and he was arrested by prison guards. He had broken out of jail and broken into a maximum security prison.
Thesis: Tonight let’s talk about the day of the Lord and then about the saved and the lost
For instances:
The day of the Lord
Common expression in the Prophets. The day of the Lord can refer to two things:
A day where God intervenes in human affairs
This is what the Israelites were focusing on here. Not what Amos is focusing on but what the Israelites are focusing on. They wanted deliverance from the Assyrians and from those who were oppressing them. Like when the Lord came to their deliverance in Egypt and brought them out through the Exodus.
The Lord did intervene 70 years or so after the exile. Rebuilt the temple and Jerusalem.
The Lord did intervene when Antiochus Epiphanes persecuted the Jews. Talked about in apocalyptic language in Daniel 11. They were delivered and had an independent country for several years.
At the time of Jesus Christ, the people wanted the Messiah, or a Messiah, to come and drive out the Romans. This is what many expected Jesus to do. However, we find that when the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins, most of the Jews did not want him as their Lord and Savior. They wanted a political Messiah. They did not want to be associated with the Gentiles. Hated Christians. In AD 70 the Romans came and destroyed the Temple and they have not offered sacrifices since. Only one sacrifice that is needed to satisfy God’s wrath and that is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
For them the days of Jesus Christ were like vs. 19 of Amos 5.
The Final Day of the earth as we know it
Martha and Jesus call it the last day in the Gospel of John
It is called the end of the age by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
It is called the Great Day in Jude.
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10
This is the day of the Lord that I am talking about from here on.
That Day for the Saved- Going from Bad to Good
There will be bad times right before the day of the Lord
Only good thing is the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, NIV.
Wars of rumors of wars, international strife
pestilence, famines, earthquakes
increase of evil, appearance of anti-christ
false signs and wonders, false christs and prophets
apostasy, betrayals
persecution of believers in Jesus
WE will HAVE OUR BAD DAYS For a Christian, a bad day is only preparation for better days. A bad day cannot last for us. “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5. Our God will eventually make "all things work together for the good" (Rom. 8:28). Jesus promises, ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33, NIV.
When the day of the Lord comes for Christians
Dead will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together ...” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, NIV.
We will be found blameless. 1 Corinthians 1:8: “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We will be given crowns. 2 Timothy 4:8: “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
We will have fellowship with Christ. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2, 3, NIV.
We will reign with Christ. “if we endure, we will also reign with him. 2 Timothy 2:12.
That day for the lost- going from bad to worse
Generally times will be bad for them right before the day of the Lord, but not as bad as for Christians. Like all mankind there will troubles and earthquakes, etc.
The day of the Lord for the lost
The dead will be raised. “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2, NIV.
The Judgement will begin. Revelation 20:11-15: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 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. 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 he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15, NIV.
It will terrible and dreadful for them. No longer see their saved loved ones. A day of anguish, weeping and gnashing of teeth. A day that starts and ends with their condemnation. The beginning of being separated from God’s presence. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9, NIV.
It will be a day without hope. Amos 5:20
Conclusion and invitation:
In January 2001 Canada’s first Ice Hotel was opened. That's right – Ice Hotel. The hotel is constructed of 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice covering more than 30,000 square feet. It has ceilings over 18 feet high, walls covered with original artwork, and furnishings carved out of ice blocks. The Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada is composed of 32 rooms and theme suites, two ice art galleries, a magnificent ice chapel, two exhibition areas, an ice cinema, and an immense lobby with an ice chandelier lit by fiber optics. The four-foot thick walls are ice. The floors are ice. The ceilings are ice. The furniture and the decorations are made of ice. Yes, even the BEDS are ice! If you get too cold in this environment, you can warm yourself in one of the hotel’s Jacuzzis or stand by one of its functional fireplaces. Like the fabulous Ice Hotel, we understand from the Scriptures that this WORLD with its powers and values is passing away. And one day – “the Day of the Lord” – That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” 2 Peter 3:12. This world is temporary, to be replaced with “a new heaven and earth” (2 Peter 3:13). Therefore, “since everything will be destroyed in this way,” Peter asks, “What kind of people ought you to be?” (2 Peter 3:11). His answer: “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12 NIV). The Ice Hotel presents a challenge: Are WE expending our time and energy on things that will soon "melt" away?“ (From David A. Sargent at: http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon15/ice_hotel.htm)
