The occasion of God's final intervention in human affairs to punish sin, restore the faithful of his people and establish his rule over the nations. It is linked with the Messianic hope and will be fulfilled at Jesus Christ's return. This future consummation is anticipated in historical acts of judgment and, although its time is unknown, it will be heralded and accompanied by signs and by great upheavals in nature.
The day of the LORD as a day of judgment
Of universal judgment
Isaiah 24:21–22 See also Zephaniah 1:14–18
In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below. They will be gathered together like prisoners in a pit. They will be confined to a dungeon and punished after many days.
Of judgment on the nations
Isaiah 13:9–11; Jeremiah 46:10 See also Job 20:28–29; Isaiah 13:4–6 God's judgment on BabylonIsaiah 19:16–17; Ezekiel 30:3–4 Isaiah 27:1; Joel 3:12–14; Obadiah 1:15 God's judgment on Edom; Zephaniah 3:8; Romans 2:16; Revelation 6:15–17
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming— cruel, with fury and burning anger— to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.
Of judgment on faithless Israel
Amos 5:18–20 See also Isaiah 2:12; Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1–2; Matthew 7:22–23; John 12:48; Romans 2:5
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. It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?
The day of the LORD as a day of hope
A day of restoration for God's people
Jeremiah 30:7–8 See also Joel 2:23–28
How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it. On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will break the yoke off their necks and tear off their bonds, and no longer will strangers enslave them.
God will gather his people
Isaiah 11:11, Isaiah 27:12–13; Micah 4:6–7; Matthew 24:30–31 parallel Mark 13:26–27
God will save his people
Zephaniah 3:14–20 See also Isaiah 4:5–6, Isaiah 26:1; Joel 2:32, Joel 3:16–18; Obadiah 1:17; Zechariah 9:16–17
Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp. The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” “I will gather those among you who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth. At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you. For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your captives before your very eyes,” says the LORD.
God will purify his people
Isaiah 4:3–4; Zephaniah 3:11–13; Zechariah 14:20–21; Malachi 4:1–2
God will exalt his people
Obadiah 1:21; Micah 4:8, Micah 5:8–9; Revelation 22:5
God will complete his saving work
Philippians 1:6 The “day of Christ Jesus” is the NT equivalent to the “day of the LORD” which refers to Jesus Christ's second coming. See also Daniel 12:1–2; John 6:40, John 11:24; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 4:8
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The siege and deliverance of Jerusalem on the day of the LORD
Nations will gather against Jerusalem
Ezekiel 38:14–16; Zechariah 14:2; Luke 21:20; Revelation 20:8–9
The LORD will fight for Jerusalem
Ezekiel 38:18–23; Zechariah 12:2–5, Zechariah 14:3–5, Zechariah 14:12–13
The establishment of God's kingdom on the day of the LORD
God's kingdom will be universal and everlasting
Zechariah 14:9 See also Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:13–14; Revelation 11:15
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth— the LORD alone, and His name alone.
God will be the object of universal worship
Isaiah 19:19–24; Zephaniah 3:9–10; Zechariah 14:16
God's rule will be centred on a restored Jerusalem
Isaiah 2:2–4 parallel Micah 4:1–3; Zechariah 2:10–12; Revelation 22:3
The fulfilment of Messianic hope on the day of the LORD
Isaiah 4:2 See also Isaiah 11:10; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11; Zechariah 9:9, Zechariah 12:10
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.
Being prepared for the day of the Lord
The day will come unexpectedly
1 Thessalonians 5:2–3 See also Matthew 24:43–44 parallel Luke 12:39–40; Mark 13:32; 2 Peter 3:10
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
The need to be ready for the day
1 Thessalonians 5:4–8 See also Ezekiel 13:5; Zephaniah 2:1–3; Malachi 4:5; 2 Peter 3:11–12
But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
Signs heralding the day may be discerned
Matthew 24:33 parallels Mark 13:29, Luke 21:31; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
The day of the Lord will be accompanied by signs and great upheavals in nature
Acts 2:19–20 See also Joel 2:30–31; Isaiah 13:9–10; Joel 2:10; Luke 21:11, Luke 21:25–26
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
Historical events anticipate the day of the LORD
Disaster foreshadows final judgment
Isaiah 5:29–30 Judah invaded by Assyria; Ezekiel 30:10 Egypt defeated by Nebuchadnezzar; Joel 2:2–4 Israel devastated by a locust swarm; Amos 5:27 Israel defeated and exiled by Assyria; Matthew 24:21 parallel Mark 13:19 Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans
Return from exile foreshadows final restoration
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.