THE DAY OF THE LORD IN VIEW OF ZEPHANIAH’S PROPHECY

Thesis statement: This paper will attempt to determine the proper interpretation of the day of the Lord as based on occurrences of the phrase in the Minor Prophets. Since there are around eighty occurrences of the phrase in those twelve books, one book will be chosen as representative of the Prophets. The book chosen will be Zephaniah, one of the two books (the other being Joel) that are so concerned with the topic that scholar Dr. Charles Feinberg gave it the surname “The Day of the Lord.”

Outline:

I. Proposed Theological Definitions
II. Scriptural Examination
III. Specific Biblical Definition

Introduction

“For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, NASB).

People today are crazy about prophecy. The Left Behind Books, The Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy, and the proliferation of prophecy study Bibles of shelves today are indicative of this. Some would allege that the interest is ebbing away the more time passes since the beginning of the new millennium. However, much interest still remains. It is this interest in part that motivates this paper. People want to know the major events of the future because they want to know where they are going. They want to know how it will all end. One major event of prophecy is the period of time known as the day of the Lord.

The day of the Lord is a central theme running through the Minor Prophets. This is not surprising since the very nature of prophecy is to reveal some fact about the future. Ten of the twelve Minor Prophets make some reference to the day of the Lord (Jonah and Nahum do not). Some books like Obadiah make only one reference (1:15) while others seem to focus on it almost exclusively (Zephaniah and Joel). This paper will attempt to determine the proper interpretation of the day of the Lord as based on occurrences of the phrase in the Minor Prophets. Since there are around eighty occurrences of the phrase in those twelve books, one book will be chosen as representative of the Prophets. The book chosen will be Zephaniah, one of the two books (the other being Joel) that are so concerned with the topic that scholar Dr. Charles Feinberg gave it the surname “The Day of the Lord.”

I. Proposed Theological Definitions

First of all before we go to Zephaniah, let us examine a few theological definitions for the day of the Lord and then see how they lines up with Scripture:

“[The day of the Lord is] a special day at the end of time when God’s will and purpose for mankind and His world will be fulfilled" (Lockyer, 285).

“The ‘day of the LORD’ is the ultimate time when God manifests his power and glory, vindicating His claim over the earth" (LaHaye, 944).

“[The day of the Lord is] an eschatological term referring to the consummation of God’s kingdom and triumph over his foes and deliverance of his people" (Douglas, 259).

Using these definitions we can synthesize a singular definition. The day of the Lord, then, is according to these people, a special time of consummation when God will affect his will and purpose in man and the world by triumphing over his enemies, delivering his people and setting up his kingdom on the earth.

II. Scriptural Examination

Now we will move on to specific Scriptural citations. We will examine each reference of the day of the Lord in Scripture in the following format: reference, text, interpretation.

1:7 - Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.

Israel is commanded to be silent because of the nearness of the day of the Lord. They cannot respond to God’s accusations. The implication is that God had made judgment and would not change it.

1:8 - Then it will come about on the day of the LORD'S sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king's sons And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

The implication is that the judgment would come because of the compromise of those in power.

1:9 - And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit.

God would also punish those of all rungs of society who acted hypocritically, who pretended to worship, but really didn’t.

1:10 - On that day," declares the LORD, "There will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, A wail from the Second Quarter, And a loud crash from the hills.

This verse speaks of the time when the day of the Lord begins to take place. People will mourn and cry.

1:14 - Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly.

The day of the Lord will not be delayed any longer. Even those who fight as soldiers will weep and mourn.

1:15 - A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness.

This further describes the day of the Lord as a time of physical destruction. The whole earth groans until it is redeemed. Here, the very heavens themselves give witness to God’s wrath during this great day.

1:16 - A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers.

The day of the Lord will be a time of war and battles.

1:18 - Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them
On the day of the LORD'S wrath; And all the earth will be devoured
In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end,
Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.

The wrath on that day will be all-encompassing. A man’s station in life or position cannot deliver him from the wrath.

2:2 - Before the decree takes effect--The day passes like the chaff--Before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you.

In verses one and two, there is a plea for Israel to come to the Lord before such a thing takes place. Thus, there is repentance available before the day of the Lord comes.

2:3 - Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the LORD'S anger.

The availability of repentance is certain, but deliverance from the consequences of the day of the Lord is not.

3:8 – “Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD, "For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms,
To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.

The nations are commanded to gather in order for judgment to be poured out on them. Thus the day of the Lord is a time of suffering for the nations.

3:11 - "In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain..

In the day of the Lord God will remove shame and guilt for the sins committed by the children of Israel.

