That Crazy Day
The phrase “day of the Lord” usually identifies
events that take place at the end of history
(Isaiah 7:18-25)
and is often closely associated with the phrase “that day.”
One key to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history,
directly or indirectly, to
accomplish some specific aspect of
His plan.
Most people associate the day of the Lord with
a
period of time
or
a special day that will occur when
God’s will and purpose for His world
and for mankind will be fulfilled.
Some scholars believe that the day of the Lord will be a
longer period of time than a single day—a period of time
when Christ will reign throughout the world
before "He cleanses" heaven "and" earth
in -preparation- for the
'eternal state" of all mankind.
Other scholars believe the day of the Lord will be
an
instantaneous event
when Christ returns to earth to
-redeem-
His faithful believers and send
unbelievers to eternal damnation.
(e.g. Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5)
(e.g. Acts 2:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10).
It is also alluded to in other passages
(Revelation 6:17; 16:14).
The Old Testament passages
dealing with the day of the Lord
often convey a sense of imminence, nearness, and expectation:
“Wail,
for the day of the Lord is near!”
(Isaiah 13:6);
"For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near”
(Ezekiel 30:3);
“Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.
It is close at hand”
(Joel 2:1);
"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision”
(Joel 3:14);
“Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near”
(Zephaniah 1:7).
This is because the Old Testament passages referring to the day of the Lord often
speak of both
a
near -and- a far fulfillment,
as does
much of Old Testament prophecy.
Some Old Testament
passages that refer to the day of the Lord
describe historical judgments that have
already been fulfilled in -some sense-
(Isaiah 13:6-22; Ezekiel 30:2-19; Joel 1:15, 3:14; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18),
while others refers to
divine judgments that will take place
toward the
"end of the age"
(Joel 2:30-32; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:1, 5).
The New Testament calls it a day
of
"wrath,” a day of “visitation,”
and the
“great day of God Almighty”
(Revelation 16:14)
and refers to a still
future fulfillment when God’s wrath is poured out on
unbelieving --Israel--
(Isaiah 22; Jeremiah 30:1-17; Joel 1-2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1)
and on the
unbelieving --world--
(Ezekiel 38–39; Zechariah 14).
The Scriptures indicate that “the day of the Lord” will
come quickly, like a thief in the night
(Zephaniah 1:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:2), and therefore
Christians must be watchful and ready for
the coming of Christ at any moment.
Besides being a time of judgment, it will also be a time of
(''Salvation") as God will
deliver the remnant of Israel,
fulfilling His promise that “all of Israel will be
("saved")
(Romans 11:26),
forgiving their sins
and
(''restoring")
His chosen people to the land He "promised" to
("Abraham")
(Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:19-31, 40; Micah 4; Zechariah 13).
The final outcome
of the day of the Lord will be that
“the arrogance of man will be brought low and the
pride of men humbled;
the Lord alone will be exalted in -that- day”
(Isaiah 2:17).
The ultimate or final fulfillment
of the
-prophecies- concerning the -day of the Lord-
will come at the end of history
when God, with wondrous power, will punish evil and
fulfill all His promises
The phrase “day of the Lord” usually identifies
events that take place at the end of history
(Isaiah 7:18-25)
and is often closely associated with the phrase “that day.”
One key to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history,
directly or indirectly, to
accomplish some specific aspect of
His plan.
Most people associate the day of the Lord with
a
period of time
or
a special day that will occur when
God’s will and purpose for His world
and for mankind will be fulfilled.
Some scholars believe that the day of the Lord will be a
longer period of time than a single day—a period of time
when Christ will reign throughout the world
before "He cleanses" heaven "and" earth
in -preparation- for the
'eternal state" of all mankind.
Other scholars believe the day of the Lord will be
an
instantaneous event
when Christ returns to earth to
-redeem-
His faithful believers and send
unbelievers to eternal damnation.
(e.g. Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5)
(e.g. Acts 2:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10).
It is also alluded to in other passages
(Revelation 6:17; 16:14).
The Old Testament passages
dealing with the day of the Lord
often convey a sense of imminence, nearness, and expectation:
“Wail,
for the day of the Lord is near!”
(Isaiah 13:6);
"For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near”
(Ezekiel 30:3);
“Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.
It is close at hand”
(Joel 2:1);
"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision”
(Joel 3:14);
“Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near”
(Zephaniah 1:7).
This is because the Old Testament passages referring to the day of the Lord often
speak of both
a
near -and- a far fulfillment,
as does
much of Old Testament prophecy.
Some Old Testament
passages that refer to the day of the Lord
describe historical judgments that have
already been fulfilled in -some sense-
(Isaiah 13:6-22; Ezekiel 30:2-19; Joel 1:15, 3:14; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18),
while others refers to
divine judgments that will take place
toward the
"end of the age"
(Joel 2:30-32; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:1, 5).
The New Testament calls it a day
of
"wrath,” a day of “visitation,”
and the
“great day of God Almighty”
(Revelation 16:14)
and refers to a still
future fulfillment when God’s wrath is poured out on
unbelieving --Israel--
(Isaiah 22; Jeremiah 30:1-17; Joel 1-2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1)
and on the
unbelieving --world--
(Ezekiel 38–39; Zechariah 14).
The Scriptures indicate that “the day of the Lord” will
come quickly, like a thief in the night
(Zephaniah 1:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:2), and therefore
Christians must be watchful and ready for
the coming of Christ at any moment.
Besides being a time of judgment, it will also be a time of
(''Salvation") as God will
deliver the remnant of Israel,
fulfilling His promise that “all of Israel will be
("saved")
(Romans 11:26),
forgiving their sins
and
(''restoring")
His chosen people to the land He "promised" to
("Abraham")
(Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:19-31, 40; Micah 4; Zechariah 13).
The final outcome
of the day of the Lord will be that
“the arrogance of man will be brought low and the
pride of men humbled;
the Lord alone will be exalted in -that- day”
(Isaiah 2:17).
The ultimate or final fulfillment
of the
-prophecies- concerning the -day of the Lord-
will come at the end of history
when God, with wondrous power, will punish evil and
fulfill all His promises