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The Day of the Lord
Following are nine biblical reasons why the Day of the Lord cannot include the tribulation, as pre-tribbers claim, but must follow it.
1. Joel 2:31/Acts 2:20 and Matthew 24:29/Mark 13:24 place the same cosmic signs between the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the Day of the Lord. The two cannot overlap, otherwise these verses could not be true.
2. In Isaiah two, the very first time the Day of the Lord is mentioned in the Bible, Isaiah wrote that the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. This is an exclusive statement. Since, during the last half of the tribulation, the Antichrist will be worshipped as God, the two cannot overlap [cf. Isaiah 2:11,12,17 & Rev. 13:12]. The Antichrist cannot be worshipped in the Day of the Lord, since Isaiah says the Lord ALONE will be exalted. Also, all idols will be abolished during the Day of the Lord. Yet, during the tribulation, the image of the Beast, and other idols will be worshipped. [cf. Isaiah 2:18 & Rev. 9:20,21 & Rev. 13:15].
3. Zechariah 14:7 indicates that the Day of the Lord is a 24 hour day. The Hebrew text says: "that day shall be one." [See also: Isa. 10:17]
4. Three times the phrase "the Day of the LORD cometh" is used in the Old Testament. [Isaiah 13:9, Joel 2:1, Zech. 14:1]. In each case the text immediately begins to describe the battle of Armageddon. The word "cometh" is the Hebrew word "bow" [Strong's #935], a verb meaning to come or arrive. It implies the beginning of the Day of the Lord. In all three cases, the arrival of the Day of the Lord brings the battle of Armageddon. In the New Testament, twice it is said the Day of the Lord "cometh" as a theif in the night (1 Thess. 5:1,2 & 2 Peter 3:10). In both cases the immediate destruction of the wicked occurs. Paul says "sudden destruction" overtakes the wicked, and Peter says the land will be devoured by fire along with the scoffers.
5. Joel 3:9-17 describes the gathering of the armies of the nations around Jerusalem for the battle of Armageddon, the cosmic signs, and the coming of the Lord. After the armies are gathered, but before the cosmic signs, Joel wrote that the Day of the Lord is "near." The Hebrew word means "at hand," "imminent," or "next in sequence" [Strong's #7138]. The Day of the Lord must begin after the armies of the nations are gathered for the battle, which occurs at the end of the tribulation, according to Rev. 16:13-16.
6. According to Revelation 16, The armies of the nations are gathered at the end of the tribulation for "the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Therefore, the "Day of God" is clearly after the tribulation when the battle occurs. Peter shows us that the terms "Day of God" and "Day of the Lord" are synonymous, by using them interchangably when repeating himself [2 Peter 3:10,12]. (This is the only other occurrence of the phrase "Day of God" in the Bible.)
7. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NASB/NIV says the "Day of the Lord" will not come until after the "falling away," and the revelation of the "man of sin." Verse 4 indicates how he will be revealed, by defiling the Temple at the mid-point of the tribulation, [see: Matt. 24:15]. Therefore, the Day of the Lord cannot begin before the mid-point of the tribulation.
8. According to Mal. 4:5, Elijah the prophet will come before the Day of the Lord comes. Most agree that Elijah is one of the two witnesses in Revelation. Therefore, the Day of the Lord cannot begin until after the two witnesses come.
9 There are many synonyms for the "Day of the Lord" in the New Testament. We know that on the Day of the Lord, the "Lord" who comes in power "with all His saints" in Zech. 14:1-6 is Jesus Christ [cf. Zech. 14:1-6, Acts 1:9-12, 1 Thess. 3:13]. We also know that there are various combinations of Jesus' name in the New Testament, including; Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus Christ, and Lord. Since the simplest explaination is almost always correct, it is very likely that all of the following phrases are speaking of the same day. Day of Christ [Phil. 1:10], Day of Jesus Christ [Phil. 1:6], Day of the Lord Jesus Christ [1 Cor. 1:8], Day of the Lord Jesus [1 Cor. 5:5], Day of the Lord [1 Thess. 5:2], Day of God [2 Pet. 3:12], Day of God Almighty [Rev. 16:14]. [See also referrences to "the Great Day:" Zeph. 1:14, Jude 1:6, Rev. 6:17, Rev. 16:14.]