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Last Days Prophecy
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Prophecies about Israel
From the Book of Joel
The prophecy of Joel may not seem important to you, for it has only three brief chapters. But, this little Book is like an atomic bomb . . . not very big, but very potent and extremely powerful.
Joel’s theme is the day of the LORD. He makes specific reference to it five times: Joel 1:15; 2:1–2; 2:10–11; 2:30–31; and 3:14–16. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel all refer to the Day of the LORD. Sometimes the prophets call it that day. Zechariah particularly emphasizes that day. Just what is that day? It is the Day of the LORD, or the Day of Jehovah. Joel is the one who introduces the Day of the LORD in prophecy. Way back in Joel’s time, he saw further than any other prophet saw . . . he saw the Day of the LORD.
The Day of the LORD includes the Millennial Kingdom which will come at the Second Coming of Christ, but Joel makes it very clear that it begins with the Great Tribulation Period, the time of great trouble. If you want to set a boundary at the end of the Day of the LORD, it would be the end of the Millennium when the LORD Jesus puts down all unrighteousness and establishes His eternal Kingdom here on the Earth. http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_millennial_kingdom.htm .http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation_what.htm http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation,_why.htm
The Day of the LORD does not include the period when the church is in the world. The prophets neither spoke about nor wrote about the church.
The potent prophecy of Joel contains just three brief chapters, but it holds an extremely important position in Scripture. Joel was the first writing prophet, and it is Joel who introduces and defines the day of the LORD.
The topics of this book are:
- (1.) A prophecy of a great national hardship that would approach the land of Israel: great lack of water and a horrible plague of locusts.
- (2.) The prophet calls on His people to repent and to turn to God, assuring them God would forgive them.
- (3.) He foretells the restoration of the land to its previous fruitfulness.
- (4.) Then Joel gives a Messianic prophecy, quoted by Peter (Acts 2:39).
- (5.) Finally, the prophet foretells signs and judgments that would befall the enemies of God.
Almighty God wants all people to know that He is Holy, just, righteous and cannot lie, so He cannot hold back punishment for sin forever. When the time is right, His Holy wrath shall break forth in the time known as the Tribulation Period spoken of in the Book of Revelation.
At that time, Israel and all the nations (Gentiles), will experience God’s punishment for sin. The last 3 ½ years will be terrible, nothing this world has ever known will compare to the Great Tribulation. Matthew 24:21-22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (KJV)
Joel 1:4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. (KJV)
The locusts come in different stages . . . . they come in waves. After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and then the stripping locusts, too!
The locusts represent devastation, and Joel was saying that God would punish the people because of their sin. I think four stages of locusts, rather than four different insects, are meant. The first stage is that of the locust, just emerging from the egg, without wings. The second is when, still in their first skin, the locusts put forth little ones without legs or wings. The third, when after their third casting off of the old skin, they get small wings, which enable them to leap but not to fly, they devour all before them, grass, shrubs, and bark of trees. The fourth kind is the matured winged locusts. Some think the first stage refers to Assyria and Babylon; the second stage, to Medo-Persia; the third, to Greco-Macedonia and Antiochus Epiphanes; the fourth, the Romans. Though the main reference is to literal locusts, God doubtless had in view the successive empires which attacked Judea, each worse than its predecessor, Rome being the climax.
All the horrible disasters that Israel has seen in her past will not even come close to what this seven year period will be like. Joel is saying, “This locust plague is horrible; there has never been anything like it, but there is coming another devastating period called the Day of the LORD, which shall be worse.” The Day of the LORD will be a dreadful time, horrible beyond description, after which Christ will come and establish His Kingdom. If people who deny that the Bible teaches these things would study the total Word of God and not just lift out a few verses here and there, they would see what it states. The plague of locusts in the land of Egypt at the time of Moses was a miraculous plague . . . it was a judgment of God. But, this plague was what we would call a natural event . . . allowed by God. http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation_what.htm . . . http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation,_why.htm . . . http://www.hisservants.org/israel_h_s.htm
Joel Chapters 1 and 2 clearly tell us that God hates sin. His judgment shall be brutal, severe and complete, and His judgment shall be in-depth, NO one shall escape. In today’s world, people just do not seem to realize that God means what He says! So many think Almighty God is a nice old gentleman up there, and He simply would not do the terrible things that the Bible says He is going to do. They are WRONG! Dear one, God CANNOT lie. So whatever He states in His Holy Word, be it blessings and Heaven for those who are righteous and obey Him . . . OR . . . condemnation and Hell (Jn.3:18-19, 36) for those who refuse to believe Him (1 Jn.5:10-13), disobey Him and do things their way.
