One-Ministry

The Book of Joel

Lesson 32

 

The Man:

Joel was a prophet to Judah. Nothing is known of him except what is written in verse 1, his name means “Jehovah is God”.

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The Central Message:

“The Day of the Lord” (Joel 1:15, 2:1,2,10.11.30,31; 3:14-14)

• Note: to remember in a general way the meaning of “The Day of the Lord”, it is that period which contrasts with man’s day or Satan’s day. It begins with the Great Tribulation and extends through the Millennial Kingdom.

 

The Structure of the Book:

• God’s Judgment- 1:1-2:27

 

• The Promise of the Spirit- 2:28-3:1

 

• God’s Judgment don Nations- 3:1-17

 

• The Restoration of Judah- 3:18-21

 

God’s Judgment on Judah:

• This was a literal plague of locusts and it is used to speak of a fact but also to symbolize the destruction of “the Day of the Lord”. This was a foreshadowing of an ultimate and future event. Nothing escapes because all are affected- drunkards (1:5), priests (1:13-16), the whole earth (1:17), and the cattle (1:18-20).

• The Judgment points to that period of Tribulation:

  • Joel 2:2

    • A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon 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.

  • 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.

    • And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

 

• Deliverance only if there is repentance (2:18-27).

 

The Promise of the Spirit:

• This is one of the prophecies which had a part of its fulfillment at Pentecost. Peter quoted Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:16-21.

• •  

    Joel 2:28-29

    • And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

    • And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

  • Acts 2:16-21

    • But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

    • And it shall come to pass inn the last days, saith God, I will pour put of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

    • And on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

    • And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke.

    • The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.

    • And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

  • John 14:17

    • Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • Acts 1:8

    • But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

• Peter used the prophecy of Joel to describe the power of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost for all who believe. The entire prophecy of Joel was not fulfilled then (only a part) but was a guarantee that God would ultimately fulfill all Jowl said in the day when Israel returns to the Lord (Joel 2:31-32).

 

• God’s Judgment of Nations:

 

• This occurs at the end time in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Judgment) at Christ’s actual return (Chapter 3, verses 2 & 14)

 

• 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.

 

• Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

 

• Matthew 25:31-33

 

• When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

• And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

• And he shall se the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 

• The Restoration of Judah:

• The Lord Jesus shall reign in person and the land will be a land of milk and honey.

  • Joel 3:18-21

    • 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 foundation shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

    • 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.

    • But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

    • For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.