ROLFTHIELEN

The Day of the Lord - In That Day

Episode Notes

The Day of the Lord - In That Day

The phrases "the day of the Lord" and "in that day" are significant in the Bible, and they often carry prophetic, eschatological, or judgmental connotations. Below, a detailed analysis of these phrases. 

1. "The Day of the Lord" in the NKJV

The phrase "the day of the Lord" refers to a time of divine intervention, judgment, or fulfillment of God’s purposes, often associated with both destruction for the wicked and deliverance for the righteous. It appears primarily in the prophetic books but also in the New Testament. Below are the key references, grouped by context and theme:

Old Testament References

• Isaiah 2:12
  “For the day of the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up—And it shall be brought low.”
  Context: This passage describes a future day of judgment where God humbles the proud and exalted, emphasizing His sovereignty over all creation.
• Isaiah 13:6, 9
  “Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.” (v. 6)
  “Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.” (v. 9)
  Context: These verses refer to God’s judgment against Babylon, portraying the day of the Lord as a time of destruction and divine wrath against sin.
• Jeremiah 46:10
  “For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.”
  Context: This describes God’s judgment against Egypt, highlighting the day as a time of divine retribution.
• Ezekiel 13:5
  “You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord.”
  Context: Spoken against false prophets, this verse implies a day of divine judgment where Israel’s defenses fail due to unfaithfulness.
• Ezekiel 30:3
  “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.”
  Context: This refers to judgment on Egypt and surrounding nations, with the day of the Lord as a time of reckoning for the Gentiles.
• Joel 1:15
  “Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.”
  Context: Joel describes a locust plague as a precursor to the day of the Lord, a time of judgment and devastation.
• Joel 2:1, 11, 31
  “Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand.” (v. 1)
  “The Lord gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?” (v. 11)
  “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” (v. 31)
  Context: Joel connects the day of the Lord to both judgment and the promise of restoration, with cosmic signs signaling its arrival.
• Amos 5:18, 20
  “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light.” (v. 18)
  “Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?” (v. 20)
  Context: Amos warns Israel that the day of the Lord will not be a time of triumph for them but of judgment due to their sin.
• Obadiah 1:15
  “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.”
  Context: Directed at Edom, this verse emphasizes universal judgment on the nations, with retribution matching their deeds.
• Zephaniah 1:7, 14
  “Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; For the day of the Lord is at hand, For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” (v. 7)
  “The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.” (v. 14)
  Context: Zephaniah portrays the day as imminent, a time of judgment against Judah and the nations, with vivid imagery of distress.
• Zechariah 14:1
  “Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.”
  Context: This describes a future day when God intervenes in Jerusalem’s conflicts, leading to both judgment and ultimate victory.
• Malachi 4:5
  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
  Context: The final Old Testament reference links the day of the Lord to the coming of a prophetic figure (Elijah) before God’s judgment and restoration.

New Testament References

• Acts 2:20
  “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”
  Context: Quoting Joel 2:31, Peter applies this to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, suggesting the day of the Lord includes the inauguration of the Messianic age.
• 1 Corinthians 5:5
  “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
  Context: Paul refers to a future day of judgment or salvation associated with Christ’s return, emphasizing church discipline.
• 2 Corinthians 1:14
  “As also you have understood us in part, that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
  Context: Paul speaks of mutual encouragement between him and the Corinthians at Christ’s return, a positive aspect of the day.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:2
  “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”
  Context: Paul describes the sudden, unexpected nature of Christ’s return, urging readiness.
• 2 Peter 3:10
  “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.”
  Context: Peter emphasizes the cataclysmic, transformative nature of the day, tied to Christ’s return and the renewal of creation.

Summary of "The Day of the Lord"

The phrase "the day of the Lord" in the NKJV consistently refers to a divine intervention, often involving:

• Judgment: Punishment for sin, whether against Israel, Judah, or the nations (e.g., Isaiah 13:9, Amos 5:18).
• Cosmic Signs: Darkness, blood moons, and other phenomena (e.g., Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20).
• Restoration: For the faithful, it includes salvation or deliverance (e.g., Joel 2:32, 2 Corinthians 1:14).
• Eschatological Fulfillment: In the New Testament, it’s tied to Christ’s return (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10).

