{"id":1285,"date":"2018-02-03T08:00:19","date_gmt":"2018-02-03T07:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/?p=1285"},"modified":"2018-02-03T08:00:19","modified_gmt":"2018-02-03T07:00:19","slug":"the-book-of-joel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/2018\/02\/03\/the-book-of-joel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Book of Joel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The word of Jehovah that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your <\/em><\/span>children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Joel 1:1\u20133<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction\u2014Joel 1:1<\/a><\/p>\n

The word of Jehovah that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.<\/em><\/p>\n

The name Jo<\/em><\/span>el<\/em> means \u201cJehovah is God.\u201d This is an inversion of the name Elijah<\/em>, which means \u201cGod is Jehovah.\u201d The fact that his parents gave him a name in connection with God indicates that they were members of t<\/span>he Believing Remnant of that day. The only thing known about Joel\u2019s family is that he was the son of Pethuel<\/em>, which means \u201cthe openheartedness of God\u201d or \u201cthe sincerity of God.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as the date is <\/span>concerned, like Obadiah, Joel does not reveal the name of the king under whom he prophesied. This has to be determined another way. Joel is quoted twice by Amos: Joel 3:16<\/a> is quoted in Amos 1:2<\/a>; Joel <\/span>3:18<\/a> is quoted in Amos 9:13<\/a>. This would place him before the Prophet Amos. But, because he does not rail against idolatry the way Amos did, he probably prophesied around 835 b.c., during the reign of <\/span>Joash.<\/p>\n

As for his locality, Joel was a prophet from Judah, the southern kingdom, and may have been from Jerusalem because of certain references he made to Jerusalem (Joel 1:9<\/a>, 13\u201314<\/a>; 2:15<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The histor<\/span>ical setting that brought about Joel\u2019s prophecy was a recent great invasion by locusts that caused tremendous destruction of the crops of the Land. With the background of this tremendous locust invasion, Joel g<\/span>ave certain prophecies of invasions to come in the future.<\/p>\n

The Book of Joel makes two major points. First, God is in control of world events. Nothing happens anywhere in the world that is ou<\/span>tside of God\u2019s control; nothing that happens to a believer is outside of God\u2019s control. Secondly, God responds to repentance. Where there is true repentance, God will respond accordingly.<\/p>\n

The theme of<\/span> the Book of Joel is the Day of Jehovah or the Day of the Lord. He used this expression in 1:15<\/a>; 2:1<\/a>, 11<\/a>, 31<\/a>; and 3:14<\/a>. Whenever the Bible uses the term the \u201cDay of Jehovah\u201d or the \u201cDay of the Lord,\u201d <\/span>it is the most common biblical term for what is now called the Great Tribulation. Thus, Joel\u2019s theme is speaking about the Great Tribulation. The locust invasion that occurred in Joel\u2019s day is the starting point. As bad as that locust invasion was, what will happen in the Great Tri<\/span>bulation will be far more severe.<\/p>\n

Joel is quoted twice in the New Testament: Joel 2:28\u201332<\/a> is quoted by Acts 2:17\u201321<\/a>; a<\/span>nd Joel 2:32<\/a> is quoted in Romans 10:13<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The way the prophecy came to Joel is stated in the English rendering as: The word of Jehovah that came to Joel<\/em>. The Hebrew phraseology actually means \u201cthe Word <\/span>of Jehovah took possession of Joel.\u201d This divine possession resulted in a prophetic revelation. This also happened to the Apostle John when he wrote the Book of Revelation.<\/p>\n

The Book of Joel can be div<\/span>ided into two main units. The first unit deals with the Day of Jehovah as a time of invasions. The second unit deals with the salvation and restoration of Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>I. The Day of Jehovah, a Time of Invasions\u2014Joel 1:2\u20132:17<\/a><\/p>\n

There are two subdivisions in the first major unit dealing with two invasions: the historical invasion of locusts and the prophetic invasion of<\/span> demons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>A. The Historical Invasion of Locusts\u2014Joel 1:2\u201314<\/a><\/p>\n

It is this invasion that gave rise to the prophecy as a whole. Verses 2\u20134<\/a> give the actual account of that invasion. The uniqueness of this particular <\/span>locust invasion is emphasized by verses 2\u20133<\/a>: Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of i<\/em><\/span>t, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Verse 2<\/a> states that this is the most unique invasion of locusts in all past history. Joel calls upon the old men<\/em> of<\/span> Israel, those who had lived the longest, and asks them if they could remember anything in their lifetimes like this recent invasion. None of the oldest men in Israel could remember a previous locust inv<\/span>asion that was as bad as this one. In fact, these old men could not remember that their fathers had told them of an invasion as bad as this one. In verse 3<\/a>, because of the uniqueness of this locust<\/span> invasion, they are to pass it on to succeeding generations. Let future generations know what a terrible locust plague this was indeed. This is exactly what Joel did when he wrote about it in his book.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joel described the devastation as he told about four waves of locust invasions in verse 4<\/a>: That which the palmer-worm has left has the locust eaten; and that which the locust has left has the canker<\/em><\/span>-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm has left has the caterpillar eaten.<\/em><\/p>\n

