Cp. 3 Understanding the "Evil Day" - Part 2

There are five ways a believer can fail to prepare for the "day of evil":
1. They realize they are so unprepared that they won’t even let the thought of facing it cross their minds through fear of it. For some, it is so unthinkable that they might be here to face it, they immediately quash any thoughts they may have about it. However, the banishing of this period from their thoughts will be a short relief for they can neither hinder its arrival nor take away its sting when it arrives. They act like babies who cover their eyes and believe that because they can see no one, no one can see them.
2. They believe that the "day" is so far off, it has no concern for them. They see the "day" as they would a cannon. They know if they are right in front of it, it will blow them to bits but if they stand a lot farther away; they feel they are free from danger even though they remain within its range of fire. The further away we see this day of evil the less of an impression it makes on us. It’s like a sinner who believes he has many years to go before his death and waits to repent. When death comes earlier then expected, they are unprepared to face God’s judgment.
3. They think often of the evil day but they continue on, trusting in luck to see them through. Despite all the warnings, they continue in their sin desperately, as if trying to get as much in as possible. They, instead of arming themselves against the evil day, arm the evil day against themselves.
4. They are aware of the evil day but "rest" in their unarmed condition, expecting the Lord to fight the battle for them. They ignore Eph. 6:12 - “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
5. They ready their defenses and put on the armor but fail to arm themselves with the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God". While they have prepared adequate defenses against the fiery arrows of the devil, the attack is endless because they possess no weapon to drive the devil away.

Here are some ways we can successfully prepare for the "day of evil".
1. Make sure you’re in a right relationship with God. Build a solid foundation of faith and overcome the sin in your life so you can await the day of evil with confidence.
2. Unify yourself to Christ. We do this by accepting His gift of salvation and the grace that accompanies it. Look upon His promises and His word. Are they something your heart can accept gladly? Do you love Him as just a friend, sibling or with an eternal love that surpasses all understanding.
3. Be ready to give up the comfort and ease of your present life style. We must be willing to accept whatever God desires for us, even if it means uprooting ourselves from our homes and communities to become missionaries for Him. As Paul exampled, we have to "die daily", to the pleasures of this world, that we may be better prepared for the next.
4. We must obey the admonition of Rom. 12:1-2. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
The more our life has been tainted by hypocrisy or unfaithfulness, the weaker we will be when the day of evil arrives. Familiarize yourself with the facts of the evil day so that its arrival won’t catch you unaware. Now let’s take a closer look at Rev. 3:10: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”(KJV). Sincere Christians who hold to the pre-tribulation rapture theory often cite this verse, among others, as "proof" that their eschatology is correct. They focus on the second part, ..."I will also keep you from the hour of trial...", meaning they expect to be raptured, but ignore the first part of this verse, "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently...". This verse has a cause and effect relationship. Since you have done this, I will do that. How does one endure patiently and what does it involve? Here are a couple of other references that will give us a clue to what Jesus is telling us.
Col. 1:11 - "...so that you may have great endurance and patience...", James 1: 3 - "... the trying of your faith worketh patience" and James 5:10 - "Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering..." The word patience in these verses conveys the idea of "endurance in the midst of adversity." This idea can also be found in the prophetic scriptures of Luke 21:16-19, 2 Thess.1:4, Rev. 13:10 and Rev. 14:12. One can not assume that because some Christians in parts of the world are being martyred and others are going through various trials of sickness, loss of loved ones, minor persecutions, etc., that these qualify what this verse is talking about. They don't! We have had these problems since the day of Christ's Ascension and will continue to have them. This verse is talking about events that will affect all Christians around the world, as the "hour of trial" will affect the whole world.
The word temptation as used in Rev. 3:10, means a time of testing separate from the Day of the Lord's Wrath. His wrath is for those who fail the test! The test is the Great Tribulation, that time within Daniel's 70th week that consists of Satan's wrath against and persecution of the church. Those who "keep the word of His patience" are those still living believers who will overcome the difficulties of that great tribulation.
We have been given the Armor of God with which to fight Satan. The implication of this verse leads us to the conclusion that it is talking about more than the trials of day to day living. Let's read again, 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 your ground..." Does this sound like Paul is teaching that Christians will be rescued prior to the day of evil? It doesn't to me!