The Prophecies of Joel

Joel 1‑3  •  8 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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God’s Moral Government in Connection With the Restoration of a Remnant of the Jews (the Two Tribes)
Joel dwells on God’s moral government in connection with the restoration of the remnant of the Jews (the two tribes). He focuses much more on the timing and sequence of prophetic events than Hosea. Joel uses the attack of the Assyrian as a foreshadow of the future attack of the King of the North and his Arab confederacy (Psa. 83:1-81<<A Song or Psalm of Asaph.>> Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. (Psalm 83:1‑8); Dan. 11:40-4540And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40‑45)). The attack of this northern invader is God’s harbinger of “the day of the LORD,” which begins at the Appearing of Christ and extends through His 1000-year reign—the Millennium (2 Peter 3:8-108But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But 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. (2 Peter 3:8‑10)). Since Christ’s Appearing will occur just after the King of the North has attacked the land of Israel, the attack of those armies is a signal that “the day of the LORD” is “at hand” (Joel 2:11Blow 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)).
The main difference between Hosea and Joel is that Hosea dwells on God’s work of producing repentance in the remnant of Israel (the ten tribes) in view of their restoration, whereas Joel shows how the inroads of this northern army will be used to humble a remnant of the Jews (the two tribes). This also is in view of their restoration.
An Invasion of Insects—Foreshadow of the Assyrian Invasion
Chap. 1:1-20
Chap. 1:1-20—The prophet gives a graphic description of an invasion of insects that devastated the land in his day. The old men are asked to consult their memories to recall if they have ever seen anything that approaches the magnitude of this disaster before (vss. 2-4). Joel uses this visitation of insects as a foreshadow of the terrible, desolating judgment that the Lord would bring upon the land of Israel by the Assyrian of that day, but ultimately, by the armies of the King of the North in a coming day (Dan. 11:40-4140And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Daniel 11:40‑41)).
The land is called to mourn—from the “drunkards” (vss. 5-7), to the common people of “the land” (vss. 8-10), to “the husbandmen” (vss. 11-12), to “the priests” (vs. 13).
When this devastation from the northern invader sweeps through the land of Israel in a coming day, it will be a signal that “the day of the LORD” is “at hand” (vss. 14-20). Scripture indicates three things that signal the coming of “the day of the LORD.” They are:
1.  The apostasy (“falling away”) of the Christian profession reaches a climax (2 Thess. 2:2-32That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:2‑3)).
2.  The revelation of the “man of sin” (2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)).
3.  The attack of the King of the North, under the figure of “the Assyrian” (Joel 2:11Blow 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)).
The first two things will happen in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)), which will be 3½ years before the Lord appears out of heaven (Rev. 19:11-2111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21)); the third thing will occur in a matter of a few days before the Lord appears.
The First Attack of the Assyrian
Chap. 2:1-11
Chap. 2:1-11—Joel envisions the armies of the enemy coming in from the north and ravaging the land, leaving it as “a desolate wilderness” behind them. While this happened to some extent in history when the Assyrians entered the land of Israel, the Spirit of prophecy intends that we see it as an image of the future attack on the Jews in coming day. Two thirds of the Jews who will be in the land of Israel at that time will be killed when the King of the North sweeps through the land (Dan. 11:40-4240And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40‑42); Zech. 13:88And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Zechariah 13:8)). This will be about ten million people!
Vss. 12-20
Vss. 12-20—The Jews left in the land (the remaining one third) will turn to the Lord with “fasting,” “weeping,” and “mourning.” They will be thoroughly humbled before Him and will cry to Him in true repentance for help (vss. 15-17). In answer to the cry of the remnant of the Jews, the Lord will intervene (His Appearing) and remove “the northern army” (vs. 20). The actual place is given where the King of the North and his armies come to their end—between “the east sea” (the Dead Sea) and “the utmost sea” (the Mediterranean Sea)—which is the southern part of the land of Israel, the general area of Jerusalem. Compare Daniel 11:4545And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45) – “between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.” Being in Egypt when the Lord appears (Dan. 11:42-4342He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:42‑43)), the King of the North will return to the land of Israel (Dan. 11:4444But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (Daniel 11:44)) and he will meet the Lord there (Dan. 8:25; 11:4525And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25)
45And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)). The Lord will destroy him and his armies with “his glorious voice” (Isa. 30:30-3330And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. 31For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. 32And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. 33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. (Isaiah 30:30‑33)).
