Joel 2 - Pentecost Prophecy

by Lance Ponder⁽⁹⁰⁾
http://fkiprofessor.xanga.com

Alarm
Joel 2:1-2 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. If " the day of the Lord " is still in our future, the people are either as yet unknown or otherwise not revealed. If it actually refers to the crucifixion-resurrection event then these people are probably Romans - or at least someone relevant to that period. Either way, these people are unique in history. The Romans were certainly unique in a number of ways. The Roman Empire controlled Judea in the time of Christ. They destroyed the temple in response to a Jewish rebellion, but were eventually converted to Christianity after a lengthy period of direct and awful persecution of Christians. Eventually Rome become the seat of earthly church leadership. The Roman Empire has revived, albiet under new management, multiple times. Hitler's Third Reich was named for a third rendition of the Roman Empire or, more generally, a third empire ruled by Europeans. The first " Reich " being the Caesars and the second being the restoration of the position of Emperor around the 9 th century. Today we have a fourth revival in progress as the Europeans once again are pooling resources and political energy into a single superpower. Perhaps the modern Roman Empire is another layer of meaning represented by the descriptions Joel gave, or perhaps not. The event itself is described as a day of thick darkness. Literal darkness would strongly suggest the day of the crucifixion when the sun was dark (or set) over Jerusalem for about three hours during the afternoon. Certainly there has never been a day like that before or since. The great and powerful people are described later as an army under the command of God. This does not sound like the Roman Empire in the time of Christ, although we must remember that all nations derive their authority from God and all nations are ultimately under God’s control.

Before/After
Joel 2:3 Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them. Here Joel describes a contrast between what lies before those great and powerful people and what lies after them. Fire divides the before and after. On one side it is like Eden and on the other side desolation. Nothing escapes. In my mind this creates an image of a fiery dividing line. Eden on one side and desolation on the other sounds a lot like the dividing wall between heaven and hell described elsewhere in scripture (see Amos 1:9-15, Zech 2:5, Luke 16:19-31). The word " fire " appears many times in the book of Revelation and has multiple applications, but in general it is associated with destruction of the ungodly. Fire purifies. Many prophetic books in the bible provide glimpses of the " new heaven and new earth, " the new Jerusalem, the place called Zion where the Lord will reside with his people in his temple in the presence of the river of life and the trees of life and so forth. This place, whether physical as we understand it or perhaps spiritual and just beyond our ability to grasp, does seem to be a place of specific boundaries beyond which lies a realm of destruction to which sin and death are vanquished. This place is described as being like Eden. A more conventional interpretation would be that this powerful people group moves in, takes over and uses up the resources, then moves on – like a swarm of locust. This description could apply to ancient Babylon, Rome, or modern America. John describes both angels and demons going out to cause suffering, death, and destruction on earth in the end times. John also describes Jesus returning with a great army (Rev 19:11-16). More context is needed to better grasp exactly who this army is.

Battle Ready
Joel 2:4-5 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. As with the rumbling of chariots they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle. These people as ready for battle. They are fast and vast. This might describe the Assyrians or Babylonians or even the Romans. The suggestion of speed and power would apply particularly well to Alexander. It could symbolize spiritual or religious hordes. They are physically intimidating, fast moving, leaping mountains, and they spit fire. This is an excellent description of a modern western army using helicopters, jets, and tanks. Undoubtedly some people living during WWII felt the German blitzkrieg fulfilled of this passage.

