JOEL

INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY: BOOK OF JOEL

By Dennis Schmidt 3/2003

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This paper discusses the book of Joel.. Another prophet of the time was Obadiah.. The king of Judah was Joash (Jehoash) as mention in 2 Kings 11:21-12:21 & 2 Chronicles 24:1-27. Joash and the king that follows (his son) Amaziah "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord." Joash was under ten when the book was written (a possible reason for no comments about the king). Jehoiada (the high priest and his uncle) guided him until Jehoiada's death after which Joash started doing wrong. Much is written about the priests and sacrifice. Both of the kings did wrong later in their lives. All scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.

JOEL THEME:

- GOD WILL, ON AN ULTIMATE DAY OF THE LORD, JUDGE ALL ENEMIES OF GOD.

Joel 1:15 "Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."

- GOD WILL RESTORE, RENEW, BLESS HIS PEOPLE WHO REPENT OF THEIR SINS.

Joel 2:12-13 "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: {13} And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

CHAPTER THEMES & ELEMENTS

OUTLINE	TOPICS	CHAPTER(S) THEMES
I) Introduction	Author	{1:1} Prophet
II) Day of the Lord near-sight	A) Past day of locust	{1:2-12} Nation is come up upon my land like a lion
"	B) Past day of drought	{1:13-20} Day of the LORD is at hand from the Almighty
III) Day of the Lord far-sight	A) Near day	{2:1-27} Sound the alarm in my holy mountain for day of the LORD comes
"	B) Future day	{2:28-32} God pours out His Spirit
IV) Final judgment for enemies of God	Day of the Lord ultimate judgment	{3:1-16} God will gather all nations & plead for Israel which they scattered
V) Israel future blessing	God dwells in Zion	{3:17-21} Israel will know God dwells in Zion

AUTHOR: Prophet Joel DATE: 835 BC FROM: Judah TO: Southern Kingdom of Judah

PURPOSE:

- THE DAY OF THE LORD JUDGMENT FOR ENEMIES OF GOD.

Joel 1:15 "Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."

- NATIONAL REPENTANCE AND ITS BLESSINGS.

KEY VERSES:

Joel 2:28-29, 32 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will 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: {29}And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.{32} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

KEY WORD(S)/VERSES:

[ day ] (1:2, 15; 2:1, 2, 11, 29, 31; 3:1, 3:14, 18); [ great ] (1:6; 2:2, 11, 13, 29, 21, 25, 31; 3:13),

OUTLINE FOR JOEL

I) INTRODUCTION: {JOEL 1:1}

II) DAY OF THE LORD NEAR-SIGHT: {JOEL 1:2 – 1:20}

A) PAST DAY OF LOCUST: {JOEL 1:2 – 1:12}

B) PAST DAY OF DROUGHT: {JOEL 1:13 – 1:20}

III) DAY OF THE LORD FAR-SIGHT: {JOEL 2:1 – 2:32}

A) NEAR DAY OF THE LORD: {JOEL 2:1 – 2:27}

B) FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD: {JOEL 2:28 - 32}

IV) FINAL JUDGMENT FOR ENEMIES OF GOD: {JOEL 3:1 – 3:16}

V) ISRAEL FUTURE BLESSING: {JOEL 3:17- 3:21}

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCE TO JOEL:

Acts 2:16-21 "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; {17} And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: {18} And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: {19} And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: {20} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: {21} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

I) INTRODUCTION: {JOEL 1:1}

WHO: God WHOM: Joel

Joel 1:1 "The word of the /\ LORD /\ that came to Joel the son of Pethuel."

Word of the Lord: God's word is alive and active.

Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper <in the thing> whereto I sent it."

See my papers: "God’s Word/Bible/Scriptures" for more information on this subject.

Joel: Means Yahweh is God. No other Biblical reference to this Joel. Several other Joels are found in the scriptures.

Pethuel: Means ingeniousness of God. No other reference to him.

