Joel's Third Day of the Lord--Jesus is Coming
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Introduction
Introduction
If you have been with us over the past two weeks, you know that we are in the final section of Joel.
Over the last two weeks, we have seen a “day of the Lord” that has already come. We saw that in chapter 1 of Joel.
Last week we saw a “day of the Lord” that was coming in the near future.
In our section for this week, we see that there is the “coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31).
Keep in mind that the major theme of Joel is not the great and dreadful day of the Lord, but rather that people would have a chance to repent and return to Jesus before the day of the Lord.
Most scholars believe our passage today is eschatological in nature. Now don’t let that big theological word scare you—eschatology, or eschatological simple means the understanding of end time events!
If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Joel chapter 2 and we’ll begin reading with verse 28.
THE FAR FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD
THE FAR FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
This passage begins with the phrase “And afterward. . .” This refers to a later date in time. Specifically, it refers back to the events that Joel just discussed in the previous passage.
However, we know that this is an eschatological passage—a passage about the end times—because it is quoted as such in the book of Acts (Acts 2:17-21).
Events that happen in the final Day of the Lord—Israel’s Spiritual Renewal
Events that happen in the final Day of the Lord—Israel’s Spiritual Renewal
God will pour out His Spirit on all people (specifically all Jewish believers). Throughout the Old Testament God would pour out His Spirit on specific people or person at a specific time for a specific purpose (v. 28a).
Now God promises that at this later time He will pour out is His Spirit on all of His people (believers). This will happen without regard to any of the normal distinctions that were prevalent in Joel’s day (and in ours).
The reader’s sons and daughters will prophesy (v. 28b).
Throughout the Old Testament, prophesy had two meanings.
It meant speaking for Yahweh.
At times it also meant praising Yahweh (cf. 1 Chron. 25:1-3).
Old men will dream dreams (prophetic visions) (v. 28c).
The young men will see visions (v. 28d).
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Even men and women servants will have God’s Spirit poured out on them (v. 29).
Servants--slaves, were considered insignificant. So for God to consider them valuable and important enough to pour out His Spirit on them was a radical thought.
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
God promises to reveal wonders in the skies of the heavens (v. 30a).
God will also show His wonders throughout the earth (v. 30b).
The blood, fire, and columns of smoke suggest warfare with God at work behind the scenes (cf. Rev. 6:12-17) (v. 30c).
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
The sun will turn dark (be obscured) (v. 31a).
The moon will turn blood red (v. 31b).
The turning of the mood red could refer to the bloodshed of war.
All this happens before (at the onset) of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord (v. 31c).
Great--Heb. big, out of the ordinary, or strange.
Dreadful--Heb. fearful, trembling, over alarm, or fear of God.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
Universal promise: Everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved! (cf. Rom. 10:13)(v. 32a).
NOTE: Peter’s quote of this Joel passage in Acts 2 stops here.
Mount Zion (the hill upon which Jerusalem is built) will experience deliverance (v. 32b).
Jerusalem (the city) itself will experience deliverance (v. 32c).
And the Lord has declared this! (v. 32d).
Jerusalem becomes a place of refuge for the survivors of Yahweh (v. 32e).
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL’S ENEMY NATIONS
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL’S ENEMY NATIONS
The announcement of judgment
The announcement of judgment
“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
In those days and at that time--this phrase ties us back to the previous verses--literally, “when the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem are restored” (v. 1a).
God says He will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem (v. 1b).
I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.
The logical question would be, “When will God do these things? (v. 2a).
— God says He will gather the nations together.
— It will happen in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The name literally means “Yahweh will judge” which fits with the judgement theme of the book of Joel.
PROBLEM: The problem for scholars is that they have been unable to locate a valley with such a name.
God says that He will put the nations on trial for what they did to Israel (his inheritance) (v. 2b).
— They scattered Israel among the nations (v. 2c). This seems to refer to Babylonia exile
cf. Jeremiah 50:17 “Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
— They divided up Israel’s land (v. 2d).
They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.
— They cast lots for the people (v. 3a).
— Traded boys for prostitutes (v. 3b).
— Sold girls just to get wine to drink (v. 3c).
“Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.
God now addresses two specific groups: The Phoenicians (Tyre and Sidon) (v. 4a). These were two groups that economically prospered from Judah’s downfall (cf. Eze. 25:15).
God asks two strong rhetorical questions:
— First, God wants to know why there were incited against Him (and his people, Israel) (v. 4b).
— Second, rhetorical question, God wants to know if they are paying God back for something he had done (v. 4c).
God says if they are repaying Him for some misdeed, He would swiftly and speedily return what they have done on their own heads (v. 4d).
For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.
Here’s what God has against them:
— They took God’s silver and goal and carried it off (v. 5a).
— They took God’s finest treasures and put them in their own temples (v. 5b).
You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
— They sold God’s people (the people of Judah and Jerusalem) to the Greeks (cf. Ezek. 27:13) sending them far from their homeland (v. 6a).
“See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done.
God says He is going to bring Israel back from the places where their enemies sold them (v. 7a).
And God will pay these people back for everything that they have done to His people (v. 7b).
I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.
God will sell the sons and daughters of the Phoenicians to the people of Judah (v. 8a).
And God will sell them to the people of Sabeans (Arabia or in Ezek. 27:22-23 it is “Sheba”) which was a nation far off (v. 8b).
