JOEL---TERROR AND TRIBULATION


INTRODUCTION: Joel, the man

1.    Nothing is known of the prophet Joel except what may be gathered from the prophecy itself.

 

2.    He is the son of Pethuel, but again, nothing is known of Pethuel.

 

3.    What we do know of him:

A.   His name means “Jehovah is God”.

B.   He was a prophet of Judah and Jerusalem.

C.   He was probably the first of the writing prophets.

D.   “Probably exercised his ministry during the reign of Joash. In his youth he may have known Elijah, and he certainly was a contemporary of Elisha.”

                                                                                  --Original Scofield, p. 930, (Introduction)

 

4.    The fact that Joel is quoted by Amos, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Obadiah, Ezekiel, Malachi and also by some of the Psalmists suggests that his ministry antedated them.

 

THE PROPHETIC SETTING

1.    An actual plague of locusts had devastated the land. (1:1-4)

A.   So terrible in its force that no one could ever recall another like it (1:2,3)

B.   Its results:

1)    No wine (vs. 5-7) - drunkards are the first to be called upon to awake. The vines are destroyed so there can be no more wine.

2)    No sacrifices (vs. 8,9) - The meat offerings and the drink offerings are interrupted because the supply of the needed materials has been cut off by the plague.

3)    No crops (vs. 10-12) - Not only were there locusts, but a severe drought had occurred in which all the grain and fruit had died.

C.   The locust plague takes place in four successive stages: palmer worm, locust, cankerworm, caterpillar. (v. 4)

 

2.    The prophetic significance of the plague

A.   An actual plague of locusts forms the basis for the prophecy of the book.

B.   Joel uses the situation of literal conditions as a fore-shadowing of future events.

1)    Speaks of “the day of the LORD” (Jehovah) (1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14) After the rapture of the church “the day of the LORD” begins. It comprises the time of the great tribulation on earth, the 70th week of Daniel (Dan. 9:27), and the time of the rule of the Messiah of Israel over them in Jerusalem on the throne of David.

2)    Speaks of future invasions

a.    No doubt had a partial fulfillment in the swarms of heathen that invaded the land in ancient days.

b.    There are details which have never yet had a fulfillment and are yet future for the last days.

3)    Speaks of the Tribulation Period

a.    Four stages of the locusts - 4 world armies: Russia and allies (king of the north); Egypt and allies (king of the south); oriental confederacy (kings of the east); western powers (10 toes, 10 horns)

b.    The sacrifices cut off - 1:9, 13-14 = temple service cut off by the breaking of the covenant of the Man of Sin. Dan. 9:27

c.    No crops - 1:10-12 = great famine - Rev. 6:5, 6

d.    Signs in the heavens - 2:1, 2, 10 = Rev. 6:12-14

e.    Army without number - 1:6-2:8, 9 = Rev. 9:16

f.     Complete destruction of the land - 2:3

g.    Jehovah turning the armies back - 2:20 = Ezek. 39; Rev. 19

4)    Speaks of the time of millennial blessing (ch. 3)

a.    Repentant Israel - 2:18-32, cf. Rom. 11:25, 26

b.    Restored Israel - 3:1

c.    Revenged Israel - 3:2-17 Destruction of Gentile nations for their persecution of Israel, particularly in the tribulation period Cf. Matt. 25:31-46

d.    Revitalized Israel - 3:18-21

 

NOTE ON JOEL 2:28

“Was Joel’s prophecy fulfilled in Acts 2? At the outset it must be made clear that it is incorrect to say there is no connection between the two passages. Peter distinctly states that he is referring to the prediction of Joel (Acts 2:16). However, that fact alone does not constitute a fulfillment. In the first place the customary formula for a fulfilled prophecy is entirely lacking in Acts 2:16. And even more telling is the fact that much of Joel’s prophecy, even as quoted in Acts 2:17-21, was not fulfilled at the time. We cannot take the position that only a portion of the prophecy was meant to be fulfilled at all, because this would work havoc with Bible prophecy. God predicts and He can perform just what He predicted. The best position to take is that Peter used Joel’s prophecy as an illustration of what was transpiring in his day and not as a fulfillment of this prediction. In short, Peter saw in the events of his day an earnest that God would yet completely bring to pass all that Joel prophesied. Joel’s prophecy, then, was prefilled; it is yet (as the O.T. passages on the outpouring of the Spirit show) to be fulfilled.” --Joel; p. 29; Charles Feinberg


“The time of that fulfillment is stated here (‘afterward’, cf. Hos. 3:5), i.e. in the latter days when Israel turns to the Lord.” --New Scofield, p. 930; Note 2 (Joel 2:28)


OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

 I.     THE LOCUST PLAGUE (1)

A.   The extent of the plague (1:1-4)

B.   The result upon the land (1:5-13)

C.   The response of the priests (1:14-15)

D.   The result upon the animals (1:16-20)

 

II.    THE PROPHETIC COUNTERPART (2-3)

A.   The invasion of the land (2:1-12)

B.   The repentance of the people (2:13-17)

C.   The deliverance by Jehovah (2:18-32)

D.   The judgment upon nations (3:1-16)

E.   The blessing of the Kingdom (3:17-21)