THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

DAY OF THE LORD

THE DAY OF THE LORD” is a key biblical phrase in understanding God’s revelation about the future. The New Testament writers use this phrase according to their understanding of the Old testament prophets. A survey of the prophets indicates the term was use in reference to both near historical fulfillment  and far future eschatological events. The New Testament writers picked up on the eschatological usage and apply the phase to both the judgement  that will climax the Tribulation period and the judgement that will usher in the New earth.

The day of the Lord is One of the major-strands woven through out the fabric of biblical prophecy. With out a clear Understanding of it, God plans for the future is obscure. “The Day of the Lord appear in four uncontested New Testament passages ( Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonian 2:2; and 2 Peter 3:10 ). How ever, the prophets actually wrote more about it and provided the basis for whatever Peter understood about it.

THE OLD TESTAMENT DATA

The Phase  “the Day of the Lord” appears 19 times in the Old Testament. The expression Occurs in six manor and Two Major prophetic Books.

OBADIAH

Obadiah relates the family fued between Israel ( Jacob ) and  Edom ( Esau ). The theme of this is the day of the Lord experience first by Edom and second by the nations (15 – 16 ) who walked in Edom’s way. Obadiah 15 is the pivotal verse. The fact that the language of verses 1-24 is singular  applied to Edom  warrent a near future fulfillment – in all likelihood Nebuchadnezzar’s  plunder. However the language of verses 15 – 21 point to the far future and the establishment of God’s Kingdom.

Walter Kaiser ( pp.188 – 189 ) notes, “As for the fulfillment of this prophecy, obadiah combined in one picture what history split into different times and events….. having near and distant events, or multiple fulfillment, all being part of the single truth-intentions of the author with its more immediate victory over Edom  and the distant total victory of the kingdom of God.”

To Summarize, Obadiah makes several contribution to the biblical pattern. Its combines the neat view ( with particular reference to Edom, verses 1- 14) with the far view (  involving all nations, Verses 15 -21 ). It Predict Judgment and destruction of all the godless ( verses 15-16, 18 ). The restoration of Israel is involved in the far view ( verses 17 – 21 ) but is not evident in the near. The near is a preview; taste and guarantee of what the far will involve in a lesser to-  greater logical flow. Finally the Day of the Lord ends with the establishment of the Kingdom of God. (Verse 21 )

JOEL

The Day of the Lord is mention Five times in Joel ( 1:15; 2:1 ; 2:11; 2:31 ; 3:14 ). The details in each passages are similar, but enough differences occur to suggest that Joel begins with a narrow historical sample ( a locust plaque )  and expand it to include a universal  eschatological application.

Joel uses theme in his descriptions of the day of the lord that other prophets pick up later:

Joel 1:15   Destruction  Isaiah 13:6

Joel 2:2  Day Of Darkness    Zephaniah 1:15

Joel 2:2    Days Of Clouds    Zephaniah 1:15 ;  Ezekiel 30:30

Joel 2:2  Thick Darkness      Zephaniah 1:15

Joel 2:11; 2:31  Great   Zephaniah 1:14; Malachi 4:5

Joel 2:31; 3:15    Cosmic Disturbances   Isaiah 13:10

Joel 2:31      Terrible      Malachi 4:5 

The Locust of Joel are real locust or grass hopper that have recently played havic with Judah’s country side. They ravage the fields and ruined the harvest. This vivid evidence of destruction is the basic for Joel to warn the nation to repent lest the day of the Lord soon come with even greater destruction ( 1:15 ). The message of Joel is that natural disasters like locust plaque are harbinger of imminent divine destruction.

The warning of impending disasters  and the past experience of the locust in Joel 1 are used in Joel 2 to describe the future destruction cause by a invading human army. As Joel Prophecy proceed its grow in its intensity and scope. Joel 2:18 -27  Functions as a transition from the near view to the far view. The events that Joel predicts in 2:28 -32  will be spectacular. God will pull out his spirit on all mankind ( 2:28 – 29 ). Cosmic disturbance will flash God greatness from the skies ( 2:30 – 31 ). Repentance will be available to every one ( 2:32 ; See Obadiah 17 ).

Most significant in 2:31 ( NKJV )  Is the statement that the great cosmic signs will be a prelude “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord” This seem to limit the day of the Lord to the very end of the tribulation if Joel 3:15; Matthew 24:29; and Revelation 6:12 refers to the same event. The day of the Lord at the end of the tribulation will contains unmistakable manifestations of God greatness. It will include both physical disturbance ( see 2 Peter 3:10 ) and spiritual revival.  

AMOS

The Prophecy in Amos 5:18,20 about the day of the Lord has an important historical setting. The Prophet wrote to the Northern Tribes (7:10 )  and King Jeroboam, predicting their future exile to Assyria ( 5:27; 6:14 ; 7:9 ; 7:17 ). Amaziah ; the priest of Bethel, accused Amos of Conspiracy ( 7:10 ) and attempted to sent Amos back to Judah. Amos message of Judgment conflicted with Amaziah message of Peace and Prosperity. 

These self righteous Israelite’s mistakenly longed for the day of Yahweh return, which they thought would bring them blessing and prosperity. Amos description of the day of the Lord was Diametrically opposed to their view ( 5:18 – 20 ). According to Amos it is not a day of delight but of darkness  — a day of gloom  not gladness. The day that Amos envision was the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. ( 2 King 17 ) Amos stresses the  inevitable of this destruction ( 5:19 – 20 ). He does not use ” the day of the Lord” to portray the eschatological expression of God Judgment . However, Amos does anticipate God’s intervention on behave of Israel  to reestablish his Kingdom ( 9:11 – 15 ).