2 Peter 3 identifies the promise of His coming with the Day of the Lord: "Scoffers will come...saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?' ... The Lord is not slack concerning his promise ... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."
The Day of the Lord [DOL] is sometimes referred to as the "eschatalogical Day of the Lord," distinguishing it from certain Old Testament prophecies of DOL that are believed to have had a past fulfillment. "Eschatos" is Greek for "last," and it is thought that some prophecies of DOL refer to a past or historical event of Divine wrath on a city, nation, or nations, while others refer to the future, final time of God's wrath on all nations. The eschatological DOL is often said to serve as a backdrop to those past days of wrath, for it seems at times the prophecies of wrath have both a near and far event in view.
It's not certain whether the specific phrase "Day of the Lord" ever applies to the near, historic periods of wrath, but instead refers always to the final event.
The near wrath was a precursor and guarantee of the far future wrath of DOL on all nations. A prophet may have spoken of soon approaching judgment, but used language that looked to the final wrath of DOL.
Obadiah 15-16: For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near...they shall be as though they had never been.
Obadiah focuses on the coming judgment on Edom for refusal to help and for enjoyment ofIsrael's plundering at different times by foreigners, yet this prophecy looks to the final wrath.Edom will first suffer at the hands of the nations, later, at the hands of the Lord and at the hands of His people. Edom is held to represent the nations. Edom’s judgment is a preview of what is to come on the nations.
Probably the earliest minor prophet proclaimed the coming of the Lord in judgment and wrath on the nations, and this became the expectation of the Jews of their complete deliverance and exaltation.
Amos, however, reveals that that day will overtake the rebellious of Israel: 5:18-19: Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord ! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? ... It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him!
There are several Old Testament prophecies that include a near and far wrath, making reference to DOL.
Isaiah 13 contains both a near-historical judgment and far DOL views. The near involves God's judgment on Babylon (the city), but the prophecy goes beyond what would happen to Babylon. The far begins in verse 6 and continues at least to verse 13. Connected with the far are cosmic signs as seen elsewhere in Scripture in connection with DOL and the second coming of Christ. The extent of the wrath in DOL is on the world. DOL serves as the backdrop of the near-historical judgment upon Babylon. What will happen to Babylon in the near future--during and/or centuries from Isaiah's time--is a precursor to what will befall the world in DOL.
Ezekiel 13.3-9 spoke against the false security of those Jewish people who followed their own foolishness and did not seek the revelation of God.
These self-led prophets misled the people, telling them only what they wanted to hear and believe and not the word of the Lord. The prophets were to turn the people to the Lord, to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. Yet the lies of these prophets and the failure of the people to return to God from their abominations would result in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the captivity of the people by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel got to write and see the fulfillment of this prophecy of God's wrath through the instrumentality of Babylon on the Israel, particularly the southern kingdom of Judah. Could DOL reference here be the anticipation of ultimate deliverance if they were obedient to the word? And yet, due to disobedience, they suffered Divine judgment, the same will happen in DOL if they are rebellious then.
Joel 2.1-11 may picture the effects of a locust invasion, described as a human army in places, though some reverse the idea.
Joel seems to be saying that if the locust plague blends into DOL, then Judah cannot survive: the prophet incorporated and discerned the connection between the near, local judgment and DOL. Yet like Amos, Joel knew DOL would hurt the rebellious of Israel as it would the nations.
A near and far wrath may be seen in Luke 21.
Jesus foretold the desolation of Jerusalem as the wrath of God on Israel. I believe this was in AD 70 by the Romans; it was a near wrath. He said Jerusalem would be trampled by gentiles until "the times of the gentiles be fulfilled." I believe this "times" is DOL, when the nations are judged and Jerusalem is delivered. Jesus then gives more detail of DOL in the text that follows. This whole text may reveal both a near time of wrath (AD 70) and the far-final wrath of God (DOL) in the prophetic vision of Jesus.