Character
Joel 2:6-9 Before them peoples are in anguish; all faces grow pale. Like warriors they charge; like soldiers they scale the wall. They march each on his way; they do not swerve from their paths. They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons and are not halted. They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief. This passage provides more detail about these war-ready people who divide Eden from Desolation with fire at the Day of the Lord. It says people facing them are in anguish. This would certainly be true of people being invaded by a cruel army, whether it be Assyrians, Romans, Germans or a spiritual army. It would also be true of people looking into the face of hell itself, in anguish at being confronted by fellow sinners who rejected God and are showing them their own fate for their rejection of God. Verse 7 compares them to warriors, but only compares them. It does not say they are literally an army. This may be very telling. Maybe everything so far, at least in the second chapter, is symbolic. Verses 8 and 9 describe the Romans perfectly. Of all the armies who conquered ancient Israel, none drilled with the precision ranks of the Romans. The Romans were highly organized and thus highly effective. They were as skilled with strategy as with tactics. When it came to overcoming rebellion they were merciless warriors who would enter houses like thieves, exactly as described. They did not have the American constitution restricting them from lodging in homes of civilians. In fact, this was one of their most effective means of intimidating civilian populations. There are also symbolic interpretations. One is the description Jesus gave of Satan coming like a thief to destroy. Using this association, then the great and powerful people of this passage would be under the control of Satan regardless of when they exist in time and space. On the other hand, in Mt 11:11-15 Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as being taken by force. Perhaps this great people is a people who actually want into heaven. Ultimately, I think everyone wants into heaven whether they are good or evil. By that I mean even evil people - even Satan himself - wants to be in heaven. Perhaps these people suffer the delusion they can get to heaven by the power of their own will and strength. Maybe they don't see they are a fire consuming what is good, destroying the good that is like Eden even as they step forward into it. What can stop them?

Darkness
Joel 2:10-11 The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it? Compare this passage with the Joel 2:31 where it again says the sun will be darkened, but goes on to say that the moon will look like blood. Peter quotes Joel, including Joel 2:31, in his Pentecost sermon. If the context of Joel’s prophecy is consistent, then the darkening mentioned here is the same event. Assuming this is the case, then the invading army is at hand at the time of the crucifixion. As described above, the unique skills of the Roman soldiers fit well with this time frame. Joel 2:11 indicates the army does God’s will. It may seem odd that armies would come against God’s people at the direction of God. It should not. God chastens those he loves (Pr 3:12, Rev 3:19). God also promised curses – including exile and national destruction – for God’s people who turn their backs on God (Dt 28:15-68). In the centuries between Joel’s prophecy and the arrival of Jesus, God’s chosen people trended toward rebellion from God. By the time of Jesus, most of the tribes were scattered permanently. Only the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi were active in Palestine. The Jewish king was a Roman puppet and the office of high priest was a rotating political appointment. God made a wonderful covenant with Abraham (Gen 17:1-8) which was passed down to Isaac (Gen 26:2-5), then to Jacob (Gen 35:10-12). Paul explains that the promise is to descendants of Abraham’s faith, not bloodline (Ro 9:6-8). God promised to destroy any of His people who would turn from following Him (Nu 32:15). God promised a savior who would redeem His people (Is 59:20). This was not simply for descendants of Abraham through Jacob, but for all who share the faith of Abraham (Is 49:8, Ro 11:11). With so many from the bloodline of Jacob living in rebellion to God, it is little wonder Joel asked who could endure the day of God’s wrath. The day of the crucifixion was literally dark during the hours Jesus was on the cross (Mt 27:45). The most powerful army on earth, the Roman Empire, carried out the execution. At the moment of Christ’s death there was also a great earthquake (Mt 27:50-54).

Free Will Repentance
Joel 2:12-14 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Up to this point the message foretells events to come (from Joel’s perspective). The predictions for Joel’s audience were as vividly astonishing and dramatic as they are for us today looking back on their various incredible fulfillments. As astounding as the events may be, the oracle here becomes deeply personal. There is a right and a wrong response. The wrong response is to remain steadfastly in rebellion. The right response is to recognize the error of our ways and return to following God with a faithful heart and obedient hands. The Jews in the time of Jesus were concerned with works. They strove to cut sin out of their lives, but failed to replace it with faith and love. In their efforts to meet the letter of the law they lost out on the spirit of its author. The first message Jesus preached when he returned from the wilderness was to repent (Mt 4:17). The idea of repentance is found throughout scripture (Is 1:27, 1 Ki 8:46-51, Job 42:1-6, Mt 10:38, Mk 1:15, Jn 8:31-35, Ac 2:38, 3:19). Sin brings death, but God is the author of life. To repent is to turn from sin and death to righteousness and life. We have no reason to repent until we recognize the reality of the consequence for sin. Turning away from sin is only part of repentance. It also requires turning to the Lord. We must realize our sin, recognizing the error of it and the damage done. It is fitting to be sorrowful at the tragedy of our past sin. Out of this repentant sorrow we get our desire to become obedient to the righteous will of our Lord. Outward acts are no more than hollow pretense unless the heart is broken. Our Lord is faithful to forgive. His love, grace and mercy are limitless – not because we are deserving, but because we have faith in His worthiness rather than our own. We are told over and over to worship the Creator rather than the created. Once our heart is given to God, our obedience follows. God has His own will. We are made in His image. God certainly has His plans, but just as His will is sovereign to do with as He chooses, so too he grants us the freedom to love or rebel.

