THE APPROACHING DAY
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
In this passage we have several positive commands given us for our walk in every day christianity. Let us draw near, in verse twenty-two. Let us hold fast, in verse twenty-three. Let us consider one another, in verse twenty-four. But when we come to the seriousness of The Approaching Day we have a negative command! NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, in verse twenty-five.
And just what day is this? We have to continue to read on into verses twenty-six and twenty-seven of this passage to understand to what day he is referring. It is the day of judgment against this willful sin of abandoning a previous profession of Christ!
There are those who say that to these Hebrew believers it was the anticipated day of Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem. And to them it may have been. For the days of Lot (Luke 17:28) were most assuredly personal days to Lot and his family, as well as to all who dwelt in Sodom and Gomorrah. But the Lord plainly states of Lot’s personal day of judgment, Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:30) Therefore we understand that The Approaching Day is the day of the Lord’s bodily return in order to render judgment upon the universe.
And even though we are clearly instructed of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only, (Matthew 24:36), we have no contradiction in our Hebrew verse relating to ‘the seeing’ of The Approaching Day! For as soon as the Lord sets forth this emphatic instruction in verse thirty-six of Matthew twenty-four, he then mentions the words, the days of Noah three times in the next two verses! Therefore we clearly understand that, although no one can know the exact time of Christ’s coming, we must never allow it to be very far from us THAT HE IS COMING! For it is not the date, but the Deity on whom we must dwell! Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without (any more provision for) sin unto salvation.
For no one knows THE day or hour! Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But we are instructed to be aware of “the days!” Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But why is it so important that we keep the coming of the Lord in our minds? The obvious reason is listed in verse twenty-five of our text in Hebrews chapter ten. We will not exhort (to “warn, urge, or encourage”), one another, especially in an increasing manner – so much the more – but only as we see the day approaching!
The Apostle Paul instructs the Roman believers that this awareness will also have great affect on their own personal godliness. Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
The great difference between the faithful and wise servant, and the evil servant of Matthew twenty four (see verses 44 – 51), is that the evil servant put the return of the Lord far from his mind! – He said, My lord delayeth his coming; Then he committed the same sins as did the population in Noah’s day. For it states that the evil servant, after relieving himself of any accountability by dismissing the coming of his lord, began to eat and drink with the drunken, and to smite his fellowservants. Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Compare that with the population in the days of Noah. Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Also both the evil servant and Noah’s society turned to violence. Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
It should be obvious that the one thing which brought about the violence from men and the judgment from God in Noah’s day was that the population devoted themselves only to the natural needs and left out all awareness of God! THAT alone made the difference between the faithful and wise servant and the evil servant! And our Lord faithfully warns us that it shall be this way in the day of his return! Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
We have many scripture verses which instruct us of the benefit of keeping the Lord and his return in our hearts. For it is possible to see the day approaching. Here are but a few: Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Refusing to see The Approaching Day is a deception of the flesh and of the satanic powers. It is both and ancient evil and will continue on until the end of time.
Ezekiel prophesied of this. Ezekiel 12:21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? 23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. 24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
And the Apostle Peter warns of it as occurring in the last days. 2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
To diminish the character of God in any way will also equally diminish the character of man! If we say that He will not return and judge the human race, we change his revealed image. And all those who have changed his image, have changed themselves! Every time the Apostle Paul wrote that man changed God’s image, we read that man’s character was abruptly changed.
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
When mankind does not give God his rightful glory, it makes their heart dark and their imaginations vain!
When mankind changes the glory of God into other images, God ALSO gives mankind up to vile and inordinate affection which reduce him to the status of the beast!
When mankind changes the truth of God into a lie – which the Harlot church of our day is successfully doing – God gives them over to vile affections! Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s (or, money’s) sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, ‘lazy gluttons.’
And the Apostle Peter states that they become as natural brute beasts! 2 Peter 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
For with what are the animals out in the pasture occupied with? – They eat and breed! And what was the population in Noah’s day doing. – eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. And what did the evil servant do, who put his lord’s return far away? He ate and drank and smote his fellowservants. We cannot put the day of accountability far from us without it affecting our character, changing it into the likeness of the animals!
Therefore be aware of anyone trying to pervert the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! For any perversion of the gospel, which presents the true and holy character of God, will also pervert your immortal soul! Mark them and avoid them! Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Pastor Gene Breed
April 12, 2018