2. "In That Day" 

The phrase "in that day" is more frequent and broader, often referring to a specific time of God’s action, whether judgment, restoration, or Messianic fulfillment. It appears extensively in the prophetic books, particularly Isaiah and Zechariah. Below are key examples, organized by theme:

Judgment Contexts

• Isaiah 3:18
  “In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents.”
  Context: God judges the pride and materialism of Judah’s women, stripping away their adornments.
• Isaiah 4:2
  “In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped.”
  Context: After judgment, this points to a Messianic restoration for the remnant.
• Isaiah 5:30
  “In that day they will roar against them Like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; And the light is darkened by the clouds.”
  Context: Describes judgment on Judah, with imagery of distress and darkness.
• Isaiah 10:20
  “And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.”
  Context: A promise of restoration for the remnant, turning from reliance on foreign powers to God.
• Amos 9:11
  “In that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old.”
  Context: A promise of restoration for Israel, often interpreted as Messianic.

Messianic and Restoration Contexts

• Isaiah 11:10-11
  “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.” (v. 10)
  “It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left.” (v. 11)
  Context: Refers to the Messianic age, where the Messiah (Root of Jesse) gathers both Jews and Gentiles.
• Isaiah 12:1, 4
  “And in that day you will say: ‘O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.’” (v. 1)
  “And in that day you will say: ‘Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.’” (v. 4)
  Context: A time of worship and thanksgiving after God’s anger is turned away, likely post-exilic or Messianic.
• Zechariah 12:3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11
  “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.” (v. 3)
  Context: Describes a future day when God defends Jerusalem against attacking nations, with multiple references to “in that day” emphasizing divine protection and victory.
• Zechariah 13:1-2
  “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.” (v. 1)
  Context: A time of spiritual cleansing and purification, often seen as Messianic.

New Testament Usage

• Matthew 7:22
  “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’”
  Context: Jesus refers to the day of judgment, where false disciples are exposed despite their claims.
• 2 Timothy 1:12, 18
  “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.” (v. 12)
  “The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.” (v. 18)
  Context: Paul refers to the day of Christ’s return or judgment, a time of reward or mercy for the faithful.

Summary of "In That Day"

The phrase "in that day" is more flexible than "the day of the Lord" and can refer to:

• Immediate Judgments: Specific historical events, like judgments on Judah or other nations (e.g., Isaiah 3:18).
• Restoration: Times of renewal or return from exile (e.g., Isaiah 10:20, Amos 9:11).
• Messianic Age: A future time of salvation, often linked to the Messiah (e.g., Isaiah 11:10, Zechariah 13:1).
• Eschatological Judgment: The final day of reckoning (e.g., Matthew 7:22).

Key Observations

• Overlap: Both phrases often point to divine intervention, but "the day of the Lord" is more specific to a climactic event of judgment or salvation, while "in that day" can refer to various moments of God’s action.
• Prophetic Context: The Old Testament uses these phrases heavily in prophetic literature, pointing to both near-term (e.g., Babylonian captivity) and far-term (Messianic/eschatological) events.
• New Testament Shift: In the New Testament, "the day of the Lord" is tied to Christ’s return (e.g., 2 Peter 3:10), while "in that day" often refers to the final judgment or reward (e.g., Matthew 7:22).

Notes

• The above references are not exhaustive for "in that day," as it appears frequently (over 100 times in the NKJV, especially in Isaiah and Zechariah). I’ve highlighted key examples to show the range of meanings.
• If you’d like a deeper dive into specific passages, a focus on a particular book, or a comprehensive list of all "in that day" references, please let me know!
• I avoided speculative interpretations and stuck to the text’s context in the NKJV, as requested.