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“The Great And Awesome Day Of Yehovah (the “Lord”)”
“The Eighth Day” (Lev.23:36-37)
Chapter 11, Part 1 Preview: “The Great and Awesome Day of Yehovah” (Jehovah) (Joel 2:31) is one of the most detailed topics in the entire Bible! Other than perhaps the return of the 12 tribes to Israel, nothing else comes close in terms of the sheer volume of passages devoted to it. Huge segments of the Major and Minor Prophets are devoted to it; most of the parables of Yeshua (Jesus) directly pertain to this time. The entire book of Revelation is focused on it. The emphasis that Elohim (God) placed on this event, along with the sheer VOLUME of passages, silently SCREAMS for understanding. Find out what this “day” is all about now, before it’s too late—don’t learn the hard way!
Sequel to: The Time After Jacob’s Trouble
The Day of Yehovah, (The Day of the “Lord”) occupies an exact one year span of time. To a degree, we can predict what Yehovah will do because He is unerringly logical. In fact, Yeshua’s own name, “the Word”, (John 1:1) in the Greek is “logos”. That is the source of our English word logic. “The Day of Yehovah” will occur on Jubilee #120 (6000 divided by 50)! The wonderful promises of the Jubilee will literally be fulfilled on a Jubilee year, as planned. Yehovah will “proclaim liberty throughout all the land” (Leviticus 25:10), as explained in Jubilee 2029 AD, and these prophecies will take place on the 120th Jubilee since Adam, (year 6000 divided by 50 equals 120.) During this year of governmental transition, “the POWERS of the heavens will be SHAKEN” (or literally “toppled” and by implication destroyed. (Luke 21:26) But for the nations thatslaughter most of the 12 ribes in the end time, leaving only a remnant, there will be horrific disaster, as attested to by thesse many Bible references.
Elohim and His Son will undoubtedly celebrate with us, in Person, on the Feast of Tabernacles of THAT year, in preparation for our first “day” of eternity. Yeshua the Messiah “delivers the kingdom to Elohim” on the Feast of Trumpets of THAT year. Judgment Day is the common term for “the Day of Yehovah”, tho people seldom make that connection. Yehovah will be “shortening” Satan’s 6000 years of influence over mankind during this year, to prevent His “select’s” total extermination!
Quick Question: Who are the “select” of Matthew 24?
Matthew 24:22 If it weren’t for those days being terminated, no one would survive. But for the sake of the select those days will be terminated. —The Gabriel Version
Matthew 24:24 False Messiahs and false prophets [Gr. pseudoprophetes] will appear and perform great miracles and wonders to mislead, if possible, even the select.
Matthew 24:31 Then He’ll send out His spirit messengers with a loud shofar blast and they’ll gather together His selected people from the four winds [north, south, east and west], from one farthermost bound of the horizon [‘heaven’] to the other.
Quick Answer from Isaiah:
Isaiah 45:4 For the sake of My servant Jacob, Israel My chosen, I’ve called you by name. I’ve surnamed you, tho you haven’t known Me.
Isaiah 65:9 & 22 I will bring along Jacob’s descendants, AND from Judah an heir of My mountains, My select will inherit it, and My servants will live there. ... 22 They won’t build homes for others to live in, and they won’t plant for others to harvest. My people will live as long as the trees, and My select will long enjoy the work of their hands.
These people were dispersed before, but the Great Tribulation on Israel will have scattered them to “the four winds” even more. This is not about the resurrection of the “church”. The Day of Yehovah will begin as the survivors of the twelve tribes of Israel are being gathered into their land.
On the Feast of Tabernacles of this special year there will be:
Revelation 21:3 I heard a loud voice from the sky say, “Look, YHVH’s tabernacle [dwelling place] is among humanity [Gr. anthropos]. He will live with them and they’ll be His people, and YHVH will be with them, yes YHVH Himself will be with them.”
Like the other Feast Days, they will continue to be celebrated in perpetuity, as memorials, even after a significant fulfillment has been completed.
The Turning Point
Soon Yehovah will publicly offer Eternal Life to ALL of humanity. But things actually start turning for the better the moment Yehovah begins to intervene for Israel.
