The Rapture begins the Day of the Lord along with the tribulation period so that the events of the tribulation, the second advent, and the millennium are all included within the scope of the Day of the Lord.
The term Day of the Lord occurs in the following passages: Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18 (twice), 20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7, 14 (twice); Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5; Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10. In addition, the phrase that day or the day or the great day occurs more than seventy-five times in the Old Testament. The frequency with which it occurs will evidence its importance in the prophetic Scriptures. These passages reveal that the idea of judgment is paramount in all of them. This is so clearly brought out in Zephaniah 1:14-18. This judgment includes not only the specific judgments upon Israel and the nations at the end of the tribulation that are associated with the second advent, but, from a consideration of the passages themselves, includes judgments that extend over a period of time prior to the second advent. Thus, it is concluded that the Day of the Lord will include the time of the tribulation. Zechariah 14:1-4 makes it clear that the events of the second advent are included in the program of the Day of the Lord. 2 Peter 3:10 gives authority for including the entire millennial age within this period. If the Day of the Lord did not begin until the second advent, since that event is preceded by signs, the Day of the Lord could not come as a “thief in the night,” unexpected, and unheralded, as it is said it will come in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
The only way this day could break unexpectedly upon the world is to have it begin immediately after the rapture of the church. It is thus concluded that the Day of the Lord is that extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the second advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium.
The events of the Day of the Lord. It will be evident that the events within the Day of the Lord are indeed momentous, and a study of this period must include a study of a great part of the prophetic Scriptures. It will include the prophesied events of the tribulation period, such as: the federation of states into a Roman Empire (Dan. 2 and 7); the rise of the political ruler of this empire, who makes a covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 13:1-10); the formulation of a false religious system under the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-18); the pouring out of the judgments under the seals (Rev. 6); the separation of the 144,000 witnesses (Rev. 7); the trumpet judgments (Rev. 8-11); the rise of God’s witnesses (Rev. 11); the persecution of Israel (Rev. 12); the pouring out of the bowl judgments (Rev. 16); the overthrow of the false professing church (Rev. 17 and 18); the events of the campaign of Armageddon (Ezek. 38 and 39; Rev. 16:16; 19:17- 21); the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 24:14). It will also include the prophesied events connected with the second advent, such as: the return of the Lord (Matt. 24:29-30); the resurrection of Old Testament and tribulation saints (John 6:39-40; Rev. 20:4); the destruction of the Beast and all his armies and the False Prophet and his followers in the Beast worship (Rev. 19:11-21); the judgment on the nations (Matthew 25:31-46); the regathering of Israel (Ezek. 37:1-14); the judgment on living Israel (Ezek. 20:33-38); the restoration of Israel to the land (Amos 9:15); the binding of Satan (Rev. 20:2-3). Further it will include all the events of the millennial age, with the final revolt of Satan (Rev. 20:7-10); the great white throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-15); and the purging of earth (2 Pet. 3:10-13). These, and many related subjects, must then be studied.
The expression “day of Christ,” occurs in the following passages: 1 Cor. 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16. A.V. has “day of Christ,” 2 Thes. 2:2, incorrectly, for “day of the Lord” (Isa. 2:12; Rev. 19:11-21). The “day of Christ” relates wholly to the reward and blessing of saints at His coming, as “day of the Lord” is connected with judgment.
It would appear that this event, which is frequently referred to as the “day of
Christ,” must be distinguished from the “Day of the Lord” of 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Thes.
2:2 R.V. The latter expression comes from the Old Testament, and relates to
Christ’s universal kingdom; but the former expression is found in the New
Testament only, and relates to His advent for the church.
It thus appears that two separate programs are in view when these two expressions are used although not two separate time areas. They can not be made to refer to the same event. In each case in which Day of Christ is used it is used specifically in reference to the expectation of the Church, her translation, glorification, and examination for reward.
The first great purpose of the tribulation is to prepare the nation Israel for her
Messiah. The prophecy of Jeremiah (30:7) makes it clear that this time that is coming
has particular reference to Israel, for it is “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”
God’s purpose for Israel in the Tribulation is to bring about the conversion of a multitude of Jews, who will enter into the blessings of the kingdom and experience the fulfillment of all Israel’s covenants. The good news that the King is about to return will be preached (Matt. 24:14) so that Israel may be turned to their deliverer. As John the Baptist preached such a message to prepare Israel for the first coming, Elijah will preach to prepare Israel for the second advent.
This witness is seen to be effective in that multitudes of Jews are converted during the tribulation period and are waiting for the Messiah (Rev. 7:1-8 and the wise virgins of Matt. 25:1-13). It is also God’s purpose to populate the millennium with a multitude of saved Gentiles, who are redeemed through the preaching of the believing remnant. This is accomplished in the multitude from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and languages” (Rev. 7:9) and in the “sheep” (Matt. 25:31-46) that enter the millennial age. God’s purpose, then, is to populate the millennial kingdom by bringing a host from among Israel and the Gentile nations to Himself.
In order to understand the time elements in the tribulation period it is necessary to
go back to the prophecy of Daniel where the chronology of Israel’s future history is
outlined in the great prophecy of the seventy weeks (Dan. 9:24-27).
The importance of Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks. Many important aspects
may be attached to this prophecy. a. It establishes the literal method of interpretation of prophecy.
Properly interpreted, the prophecy of Daniel furnishes an excellent example of
the principle that prophecy is subject to literal interpretation. Practically all
expositors, however opposed to prophecy per se, agree that at least part of the
seventy weeks of Daniel is to be interpreted literally…if the first sixty-nine weeks of
Daniel were subject to literal fulfillment, it is a powerful argument that the final
seventieth week will have a similar fulfillment.
