“I was in my car travelling down Hwy 50 in Garner, NC on a seemingly normal day. Janice [my wife/Matt’s mother-in-law] and I had just passed through the traffic light at the intersection of 50/Timber Drive when we both noticed something up in 

the sky…it was an angel! I wish I could draw a picture of him in the detail that I can still remember so well because, he was a magnificent creature! The angel was accompanied by dark clouds, similar to what we see just before a storm, broken, with jagged horizontal lines that let golden ribbons of sunlight break through in places. The angel, whom I know to be Gabriel (even though I do not remember him mentioning his name, I just knew it, like when you see someone you know without them having to tell you who they are), came down from the clouds, not swooping in like a bird but more floating down toward us feet-first . His pose, as he descended, was with sword in his right hand, pointed downward and toward us and, in his left hand, a trumpet outstretched and pointing toward the heavens. He had huge wings but obviously didn’t need them to fly. He looked like a warrior, certainly not like those winged babies we see in pictures! He came down before us, looked directly at us and, with sword still pointed, said [in an audible voice], “BEHOLD, THE DAY OF THE LORD IS AT HAND!” These were his exact words and, I can still hear them clearly in my mind when I close my eyes. Upon saying these words and looking up, he returned to the heavens the same way he came down, only a lot faster! The clouds didn’t leave with him but instead remained, making the rest of the dream seem dark, cold and windy. After the angel departed, even though Janice and I never spoke a word, our mood had changed from normalcy to one of panic, confusion and a sort of frantic scrambling to go somewhere and do something but, where or what, I can’t say…this is where the dream ended.” 

After prayerfully considering this dream, in context of the prophetic Word of God, I prepared this message (of interpretation) in hopes that both believer and unbeliever are encouraged to examine themselves in light of coming Judgment (of God) and soon Return of Christ… 

“BEHOLD, THE DAY OF THE LORD IS AT HAND!” 

I. The Proclamation (of the Angel) 

Let’s carefully examine the angel’s message, according to Scripture, as his words are found many times in both Old and New Testaments! The angel emphasized the importance of what he was about to say by beginning with the word “behold,” 

which can also be expressed as “see” and means “to gaze upon or observe” and is used in the imperative to “call attention.” He ends the sentence or proclamation with the words “at hand,” which means, “near in time or place” or, “within reach.”  So, for clarity and understanding, an expanded rendering of his words can be expressed, “Behold (see, observe, attention), the Day of the Lord is at hand (near in time/place, within reach, even ‘at the door’)!” 

Now, let’s closely examine the phrase “the Day of the Lord.” In so doing, we’ll use several biblical translations, commentaries and other resources. From an Old Testament perspective, the prophets looked forward to a day when the God of Israel, who has repeatedly visited His people in history, will finally visit them to judge the wicked, redeem the righteous and purge the earth of all evil. The “Day of the Lord” designates this divine visitation and emphasizes its quality rather than the time of its occurrence. Therefore, the “Day of the Lord” denotes both divine visitations in history and also final (eschatological) events in the history of the world and mankind and, the prophetic future, e.g. The Second Coming, Resurrection of the dead, the last Judgment, etc. In the last days God’s visitation will be for the purpose of establishing His Kingdom. Now, from a New Testament perspective, “the last days” which would witness the establishment of the Kingdom of God are now here! The “Day of the Lord” (also referred to as “that day”) is a comprehensive term designating all the events of Tribulation (Judgment) and the Second Coming of Christ, including His bringing the brief rule of Antichrist to an abrupt end! (Eerdmans: The New Bible Dictionary) 

The Jack Van Impe Prophecy Bible has this to say: “The Day of the Lord begins as the Tribulation period commences and continues through the 1000-year reign of Christ because the destruction of the world by fire afterward is still called ‘The Day of the Lord’ (2 Peter 3:10). Some try to make this the Rapture, causing confusion, but, it begins immediately after the Rapture. This is the reason the “Day of the Lord” comes as a “thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2). 

Bible scholar John Walvoord had this to say: “The Day of the Lord’ is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. Today a man may be a blasphemer of God, an atheist, can denounce 

God and teach bad doctrine. Seemingly God does nothing about it. But the day designated in Scripture as ‘The Day of the Lord’ is coming when God will punish human sin and, He will deal in wrath and in judgment with a Christ-rejecting World. One thing we are sure of, that God in His own way will bring every soul into judgment” (The Thessalonian Epistles, p. 76/The Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible, Vol. 3, p. 50). 

From the antiquity of Old Testament times and historicity of the New Testament, the nations of the world have been and are still today in full rebellion and revolt against the Lord! Author and prophecy teacher, Dr. David Reagan has this to say 

about the Day of the Lord: “God has appointed a day [a period of time] when He will deal with all kingdoms of the Earth and their political leaders by pouring out His wrath through the return of His Son, Jesus the Messiah” (God’s Plan For The 

Ages, p. 380). 