PROPHETS:

Prophet: A spokesman for another, as for God. Other names/titles in the Bible are as follows: Man of God; Servant of the Lord; Messenger of the Lord; and Seer (to see).

Exodus 7:1-2 "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. {2} Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land."

Jeremiah 1:7 "But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I <am> a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak."

Amos 3:7-8 "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. {8} The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"

1 Samuel 9:9 "(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for <he that is> now <called> a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)"

TRUE & FALSE PROPHETS TESTS:

- Spoke only in the name of the Lord (Yahweh).

- His life matches his position. He did not practice divination.

- Do not assume signs and wonders prove his position.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3 "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, {2} And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; {3} Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

2 Thessalonians 2:9 "<Even him>, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"

- His message was in harmony with previous revelation.

- History confirms his authenticity.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? {22} When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that <is> the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, <but> the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

- Moral quality and spiritual essence of the message.

- Inner witness to the Holy Spirit believer.

1 Corinthians 14:29 "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge."

II) DAY OF THE LORD IN NEAR-SIGHT: {JOEL 1:2 – 1:20}

A) PAST DAY OF LOCUST: {JOEL 1:2 – 1:12}

Joel 1:2 "Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your [ days ], or even in the [ days ] of your fathers?" Elders were recognized officials. See also 1:14.

See my papers: "Gospel in the Genealogy of Adam" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Church Officers & their Qualifications" for more information on this subject.

Joel 1:3 "Tell ye your children of it, and <let> your children <tell> their children, and their children another generation."

Tell ye your children of it your children <tell> their children, their children another generation:

Exodus 10:2 "And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD."

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 caterpillar eaten." In the NIV these are all listed as locust.

Locust:

Total destruction by locust and other insects. Used by God for divine judgment.

Deuteronomy 28:38-39 "Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather <but> little in; for the locust shall consume it. {39} Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress <them>, but shalt neither drink <of> the wine, nor gather <the grapes>; for the worms shall eat them."

Revelation 9:2-4 "And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. {3} And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. {4} And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."

WHY: Ye drunkards all ye drinkers of wine .. it is cut off from your mouth

Joel 1:5 "Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it is cut off from your mouth." Only sin mention suggests self-indulgent life-style.

See my papers: "Forgiveness of Sins" for more information on this subject.

WHAT: A nation is come up upon my land, strong .. teeth of a great lion

Joel 1:6 "For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth <are> the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a [ great ] lion." Later called Lord's army 2:11,25.

Without number: Phases used several times i.e. Ps 105:34.

Teeth are the teeth of a loin:

Daniel 7:4 "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it." Symbolic of nation of Babylon.

Revelation 9:7-8 "And the shapes of the locusts <were> like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads <were> as it were crowns like gold, and their faces <were> as the faces of men. {8} And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as <the teeth> of lions."

Revelation 13:2 "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

See my papers: "Inductive Bible Study Book of Daniel" for more information on this subject.

WAY: He hath laid my vine waste; he hath made it clean bare, and cast <it> away

Joel 1:7 "He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast <it> away; the branches thereof are made white."

He hath laid my vine waste:

He here meaning God.

See my papers: "Some Saved and Some Lost God’s Sovereignty" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "God Plans for His Purpose. Who Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Is Free Will Biblical?" for more information on this subject.

Joel 1:8 "Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth." Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Virgin...husband of her youth:

See my papers: "Virgin" for more information on this subject.

Luke 1:27 "To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name <was> Mary."

See my papers: "Mary – Mother of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

Deuteronomy 22:23-24 "If a damsel <that is> a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; {24} Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, <being> in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you."

Joel 1:9 "The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the /\ LORD /\; the priests, the /\ LORD’S /\ ministers, mourn." See also Joel 1:13.

Meat offering & drink offering is cut off from house of the LORD:

Reference to temple, sacrifices, and priests could mean Joel is from levities or maybe not.

See my papers: "Entry into the Holy of Holies" for more information on this subject.