Most English translations read that these are four types of locusts: the palmer-worm, the locust, the canker-worm<\/em>, and t<\/em><\/span>he caterpillar.<\/em> The Hebrew rendering is a bit different, since the Hebrew words describe what they actually do. Literally, the four categories are \u201cthe gnawer,\u201d \u201cthe swarmer,\u201d \u201cthe licker,\u201d and \u201cthe d<\/span>evourer.\u201d Joel was not talking about four different kinds of locusts, nor was he speaking of the different stages of the development of a locust. Rather, he was speaking of four successive swarms of locusts eating what the previous swarm had left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

The number four is often used by the prophets to designate the totality of destruction, especially in the Old Testament in Jeremiah 15:3<\/a> and Ezek<\/span>iel 14:21<\/a>. What Joel tried to do here was to emphasize the totality of the devastation by presenting these four swarms of locusts, each swarm eating what the previous swarm had left behind. By the tim<\/span>e Joel wrote these words, it is not prophecy; it is already history. But this history is going to become the background of something prophetic.<\/p>\n

The devastation of the crops leads to the lamentation by<\/span> the local drunkards in verses 5\u20137<\/a>: Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and wail, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon my land<\/em><\/span>, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the jaw-teeth of a lioness. He has laid my vine waste, and barked my fig-tree: he has made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In verse 5<\/a>, Joel tells the drunkards<\/em> that the source of the wine has now been removed, so they are to awaken out of their sleep and weep<\/em>. The word used here means <\/span>\u201cto reel in intoxication.\u201d They are to awaken out of reeling intoxication and they are to weep because they have been destroyed by a nation<\/em> of locusts in verse 6<\/a>. It is not unusual for locusts to be d<\/span>epicted as a human military army. In fact, both locusts and ants are depicted as a military army in Proverbs 30:25\u201327<\/a>. Joel\u2019s personal agony is seen in his statement: \u201cThese locusts have eaten my land<\/em><\/span>.\u201d Verse 7<\/a> once again describes the totality of this particular devastation. The drunkards who live from one cup of wine to the next, those who have not learned to drink in simple moderation as the Bi<\/span>ble allows, but have gone into excess, which the Bible forbids, are the ones lamenting. Indeed they must, for the source of their joy and security has been eaten by this army of locusts.<\/p>\n

In verses 8\u20131<\/span>2<\/a>, it is not only the drunkards who lament, but there is a call to the whole nation in verse 8<\/a>: Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.<\/em><\/p>\n

The term virgin<\/em> here does not m<\/span>ean \u201cvirgin\u201d as we think of it today, but a young widow who has lost her husband in the first year of marriage. The whole nation is to mourn as a bride who has lost her husband in the first year of marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the reasons that they must mourn this way is given in verse 9<\/a>: The meal-offering and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah\u2019s ministers, mourn.<\/em><\/p>\n

T<\/span>hey must mourn now because there is no offering remaining for the Temple. There is no meal offering because the cattle and sheep are dying due to lack of grain. There is no drink offering because the v<\/span>ines have all been eaten up. As a result, the priests, who are responsible for making these offerings and who are sustained by these offerings, are also to lament.<\/p>\n

Joel again describes the totality o<\/span>f the devastation, resulting in a cessation of the joy of harvest in verses 10\u201312<\/a>: The field is laid waste, the land mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil languishes. B<\/em><\/span>e confounded, O ye husbandmen, wail, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; for the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is withered, and the fig-tree languishes; the pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all the trees of the field are withered: for joy is withered away f<\/em><\/span>rom the sons of men.<\/em><\/p>\n

Just as the drunkards who are mourning for one reason, the nat<\/span>ion is to be mourning for another. The drunkards are mourning because there will be no wine for the next year, but the nation is to mourn because there is nothing left for the first-fruits offering to the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lamentation of the priesthood is reemphasized in verses 13\u201314<\/a>: Gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests; wail, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth,<\/em><\/span> ye ministers of my God: for the meal-offering and the drink-offering are withheld from the house of your God. Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the old men and all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of Jehovah your God, and cry unto Jehovah.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In verse 13<\/a>, Joel called upon the priesthood to begin lamenting, and they are to do it publicly by girding themselves with sackcloth<\/em>. H<\/span>e then gave the same reason as he did for the national mourning and lamenting: there are no more drink offerings and no meal offerings for the House of Jehovah. In verse 14<\/a>, they are to call a solemn <\/em><\/span>assembly<\/em>. They are to gather the old men and all the inhabitants<\/em> of the land. The place where they are to gather is the house of Jehovah<\/em>. They are to fast; they are to put on sackcloth; they are to cr<\/em><\/span>y unto Jehovah<\/em> to see if the He will respond. The clear implication is that, because there was true repentance, the Lord did respond.<\/p>\n