God demands that everyone to mourn for their sin (Mat.5:4), be sorry and repent, turn around and go the other way! That is the only way to receive God’s forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven. See: Joel 1:5-20; 2:12-17.
The Day of the LORD will include the Coming of Christ Jesus to Earth to establish His Kingdom. Only then shall His people enter into the sunshine of His Presence. Joel is the key to understanding the Day of the LORD. It must fit into the program He describes. http://www.hisservants.org/israel_h_s.htm http://www.hisservants.org/tribulation_what_h_s.htm http://www.hisservants.org/tribulation_why_h_s.htm http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_1000_years.htm
To summarize, there is:
The Day of the LORD is not the same as the LORD’S Day that is mentioned in Rev.1:10. The LORD’S Day is the first day of the week, which the New Testament makes very clear. Many people think the Day of the LORD and the LORD’S Day are the same because the same words are used. That is stupidity, as absurd as saying there is no difference between a chestnut horse and a horse chestnut. If you take two words and turn them around, you get something altogether different. In the one you have a nut, and in the other you have a horse! The Day of the LORD and the LORD’S Day are two entirely different things. Dear one, the coming Tribulation is a FACT! There has never been anything like it, nor ever will be again (Joel 2:2). Our God is merciful and He clearly tells us how to avoid His wrath! (Joel 2:12-17).
God promised to restore Israel, and He will do exactly that in the end times (Joel 2:18-27; 3:1, 16-20). All the nations (Gentiles) shall be judged on how they treat Israel (Joel 3:2-8, 19, 21). How do YOU feel about Israel? I hope it is with concern, love and prayer!
Day of the LORD Foretold,
Promise of Deliverance Joel 2:18-27
Joel 2:18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. (KJV)
Then the LORD will pity His people and be righteously angered for the honor of His land!
Where is their God? verse 17 asks. Do you think Moses made a mistake when he followed the orders of God? Of course not! God makes NO mistakes. Israel’s enemies asked in Joel’s time Where is their God? and people are asking that same question today. IF Israel is God's chosen people, WHY doesn’t He intervene for them today? The answer is easy. Because they are NOT with God, because they refuse to repent. Until Israel comes back in repentance to God, He will NOT deal with them as His chosen people. Today God is calling out people to the church (Luke 21:24; Rom.11:25). As I see it, when the ‘quota’ is filled, then God will again deal with Israel (His people). Then the LORD will pity His people and be angry for the honor of His land! http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_israel_god%27s_chosen_people.htm
Joel 2:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: (KJV)
God will reply, I am sending you grain and wine and olive oil, plenty to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be mocked among the surrounding nations.
God shall one day send them grain, wine and olive oil, enough to abundantly satisfy their needs. Israel shall no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations. Not all Jews are back in their land yet. Joel still looks forward to the future when one day they shall be. It is definitely the period known as the Day of the LORD, which begins with darkness and moves on into the dawn of the Millennium, past all of man’s rebellion and on to the beginning of the eternal Kingdom. Is this today? NO. This is not being fulfilled today. http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_1000_years.htm
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (KJV)
Rejoice, people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! What God sends is His way of expressing His grace. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring.
Who are the children of Zion? It is the people of the southern kingdom, where Zion is located. When he speaks of the rain, he is talking about literal rain. In verse 28 Joel will be speaking of the Holy Spirit, but here it is referring to literal rain. The former rain came in October, and the latter rain came in April (Lev. 26:3–4; Deut. 11:14–17; 1 Kings 8:35–36; Jer. 3:3; Hos. 6:3).
Joel 2:24-25 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. [25]And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (KJV)
Joel tells the people that the threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil. He tells them that the LORD will give them back what they lost to the divesting locusts. Joel tells them that it was God who sent the great destroying army against them.
