Gary interacts with recent claims that outbreaks of peace in the world have significance for Bible prophecy.
The “day of the Lord” was a day of God’s judgment and vengeance. As a result, there could be many such days. Luke describes the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as “days of vengeance” (Luke 21:22), the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:2: “The day of vengeance of our God” (also see 63:4). In the case of 2 Thessalonians 2 the “day of the Lord” that the Thessalonians thought had already come was God’s judgment upon the Old Covenant order localized in Jerusalem that occurred in A.D. 70 (John 4:21; Gal. 4:25). John Lightfoot writes that “the Scripture and the apostle had spoken of ‘the day of the Lord’s coming;’ when he should come to take vengeance of the Jewish nation, for their wickedness and unbelief.” Paul described this coming judgment in his first letter to the Thessalonians. He reminded them that it was the apostate Jews who “killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets…. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost” (1 Thess. 2:15-16; cf. Matt. 23:31-32, 35-36; John 3:36).
This was a first-century indictment of a single generation of Jews. God’s wrath was vented in A.D. 70. Unfortunately, those who believe that these passages address a future Jewish holocaust during a so-called Great Tribulation inadvertently keep the fires of anti-semitism alive. Paul’s “day of the Lord” is past (1 Thess. 5:2). “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (5:3; cf. Matt. 24:15-25). The Thessalonians had been warned of this coming judgment: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief” (5:4). Paul had told the Thessalonians that certain indicators were available to them that would prepare them for the “day of the Lord” that was fast approaching.
Last Days Madness
In this authoritative book, Gary DeMar clears the haze of "end-times" fever, shedding light on the most difficult and studied prophetic passages in the Bible, including Daniel 7:13-14; 9:24-27; Matt. 16:27-28; 24-25; Thess. 2; 2 Peter 3:3-13, and clearly explaining a host of other controversial topics.
Buy NowGary interacts with recent claims that outbreaks of peace in the world have significance for Bible prophecy. Generally, most modern prophecy pundits point out all the talks of war as being signs of the end times, but now we must also be suspect of peace talks. Gary brings sanity to the discussions of both war and peace.