OUR LORD MUSTERS HIS ARMY
The prophets of old, looking into the distant future, foresaw a remarkable occurrence that was unique in human history in its nature and scale. Isaiah prophesied this:
I have commanded those I prepared for battle; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath— those who rejoice in my triumph. Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude!
Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war.
They come from faraway lands from the ends of the heavens—the Lord and the weapons of his wrath— to destroy the whole country.
Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. Terror will seize them pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.
See, the day of the Lord is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.
- Isaiah 13 verse 3 - 5
Joel the prophet prophesied it like this:
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.
It is close at hand—a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come.
Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste—nothing escapes them.
- Joel 2 verse 1 - 3
The armies described in both visions are a sight to behold. They are summoned together and those who see them are aghast at their appearance.
In both cases, fear and trembling grip those who are confronted by it.
This event, now upon us, is to be a truly epic event where the Lord musters His army that he has been preparing and suddenly, they emerge in unimaginable array and bring with them a thunderous counter to the work of the powers of darkness.
Honour the great and mighty Lord.
Amen.