Prophetic oracles regarding the Day of the Lord in Zechariah 14:1-9 and their implications for the Church today

Abstract

The article examined the prophetic oracles regarding ‘the Day of the Lord’ as found in Zechariah 14:1-9 and its implications for the church today. It closely scrutinized the phrase , יהוהַל אָּ ום־בֹי הֵּנִ ה יהוהַ ל אָּ ום־בֹי הֵּנִ ה ,hinn¢h yôm-b¹° LAdonay (Behold, a day of the LORD is coming), which conveys a serious warning in Scriptures that must not be taken for granted. The day is of great importance to the Church because it brings to climax God’s program of salvation for His people. The consistency of this prophetic utterance of the Day of the Lord, as proclaimed by other prophets, is traced systematically to buttress Zechariah’s declaration. The writer gives the historical background of the book of Zechariah, the Hebrew text, along with the literal translation of Zechariah 14:1-9, a careful exegetical and theological analysis of the pericope is also provided with the exegetical discoveries made. The day of the Lord in this article is considered as a special time in history which God has kept in His power to judge the nations, bring to full completion His purpose for Israel as a nation, the Church and to user in His sovereign reign. On this Day, the Lord comes not as a lamb but as ‘the Lion of the Tribe of Judea’, as ‘the Mighty Warrior’ and as ‘the King of kings.’

Keywords

• prophetic
• oracles
• day of the lord
• zechariah
• church