Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
The Day of the Lord
You may have been taught that the day of the Lord is the Second Coming or the rapture. Many are taught it is the day of Gods Wrath. Recently I have had reason to dig into this a but further. I gathered every use of the term "day of the Lord" in the NASB Bible and was a little surprised at what I found
There are a total of 19 places where the "day of the Lord" is used. There is also another in Isaiah 58, but in this case He was simply speaking of the Sabbath as the "holy" day of the Lord, and I did not feel this was using it in the same context as other scriptures. It was speaking of the Sabbath in general and not using the "day of the Lord" as a title for the day. This following list is a run down of its use in the NASB Bible.
There are a total of 19 places where the "day of the Lord" is used. There is also another in Isaiah 58, but in this case He was simply speaking of the Sabbath as the "holy" day of the Lord, and I did not feel this was using it in the same context as other scriptures. It was speaking of the Sabbath in general and not using the "day of the Lord" as a title for the day. This following list is a run down of its use in the NASB Bible.
Isaiah 13:6-9 Gods Anger (Babylon)
Isaiah 13:6-9 (NASB)
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every human heart will melt. 8 They will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, They will look at one another in astonishment, Their faces aflame. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every human heart will melt. 8 They will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, They will look at one another in astonishment, Their faces aflame. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
Lamentations 2:22 Gods anger (Israel)
Lamentations 2:22 (NASB)
22 You called as on the day of an appointed feast My terrors on every side; And there was no one who survived or escaped On the day of the Lord’s anger. As for those whom I brought forth healthy and whom I raised, My enemy annihilated them.”
22 You called as on the day of an appointed feast My terrors on every side; And there was no one who survived or escaped On the day of the Lord’s anger. As for those whom I brought forth healthy and whom I raised, My enemy annihilated them.”
Ezekiel 13:1-7 Gods anger (False Prophets)
Ezekiel 13:1-7 (NASB)
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Lord God says: “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Israel, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build up a stone wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see deceit and lying divination, those who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! 7 Did you not see a false vision and tell a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Lord God says: “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Israel, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build up a stone wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see deceit and lying divination, those who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! 7 Did you not see a false vision and tell a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”
Ezekiel 30:1-4 God's anger (Egypt)
Ezekiel 30:1-4 (NASB)
1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Wail, ‘Woe for the day!’ 3 For the day is near, Indeed, the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, A time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come upon Egypt, And there will be trembling in Cush; When the slain fall in Egypt, They will take away her wealth, And her foundations will be torn down.
1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Wail, ‘Woe for the day!’ 3 For the day is near, Indeed, the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, A time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come upon Egypt, And there will be trembling in Cush; When the slain fall in Egypt, They will take away her wealth, And her foundations will be torn down.
Joel 1:15 Destruction from God
Joel 1:15 (NASB)
15 Woe for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
15 Woe for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Joel 2:1-2 Time of darknes (another ever like it or wever will be)
Joel 2:1-2 (NASB)
1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Indeed, it is near, 2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.
1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Indeed, it is near, 2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.
Joel 2:10-11 Second Coming (Sun and Moon go Dark)
Joel 2:10-11 (NASB)
10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon become dark, And the stars lose their brightness. 11 The Lord utters His voice before His army; His camp is indeed very great, For mighty is one who carries out His word. The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?
10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon become dark, And the stars lose their brightness. 11 The Lord utters His voice before His army; His camp is indeed very great, For mighty is one who carries out His word. The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?
Joel 2:30-32 * Gods Wrath (Whoever calls on the name of the Lord is saved)
Joel 2:30-32 (NASB)
30 I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Will be saved;
30 I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Will be saved;
Joel 3:12-15 Second Coming (Sun/Moon go dark - Reaper Judgment)
Joel 3:12-15 (NASB)
12 Let the nations be awakened And come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. 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 moon have become dark, And the stars have lost their brightness.
12 Let the nations be awakened And come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. 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 moon have become dark, And the stars have lost their brightness.
Amos 5:18-20 Darkness and gloom
Amos 5:18-20 (NASB)
18 Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion And a bear confronts him, Or he goes home, leans with his hand against the wall, And a snake bites him. 20 Will the day of the Lord not be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?
18 Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion And a bear confronts him, Or he goes home, leans with his hand against the wall, And a snake bites him. 20 Will the day of the Lord not be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?