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MISC: HOUSE OF THE LORD {JOEL 1:9 – 3:18}

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(1) The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn. {Joel 1:9}

(2) Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD. {Joel 1:14}

(3) 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. {Joel 3:18}

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Joel 1:10 "The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth."

Joel 1:11 "Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished."

Joel 1:12 "The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, <even> all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men."

B) PAST DAY OF DROUGHT: {JOEL 1:13 – 1:20}

Joel 1:13 "Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my /\ God /\: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your /\ God /\." See Joel 1:9.

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MISC: YOUR GOD {JOEL 1:13 – 3:17}

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(1) Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. {Joel 1:13}

(2) Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD. {Joel 1:14}

(3) And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. {Joel 2:13}

(4) Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? {Joel 2:14}

(5) 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. {Joel 2:23}

(6) 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. {Joel 2:26}

(7) 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. {Joel 2:27}

(8) 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. {Joel 3:17}

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Your God: 8 times 1:13, 1:14, 2:13, 2:14, 2:23, 2:26, 2:27 & 3:17

See my papers: "Triunity – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit" for more information on this subject.

God relationship. Also My/His: 1:6, 13; 2:18,26-27; 3:2-5,16.

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MISC: GOD RELATIONSHIP {JOEL 1:6 – 3:16}

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(1) Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. {Joel 1:13}

(2) 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. {Joel 2:26}

(3) 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. {Joel 2:27}

(4) 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. {Joel 3:17}

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See my papers: "Godhead Relationship" for more information on this subject.

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MISC: LORD YOUR GOD {JOEL 1:14 – 3:17}

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(1) Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD. {Joel 1:14}

(2) And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. {Joel 2:13}

(3) Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? {Joel 2:14}

(4) 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. {Joel 2:23}

(5) 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. {Joel 2:26}

(6) 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. {Joel 2:27}

(7) 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. {Joel 3:17}

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Joel 1:14 "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders <and> all the inhabitants of the land <into> the house of the /\ LORD /\ your /\ God /\, and cry unto the /\ LORD /\."

See my papers: "Prayer" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Jesus as Prophet, Priest, & King" for more information on this subject.

Sanctify ye a fast...solemn assembly:

Set apart a day for this purpose. In NIV the word is declare.

FASTING: Prayer and fasting are together in many scriptures.

Also found in Joel 2:25. Standing in Gap: Ezekiel 22:30;

Moses stood in Breach: Psalms 106:23; Exodus 32:32; Deut 9:26

- To humble one's soul.

Psalms 35:13 "But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing <was> sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom."

- To chastened one soul.

Daniel 10:12 "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words."

Psalms 69:10-11 "When I wept, <and chastened> my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. {11} I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them."

- To rend ones heart to repent of evil.

Deuteronomy 9:18 "And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."

2 Samuel 12:16 "David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth."

- To seek the Lord's will.

Daniel 9:3 "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"

Fasting key scriptures:

Isaiah 58:4-8 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as <ye do this> day, to make your voice to be heard on high. {5} Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? <is it> to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes <under him>? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? {6} <Is> not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? {7} <Is it> not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? {8} Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward."

Matthew 17:19-21 "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? {20} And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. {21} Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

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KEYWORD: DAY OF THE LORD {JOEL 1:15 – 3:14}

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(1) Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. {Joel 1:15}

(2) 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 the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; {Joel 2:1}

(3) And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? {Joel 2:11}

(4) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. {Joel 2:31}

(5) Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. {Joel 3:14}

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WHAT: The day of the LORD <is> at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come

Joel 1:15 "Alas for the [ day ]! for the [ day ] of the /\ LORD /\ <is> at hand, and as a destruction from the /\ Almighty /\ shall it come."

Day of the Lord: Refers to consummation of history and divine judgments. It has two aspects: God's triumph over evil. Blessings to his people.

See my papers: "End Times Events –Day of the Lord" for more information on this subject.

Mention 5 times in Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:11, 2:31 and 3:14.

It is called gloominess (2:2), destruction (1:15), wrath

(Zephaniah 1:15, 18), and punishment (Isaiah 24:20-21).

