Limitless Word

The Day of the Lord

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The thread of judgment and rescue that runs from the prophets to the return of Christ.

No theme gathers the prophets like "the day of the LORD" — a coming day when God acts decisively to judge evil and save his people. It thunders through Amos, Joel, Zephaniah, and Malachi; Jesus folds it into his own promise to return; Paul says it comes "like a thief in the night"; Peter sees the heavens dissolve and a new world dawn; and Revelation shows it consummated when the Rider on the white horse appears. Walk this trail and you watch the dim, fearful "day" of the prophets resolve into the bright return of the King.
  1. 1

    "Let the day of the LORD come"

    Amos 5:18

    Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.

    Amos warns that the day many long for will be darkness, not light — judgment begins with God's own people.
  2. 2

    The sun turned to darkness

    Joel 2:31

    The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

    Joel paints the cosmic signs of the great and awesome day — and promises the Spirit poured out.
  3. 3

    A day of wrath and nearness

    Zephaniah 1:14

    The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

    Zephaniah: "The great day of the LORD is near" — a call to seek the LORD before it comes.
  4. 4

    The refiner's fire

    Malachi 4:1

    “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

    Malachi closes the Old Testament looking ahead to the burning day — and the sun of righteousness rising.
  5. 5

    Like a thief in the night

    1 Thessalonians 5:2

    For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

    Paul: the day of the Lord comes suddenly; children of light stay awake and sober.
  6. 6

    The heavens will pass away

    2 Peter 3:10

    But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

    Peter: the day comes, the elements dissolve, and we wait for new heavens and a new earth.
  7. 7

    The great day of their wrath

    Revelation 6:17

    For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

    Revelation opens the sixth seal — Joel's signs return as the day finally dawns.