Vss. 21-32
Vss. 21-32—After the Lord has dealt with the northern army, He will comfort the Jewish remnant: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things” (vss. 21-27). The Lord will take His place “in the midst” of His people and they will be restored to Him. He will thereupon “pour out” the “Spirit” on them, and miraculous powers of the world to come will be seen among them (vss. 28-32).
The effects of the Antichrist’s delusion—“the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,” which refers figuratively to the taking away of divine light and truth and introducing apostasy (Isa. 8:2222And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness. (Isaiah 8:22); Matt. 24:2929Immediately 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: (Matthew 24:29), etc.)—will be removed then. The people (the remnant) will see clearly then (Isa. 32:33And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. (Isaiah 32:3)), and all who have faith will “call on the name of the LORD” and “shall be delivered” and blessed in Christ’s kingdom (vs. 32).
The Second Attack of the Assyrian
Chap. 3:1-2
Chap. 3:1-2—While the Lord is restoring the remnant of His people (both of the two tribes and of the ten tribes), the armies of many other nations from the far north will gather together to attack Israel. This will be a second all-out attack on the land of Israel, but because the Lord will be back in the land at that time and the remnant of all twelve tribes will be restored to Him, it will not be successful. The Lord will actually work providentially behind the scenes to gather these enemies so that He can judge them, and thus, put an end to all wars. “I will gather all nations, and bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat” (vs. 2; Ezek. 38:44And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (Ezekiel 38:4); Zeph. 3:88Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8); Mic. 4:11-1211Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. 12But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. (Micah 4:11‑12); Psa. 46:4-94There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. (Psalm 46:4‑9)). The “nations” that gather at this time are “all” who are left after the Lord’s prior judgments on the western powers (the Beast) and the King of the North and his confederacy. This will be the confederate armies under Gog, whose aim is to attack restored Israel (Ezek. 38:11-1211And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:11‑12)). Historically, these nations have “scattered” the children of Israel “among the nations,” and it is now time for God to judge them.
Vss. 3-8
Vss. 3-8—“Tyre and Zidon” and “Philistia,” which are merchant centers on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, are singled out as being guilty of slave trafficking God’s people and plundering the gold and silver in the land of Israel. These merchants sold their children to “the Greeks” who came to those ports, and thus, they removed the children of Israel “far from their border.” They have “given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.”
The Lord promises to return their “recompense” on their “own head.” He says, “I will raise them (the children of Israel) out of the place whither ye (the Gentile nations) have sold them” (vss. 7-8). Thus, the Lord will bring the ten tribes of Israel back to their homeland prior to His judgment of the last confederacy of nations under Gog (Ezek. 38:1212To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:12)). After He judges these nations, restored Israel will sell the children of those Gentile nations “to the Sabeans, to a people afar off.”
Vss. 9-15
Vss. 9-15—As mentioned, the “multitudes” of “Gentiles” who will gather together against Israel in the last attack (under Gog) are actually called by the Lord (providentially) to come to Him in the land of Israel to be judged. “The valley of Jehoshaphat” (which means “Jehovah’s judgment”), to which they are called, is not a literal valley in the land of Israel, but rather, it is symbolic of the judgment that will be executed on these confederated nations. The “harvest” mentioned in verse 13 is not the Harvest Judgment, which is the first judgment the Lord will execute at His Appearing upon the Western nations (Matt. 13:3939The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 13:39); Rev. 14:14-1614And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:14‑16)). The harvest mentioned here is that of grapes, which is the final harvest of the year—the vintage. It symbolizes the last judgment of the Lord before the millennial kingdom is established. It is the Winepress Judgment (Rev. 14:17-2017And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Revelation 14:17‑20); Isa. 63:1-61Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6)). Thus, verse 13 goes on to say, “The press is full, the vats overflow.” Apparently, “the day of the LORD” (which is the Lord’s subjugation of the whole world under His Lordship authority), though it will have already begun, will not come in in its fullness until this judgment is executed. Hence, it is still said to be “at hand.”
Vss. 16-17
Vss. 16-17—Since the Lord will be back on earth and dwelling in the midst of His people in Jerusalem (which will be in rubble at that time), He will “roar out of Zion” and utterly destroy the armies that have assembled for war (vs. 16). Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled then: “Whosoever shall gather together against thee [Israel] shall fall for thy sake” (Isa. 54:1515Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. (Isaiah 54:15)).
Vss. 18-21
Vss. 18-21—The chapter closes with a picture of the Millennium. In that day, the blessing of the Lord will be upon the whole earth and His presence will be known in Jerusalem—“for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.”