Day of the Lord

“Day of the Lord” is expression used by Old Testament prophets to describe a time when God will intervene in history, mainly for judgment. So, “the day of the Lord” is also called “the Day of the LORD’s anger” in Zephaniah 2:2. This expression appears in the writings of the prophet Amos, who lived during the eighth century BC.

Sometimes “the day of the Lord” means a time when God judged people in the past (Lamentations 2:22). More often, it means a judgment that would happen soon (Joel 2:1–11). But in the fullest sense, the term points to God’s final judgment of the world (Joel 3:14–21; Malachi 4:5).

Sometimes a prophecy speaks about both a near event and the end times. The near judgment gives a preview of the final day of the Lord. Isaiah’s prophecy against Babylon is one example (Isaiah 13:5–10). Jesus used events from that prophecy, along with other prophecies, to teach about his second coming (Mark 13:24–37).

Joel’s prophecy about the day of the Lord is another example (Joel 1:15–2:11). At first, Joel spoke about God’s judgment on Israel through a locust plague. But that judgment also pointed forward to a final day of the Lord far beyond Joel’s time (Joel 2:14–17, 31). The day of the Lord did not end with the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost. Joel had said that this would happen (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:16–21; Revelation 6:12–13). In the New Testament, the term refers only to the end times.

The Bible describes the final day of the Lord as a day of gloom, darkness, and judgment. God’s judgment is often described with signs in nature. These signs include the sun, moon, and stars becoming dark (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:31; 3:15; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12). God will judge the nations because they rebelled against his chosen people and his anointed king (Joel 3:19; compare Psalm 2). Israel is warned not to long for that day. It will also include judgment against Israel, God’s chosen nation (Amos 5:18–20).

But the prophets also promise that a believing remnant (a faithful group that remains) will be saved. They will turn to the Messiah (God’s chosen king) (Joel 2:32; Zechariah 12:10). After this judgment, the future day of the Lord will be a time of blessing for Israel. God will restore his people and make them prosper again (Joel 3:18–21).

The New Testament uses clearer phrases such as:

“the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8),

“the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14), and

“the day of Christ” (Philemon 1:10; 2:16).

These phrases are more personal and more hopeful. They point to final events that concern Christian believers. These believers will not suffer God’s wrath, which is his holy judgment against sin (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

When the day of the Lord comes, God will renew and purify the earth through judgment by fire (2 Peter 3:10–13). In Revelation, this final cleansing seems to happen after the Millennium, the 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 21:1).

See also Eschatology; Last Days; Last Judgment.