One Day Equals 1000 Years?

Q. It was only about a week ago I started reading different interpretations about Hosea 6:2, and 2 Peter 3:8 (thousand years/one day).  I’m not a new Christian and I know a lot about the Bible, but I have never in my life heard this interpretation. The one I’ve heard is that Hosea 6:2 will be fulfilled during Tribulation in a literal three days and on that third, Christ returns.   Since then I searched your archive and discovered you’ve written a handful of articles/answered questions on it!  And from the things I’ve read, including your article, the people writing about them seem so matter-of-fact about it!

And I’m thinking, if this is such common knowledge, first why didn’t I know it, and second, why this this not talked about more?  Anytime a Bible teacher is asked “What makes you think the end is very near?” this answer re: Hosea and 2 Peter, is never brought up. Never. Why?
A. Part of the problem is that the one day equals 1000 years interpretation is not accepted by all as a general principle.  Some people think it only applies to the verse in  2 Peter.  Then there’s the issue is that this passage, being both literal and symbolic, could only be shown to possibly have two fulfillments in our generation.  Its literal meaning that it will take 3 days for the Lord to answer the prayers of His people is very likely to be true, as is the meaning that a day was meant to symbolize 1000 years.  It’s clearer to us because we’re so convinced the end is very near that we can see the possibility.   Many believers today don’t share that conviction.