Joel 2:28-32 AFTERWARD [after the Great Tribulation] I will pour out My spirit on “all flesh” [1]. Your sons and daughters will prophecy and your old men will dream prophetic dreams, your young men will see prophetic visions. 29 I’ll even pour out My spirit on servants and handmaids in those days, 30 I’ll show wonderful signs in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will become blood red in the presence of the great and awesome Day of Yehovah coming to pass. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of Yehovah will be rescued, because on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, there will be a way of escape [rootword, refugees], as Yehovah has said, for the survivors who Yehovah has invited [called].
[1] “All flesh”, as the KJV says, can mean animal life, as in Genesis 6:19, or it can mean all human life, as in Genesis 6:13 and dozens of other places. However, in this context, it appears to be an exclusive reference to all of the “children of Zion” and “Israel” receiving the 'special' spirit first:
Verse 32, viewed in this context, indicates a literal rescue operation (“salvation”) in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, for the remnant survivors, “in the presence of ... the Day of Yehovah” of the preceding verse. Some Israelites will certainly be seeking baptism prior to the Last Great Day. The Israelite nations will be a year ahead of the other nations on the “learning curve”.
The sixth seal, and of course the earthquake that coincides with Yeshua’s return, will take place during the Day of Yehovah. Still, a major outpouring of the 'special' spirit on all humanity, (rather than on all of the surviving Israelites) prior to the Millennium seems unlikely, given the prophesied end time behavior of most of humanity:
Revelation 6:15-17 The kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders of thousands, the rich men, the men of valor and all the servants and free men hid themselves in caves and among rocks in the mountains, 16 and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the One sitting on the throne AND from the anger of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of Their anger has come, and who is able to ‘survive’ that?”
Zechariah 8 is a prophecy about Judah. The prophecy indicates that they will know the way to Zion, so apparently the refugees will be walking in from various directions. They have pioneered the land and will be able to enable the other tribes to settle it:
Zechariah 8:21-23 The inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, “We should go at once to seek the favor of Yehovah, and to seek Yehovah the Commander. I myself am going.’ 22 Yes, many people and strong nations will come wanting to see Yehovah the Commander in Jerusalem, and pray to Yehovah in person. 23 This is what Yehovah the Commander says: In those days, ten men from every language and nation will take hold of the “tzitzit” of one Jew, and say, “We’ll go with you, because we have heard that Elohim is with you.
People of other nationalities will have a much better opportunity for conversion than in Joel’s day. People will be quite ready to learn about Yehovah by this time.
Following these amazing events, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will take place. This marriage is not what is commonly taught:
Hosea 2:13-21 I’ll come and punish her for the times when she burned incense to the Baals, when she adorned herself with her rings and jewelry, and chased her lovers, and forgot Me, says Yehovah.
14 But I’m going to allure her back. I’ll bring her into the wilderness [Ezekiel 20:35], and speak tenderly to her there. 15 I’ll give her back her vineyards beginning there, and the valley of Achor [trouble] as a doorway of hope. She’ll respond there, as in the days of her youth, just like when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 Yehovah says: When that day comes, you’ll call Me Husband [Ishi] and you’ll never again call Me ‘Lord’ [Baali]. 17 I’ll remove the names of the Baals from your mouths, and you will never mention them again. 18 At that time I’ll make a covenant with all the wild animals of the plains, and the birds of the sky, and the animals that move around on the ground. I’ll abolish bows and swords, and warfare from the earth, so that everyone can rest peacefully. 19 I’ll be betrothed to you forever. Yes, you’ll be betrothed to Me in righteousness and in justice, in unfailing love and compassion. 20 I’ll be faithful to you, and you’ll finally know Yehovah intimately. 21 When that day comes, I’ll respond, says Yehovah, I’ll respond to the heavens, and they’ll respond to the earth,
Assembled here are very many verses on this topic. The intent is to comment on what these verses actually say without introducing any speculation. It is essential to consider all of these verses together to get an overview. This is meant to be an extensive summary of all of the major elements of the Day of Yehovah, the events leading up to it and the events that follow immediately afterward. I have also compiled an additional Bible verse listing.
Yeshua gave an overview of all of the end time prophecies, in the “Olivet Prophecy”. First He spoke of this time as “like the early labor pains of childbirth”, (Matthew 24:8) starting to occur. Next, He said:
Matthew 24:21 There will be Great Tribulation then, such as has never occurred from the beginning of the world until now, and will by no means ever happen again.
