The Day of the Lord

Lesson 3 –The Day of The Lord

We talked last time about the terrible plagues of locust and Joel tried to awaken the people to see the need of repentance and turning back toward God. I think this could also be said of the church. In the second chapter Joel is going to get a little closer to where we live and call again not only for Israel to repent and turn back to God, but for the church as well. This is not a wake up call, but a challenge, a drawing the line in the sand if you will.

He begins with the call to sound or blow the trumpet (Blow – to forcibly slap or clap, or strike –such as a musical instrument- or a strong expulsion of the breath. To Sound the alarm) This would have been done on a shofar or a trumpet made with a rams horn. (This goes way back to Abraham & Isaac)

Blowing the trumpet was used to call people to worship, to wake, and to war. It was also used to get attention before making announcements and such.

How hearing the shofar must touch God’s heart.

The Day of the Lord – Phrase used probably came from a concept from ancient Eastern countries, that a powerful king or warrior could complete an entire military campaign in one day. Now we are seeing that concept turned and used about the Mighty God of the universe, The Conquering King. We see a glimpse of his swift, powerful, and effective movements, and conquests completing in a short time mighty things. This phrase refers to past, present and future events, hence the name eschatology.

This Day of the Lord that is coming is two-fold in nature. I like to look at it like this; The Great Day of the Lord, and the Terrible Day of the Lord. Depending on whose side you are on now will determine whether it will be a happy or sad ending.

Joel is warning the Israel of impending doom without repentance, and he is telling us the church today to awake, arise, for the day of the lord is at hand, nigh even at the door.

1. The Great Day of the Lord

1. The Out-pouring of God’s Spirit

2. When God sets up His Kingdom of Righteousness through the reign of Christ

2. The Terrible Day of the Lord

1. The Out-pouring of God’s wrath

2. When God sets up the great white throne judgment.

Joel 2:2-10 This day of the Lord comes with a dreadful sounding description. Verse 2 – A day of darkness and gloominess, of clouds and thick darkness. (Rev. 6:12-17) (See Study Notes of Joel) So it must not be the day of the out-pouring of God’s Spirit but of his or some of his wrath. Let’s unpack this verse a little bit.

1. A day – this can mean one literal day or more probable a series of days of the wrath of God. Revelation the time of Jacob’s trouble is over a period of time, and this is probably too.

2. A day of darkness and devastation.

3. A day an army comes

a. This army is likened to the locust from chapter 1 leaving behind a wake of destruction.

b. A Strong army never been one like them, nor will there ever be again. This can either mean an army from back then (such as the Assyrians, or it could mean yet to pass.) If you read on it sounds like something that is going to happen; however a few I have spoken to thought that this was a prophecy for Joel’s day. I tend to believe that it could be a double prophecy, one that went to Judahand one that extends even past our day. Sometimes a prophecy will begin in their day and then transition to future times.

i. Several Theories ( I’ll share them with you and let you make your own conclusions, and would like some discussion on this as well.

1. Schofield refers to this as prefatory to Armageddon –

The whole picture is of the end-time of this present age, of the “times of the Gentiles” (Lk. 21:24; Rev. 16:14); of the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:14; 19:11-21); of the regathering of Israel (Rom 11:26, note), and of kingdom blessing. It is remarkable that Joel, coming at the very beginning of written prophecy (B.C. 836), gives the fullest view of the consummation of all written prophecy. The order of events is: (1) The invasion of Palestine from the north by Gentile world-powers headed up under the Beast and false prophet (Joel 2:1-10; “Armageddon,” Rev. 16:14); (2) the Lord’s army and destruction of the invaders (Joel 2:11; Rev. 19:11-21); (3) the repentance of Judah in the land (Joel 2:12-17; Deut. 30:1-9, note); (4) the answer of Jehovah (Joel 2:18-27); (5) the effusion of the Spirit in the (Jewish) “last days” (Joel 2:28, 29); (6) the return of the Lord in glory and the setting up of the kingdom (Joel 2:30-32; Acts 15:15-17) by the regathering of the nation and the judgment of the nations (Joel 3:1-16); (7) full and permanent kingdom blessing (Joel 3:17-21; Zech. 14:1-21; Mt. 25:32, note).

2. Some have thought Gog & Magog which would be Russia

a. According To Chuck Smith the Russians have an arsenal of somewhere around eighty thousand army tanks. (This number is disputable; however Russiaisn’t too fond of giving away information like that.)

b. It is also reported that not only do they have a vast supply of army tanks (which it sounds like they will use according to Joel’s prophecy) But a vast supply of modern nuclear weapons, and missiles capable of changing direction in mid-flight. Supposedly they are powerful enough to slip through our anti-missile defense system. http://www.thepropheticyears.com/reasons/Russia.htm

c. Putin is running for presidency again, probably going to win

ii. Some have said this is only referring to Joel’s time and was possibly A gentile invading army such as the Syrians.