What is the Day of the Lord?

October 27, 2022

What Is the Day of the Lord?

What is the Day of the Lord?

By Brooke Holt

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.” – Joel 2:30-32

What will the last days look like and what is your posture towards them? Do you obsess over when that day will be and look for signs in everything? Or do you live in denial that a final day is coming when Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead? As the prophet Joel is addressing the nation of Israel, they have experienced great travail from the Lord due to their unfaithfulness, and there is more to come with the Babylonian conquest. Hearts were hard, and minds were dull in the things of the Lord. They lived in denial of coming judgment, and that denial did not lead them to obedience and blessings.

The locusts came to destroy the crops and fields; the Babylonian army would come to overtake them and lead God’s people into exile; and another day of judgement is announced in this prophetic book—the day of the Lord. Jesus will come for a second time not as a helpless baby but as the most powerful King. He will come and take his rightful place above every earthly king and authority, and he will come as judge. Those who have trusted in his salvific work on their behalf will be saved and will enjoy an eternity in the new heavens and the new earth. Those who have denied him or their need for that salvation will be condemned.

What is the day of the Lord? It is the day of the Lord’s return. No matter what your posture is right now, the Lord calls you to awaken to this coming day and to make yourself ready. You are living in the final days, the days between the first coming of Jesus and the second coming. This in between time is for your benefit as it is the time to get to know the Lord, to experience the joy and blessings of his salvation, and to live in his presence and power each day.

Don’t waste a moment. Enjoy the gift of today and live with eternity in view. Always be ready for this day of the Lord! For those who trust in him, there will be comfort, hope, and final glory.

Reflection:

How do you view these last days and how are you preparing yourself for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

In our six-week small group Bible study on the book of 1 John, you are invited to live and celebrate true life in Christ. Throughout his first letter, John wrestles with the assurance of salvation. How do we know that we are genuine Christians, and how can we recognize authentic faith in others? The Apostle John taught that you can enjoy full assurance through believing in the incarnate Son of God, walking in the light of obedience, and loving God and his children. Embark on this study with us today!