This subdivision spoke of the historic invasion: an invasion of lo<\/span>custs. This, in turn, gave rise to a prophetic invasion: an invasion of demons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>B. The Prophetic Invasion of Demons\u2014Joel 1:15\u20132:17<\/a><\/p>\n

The second subdivision describes the devastation that will occur during the Day of Jehovah or the Great Tribulation. Having described the devastation<\/span> caused by the locusts and pointing out that this was the worst that had ever occurred until that day, Joel now indicates that as bad as it was in their day, a day is coming when things will get even worse. During the Day of Jehovah, there will be an invasion that will prove to be even more unique than the locust <\/span>invasion that had just occurred.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>1. The Devastation of the Day of Jehovah\u2014Joel 1:15\u201320<\/a><\/p>\n

This passage introduces Joel\u2019s new theme announcing the coming Day of Jehovah in verse 15<\/a>: Alas for the day! for the day of Jehovah is at hand, an<\/em><\/span>d as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.<\/em><\/p>\n

He described the Day of Jehovah as destruction from the Almighty<\/em>. It is God\u2019s judgment upon this earth. When the Day of Jehovah comes, it, too, will r<\/span>esult in massive devastation, even worse than that which occurred with the recent locust invasion.<\/p>\n

There will be a devastation of the crops in verses 16\u201317<\/a>: Is not the food cut off before our eyes, ye<\/em><\/span>a, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seeds rot under their clods; the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the grain is withered.<\/em><\/p>\n

As a result of the devastation, the<\/span>re will be no sustenance for the Temple in verse 16<\/a>, nor will there be any sustenance for the people in verse 17<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, this will also lead to a devastation of the livestock because they will h<\/span>ave nothing to eat, and they, too, will die according to verses 18\u201320<\/a>: How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desol<\/em><\/span>ate. O Jehovah, to you do I cry; for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field. Yea, the beasts of the field pant unto you; for the water brooks are dried up, and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Whereas in the preceding invasion, everything was destroyed by being eaten by the locusts, verses 19\u201320<\/a> bring out that <\/span>things are destroyed by fire in this invasion. The result is that the same things will be cut off from the Temple and from the people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2. The Account of the Future Invasion\u2014Joel 2:1\u201311<\/a><\/p>\n

Verses 15\u201320<\/a> describe the results of a second invasion without describing the invasion itself. In this section, Joel begins to detail the account of the invasion by sounding the alarm in verse 1<\/a>: Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah comes, for it is <\/em>nigh at hand.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the ancient world, the alarm was sounded to announce an approaching army (Num. 10:9<\/a>). Now an alarm will sound from the holy mountain<\/em>, Mount Zion, upon which the Temple stood. When this alarm sounds, it will mean that the Day of Jehovah has arrived with full force. The result is that all the inhabitants of the Land are trembling, because that alarm finally signals that the Day of Jehovah, that day of special judgment, has arrived.<\/p>\n

What the Day of Jehovah will be like is described in verse 2a<\/a>: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spre<\/em>ad upon the mountains.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Day of Jehovah is described in four ways. First, it will be a time of darkness<\/em>. Secondly, it will be a time of gloominess<\/em>. Thirdly, it will be a day of clouds<\/em>. Fourthly, it will be a day of thick darkness<\/em>. These are common descriptions of the Day of Jehovah or the Great Tribulation throughout the Scriptures (Is. 8:22<\/a>; 60:2<\/a>; Amos 5:18\u201320<\/a>; Zeph. 1:14\u201316<\/a>). Joel concluded his description with the words: as the dawn spread upon the mountains.<\/em> The point he is making in using this particular illustration is that just as dawn is sudden and widespread, so also will the Day of Jehovah come suddenly and be widespread. It will come not only upon the Land of Israel, although this is Joel\u2019s particular theme, but the Tribulation will also extend to all parts of the world. It is considered to be the darkest period in human history because it is the outpouring of the wrath of God before the establishment of the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Next, in Joel 2:2b\u20139<\/a>, the prophet describes the actual invading army in some detail by using the words as<\/em> and like<\/em>. It will have similarities with the locust invasion, yet there will be certain crucial differences. Joel describes their approach in verses 2b\u20133<\/a>: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame bur<\/em>ns: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none has escaped them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Verse 2<\/a> emphasizes their uniqueness. Just as the locust plague was unique to Joel\u2019s day, the approach of this new invading army will be unique to the future in that it will surpass the locust invasion of the past. He describes them as a great people and a strong<\/em>; they will be functioning like a human army. Verse 3<\/a> describes the massive devastation they will cause. Whereas the land on one side may look like the Garden of Eden, once the invasion passes through, all that remains will be a desolate wilderness.<\/p>\n