Remember that the Great Tribulation is the time of Satan’s destruction. It occupies the three and one half years that fall immediately prior to the Day of Yehovah.
Revelation 11:2 But don’t measure the courtyard outside of the Temple. Leave it out, because it has been given to the heathens, and they’ll trample the 'special' city underfoot for forty-two months.
There is a line set in concrete separating the Great Tribulation from the Day of Yehovah.
Matthew 24:29-30 Immediately after the time of Tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon won’t shed her light and stars will fall from the sky [See footnote on Isaiah 34:4], and the inherent power of the skies will be shaken. 30 Then the miraculous sign of the Human Son will be seen in the sky, and then all the nations on earth will mourn when they see the Human Son coming on the clouds in the sky with great power and splendor.
Luke 21 is the parallel account of the “Olivet Prophecy”. Notice the same references to the sun, moon and stars.
Luke 21:23-25 But pity those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies then, because there will be great adversity in the land, and ‘persecution’ against these people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be carried away captive into every foreign nation. Jerusalem will be trampled down by heathens until the times [eras] of the heathens [3] are completely over. 25 There will be supernatural signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and there will be great stress on earth among the nations—shock and trembling due to the roaring waves [hurricanes] at sea.
[3] The so-called “Time of the ‘gentiles” (or sometimes heathens) is a reference to Ezekiel 30:3, synonymous with “the Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”).
The Ezekiel 30 “end time” time of the gentiles is about the end of the ancient nation of Israel. Get ready for the deja vu.
What “times” is this? To understand Yeshua’s prophecy fully you need to know. (Strong’s is usually translated as “time” rather than “times”.) The only other reference in the entire Bible to “the time of the Gentiles” is in Luke 21:24. It is a reference to the Day of Yehovah. Some of Israel—the inhabitants of Jerusalem who did not flee in particular—will suffer thru both the Tribulation and the Day of Yehovah! However the focus here is on the surrounding nations being punished for “trampling” the nations of Israel.
The latter day fulfillment of the Time of the Gentiles will have many similarities to the lone reference to the former fulfillment:
Ezekiel 30:2-4 Human son, prophesy, and say, “The Sovereign Yehovah says: Wail and sigh for the day! 3 The Day is near, yes the Day of Yehovah is near, it will be a cloudy time, an eventful time for the heathens.’ 4 A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt, and they take away her wealth, and her foundations are broken down.
The Temple Measured!
During the Great Tribulation the temple will be measured. In Revelation 11, there is a description of the “marching orders” given to the Two Witnesses. In the prophecy this occurs right after John is told to “measure the temple of Elohim, the altar and those who worship there”. They will witness to the modern nations of Israel for three and one half years. During this time many of the kadishea (saints) will be protected, but others will be martyred. Even a quick reading of Revelation 2 & 3 shows that the seven end time “churches” (really assemblies) are in large part a miserable lot. Many of the (S)elect will die as martyrs for having been too lukewarm.
Revelation 11:3 I’ll commission My Two Witnesses. They’ll prophesy for 1,260 days, wearing sackcloth.
Did you ever wonder what they will prophecy about? They will explain, in great detail, all of Bible prophecy as best as possible in the time allotted, as it centers on the captivity of the descendants of ancient Israel by the hands of the armies of the world. This also is explained in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble.
King David understood the Day of Yehovah:
Psalm 11:5 Yehovah tests the righteous, but the wicked and people who love violence He hates with a passion.
Yehovah does not “love the sinner but hate the sin”.
Psalm 11:6 He’ll rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. A cup of scorching wind will be their lot.
Once people begin to love violence, they become to warped to be salvaged. Later, David proved to us that he had far more than a vague notion concerning the Day of Yehovah.
Psalm 18:7-15 Then the earth shook and quaked. The foundations of the mountains also quaked and shook, because He was angry. 8 Smoke ascended from His nostrils. Consuming fire came out of His mouth, kindling fiery coals. 9 He bent [1] the heavens, and came down with thick darkness was under His feet. 10 He rode on a cherub, and flew, darting on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness His hiding place, His temporary shelter was circuitous, in thick clouds of dark water in the skies. 12 Out of the brightness in front of Him thick clouds passed by with hailstones and burning coals. 13 Yehovah thundered in the sky. The Highest’s voice reverberated amid hailstones and coals of fire. 14 He shot His arrows, and scattered the enemy, great lightning flashes that sent them in confusion. 15 Then the ravines of the sea floor were exposed. The foundations of the world were exposed at Your reprimand, Yehovah, at the spirited breath of Your nostrils.
