Day: Judgment: A Figure of Spiritual Illumination
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In the biblical narrative, the concept of "day" often transcends its literal meaning, symbolizing moments of divine intervention, revelation, and judgment. The "Day of Judgment" is a profound theme throughout Scripture, representing a time when God will execute justice and righteousness, bringing to light the hidden deeds of humanity and revealing the true nature of all things.

Biblical Foundation

The "Day of Judgment" is frequently depicted as a time of both fear and hope, a duality that underscores its role as a figure of spiritual illumination. In the Old Testament, the prophets often spoke of the "Day of the LORD" as a time of reckoning. For instance, the prophet Joel declares, "The Day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11). This day is portrayed as a time when God will reveal His power and holiness, exposing the sinfulness of humanity and calling people to repentance.

In the New Testament, the theme of judgment is further developed with the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself speaks of a future day when all will stand before God: "But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" (Matthew 12:36). This statement emphasizes the comprehensive nature of divine judgment, where even the words spoken in secret will be brought to light.

Spiritual Illumination

The "Day of Judgment" serves as a figure of spiritual illumination in several ways. First, it reveals the righteousness and justice of God. As the Apostle Paul writes, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). This passage highlights the impartiality and fairness of God's judgment, illuminating His perfect standard of holiness.

Second, the "Day of Judgment" exposes the true condition of the human heart. Hebrews 4:13 states, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" . This divine scrutiny serves as a catalyst for self-examination and repentance, urging believers to live in the light of God's truth.

Finally, the "Day of Judgment" offers hope and assurance to the faithful. For those who have placed their trust in Christ, this day is not one of fear but of vindication and reward. As Jesus promises, "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). This imagery of light underscores the transformative power of God's judgment, which purifies and glorifies His people.

Theological Implications

The "Day of Judgment" as a figure of spiritual illumination carries significant theological implications. It affirms the reality of divine justice and the ultimate accountability of all creation to its Creator. It also underscores the necessity of living a life of holiness and integrity, in anticipation of the day when all will be revealed.

Moreover, this theme highlights the grace and mercy available through Jesus Christ. While the prospect of judgment is sobering, the gospel offers the assurance of forgiveness and redemption for those who repent and believe. As the Apostle John writes, "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son" (John 3:18).

In summary, the "Day of Judgment" serves as a powerful figure of spiritual illumination, revealing the character of God, the condition of humanity, and the hope of eternal life through Christ. It calls believers to live in the light of God's truth, with the assurance that His justice will ultimately prevail.
Nave's Topical Index
Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
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1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
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Library

Tauler and Mysticism
... of the human soul (in its own judgment successful) to ... There was in Tauler's day a
great need for a ... will always remain, a striking and venerable figure in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/iv tauler and mysticism.htm

The Lamp and the Bushel
... So then, our Lord here gives His solemn judgment that the ... To-day there is need, I
think, that Christian men ... in our consideration of the previous figure of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the lamp and the bushel.htm

The Coming of the Called.
... it the judgment of many shall be made the heavier in the day of judgment: "If the ...
soul, He proceeds to build upon it; or, to take another figure, He draws ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxviii the coming of the.htm

Enthusiasm.
... Whenever we can penetrate behind the public events which figure in history at the
close of the seventeenth, and ... Paul expected the day of judgment to come in ...
/.../abbey/the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter vii enthusiasm.htm

Treatise iii. On the Lapsed.
... will of the giver; neither can human judgment claim to ... dainties, belches forth on
the next day his indigestions ... is written, "Ye shall not mar the figure of your ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise iii on the lapsed.htm

The Crisis in Galilee
... this bread, he shall live forever." To this figure Christ now ... and I will raise him
up at the last day. ... When their Lord was condemned in the judgment hall; when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 41 the crisis in.htm

By Far the Ablest of These Seven Essays is from the Pen of the " ...
... and Horbery;) men who made no great figure indeed, but ... persons of great piety and
sound judgment; while their ... So is the prospect "in the present day," of an ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/vi by far the ablest.htm

Postscript. Meaning Op the Word Regeneration.
... The Apostles had reason, in the judgment of charity, to ... the way, our Lord uses the
same figure, and describes ... the Gospel which is so common in the present day. ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/postscript meaning op the word.htm

