What does the the biblical “Last Great Day” have to do with God’s plan of Salvation? Who does it represent and when is this last prophetic day? Is God only interested in some select group of humanity?
God is in fact concerned about all humans who have ever lived: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, . . .3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4).
Paul states that God’s expressed desire extends, not only to Christians, but also in the exact same way to all humanity but each in his own order (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). In verse 24, Paul says, “Then comes the end . . .” The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon states, “it primarily means the last in any succession or series.” In this instance “end” is referring to the last harvest which happens after the millennial reign of Christ, on the “Last Great Day” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). Let’s look at some of the scriptures that outline events represented by the Last Great Day:
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34 ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, …. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. … 39 Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest (Leviticus 23:33-36,39).
Numbers 29:35-38 adds a few additional details about specific offerings to be made on the eighth day. And both 2 Chronicles 7:9 and Nehemiah 8:18 reference the eighth day, but these two references reveal no additional information.
So, we must go to the New Testament where we begin to find additional meaning: John 7 has the first scripture to mention the eighth day, and it gives us the name by which we call it: “On the last day, that great day of the feast, …” (John 7:37 NKJV). The New International Version is more concise: “On the last and greatest day of the festival…” (John 7:37 NIV), “. . . Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in [Christ] would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39 NKJV).
When John uses the Greek word ”megas” regarding the eighth day, he conveys that it is “greater than other days.” When we think of it at that scope, we begin to see John recognized this Last Day is on a huge scale. It is the last great hurrah in the final climax of God’s plan.
Regarding the greatness of the rivers of living water, Christ means a broad gushing volume of water. It’s like the mouths of the Mississippi, the Amazon, the Nile, and all other rivers combined, as they flow into the sea and the oceans of the world. This is what’s being conveyed about God’s Spirit being poured out. Christ declares that His spirit would be available in such quantities, that it will be greater than all fresh water on earth. And when it comes to God, who is unlimited, His Spirit on this Eighth Day is limitless. Isaiah 12:3 says, “Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.“
The Holy Spirit, which will be in limitless supply, heals our minds to become the same image of Jesus Christ’s. This day pictures God the Father forgiving all humanity for their sins and giving them unlimited access to His Spirit from which they were previously denied. When Christ spoke in John 7 on the Last Great Day, He undoubtedly had in His mind the billions of people, who would on this Day drink in the flood of His Spirit, the rivers of living water (Isaiah 44:1-3).
This harvest represents all who have never known the truth about God and His purpose for humanity in their physical lifetime. So they are resurrected to physical life and given access to the Holy Spirit for the first time. Many during the millennium of Christ’s reign will receive God’s Spirit. But on this day, represented by the 8th day, the Last Great Day, there is a much greater pouring out of God’s Spirit. He limitlessly pours out His spirit on the billions. God resurrects all the dead, which is called the second resurrection. This resurrection differs from the first resurrection which will happen at Christ’s return. They are God’s first fruits, Christ being the first of the first fruits: “6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with [Christ] a thousand years” 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. . . .” (Revelation 20:6,5).
This event is called the “Great White Throne Judgment”: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. … 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened . . . And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works (Revelation 20:11–13).
In the Old Testament, God does reveal to Ezekiel that there will be a massive physical resurrection: “The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry” (Ezekiel 37:1-2).
The English phrase, “In the midst of the valley,” doesn’t convey the full meaning of the Hebrew. This Hebrew word for “valley” only appears once right here in scripture. And according to five lexicons, it is not translated in those lexicon’s as “valley” but as a “plain.” One of those five lexicons added the definition of a “broad valley” which according to the Hebrew word is “completely full” of dry bones.
Then God said to Ezekiel, “. . .’Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord GOD, You know’ “(Ezekiel 37:3). This is an amazing question that God asks the prophet. Looking across this plain of death, it appears utterly impossible that such an amount of bones, dry, old, brittle, and decayed could ever support life. But God continues:
“Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you, (Sinews are the ligaments that hold bones together.) and bring flesh (tendon and muscle) upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD‘ ” (Ezekiel 37:4-6).
“So I (Ezekiel) prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ ” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:7-10).
“Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel” (God’s people). They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,’ says the LORD’ ” (Ezekiel 37:11-14).
These scriptures leave no doubt that all those that are resurrected will know that God exists. And that He is the only true God. He truly is their salvation. When this happens, all who arise and those who witness them rising, will know that God will do what he says He will do. If He said, “You’ll rise again,” they will rise again. This is not just a great event that happens, and it’s not just the shear great number of people. More than anything else it reveals how great God is.
On this Last Great Day every resurrected man and woman are being called by God from their graves. They’re going to know He’s God. And they’re going to know that Jesus Christ is the reason that they were resurrected. And if they accept Him, God the Father will pour His Holy Spirit on them. This time Satan will not be around to deceive them again.
During their new physical lives, they will need to demonstrate their willingness to use the Holy Spirit to develop a relationship with God in willing obedience to living His way of life. How long will that time be? Perhaps 100 years? (Isaiah 65:19-20).
During this Last Great Day period, the Apostle John states, “. . . And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works “ (Revelation 20:12-13).
This period will not be a time when people are judged by their past sins. When they are called from their graves, recognize Jesus as the Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit, they are forgiven. The past is behind. And during this period, because they’ve been called, and they’ve been chosen by God to have His Holy Spirit, judgement begins.
How they use the Holy Spirit to develop a relationship with God the Father and how much they desire to grow into the nature and character of the image of Christ will determine their final outcome. God’s the judge. And God is not a respecter of persons. All must be called. All must be chosen. All must be remain faithful until the end. And God desires that all choose life.
At the end of this period, “then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” However, “… when this corruptible (body) has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ 55 O death, where is your sting? O hades, where is your victory?’ ” (Revelation 20: 14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
The final event of this Last Great Day also points to a new beginning:
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to [John], ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’. 6 And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’ ” (Revelation 21:1–6 NKJV).
Bill Hutchison