[Parallel Bible/AMP notes Amos 3:7] “God has always warned the world of coming judgments in order that it may not bring them upon itself. Various prophets were told in detail about the final events in connection with the captivities of the chosen [Jewish] people, and in every case the warnings were startlingly executed. Christ’s coming was foretold throughout the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi. Equally plain and inevitable of fulfillment are the warnings of Jesus and the prophets concerning the future that each day comes nearer to every nation on earth.” 

Author and prophecy teacher, Dave Hunt, writes “The climax of all prophecy involves Jerusalem and occurs in what is referred to as ‘the day of the Lord’ (Zephaniah prophesied, “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth 

greatly…that day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm…” 1:14-16). Hunt goes on to say about “that day”--“the grand finale of ‘last days’ prophecies is drawing very close...mankind is proud and rebellious. God is going to reveal Himself in terrifying demonstration of His power to the entire world. The Great Tribulation will reach it’s climax in an event called Armageddon…the description of God’s wrath poured out upon this earth is chilling [you should add the Book of Revelation to your reading list]!” 

II. The Presentation (of the Angel) 

Remember in the dream the angel is described as having a sword in his right hand…in both Testaments the sword is frequently used figuratively for the judgment of war or for the Word of God. While the angel in the dream didn’t have 

his sword raised to strike (in judgment), nonetheless, we can conclude that having it drawn and “at the ready” is symbolic of (the closeness of) war and the certainty of a “day of reckoning” coming soon when God will deal decisively with Satan’s 

kingdom, including Antichrist, his armies and all unbelieving inhabitants of Earth! 

In the dream, what is the significance of that trumpet in the angel’s other outstretched (left) hand, pointing toward the heavens? Trumpets in Scripture were used to arouse attention, as a summons to assemble people, as a warning to “sound the alarm,” and to announce God’s divine presence. While the trumpet was not being blown (sounded) by the angel in the dream, nevertheless, it wasn’t far from his lips and, being pointed toward the heavens, was being readied to arouse, 

summon, warn or announce someone or something! In the Old Testament Book of Exodus, when the Lord God was about to descend on Mount Sinai, the place of His meeting with Moses (and the people of God), “a very loud trumpet blast” summoned the people to announce God’s divine presence (Exodus 19:16). We aren’t specifically told who blew this trumpet because in Scripture both angels and the Lord God Himself are associated with the blowing of trumpets! As examples, at the Second Coming of the Lord, Zechariah 9:14 says, “the Lord God will blow the trumpet” and, in the Book of Revelation (Tribulation), the Bible speaks of Trumpet Judgments as the trumpets of heaven, blown by angels, sound an alarm throughout the world announcing the public judgments of God. Each blast ushers in an added judgment! However, it’s important to understand that the biblical expression “trump of God” has no connection with the “trumpet judgments” of Revelation. 




The important point to remember is this…whether it’s trumpets blown at Resurrection and Rapture, during Tribulation Judgment or at the Second Coming of Christ, we’re being warned beforehand to GET READY, they are indeed about to be sounded or blown! 

And then in the dream there’s that magnificent being, the angel, whom Matt believes was none other than Gabriel himself. What do we know about angels, especially archangels and, particularly, Gabriel? Gabriel means “man of God” or

“God has shown Himself strong.” He is one of two angels in the Bible who are named (the other being Michael) and, in Jewish and Christian traditions, he is an archangel of God. The New Bible Dictionary (Eerdmans) says, “Gabriel plays an 

important role in later Jewish apocalyptic [prophetic revelation of the destiny of the world]. He has various functions; he is an angel of punishment…set over all powers and intercedes for men…will execute judgment on the fallen angels. In the New Testament Gabriel is the angel who stands before God, who holds a specially high position in the angelic ranks. In the Bible Gabriel appears to be the messenger angel, while Michael is the warrior angel.” So, regardless of whether its Gabriel, Michael or some other angel of God, there’s no doubt in my mind that the angel in Matt’s dream was sent from God, having a specific mission and message of warning to alert all mankind of coming Judgment and the Return of Christ!

III. The Purpose (of the Angel) 

The earth is ripe for both the coming end-times Harvest and Judgment(s) of God!  Catastrophic destruction is “at hand,” just over the horizon! All human beings who have not truly trusted Jesus Christ will indeed face the (terrible) Day of the Lord! There would seem to be no escape from the certainty of judgment, as both the World and the Devil would have you believe, but, is it a lie and is there truly “a way out,” so to speak, to not only escape the coming Judgment but be unashamed and “evacuated” at the Lord’s return? The answer is a resounding “YES” because, God has promised all believers that they are not appointed to wrath (I Thess. 5:9) and, He tells us in His Word how it will be accomplished… 

I Thessalonians 4:16-18—For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up 

together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

You see, Christ’s Return or Second Coming is actually in two parts—the first, His appearing to gather His Church in the clouds (before the events of the Day of the Lord when judgments will be unleashed upon the Earth) and, the second, His 

Coming to Earth to defeat Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon, to rescue Israel and to establish His Millennial Reign! But, here’s the “mystery” and that which the world (and much of the Church!) doesn’t understand…Antichrist will not be 

revealed nor will the seven-year Tribulation (and Day of the Lord) begin until the “restraining force” is taken up and out of the way and this speaks of the Bride of Christ or the Church empowered by the Holy Spirit! The Body of Christ, whom the

Holy Spirit indwells, serves as the primary restrainer of evil in this world as she proclaims the Gospel and stands for righteousness. 

