We’ve learned that the phrase ‘the day of the Lord’ predominantly has reference to the seven year tribulation period and/or the time of Christ’s return to end the tribulation.
‘In that day’ for the most part refers to the millennium, commencing immediately following Christ’s triumphant return to end ‘the day of the Lord.’ Another common phrase used in the Bible to express the future kingdom is ‘latter days.’
Thus, while the day of the Lord speaks of God’s vengeance and wrath, ‘in that day’ speaks of His redemption and restoration, primarily of His chosen nation Israel. ‘In that day’ describes the earthly kingdom preceding the ‘new heaven and new earth.’
To describe the kingdom following the tribulation we’ll address three major issues.
- The location of the kingdom and its capital
- The ruler of the kingdom
- Characteristics of the kingdom
The future kingdom will be in the same area as the original land promised to Abraham four thousand years ago. God’s covenant with Abraham, which included the borders of the Promised Land, was immutable and eternal.
“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates…and the whole land of Canaan I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.’”
Genesis 15:18, 17:8
The above verses define the extent of the Promised Land, the duration of the promise, the inheritance of Abraham’s descendants, and the promise that God would be the God of Abraham and his descendants forever.
The extent of the Promised Land will displace several nations that presently occupy portions of the land.
The capital of the future kingdom was subsequently revealed to David.
One thousand years after God’s promise to Abraham, when Abraham’s descendant David assumed kingship over all Israel, God directed him to the city of the Jebusites called Jerusalem.
“Then king (David) and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘you will not get in here…’ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.” 2 Samuel 5:6-7
Jerusalem was henceforth called the ‘City of David.’
David was not allowed to build a temple for God at Jerusalem; however, God had instructed David that his son Solomon would build Him a temple there.
“Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David…He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.” 2 Chronicles 3:1-2
At the dedication of the completed temple, Solomon recounted God’s words to his father David.
“Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.” 2 Chronicles 6:5-8
Jeremiah recorded the word of the LORD regarding His dwelling place ‘in that day.’
“At that time (in that day) they will call Jerusalem the Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD.” Jeremiah 3:17
And Ezekiel recorded God’s words spoken from the temple to be built in Jerusalem ‘in that day.’
“…Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.”
Ezekiel 43:7
Therefore, the future earthly kingdom ‘in that day’ will be located in the land originally granted to Abraham for an everlasting possession, and the capital city of the kingdom will be Jerusalem. In fact, Ezekiel foretells that God will dwell with His people in the age following the millennial kingdom, i.e. the age of ‘New Jerusalem.’
Next we’ll address the Ruler of the kingdom.