For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
It shall be the time of the heathen - namely, for taking vengeance on them. The judgment on Egypt is the beginning of a world-wide judgment on all the pagan enemies of God (Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-2; Joel 3:1-21; Obadiah 1:15).