Other references: Isaiah 13:6,9; Ezekiel 13:5,30:3; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14 (Almost the entire book); Malachi 4:5

Isaiah 13:9 "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it." Sinners in general.

Jeremiah 30:7 "Alas! for that day <is> great, so that none <is> like it: it <is> even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Other scriptures to all people and people of that date.

2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." The end day itself.

Almighty God:

See my papers: "Just Who is God" for more information on this subject.

Location Joel 3:2 Valley of Jehoshaphat (means Yahweh judges).

Joel 1:16 "Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, <yea>, joy and gladness from the house of our /\ God /\?"

See my papers: "Judgment of Believers & Unbelievers" for more information on this subject.

Joel 1:17 "The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered."

Joel 1:18 "How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate."

WAY: Fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field

Joel 1:19 "O /\ LORD /\, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field."

Fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field:

Not in Joel's time, but this will occur during the day of the Lord.

Joel 1:20 "The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness."

III) DAY OF THE LORD FAR-SIGHT: {JOEL 2:1 – 2:32}

A) NEAR DAY OF THE LORD: {JOEL 2:1 – 2:27}

WHAT: Blow ye the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm in my holy mountain; for the day of the LORD cometh, for <it is> nigh at hand

Joel 2:1 "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 the /\ LORD /\ cometh, for <it is> nigh at hand;"

KEY VERSE: Joel 2:1

Zion: God's holy hill in Jerusalem, the captial of all nations.

See my papers: "Israel Trip to the Holy Land" for more information on this subject.

Psalms 2:6 "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."

WAY: A day of darkness and of gloominess; a day of clouds and of thick darkness; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it

Joel 2:2 "A [ day ] of darkness and of gloominess, a [ day ] of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a [ great ] people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, <even> to the years of many generations."

There hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after:

Revelation tells of God's wrath unto a evil and wicked generation.

WHERE: The land <is> as the garden of Eden

Joel 2:3 "A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land <is> as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them." Eden see Genesis 2:8,15

See my papers: "Gospel in the Genealogy of Adam" for more information on this subject.

Joel 2:4 "The appearance of them <is> as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run."

Job compares horses to locust and Joel compares locust to horses.

Horses:

Job 39:19-20 "Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? {20} Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils <is> terrible."

Joel 2:5 "Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array."

Joel 2:6 "Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness."

Joel 2:7 "They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:"

Joel 2:8 "Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and <when> they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded."

Joel 2:9 "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."

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MISC: SIGNS OF THAT TIME {JOEL 2:10 – 3:15}

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(1) A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. {Joel 2:2}

(2) The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: {Joel 2:10}

(3) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. {Joel 2:31}

(4) The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. {Joel 3:15}

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Joel 2:10 "The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:"

Earth quake..the sun and the moon shall be dark:

Revelation 6:12 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;"

Joel 2:11 "And the /\ LORD /\ shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp <is> very [ great ]: for <he is> strong that executeth his word: for the [ day ] of the /\ LORD /\ <is> [ great ] and very terrible; and who can abide it?"

See my papers: "End Time Events – Day of the Lord" for more information on this subject.

Who can abide it:

Matthew 24:22 "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened".

Revelation 7:3 "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

GOD REQUIRES REPENTANCE: 2:12 TO 2:17

WHAT: Saith the LORD, turn ye <even> to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning

Joel 2:12 "Therefore also now, saith the /\ LORD /\, turn ye <even> to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:"

WAY: Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he <is> gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil

Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the /\ LORD /\ your God: for /\ he /\ <is> gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of [ great ] kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

See my papers: "Grace" for more information on this subject.

WHY: Who knoweth <if> he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him

Joel 2:14 "Who knoweth <if> he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; <even> a meat offering and a drink offering unto the /\ LORD /\ your /\ God /\?"

Joel 2:15 "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:"

Blow the trumpet in Zion:

A call to a religious assembly.

Sanctify a fast...solemn assembly: See Joel 1:14 notes.

Set apart a day for this purpose.

