The day of the LORD in the New Testament is primarily associated with God’s wrath upon those who denied His grace.
‘Wrath’ in the Greek is very similar to the Hebrew and has several like synonyms including ‘indignation,’ ‘anger,’ and ‘divine judgment.’
God’s wrath will be experienced by all unrepentant mankind.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth…”
Romans 1:18
At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist confirmed the coming day of the Lord and warned the Pharisees and Sadducees of such.
“But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?’” Matthew 3:7
While the ‘world’ is in denial and oblivious to such Biblical realities, believers beginning with Jesus’ disciples and apostles, anticipate the day of the Lord and His return, but the timing has not been revealed.
After Jesus told His disciples about the coming ‘abomination of desolation’ who would enter the holy place in the temple soon to be built, He said:
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no. nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21
According to the book of Revelation, there will be approximately 1 million people killed for every life lost on 911.
Paul confirmed that God’s wrath would be directed to the unrepentant.
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against your self for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done.” Romans 2:5
The unrepentant were storing up God’s wrath for themselves. Their future judgment will be righteous and will be executed according to one’s own deeds. These are the same principles the prophets revealed in the Old Testament.
And while God’s wrath is poured on all wicked, the Scriptures explicitly state that the redeemed will not experience that wrath. Christ experienced that wrath on our behalf on the cross.
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Romans 5:9
Paul also taught the Thessalonians that God would send His wrath on those who persecuted them, and confirmed that they would be spared His wrath on the day of the Lord.
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that we may live together with him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
Paul added that the timing of the day of the Lord remained a mystery.
“…you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly…” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
The riches of a nation or their superior military strength will be of no avail to ward off God’s righteous wrath.
The majority of mankind will be unrepentant and continue to harden their hearts. God’s wrath is impartial.
“Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains…For the great day of their wrath has come…”
Revelation 6:15-17
The seven year period referred to as ‘the day of the Lord’ is divided into two equal parts.
The final three and one half years begins when the great ‘peace maker’ reveals himself as the anti-Christ. He will enter the temple in Jerusalem and declare himself to be god. This was all previously announced by the prophet Daniel and confirmed by Jesus.
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:15a, 21