Wedding
Joel 2:15-17 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Trumpets appear frequently in scripture, particularly in prophetic writing. Moses established the Feast of Trumpets (Lev 23:24), first of the autumn feasts. Trumpets are used to sound warning alarms and announce the start of religious events. A trumpet blast is also associated with the return of Jesus and the catching away of the faithful (1 Cor 15:52, 1 Thess 4:16). In this context Joel indicates the trumpet is used to call for a gathering. The gathering is solemn and features a fast. The calling out of the groom and bride, in a simple reading, demonstrates the importance of making sure everyone drops what they are doing to join in repentance. In the context of messianic prophecy, we know Jesus spoke of himself as groom and the church as his bride. Joel indicates the groom and bride will come together in the gathering. This fits perfectly with New Testament prophecies mentioned above (1 Cor 15:52, 1 Thess 4:16). Throughout the entire church the religious leaders will cry out to God begging Him not to make the faithful look like fools. This is an appeal for God to glorify His own name. Shame upon God’s followers is shame upon God, or at least that’s the logic of the plea. We know that God acts for His own glory (Ez 20:14). The religious elite of Jesus’ time called out to God and many of the people believed God would send a leader to free them from political oppression, if no other reason than the glory of God’s own name. Instead of military leader for the Jews, the entire world received a servant King (groom) who would free us (his bride) from the oppressive yoke of our real enemies – Satan, sin, and death. Jesus left heaven to walk among us as a human. His body lay in the grave for a period of time, but then he left that tomb. The bride was also being prepared. Peter and the other disciples went from being frightened fringe followers with carnal visions of kingdom greatness to Spirit filled Apostles at Pentecost.

Mercy

Joel 2:18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. This is good news. Armies have come and destroyed. There are great and awful signs in the heavens and earth. There is a call to repent. The people respond by gathering, humbling themselves, and asking for mercy. When the Lord sees a demonstration of faith, He is faithful to respond. To be jealous is to be protective of one’s own property. Human jealousy is shallow because all of creation belongs to God. On the other hand, God’s jealousy is a wonderful thing because the Lord’s love is so powerful it brings mercy and forgiveness to those whom He loves. Instead of bringing down the fullness of wrath deserved, He relents and forgives His people.

Grace
Joel 2:19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. There is a time of suffering, then repentance, then restoration. This pattern is frequently repeated throughout history for individuals as well as nations. The specific items God promises to send are symbolic as well as literal. Grain is the source of bread. It is pure until leavening is added. Jesus spoke of himself as the bread of life (Jn 6:35). At the last supper he broke bread as a symbol of his own body being given (Lk 22:19). Wine can refer to the results of actions because it is associated with fruit (grapes). Jesus used wine as a symbol of his blood being poured out to establish the new covenant (Lk 22:20) – the ultimate fruit of the ultimate good action. Oil is a precious fuel and it is used for anointing. The name “Christ” literally means “Anointed One of God.” Prophets often used a sense of fulfillment to indicate spiritual health – or lack of fulfillment to indicate spiritual emptiness. In this case, the combined symbols of bodily advent, new covenant fulfillment, and anointing that will satisfy spiritual needs all point to Jesus Christ. Jesus came as a descendant of Jacob, however the promise is to those who are descendants by faith rather than flesh.