[1] “Albert Einstein taught that due to his general theory of relativity, a massive body like Earth should bend the space-time fabric of the universe, causing it to curve and flex like a trampoline supporting a bowling ball.”
These words seem poetic, but are absolutely true just the same. The ideas just expressed are consistent with a vast number of other such descriptions of this time thruout the Bible. The surface of the Middle East will be “plowed” clear down to the “foundations” in effect, preparatory for “reseeding” in the age to come.
Psalm 50:2-4 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, Elohim shone with rays of light. 3 Our Elohim comes, and won’t remain silent, before Him is a devouring fire, and around Him a great storm. 4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, to witness the judgment of His people.
The great fire that accompanies the time when “Our Father will come” is well established in the Bible!
Psalm 97:1-5 Yehovah reigns! Earth celebrates! Distant shores are glad! 2 Clouds and extreme darkness surround Him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 3 A fire precedes Him, and burns up His adversaries on every side. 4 His lightning flashes light up the world. The earth sees, and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yehovah, at the presence of the Elohim of the whole earth.
This may be in reference to volcanic activity if the eggshell like surface of the earth is cracked, exposing the magma, the liquid stone just under the tectonic plates or “foundations” of the earth. Our “stable” continents rest on somewhat fluid rock! Or it may simply be due to “the presence of the Master of the whole earth”.
David gave us some historical information about these “foundations”. As a bonus this is an wonderful account of Noah’s flood!
Psalm 104:5-9 You laid the foundations of the earth’s crust, so it would never ever be shaken loose. 6 You covered it with the deep [ocean] as with a garment. Water stood above the mountains! 7 At Your command, the water vanished, at Your thunderous voice it hurried away. 8 It flowed over the mountains and down into the valleys, to the region that you provided for it. 9 You’ve enclosed a boundary that the water can’t overflow, so that it won’t ever return and cover the earth.
The End of the World?
The Day of Yehovah is compared to the time of Noah
Matthew 24:37-39 At the advent [Gr. parousia] of the Human Son, it will be just like it was in the time of Noah. 38 Just like before the flood, people were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving them to husbands right up until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were clueless until the flood came and swept them all away. That’s how it will be at the advent of the Human Son.
At the time of the flood Yehovah decided:
Genesis 9:11 I will establish My covenant with you, “Never again will all life be destroyed by floodwaters. Never again will there be a flood that DESTROYS THE EARTH.
Genesis 8:21 Yehovah smelled the pleasing aroma. Yehovah told Himself, “I’ll never again curse the ground because of man, because the intent of man’s mind is evil from his youth, I will never again strike every living thing, as I’ve done.
Psalm 104:30-32 When You send out Your spirit, there is a new creation, and You RENEW THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH. 31 Yehovah’s splendor endures forever. Yehovah takes pleasure in His works. 32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains and they smoke. [volcanoes]
The flood of Noah’s time destroyed the earth. In like manner the great fire of the Day of Yehovah will again destroy the earth. Yehovah’s Spirit must then renew the face of the earth; creating in essence a New Earth!
While the events of this time will have staggering consequences for the inhabitants of the world, it will in no way be “the end of the world”. This phrase in an unfortunate rendering that should always be translated as “end of the age”, so far as the Bible is concerned. The world was made to last for a thousand generations! (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His dominion and prosperity there will be no end, from David’s throne and over His kingdom, arranging it and maintaining it, with justice and righteousness from that time on—forever. The zeal of the Word* of Yehovah the Commander will make it happen.
Jeremiah 4 is all about the Day of Yehovah: “I inspected the earth, and it was devoid of form, an empty waste.” (v.23) The literal meaning is “a desolation and indistinguishable ruin”. This is the same exact wording that is used to describe the earth before Yehovah renewed the surface of the earth following an unnamed disaster. (Genesis 1:2) See The Genesis Creation—What and When Was the “beginning” of Genesis 1:1?