Joel describes the invading army itself in verses 4\u20139<\/a>: The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run. Like the noise of chari<\/em>ots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale. They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on h<\/em>is ways, and they break not their ranks. Neither does one thrust another; they march every one in his path; and they burst through the weapons, and break not off their course. They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.<\/em><\/p>\n

Verse 4<\/a> describes their appearance as the appearance of horses<\/em>, and they run as horsemen<\/em>. Joel is describing something that appears to be \u201clike\u201d an ordinary military invasion, but it is not. Verse 5<\/a> describes the noise they make: Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble.<\/em> They make a crackling sound. Verse 6<\/a> emphasizes the terror they will cause. As soon as the people see them, they are in anguish.<\/em> Their faces turn pale<\/em> or white. Verses 7<\/a> and 8<\/a> emphasize their speed and their discipline. As they march, everyone walks in step and keeps to the line of their part. Verse 9<\/a> describes their attack.<\/p>\n

It is very clear that what is being described is similar to the locust invasion, yet they are different from locusts. They have certain characteristics, such as horse-like characteristics, which prove that they are not locusts, though the devastation they cause is similar to that caused by locusts.<\/p>\n

The result of this invasion is given in verse 10<\/a>: The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.<\/em><\/p>\n

When this invasion occurs, there will be two major results: first, there will be tremendous convulsions of nature; and secondly, there will be a blackout. The word \u201cblackout\u201d means that no light will be penetrating to the earth from the sun, moon, or stars. Throughout the last days there will be five such blackouts. The blackout Joel is speaking of here is the third of the five blackouts, a blackout that occurs some time during the first half of the Great Tribulation.<\/p>\n

Joel gives the reason all these things have occurred in verse 11<\/a>: And Jehovah utters his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong<\/em> that executes his word; for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?<\/em><\/p>\n

As Joel concludes his description of this massive invasion, he points out that it will occur because of divine judgment from God. He states that God is able to execute his word<\/em>, and He will execute it during the great and very terrible<\/em> Day of Jehovah. The period of special, divine judgment of the Tribulation has finally hit, hence the question: who can abide it?<\/em><\/p>\n

What Joel described in these verses is the same thing John described in Revelation 9<\/a>, where he wrote of two demonic invasions: the first, in verses 1\u201311<\/a>, is for the purpose of tormenting. The demons are given authority to torment men for five months, but they are not permitted to kill anyone. The second demonic invasion, in verses 13\u201321<\/a>, comes after five months of torment that will destroy one third of the inhabitants of the world in that day. The reason Joel 2:11<\/a> stated that the camp or the army is very great<\/em> is because, according to these verses in Revelation 9<\/a>, the army will be comprised of 200 million demons. The description given by Joel in 2:4\u20139<\/a> is very similar to that given by John. Revelation 9<\/a> also mentions the same blackout in which there will be no light penetrating to the earth from the sun, moon, or stars. Thus Joel set the stage for what John developed later. What Joel described in the prophetic invasion is not a locust invasion, but a locust like invasion. The demons that will be involved in this invasion will have the appearance of locusts as well as the appearance of horses and horsemen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3. The Exhortation and Call to Fasting and Prayer\u2014Joel 2:12\u201317<\/a><\/p>\n

After the historical invasion of locusts in chapter 1<\/a>, Joel encouraged the nation and the priests to fast and repent and call upon the Lo<\/span>rd in prayer. The same thing will occur in the future. As a result of this demonic invasion, there will be an exhortation and a call to fasting and prayer in Joel 2:12\u201314<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just as it was in the past, <\/span>an exhortation will be issued in the future in verses 12\u201313a<\/a>: Yet even now, says Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your hear<\/em><\/span>t, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God.<\/em><\/p>\n

Joel stated that the people\u2019s requirement in that future day will be to turn<\/em>, meaning \u201cto repent.\u201d The repentance is to come with fasting, wee<\/span>ping, and mourning. This time they are not to rend their garments<\/em>, but to rend their hearts<\/em>. The word repent<\/em> means \u201cto turn around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where there is true repentance, God will respond in grace in verses<\/span> 13b\u201314<\/a>: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repents him of the evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, ev<\/em><\/span>en a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?<\/em><\/p>\n

If they will turn around, God will turn around and leave a blessing behind, so that the destruction will not be total. Indeed, toward the<\/span> end of the Tribulation, the whole nation will repent in just this way, and God will respond in grace.<\/p>\n

The actual call to fasting and prayer is in Joel 2:15\u201317<\/a>. The alarm is sounded once again in vers<\/span>e 15<\/a>: Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.<\/em><\/p>\n

When the trumpet sounded in chapter 2:1<\/a>, it was a warning that the invading army had arrived. This time the alarm is sounded fo<\/span>r the purpose of calling a solemn assembly<\/em>. That, too, was a biblical use of the trumpet (Num. 10:10<\/a>). Once again, the trumpet will sound from Mount Zion, a call to sanctify a fast<\/em> and to call a solem<\/em><\/span>n assembly.<\/em><\/p>\n