Obadiah 1:15 Day of judgment
Obadiah 1:15 (NASB)
15 “For the day of the Lord is near for all the nations. Just as you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
15 “For the day of the Lord is near for all the nations. Just as you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
ZEPHANIAH 1:7-18 DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD
Zephaniah 1:7-18 (NASB)
7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near, Because the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests. 8 “Then it will come about on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments. 9 And on that day I will punish all who leap on the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit. 10 And on that day,” declares the Lord, “There will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, Wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud crash from the hills. 11 Wail, you inhabitants of the Mortar, Because all the people of Canaan will be destroyed; All who weigh out silver will be eliminated. 12 And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the people Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good nor harm!’ 13 Their wealth will become plunder, And their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.” 14 The great day of the Lord is near, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. 15 That day is a day of anger, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. 17 I will bring distress on mankind So that they will walk like those who are blind, Because they have sinned against the Lord; And their blood will be poured out like dust, And their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to save them On the day of the Lord’s anger; And all the earth will be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a horrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.
7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near, Because the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests. 8 “Then it will come about on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments. 9 And on that day I will punish all who leap on the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit. 10 And on that day,” declares the Lord, “There will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, Wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud crash from the hills. 11 Wail, you inhabitants of the Mortar, Because all the people of Canaan will be destroyed; All who weigh out silver will be eliminated. 12 And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the people Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good nor harm!’ 13 Their wealth will become plunder, And their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.” 14 The great day of the Lord is near, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. 15 That day is a day of anger, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. 17 I will bring distress on mankind So that they will walk like those who are blind, Because they have sinned against the Lord; And their blood will be poured out like dust, And their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to save them On the day of the Lord’s anger; And all the earth will be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a horrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.
ZEPHANIAH 2:2 GODS ANGER
Zephaniah 2:2 (NASB)
2 Before the decree takes effect— The day passes like chaff— Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you.
2 Before the decree takes effect— The day passes like chaff— Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you.
MALACHI 4:5 ELIJAH SENT TO MAKE IT SO GOD WILL NOT DESTROY THE LAND
Malachi 4:5 (NASB)
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.”
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.”
ACTS 2:17-21 * GODS WRATH (WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD IS SAVED)
Acts 2:17-21 (NASB)
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, And your young men will see visions, And your old men will have dreams; 18 And even on My male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, And they will prophesy. 19 And I will display wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, And your young men will see visions, And your old men will have dreams; 18 And even on My male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, And they will prophesy. 19 And I will display wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
1 CORINTHIANS 5:5 A SPIRIT WILL BE SAVED ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
1 Corinthians 5:5 (NASB)
5 I have decided to turn such a person over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
5 I have decided to turn such a person over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
1 THESSALONIANS 5 SUDDEN DESTRUCTION
1 Thessalonians 5 (NASB)
5 Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
5 Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
2 THESSALONIANS 2:2 DAY OF GODS WRATH
2 Thessalonians 2:2 (NASB)
2 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2 PETER 3:10 DESTRUCTION FROM GOD
2 Peter 3:10 (NASB)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.
* In the book of Acts, Peter is quoting Joel
The day of the Lord can be used for many different specific events, but there is one thing they all have in common. The day of the Lord is about Gods anger or His wrath. However, when you only look at the New Testament, it seems the day of the Lord is a bit more specific. It is a time of destruction that comes upon the world.
Some will compare that understanding to the Second Coming, for the Lord definitely comes to lay down some heavy destruction to our world. The problem is that understanding just doesn't fit properly with one of the scriptures.
The day of the Lord can be used for many different specific events, but there is one thing they all have in common. The day of the Lord is about Gods anger or His wrath. However, when you only look at the New Testament, it seems the day of the Lord is a bit more specific. It is a time of destruction that comes upon the world.
Some will compare that understanding to the Second Coming, for the Lord definitely comes to lay down some heavy destruction to our world. The problem is that understanding just doesn't fit properly with one of the scriptures.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (NASB)
1 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
When you look at what is happening, the picture is fairly clear. The church in Thessalonia had received some news, likely a letter, that was falsely thought to come from Paul or the apostles, stating that the Day of the Lord has come. The church was very upset to the point that Paul had to write them a letter to settle them down. You will notice that the first verse also makes it very clear this is on the subject of the rapture, however that in no way means the day of the Lord is the rapture. It only means that Paul is writing this letter in regards to the rapture and that day of the Lord is at hand.
What doesn't make any sense however, is that "if" the day of the Lord referred to either the rapture or the Second Coming, that the church would be so upset that it has come. Paul always writes of these events as things we as believers should look forward to. We should never be upset that the rapture or second coming was happening. Yet Paul does not correct them in that regard. Instead he gives them a reason to know that the day of the Lord is not really at hand. So they were not necessarily wrong for being upset, but wrong for not realizing the lie. So why would any church or believer be right to be upset that the day of the Lord was upon them? Clearly this event could not be referring to either the rapture or the second coming.