Jeremiah 4:23-28 I inspected the earth, and it was devoid of form, an empty waste, and I looked to the heavens, and there was no light. 24 I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking, and even the hills were swaying. 25 I looked, and there weren’t any people, and all of the birds in the sky had fluttered away. 26 I looked, and the fruitful gardens had become a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of Yehovah, and before His fierce anger. 27 This is what Yehovah says: The whole land will be devastated, but I won’t completely destroy it. 28 So the earth will mourn, and the heavens above will grow dark, because I have spoken it, I’ve decided, and I won’t change My mind, or turn back on My word.
There is no shelter.
Isaiah 2:10-22 Hide among the rocks, or hide in the debris, from the terror of Yehovah, and from the splendor of His majesty. 11 The arrogant looks of man will be humbled. Proud men will be brought down, and Yehovah alone will be exalted in that day. 12 Yehovah the Commander will have a Day of Reckoning for everyone who is arrogant and proud, their pompous pride will become humiliation” 13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and exalted, for all the oaks of Bashan, 14 against all the high mountains, against all the lofty hills, 15 against every high tower, and every fortified wall, 16 against all the ships of Tarshish, and against every pleasant craft. 17 The pride of man will be humbled, and the arrogance of men will be brought low, and Yehovah alone will be exalted in that day. 18 The idols will completely vanish. 19 Men will go into rock caves and into the holes in the ground, for dread of Yehovah, and the splendor of His majesty, when He determines to terrify the earth. 20 On that day, people will throw their silver idols and their golden idols that they made for themselves to worship to the moles and to the bats,. 21 They’ll escape to caverns in the rocks, and crevices in cliffs, from the dread of Yehovah, and from the splendor of His majesty, when He arises to terrify the earth. 22 Stop trusting people, their breath of life depends on their nose. What good are they?
Isaiah also described the aftermath of these events:
Isaiah 4:3-4 Then anyone left alive in Zion, anyone who is left behind in Jerusalem will be called 'special', everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, 4 when Yehovah has washed away the filth of the maidens of Zion, and rinsed the bloodstains from Jerusalem, by a spirit of justice, and a spirit that sets ablaze!
Who exactly is going to wreak all of this destruction?
Daniel 7:9-14 I watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair on His head was like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, and its wheels were like blazing fire. 10 A river of fire flowed out from before Him. Millions served Him, and one hundred million stood before Him. The court ‘convened’, and the books were opened. 11 I kept watching due to the boastful voice that the horn spoke with, I watched until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and ‘thrown’ into a blazing fire. 12 As for the other beasts, their sovereignty was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a period of time. 13 In my vision that night I saw Someone like a Human Son, coming with the clouds of the sky, and as He was approaching the Ancient of Days, they escorted Him into His presence. 14 He was given dominion, and splendor, and a Kingdom, so that people of every nation and language would serve Him. His Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom that won’t pass away, and His Kingdom is one what will never be destroyed.
Here is a very overlooked prophecy:
Daniel 7:21-22 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the kadishea, and overpowering them, 22 until the Ancient of Days [the Father] came and pronounced judgment in favor of the kadishea of the Highest One, and the specified time came for the faithful to take possession of the Kingdom.
Carefully consider the following words from John:
John 14:2-3,21 There are many dwelling places in My Father’s house, otherwise, I would have told you. I’m going to prepare a place for you to live. 3 If I go to prepare that place for you, I’ll appear publicly again and accept you as My own, so that you can be where I am.... 21 Anyone who accepts My Commandments and obeys them is someone who loves Me. My Father will love anyone who loves Me, as will I, and I’ll reveal Myself to them.”
This verse has been used for centuries to justify the idea of going to heaven. However, if there is any doubt about who does the traveling, the following words from the same conversation leave no doubts.
John 14:23 Yeshua replied, “Anyone who loves Me obeys My teachings. My Father will love them, and WE WILL COME TO THEM and make Our living quarters [mansion] with them!
These references to “mansions” and “home” are the only places that Strong’s #3438 is used in the entire Bible. Both occurrences refer to the same event! We can determine from the above that Yeshua “will come again”. In His “Father’s house are many mansions” (or houses); Yeshua will not come alone because “WE WILL COME to him”, that is come to, “anyone” who “loves Me”. It should come as no surprise that Yeshua said: “I will come quickly! My compensation is with Me, to give to everyone according to what they have done.”. (Revelation 22:12) The “compensation” of eternal life is given to us in New Jerusalem, Their, and our, home or abode!
