The expression “the day of Christ” and similar terms, such as “the day of our Lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 1:14) and “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8), are found exclusively in Paul’s letters. These are similar terms to “the day of the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 1:10).
Just as the day dawns at sunrise, so the day of Christ dawns at His appearing. The dawning of that day is not fixed at a single moment, but depends on the group to which He appears. He will appear first to His ecclesia at the rapture, then to Israel, and then to the nations. Just as the dawning of a new day also depends on our location on earth. In one place on earth the sun has already risen, while elsewhere it is still night.
The day of the Lord
“The Day of the Lord” is an expression we also know from the Old Testament, where it literally means “the day of YAHWEH”, rendered in common translations as “the Lord’s Day”.
“The Day of Christ” is the day of the intimate encounter when He will appear to us, we will see Him, and from that moment on, we will always be together with Him. This is an encounter that will remain hidden from the world.
“The Day of the Lord” is the term used for the period in which the Lord will reveal Himself and intervene visibly for everyone (Rev. 1:1, 10). This period is described in Revelation and is accompanied by judgments: the seals, trumpets, and bowls.
We will return to “the Day of the Lord” when we discuss 1 Thessalonians 5 and 2 Thessalonians 2, where this term appears.
It would go too far to discuss all the texts concerning “the day of Christ” in their context, but given what we have already discussed on the subject of the snatching away, it should suffice to mention a few and briefly explain them.
1 Corinthians 1
7 (…) while you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 He will also confirm you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2000 years
The Corinthians lived in a tense period described in the book of Acts, when the door had not yet been closed for Israel and the focus was still on a soon return. This is echoed in this verse. Later, it would become clear that Israel would not believe and that there would be a pause in God’s dealings with the people of Israel. A pause that would last approximately 2000 years (2 Peter 3:8).
Current
Now those 2000 years are almost over, and in that sense, the above verses are more relevant than ever. We now await the revelation (or: unveiling) of our Lord. He will transform our lowly body and take us to Himself to meet Him. Until that day, He will establish us. He foreknew us, He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, He calls us, He justifies us, and He glorifies us (Rom. 8:29-30)!
Completely in line with this is:
Philippians 1
6 I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you, will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Until the day of Christ Jesus
God has begun a work in us, and He will complete it. He is doing this work in us until the day of Christ Jesus. That is the day when we will be changed, receive a new body, and be caught up to meet Him. Then Head and Body will be united, and we will be together with Him and share in all that He has promised.
His work
We saw earlier that after the snatching away, we will also appear before the platform of Christ. There it will become clear how we, as believers, have built on His work. That will be rewarded, and all else will disappear. We find several times that in “the day of Christ”, believers will receive glory or praise.
2 Corinthians 1
14 Just as you also partly understood it in us, that we are your glory, just as you also are ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.
Philippians 2
16 … the word of life, that I may glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain, nor labor in vain.
Crown of Glory
In the day of Christ, He will appear to us and take us to Himself. We will then appear before Him, and He will reward the work He has done through us. Paul presents this as a crown of glory (2 Timothy 4:8). Apparently, at the platform of Christ, it becomes visible who God has reached through us with the gospel. Our crown of glory is made up of them (Phil.4:1; 1 Thess.2:19).