So is 'the Day of the Lord' a literal 24 hour period?
Isaiah 2:12
Palm 90:4
Amos 5:18-20
Joel 2:1-11
Acts 2:17-21
1 Thessalonians 5:2
2 Peter 3:8-10
Hi steve,
I'd like to add my agreement with what KW has written.
The singular word 'day' can mean several periods of real 'time' passing on the earth. It can also reference just a 'point' in time, such as many of the passages that speak of something happening at some future day as many of your examples refer to. There are a number of words in the english language that are not specific in and of themselves to be understood just by the word itself.
Run!
If I'm in a bad neighborhood and someone says that word I might assume that I'm in some danger and should move from the place where I am standing in a speedy manner.
Run!
If I'm a painter, I'm probably likely to look around and see if there's a dollop of paint moving across my work.
Exact same word. Spelled the same. Pronounced the same. But, to understand the intention that the speaker means to convey to me, I have to have some context.
So, those who just write, "day can mean a couple of different concepts of time", and then just leave it at that are being a bit simplistic. They are expecting everyone to agree that because it can be ambiguous in its definition then we just can't know what the word means anytime we see it written or said. Even in common speech today, if I ask someone what day is it. The one who answers would be correct in answering to me, "It's the day of President Obama's presidency."
It's all about context. And of course we have the testimony of our God in later writings mentioning the same thing and we can match up the context there also to be assured that we are understanding the correct intention of the author.
Finally, and of course this always bring down a firestorm of debate, but I firmly believe that it also has a lot to do with 'knowing' God. The Scriptures declare that God gives wisdom to the simple. It also tells me that if I feel I am lacking in wisdom that I can go before my Father and ask for it and He will give it generously. I've done that.
Set aside all other knowledge and wisdom. Closed up all the science books and cleared my mind as best any human can of any preconceptions or earlier understanding and just gotten down on my knees and made a repeated and simple request: "Father, give me understanding of this issue of how and why and when you created all things. Your word tells me that you did. That everything that has been made was made by you. That the heavens and the earth and all things both above and below them were made by you. Father, your word also tells me that you give wisdom to the simple and give generously to those who ask. I'm asking, Father." Then I open the Scriptures and read the account of the creation. And I follow this prescription not just once, but several times.
So, while I certainly don't expect others to agree with me. My faith says that God has given me the answer to my prayer. He has confirmed in me, by His Spirit, the truth. He has done exactly what He said He would do. He has given wisdom and knowledge to the simple and, I believe, given it generously.
All the detractors look at me with incredulity and say, "But science says...", "Science has proven...", "Great men of science who have given of their life's work have said and proved and expounded at great length...". I'm sorry, but my simple and heartfelt response is, "I don't care. God has impressed upon me a knowledge, wisdom and faith that says this
this is the how, when and why God created this realm. He has impressed upon me that we humans, creatures that He also made for His pleasure and purpose, live in a similarly created realm of existence. All of the beauty and majesty and awe of the universe and the earth was all just created for me and you to have a place to set our heads at night and to walk about during the day. It's all a fabulous and marvelous created existence that a loving and gracious and merciful God made by His awesome power and knowledge and wisdom so that I would have life and His pleasure and desire for me is to find Him, know Him and love Him for doing it all.
One day He's going to bring it all to a head. He's going raise His hand and declare, "Enough!" Son, I have waited patiently and I have provided everything that each and every single person living in my created realm needs to learn about me and to choose to love and serve me. Now the world has just gone over the top in its wickedness and hatred towards me and it is enough. It is time for the harvest. Son go get your children and let's bring this existence to a close and move on to the end of the story. I want to reap the harvest for which I have waited so long and nurtured and provided for."
Science, friend, science is just a construct of mankind that we have made to study what God has created. It's just another form of man's pride that He thinks to himself, "I can figure out how and what and when God did by studying the created things rather than the Creator. Come! Let us build a tower unto the heavens where we can be like God."
God bless you my friend.
In Christ, Ted