Day of The Lord

In The Day of The Lord

First draft 04/19/2003
Revised 12/31/2004

In the Bible, the "day of the Lord," refers to judgment.

Oftentimes, this judgment is the day of judgment which will occur at the end of time when the world is destroyed.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (2 Pet. 3:10 - Show Context )

On other occasions, however, the judgment can be more immediate, as when the Lord has punished nations in the past. For example, Obadiah wrote of a day of the Lord when judgment would come soon (relative to Obadiah's time) upon Edom.

"For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head." (Ob. 1:15 - Show Context)

Isaiah predicted that a day of the Lord would bring judgment and desolation upon Babylon.

"Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty." (Isa 13:6 - Show Context)
: "Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it." (Isa 13:9 - Show Context)

Judgment on the day of Lord is a terrible, horrifying event for the wicked.

"Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. " (Am 5:18 - Show Context)
: Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? (Am 5:20 - Show Context)

The day of the Lord though prophesized about, comes unexpectedly.

"For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." (1Th 5:2 - Show Context)

Other passages concerning the day of the Lord are quoted below. For further reading, I recommend The Bible and the Future by Anthony A. Hoekema (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1979).

Isa 2:12 - Show Context; For the day of the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up-- And it shall be brought low--; Isa 34:8 - Show Context; For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
: Jer 46:10 - Show Context; For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the River Euphrates.
: La 2:22 - Show Context; "You have invited as to a feast day The terrors that surround me. In the day of the Lord's anger There was no refugee or survivor. Those whom I have borne and brought up My enemies have destroyed."
: Eze 13:5 - Show Context; You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord.
: Eze 30:3 - Show Context; For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
: Joe 1:15 - Show Context; Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
: Joe 2:1 - Show Context; Blow 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 is coming, For it is at hand:
: Joe 2:11 - Show Context; The Lord gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?
: Joe 3:14 - Show Context; Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
: Zep 1:7 - Show Context; Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; For the day of the Lord is at hand, For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.
: Zep 1:8 - Show Context; "And it shall be, In the day of the Lord's sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the king's children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.
: Zep 1:14 - Show Context; The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.
: Zep 1:18 - Show Context; Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.
: Zep 2:2 - Show Context; Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you!

Zep 2:3 - Show Context; Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger.
: Zec 14:1 - Show Context; Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
: 1Co 5:5 - Show Context; deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
: 2Co 1:14 - Show Context; (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

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