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Day of the Lord

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 12.

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Day of the Lord.

By A. Smith

DEAR READER: I invite your candid attention to the following statements and quotations in elucidation of the queries that may arise in your mind upon the subject under consideration.
1. Is such a day brought to view in the Bible?
With such as disbelieve revelation, I have no controversy, but would simply say, that either there is, or there is not, such a day, and belief or disbelief of the fact will make no difference in the case, except as regards the destiny of the individual concerned. To those who believe the inspired record, the quotations in the replies to the following interrogatives will suffice to establish the affirmative of the question.
2. What is its character?
“A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.” Joel 2:2.
It is a day not to be desired. Amos 5:18–20.
A burning day. Mal. 4:1; 2 Pet. 3:10.
3. What is to mark its approach?
A great earthquake, followed by signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Luke 21:25; Rev. 6:12, 13; Isa. 13:10; Joel 2:31. (This began to be fulfilled at the great earthquake, Nov. 1, 1755; the day of the Lord beginning between the events recorded in the 13th and 14th verses of Rev. 6.) The sun and moon were darkened in a manner to fulfill the prophecy, on the 19th of May, 1780; and the falling of the stars occurred in like manner, Nov. 13, 1833. The great prophetic chains of Daniel and John terminate very near that time. Its beginning is to be marked by the close of Christ’s ministration in the heavenly sanctuary and the pouring out of the seven last plagues.
Its approach to the world will be as a thief in the night, 1 Thess. 5:2, at a time when peace and safety shall be the cry of corrupt Christianity. Verse 3. Compare Isa. 2:2–5, what the people say, with Joel 3:9–16, what the Lord says at the same time. The apostle adds in 1 Thess. 5:4: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.” And why? Because they understand the teachings of the Bible on this point. “The entrance of thy words giveth light.” Ps. 119:130. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Verse 105. It shall come as a snare upon all that dwell on the earth. Luke 21:35. But the people of God are not dwellers on the earth, but strangers and pilgrims; therefore the day will not come upon them as a snare. Heb. 11:13–16; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11.
4. What is to be its duration?
Over one thousand years. In this period Satan is to be bound. Rev. 20:1–3. The saints who were resurrected and translated at the coming of Christ are to sit in judgment with him upon evil angels and men one thousand years. Rev. 20:4; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jude 6. During this time, the earth will be in a chaotic state, as in the beginning; the cities having been destroyed, the surface of the earth broken up by the mighty earthquakes at the coming of Christ, and man and beasts destroyed. Jer. 4:23–28; Isa. 24:1–6; Zeph. 1. See also Joel 3:16; Rev. 6:14; chap. 16:17–21; Heb. 12:26, 27; Luke 21:26.
5. What events are to mark its close?
The wicked dead are to be raised, Rev. 20:5, and Satan is to be let loose, verses 7–9, and he shall deceive the nations. When the wicked are gathered before the city, they will see the righteous saved in the city of God, and themselves consigned to the burning flames. Ps. 112:9, 10; Luke 13:28.
The new creation will follow the destruction of the old earth. 2 Pet. 3:13; Isa. 65:17–25. A. SMITH.