Joel
Another Minor
Joel
starts out with an ear catching proclamation in chapter 1 verse 2-3, “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? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their
children, and their children another generation”. What is being said in
Joel is not to be forgotten and you will soon find out why. Though this book of
the Bible is only three chapters long it holds information that will appear
again later on in the scriptures. If you mention the book of Revelation to
someone you are almost guaranteed that they know at least of that book, and
possibly what it contains (at least a rough idea). Mention the book of Joel and
you may have a 50/50 chance of them knowing of the existence of it. Some of the
smallest books in the Bible contain very important information or hidden
treasures.
First
thing we need to remember is that we can’t think of what is being said in Joel
as something that has taken place already and is not for us today. That is why
I believe the introduction of verses 2
and 3 are so important. It is for us to remember and keep in mind
throughout the generations and is this warning for us today? Just as then,
today, God’s people have drifted away from His commandments and from His way.
So many have went after other god’s, even those that say they serve the LORD.
Just as God’s people back then went after other god’s, though they knew of God,
but chose to do as they pleased and not what would please God. Chapter 1 verses 14-15, “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, Alas for the day! for
the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it
come”. We claim that this is a nation blessed by God and yet we ignore the
fact that if it is then blessed by God, will not God punish a nation of His
people if they turn from Him and reject Him? God has blessed His people
throughout time and made them prosper. We need to remember that He also
chastise them as well when they turn from Him. Joel is a book of warning for
His people and if they error in their ways and have realized that they have turned
from Him they need to gather together, fast, cry unto God and repent if they
are to lessen the punishment.
In
chapter 2 verses 1, 12, and 13 “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…Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and
with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 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.”, God is continually calling for His people to cry out to
Him with TRULY repentant hearts, not with false forgiveness and repentance, but
with true mournful repentance for the sins they have committed against Him.
Just as then it will be again for the coming generations that a time of true
crying to the LORD will come and we will seek for what is mentioned in Joel 2:14-17 “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? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 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. 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?” Instead of waiting for that
exact time to come let us start now in crying out to the LORD to spare us from
the judgment to come unto a nation that has turned from its God.
Now
onto another note that can be found in Joel are the similarities between Joel
and Revelation. Starting in Joel 2:2-11
it speaks of these things that are in an appearance of horses/horsemen, which I
believe are the same that are mentioned in Revelation
9:1-11. Joel was prophesying of the last days and not just of his time. As
for the question about Abaddon and the army of locust in Revelation being Satan
and his army, we see in verse 11 of Joel chapter 2 who has sent forth the
command for them to go forth. Though God punishes those on the earth He always
pours out His spirit as in Joel 2:28, 29
unto those of His that are faithful and through prophesies and visions His
people will know what to do.
Joel 3:13 speaks of the reaping that is mentioned also in Revelation 14:15-20, but also Joel verse 9-12 and 14-16 is speaking of the well-known battle of Armageddon. Way before Revelation was given to John; Joel was given a glimpse of what the future would hold for the end times. He was also shown New Jerusalem in verses 17 and 18 where only God’s people would dwell and that His blessings once more would flow out to the rest of the Earth.