The totality of the call is emphasized in verse 16<\/a>: gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom<\/em><\/span> go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.<\/em><\/p>\n

All should come to repentance in the nation of Israel; even the old men<\/em> and the children<\/em> even the nursing babies, as well as the bridegroom<\/em><\/span> and the bride<\/em>.<\/p>\n

There will be a special calling upon the priests to cry for help, according to verse 17<\/a>: Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them s<\/em><\/span>ay, Spare your people, O Jehovah, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?<\/em><\/p>\n

They are to weep betw<\/em><\/span>een the porch and the altar.<\/em> This is the space between the Altar of Sacrifice and the front door of the Temple building. They are to call for help based on two things: first, on the basis of being the<\/span> chosen people; secondly, on the basis of not allowing the Gentiles to deride them and say: Where is their God?<\/em> Psalm 79<\/a> is another example of Israel calling upon the Lord in the closing days of the T<\/span>ribulation. Psalm 79:10<\/a> uses the same reasoning as Joel 2:17<\/a>: in order not to remain a derision among the Gentiles.<\/p>\n

To summarize this unit: Joel describes the recent invasion of locusts and the callin<\/span>g of a solemn assembly, asking God to intervene, lest there be mass starvation. This led to a discussion of a prophetic invasion of demons, bringing destruction by fire, and once again a call goes out for a solemn national assembly for national repentance.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>II. The Salvation and Restoration of Israel\u2014Joel 2:18\u20133:21<\/a><\/p>\n

That Israel will indeed come to repentance is taught in many places in Scripture. The whole nation will then be regenerated, and \u201call Israel <\/span>will be saved.\u201d As a result of Israel\u2019s salvation, she will be restored into all the Promised Land.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>A. The Restoration of the Land\u2014Joel 2:18\u201327<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>1. The Answer of God\u2014Joel 2:18\u201320<\/a><\/p>\n

While the first main unit of the book ended with Israel\u2019s mourning and lamenting in repentance, these verses describe God\u2019s response to that repentance in three ways.<\/span> First, He responds in mercy in verse 18<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Then was Jehovah jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.<\/em><\/p>\n

Two statements are made regarding God\u2019s in mercy on behalf of Israel. First, God\u2019s mercy ar<\/span>ises out of His jealousy for his land.<\/em> Elsewhere, His jealousy is described as being unique to Jerusalem (Zech. 1:14<\/a>; 8:2<\/a>). Secondly, He had pity on his people<\/em>. God\u2019s pity will never allow a total des<\/span>truction of the Jewish people.<\/p>\n

Secondly, He responds by removing their reproach in verse 19<\/a>: And Jehovah answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you grain, and new wine, and oil, and ye<\/em><\/span> shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.<\/em><\/p>\n

In verse 17<\/a>, they had asked that the reproach<\/em> of the Gentiles against the Jews might be removed, and so it will<\/span> be.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, God will remove the invading army in verse 20<\/a>. but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea,<\/em><\/span> and its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill savor shall come up, because it has done great things.<\/em><\/p>\n

Joel will develop this point further in chapter 3<\/a>, but he be<\/span>gins dealing with a third invasion: the invasion of a human army known today as the Campaign of Armageddon. That final war will bring about the Second Coming and the Messianic Kingdom. In this verse, God <\/span>states: I will remove far off from you the northern army.<\/em> When the locusts invaded Israel, they came from the south, but most of the time human armies come from the north. In the counter-attack, t<\/span>he main body of the army is destroyed in the Negev Desert, the land in the southern part of Israel that is barren and desolate<\/em>. Its forepart<\/em> will be destroyed in the Dead Sea region on the east side o<\/span>f Israel. The hinder part<\/em> will be destroyed in the western sea<\/em>, which is Mediterranean Sea on the west side of Israel. This will result in the stench<\/em> of dead bodies of the armies of the Antichrist tha<\/span>t come against the Jews in the Campaign of Armageddon. They will be destroyed in the south, east, and west of Israel. The north is not mentioned because this is the direction from which the army invaded.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2. The Restoration of Material Blessings\u2014Joel 2:21\u201327<\/a><\/p>\n

Joel draws a contrast between the invading army of verse 20<\/a> and what God will do in verse 21<\/a>: Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah h<\/em>as done great things.<\/em><\/p>\n

In verse 20<\/a>, the stench arises thickly because they had \u201cdone great things\u201d in a negative way. In verse 21<\/a>, the Land does not need to be afraid, rather it can both be glad and re<\/em>joice<\/em> because now Jehovah has done great things<\/em> in a positive way.<\/p>\n

The animal kingdom will rejoice in verse 22<\/a>: Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for<\/em> the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.<\/em><\/p>\n