Ezekiel prophesies of the near wrath to come upon Egypt and the nations allied to her. This would also be through the instrumentality of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon: Thus says the Lord God: I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon. 30.10 Ezekiel 30.1-3 is a prophecy of DOL that appears to look beyond the near future to the far future in its terminology.
Ezekiel says it is "the time of the Gentiles": Wail, Woe to the day! For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
Some translate this as the "time of the doom of the gentiles." I suppose this is because the LXX has the word "end" instead of "time." And the "time" in view here is the eschatological judgment of the nations. It's interesting that Jesus prophesied of Jerusalem being trampled under foot by gentiles "until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled." I don't know if the plural of "time" is significant, and I suppose most would say this is a reference to the dominance of gentile world powers, but it could be a reference to DOL. Jerusalem will be trampled by gentiles until the time of the end or doom of the gentiles. That time will be DOL.
It would seem that Jesus was referring to what Ezekiel presented as the backdrop of Egypt's judgment from God through Nebuchadnezzar. Charles Feinberg writes: "The reference here is best taken as God's judgment on Egypt identified in principle with that day when He will call all nations into account. Some have interpreted the significant phrase [DOL] to mean any time in which God’s judgments are experienced on earth. Although such an interpretation will allow for all the references to be included under it, nevertheless it empties the words of their well-know eschatological force. They do speak of events in the far future when God will consummate His plans for Israel in the earth." The Prophecy of Ezekiel by Charles Feinberg
The DOL and the coming of Christ are both said to come like a thief.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, Peace and safety! then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5.2-3
The thief-like coming of this day is that it comes as destruction and without escape. Jesus said,The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. John 10.10
Jesus said in Matthew that His coming would be like a thief: But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. ...But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
There is an element of surprise for those unprepared.
Revelation records Jesus saying, Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. 16.10 This reference appears in the Revelation concerning the sixth bowl which prepares the way for Armageddon. This adds to the view that the coming of the Lord in wrath upon the nations is for the battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 16.10 would suggest that the coming of Christ as a thief is at the battle of Armageddon which comes out of the preparation of the sixth bowl. This is DOL coming as a thief upon the nations gathered together for battle: Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Joel also makes this correlation with DOL and the future big battle: Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord. let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow--for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. Joel 3.9-15
Revelation corresponds with Joel: Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle , saying, 'Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.' So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. 14.15-20 This harvest is the destruction of nations gathered for battle at Armageddon.
Zechariah: Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.... It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem... Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. Excerpts from chapters 12, 14
This great battle takes place at the end of GT. Even though the trumpets and bowls transpire within and near the end of GT, as I believe, DOL is the coming of Christ as in the days of Noah to execute wrath upon the nations. I believe it begins with Armageddon, but probably continues with the judgment of nations as set forth in Matthew 25. And so DOL is probably a period of time to accomplish all this.
The seventh bowl is the destruction of Babylon the Great. That destruction brings an end to normal activities in that great city, even after much devastation has transpired in the world: Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, 'Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.' And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.' Revelation 18.21-24
So DOL at the end of GT can still bring an end to normal activities that were taking place in Babylon the Great right up to the seventh bowl. It is out of the sixth bowl's preparation for war that comes Armageddon, and so it is out of the bowls that God's wrath is complete.
The cosmic events at the end of GT announce DOL and the coming of the Lord.
Isaiah 13: Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. ...For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.
Joel: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 2.31
Joel: Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. 3.14-15
Matthew: Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 24.29
The sixth seal of Revelation identifies the same event: I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 6.12-17
The sixth seal events take place at the end of GT. Those who see the cosmic events hide themselves in anticipation of "great day of His wrath."
This prophecy corresponds to the prophecy in Isaiah 2: Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the Lord . ... They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. ... To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.
Jesus prophesied: And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.... Luke 21.25-28
All these references place DOL at the end of GT; it is the coming of the Lord in wrath and judgment on the nations, announced by cosmic disturbances which cause people to hide themselves in fear and expectation.