There is only one way of interpreting this scripture, where it makes sense. That is to recognize the "day of the Lord" in this case, is the same "day of the Lord" Peter refers to in Acts 2. The "day of the Lord" is a period of time that is coming where God pours His wrath upon the unbelieving world. With this understanding, let me paraphrase 2 Thess 2 so it makes sense.
Now we ask you brethren in regards to the rapture, that you not get upset over a letter falsely attributed to us that the day of Gods Wrath has come. Do not be deceived, for the day of the Lord (day of Gods wrath) will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed. You know the man I speak of. He is the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself above all false gods or objects of worship, to the point He will take a seat in the Holy Temple and claim to be God. Don't you remember me teaching this to you before?
In the New Testament, nearly every use of the term "day of the Lord" is referring to a period of time where God pours His wrath on the world. Because Paul and the other apostles all preached an imminent return we now refer to as the rapture, when the church on Thessalonia had learned the day of the Lord was at hand, they had every reason to be upset. For if the day of Gods wrath was at hand, it meant that they had indeed missed the rapture and now would need to go through the day of the Lord, which runs hand in hand with the Tribulation. The worst 7 years this world will ever witness.
No, the Day of the Lord, is not the Tribulation.
It seems a lot of Christians are taught or have come to the understanding that the day of the Lord is the same event as the tribulation. This is not correct. They end about the same point, but they begin at slightly different times and have different purposes.
In Daniel 9, we learn the 70th week of his prophecy, also referred to as the Tribulation today, begins with the prince who is to come confirming a covenant with many. The prince who is to come is not the Messiah as some think. It is the people of the prince who is to come who destroys the city. Since it was not the believers nor the Jews that destroyed Jerusalem, but it was the Romans, we know for certain this prince who is to come is the man of lawlessness and not the Messiah. However, we know when the Day of the Lord begins. In the 6th Seal.
Revelation 6:12-17 (NASB)
12 And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Take note that the last verse here clearly states that the day of their wrath has come. So we know the day of Gods Wrath starts in the 6th Seal. So how do we know the tribulation doesn't start in the 6th seal as well? Because contrary to what most eschatologists teach, the Seven Seals are all broken before the Tribulation begins. Which means the Tribulation will start after the 7th Seal is broken. The Seven Seals
The first 4 Seals are the antichrist, the next World War, and consequences of the war (Famine and death). Seal 5 is not the Tribulation Saints being persecuted by the antichrist as many believe, but it is the One World Religion who will first start persecuting them.
The 6th Seal is John's first century description of seeing the great war escalate into a nuclear war. The stars falling from the sky are nuclear missiles. The sky rolling up is a mushroom cloud. The great wind is the nuclear blast. It is a perfect description of how one from that time would describe it. And the men hiding in caves (bunkers) say "The day of their Wrath has come!"
The great and awesome day od the Lord, is the escalation of WW3 into an all out Nuclear War. Then we have the 7th Seal. What is the 7th Seal? The opening of the scroll. The revealing of the 7 Trumpets. Now read the first 4 Trumpets and tell me you cannot see these as effects of the Nuclear war as well.
But the day of the Lord is not the Tribulation. The Tribulation does not start until the antichrist makes a covenant with many. I believe this happens after the nuclear war.
Now in being honest, I will admit it is completely possible the two events can begin at the same time. However the clear understanding that they are not the same event is in their purpose.
The day of the Lord is Gods wrath on the world. Gods anger playing out. It is clearly from God Himself and upon the world.
The Tribulation is not from God but from the world. The persecution of the antichrist and the One World Religion upon the believers.
Throughout the entire Old Testament, what is the reoccurring storyline? It is the Jews going astray from the Lord and God allowing them to be persecuted by the world until they return their faith to Him. Throughout the OT, God blesses those who follow Him and when they go astray, He lets them suffer tribulation.
Then in the Gospels, Jesus comes for the Jews first. He preaches to the Jews. He is there to reconcile them to God. When they reject Him and kill Him, they are given a partial hardening of their hearts and God instead offers salvation to the gentile. At this time in Acts, the time of the Jew has been put on hold and the age of the church (the Bride) has begun.
Romans 11:25 (NASB)
25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
Once the fulness of the gentile comes in, and all who will be saved are saved, the rapture happens and the church is removed. Not to escape tribulation, but they are spared Gods Wrath upon the unbelieving world. God does not mind us going through tribulations of the World because it allows us to show our faith. God does not make a habit of beating His own children. The Lord is not going to abuse His own bride.
With the church out of the way, God's wrath is poured on the world