The beasts<\/em> who had earlier suffered because of the devastation of the land will also be rejoicing because the pastures<\/em> andwilderness<\/em> will spring<\/em> up again, and there will once again be sufficient food and water.<\/p>\n

Not only will the Land and the animals rejoice, Israel also will rejoice in verses 23\u201326<\/a>. They give thanks for five reasons. The first reason is given in verse 23a<\/a>: Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure.<\/em><\/p>\n

Too many translations render the Hebrew word here former rain in just measure<\/em> because that seems to make more sense in the context. But this is not a valid translation because the Hebrew literally reads, \u201cthe teacher of righteousness.\u201d This Teacher of Righteousness is the Jewish Messiah Himself. So they are rejoicing because the Teacher of Righteousness, the Messiah, is in their midst.<\/p>\n

The second reason for the rejoicing of the people is in verse 23b<\/a>: and he causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.<\/em><\/p>\n

The rains will now come in their proper seasons. Joel mentions three categories of rain: the main body of rain, the early rain that precedes it, and the latter rain<\/em> that follows it. If the rains come in their proper seasons, the land will produce more. Since the rains will come in their proper seasons after Israel is saved as a nation, there will be rejoicing because that will mean an abundance of crops.<\/p>\n

The third reason the people are rejoicing is given in verse 24<\/a>: And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.<\/em><\/p>\n

Indeed, when the rains come in their proper seasons, an abundance of grain, wine, and oil will occur. Instead of tearing barns down as they had done previously, now they will have more than they can fit into these barns.<\/p>\n

The fourth reason Israel will rejoice is given in verse 25<\/a>: And I will restore to you <\/em>the years that the locust has eaten, the canker worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent among you.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not only will there be this new abundance, but there will also be a restoration of all previous losses Israel suffered in all previous plagues, such as the locust plague of Joel\u2019s day. God will so massively produce in the Messianic Kingdom that all of the previous losses will be more than compensated.<\/p>\n

And the fifth reason for this rejoicing is given in verse 26<\/a>: And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that has <\/em>dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame.<\/em><\/p>\n

They will have plenty to eat and will be satisfied. The reproach they felt among the Gentiles, which they prayed might be removed in verse 17<\/a>, will indeed be removed and now they will rejoice for it.<\/p>\n

So the Land will rejoice, the animals will rejoice, and the people of Israel will rejoice over the restoration of the material blessings. The result of the restoration of material blessings in given in verse 27<\/a>: And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my peo<\/em>ple shall never be put to shame.<\/em><\/p>\n

The key result of it all is that they will certainly know that Jehovah is indeed the God of Israel. When they see all of these material blessings in the Kingdom and all previous losses restored, then they will clearly see that God is among them and never again will they be ashamed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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B. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit\u2014Joel 2:28\u201332<\/a><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s national salvation is frequently connected with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Joel describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in verses<\/span> 28\u201329<\/a>. The timing is given in verse 28a<\/a>: And it shall come to pass afterward.<\/em><\/p>\n

Joel specifies the timing of this outpouring with the word afterward<\/em>. After what? After what the preceding context has be<\/span>en dealing with, after the judgments of the Great Tribulation, after Israel\u2019s repentance. When Israel repents, there will be this outpouring upon the whole nation that will lead to the nation\u2019s salvation. It is an outpouring that occurs during the last <\/span>three days of the Great Tribulation (Hos. 5:15\u20136:3<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Joel describes the universality of this outpouring and its results in verses 28b\u201329<\/a>: that I wi<\/em><\/span>ll pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in th<\/em><\/span>ose days will I pour out my Spirit.<\/em><\/p>\n

The term all flesh<\/em> in this context is \u201call Jewish flesh.\u201d Joel does not mean that there will be an outpouring upon the whole world in general, but upon the<\/span> whole nation of Israel in particular. This is the same event that Paul spoke of in Romans 11<\/a>. Notice the pronoun your<\/em>; your daughters, your young men, your old men.<\/em> He is speaking of Israel, not of t<\/span>he Church. In this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there will be no distinction of age, sex, or social status. The whole nation will receive this outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will result in prophetic <\/span>dreams<\/em> and visions<\/em>. Thus Joel speaks of that future outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will result in the salvation of the whole nation during the last three days of the Great Tribulation.<\/p>\n

Joel p<\/span>oints out certain signs that will lead to this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in verses 30\u201331<\/a>: And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun sh<\/em><\/span>all be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah comes.<\/em><\/p>\n

He mentions two things: first, there will be convulsions of nature in verse 30<\/a>; and secondly, <\/span>the whole thing will be signaled by a blackout in verse 31<\/a>. Once again, no light from the sun, moon, or stars will penetrate to the earth. The blackout described here is the first of the five blackout<\/span>s. This one will occur some time before the Tribulation, because he gives the timing of the blackout as coming before the great and terrible day of Jehovah.<\/em> Some time before the Tribulation starts, th<\/span>e first of five blackouts will occur. These are all signs that the final salvation of Israel will soon come.<\/p>\n

