The Day of the Lord part 7

So let's talk for a bit about "the day of the Lord"!     It is mentioned   quite a bit  in Scripture,  but in all of my    studies in church I really  don't remember    many sermons discussing it..  But  surely it is a great import because scholars have deemed it.. the phrase “the day of the Lord” is used nineteen times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5,30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5) and five times in the New Testament (Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It is also alluded to in other passages (Revelation 6:17; 16:14). Therefore, we need to know what it is there for! Don't we?

Is.2:12 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Is 13:6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!

Is 13:9  Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.

Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Joel 1: 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.

Joel 2:1Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near,  in the valley of decision.

Obadiah 15  For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

****Malachi 4: 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

What is meant  about   the Elijah prophet here is   not the    Elijah  sent during the Tribulation or  spoken of in the  Revelation...   but  is   those Christians  who accept the call of God  to take up the  Spirit of Elijah to  "prepare the way of the Lord....   I have spoken   previously  about this remnant   of  the church whose  relationship with  Christ is so  deep,  that  they  desire above all else to   allow the Holy Spirit to refine them...    to become  image bearer's of Christ  to  demonstrate  His   nature to  everyone in their  realm of influence.. the  church,  their  classrooms,  their   work place,  community,  city, and the world.  These are people who  

• Know who  Christ is
•  Know   who they are in Christ
• Joint heirs with Him
• Seated in heavenly realms
• Are called to  demonstrate   His image to the world
•  are a Royal priesthood
• And why is that  these people will be  demonstrating the spirit  of Elijah?   To  help usher  in the great Awakening   before the terrible    Day of the Lord...   to  carry the  image of Christ to our  dying world  and  so that many will "see" and  know  that He is God..   what a mighty  work for the Kingdom of God...  I  truly wish to be a part of that! 

And as  we  continue this study  we will be able to  add a few more  items to that list.  For now, let's look at  what the NT has to say about the day of the Lord

17 Act 2: 17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. *******21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

IThess 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

  This is not the rapture,  for that will be wondrous....   but  the day of which I write is  described as  horrible  and  dark.

2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Now  I don't know  how you have  studied the minor prophets, but many of those  references were  speaking  of  Old testament  events  foretelling    God's judgment  on the nation of  Israel for it's disobedience and turning away.... God in His mercy gave many   opportunites  for the people to  turn from their  wicked ways.. he always sent  prophets to warn  the people  before  we acted...  but the  people  were wayward,  and     God removed His hand of protection from  Israel and the people were  scattered,  the temple destroyed, the land  was devastated...  

 But starting with   Joel 3 and Malachi 4 God is speaking  of a future day of the Lord  when  he  judges the nations ..   when the  people of nations will   'come to a valley of decision'  to decide if they will  continue in their  wicked ways  along crooked paths  ...  or  help to make straight the way of the Lord's coming  by     turning back to Him  with all their heart.. become those living stones the temple of God...   giving daily sacrifices of praise,  and worship, thanksgiving and  interceding...  

AW.. a new concept of intercession!  More on that next time!

If you are   following along with me on this topic..  I highly recommend you do your own study in  these books. I don't know why pastors do not  preach them.. at least  none Ive ever heard...  but we have the Holy Spirit to  show us... to teach us...  but here is the thing... I am reminded   of  why I began this  study in the first place....   I was hearing God speaking  to me to "Prepare... Prepare the Way of the Lord""'    And  in my spirit  I   knew  He wanted me to research it  and share about it    to get  this word  abroad as much as  I am able...