As we allow the Holy Spirit to dethrone king self and place Christ on the throne of our heart, the Day of the Lord begins in us. The thousand-year period, the sixth day, the day of image and union, is beginning now in the victorious saints—in each individual who allows the Holy Spirit to cast down every opposing rulership in his personality and exalt the Lord alone. The Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day. If we will allow Christ to become Lord in us He will abide with us throughout the oppressive era even now coming on the world.

Let us examine some of the passages of Scripture on which we base our hope:

The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)

When will the Lord "roar out of Zion"? When will God speak with such power out of His people? It is this tremendous manifestation of Christ in His saints that will characterize the Kingdom Age, and will characterize also the two witnesses who will announce the Kingdom by what they are and what they declare.

Notice the context of the Lord roaring out of Zion.

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. (Joel 3:15)

We know that the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars are the signs of Christ's return to earth. The Lord Jesus prophesied that these signs in the heavens would take place after the great tribulation but before He returns to gather together His elect.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29,30)

It appears that God will "roar out of Zion" before the Lord Jesus returns from Heaven to sit on the Throne of David in Jerusalem.

Also, Isaiah.

The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)

And in Chapter Sixty of Isaiah.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:2)

The above passages are referring to the onset of the Kingdom Age. We have pointed out previously that each new day is preceded by two witnesses out of whom flows the new day and who embody in themselves the characteristics of the new day.

When will the Lord arise on His people and reveal His Glory on them? This will take place during the darkest hour of earth's history.

The Glory of Christ will be given to His people in a time of spiritual oppression, and it would seem that this must occur immediately before the return of the Lord or else as an integral part of the return of the Lord.

To be continued.