Joel 2:16 "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet." All the people.

See my papers: "Man’s Greatest Need – Relationship with God" for more information on this subject.

Joel 2:17 "Let the priests, the ministers of the /\ LORD /\, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O /\ LORD /\, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where <is> their /\ God /\?"

God's heritage:

Exodus 19:5 "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth <is> mine:"

Deuteronomy 9:29 "Yet they <are> thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm."

THE LORD WILL RESTORE JUDAH: 2:18 TO 2:27

WHAT: Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people

Joel 2:18 "Then will the /\ LORD /\ be jealous for /\ his /\ land, and pity /\ his /\ people." The Lord hears the prayers and repentant hearts.

See my papers: "Israel & Jewish People in God’s Plan" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Prayer" for more information on this subject.

WAY: Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people

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:"

Joel 2:20 "But I will remove far off from you the northern <army>, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done [ great ] things." Army came from the north.

Joel 2:21 "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the /\ LORD /\ will do [ great ] things."

Joel 2:22 "Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength."

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>."

See my papers: "Former & Latter Rains" for more information on this subject.

Former rain and latter rain:

Many religious groups use this scripture as a end time ministry. They believe that God will save many in the end days or give them super-natural signs and wonders to heal & to restore the dead.

Joel 2:24 "And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil."

Joel 2:25 "And /\ I /\ will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my [ great ] army which /\ I /\ sent among you." Restore Joel 1:4

Joel 2:26 "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."

See my papers: "Messiah Prophecies that Jesus Fulfilled" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Jesus Titles & Characteristics" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Names of God" for more information on this subject.

WHY: Ye shall know that I <am> in the midst of Israel; I <am> the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed

Joel 2:27 "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."

See my papers: "The One God – The Shama" for more information on this subject.

B) FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD: {JOEL 2:28 - 32}

KEY VERSES: Joel 2:28-29

Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, <that> /\ I /\ will 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:"Afterward = last days(Acts 2:17) Messianic time.

See my papers: "God the Holy Spirit/Ghost Scriptures & Notes" for more information on this subject.

WHAT: Come to pass afterward, I will 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

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MISC: HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM {JOEL 2:28 – 2:89}

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(1) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will 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: {Joel 2:28}

(2) And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. {Joel 2:29}

(3) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. {Joel 2:32}

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See my papers: "Holy Spirit Baptism" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the Evidence of Tongues of God or the Devil?" for more information on this subject.

Acts 2:16-21 "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; {17} And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: {18} And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: {19} And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: {20} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: {21} And it shall come to pass, <that> whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."Joel says total fulfilment due Lord's day.

See my papers: "God’s Dispensation & Covenant Plans" for more information on this subject.

KEY VERSE: Joel 2:28-29

Joel 2:29 "And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those [ days ] will /\ I /\ pour out /\ my /\ /\ spirit /\."

WAY: Also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit

See my papers: "Faith" for more information on this subject.

Holy Spirit given to any Christian who believes and asks in faith:

Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall <your> heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" To any man, woman of child.

Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, <even> as many as the Lord our God shall call."

WHILE: I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke

Joel 2:30 "And /\ I /\ will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."

Joel 2:31 "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the [ great ] and the terrible [ day ] of the /\ LORD /\ come." Terrible = notable (Acts 2:20).

Sun shall be turned into darkness...moon into blood:

Revelation 6:12 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;"

WHY: Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance

Joel 2:32 "And it shall come to pass, <that> whosoever shall call on the name of the /\ LORD /\ shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the /\ LORD /\ hath said, and in the remnant whom the /\ LORD /\ shall call."Delivered = saved (Acts 2:21)

See my papers: "True Gospel for Salvation by the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "What is a Born-Again & How to Become One" for more information on this subject.

PROPHET'S ECSTATIC BEHAVIOR & O.T. SCHOOL OF PROPHETS:

Moses:

Numbers 11:29 "And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, <and> that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"

King Saul:

1 Samuel 10:5-11 "After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where <is> the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: {6} And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. {7} And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, <that> thou do as occasion serve thee; for God <is> with thee. {8} And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, <and> to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. {9} And it was <so>, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. {10} And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. {11} And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What <is> this <that> is come unto the son of Kish? <Is> Saul also among the prophets?"