Introduction to Oration ii.
... his eyes, in his wonderful and most true figure: [2570] ""Ask the ... and dissolution,
[2625] with the resurrection, the last day, the judgment and recompense ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction to oration ii.htm

Jacob Boehme: his Life and Spirit
... a sudden revelation or, to use his own common figure, as "a ... An Apology to Esaias
Stiefel; The Last Judgment; Epistles ... of the existing Church of his day than this ...
/.../chapter ix jacob boehme his.htm

Resources
What is the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.org

What is Seventh-day Adventism (SDA), and what do Seventh-day Adventists believe? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Lord's day? | GotQuestions.org

Day: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Day

Day and Night

Day Before the Sabbath

Day of Atonement

Day of Christ

Day of Judgment

Day of Rest

Day of the Lord

Day of Yahweh

Day: A Creative Period

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Gladness

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Good Tidings

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day Which the Lord Has Made

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Good Day

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Solemn Day

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Adversity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Anger

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Calamity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Darkness

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Destruction

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Evil

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Slaughter

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of The Lord

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Trouble

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Vengeance

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Visitation

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Wrath

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of God's Power

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Redemption

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Salvation

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Visitation

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Break of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Decline of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Evening

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Morning

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Noon

Day: Artificial, the Time of the Sun's Continuance Above The

Day: Day's Journey, Eighteen or Twenty Miles

Day: Divided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Judgment: A Figure of Spiritual Illumination

Day: Judgment: Called the Day of the Lord

Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Made for the Glory of God

Day: Natural, from Evening to Evening

Day: Proclaims the Glory of God

Day: Prophetic

Day: Prophetical, a Year

Day: Sabbath Day's Journey, About Two-Thousand Paces

Day: Six Working Days Ordained

Day: Sometimes Divided Into Four Parts

Day: Spiritual Light

Day: Succession of, Secured by Covenant

Day: Th Sixth Day of the Week Called Preparation Day

Day: The First Day of the Week Called the Lord's Day

Day: The Light First Called

Day: The Path of the Just

Day: The Time for Labour

Day: Time of Judgment

Day: Time of, Ascertained by the Dial

Day: Times of Adversity Called Day of the Lord

Day: Under the Control of God

Day: Wild Beasts Hide During

Related Terms

Birth-day (2 Occurrences)

Holy-day (2 Occurrences)

To-day (208 Occurrences)

Sabbath-day (23 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Noon-day (8 Occurrences)

Day-star (2 Occurrences)

Day's (19 Occurrences)

Feast-day (5 Occurrences)

Judgment-day (4 Occurrences)

Mid-day (4 Occurrences)

Good-day (2 Occurrences)

Day-spring (2 Occurrences)

Festival-day (1 Occurrence)

Fast-day (1 Occurrence)

To-day's (1 Occurrence)

Day-break (1 Occurrence)

Preparation-day (1 Occurrence)

Three-day (2 Occurrences)

Seven-day (2 Occurrences)

Lord's-day (1 Occurrence)

Sabbath-day's (1 Occurrence)

Self-same (17 Occurrences)

Selfsame (18 Occurrences)

Servile (13 Occurrences)

Yesterday (13 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Sepulcher (48 Occurrences)

Susa (20 Occurrences)

Quail (5 Occurrences)

Quenched (22 Occurrences)

Sailed (28 Occurrences)

Xerxes (24 Occurrences)

Sixth (45 Occurrences)

Sunset (18 Occurrences)

Sailing (23 Occurrences)

Spoiling (20 Occurrences)

Shineth (13 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Sheaf (11 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)

Sorry (27 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Quails (4 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Survived (15 Occurrences)

Succeeding (7 Occurrences)

Shadows (11 Occurrences)

Successful (16 Occurrences)

Swordsmen (8 Occurrences)

Saving (37 Occurrences)

Supposed (19 Occurrences)

Swords (50 Occurrences)

Spear (55 Occurrences)

Sang (28 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Shave (19 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Servant's (29 Occurrences)

Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Sail (32 Occurrences)

Shouldst (61 Occurrences)

Shore (45 Occurrences)

Saveth (36 Occurrences)

Silent (120 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Serious (31 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Sacred (140 Occurrences)

Homes (43 Occurrences)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Shine (62 Occurrences)

Day: Divided Into Twelve Hours
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