The prerequisite for the outpouring of the Spirit upon Israel is stated in verse 32<\/a>: And it<\/em><\/span> shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah has said, and among the remnant thos<\/em><\/span>e whom Jehovah does call.<\/em><\/p>\n

Joel gives the one prerequisite to Israel\u2019s salvation: Israel must call upon the name of the Lord. The Remnant of Israel will do precisely that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>C. The Judgment of the Gentiles\u2014Joel 3:1\u201317<\/a><\/p>\n

The third subdivision deals with the judgment of the Gentiles following Israel\u2019s national salvation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>1. The Announcement of the Judgment\u2014Joel 3:1\u20138<\/a><\/p>\n

The timing for the announcement of that coming judgment of the Gentiles is given in verse 1<\/a>: For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall b<\/em><\/span>ring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.<\/em><\/p>\n

The judgment will be at the time of the restoration of Israel. It will be in conjunction with the time of Israel\u2019s regeneration and the outpouring of th<\/span>e Holy Spirit. Furthermore, it will be when God shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem<\/em>. Hence, it is at the time of Israel\u2019s final restoration, as well as their regeneration. This judgm<\/span>ent will take place after the Tribulation in preparation for the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The subjects and the location of the judgment are named in verse 2a<\/a>: I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into <\/em><\/span>the valley of Jehoshaphat.<\/em><\/p>\n

The subjects are all nations.<\/em> The Hebrew word for nations<\/em> simply means \u201cGentiles.\u201d All Gentiles who survive the Tribulation will be gathered together for this judgment. The <\/span>location of this judgment is the valley of Jehoshaphat<\/em>, also known as the Valley of Kidron. It is one of the two valleys that surround the Old City of Jerusalem. It is in this valley, separating the O<\/span>ld City from the Mount of Olives, that the judgment will occur.<\/p>\n

The basis of this judgment is given in verses 2b\u20133<\/a>: and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel<\/em><\/span>, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.<\/em><\/p>\n

The basi<\/span>s of this judgment will be pro-Semitism or anti-Semitism, or how these Gentiles treated the Jews during the Great Tribulation. Many of these Gentiles will be guilty of three anti-Semitic acts during the Great<\/span> Tribulation: first, for scattering Israel; secondly, for dividing the Land among themselves, a Land that belongs to the Jews; and thirdly, for enslaving the Jews.<\/p>\n

Joel gives some examples of <\/span>the sins of which they are guilty in verses 4\u20136<\/a>: Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and s<\/em><\/span>peedily will I return your recompense upon your own head. Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly precious things, and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye may remove them far from their border.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Joel mentions three examples of the sins committed against the Jews. First, in verse 4<\/a><\/span>, is the sin of vengeance against the Jews. Joel speaks of the recompense of Tyre and Sidon and Philistia<\/em>. The Philistine country today is the Gaza Strip, comprised mostly of Palestinian Arabs, and Ph<\/span>oenicia today is Lebanon. Those living in the area of the Philistine country and the Phoenician country will be particularly guilty. Apparently, these two areas will be especially vengeful against the Jews. Their vengeance against the Jews is now to be repaid by vengeance from God. Secondly, in<\/span> verse 5<\/a>, they will be guilty of spoiling the Temple. And thirdly, in verse 6<\/a>, they will be guilty of sel<\/span>ling Jews as slaves to the Greeks.<\/p>\n

Having given examples of their sins, Joel gives the example of the punishment that is to come in verses 7\u20138<\/a>: behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye <\/em><\/span>have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head; and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah has spoken it.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Joel makes two points. First, the Jews who have been sold far off<\/em> will be brought back to the Land. Secondly, the sellers themselves will be sold far off<\/em><\/span>.<\/em> How far off<\/em> is given elsewhere in Scripture, but the anti-Semites will be slain in this judgment and sent to Hell. In that sense they are indeed sent far off.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>2. The Occasion of the Judgment\u2014Joel 3:9\u201313<\/a><\/p>\n

In verses 1\u20138<\/a>, Joel announces the judgment of the Gentiles and in verses 9\u201313<\/a> he summarizes the beginning and the end of the Armageddon Campaign. The gather<\/span>ing of the nations for war is described in verses 9\u201311<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There is a proclamation issued among the nations to prepare for War in verse 9<\/a>: Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mig<\/em><\/span>hty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the same proclamation found in Revelation 16:12\u201316<\/a>, where the Antichrist will be responsible for gathering these armies together in<\/span> the Valley of Jezreel and calling for war against the Jews. The Hebrew words for Proclaim<\/em> and prepare war<\/em> mean \u201cto sanctify a war.\u201d In other words, the Antichrist declares a holy war against the Jews<\/span>. In this holy war, he will bring all the armies together in the Campaign of Armageddon for one final onslaught against the Jews. Furthermore, the mighty men<\/em> are to be stirred up.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the armies t<\/span>hat join the Antichrist will not do this merely out of a sense of necessity, but will do it with enthusiasm in verse 10<\/a>: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the w<\/em><\/span>eak say, I am strong.<\/em><\/p>\n