Elisha:

2 Kings 2:7-9 "And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. {8} And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped <it> together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. {9} And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me."

2 Kings 2:15-18 "And when the sons of the prophets which <were> to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. {16} And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. {17} And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. {18} And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?"

IV) FINAL JUDGMENT AGAINST ENEMIES OF GOD: {JOEL 3:1 – 3:16}

WHEN: In those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem

Joel 3:1 "For, behold, in those [ days ], and in that time, when /\ I /\ shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,"

See my papers: "End Times Events – Day of the Lord" for more information on this subject.

Captivity of Judah and Jerusalem: All nations again come against Israel to bring her under their control. This always been the case.

See my papers: "Revelation Bible Book - Inductive Bible Study" for more information on this subject.

WHAT: I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and <for> my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land

Joel 3:2 "/\ I /\ will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for /\ my /\ people and <for> /\ my /\ heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted /\ my /\ land."Heritage:Joel 2:17

WHERE: Valley of Jehoshaphat

WHO: J WHOM: J

Valley of Jehoshaphat: Valley of decision in 3:14

Symbolic name of valley near Jerusalem for God's ultimate judgement

Joel 3:3 "And they have cast lots for /\ my /\ people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink."

Joel 3:4 "Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense /\ me /\, swiftly <and> speedily will /\ I /\ return your recompense upon your own head;"

Joel 3:5 "Because ye have taken /\ my /\ silver and /\ my /\ gold, and have carried into your temples /\ my /\ goodly pleasant things:"

WHY: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border

Joel 3:6 "The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border." Nebuchadnezzar used this method.

Joel 3:7 "Behold, /\ I /\ will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head:"

See my papers: "Restoration of the Kingdom of God to Israel" for more information on this subject.

Joel 3:8 "And /\ I /\ will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the /\ LORD /\ hath spoken <it>."

Joel 3:9 "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:"

Joel 3:10 "Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I <am> strong."

See my papers: "Justification" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Justification of Faith – Old Testament Doctrine" for more information on this subject.

Plowshares into swords...pruninghooks into spears: See opposites:

Isaiah 2:4 "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Micah 4:3 "And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Let the weak say, I am strong: Words for a song.

See my papers: "Israel & Jewish People in God’s Plan" for more information on this subject.

Joel 3:11 "Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O /\ LORD /\."

WAY: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border

Joel 3:12 "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will /\ I /\ sit to judge all the heathen round about." Valley of Jehoshaphat (means Yahweh judges).

See my papers: "Judgment of Believers & Unbelievers" for more information on this subject.

Joel 3:13 "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness <is> [ great ]."

Joel 3:14 "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the [ day ] of the /\ LORD /\ <is> near in the valley of decision."

Could be the Great white throne judgment.

Joel 3:15 "The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining."

Sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars withdraw shining:

Matthew 24:29-30 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: {30} And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

Joel 3:16 "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." Jesus is coming. God's people blessed.

See my papers: "Jesus Two Comings as King" for more information on this subject.

V) ISRAEL FUTURE BLESSING: {JOEL 3:17- 3:21}

WHAT: So shall ye know that I <am> the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy

Joel 3:17 "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."

See my papers: "Jesus Life, Events, & Identity" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Jesus in the Testament" for more information on this subject.

WAY: 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

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." Sounds like today but it will be better.

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."

Joel 3:20 "But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation." Promise by God.

WHY: For I will cleanse their blood <that> I have not leansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion

Joel 3:21 "For /\ I /\ will cleanse their blood <that> /\ I /\ have not leansed: for the /\ LORD /\ dwelleth in Zion."

See my papers: "Imputed/Reckoned/Counted Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Messianic Prophecies that Jesus Fulfilled" for more information on this subject.

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