The Events of the Day of the Lord
It could be that, as a result of reading my previous post, the reader is yet unconvinced that the day of the Lord is a period of time which includes the Great Tribulation. In my previous post, I looked, in detail, at specific scriptures regarding nature of the day of the Lord, comparing these scriptures to scriptures describing the nature of the Great Tribulation. We saw that the imagery illustrating the day of the Lord is identical to that of the Great Tribulation. What the prophets called the day of the Lord is described almost exactly like that which the Lord called the Great Tribulation. Both are called “a day of distress.” Both are referred to as “the day of wrath.” Both are identified by “men’s hearts failing,” or “men’s hearts melting.” Both are said to be “a day like no other.” Perhaps the reader thinks that all these similar descriptions are coincidental.
The day of the Lord not only has a nature which is equivalent to that of the Great Tribulation; but the day of the Lord also includes some of the EXACT events of the Great Tribulation.
Jerusalem Compassed about with Armies
One specific event that defines the day of the Lord is the fact that the city of Jerusalem would be compassed about with armies.
Zechariah 14:1, 2 – “Behold, THE DAY OF THE LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AGAINST JERUSALEM to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”
Clearly, the day of the Lord is identified by a siege against Jerusalem. Is it coincidental that, upon the Mount of Olives, the Lord identified the Great Tribulation by the exact same event?
Luke 21:20 – “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”
In Luke 21, the Lord is speaking of the Great Tribulation, though He refers to it not as “great tribulation,” but rather as “great distress.” But it is the same.
Luke 21:23 – “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be GREAT DISTRESS in the land, and wrath upon this people.”
Christ identifies this time period of great distress by the event of Jerusalem being compassed about with armies. Zechariah refers to the day of the Lord, identifying it by the same event. The day of the Lord includes the Great Tribulation.
The Captivity of the Jews
Jerusalem will not only be compassed with armies, but Jewish residents of the city will go into captivity. This is yet another event identifying the day of the Lord:
Zechariah 14:1, 2 – “Behold, THE DAY OF THE LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and HALF OF THE CITY SHALL GO FORTH INTO CAPTIVITY, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”
Jesus, when describing the Great Tribulation, or “great distress” in Luke 21, identifies that time as a time of Jewish captivity:
Luke 21:23, 24 – “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be GREAT DISTRESS in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and SHALL BE LED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO ALL NATIONS: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Jewish captivity is an event that describes the day of the Lord, as well as the Great Tribulation. The day of the Lord includes the Great Tribulation.
The Scattering of the Jews
The Great Tribulation, a part of the day of the Lord, is marked by a siege against Jerusalem and a Jewish captivity. But what about the Jews that are not captives in other nations? Zechariah states that, on the day of the Lord, only half of the city of Jerusalem would be captives. What about Jews not living in Jerusalem? The day of the Lord is a time when the Jews that are not in captivity will be scattered – they will be on the run! They will be dispersed throughout the world.
In Isaiah 11, Isaiah prophesies about a time after God’s wrath is poured out when He will gather the Jews that had been scattered. Notice:
Isaiah 11:11, 12 – “And 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, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
In Jeremiah 30, Jeremiah describes the day of the Lord (verse 6), referring to it as the day of Jacob’s trouble (verse 7). We know that during this time, the Jews will be scattered, because God promised to gather them together again after His wrath is cooled:
Jeremiah 30:11 – “For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”
Clearly, on the day of the Lord, the day of wrath, Israel will be scattered. After this time, as Isaiah prophesies, the scattered of Israel will be gathered again! Not only do the prophets see a scattering of the Jews on the day of the Lord, the day of wrath; but Jesus told us that the Jews would be scattered during the Great Tribulation.
Matthew 24:16-20 – “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”
Mark 13:14-17 – “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”
Luke 21:20-24 – “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Certainly, the day of the Lord is identified by the prophets of old by the scattering of the Jews. Christ says that the same event – the scattering of the Jews – will occur in the Great Tribulation.
Conclusion
There is no day like the coming day of the Lord. It will come suddenly upon this ungodly world. It is a terrible day. It is a day when unimaginable horrors take hold upon mankind.
You who are saved by the grace of God are certainly delivered from the day of wrath. We have made full circle. The church of Jesus Christ is, first, not appointed to wrath; and second, delivered from it completely!
I Thessalonians 5:2, 4 – “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night…But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
Matthew 24:42 – “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