It is held by many that DOL is both a time of wrath and a time of blessing--that blessing being the Millennial Kingdom (MK). Yet not all agree with this. Some see it as a time of Divine wrath only, MK being subsequent and consequent to DOL.
One reference to support the view that MK is included in DOL is in Amos: "Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord ! For what good is the day of the Lord to you?" 5.18-19
This reference would seemingly imply that the Israelite anticipated it as a day of blessing, though the prophet says it will turn out otherwise for even them. But it may be that the Israelite was to understand DOL as a judgment on the nations only, and that being their deliverance. And so it could be that DOL precedes and makes possible the anticipated blessing. But as the prophet warns, there will be no escape from DOL for the rebellious in Israel. Amos says, it will be as a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! And judgment did come upon them historically (upon the northern kingdom of Israel) through the invasion and exile that came by the Assyrians. Amos refers to DOL because his countrymen do (but the fulfillment of divine wrath came historically through the Assyrian invasion of northern Israel in the eighth century). Amos corrects their expectation by saying they will suffer DOL judgment as will the gentiles for their wickedness. They will not escape the wrath of God that they anticipate coming on the nations for their deliverance.
Expositor's Bible Commentary: "This verse [in Amos] affords an insight into the popular theology in Amos's time. The Day of the Lord is an important eschatological concept that runs through the prophetic writings. It refers to the complex of events surrounding the coming of the Lord in judgment to conquer his foes and to establish his sovereign rule over the world. The people were looking forward to that day. Apparently they understood it as the time when Yahweh would act on their behalf to conquer their foes and establish Israel as his people forever. They regarded their election as the guarantee of the Lord's favor. But their moral vision was blurred. They failed to see the Day of the Lord as the time when God will judge all sin--even theirs. They named the name of Yahweh but did not obey his precepts. For these people, Amos said, that coming day will be one of darkness."
Richard Mayhue: "...not all of the passages that deal with DOL in the far eschatological realm mention blessing ... Finally, DOL is always described as a day of God’s Anger and wrath, not a day of God’s blessing....After the eschatological DOL fulfills God’s judgments, God will reign on earth and bless His people. The blessings which are an attendant feature of DOL are chronologically consequent to it, not inherent within it." Grace Theological Journal, Fall ‘85
Another reference that would seemingly support the view that DOL includes MK is in 2 Peter 3.10. Peter writes of DOL coming as a "thief" and then concludes with the complete renovation of the created order. The thief aspect precedes MK, and it is assumed the renovation he references comes after MK: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
It is possible that Peter has in view the prophecy of Isaiah 34: All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree. The context of this speaks of judgment on the nations. It may be that Peter speaks of the cosmic events that take place at the end of great tribulation at the coming of Christ and DOL.
Yet, if Peter has in view a renovation that occurs at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:11 and 21), then DOL is the precursor of that renovation. 2 Peter 3.10 looks to the renovation that brings in the new creation (as the eternal state), with DOL (which precedes MK) being a precursor to the renovation, at the beginning of the Millennium, which entails the removal of the curse on the earth and the universal presence of divine righteousness (Isaiah 65:17-18). (The thoughts in green are not my own.)
Concerning references to "in that day" in Zechariah...the phrase could connect all the events to one time period of a particular character that would include both DOL and MK, that being the period beginning with and continuing with the presence of the Lord on earth. The Lord comes "in that day" to judge the nations (DOL) and restore Israel and bless her in the Land again and subdue all nations (MK). What I am saying is that DOL is distinct from MK, but both are included under "in that day" as the extended period of time of the Lord's special presence on earth.
Zechariah: And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives...It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light...And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem...In that day it shall be-- The Lord is one ...It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them... In that day "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" shall be engraved on the bells of the horses... In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 14.1-21
No comments:
Post a Comment