An Overview of “The DAY of the LORD”

The Bible is Gods message about the redemption of people and how He will accomplish it. A history of His chosen people and what they will go through. A chronicle of the beginning of man all the way to the final destiny of everyone that has ever lived. He has warned us, because He loves us, by telling us in advance what the final end will be. He has given the whole world warnings through His prophets of ancient Israel. He spoke in so many prophecies about a DAY, a DAY like no other, a DAY when He will make all things right, a DAY when the whole world will finally say, “there really is a God to whom I am accountable”. That DAY will be when almost every prophecy left unfulfilled will see its fulfillment. But no one knows the DAY when God will finally say enough is enough. On that day mankind will have transgressed far enough. That DAY will come like a thief when God will arise and shake the heavens and the earth. On that Great DAY mankind will finally see just how bad sin truly is, and how egregious it is to a HOLY GOD. In that DAY God will make everything right. This is Gods message to us, so lets look at what the Bible says about this day; “The DAY of the LORD”.

What is the Day of the Lord? We will find it is a day of wrath, a day of judgment, a day of fear, a day of cleansing and a day of restoration.

Other terms for day of the Lord: The latter day or days, the last day or days, latter time or times, tribulation, end time or times, and the end days, these are found all over the scriptures.

“The Day”, is an extended period of time, not just a single day, but a time frame. A parentheses set around a large chunk of future history. As an example in 2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul says “the day of salvation”, every day is the day of salvation. Even today we say, “Your day will come”. When we say that, we mean a period of time.

Theologians have differing thoughts on the start and finish of the “day of the Lord”, here are some examples; only the seven years of tribulation, seven years of tribulation plus the millennium, Jesus’ second coming and millennium, and even some include the new heavens and earth. I believe it starts at the beginning of the tribulation and concludes at the end of the millennium. Because time will cease to exist after the millennium and eternity will start at the end of the millennium with God making all things new and that even means new heavens and new earth.

WE find the phrase “The day of the Lord” in these verses; Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; Ezekiel13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18 (2 times), 20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zachariah14:1; Malachi 4:5; Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:13, and we also find these phrases; That day, the day, the great day, more then 75 times.

Lets read some of them and see what they say. We will start our reading in the New Testament because Paul and Peter were taught by Jesus and the Holy Spirit told them what to write about the day of the Lord. So being Jewish, they would have a very good understanding of what the day of the Lord meant. That is why it is important for us to understand how they looked at it through the lens of the Jewish culture and theology. This is also why it is important for us to understand what they had to say about the day of the Lord, this will also help us understand what the Old Testament prophets said about the day of the Lord. 

We will start our reading in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4,5 and see what Paul had to say about the day of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

(In the Greek texts there are no divisions of chapters and verses. So from 4:18 to 5:1 it is a continuous narrative.)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4,9 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

We will notice that Paul is speaking about the rapture in 1 Thessalonians  4:13-18. He is telling them that even those that have died will be raptured when Jesus comes for the church. And then we head into chapter 5:2 where Paul says nobody knows the day or the hour of when this is going to happen. But (v5:4) those that have studied the Bible will not be taken by surprise because we see other prophecies on the horizon that deal with the day of the Lord.

It seems as though Paul is linking the rapture and the day of the Lord in the same breath, like they happen at the same time. And this is why some people get confused and think that the rapture is during the time of the day of the Lord and the Church will be here during the tribulation. But what I see is the rapture may start or be very close to the start of the day of the Lord. Because 1Thessalonians 5:9 says that Christians are not appointed to wrath and as we will see the day of the Lord is Gods wrath being poured it out on the people of earth that have rejected Him. Which to me, means the rapture happens before hand or is close to the beginning of the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord is like I have shown above a period of time and not just one day, but the rapture will happen in an instant in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye as 1 Corinthians 15 says

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Now Peter, kind of fills in some of the blanks of how long the day of the Lord will be, it looks to me like he is taking the day of the Lord all the way through the millennium to just before the new heavens and new Earth. He does not tell us the time when it’s going to start because in verse 10 he says that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. But goes on to talk about the earth being burned up and God making a new heaven and new earth according to His promise (v13). 

The new heaven and new earth is speaking about eternity and not about time. So I believe at the end of verse 10 is the end of the day of the Lord. I believe this because the day of the Lord is a day of wrath and judgment. The new heaven and the new Earth is about eternal bless. And Paul’s writings about the day of the Lord starts at the tribulation, and according to Peter until the end of the millennium, at least that is the way I see it. One reason I see the day of the Lord till the end of the millennium is because Satan will be let go out of the dungeon that he’s been in for 1000 years to go and deceive the nations once again and there will be another war. This is why I believe that the day of the Lord goes until the end of the millennium.

2 Peter 3:7-13 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The new testament writers, of course, got their theology out of the Old Testament. Jesus taught Paul in Arabia and Peter walked around with Jesus and listened to everything He had to say. So what does the Old Testament say about the day of the Lord? We will explore a few of the passages that deal with the day of the Lord. We won’t touch on all of them because that would make this long article even longer. However, it is imperative for us to visit some of these scriptures to show us that it is indeed a day of wrath. Amos 5:18 “says woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord”. God has had enough of mankind’s wickedness. And that day is fast approaching of what the prophets have said about the day of the Lord. 

Amos 5:18-20  (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

18. Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.

19. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

20. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Joel 2:1-3,11,30-32; 3:2,14-15  (KJV) (Please read the whole chapters)

2:1. Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

11. And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

30. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Joel 3:2,14-15 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

2. I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

14. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

15. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Zechariah 14:1-4  (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

1. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

3. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

4. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Isaiah 13:6-11,13  (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

6. Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

7. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:

8. And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

9. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

10. 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.

11. 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.

13. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Obadiah 15,21 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

15. For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

21. And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

In Isaiah 60-66 we find a wealth of verses speaking to “The Day of the Lord” and the new heavens and earth.

There are many more verses that I did not list here, but you can do your own study on it, in your own Bible to find them. But I have listed enough to show that it is a very frightening period of time to be on planet earth and to be against God. I also believe that the day of the Lord will include the time of Jacob’s trouble. I think that the time of Jacob’s trouble is the tribulation period.

The chapters and verses that I have listed are a good collection of Scriptures showing that the day of the Lord is a day when God has had enough of humans snubbing their nose at Him. He is a God of love, He is a God of mercy, He is long suffering. But a day is coming when He will say it’s enough and the day of the Lord will start and it will be judgment for all the peoples on the Earth. 

When we as humans, with our very limited sense of right and wrong, ponder on “The DAY of the LORD”, we may have a tendency to think God unfair to just wipe out all these people. If we do, we simply don’t know or don’t consider just how wicked sin really is. God in His word has shown us, that He has made the way out for us, and yet if we reject His way, which is the sacrifice of His son Jesus on the cross, then we will stand at the judgment on our own merit. Which means we have no standing before Him. Only through Jesus can we stand before a Holy God having been cleansed by the blood of Jesus from all our sin. 

We live in a world of sin; it surrounds us all the time, so it’s hard for us to see sin as God does. Sin is very egregious to God who is Holy, and make no mistake, God is Holy and will make all things right. We only get a glimpse of how bad it is on this side of heaven. When we get there, then we will understand. God is all knowing and everything in the universe is His. He is love, but He is also Just and Holy and only those that want to be with Him will live with Him for all of Eternity in the “New Heavens and Earth”.