Elohim and His Son of Man will rule side by side!
Psalm 110:1,5-6 (A Psalm by David.) “YHVH said to His Word, [Targum of Jonathan (Aramaic) Gill’s Commentary] “Sit at My right hand side, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ... 5 a href="http://www.therain.org/appendixes/app32.html">Yehovah is at your right hand. He’ll shatter kings on the day of His anger. 6 He’ll execute judgment among the nations. He’ll fill them with corpses. He’ll crush the rulers of the whole earth.
The phrase “at Your right hand” denotes the strongest bond of teamwork possible. This event is reinforced in Mark 14:62, where Yeshua told His executioner, the high priest: ... “YOU WILL SEE the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Power, when He comes on the clouds of Heaven”! The phrase “coming with the clouds of heaven”, (also quoted in two other places) is referring to Daniel 7:13 (above) where the exact same words are used. Mark pinpoints the exact context of the event as being just “after the tribulation” (Mark 13:24-27). Yehovah our Father will not be quarantined for one thousand years. Possibly the term “like the Son of Man” was used by both Daniel and John because in both instances they had just encountered the “Human Son” or “Son of Man”, however they were not immediately going to assume that this was indeed the living Word, and not a spirit messenger (angel). (John did experience future shock later in Revelation 19:10 when he tried to worship a Messenger.) The envoy (apostle) John said:
Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him were 144,000 people who had His name [1] and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
[1] The vast majority of the Greek texts, the ones the KJV is based on, delete Yeshua’s name from being on our foreheads! Compare to Revelation 3:12.
Yeshua appears to make His “first contact” on Mt. Zion.
Mt. Zion is the highest hill in Jerusalem, where the temple was built. Where might Elohim make His first appearance?
Zechariah 14:3-5 Then Yehovah [the Son] will go out and wage war against those nations, as He previously fought in battle. 4 And in that day His [Yeshua’s (Jesus’)] feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. [This is not the Great Tribulation period, rather it is stated to be “The Day of Yehovah” this is after the wise have fled.] And the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, forming a very large valley, [Elohim is on Mt. Zion, Isaiah 10:12] so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. 5 You’ll flee by My mountain valley, because My mountain valley will reach to Azel. Yes, you’ll flee just like you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yehovah my Elohim will come, and all of the 'special' ones with Him.
Is this why Yeshua frequented this site so often, knowing that His Father would some day set foot on that very spot? Surely He felt closer to Him here! Of course you may suppose that Yeshua alone could utilize both mountains Himself, but why do some assume that Yehovah is too good to come here immediately? Is He that much different than Yeshua? After all: “I and My Father are One” (John 10:31).
This culminates in the following occurrences. The timing of these events is the most critical of anything I mention. I’ve included enough context to establish the timing of “the Day of Judgment”.
2 Peter 3:3-13 As you know, skeptics will come in the latter days mocking the truth, only governed by their own evil desires, 4 asking, “‘What happened to’ the promise of His coming? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, everything remains just like it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 They deliberately ignore that the Heavens have existed since antiquity, and that the continents rose up from the water, and are sustained by water, by the Word of Aloha, 6 and that by means of this same water, the previous world was covered again and destroyed. 7 The Heavens and the earth that now exist are preserved by His Word, and awaiting the fire of Judgment Day, and the destruction of the wicked. 8 But dear Friends, don’t forget this one thing: A day to YHVH is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day [1]. 9 YHVH won’t delay in keeping His promises, as some leaders delay theirs. No, He is being patient for your sake, because He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed, but that everyone should have a change of mind. 10 Yet the Day of YHVH will come like a thieving false “minister in a time of moral stupidity and darkness, when the Heavens will suddenly pass by with a great noise, and the former things will be dissolved by being set on fire, and the surface of the earth and the things being done on it won’t be found. 11 Since all these things will be dissolved, what kind of people should we be in sincere conduct, and reverence, 12 anticipating and desiring the coming of the Day of YHVH, when the heavens being tried in the fire will be dissolved [or unfastened, set free], and the former things being ignited will melt? 13 But we’re looking forward to a New Heavens and a New Earth as He promised, where the righteous live.
[1] Here is a good explanation, except for the conclusion, that obviously misfired. The end of this age is likely in 2029 AD!
