The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: (Joel 2:10)

Notice in Joel 2:7,10 (above) the accent on "they" and "them." The Day of the Lord includes more than "Him"—Jesus. There is a "them." It has pleased God that Jesus be revealed in and with his warrior-firstfruits. Here are Jude's "ten thousands of his saints."

Again, in Isaiah:

I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. (Isaiah 13:3)

Notice that the above will be fulfilled at the time of the return of Christ:

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. (Isaiah 13:10)

It is the period God has set aside for the execution of judgment on all sinners, angelic and human.

And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. (Isaiah 13:11)

The Prophet Habakkuk speaks of the strong people whom the Lord will bring with Him at his appearing and His Kingdom:

. . . when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. (Habakkuk 3:16)

The Lord and His firstfruits will appear on Mount Zion, ready to come and destroy all sin out of the earth. Zion speaks to us of David's Tabernacle.

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels (Hebrews 12:22)

The Scriptures teach plainly that it is the saints who will judge mankind and the angels.

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? . . . (I Corinthians 6:3)

To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalms 149:9)

By the expression "all his saints" is meant those of Israel and the Church who have walked in victory before the Lord Jesus.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: (Revelation 2:26)

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power [authority], but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

One of the erroneous approaches of biblical interpretation is the practice of applying the statements made by the Prophets and by the Apostles to all who profess belief in Jesus, who attend a Christian church, who have subscribed to the doctrinal confession of some denomination.

The Scriptures are clear that the Messianic promises apply to those who are "in Christ," who are abiding in the Lord. It appears there are numerous believers who are not actually abiding in the Lord.

To be continued.