THE MESSAGE OF JOEL
Dr. David L. Cooper
Biblical Research Monthly
November 1954

Joel is among the earliest writing prophets of Israel. His ministry was more or less closely connected with that of Hosea and Amos. Since there is no definite reference to the aggression of the Assyrian in the Book of Joel, it is quite likely that his ministry fell in the era before the incursions of the Assyrian power into the Westland. Some have dated his prophecy as early as 870-850 B.C., but we cannot be definite and positive on this point.

Though Joel is a short book, it is a very important one; for it deals with events of outstanding prophetic moment.

Devastation of the Land of Palestine by Plagues of Insects

The prophet begins his oracle by foretelling one wave of insects after another, that would come into the land and would devastate it. The insects that are mentioned are to be taken literally, exactly as the prophet spoke. The prediction covers 1:1-14. The prophecy concerning the plagues of insects blends in with a forecast of the invasion of the country by a foreign nation, as is set forth in 1:5-7. The invasion of the country by the insects and by a foreign power is the occasion of the wrecking and the destruction of everything in the country. The people, therefore, are called upon to come before God, repentant in attitude, and to seek deliverance.

The Day of Jehovah

The second general theme discussed by Joel is the day of Jehovah, which is the Tribulation. In 1:15-20 the prophet sees this day and the damage that will be wrought in the country because of the drought that will prevail throughout the land. This probably is in the second half of the Tribulation.

The Invasion of the Land of Israel by a Mechanized Force

The third item mentioned by the prophet is that of an invasion of the country by what seems to be a mechanized force, which invasion is described in 2:1-11.

The prophet sees this invasion of the country as occurring before the Tribulation, or possibly in it. The data is not quite so clear as to enable one to locate it definitely.

The country is like the Garden of Eden before the Tribulation, but it is left a smoldering mass of wreckage in the wake of the invading army.

Some have compared the description of the appearance of horses mentioned in 2:4-11 to that of the locusts that are referred to in Revelation 9:1-11. An examination of the latter passage shows that these are not real locusts, but that they are demons that come forth from the infernal world at a certain time during the Tribulation. In contrast with them, however, is this mechanized army that is mentioned in Joel.

As to the time of this invasion, there is no data that is definite, and that permits us to be specific. It may occur before the Tribulation and may be that which is spoken of by Ezekiel in 38:1—39:16. But in view of the scarcity of details, a person must hold himself in modest reserve and be cautious in making any pronouncement.

The Call to Repentance

The prophet realizes that only one thing can bring deliverance, which is repentance on the part of the nation and its calling upon God for deliverance. Of course, the people are urged to repent genuinely before God, and to turn to Him with all their hearts. They are assured that the Lord is merciful and gracious and will hear the penitential cry of His distressed people. This call to repentance is set forth in 2:12-17.

The Destruction of the Northern Army

In 2:18-20 we see the destruction of a northern army by the power of God. Since very few details are given with reference to it, it is impossible to determine just what army it is, and when this destruction will come. It is altogether possible that it is the army which is mentioned in 2:4-11. The suggestion has been made that this army may be the one that is led down into Palestine by the King of the North (Dan. 11:40,41) in World War II of the Tribulation. Again, it may be a reference to an army of the final war of the great day of God, the Almighty, at the end of the Tribulation. Since there is nothing that is clear on this point, we must hold ourselves by a cautious reserve and await further light.

The Kingdom Age

A casual reading of 2:21-28a shows that the prophet is discussing the great Kingdom Age, when the curse will be lifted from the earth, and when Jehovah, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be in the midst of Israel and will reign. At that time normal conditions will be restored to the earth, and there will be great blessing for all.

Israel will be the first nation converted to Christianity. There is not now, never has been, and never will be a Christian nation until the people of Israel see the mistake made nineteen hundred years ago and accept the Messiah as their Saviour. When they do that, they will plead for Him to come back. Then He will do so, and then converted Israel will lead all nations to a saving knowledge of the Messiah, as is set forth in 2:28a: "And it shall come to pass afterward [after the conversion of Israel and the return of the Messiah], that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh." God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh when they, the people who survive the Tribulation, hear the preaching of converted Israel and accept the Lord. When they do that, God pours out His Spirit upon them. Thus, in Joel 2:28a, we see a converted world in the beginning of the Millennial Age.

Revival in Israel Before the Tribulation

In Joel 2:28b-32 we have a prophecy of God's pouring out His Spirit upon the sons and daughters of Israel, and of their old men's dreaming dreams and their young men's seeing visions. In connection with this pouring out of the Spirit upon Israel, there will occur various phenomena in the physical, material world—as we see in this passage. In fact, there will be a general blackout of the light from the heavenly bodies and various other phenomena in the physical world in connection with this pouring out of the Spirit upon certain ones in Israel. (Let no one interpret this prediction as a promise to the Gentiles, for it is only to the Jews.)

This revival in Israel occurs before the great Tribulation: "… before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh."

The second installment of the conversion of Israel occurs in the turning of 144,000 Jews to the Lord in the beginning of the Tribulation—the Jewish evangelists will conduct the world-wide revival in the Tribulation (Rev., chap. 7).

The third, and last, installment of the revival in Israel will occur at the very end of the Tribulation when the nation, convinced of the error of the national rejection of Messiah, acknowledges Him and pleads for Him to return. Then the remnant of Israel will be converted to the Lord, becoming the first Christian nation.

Israel Cast Out of His Land and Scattered

In 3:1-8 appears a startling prophecy. In verses 1 and 2 is a prediction that God will gather all the nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and will execute judgment upon them there because of their having scattered Israel among the nations and having parted the land, that is divided it among certain ones, and having cast lots for His people. The gathering of the nations into the valley of Jehoshaphat for punishment is undoubtedly what is usually termed "the war of the great day of God, the Almighty" which occurs at the end of the Tribulation, when God brings all the armies of the nations of the world against Jerusalem to battle.

The reason for His thus acting is that they have scattered the Jewish people out of their own land, have parted their land, and have cast lots for His people. God does not punish the wrong persons. Evidently, since He will be punishing the nations of the world of that time, they are the ones who scatter Israel, who divide the land, and who cast lots for His people.

In view of these facts, these things are yet future. This is, therefore, a prophecy that the nations will yet spew the Jews out of Palestine and scatter them among the nations and will divide their land. And they sell a Jewish boy for a harlot and a girl for a bottle of wine. In view of this prophecy, we may expect the nations to do the horrible and atrocious thing of casting Israel out of her land and seizing the county. But of course God is going to punish the nations for doing that, for that is stated in these verses.

The nations cannot mistreat the Jews because they are Jews and go unpunished. God said that He would curse the one who curses Israel (Gen. 12:1-3). No weapon that is formed against Israel shall prosper (Isa. 54:17).

The War of the Great Day of God, the Almighty

In Joel 3:9-17 the prophet is carried forward to the very end of the Tribulation. He sees the situation which will exist at that time. Then he speaks to the nations and urges them to put on rearmament programs and get ready for the final invasion of Palestine by their armies. He observes the nations bestirring themselves and going into Palestine. When he sees them, he declares: "Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great" (3:13). There will be numberless armies, of all the nations, gathered against Jerusalem to battle. At that time the Lord will go forth from on high and "will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem." The heavens and the earth will shake. Great cosmic changes will take place.

Notwithstanding the great distress and the destruction of life that will be caused, the Lord will be a refuge unto all those who will flee to Him for safety.

The Kingdom Age

The prophet concludes his message in 3:18-21 with a description of the Kingdom Age, when peace, plenty, and prosperity will be the order of the day. The Lord Jesus Christ at that time will reign from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.