Tribulation Prophecies And Doctrine 1 – Day Of The Lord – Time Areas Within The Day Of The Lord

I. “Alas, what a terrible time of trouble it is! There has never been any like it. It is a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob, but some of them will be rescued out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7, New English Traslation).

A. The above verse forms the basis for this series of articles. The following study note on Jeremiah 30:7 comes from the translators of the New English Translation.

B. As the nations of Israel and Judah were united in their sin and suffered the same fate—that of exile and dispersion—so they will ultimately be regathered from the nations and rejoined under one king, a descendant of David; and will regain possession of their ancestral lands. The prophets of both the eighth and seventh centuries looked forward to this ideal . This has already been anticipated in Jer 3:18.

II. Consider the following comment that comes from the MacArthur Study Bible: 30:7 time of Jacob’s trouble. This period of unprecedented difficulty for Israel, as the verse defines, is set in a context of Israel’s final restoration. It is best equated with the time of tribulation (cf. vv. 8, 9), just before Christ’s Second Advent, mentioned elsewhere (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21, 22) and described in detail by Rev. 6–19.

III. Consider the following detail that relates to this artice, that comes from Dr. F. B. Huey. 1

A. The Lord announced to Jeremiah that “days are coming” when He would bring Israel and Judah “back from captivity.” He was going to restore them to the land that he had given to their ancestors (cf. Gen 17:8; 28:13; Exod 3:17; Josh 1:3). “Days are coming, (Jer 30:5), is an expression that may refer to events in the near future or remote future. “I will surely save…your descendants” (Jer 30:10) could not be an immediate future.

B. Israel and Judah are linked in this passage. As they both would experience Gods judgment, also they both would experience His blessing, and together would be reunited and in their own land. “In that day,” “that day,” and similar expressions are found frequently in the OT for “the Day of the Lord,” which contains two aspects – judgment and restoration.

C. That day will be “awful,” a time of trouble for Jacob. Jacob is sometimes equated with the Northern Kingdom, but in the overall context, it may include both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms–all Israel. A transition to the main point is provided by the final clause of verse 7; in spite of approaching agony, the nation would survive.

IV. Consider the followin comment that comes from Dr. Homer Heater, Jr. Consider his comment on the Covenants of God with Israel. 2

 Jeremiah 30-33 is one of the clearest units in the book. Here the prophet has collected messages preached over some period of time containing messages of hope and consolation. They are placed here to show that in spite of the judgment of God brought upon his people, that there is still a future for Israel. The New Covenant, especially, gives great hope for the future of Israel. The context clearly calls for the seed of Abraham to be restored in the Eschaton. Chapter 32 is a historical account, but it is in the section on hope, because Jeremiah is instructed by Yahweh to buy a piece of land while the city is under siege! This teaches that the “real estate” will again prove to be valuable. Chapter 33 harks back to the Davidic Covenant and shows that the “Branch” spoken of in chapter 23 will rule and reign in equity and justice.

V. Consider the following detail that relates to the title of this article, that comes from Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost. 3

A. Day Of The Lord. One of the major lines of prophecy running throughout the Old Testament, and continuing through the New Testament, is the prophetic truth related to the Day of the Lord.

B. The Day of the Lord includes 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 75 times in the Old Testament. The frequency in 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 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 passsages 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.

C. Zephaniah 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 unhearlded, 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.

D. 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. The Day Of The Lord will extend through the second advent and the millennial age, unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium.

VI. Footnotes.

1. “The New American Commentary, 1993, B&H Publishing, pgs 260-262. Dr. F. B. Huey, B.B.A., M. Div., Ph. D; Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theologial Seminary.

2. Dr. Heater taught for eight years at Dallas Theological Seminary, served on the faculty of Capital Bible Seminary for 30 years, and spent eleven years as President of the Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary. Having retired in 2007, he continues to minister under the auspices of BCM International. He and Pat have been married over 60 years, and have 4 sons, 9 grandchildren and one great-grand daughter. They currently reside and minister from Kentucky.

3. “Things To Come,” A Study In Biblical Eschatology, 1958, Zondervan, pgs 229-231, J. Dwight Pentecost. Dr. Pentecost was Distinguished Professor of Bible Exposition, Emeritus, at Dallas Theological Seminary, one of only two so honored. He held a B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College (1937), in addition to Th.M. (1941) and Th.D. (1956) degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary. During his academic career he taught biblical subjects for over 60 years (Philadelphia College of Bible, 1948–55; Dallas Theological Seminary, 1955-2014). His nearly twenty books are written mostly for the general Christian reader. His pastoral career continued through this period.

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