The Lord’s Day VS. The Day of The Lord

Robert Meredith

The Bible speaks of the Lord’s day and the day of the Lord.  These, however, do not refer to the same thing.  The first is a day that many people choose to neglect; the other will be a great day in many ways, but it will be a sad day for the ones who have failed to obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).  Let us consider these two days.

  The Apostle John, from the Isle of Patmos, wrote, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).The apostle of love is simply declaring that it was on the first day of the week, or Sunday, when he began to see visions.  It is on this day that Christians gather together for the purpose of observing the Lord’s Supper.  Luke records for us, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7).  The church gathers on this day as a time of worship.  The church is commanded to do so and, as a part of this worship, to give back to the Lord.  One can read, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…” (1 Corinthians 16:2).  Sunday is very significant in

the New Testament.  It was the day that our Lord was raised from the tomb (Luke 24:1), and the day His kingdom was established (Acts 2; fifty days after the Passover).  It is a great opportunity and responsibility for Christians to worship God on the Lord’s day.  This day comes once a week; but sadly, many choose not to honor God on this day.  One day “the day of the Lord” will come and many individuals will wish they had been faithful to God by rendering their worship to Him at every opportunity.

  The day of the Lord is not the same thing as the Lord’s day.  When one reads of the day of the Lord, it has reference to Judgment day.  The Apostle Peter proclaimed, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).  This verse is speaking of the Lord’s second coming.  In the first part of this chapter, Peter is dealing with a question scoffers were asking:  “Where is the promise of His coming” (2 Peter 3:4)?  In verse seven, Peter reveals, “But the heavens and the earth, which are not by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  The Lord’s second coming will be Judgment day.  On this great day, all the dead will be raised (John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), all will be changed into their spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-55), the universe will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:7-12), and all will stand before Jesus in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 3:7).  This day will be great in many ways.  It will be great because all will be there (Revelation 20:12), and it will be great for those who will receive their ultimate reward (2 Timothy 4:8).  It will be a sad day for those who have never obeyed the gospel or who have walked away from God’s grace (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Peter 2:20-22).