Notes on Zephaniah 1 from O. Palmer Robertson's Commentary

The finality of cosmic overthrow associated with the coming of Yahweh ' s Day in the fullest sense never came in the context of events as- sociated with the old covenant . It is not surprising , therefore , to find in the NT both passages which suggest an arrival of the Day of Yahweh in events current in NT times as well as passages looking to a future arrival of the great Day . Both of these perspectives must be kept in mind for a proper under- standing of the contemporary significance of the coming of the Day .
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Page 271.

In a certain sense , the Day of Yahweh has come . But distinctive to the Day is the characteristic of finality . In a sense the Day came in associa- tion with certain events surrounding the advent of Jesus Christ . But in another sense the Day is yet to come . And as Zephaniah prophesied , it is near . The old covenant Scriptures manifest a variety of phrases by which the coming Day of Yahweh may be designated . Zephaniah speaks in terms of " the Day ," " that Day ," " the great Day ," " the Day of Yahweh ," and " the Day of the overflowing wrath of Yahweh " ( 1 : 7-10 , 14-15 , 18 ). In similar fashion , the new covenant Scriptures employ a variety of phrases in referring essentially to the same phenomenon . The Day of Yahweh may be designated as the " day of judgment " ( Matt . 10 : 15 ; 11 : 22 , 24 ; 12 : 36 ; John 12 : 48 ; 2 Pet . 3 : 7 ), the " last day " ( John 6 : 39 , 40 , 44 , 54 ; 11 : 24 ; 12 : 48 ), the " day of the Lord " ( Acts 2 : 20 ; 1 Cor . 5 : 5 ; 2 Cor . 1 : 14 ; 1 Thess . 5 : 2 ; 2 Thess . 2 : 2 ; 2 Pet . 3 : 10 ), the " day of the Lord Jesus Christ " ( 1 Cor . 1 : 8 ), " the day " or " that day " ( Matt . 7 : 22 ; Luke 10 : 12 ; 21 : 34 ; 1 Cor . 3 : 13 ; 1 Thess . 5 : 4 ; Heb . 10 : 25 ), the " day of Christ Jesus " ( Phil . 1 : 6 ), the " day of Christ " ( Phil . 1 : 10 ; 2 : 16 ), the " day of God " ( 2 Pet . 3 : 12 ), the " eternal day " ( 2 Pet . 3 : 18 ), the " great day " ( Jude 6 ), the " great day of their wrath " ( Rev . 6 : 17 ), and the " great day of God the Al- mighty " ( Rev . 16 : 14 ). All of these passages deserve careful consideration when attempting to determine matters related to the consummate fulfillment of the Day of Yah- weh as prophesied by Zephaniah . Suffice it to say that the cosmic judgment associated with a dramatic theophany now may be understood in terms of the glorious return of Jesus Christ . On the day appointed he shall consummate all things.

COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
O. Palmer Robertson. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament). (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990). Page 272and273
footnote on page 271:
The signs mentioned in Acts 2 : 20 that were to precede the coming of the " great and glorious Day of the Lord " include the items listed beginning at v . 17 and running through v . 21 . Peter specifically declares that " wonders and signs " have oc- curred , starting with the ministry of Jesus ( v . 22 ). The " coming " of the " Day " there- fore does not await the arrival of a day associated with " wonders " and " signs ." Some might propose that it is necessary to have a literal turning of the moon into blood before the arrival of the Day . Yet the fulfillment of the other signs in connection with the coming of Christ in his birth , ministry , death , resurrection , ascension , and out- pouring of the Spirit would suggest strongly that at least the first phase of the arrival of the day has been realized .
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
O. Palmer Robertson. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament). (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990). Page 272.