What is the difference between “the Lord’s Day” and “the Day of the Lord?”
The phrase “the Lord’s Day” is only found once in Scripture. In Revelation 1:10 the apostle John wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.” Here are the two most popular views on what “the Lord’s Day” is:
1) John was referring to the very familiar expression “the Day of the Lord,” which refers to the time when God will pour out His judgments on the earth culminating in Christ’s return to earth to establish His 1,000 year kingdom.
2) John was referring to “the first day of the week” when Christ rose from the dead and conquered death, resulting in the beginning of a new dispensation called “the church age” or “the day of grace.”
In support of the first view, John was about to receive visions (beginning in Revelation 4) that describe in graphic detail “the Day of the Lord.” So, as John anticipated those visions, he was inspired to say, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” In this view the two phrases are actually one and the same. In support of the second view, if John had meant this to mean “the Day of the Lord” he would have used those exact words. Instead He writes of a specific “24 hour day,” a day that was most precious to Christians, the “first day of the week.” Not only did Christ rise from the dead on that day, but Christians came together weekly on that day to participate in “the Lord’s Supper.” We see this in Acts 20:7, “Now on THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, when the disciples came together to break bread…” They not only broke bread on that day, but they also gave an offering of money back to the Lord to be used for the various temporal needs of other believers. 1st Corinthians 16:2 says, “On THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” I believe the second view is the correct one.
As we noted earlier, the phrase “the Day of the Lord” is used frequently in Scripture. I would encourage my reader to look up the following passages: Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; 34:8; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Zephaniah 1:7-8, 14, 18; 2:3; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5; 1st Thessalonians 5:2 and 2nd Peter 3:10. All of these passages speak of a time when God will intervene directly in the world with judgments upon the wicked, unbelieving masses who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It includes the Second Coming of Christ in power and glory to establish His kingdom on earth (see Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31; 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-12; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-4. It also includes the destruction of the present heavens and earth at the very end of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom (see 2nd Peter 3:10-12). Obviously, this is NOT a literal “24 hour day,” but a period of time lasting a little over 1,000 years. (333.3) (DO)