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 unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is 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 shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

    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, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

    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 cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

    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 yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as 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 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.

    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 his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

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