14 The great [judgment] day of the Lord is near,

Near and coming very quickly.

Listen! The [voice of the] day of the Lord!

The warrior cries out bitterly [unable to fight or to flee].

15 That day is a day of [the outpouring of the] wrath [of God],

A day of trouble and distress,

A day of destruction and devastation,

A day of darkness and gloom,

A day of clouds and thick darkness, [Jer 30:7; Joel 2:11; Amos 5:18]

16 A day of trumpet and the battle cry [of invaders]

Against the fortified cities

And against the high corner towers (battlements).

17 I will bring distress on men

So that they will walk like the blind [unable to find a way of escape],

Because they have sinned against the Lord;

Their blood will be poured out like dust [and trampled underfoot],

And their flesh like dung.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold

Will be able to rescue them

On the day of the Lord’s indignation and wrath.

And the whole earth will be consumed

In the fire of His jealous *1:18 God’s judgment and God’s mercy are the twin themes of the prophets. In this dramatic passage, the Lord describes the destruction that will sweep the earth in the day of His wrath. Yet the Lord is true to His promises: the remnant will be restored (Zeph 3:18-20); the last day is also "the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30). See also Matt 24:31; John 14:3; 1 Thess 4:15-17.wrath,

For He shall make a full and complete end,

Indeed a terrifying one,

Of all the inhabitants of the earth. [Luke 21:35, 36; 2 Pet 3:10-13]