Purification
Joel 2:20 “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. Assyria conquered and exiled the Northern Kingdom and parts of Judah in the late 8 th century BC. Their army reached to the gates of Jerusalem in 701 BC, but left without conquering the city. The biblical record attributes this retreat to God’s response to Hezekiah’s repentance and reforms. Assyria was utterly destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians in 612 BC. The Roman Empire also fits this prophecy even though the Roman Empire did not collapse until centuries after the time of Christ. At its height, the Roman Empire extended from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Indian Ocean in the east. Although it suffered at the hands of several external enemies, the Roman Empire was its own worst enemy. It became divided, weak, and essentially fell apart under the weight of its own bureaucracy. Each of these empires fulfill the prophecy in its own way, yet neither is truly is perfect fit. Ps 103:12 says that God will separate our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. The central figure in all of scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone lived a sinless life and sacrificed himself to atone for our sin. Satan is our accuser and great enemy, but the ultimate enemy is death itself. Death only has power through sin. When our sin is forgiven it is separated from us and death loses its power. Jesus taught that when a demon is cast out of a person it goes into dry a dry place. The descriptions of hell, particularly in the New Testament, describe it as a parched and desolate place. The great enemy, Satan, will eventually be sent to a completely parched and desolate place described as a lake of fire. It is also described as a place that stinks of sulfur and brimstone (Rev 19:20). Either Assyria or Rome could be thought of as the literal fulfillment, but with regard to the ultimate fulfillment, the removal of sin and casting of its author, Satan, into dry smelly fires of hell is the best fit of all.

Restoration
Joel 2:21-27 “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. One of the great themes of scripture is restoration. Creation was initially very good (Gen 1:31). There was no sin, no death, and no reason to toil or have sorrow. At the time of the fall, God instituted the plan to restore mankind to the original right relationship. All of the struggles we face are geared toward causing us to realize our sin, repent, and come into a restored relationship with our Creator. Jesus revealed the glorious goodness of God’s plan of redemption. Though our physical nature is corrupt, our spiritual nature was breathed into us by God. When temptation is removed and our beings are restored to their original sinless nature, we will be free indeed of the curse of sorrow and death. God promises to destroy the tempter who caused our fall. He promises to return to us our incorrupt nature. He further promises to abide eternally with us. While we live in the flesh it is impossible to comprehend what sort of life it will be like, yet it is the very hope in which we place our faith. The entire earth was cursed along with mankind. The land, plants, and animals will be restored. It will be as if the armies of destroyers had never come. We will have the joy of spiritual fulfillment in the presence of the One who fulfills.

Pentecostal Prophecy
Joel 2:28-29 “ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. It is interesting to note that Joel 2:28-32 forms the third chapter in modern Jewish bibles. The third chapter in a standard Christian bible is the fourth chapter in a Jewish bible. Orthodox Jews who reject Jesus Christ as the Anointed One of God are forced to utterly reject the notion that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. This prophecy points to the coming in power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. John the Baptist prophesied the same event (Mk 1:8) as did Jesus (Jn 14:26, Ac 1:8). Peter experienced (Ac 2:1-4) and proclaimed the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (Ac 2:17-18). Immediately after this the disciples began to preach in power. The book of Acts records many occurrences of the Holy Spirit being poured out in various ways, including prophecy, visions, and dreams. The fact that Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his Pentecost sermon should indicate Joel's prophecies are not to be taken lightly. The Holy Spirit was certainly at work before Pentecost. Scripture records the activity of the Holy Spirit filling certain people like Gideon (Ju 6:34), King Saul (1 Sam 10:10), and even Saul’s servants (1 Sam 19:20). There are many instances of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, but the prophecy of Joel describes something new. The Old Testament records the Holy Spirit coming upon certain people for specific purposes. Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has been freely given to all believers.

