“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.” Revelation 1:10
Lest anyone think I am attacking Sunday worship it must be said that I believe in worship on Sunday. I believe this due to the traditions set down by the Church Fathers and that having organized meetings on the day of the week our Lord was risen from the dead is quite prudent. In fact I believe in multiple organized local church meetings every week.
But the issue here is whether or not the “Lord’s day” in Revelation 1:10 is referring to Sunday. I contend that it is absolutely not. Many people believe this because someone has taught it to them or because by “Lord’s day” they just assume it must be Sunday. However, a simple comparison of Scripture with Scripture proves that this “day” is about something else altogether.
Sunday is called the “first day of the week” whenever it is referred to in the New Testament. You can find these references in Matt. 28:1, Mark 16:2,9, Luke 24:1, John 20:1,19, Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor. 16:2. In none of these verses nor in their immediate context can you find the first day of the week referred to as the Lord’s day. Perhaps John’s experience did in fact happen on a Sunday, but that is not his reason for using the term “Lord’s day.”
The first thing that should be noted is that when John says he was “in the Spirit” he is explaining that he was in a state of spiritual ecstasy. That is that John was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and was being shown or allowed to experience the “Lord’s day.”
The “Lord’s day” is to be more literally translated as a “lordian day.” This is what is referred to elsewhere in the Bible as the “Day of the LORD.” Honestly, this understanding should be readily evident to anyone reading through his Bible and coming across common terms. The “Day of the LORD” is used nineteen times in the Old Testament and four times in the New Testament. In addition to this it is called “that day” quite often. This phrase is used to describe historical events that have already occured (as types pointing to the final “Day”). But it ultimately refers to a time of great trouble (Joel 2:30-32, Zech. 14:1, Mal. 4:1,5, etc.) and the visitation of the Lord upon the earth (Zech. 14:4, 1 Pet. 2:12, etc.). The sublime purpose of the Lord’s day is told to us by the prophet Isaiah.
“The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.” Isaiah 2:17
John’s apocalypse is covering the Day of the LORD as the book is recording what the Tribulation will entail and the Second Coming of Christ. So the “Lord’s day” in Revelation 1:10 is easily understood in the context of John writing to seven Churches to inform them that he was shown a vision of the “Day of the LORD.”
Unfortunately, you did not do your homework on Day of the Lord versus John 1:10.
Unfortunately, you feel the need to insult and assume rather than explain your position.
I find this piece interesting. But, it says John was in the spirit *on* the Lords day as opposed to John was in the spirit and received a revelation *of* the Lord’s day for example.
By being “in” the Spirit, John (whether physically or spiritually only) was taken to a future time, “on” the Day of the Lord.
Thanks for the useless comment Walter.
I found this very useful and true. The term ‘Day of the Lord’ had a specific meaning in the Old Testament which John knew and used. At the time he wrote this letter Sunday was not called the Day of the Lord in any case. Your statement just makes more sense.
John says he was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and heard something behind him telling him to write what he sees, then he turns and sees. So he was in the spirit on the Lords day, then he heard, then he turned and saw, I believe your interpretation is incorrect because he called it the Lords day before he heard or saw anything, Matt 12:8 says “ For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” the Lords day is the sabbath, (Saturday not Sunday) as opposed to the “day of the Lord” which speaks of end time events
In the Greek, the “Lord’s day” is the equivalent of the “day of the Lord.” Matthew 12:8 is a completely different context. That being said, I’ve never read about anyone holding to the Lord’s day in Revelation 1:10 being Saturday. So I thank you for that novelty.