Hello all,

What does the Bible say about the Last Day? This exact phrase is used only 8 times in the whole of the Bible; one time in the OT, and 7 times in the NT, in the Gospel of John. First we will look at the Old Testament and see what is foreshadowing the events in the New Testament. We find that there is only one match using those exact words. Interestingly enough, it has to do with the Feast of Tabernacles. The last of the three feasts of God that was of mandatory attendance.

Neh 8:18 "Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according unto the manner."

In the New Testament we find these words in 7 places, and one of them is also pointing to the Feast of Tabernacles, when Christ speaks on the last day of this feast:

Jhn 7:37 " In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."

Jhn 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Is there some connection between the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Day? Especially the 8th day, which is called The Last Great Day; this seems to certainly point to the day that Christ would return to earth and we would tabernacle with Him.

Let us look at the other times Jesus speaks of this last day.

Jhn 6:39 "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

Jhn 6:40 "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

Jhn 6:54 "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. "

Jhn 12:48 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

Also in the gospel of John, Jesus' friend, Lazarus died while Jesus was returning to Bethany. Martha, Lazarus' sister meets Jesus. He tells her that Lazarus is asleep. And Jesus tells her "Thy brother shall rise again" (John 11:23). Martha responds:

Jhn 11:24 "Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

In these above verses, everyone who beholds and believes in Jesus, He will raise them up at the last day. Does this happen before the Tribulation? Who will be risen up on the last day? If Jesus says everyone who believes in Him, doesn't this include the saints who die during the tribulation? Since dead tribulation saints can't be risen before the tribulation, they are raised after the tribulation.

Therefore, we must conclude all who believe in Jesus will be raised at the last day, after the tribulation.

John in another book describes a scene in Revelation after the tribulation:

Revelation 20:4-6;

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."

In the above scripture, the ones who came to life were martyred because of the testimony of Jesus, the word of God, and those did not worship nor took the mark of the beast. John didn't say this is the "second phase of the first resurrection".

Since there's only one resurrection for the just which is after the tribulation and the ones who are alive at the coming of the Lord cannot be caught up before the dead in Christ are raised, therefore, we must conclude there is no pre-tribulation rapture.
　
Referring to the resurrection, Paul says in 1Cor. 15:52;

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Earlier in First Corinthians, Paul explains the order of the resurrection:

1Cr 15:20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept."

1Cr 15:21 "For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead".

1Cr 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

1Cr 15:23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

Jesus said that everyone who beholds Him and believes in Him may have eternal life; and He will rise him up on the last day. If Jesus said everyone who believes in him, doesn't this include the Bride, the Church and the tribulation saints? Therefore, all believers in Christ will be risen at the last day, after the tribulation.

Lastly, there is one more quote that I think speaks of purification through tribulation.

Malachi 3:2
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap..."

There just seems to be too many scriptures that speak of Jesus coming only one more time, on the last day. How do we dismiss all this and try and fit something else in the mix that is just not biblically supported. Would Jesus try and trick us into looking for something that is not plainly written in His Word. I just don't think so.

All the Lord's elect have been protected during great tribulation, and I feel this is foreshadowing the elect in the end days. Israel in the desert, Noah in the ark, Lot taken out of Sodom, all protected, but not removed from the earth.

There is only ONE last day....may we be standing when it comes, for what a GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE!!

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Agape!!

Patti C.