I was thinking about the phrase, ‘the Lord’s Day,’ in correlation to the Return of Christ. The Lord’s Day should not be confused with ‘the Day of the Lord.’ The Lords’s Day is Sunday, the Day of the Lord is the seven-year tribulation, which can include the Rapture on the front side and the Millennial Reign of Christ on the back side. For this blog, we’re talking about the Lord’s Day being a Sunday.
The Bible never identifies Sunday as ‘Sunday,’ but rather, as ‘the first day of the week.’ It comes after the Sabbath, which is Saturday.
Matthew wrote it this way, “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” – Matthew 28:1
- Here we can see that the first day of the week (Sunday) comes after the Sabbath, the last day of the previous week (Saturday). The phrase, ‘the Lord’s Day is found only in Revelation 1 where John recorded this way,
“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” – Revelation 1:9-11
- The Apostle John was exiled to Patmos for preaching the gospel of Christ. He said that ‘he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.’ While various commentators have voiced their opinions as to what ‘in the Spirit’ means in context to John’s use of it; but suffice it to say, John was in prayer.
We know that the apostles chose to worship the Lord on the first day of the week as opposed to the Sabbath. This had more to do with honoring Christ’ resurrection being on the first day of the week. This tradition still holds today, although Paul stresses that we shouldn’t make a big deal about which day of the week that we worship the Lord, as long as we set apart a day in our week to rest and worship the Lord. That’s a blog for another time.
In this blog we’re talking about the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, Sunday.
I had a thought, ‘What if the Rapture occurs on some future Sunday, when it’s actually Sunday in Israel? There is only one time zone in Israel; for me who lives in the Midwest, Israel is 8 hours ahead. For my friends on the west coast, they’re 10 hours ahead; and for my friends on the east coast, Israel is 7 hours ahead. In a manner of speaking, Israel’s present time is in our future.
Pentecost Sunday lands on May 19th this year (2024). The Assemblies of God has produced a lot of material that centers around Pentecost Sunday and how we should honor and celebrate it. The AG is an established Pentecostal fellowship so them doing this seems appropriate. Many churches don’t even recognize Pentecost when it comes around, but they should; after all, it’s the birthday of the NT Church. When you do the annual 50 day count from the Resurrection of Jesus, it lands on Pentecost, which is always on a Sunday. 50 days after Christ resurrection is Pentecost, 40 days after His resurrection is Ascension Day; that’s a study for another time.
My point here is that Jesus rose early in the morning on Sunday, Pentecost is on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day is on Sunday, and John, while on the island of Patmos, had a revelation from Jesus on a Sunday. As John describes the Christ in His glory and majesty, we can appreciate the splendor of the Master in His present and permanent form, glorified. One day soon we too shall be glorified just like the Lord is.
In this passage in Revelation 1 Jesus instructs John to write down everything He tells him and shows him, beginning with the seven letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor. It’s takes John two more chapters just to pen those letters.
Then in Revelation 4, this happens: “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. “ – Revelation 4:1,2
- John is translated through time and caught up into heaven with the rest of the NT Church living at that future moment when the Rapture occurs. This occurs ‘after these things,’ which is the Church age.
‘Immediately I was in the Spirit’ is a phrase that describes how the Rapture will occur; instantly and supernaturally. Our flesh will become spirit and our faith will become sight; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we who love Jesus and have made Him our Lord will all be changed.
I believe this happens on some future Sunday on Israel time. ‘What if Jesus returns for us on this Pentecost Sunday, when it’s Sunday in Israel. It may be Saturday evening in America, but it will be Sunday in Israel. Would that not be awesome?! I only say this because as I watch, wait, and work for the Lord, I am also anticipating His soon return in relation to all of the crisis that continues to loom over the world as the shadow of the tribulation continues to be cast. I know that nobody knows the day or hour of the Lord’s return, but I sometimes wonder if the Lord dropped us a little hint with that ‘Lord’s Day’ comment in Revelation 1. We may never know, until we do, then everyone will know.
I am not looking for trouble, tribulation, or the antichrist. I am looking for heaven, God’s glory, and Jesus Christ. There’s something special about this Pentecost Sunday, it lands exactly 40 days after the second Great American solar eclipse. Sure it lands on May 18th in America, but it will be May 19th in Israel, in the early morning hours there, just like it was when Jesus rose from the grave.
For those of you who read my blogs, you know that I don’t set dates for the Rapture and I don’t contemplate when Jesus will return. I simply watch the signs and keep myself busy for the Lord, doing His bidding and promoting the gospel where ever I can. I like to observe high watch seasons as they come and go; and this will be no different.
I always tell folks, a sign is just a sign until it becomes an event. Is this another sign, or will it be an event? Time will tell. Our 40- day window from the second eclipse closes on Saturday 5/18/24. I am planning on being in church on Pentecost Sunday, preaching God’s Word and ministering His truth to all who would hear.
I encourage you to do the same; let’s keep busy for the Lord, watching and working until He returns.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northwest Missouri. He lives with his wife of 35-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 