When does the period known as the "Day of the Lord" occur?

Ted's Response:

Commonly, but I believe incorrectly, the entire 70th Week is referred to as the "Day of the Lord," especially by those who embrace the "Pre-Trib" Rapture point of view. On the contrary, I believe that the Day of the Lord period will not begin until well after the midpoint of the 70th Week. The (primary) Rapture event will occur at some point after the opening of the Sixth Seal; then, chronologically, the Seventh Seal will be opened, beginning the Day of the Lord period.

In The Rapture commentary, it is demonstrated that the following events will occur, in chronological order:

1. the confirmation of a covenant (which could be the European Neighbourhood Policy), involving Israel, for one seven-year period, thus beginning the 70th Week (Daniel 9:27a);
2. the cessation of sacrifices and offerings at the midpoint of the 70th Week, then the abomination that causes desolation inside the newly-built Jewish temple, which will be standing in Jerusalem at that time (Daniel 9:27bc; Matthew 24:15);
3. the beginning of the Great Tribulation period (Matthew 24:9,10,21), which I believe will commence with the opening of the Fifth Seal (Revelation 6:9-11);
4. the cosmic tumult, where the sun and moon will turn dark and the heavenlies will be shaken, which will begin with the opening of the Sixth Seal (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12,13);
5. the Pre-Wrath Rapture event (Matthew 24:30,31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Revelation 6:16); and then
6. the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:9-13, 34:8; Ezekiel 30:1-3; Joel 2:1,2,10,11, 2:30,31; Amos 5:18,20; Zephaniah 1:14,15,18; Acts 2:19-21; Revelation 6:17, 8:1–10:7, 11:6-19, 14:1–18:24), which will be initiated by the opening of the Seventh Seal, and which will not be merely one day but, rather, a period of time. The initial stage of the Day of the Lord—the “day of vengeance”—probably will last approximately a year (Isaiah 34:8, 61:2, 63:4)—the seventh year of the 70th Week. During this time, the devastating wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth, initially as the Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8:6-13, 9:1-21). This will be followed by the greater portion of the Day of the Lord: the Millennium, continuing for another thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). (See also Why do you believe that there will be a literal millennial period, of 1,000 years, after Jesus returns?)

Zephaniah said, "Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near" (Zephaniah 1:7a). Other Old Testament prophets also may have predicted this unearthly silence (Isaiah 41:1a; Amos 8:3b). After this silence, from John's futuristic point of view, "there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake" (Revelation 8:5b), signaling that the real disturbances were about to ensue.

The seven angels who will "blow out" the seven Trumpet Judgments evidently are the same seven angels which represented the seven churches (Revelation 1:20), about which John wrote in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of Revelation. John also saw four of these angels, prior to the sealing of the 144,000 (7:1). These four angels will be responsible for sending judgments which directly and adversely will affect the land, trees, sea, rivers, and atmosphere of the earth (8:6-12). Apparently, the two witnesses will be responsible for bringing down some of the judgments (11:3-6).

Unlike what occurred during the first six seals, where no supernatural punishment was evident, the Trumpet Judgments clearly will involve supernatural (angelic) intervention, as directed by God (Revelation 8:2). This is yet another indication that, whereas the Trumpet Judgments (and, later, the Bowl Judgments) will be God's wrath patently being dispensed upon the earth, the events encompassed by the first six seals will not be instances of God's wrath.