The Day of the Lord Matthew 24:29-31

The Sermon on the Mount and the Olivet Discourse… Both have a kingdom focus Jesus is talking to Jews about Jewish prophecy and the Kingdom The Olivet Discourse is NOT about Church Age believers The next big event for the Jews, after the Church departs, is the tribulation period

The Olivet Discourse answers practical questions on future events This is after limited reception, rejection, pronouncement, lament, prediction… The questions deal with when will these things be and what will be the sign… The destruction of the temple was AD 70 Jesus references a timeframe from Daniel

Daniel 9:24-27 gives a timeframe… 70 weeks [of years] are determined… 69 weeks from a command until Messiah The 70th week is separated by Church Age The 70th week is in two parts: 3 ½ / 3 ½ -It is divided by the Abomination of Desolation (Mt 24:15) [tribulation period]

Daniel’s 70 “Weeks” Timeline (1)

Daniel’s 70 “Weeks” Timeline (2)

Both Daniel & Revelation give details for timing and personnel A seven year period with a distinct break A recurring timeframe 3 ½ yrs, 42 mo… An identification of the little horn & beast An intensification of tribulation... An urgency to flee when Ab of De occurs A provision for God’s people even then

The Timeframe (Dan 9:24-27) The tribulation = “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” The Coming Messiah Prince (Dan 9:26) Returns |----------------------------------|--------------------------------| 3 ½ years | 3 ½ years [Abomination of Desolation]

I. There will be Astronomical Disturbances in the Heavens “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (Matthew 24:29, NKJV)

A. There are time indicators in this text It says, “Immediately after the tribulation…” There seems to be a sequence of events... “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30, NKJV)

B. There is relation to other biblical texts Great solar, lunar, and astral physical disturbances are noted These are also noted in parallel Gospel passages Joel predicts such darkness associated w/ DoL “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” (2:31, NKJV)

C. There is identification of this event with the day of the Lord The phrase “the day of the Lord” occurs in 19 OT passages in reference to special judgment The DoL also has a more specific meaning The DoL refers to God’s special interventions The future DoL will be a time of universal judgment on the arrogant human race…

Obadiah describes judgment on all the nations & restoration of Israel “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. For as you drank on My holy mountain, So shall all the nations drink continually; Yes, they shall drink, and swallow, And they shall be as though they had never been. “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” (Obadiah 15–17, NKJV)

Joel indicates the cosmic changes around the return of X = DoL “The Lord gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11, NKJV) “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” (Joel 2:31, NKJV)

Implications regarding the DoL: Reminder that sin & evil will not go unpunished A time of unimaginable terror on men’s souls Isaiah 2 seems to correlate with 6th seal… There appears to be several distinct times of such cosmic signs in heaven

II. There will be a visible, physical return of Christ “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30, NKJV)

A. The title “Son of Man” has prophetic significance There is a special reference in Daniel 7:13-14 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” (NKJV)

There is a common use in Ezekiel… “And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.”” (Ezekiel 2:1, NKJV) This is how Jesus referred to Himself… “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”” (Matthew 8:20 NKJV)

-This title was a clear and distinct reference –loaded with intention! Mt 26:64 “Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”” (NKJV) –before Sanhedrin “and (Stephen) said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”” (Acts 7:56, NKJV)

-The references in Revelation are comparable to Daniel Rev 1:13 “and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.” (NKJV) Rev 14:14 “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” (NKJV)

B. The location “in heaven” has spatial significance His departure was in real time and space His return was predicted in real time and space The reference to “on the clouds” has significance… “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds.” (Deut 33:26, NKJV)

C. The response of mourning has particular application to Israel All the tribes of the earth may be translated of the land It also seems to indicate that every eye will see Him and some (all Israel) will mourn Rev 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (NKJV)

III. There will be a separation and re-gathering of people “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31, NKJV)

A. The angels will be involved in the final harvest The angels are the reapers in the final harvest Mt 13:39 “The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.” (NKJV)

-The angels will separate the wicked from the just “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,” (Matthew 13:49, NKJV)

-The angels will accompany Christ in His return “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27, NKJV) “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”” (Mark 8:38, NKJV)

B. The angels will be involved in preparing for the kingdom They are involved in eliminating the evil Mt 13:41 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,” (NKJV)

-They are involved in preparing subjects for the kingdom Mk 13:27 “And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.” (Mark 13:27, NKJV) The kingdom will include those who came to Christ during the tribulation (including Israel) It will include resurrected saints –of heaven

Concluding summary: The day of the Lord is a broad designation… It is directly related to the return of Christ It is a defining judgment on trib rebellion... It is preparatory to the inception of the kingdom It has some accompanying features: preceded by darkness, has a visible appearance of X, initiates mourning, includes angels

So will WE face the Day of the Lord? Either as an unsaved person who survives the tribulation with an expectation of judgment Or as an unsaved who does not survive, judged Or as one who is saved during the tribulation & survives to enter the kingdom [or dies to reign] Or as a redeemed & resurrected saint who returns with Christ to reign with Him