They will turn all farming equipment into weapons of war. Their enthusiasm will be seen in two ways: first, it is seen in the way they will form weapons of war from peaceful mate<\/span>rials; secondly, in the way the weak and cowardly will deceive themselves into believing they are strong and very courageous.<\/p>\n

Their speed in coming together is described in verse 11<\/a>: Haste ye, and com<\/em><\/span>e, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah.<\/em><\/p>\n

Just like the Nazis, they cannot wait to begin killing Jews. Nevertheless, while <\/span>the nations are gathering, God causes His own mighty ones to come down.<\/em> This refers to the angels, to carry out His own purposes, not those of Satan or the Antichrist. Hence, this is going to be both <\/span>a human and an angelic conflict, ending in Gentile defeat and Gentile judgment.<\/p>\n

The gathering of the nations for judgment is given in verses 12\u201313<\/a>: Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to th<\/em><\/span>e valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Verse 12<\/a> describes the gathering itself and marks the beginning and the end of the Campaign of Armageddon. When the nations gather for the purpose of annihilating the Jews, the<\/span> Antichrist will gather them in the Valley of Jezreel, the Valley of Megiddo. But just as the Antichrist will gather all the nations for war against the Jews, the end result will be that God will gather all the nations in another valley for judg<\/span>ment: the Valley of Jehoshaphat, between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.<\/p>\n

In verse 13<\/a>, the nations are pictured as undergoing \u201creaping\u201d and \u201ctreading.\u201d T<\/span>hroughout the Scriptures, reaping is a symbol for salvation. Thus the reaping results in salvation because many Gentiles are pro-Semites; these are the \u201csheep\u201d Gentiles and they are reaped unto salvation. The pro-Semites are not saved because they were good to the Jew<\/span>s, but they were good to the Jews because they were already saved. Their pro-Semitic acts show their faith. This is also found in Re<\/span>velation 14:14\u201316<\/a>. The treading results in the destruction of the anti-Semites. This treading is also described in Revelation 14:17\u201320<\/a>, which speaks of this treading as taking place just outside the t<\/span>he walls of Jerusalem. The anti-Semite Gentiles will be trodden down into destruction in Hell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3. The Execution of the Judgment\u2014Joel 3:14\u201317<\/a><\/p>\n

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.<\/p>\n

In verse 14<\/a>, this judgment of the Gentiles will be the outworking of the Day of Jehovah, during which time they tried to destroy the Jews. Now, this judgment is an outworking of that period. In verse 15<\/a>, another blackout is described. This is the one that happens after the Tribulation and is the fifth blackout of the last days. It is also mentioned in Matthew 24:29<\/a>. Of the five blackouts of the last days, Joel mentions three: the one before the Tribulation, the one in the second quarter during the first half of the Tribulation, and one after the Tribulation. According to verse 16<\/a>, this is a war of judgment against the Gentiles, for God is a refuge for Israel. Following the judgment of the Gentiles, the Kingdom is established in verse 17<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This judgment of the Gentiles described by Joel 3:1\u201317<\/a> is the very same judgment as that described in Matthew 25:31\u201346<\/a>, the judgment of the sheep and the goats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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D. The Messianic Kingdom\u2014Joel 3:18\u201321<\/a><\/p>\n

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow w<\/span>ith waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have <\/span>shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. And I will cleanse their blood, that I hav<\/span>e not cleansed: for Jehovah dwells in Zion.<\/p>\n

Joel describes the Messianic Kingdom by stating five things. First, in verse 18a<\/a>, the Land will be well watered. Secondly, in verse 18b<\/a>, there will be a spe<\/span>cial Millennial River, which is also mentioned in Zechariah 14:8<\/a> and Ezekiel 47:1\u201312<\/a>. Thirdly, in verse 19<\/a>, there will be a desolation of Egypt and Edom, which is southern Jordan. According to Ezekiel<\/span> 29:8\u201314<\/a>, the desolation of Egypt is limited to only forty years, the first forty years of the Messianic Kingdom, but Edom will be desolate throughout the 1,000 years of the Millennial Kingdom. Both o<\/span>f these nations, Egypt and Edom, will be desolate is because of their previous violence against the Jews. Fourthly, in verse 20<\/a>, Israel will live in security. And fifth, in verse 21<\/a>, Israel will exper<\/span>ience a national salvation.<\/p>\n

In this manner, Joel concludes his book.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The word of Jehovah that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children … <\/p>\n

\u201eThe Book of Joel\u201c <\/span>weiterlesen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allgemein"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1285"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1286,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1285\/revisions\/1286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}