3:16 - In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.”

    The day of the Lord is not to be feared b those who are faithful to God.

III. Specific Biblical Definition

Putting these verses together gives us a more complete view of the day of the Lord. It will be a time of judgment on the wicked nations and on wicked Israel. The righteous among Israel will have their sins forgiven and their guilt removed because they repented. This does not mean they will not face some of the same consequences as unrepentant Israel, just that they will not be held spiritually accountable. Signs in the heavens will accompany this time and there will be much physical destruction.

Conclusion: Is this a complete view of the day of the Lord as revealed in Scripture? By no means. There are nuances to the day of the Lord that are only found outside of Zephaniah. However, since this book is one of the basic primers on the subject, it can and as exemplified above, has given us an accurate, albeit brief and incomplete, picture of this incredible time period yet future.

As long as the world exists there will be those for whom prophecy is their obsession. They want to know the future, so it is our job to tell them. The best message of the day of the Lord is that God judges sin. Both the nations and those among his people who sin will be judged for their actions. And repentance is available. God can remove guilt. Consequences may remain, but in his eyes the repentant are as clean and white as new-fallen snow. The day of the Lord will be the culmination of God’s acts of salvation history. Judgment is coming, and the reality of the day of the Lord should echo one crystal clear thought in our hearts and heads: Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
 

Appendices:

Appendix One: Occurrences of the day of the Lord in Zephaniah

Reference

Text

Zephaniah 1:7

 

Be silent before the Lord GOD!
For the day of the LORD is near,
For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice,
He has consecrated His guests.

 

1:8

 

Then it will come about on the day of the LORD'S sacrifice
That I will punish the princes, the king's sons
And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

 

1:9

 

And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold,
     Who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit.

 

1:10

 

On that day," declares the LORD,
 "There will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate,
A wail from the Second Quarter,
And a loud crash from the hills.

 

1:14

 

Near is the great day of the LORD,
Near and coming very quickly;
    Listen, the day of the LORD!
   In it the warrior cries out bitterly.

 

1:15

 

A day of wrath is that day,
A day of trouble and distress,
 A day of destruction and desolation,
   A day of darkness and gloom,
   A day of clouds and thick darkness

 

1:16

 

A day of trumpet and battle cry
   Against the fortified cities
And the high corner towers.

 

1:18

 

Neither their silver nor their gold
Will be able to deliver them
On the day of the LORD'S wrath;
And all the earth will be devoured
In the fire of His jealousy,
For He will make a complete end,
Indeed a terrifying one,
Of all the inhabitants of the earth.

 

2:2

 

Before the decree takes effect--
The day passes like the chaff--
 Before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you,
 Before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you.

 

2:3

 

Seek the LORD,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the LORD'S anger.

 

3:8

 

“Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD,
 "For the day when I rise up as a witness.
 Indeed, My decision is to gather nations,
To assemble kingdoms,
To pour out on them My indignation,
All My burning anger;
For all the earth will be devoured
By the fire of My zeal.

 

3:11

 

"In that day you will feel no shame

Because of all your deeds

By which you have rebelled against Me;

For then I will remove from your midst

Your proud, exulting ones, 

And you will never again be haughty 

On My holy mountain..

 

3:16

 

 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
 “Do not be afraid, O Zion;
Do not let your hands fall limp.

 

 

Appendix Two: Occurrences of the day of the Lord in the Minor Prophets

Hosea 1:5, 2:16, 18, 21, 5:9, 9:5, 7


Joel 1:15, 2:1, 11, 29, 31, 3:14, 3:18


Amos 2:16, 3:14, 4:2, 5:18, 20, 6:3, 8:3, 9, 10, 11, 13, 9:11, 13


Obadiah 1:15


Micah 2:4, 3:6, 4:1, 6, 5:10, 7:4, 11, 12


Habakkuk 3:16


Zephaniah 1:7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 2:2, 3, 3:8, 11, 16


Haggai 2:23


Zechariah 2:11, 3:9, 10, 4:10, 8:23, 9:16, 12:3, :4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13:1, 2, 4, 14:1, 3, :4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, :21


Malachi 3:2, 4, 3, 5
 

WORKS CITED

Douglas, J.D (Rev.Ed.). New International Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987.

LaHaye, Tim (Gen. Ed). Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible. AMG Publishers, 2000.

Lockyer, Herbert Sr. (Ed.) Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson,

    1986.

 

 

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"The Day of the LORD in View of Zephaniah's Prophecy" Copyright © 2002 Joseph Short. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 18, 2002.

Placed on site October 18, 2002

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