The term Day of the Lord occurs in the following passages: Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18 (twice), 20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7, 14 (twice); Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5; Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10. In addition, the phrase that day or the day or the great day occurs more than seventy-five times in the Old Testament. The frequency with which it occurs will evidence its importance in the prophetic Scriptures. These passages reveal that the idea of judgment is paramount in all of them. This is so clearly brought out in Zephaniah 1:14-18. This judgment includes not only the specific judgments upon Israel and the nations at the end of the tribulation that are associated with the second advent, but, from a consideration of the passages themselves, includes judgments that extend over a period of time prior to the second advent. Thus, it is concluded that the Day of the Lord will include the time of the tribulation. Zechariah 14:1-4 makes it clear that the events of the second advent are included in the program of the Day of the Lord. 2 Peter 3:10 gives authority for including the entire millennial age within this period. If the Day of the Lord did not begin until the second advent, since that event is preceded by signs, the Day of the Lord could not come as a “thief in the night,” unexpected, and unheralded, as it is said it will come in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
The only way this day could break unexpectedly upon the world is to have it begin immediately after the rapture of the church. It is thus concluded that the Day of the Lord is that extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the second advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium.
The events of the Day of the Lord. It will be evident that the events within the Day of the Lord are indeed momentous, and a study of this period must include a study of a great part of the prophetic Scriptures. It will include the prophesied events of the tribulation period, such as: the federation of states into a Roman Empire (Dan. 2 and 7); the rise of the political ruler of this empire, who makes a covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 13:1-10); the formulation of a false religious system under the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-18); the pouring out of the judgments under the seals (Rev. 6); the separation of the 144,000 witnesses (Rev. 7); the trumpet judgments (Rev. 8-11); the rise of God’s witnesses (Rev. 11); the persecution of Israel (Rev. 12); the pouring out of the bowl judgments (Rev. 16); the overthrow of the false professing church (Rev. 17 and 18); the events of the campaign of Armageddon (Ezek. 38 and 39; Rev. 16:16; 19:17- 21); the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 24:14). It will also include the prophesied events connected with the second advent, such as: the return of the Lord (Matt. 24:29-30); the resurrection of Old Testament and tribulation saints (John 6:39-40; Rev. 20:4); the destruction of the Beast and all his armies and the False Prophet and his followers in the Beast worship (Rev. 19:11-21); the judgment on the nations (Matthew 25:31-46); the regathering of Israel (Ezek. 37:1-14); the judgment on living Israel (Ezek. 20:33-38); the restoration of Israel to the land (Amos 9:15); the binding of Satan (Rev. 20:2-3). Further it will include all the events of the millennial age, with the final revolt of Satan (Rev. 20:7-10); the great white throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-15); and the purging of earth (2 Pet. 3:10-13). These, and many related subjects, must then be studied.
The expression “day of Christ,” occurs in the following passages: 1 Cor. 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16. A.V. has “day of Christ,” 2 Thes. 2:2, incorrectly, for “day of the Lord” (Isa. 2:12; Rev. 19:11-21). The “day of Christ” relates wholly to the reward and blessing of saints at His coming, as “day of the Lord” is connected with judgment.
It would appear that this event, which is frequently referred to as the “day of
Christ,” must be distinguished from the “Day of the Lord” of 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Thes.
2:2 R.V. The latter expression comes from the Old Testament, and relates to
Christ’s universal kingdom; but the former expression is found in the New
Testament only, and relates to His advent for the church.
It thus appears that two separate programs are in view when these two expressions are used although not two separate time areas. They can not be made to refer to the same event. In each case in which Day of Christ is used it is used specifically in reference to the expectation of the Church, her translation, glorification, and examination for reward.
The first great purpose of the tribulation is to prepare the nation Israel for her
Messiah. The prophecy of Jeremiah (30:7) makes it clear that this time that is coming
has particular reference to Israel, for it is “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”
God’s purpose for Israel in the Tribulation is to bring about the conversion of a multitude of Jews, who will enter into the blessings of the kingdom and experience the fulfillment of all Israel’s covenants. The good news that the King is about to return will be preached (Matt. 24:14) so that Israel may be turned to their deliverer. As John the Baptist preached such a message to prepare Israel for the first coming, Elijah will preach to prepare Israel for the second advent.
This witness is seen to be effective in that multitudes of Jews are converted during the tribulation period and are waiting for the Messiah (Rev. 7:1-8 and the wise virgins of Matt. 25:1-13). It is also God’s purpose to populate the millennium with a multitude of saved Gentiles, who are redeemed through the preaching of the believing remnant. This is accomplished in the multitude from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and languages” (Rev. 7:9) and in the “sheep” (Matt. 25:31-46) that enter the millennial age. God’s purpose, then, is to populate the millennial kingdom by bringing a host from among Israel and the Gentile nations to Himself.
In order to understand the time elements in the tribulation period it is necessary to
go back to the prophecy of Daniel where the chronology of Israel’s future history is
outlined in the great prophecy of the seventy weeks (Dan. 9:24-27).
The importance of Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks. Many important aspects
may be attached to this prophecy. a. It establishes the literal method of interpretation of prophecy.
Properly interpreted, the prophecy of Daniel furnishes an excellent example of
the principle that prophecy is subject to literal interpretation. Practically all
expositors, however opposed to prophecy per se, agree that at least part of the
seventy weeks of Daniel is to be interpreted literally…if the first sixty-nine weeks of
Daniel were subject to literal fulfillment, it is a powerful argument that the final
seventieth week will have a similar fulfillment.