It will happen because the Lord has spoken (v. 8c)
This is not the only place where this kind of prophetic message is given (cf. Isaiah 41:11-2; Amos 9:12; Obad. 15-21; Micah 7:16-17; Zeph. 2:6-7).
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL’S ENEMIES
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL’S ENEMIES
Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
The description of judgment
The description of judgment
God calls the Nations (v. 9a)
Prepare for war (cf. Isa. 8:9)(v. 9b).
Arouse the warriors (cf. Jer. 46:4) (v. 9c).
He calls the fighting men to prepare to attack (v. 9d).
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”
In preparing for war they need to:
— Beat your plowshares into swards (v. 10a).
— Beat your pruning hooks into spears (v. 10b).
— Let the weak say, “I’m also a warrior” (v. 10c).
Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Lord!
There is a call for all the nations to “come quickly.” Scholars have trouble translating this phrase because this is the only place in the scriptures that it is used. The NET translates it, “Lend your aid and come” (v. 11a).
Joel calls on the Lord to bring down His warriors (v. 11b).
“Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
The armies are called to head (advance) to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (again there has not been a physical site located for this valley) (v. 12a)
When they get there, God says He will judge all of the nations (v. 12b).
Agriculture imagery:
Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!”
Swing the sickle because the harvest is ripe (cf. Isa. 17:5; Rev. 14:15) (v. 13a)
Trample the grapes, the winepress is full and the vats overflow (cf. Isa. 63:1-6; Rev. 14:18-20)(v. 13b).
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Crowds, great crowds are gathered in the valley of decision (v. 14a).
They are there because the day of the Lord is near (cf. Isa. 2:4; Ezek. 36:5) (v. 14b).
This kind of battle, divine warfare, could correspond to the battle of Armageddon at the end of the tribulation (cf. Rev 14:14-20; 16:16; 19:11-21). Some have suggested that this is the “great white throne” judgment, but that does not involve warfare (cf. Matt. 25:31-46).
A picture of God’s presence
A picture of God’s presence
The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
The sun and moon become dark (Eze. 32:7)(v. 15a).
The stars stop shining (Job. 9:7)(v. 15b).
The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
There is a roar from Zion (cf. Isa. 42:13)(v. 16a).
There is thunder from Jerusalem (Amos 1:2) (v. 16b).
The heavens and earth tremble (cf. Judg. 5:4, Isa. 14:16; Eze. 38:19) (v. 16c).
Know Yahweh is God
Know Yahweh is God
“Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.
When these things happen Israel will know that Yahweh their God lives in Zion (v. 17a).
They will know Jerusalem will be holy forever (v. 17b).
And NO foreign armies will ever conquer Jerusalem again (v. 17c).
ISRAEL’S ULTIMATE RESTORATION
ISRAEL’S ULTIMATE RESTORATION
“In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias.
In that day the mountains will drip with new wine (v. 18a).
The hills will flow with milk (v. 18b).
The land of Judah will have plenty of water (v. 18c).
All of it flows from the house of Yahweh (Rev. 22:1-2) (v. 18e).
The water will water the valley of acacias (or Shittim) (v. 18f).
But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
Egypt will be a desolate (v. 19a)
Edom will be a desert waste (v. 19b).
Because of violence they did to the people of Judah as they shed innocent blood in Judah (v. 19c).
Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.
Now Judah will be inhabited forever (cf. Amos 9:15)(v. 20a).
Jerusalem will also be inhabited for all generations (v. 20b).
Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.” The Lord dwells in Zion!
Yahweh promises the blood of Israel will not go unavenged (v. 21a).
Yahweh reassures the people that He will avenge His people (v. 21b).
And the book closes with the statement that the Lord, Yahweh, dwells (Heb. abides, enthroned, sits, lives) in Zion (Jerusalem) (v. 21c).
So What
So What
If we could only have one take-a-way from the book of Amos it would be that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is less about God’s judgment, although His judgment is real.
But what the goal or the reason for the great and dreadful Day of the Lord is repentance!
What God desires more than anything is obedience.
And and when we mess up—go our own way, or do our own thing—what God wants is repentance. He wants us to change our direction and come and follow after Him!
Despite what the world around us thinks, the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord is a real thing. It will happen!
I’m going to put up a chart. This chart—now don’t freak out—but this chart shows the first advent—when Jesus came the first time.
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection ushered in the “Church Age.” This age that we are living in right now will end when the “rapture” occurs Look at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
This brings about the seven year Tribulation. The firsts 3 1/2 years of peace, and the second 3 1/2 years is often referred to as the Great Tribulation.
Now look at the red circle on the chart. It highlights the Second coming of Jesus—this is at least part of what our passage in Joel is talking about.
Jesus returns as the conquering King. Satan and his demons will be bound, and Jesus will reign on this earth for a thousand years.
Satan will be loosed for a time—I have no ideal how long a “time” is—and he will reek havoc.
Satan will gather armies together to rebel against King Jesus, and will surround Jerusalem to wage war on Jesus!
Just when it looks humanly hopeless, God the Father intervenes (Rev. 20:9).
This climaxes with the “Great White Throne Judgment” which is seen also seen in Joel 3.
So why should we spend time in the book of Joel?
To remind us of our need for repentance. 1 John 1:9 says,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
2. To encourage us to share the good news—the gospel—so that others will repent.
3. To remind us that Jesus WINS!
