9.f.  For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.

Joel 2:1   Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near

Isaiah 2:12    For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Ezekiel 7:5-7    “Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster after disaster! Behold, it comes.  An end has come; the end has come; it has awakened against you. Behold, it comes.  Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains.

Ezekiel 7:10     “Behold, the day! Behold, it comes! Your doom has come; the rod has blossomed; pride has budded.

Ezekiel 7:12     The time has come; the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all their multitude.

Obadiah 1:15    For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

Malachi 4:1      “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

1 Thessalonians 5:2     For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night

James 5:8     You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

1 Peter 4:7     The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Ezekiel 12:23     Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.

There is a difference between “Day of the Lord” and “Coming of the Lord”.  “The Coming of the Lord” is the day the Lord comes back like a thief in the night.  He is not a thief to those who are expecting His return.  He is a thief to those who remain.  He comes to take His bride out of the coming of the “Day of the Lord”.  We know this as the rapture of all believers, dead or alive, to be changed and bodily be in His presence forever more.  These believers are those who came to an understanding of the gospel, their sin and separation from God, confessing and repenting of their sin, repenting and turning away from their  sinful nature, and expectantly looking too, trusting in, and relying on salvation through Jesus Christ.  This is not just words on their lips but deep in their heart, soul, and mind.  They are changed from the inside and live to humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, obey, and look for the “Coming of the Lord”.

There are those who reject their sin, sinful nature, and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ.  They find all they want in this world and do not look for the coming of the Lord.  They do not live to honor Him.  They live self-centered, self-reliant, and self-satisfying lives.  It is hard for them to see any need of Jesus Christ for their eyes are fixed on what this world offers and makes them happy.  Day after day they chase after that which can never satisfy their soul and they jump from one thing to another in hopes of finding inner peace, rest, and joy.  Their heart is hard to things of God, His Word, and the need for Jesus Christ.  There is no looking for the “Coming of the Lord”.  For them is reserved the “Day of the Lord”.  This is not going to be a time anyone would want to go through.  War, famine, disease, plagues, fires, earthquakes, floods, and the wrath and anger of Jesus Christ.  The “Day of the Lord” will surely come and will follow the “Coming of the Lord”.

Now is the time of Lord, the time of grace, mercy, hope, peace, rest, and a life with assurance of eternity in heaven.

7.c. “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth”

Revelation 8:8   The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

One-third of the grass and trees, sea creatures, ships, water, sun, and moon are affected in ways that only can point to the God of creation.  All of this follows wars, famine, disease, earthquakes and other life taking actions within God’s purpose and plans.  You would think this is the end of these terrible events, but no.  John heard an eagle crying, woe, woe, woe.  Much worse is to come.  All of this comes upon those who have rejected God, despise God, hate God, and are suffering consequences of their disbelieve and of God’s wrath and anger.  This wrath and anger have been stored up by God.  For sure it will come upon mankind at a time they do not see coming.  Those that are alive will suffer greatly at the hands of God for their rejection.  There is much to be said about living now in the time of grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ, where there is the time right now to repent and turn away from sin and rely on, cling to, and trust in Jesus Christ.