Cp. 3 Understanding the "Evil Day" - Part 1

Eph. 6:13 - “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand (withstand, KJV) your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” It is my opinion, that this verse contains a warning regarding the evil day that will be called the Great Tribulation, as described in Rev.12:17, 13:7-10 and Dan.11:33-35. There are three acceptable theories as to the meaning of this verse. I believe theories 1 & 3 to hold the most truth.
1. Compared to heaven, all our days are evil and thus we need the armor for daily living.
2. This is meant only for those times when we are in a spiritual conflict; battling sin, diseases, etc.
3. By using "the" it is talking about a special, future prophetic time.
This third aspect is the one I’m going to focus on. Looking at it from this perspective there are some biblical truths that need to be pointed out. By utilizing the word "withstand", Paul is shutting out all hope that we will escape this event. We will have no choice but to withstand. The only other choice left to you is whether you will be armed or unarmed for that day. Our victory is assured if we are armed, but not if we forsake this opportunity. It is also possible that this alludes to the "hour of trial" from Rev. 3:10 - “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth” (more on this later). While we are withstanding (enduring patiently), Jesus promises to "keep" (to guard against, as in keeping an eye on to protect from danger) us "from" (keep away, protect us from danger in the midst of adversity). This does not say He will "take us away from" as most pre-tribulation theorists try to read into this verse. Therefore we have three inescapable truths.
1.) There will be a day of evil.
God says in Is. 45:7 - “…I make peace and create evil…“ The implication in this verse is that God uses phenomena or events like hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes or other types of natural occurrences as a type of judgment or warning to the populace. I am not talking of evil in its moral or intrinsic sense. Evil in this case means afflictions, persecutions and the sufferings we are called to as believers. We are to choose this type of evil, as exampled by Moses, knowing He will see us through, rather than the type of evil from which sin results. Heb.11:25 - “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” God uses the afflictions of evil to create joy in the believer. Rom. 5:3 - “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings…” When we undergo these trials, it helps us to remember the sinfulness of our past, and makes us aware of the dark parts that still reside within us. This "day of evil" will reveal the falseness of the hypocrite. We may find that our corruption is stronger and our grace weaker then we had presumed. Thus the need to be "purified as though with fire". For the sinner, as the plagues of Moses caused Pharaoh’s heart to harden, so in the evil day, it will cause the heart of man to harden. Rev. 9:20-21 - “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
2.) It is unavoidable.
That some believers consider themselves immune from this day is hardly surprising. As history began with the free choice of Adam to partake of the fruit, so will it end with humanity choosing, "this day whom they will serve". Christ won the war on the cross but Satan battles on to steal as many souls away from God as he can.
3.) It is vital that we prepare for this evil day.
It is our duty as servants of Christ to prepare to our utmost for this final battle. Failure to prepare will border on treason against our most faithful God and will lead many to “fall away“ and become part of the great apostasy that will occur within the church. The servant in Matt. 24:45-50, had to be found doing his "good works" in order to get his reward. Now I am not saying that salvation is dependant on works, but works are part of our responsibility to God for so great a salvation. While we are over the beasts concerning the possession of a rational soul, they excel in one way or another over our individual senses. As we exercise our sixth spiritual sense, we must also exercise our five physical senses per these scriptures:
Matt 13:13 - “This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (NIV)
Matt. 13:16 - “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
Phil. 4:18 - “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. Our gifts and sacrifices are a sweet smelling fragrance to God.”
Ps. 34:8 - “Taste and see that the LORD is good…”
In Matt. 9:21, the woman knew that if she could just touch the hem of his garment she would be healed.
Men and women of the world may seem to excel in this life more than believers do, but it is only temporary. They will be resurrected to judgment, while we will be resurrected to eternal life because we exercised our spiritual sense while they neglected theirs. Preparation for the evil day must be placed high on our list of priorities so that its arrival won’t catch us sleeping. 1 Thess. 5:6 - “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.“ We do not know what types of evil shall befall us personally so it is best to be prepared for all things. What good is it to have on hand much wood to be burned to keep us warm if we have no matches with which to light the fire. Things that are done in a hurry are seldom done well. In this way, it is better to have our armor ready and well polished, then to try and repair it when the battle comes.