Day of the Lord

[Guest]

I've heard it said from a dispensational viewpoint, that the phrase Day of the Lord refers to a period of time (i.e. Rapture, Tribulation and possibly the Millenium, although I'm not sure), instead of an actual day.

What is the Day of the Lord? How is it viewed in the Old and New Testaments?

[Guest]

merry christmas, schoel (9 months late).

i just heard one of steve's lectures talking about this.. i think it was the verse by verse teaching in acts- he was talking about peter's first sermon because i believe Peter mentions the coming of the day of the Lord.

if i remember correctly, steve said that in the OT this phrase often signaled a coming judgment on a nation-- e.g. Is. 13:9-- See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

i had always, in my more dispensational days, also equated it with the second coming, but i am not clear now if there is much support for this notion. others will have to help out on this point.

TK

[Guest]

had always, in my more dispensational days, also equated it with the second coming, but i am not clear now if there is much support for this notion. others will have to help out on this point.

Even though I am not a dispensationalist, I think there is a strong "support for this notion" in the following passage:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you this?
And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-6

In the first paragraph, Paul seems to link the coming of our Lord with "The Day of the Lord". It seems to me that "The Day of the Lord" begins with the second coming, and the rest of that "day" may endure throughout the coming millenium. But Paul states that that day will not come until "the man of lawlessness", " the son of perdition" is revealed. I believe that that person is the "beast" of Revelation, or "the Antichrist".
Yes, I know there were many "antichrists" in the world even in the apostle John's day. But there were also many "christs" in his day, and many more are predicted for the last days. But that doesn't mean there isn't also "The Christ" who will return again "in like manner" as the apostles saw Him go".
So also there will be a single individual "The Antichrist" who will appear to the inhabitants of earth before our Lord returns. That which restrains him was understood in the first and second centuries, to be the Roman Government. I understand it to be government in general, the God-given "powers that be". Dispensationalists generally think the restrainer is the "Holy Spirit" who will supposedly be gone after the "rapture" takes place, because all Christians who possess the Spirit will be gone.

I think I hold the same view that Paul taught, and that Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and other second-century Christians held. Today this view is known as "historic pre-millenialism".

[Guest]

Even though I am not a dispensationalist, I think there is a strong "support for this notion" in the following passage:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.


Many believe this to be the Papacy which seems quite reasonable and another position is that the "man of lawlessness" represents any and all natural men meaning man himself is the beast. Either view allows for the historicist view of Rev. After all in today's value system of moral relativity isn't that by default saying that each man defines his own truth therefore making himself his own god?

[Guest]

I've heard it said from a dispensational viewpoint, that the phrase Day of the Lord refers to a period of time (i.e. Rapture, Tribulation and possibly the Millenium, although I'm not sure), instead of an actual day.

What is the Day of the Lord? How is it viewed in the Old and New Testaments?

Well, it may not be an actual 24 hour day, but it seems that throughout scripture (mainly in the OT) the phrase "day of the Lord" refers to a judgement by God on a nation, etc.

I certainly don't understand how the New Testament referrences of the day of the Lord would refer to anything other than judgement, and most likely speak of the second coming.

Matthew puts it this way (calling it the day(s) of the Son of man):
Mat 24:42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
Mat 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Luke puts it this way:
Luk 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
Luk 17:27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Peter puts it this way:
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Paul puts it this way:
1Th 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
1Th 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.



These all seem to be talking about judgement(s). Sometimes called the day of the Lord or Son of man, but both are said to come like a "thief".

It sounds like a judgement by God that does not destroy the righteous (since we would be raptured). So we look forward to the day(s) of the Son of man (day of the Lord).

I don't see how this can be an event that lasts a long period of time, nor could it be (or last through) the millenium since premillinial belief states this period as a time of general universal peace. Yet these examples show that the day(s) of the Son of man (aka: the day of the Lord) are a period of judgement. The day of the Lord is suppose to destory the wicked and they will not escape it. I don't think the millenium (accroding to the premil view) could be considered a time of judgement.

Since I'm Amil I see our current period of time the "Millenium" were the Gospel is preached to all nations, followed by the "day of the Lord" when Jesus comes back and destroys the wicked and saves the righeous, as seems to be described in 2 Thes chapter 1.

2Th 1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering--
2Th 1:6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
2Th 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2Th 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
2Th 1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

[Guest]

I don't see how this can be an event that lasts a long period of time, nor could it be (or last through) the millenium since premillinial belief states this period as a time of general universal peace. Yet these examples show that the day(s) of the Son of man (aka: the day of the Lord) are a period of judgement. The day of the Lord is suppose to destory the wicked and they will not escape it. I don't think the millenium (accroding to the premil view) could be considered a time of judgement.

The Lord Jesus, when He comes, will slay his enemies with the sword [His word] which comes out of His mouth. Jesus said, concening the darnel (a week which resembles wheat):

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the darnel first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’"

There are many more references to Jesus destroying his enemies at His coming. But after their destruction, the rest of the millenium will be a time of peace, safety, joy, etc.

[Guest]

It seems to me that "The Day of the Lord" begins with the second coming, and the rest of that "day" may endure throughout the coming millenium.

Paidion,
My only point is that the term "the day of the Lord" is used many times and seems to always refer to a time of judgement from God. I don't think the premil view of the millenium is that there will be 1,000 years of God's judgement. It's not logical, IMO.

There are many more references to Jesus destroying his enemies at His coming. But after their destruction, the rest of the millenium will be a time of peace, safety, joy, etc.

Yes but the time after the destruction would be called the millenium, not the "day of the Lord".

[Guest]

My only point is that the term "the day of the Lord" is used many times and seems to always refer to a time of judgement from God.

It always refers to a time of judgment from God? How about this one?

For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope you will understand fully, as you have understood in part, that you can be proud of us as we can be of you, on the day of the Lord Jesus. 2Corinthians 1:13,14

[Guest]

My only point is that the term "the day of the Lord" is used many times and seems to always refer to a time of judgement from God.

It always refers to a time of judgment from God? How about this one?

For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope you will understand fully, as you have understood in part, that you can be proud of us as we can be of you, on the day of the Lord Jesus. 2Corinthians 1:13,14

Believers don't "miss" the day of the Lord. So when the day of the Lord comes, it will not be a time of judgement from God on the believers but on the unbelievers (1 Thes 5:9). So believers see the end of thier suffering and persecution because that "day" destroys the unbelievers.

1 Cor 5:5 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.

There is a saving of believers (rest) and a destruction of the unbelievers on the "day of the Lord". Both happen at the same "event" as I believe are spelled out here:

2 Thes 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The day of the Lord is destruction, but not for those who believe. So there is the positive aspect of that day in that it marks the end of those who persecute the church. It would seem that after this event (called the day of the Lord/Christ) that either the millenium or the new heavens and earth are ushered in.

[Guest]

Believers don't "miss" the day of the Lord. So when the day of the Lord comes, it will not be a time of judgement from God on the believers but on the unbelievers (1 Thes 5:9).

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11