Sudden Destruction Coming Soon

Psalm 33:10-11 The Lord foils all the plans oft he nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.

(Judges 16:23-31) God will have the last word. Samson in his death killed more than in his whole life. The Philistines were rejoicing in their victory, praising Dagon for his great power. They had no clue what was about to come upon them. The judgment they deserved for blaspheming a holy and righteous God came down upon them in sudden destruction. That was it. They were done and God had the last word.

So it will be when Christ comes back. People will be reveling in their sin, thinking that the LORD is out of the picture and then sudden destruction will come. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5 that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly and will bring "sudden destruction." There will be no escape.

But Paul encourages us to put on the Gospel now--both believers and unbelievers--so that we will be protected by Him who can save us by His blood. The NLT says that though the sudden destruction is coming soon, Christ died so we can live with Him forever:

For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with Him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of His return. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 NLT)