Alas for that day! For the day
of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty (Joel
1:15).
The day of the Lord as an explicit phrase appears
upwards of 30 times in most English translations of the Bible.
And of particular interest in our current study of the
Minor Prophets: almost half of those references occur in the books of The
Twelve.
But the warnings to live righteously have reverberated through
the centuries, echoing in our present era.
Seek the LORD, all you
humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek
humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger
(Zephaniah 2:3).
Throughout the Scriptures, the day of the Lord carries
eschatological implications. (Eschatology is the doctrine of last things, or
end times, addressing the final days of this phase of human history.)
However, like other Bible prophecy, the day of the
Lord predictions by those ancient prophets often had an immediate
fulfillment which then foreshadowed a greater, ultimate, decisive and as yet still-future
fulfillment, to conclude our present age.
That’s why the day of the Lord has an “already”, and “not yet” feature in terms of chronology.
For example, Joel correlates the current locust plague
judgment (Joel 1:1-7) with the inception of the concluding future day of
the Lord.
One theologian summarizes this way in addressing the body of relevant Old Testament prophetic utterances:“…it seems necessary to distinguish between a primary day – one of intervention by Yahweh with limited effect – and a secondary day – one of universal cosmic judgement.” 1
The Reformation Study Bible notes, “Every Old Testament judgement is also a ‘day of the Lord’ and anticipates that final day’.” 2
“The result of this is that there may be numerous ‘days of the Lord’ before the day of the Lord that will inaugurate a new order that will never be at risk or destabilized.” 3
The great day of the
LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the
LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there (Zephaniah 1:14)
The specific concept of the day of the Lord
spans several prophets in the Old Testament and the writings of Peter and Paul
in the New.
That “day” is a series of events falling like dominoes, but clustered around the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus. Each
falls triggering the next eschatological event.
And an evocative theme of military power is often used.
The LORD thunders at the
head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey
his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can
endure it? (Joel 2:11).
In the minor prophets, all references frame a paradigm of
divine intervention and judgment; some of The Twelve do so against the
background of accompanying blessing for Israel.
Or, stated differently, “The expression ‘the day of the Lord’ was used by the prophets to indicate the time when the current state of affairs will be replaced by the Lord’s intended order of things.” 4
Consequently, included are predictions of destruction of
the nations identified as enemies of Israel and Judah, together with the
deliverance and blessing on Israel, Judah and others.
The Old Testament declares that dramatic cosmic signs
will accompany that time.
The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day
of the LORD (Joel 2:31).
And, rather than being a single 24-hour period, the phrase appears to suggest an era – a season of God’s final dealing with mankind, activated by the return of the Lord Jesus to defeat His enemies and usher in the final phase of the Kingdom of God about which He constantly preached.
“His return would mark the beginning of the time or day of judgement, after which the faithful would inherit the kingdom of God”. 5
At that time, the Holy City will be the epicentre of global
theocratic government and worship.
The LORD will rule over
them in Mount Zion from that day and for ever (Micah 4:7).
And the ultimate purpose of the day of the Lord?
Yahweh Almighty will use that apocalyptic season to glorify His Name.
The Lord alone will be exalted in that day…(Isaiah 12:17).
In summary, the day of the Lord will
encapsulate:
a)
retributive justice for foreign nations.
b)
refining judgement; God’s wrath on Israel, Judah.
c)
restoration and blessing for Israel.
d)
consummation of salvation for Christ-followers
at His return.
And subsequently, the day of the Lord will
conclude with the destruction of the physical world according to the plan
devised by the Tri-Une God from before the foundations of earth were laid.
The heavens will disappear
with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and
everything in it will be laid bare (2 Peter 3:10).
Takeaway: The Apostle Paul – twice in the Thessalonian correspondence – used the analogy of a thief in conjunction with the day of the Lord in general, and Christ’s return in particular.
His warnings in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:
…for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (verse 2).
But you, brothers, are not
in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief (verse 4).
Paul’s cautionary metaphor serves as a stark reminder that the day of the Lord initiated by Christ’s return will be sudden, unexpected, and will occasion dramatic and preventable loss for those unprepared.
Are you ready?
1 Anchor Bible Dictionary, article by K.J. Cathcart, volume 2, Doubleday, 1992,
p.85.
2 Reformation Study Bible, R.C. Sproul, General Editor, Reformation Trust,
2015, p.1545.
3 A Survey of the Old Testament, Andrew Hill & John Walton, Zondervan, 2000, p.524
4 ibid, p.523.
5 Anchor Bible Dictionary, article by Richard Hiers, volume 2, p.76.
~graphic from biblical-christianity.com