God will restore everything that has been lost by the consuming locusts.
Joel 2:26-27 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. [27] And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. (KJV)
Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, for you know it is He who does these miracles. Never again will God’s people be shamed like this. Then you will know that I am here in Israel and that I alone am the LORD your God. My people will never again be shamed like this.
This will take place when He is in the midst of Israel; meaning when Christ has come to the Earth and has established His Kingdom. At that time there will be a fulfillment of all the physical blessings which God has promised to the nation Israel. The blessings in the Old Testament were largely physical blessings. God promised to bless the land so that they would have bumper crops and their cattle would thrive and multiply. Actually the spiritual blessings seemed almost secondary. In contrast to Israel, the blessings that God has promised to the church are spiritual blessings only. We have all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Thank You, Jesus!
Joel 3:16-17 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. [17] So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (KJV)
God's Voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem. The Earth and heavens will shake. But to His people Israel, the LORD will be a welcoming refuge and a strong fortress. Then Israel will know that the LORD God, shall live in Zion, in His Holy Mountain. Jerusalem will be holy forever more, and God's enemies will never conquer her again.
The victories of the Jews over their cruel foe Antiochus may be a reference to this prophecy; but the final reference is to the last Antichrist, of whom Antiochus was a type. Jerusalem is the central seat of the theocracy (Psalm 132:13), it shall be from there that God thwarts the foe. Roar, as a lion (Jer.25:30; Amos 1:2; 3:8). See other places where God’s Voice is as thunder (Psalm 18:13; Hab.3:10-11; Rev.10:1-6). The LORD is the hope of His people, He is their refuge (Psalm 46:1). So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God, (Isa.60:16; Hosea 2:20).
Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more, God shall dwell in Zion, and no strangers pass through to attack, or to defile, the Holy City any more (Isa.35:8; 52:1). Gentiles (nations) shall come to Jerusalem, but it shall be in order to reverence and worship Almighty God there (Zech. 14:16).
The enemy one day will make a frightful descent upon the land of Israel. But they shall be under Divine protection, and any and all attempts to annihilate the Jews shalt be in vain (Zech.14:2; Joel 3:2; Rev.19:11-21).
Consider what shall happen to all the enemies of God’s people. There is NO escaping God’s judgments. Hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of Israel over all that oppose her. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be great joy.
We who love the LORD Jesus, must love Israel too (Gen.12:3). Jesus is a Jew! We must glory in our Strength and our Redeemer! If you do not know Christ as your Saviour and LORD, open your heart’s door to Him now, and flee from the wrath that is sure to come.
Day of the LORD Foretold, God’s People Blessed,
Joel now speaks of the future Millennial Kingdom,
Joel 3:18-21
Joel 3:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. (KJV)
In that day the mountains will produce an abundance of grapes, and the hills will flow with milk because of lush pastures. Water will fill the dry streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the LORD's Temple, watering the valley of Shittim.
In that day, meaning the Day of the LORD . . . the mountains shall drop down new wine, this is symbolic for abundance of grape vines in that day (Amos 9:13). The hills shall flow with milk, meaning Israel shall abound in flocks and herds yielding much milk, through the richness of the pastures. All the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, water is the great requirement for fertility in the parched East (Isa.30:25). A fountain shall come forth of the House of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. The blessings from the LORD, temporal (physical) and spiritual, flowing from God’s House at Jerusalem, shall extend even to Shittim, on the border between Moab and Israel, beyond Jordan (Num.25:1; 33:49; Joshua 2:1; Mic.6:5). Shittim means acacias, which is a tree or shrub in the mimosa family that grows only in dry regions: so Joel implies that even the dry desert shall be supplied by the blessings from Jerusalem. Eze. 47:1-12 describes the waters issuing from the threshold of God’s House as flowing into the Dead Sea, and purifying it. Zech.14:8 states the waters flow on one side into the Mediterranean, on the other side into the Dead Sea, near which Shittim was situated (Psalm 46:4; Rev.22:1).