Dark Sun and Bloody Moon
Joel 2:30-31 “ And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Peter includes these verses in his Pentecost quotation (Ac 2:19-20). The celestial signs are associated with the same context Peter was preaching about. The context was the death and resurrection of Jesus. The celestial signs would have made perfect sense to his audience since they took place on the afternoon of the crucifixion. On that day the sun set and noon and rose again at about 3 pm, only to set normally again at about 6 pm (Mt 27:45,57). It was the middle of the Jewish month, so it was a full moon. Normally a full moon could not be seen during the day, but because the sun set at noon the full moon was visible. Joel predicted the moon would be blood red. A full moon in eclipse appears dark red. According to published calculations there was a lunar eclipse in progress on the afternoon (Jerusalem local time) of Friday, April 3, 33 AD. This eclipse should not have been visible from Jerusalem, but had the earth been rotated out of place while our Lord hung on the cross the red eclipsed moon would have been visible during the crucifixion. The blood of our Lord was spilled that afternoon and certainly fires would have been lit in the chaotic darkness. Joel also predicted the earthquake (2:10) recorded in the New Testament (Mt 27:51-54). A powerful earthquake would certainly be expected if the earth’s rotation were altered as the gospel accounts suggest. Peter’s audience remembered vividly the darkness and devastating earthquake less than two months earlier at Passover. Roman, Greek and other extra-biblical records of the period mention earthquakes during that time as well as an unexplained darkness on that date. Rev 6:12-17 records the opening of the “sixth seal.” In that passage John sees the sun turning dark, the moon turning the color of blood, stars moving quickly across the sky, and an incredibly powerful earthquake. Many bible scholars associate this event with our future rather than the crucifixion. Consider the first five seals (Rev 6:1-11). The first four are the horsemen bringing conquest, strife, economy, and death. These things have been with mankind since the first family was ejected from the Garden of Eden. The fifth seal contained the souls of the faithful waiting for the fulfillment of their redemption. The sixth seal described the signs of the day of the crucifixion. Rev 7 says the horsemen of the first four seals were restricted. Twelve tribes were sealed and a multitude of other born again believers were shown to John. When the seventh seal was opened (Rev 8:1), John next saw seven trumpets. The dark sun and red moon of Rev 6:12 is not a puzzle piece that will drop into place at the end of time. John was shown signs of the crucifixion in the full and proper context of the glorious redemption plan of God. In addition to the literal fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in the crucifixion, the symbolism fits perfectly with the actual events. God is described as the Father of light (Gen 1:3, Dan 2:22, Jas 1:17). The light is both literal (as in Genesis) and spiritual (Jas 1:17). To demonstrate literally that the Father was turning away from the sin of the world in the act of forsaking Jesus on the cross (Mt 27:46), Jerusalem was rotated away from the sun’s light to face the darkness of space. Instead of seeing the sun, the residents of Jerusalem could see the bloody red moon in eclipse. Jesus said he did not make up his own words, but did only what the Father told him (Jn 8:42). In the same fashion, the moon only reflects the sun’s light. Jesus was covered in his own blood just as the moon was turned the color of blood.

Salvation
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. Joel 2:28-29 describe the events of Pentecost after the day of the Lord. Joel 2:30-31 describe the Passover crucifixion before the day of the Lord. This last verse describes the ultimate glorious outcome of the day of the Lord. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. In one literal sense all of the Apostles survived the earthquake and escaped the fury of the Jews and Romans in the turmoil of the crucifixion and the days afterward. In another literal sense, the followers of Christ heeded the Lord’s warning (Mt 24:15-16) and fled Jerusalem during the Jewish revolt of 70 AD. In the greater context of scripture and the purpose of Jesus Christ, salvation is from death to eternal life in the presence of our glorified Lord. Throughout scripture we are told to seek God (Dt 4:29, Ac 17:26-27), to believe in Him alone for salvation (Is 45:22, Ac 4:12), and call upon His name (Lam 3:55-58, Ac 2:21). In God we place our faith, find our hope, and experience love. To call on the name of the Lord is to demonstrate faith. It is salvation we hope for. The purpose and fulfillment is God’s love.

Majoring in the Minors

Joel Chapters:

1 2 3

Article submitted Sunday, April 18, 2010 & read 1423 times.

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» left by Teresa (1 year 293 days ago.)

Excellent - I appreciate sharing the different perspectives in interpretation, and I agree with the bottom line. It all boils down to who Jesus is and what He came to do. A little side note; you listed Amos 2:3, I fixed it here for you, but you might want to update your file at home :-). Teresa
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» left by Lance Ponder⁽⁹⁰⁾ (1 year 293 days ago.)

Thanks so much for fixing that item. I probably would not have ever noticed. Little things like that drive me crazy when others do it, but for some reason I find it difficult to see the plank in my own eye. LOL. Thanks!

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