To the Babylonians the invasion of the Medes and Persians, the destruction of their homes and cities, was “the day of the Lord.” It was the day of his vengeance and judgment upon them. The prophetic imagery, which here refers to the destruction of Babylon, is applicable to all such catastrophes of historic import. It is, therefore, also descriptive of the last judgment before the Millennium, which is, the fullest meaning of the word, “the day of the Lord.”
The destruction comes from the Almighty (v. 6); it is not a peaceful, painless operation. On the contrary, under it, people will faint with pain and anguish. (v. 7-9); stars and constellations (“Orions”), meaning, individuals and organizations renowned throughout the world for their brilliancy, will fail to give their light; even the sun and the moon—even kings and queens, and governments in general (Gen. 37:8-10)—will be darkened, or fail to function (v. 10); for the Lord will punish the world for evil and wickedness, and humiliate the proud and haughty. (v. 11) In this process the population will be decimated (v. 12); the heavens will be shaken—government systems will be dissolved—the earth removed out of her place—boundaries of kingdoms will be obliterated in the wrath of the Lord (v. 13); armies will be scattered like sheep (v. 14), and those who are found among the wicked will be slain by the sword (v. 15); in the savagery of the war, even women and children will be destroyed. (v. 16) Such is the prophetic sketch of the day of the Lord which was to end the Babylonian empire. And that catastrophe was a type of the termination of our own era, too.