1 Thess. 1:10—And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 

Simply and respectfully put, the Church “doesn’t have a dog in this fight,” as pertaining to the wrath and judgments of God! But, for a certainty, “all hell will break loose” on Earth as Christians, both the dead and the living in Christ at His Coming, are resurrected from the dead, translated (changed) and caught up together “in the twinkling of an eye” (Rapture) to meet the Lord in the air and the Church is removed from this world! 

Notice in Matt’s dream, it was “a seemingly normal day” or “business as usual,” when suddenly, unexpectedly the angel appeared with his message of proclamation and then, everything changed—the weather seemed to signal a coming storm (dark, cold and windy), that lingered after the angel’s departure; the mood of Matt and Janice was marked by feelings or emotions of fear, panic, confusion and a sense of urgency “to go somewhere and do something” with or about what they had seen and heard! And, here’s the point—for Christians, believers in Christ, there is no need for discouragement, fear, panic, confusion, frustration, sorrow, grief, hopelessness, despair or any such feelings associated with the unbelieving, wicked, rebellious world around us that we live it! On the other hand, there’s still much work to do beforehand as we await the return of the Lord (which is “at hand”)! We indeed have “somewhere to go and something to do!” We need to make certain to examine ourselves to see if we are truly “in the faith and faithful,” so as to be unashamed and prepared at His Coming! This means “working out our own salvation,” which includes sanctification and discipleship. It’s simply submitting to His Lordship and being conformed to the image of Christ, enabling us to be effective witnesses in this ungodly world! And, lastly, we’re to share the Gospel, tell someone about Jesus Christ and embrace His mission and make His message ours, starting with our own families and then working outwardly, reaching out to those whom God places along life’s path! 

Lets read again the passage of Scripture that literally caused me, for several reasons, to shout when, in the process of researching and preparing this message, I read a different translation (below) of the same Scriptural text read at the beginning of this message. For me, personally, it was as if the Holy Spirit divinely gave me the key to interpreting this dream... 

2 Thess. 2:1-3 [Wuest Expanded Translation of the Greek New Testament]—Now, I am requesting you, brethren, with regard to the coming and personal presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, EVEN OUR BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER TO HIM, not soon to become unsettled, the source of this unsettled state being your minds, neither be thrown into confusion, either by a spirit [a believer in the Christian assembly claiming the authority of divine revelation and claiming to give the saints a word from God], or through a word [received personally] as from us or through a letter falsely alleged to be written by us, to the effect that that THE DAY OF THE LORD HAS COME AND IS NOW PRESENT. Do not allow anyone to lead you astray in any way, BECAUSE THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME EXCEPT THE AFOREMENTIONED DEPARTURE [OF THE CHURCH TO HEAVEN] COMES FIRST and the man of lawlessness is disclosed [in his true identity], the son of perdition, he who sets himself in opposition to and exalts himself above everyone and everything that is called a god or that is an object of worship, so that he seats himself in the inner sanctuary of God, proclaiming himself to be deity. Do you not remember that while I was still with you I kept on telling you these things? AND NOW YOU KNOW WITH A POSITIVE ASSURANCE THAT WHICH [NAMELY, THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHURCH, THE SAINTS BEING 

ASSEMBLED TOGETHER TO THE LORD] is preventing his being disclosed [as to his true identity] in his strategic, appointed time, for the mystery of the aforementioned lawlessness is now operating. Only He [the Holy Spirit] who is 

holding [the lawlessness] down, [will do so] until He GOES OUT FROM THE MIDST [OF HUMANITY]. 

So, my friends, what shall we do with this dream, it’s interpretation, this message and anything else pertaining to God, His Christ, His Word and His Gospel, in view of the fact that both Judgment and Jesus’ Coming are AT HAND? 

2 Peter 3:9—The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

2 Thess. 2:15, 15, 17—Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 

“BEHOLD, THE DAY OF THE LORD IS AT HAND!” 

 Therefore, knowing and understanding this more clearly, by all means, “GO SOMEWHERE (where He sends or places you) AND DO SOMETHING” (the Lord’s work), endeavoring to make a positive difference in your own life and, in the 

lives of others!