The Day of Yehovah ends with a lot of fireworks! The Greek word, twice translated “dissolved”, in this passage should have consistently been translated as “melted”. That same word is translated as “melt” in this same verse which is in agreement with the many other Hebrew verses linking the Day of Yehovah to melting, such as:
Micah 1:3-4 Yehovah is coming from His place. He is going to come down and trample the high places of the earth. 4 The mountains melt beneath Him, and the valleys split open, like wax near a fire, like water pouring down a slope.
But the earth will not disintegrate, rather it will be “renewed”! This is another passage that many would like to “cut and paste”. Nothing in this text remotely indicates or alludes to a possible 1000 year postponement in the fulfillment of these Day of Yehovah prophecies! The end of the millennium will by no means sneak up on us like a thieving false minister in the night, pillaging, and burning!
It is a reckless assumption to think that the phrase “a day is as a thousand years” essentially indicates that time is meaningless! Understanding exactly what takes place in 2 Peter 3 is also vital to understanding what will happen in 1000 years. Yehovah has no intention of destroying His home, New Jerusalem, or His footstool the earth, after the universe is in harmony with Him, as some teach! Psalms 104:30 uses the phrase “renew the face of the earth”. Periodic “facelifts” are needed.
What is meant by a day equaling a thousand years? Peter is alluding to the fact that Yehovah has a seven thousand year plan! By the end of the second day of re-creation week, Yehovah had separated the land from the water. “Let there be a firmament [continents] in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters” (Genesis 1:6). This is analogous to Yehovah causing the waters to recede from the earth after the flood of Noah, (that Peter just mentioned) at the very end of the second day of re-creation week!
On the sixth day of re-creation week:
Genesis 1:26-28 Then Elohim said, “We should make mankind to resemble Us, similar to Us, and give them dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds in the sky, and the domestic animals all over the earth, and over every creature that walks and moves the earth. 27 So Elohim created mankind in His own image. In the image of Elohim He created them. He created them male and female. 28 Elohim blessed them. And Elohim told them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
After the sixth millennium, Yehovah will literally make some of us “in Our image” in the fullest sense. At this time humanity will again have the opportunity to properly do what Yehovah commanded us on day six of creation week: to be fruitful and multiply, subdue and have dominion over the earth. Yehovah will certainly “destroy those who have destroyed the earth” (Revelation 11:18.)
When the seventh day of re-creation week had begun, Yehovah had already finished creating:
Genesis 2:1-2 Heaven and earth and everything associated with them were finished. 2 By the seventh day Elohim had completed the work He had been doing, by the seventh day He had ceased preparing His workmanship.
When this “present evil age” is finished, Yehovah will again renew the earth. The New Earth will be at rest, experiencing a much needed reprieve, thruout the seventh millennial day.
As an aside, Yehovah finished the fourth millennial day by bringing light to the world:
John 8:12 Once more Yeshua conversed with them, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who comes to Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of Life.”
It is not coincidental that light came to planet earth on the fourth day of re-creation week.
Genesis 1:14,18-19 Elohim said, “There should be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, they should be for signs [of things to come], and Appointed Festivals [not seasons], days and years, ... 18 to regulate the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. Elohim (God) saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, then morning, a fourth day.
Zephaniah 1 is one of the best places in the Bible to study the Day of Yehovah. Zephaniah described in detail the same exact events that Peter did. When you understand the seriousness and timing of the Day of Yehovah, you will also understand why we will need the New Heaven and the New Earth immediately after the Day of Yehovah!
Compare 2 Peter 3 to Zephaniah:
Zephaniah 1:2,7-8 I’ll completely “sweep away” everything from the surface of the earth, declares Yehovah. ... 7 Be silent at the presence of the Sovereign Yehovah, because the Day of Yehovah is near. Yehovah has prepared a zebak. He has invited [sarcasm] His guests. 8 On the Day of Yehovah’s zebak, I’ll punish the princes, the king’s sons, and everyone clothed in outlandish clothing.
Zephaniah 1:14-16 The great Day of Yehovah is near, it is near and coming very quickly. Just the sound of the Day of Yehovah will be so bitter that even valiant men will cry out. 15 That day will be a day of fury, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and deep darkness, 16 a day of SHOFAR blowing against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers.
Lon Martin’s work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.