Of course the world scoffs at the idea that May 21st was the beginning of a “spiritual” judgment upon them. Why would we expect them not to? Isn’t the world in spiritual darkness? Yes, of course the Bible does tell us that the whole world lieth in darkness; and as a result of a judgment placed upon them a long time ago it cannot see spiritual things.

 

Let’s take a look at the very first judgment God brought upon mankind due to his sin. In Genesis, chapter 3:2-4 it says: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

 

Here we find the stage is set. God clearly lays out the law to Adam and Eve. The Lord has told them that if they eat of the fruit of that one particular tree–they will die!

 

Did God tell them they would die spiritually? We don’t find the Lord saying that at all. In Genesis, chapter 2 :16-17 it says: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

There is no hint of spiritual death in the Lord’s statement to Adam and Eve. He simply declared that if you go against My law regarding this tree, in THAT DAY you will die.

 

Did Adam and Eve die in the same day they ate of the tree? The answer is yes and no. Yes they died spiritually; but no they did not die physically. Physical death would come eventually to them–but THEY DID NOT DIE PHYSICALLY the day they ate of the forbidden tree.

 

Of course this fact has everything to do with our present day and the proclamation to the worldregarding May 21, 2011 being the beginning of Judgment Day! As we read the beginning chapters of the Bible in the book of Genesis, we can’t help but notice that God established the law concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He told Adam and Eve clearly: Genesis 2:17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

Once tempted by the devil to eat of the tree, Eve remembered God’s word and told the serpent: Genesis 3:2-3: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

 

Eve understood that eating of the fruit of that one particular tree meant death. Just like today, the law of God states in Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; What kind of death though? God did not specify. Satan, as would become his custom, disputed the Word of God with Eve and said: Genesis 3:4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

 

We know the story. Eve did eat and gave to her husband Adam, and he ate also. Then what happened? Did Adam and Eve fall down dead on the spot? Certainly they must have–after all God does not lie! If God says something, then it will surely come to pass. The Lord definitively stated they would die in that very day. It was very much Judgment Day for Adam and Eve and the whole human race as all of us were in Adam’s loins. God declared He would judge mankind and kill them for their iniquity. And yet, they ate of the fruit–more than likely very carefully–and then they waited to see what would happen to them? What did happen to Adam and Eve? Physically death did not come to them. Physically it would have appeared to any outward observer that the devil was right as he said, “Ye shall not surely die.”

 

The question we have to ask ourselves is–did God lie to Adam and Eve? Adam and Eve did not die physically on the day they ate of the forbidden fruit. But did they die? The answer is yes. Let’s read from the book of Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

 

As a result of the sin to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil–Adam and Eve and all of mankind died that very day SPIRITUALLY. Due to disobeying God they died in their soul existence. But, they did not die physically just yet. Actually, the Bible tells us that Adam lived to be 930 years old before he died physically. Yes indeed, because of sin mankind dies physically at some point. But mankind did not die physically “in the day” they ate of that tree.

 

Now let’s ask the all important question: did God lie to Adam and Eve when He told them that “in that day” you eat of the tree you will die? Did Satan tell them the truth when he said, “Ye shall not surely die?” The answer is absolutely not! God cannot lie the Bible tells us. It was a true statement–Adam and Eve did die “spiritually” as the Lord had said. God simply did not give them all the information about what kind of death it would be. In other words, the Lord brought about a spiritual judgment upon mankind, which fulfilled His Word.

 

Why did the Lord’s people declare Judgment Day would begin May 21, 2011? The answer is because we found this information in the Bible; and the Bible is the Word of God. It is God speaking to us every time we read the Bible. We found accurate time information pointing to May 21 (which hasn’t changed at all) as being the beginning of Judgment Day! And therefore we spread this news to the world. Some have said we lied. But no, we did not. May 21, 2011 was truly the beginning of Judgment Day! But, however, it was not a physical Judgment Day, but a spiritual one.

 

A spiritual judgment is not a little thing. All we have to do is read the tragic story of Adam and Eve and the judgment that God pronounced upon them due to their sins and we find that a spiritual judgment is most awful. Likewise, God’s judgment upon the world began on May 21, 2011 is enormous in its consequences towards mankind. With Adam and Eve we have a tremendous precedent set that helps us understand a few things: Spiritual judgments are REAL judgments and not a little thing.

 

God did not spell out to the first couple exactly what He meant by dying in that day. We do not read anywhere that God would bring a spiritual judgment. The Lord allowed Satan to “appear” (outwardly) correct in his statement that “ye shall not surely die.” Even thou he was not correct and Adam and Eve did die spiritually in that day. Spiritual judgment came immediately, physical judgment came later. After Eve (and then Adam) ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree did they die in that day as God had said? The answer is yes, they died spiritually!

 

But, did Adam and Eve know they died spiritually that day? When God saves someone there is no physical difference with that person from one moment (unsaved) to the next moment (saved). No one can discern an exact time when they became saved. The reason for this is because we cannot see spiritual things like this. Therefore after eating of the fruit it could very well have been that Adam and Eve did not know they had died at all. It may even have appeared as though the serpent was correct. Yes, to all outward appearances nothing at all happened (in the way of punishment) as a result of eating of that tree. And yet, we know today that the Lord had fulfilled His word and brought to pass a most terrible judgment–Adam and Eve were killed in their spiritual natures that very day. They became dead spiritually (Ephesians 2:1).

 

We now realize that May 21, 2011 was the beginning of a “spiritual judgment.” This means nothing to the world because they cannot see spiritually. Because of this it is as though nothing happened (at all) to the world. But, however, once we look at all of the horrible consequences that came from that initial act of disobedience, it is impossible for us to think lightly of a “spiritual judgment.”

 

That spiritual judgment back in the garden has brought untold amounts of grief and despair to mankind. A “spiritual judgment” is not a light thing. The true historical example in the Garden of Eden demonstrates to us that a “spiritual judgment” is extremely grievous.

 

Did God lie to Adam and Eve regarding His statement that, “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die?” No! He did not lie. He also did not tell them the entire story. It is the Lord’s prerogative to do that if He wishes.

 

Did the Lord lie to His people when He opened up the Scriptures and clearly showed that May 21, 2011 would be the beginning of the Day of Judgment? No, He did not lie! But (for His own purposes) He also did not reveal to us all the information.