Water will fill the dry streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the LORD'S Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias. This shall be in the time of the Millennial Kingdom. Israel is short of water today, but they will not be short in that day. Joel gives us a picture of the restored land, one of perfect beauty, much like the Garden of Eden was before sin set in. The life-giving fountain flowing from the LORD’s House symbolizes the blessings that come from God. Those who are faithful to Him will be fruitful forever (Eze 47:1-12; Rev.22:1-2). http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_1000_years.htm
Joel 3:19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. (KJV)
Egypt will become a wasteland and Edom a wilderness, because of the way they treated Israel, murdering people.
Egypt will become a wasteland and Edom a wilderness, because they attacked Judah and killed her innocent people. God will judge Egypt and Edom even into the Millennial Kingdom. They have always been enemies of the nation Israel. Egypt and Edom were two of Israel’s most persistent enemies. They really represent ALL the nations hostile to Israel. God’s Promise that they would be destroyed is also a Promise from Him that ALL evil in the world will one day be destroyed.
Edom was conquered by David, but revolted under Jehoram (2 Chron. 21:8-10); and at every opportunity they tried to ruin Judah. The sad condition of the two countries for centuries proves the truth of the prediction (Isaiah 19:1; Jer.49:17; Obadiah 10). But ALL the enemies of Israel are typified by Egypt and Edom (Isaiah 63:1).
Joel 3:20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. (KJV)
But Judah will live on forever, and Jerusalem will endure through all future generations.
Joel clearly states that Judah and Jerusalem, which symbolizes all Israel, will remain forever. Jer.31:35-37 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: [36] If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. [37] Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. (KJV) I think these are amazing words from the God of the Bible, our Creator! God has complete power to do away with the laws of nature or to do away with His people, IF He so desired! But He will do neither one. This is not a prophecy; this is a Promise from God! God is simply saying that He will NOT reject Israel any more than He will do away with the laws that control the universe. Can anyone stop the sun, moon and stars from giving their light? Can anyone stop the waves of the sea? Can anyone measure the heavens or explore the foundation of the Earth? NO! Absolutely NOT! Then NO one shall ever be able to ruin or annihilate Israel! I think those who hate the Jews should seriously consider this.
God does not dwell in Jerusalem today. Jerusalem is as pagan as any city on the Earth, but there is a day coming when the LORD shall dwell there! It is then, and only then, that all these things Joel prophesied shall be fulfilled. Christ Himself must be there to have these things fulfilled, and He is not there today. At this time He is at God’s right hand (Col.3:1; Heb.1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2). Let us always be aware of Jesus and experience the reality of His Presence in our lives. There is full assurance of victory and complete peace for all those who trust in God.
Joel 3:21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion. (KJV)
I will pardon my people's sins, which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the LORD, will make My Home in Jerusalem with My people.
God shall one day pardon Israel’s sins, which He has not yet pardoned; and He shall make His Home in Jerusalem with His people. There shall be abundant Divine influences, and the Gospel shall spread quickly into the furthest corners of the Earth, in all the world (Mat.24:14). There is a day coming, when every wrong thing shall be made right. The fountain of this abundant righteousness is in the House of God, from where the streams rise as from an artesian well. Christ is this Fountain! His sufferings, His merit, and His grace, He alone is the only thing in this universe that can cleanse, refresh, and make us fruitful. Gospel grace, flowing from Christ, shall reach out Jews and to the Gentile (non-Jew) world, even to the most remote regions on this Earth, and they shall abound in fruits of righteousness. And from the House of the LORD above, from His heavenly Temple, shall flow all the good things we will need to survive (Phil.4:15) on a daily basis, and better yet, we have a wondrous hope to enjoy life eternally.
God is good! He was good yesterday, He is good today and He shall be good forever! Praise His Holy Name, now and forever more. Thank Him for all He’s done for you, and shall do for you in the future. God is good to His children! Are you in the family of God? If not, why not?
For more prophecy on the future Millennium, see: Psalm 22:27-31; 46:10; 66:4; Psalm 68:31-32; 69:35-36; 72:1-20; 85:10-12; 86:9; 132:15-18; 138:4-5; 145:10-11; Isa.2:2-5; Isa.4:2-3; 11:1-10; 65:17-25; Zeph. 3:11-13; Zech. 9:10; 14:16-21; Mat. 26:29; Mark 14:25; Heb. 8:11; Rev. 14:6; 20:1-15. Are you ready for the Day of the LORD? (Mat.25:13)
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