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THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING

Text: Joel 2
15 February 2009

(I) THE SYMBOL OF THE DAY OF THE LORD

1. A reference to the judgment of the Lord (In Joel’s time)

“Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.” Joel 1:15

2. It is the final judgment that will come upon the world

“For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand” Joel 2:1

“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

3. It is really a continuum

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Saviour” 2 Peter 3:1, 2

(II) COMPARING THE DAYS OF JOEL TO THE DAY OF THE LORD

1. The days of Joel only a harbinger of the final judgment of the Lord

2. The severity experienced in the days of Joel cannot be compared fully to the Day of the Lord’s final judgment

(III) THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DAY OF THE LORD

1. A dark time

“A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness…” Joel 2:2

2. A destructive time

“Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them.” Joel 2:2, 3

3. A painful time

“Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of colour.” Joel 2:6

4. A terrible time

“…For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible…” Joel 2:11

5. An unbearable time

“…Who can endure it?” Joel 2:11

(IV) A GREATER SENSE OF URGENT AND PRESSING CALL FOR ALL TO PRAY IN VIEW OF THE DAY OF THE LORD

1. Urgency of the call

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble…” Joel 2:1

2. An unprecedented day of the Lord demands unprecedented prayer efforts

(V) READYING OURSELVES FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD’S FINAL JUDGMENT

1. The day will come most unexpectedly

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10

2. Readying ourselves

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” 2 Peter 3:11

3. Anticipating the coming of the day of the Lord

“Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:12

4. Looking forward to dwelling in eternal righteousness

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13