The day of the Lord—What is it?

what does the bible say?

The day of the Lord is a future, unknown time when God’s justice and power will be fully revealed, bringing judgment on the unrepentant and vindication for those who trust in Him. In the Old Testament, the day of the Lord is depicted as a day of darkness, destruction, and division, where even the earth itself suffers, and God’s unmatched power triumphs over all opposition. The prophet Joel describes it as a decisive battle where God’s authority is unchallenged, demonstrating His sovereignty over all creation. The New Testament reinforces this vision, portraying the day as a time of wrath and visitation. It culminates in events like the battle of Armageddon and comes suddenly and unexpectedly. For those who have placed their faith in Jesus, the day of the Lord is not a time of judgment but a solemn reminder to live in holiness and readiness. It calls us to share the gospel and to live lives surrendered to God, motivated by love and the anticipation of Christ’s return. Ultimately, the day of the Lord urges all to acknowledge and surrender to God’s authority.

from the old testament

• The day of the Lord is mentioned in the Bible over twenty times, and it refers to a day at some future but unknown time, when the people of the earth will meet God’s judgment. For those who are in opposition to Him, who deny any need for His mercy and grace, that day will be a terrible day of battle (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6; Ezekiel 30:3).
• In the Bible, the day of the Lord is almost exclusively painted as a day of destruction, darkness, and division, during which even the earth itself will suffer (Isaiah 13:6; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11; Zephaniah 1:14–15; Zechariah 14:1; see also 2 Peter 3:10).
• The prophet Joel describes the day of the Lord as a day when destruction will come from the Almighty. He shows God in His camp, with an army of such power that none can hope to defeat it. Yet, Joel also mentions multitudes gathering against God in a place called “the valley of decision,” where this battle is to take place (Joel 3:14).

from the new testament

• The New Testament also calls the day of the Lord a day of wrath, a day of visitation, and the great day of God the Almighty, when those who deny God’s salvation are doomed to lose (Revelation 16:14).
• The day of the Lord described in Joel is likely describing the battle of Armageddon, when all the nations of the world will be driven by Satan to fruitlessly come against God in battle (Revelation 16:13–16).
• The day of the Lord will come suddenly, like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).

implications for today

The day of the Lord will be a day of judgment for those who have not trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Those who have trusted in Jesus for forgiveness are told to also be prepared for the day of the Lord, though it will not be a time of judgment for them. The pride of those who reject God will be humbled on that day (Isaiah 2:17), but anyone who is covered by Christ’s work on the cross will not have to face judgment. This was Jesus’s statement about why He came to earth: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:17–18). When the day of the Lord comes, it will be fearful for those who have not believed in the Son of God. For those who have believed in Jesus as their Savior, the day of the Lord is a sober reminder of the consequences of sin and a call for us to live in the light of His coming back. We should have tender hearts toward those who reject Jesus, motivated to share the gospel to a world that does not know or care about the judgment to come. We are to live lives surrendered to the One who willingly gave up His life, so we would not have to face God’s wrath. We are to live for Him and not for our sinful flesh, though we will wrestle with it until we are sanctified in heaven. Our urgency for the lost and our desire to honor God should propel us to live lives that are prepared to face the day of the Lord.

Recap

understand

• The day of the Lord is a future time when God’s justice and power will be revealed.
• The day of the Lord involves judgment on the unrepentant.
• For believers, the day of the Lord calls us to share the gospel and live holy lives as we await this day.

reflect

• How does the reality of the day of the Lord shape the way you live your life?
• How are you actively preparing your heart and life for Christ’s return?
• How does knowing that God will judge the unrepentant and vindicate the faithful affect your trust and dependence on Him?

engage

• How does the day of the Lord challenge our assumptions about God and His character?
• How can we encourage each other to live holy and surrendered lives in light of the day of the Lord?
• What motivates you to share the gospel to those unaware of the coming judgment?