Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

The Day of the Lord and the Tribulation are not the same thing. The Day of the Lord is God pouring out His wrath upon the nations. The Great Tribulation (or tribulation in general) is a time of heavy persecution of believers.

The greek words used for tribulation in the Bible are thlipsis and diógmos. Primarily, they are used to refer to the affliction of believers by non-believers or the world. (Rev 2:9, Rev 1:9, John 16:33, Rom 5:3, Matt 13:21, II Cor 1:4, Deut 4:20, I Thess 1:6, 1 Thess 3:7, etc). Only a couple of times is it used to represent general affliction.

Conversely, the Day of the Lord always refers to judgement. There have been many 'days of the Lord', in addition to the ultimate Day of the Lord that is yet to come. 

A tribulation is a time of testing for believers. Those who overcome and endure until the end will be saved, even if their body is destroyed. (Rom 5:3, Matt 13:31, Rev 2:22, Rom 8:25, John 16:33, Deut 4:30, James 1:12)

A day of the LORD is a time of wrath, wherein God judges a nation for their sin: (Zeph 1:1-18, Zeph 2:1-3, Joel 1:15-20, Zech 14:121, Ezek 30:1-3, Amos 8:1-14, Lam 2:22, Joel 10:12, Joel 3:9-16, Amos 15:18-27, etc)

As such, the "Great Tribulation" refers to the the heaviest persecution of believers the world has ever seen (Matt 24:21-22), wheras the ultimate 'Day of the Lord' refers to God's final outpouring of wrath upon the nations (which ends with the actual melting of the earth and the universe itself! (II Peter 3:10-13))

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As for what the book of Daniel teaches, it does not teach of a future tribulation wherein the Antichrist will be worshiped for 'seven years'. Rather, that is a more modern theory (arising in the past couple of centuries) that uses Dan 9:24-27 as its basis for a seven year covenant between the Antichrist and humanity.

Yet this is a deep misunderstanding about this important prophecy in Daniel. It was Christ who confirmed a covenant with many by His own blood (Matt 26:28, Mark 14:24, I Cor 11:25, Luke 22:20); Christ who put an end to sacrifice and offering by becoming the perfect sacrifice once and for all (Heb 9:24-28, John 1:29, Rev 21:21-23, Heb 10:14, etc); Christ who was cut off 'in the midst of the week' (his ministry lasting ~3.5 years: John 2:13; John 5:1; John 6:4; John 11:15).

Indeed this was considered by many of the church fathers to be one of the most important fulfilled prophecies of Christ in the Bible, and was often used in evangelism.

There is no reason from the Hebrew grammar of the passage to take 'the prince who is to come' as the subject the prophecy is referring to, it would actually be quite a dubious grammatical link. Whether or not this 'prince who is to come' is a future Antichrist is also debated widely. [Some see the people of the prince who is to come as a direct reference to Rome and the siege of Jerusalem, for example: a decently strong theory given the abomination of the idolatrous standards of the Roman Military (the eagle); that the siege lasted ~3.5 years; and that the siege certainly 'completed' the destruction of the Holy City and the temple].

Furthermore, the grammar of Dan 9:27 actually says something close to, 'and upon the wing of abominations [shall be] a desolater until the consummation' - this part does not refer to Christ, but rather that a desolater will come with abominations until the prophecy is completed.

As such, there is no direct and clear link between Daniel 9 and a future Antichrist, or a direct link between Dan 9 and a future tribulation yet to come.

There are many theories regarding the Tribulation, such as when it will occur or how long it will be, but the reality is we can best prepare for times of tribulation (and for the Great Tribulation) by standing firm in Christ (I Pet 3:14-16, II Tim 2:13). If we abide in faith, then we can overcome the world (I John 5:4) and endure all sufferings for the sake of Christ (Phil 1:29, II Cor 12:10.)

November 20 2013 • 9 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Michael Tinsley Retired Army veteran. Love my Bible (Jesus) and fishing.

Revelation 19:11-21 describes the Day of the Lord when Jesus comes back to the Earth, on the ground, to defeat the antichrist and his armies and to throw him and the false prophet into the lake of fire. 

That is the day of judgement which comes at the end of the Great Tribulation,the last three and a half years of the seven year Tribulation where the antichrist rules.

The Day of the Lord brings the Tribulation to an end and begins Jesus' 1000 year reign on the New Earth, the day of Jesus' exaltation.

This is not to be confused with the Rapture which begins the seven year Tribulation, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17, when Jesus comes in the clouds and those Christians still alive will rise up to meet Jesus in the air..

Our dead brothers and sisters rose just before those left alive because they rose first, 1 Thes 4:16. 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 gives further detail about the Rapture

Jesus never touches the Earth which is what differentiates the Rapture from the Day of the Lord.

Once again, the Day of the Lord happens at the end of the seven year Tribulation and ends the antichrist's reign.

March 24 2016 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

JD Abshire

The day of the Lord is a day of His physical return. Throughout the Bible it is always associated with wrath, destruction, suffering and God's judgement upon unbelievers. Do a phrase search, "The Day of the Lord".

October 25 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Glen Jeffers Pastor and president of Christ In Us Ministries Int'l.

There are many opinions on this and many books written.
Hopefully a picture will be worth 1,000 word.

The Day of the Lord (seventh day and the Sabbath Day is a symbol) is His 1,000 year reign (II Peter 3:8) and HIS day of rest.

The seven years prior to the Day of the Lord is the big question. If you really understand Revelation it is about what the Lord has to do not put all His enemies under His feet, which ushers in His rest i.e. His wrath and judgment. Before that day (Joel 2:1-14, 31, Zephaniah 2:1-4, Malachi 3:1-5, 4:4-6, Acts 2:18-21).

The error of antichrist comes from 666 and taking of the mark of the beast. When does this happen? Since Adam and Eve left the garden the Lord has marked His own on the forehead (Revelation 7:1-3, Exodus 28:36-38) those who are holy to the Lord i.e. Lord's Day. Satan (antichrist) has also since Adam and Eve been marking his own (John 8:31-47, Matthew 3:7-8 - Jewish religious leaders), wolves or False Prophet (Matthew 7:13-29), tares planted by Satan or serpent or Beast) and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). God deals with all flesh and rewards His sheep who know His voice and follow Him (Luke 9:23-24, John 10:27).

The seven years before is divided into 1) 3.5 years of the time of Jacobs (flesh) trouble but he will rejoice because (fleshly leaders of Christian Church will be judged i.e. wolves, tares, vipers, etc (Jeremiah 30:1-11) and 2) Great tribulation or judgment of the world (Joel 2:28-3:21).

The big thing to study is antichrist is soon to be judged for he has had his time since Adam and Eve was driven from the garden. He was defeated by Christ and saved all unbelievers in the whole world (John 12:47) and got the keys of hell and death back from Satan (Rev 1:18).

The Lion of Judah will judge first the tares and the idle and profane babbling (Babylon) going on in the Christian (Christ follower) Church which is a cancer in the body of Christ (II Timothy 2:14-26, Revelation 18:1-13).

The bride with the fine linen of her righteous acts or deeds will be revealed (Revelation 19:7-9) and every, that is every knee will have bowed and taken an oath to serve the Lord (Isaiah 45:22-25, Revelation 5:1-14)

Forget pre-tribulation rapture because it will be the brides finest hour when she arises and shines (Isaiah 60:1-3, Matthew 13:43) in that seven year period and the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!", and all who hear say, "Come!" (Revelation22:17).

September 30 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report