FLYING SAUCERS
or FLAME-THROWING TANKS ???
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Joel 2:1-11 (N.I.V.) …
“Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the
day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand- 2 a day of darkness
and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the
mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will
be in ages to come. 3 Before them fire devours, behind them a flame
blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert
waste- nothing escapes them. 4 They have the appearance of horses;
they gallop along like cavalry. 5 With a noise like that of chariots
they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like
a mighty army drawn up for battle. 6 At the sight of them, nations
are in anguish; every face turns pale. 7 They charge like warriors;
they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their
course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight
ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. 9 They
rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like
thieves they enter through the windows. 10 Before them the earth
shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no
longer shine. 11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his
forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of
the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?”
This curious passage of
Scripture from Joel 2 has been the ‘happy-hunting ground’ of pop-prophecy
writers.
One book tells me that the
reference is “modern flame throwing weapons and tanks” … another assures me
that this speaks of the armies returning with our Lord at His Second Coming.
Howard Rand interprets the
passage … “enemy aeroplanes:, whilst Dr De Haan writes that it is a description
of the battle in the middle of the Tribulation period after the Rapture of the
Church!
An article in New Life
Christian Newspaper (November 16, 1961) said it was “indisputably Russia” …
and David Wilkerson states that it is a prophecy of the Jesus Revolution that
took place in the 1960’s.
Evangelist W.V. Grant, a
Charismatic, used these verses to prove that America was about to the invaded
by men (demons) from the Moon!
* * * * * * * * * *
So what is Joel talking
about??
We start with chapter 1 …
1. THE PLAGUE … and Its Consequences
Joel sees a tremendous
locust plague sweeping across the Land of Israel … for that matter, FOUR Locust
Plagues!!
The reference to a ‘nation’
in verse 6 is a metaphor for the locusts.
They are devouring everything in their path.
2. THE PROPHET … and His Cry
Joel addresses the old men
(1:2-3), the drunkards (v. 5), the farmers (v. 11), and the priests (v. 13) ..
3. THE PUNISHMENT … and its Cause
For this is the result of
sin in the nation of Israel. Joel
pleads with them to call upon God … who has sent this plague … that it might be
stopped (1:14) ...
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who
live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD .
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The Lessons of the Locusts !
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In chapter 2:1-27 Joel
continues the same message. He is still
talking about a locust plague!!
(1) There was no chapter break in the original Book of Joel … chapter 2
just flows on from chapter 1.
(2) The locust plague is described as a “Day of the Lord” in 1:15 … and the
same description is used in 2:11.
(3) The use of similes … “as
horsemen” (2:4); “like men
of war” (2:7), indicates that it is not an army, literally, of
which the prophet speaks.
(4) The military-like description is apt for a locust plague. The Herald newspaper spoke of “the
scattered locusts will form into a military-like column…” (November 13, 1971,
p. 7), whilst the Bulletin magazine spoke of them “congregating into
bands which move like ancient armies…” (October 2, 1971, p. 25.)
(5) “When they fall upon the sword they will not be wounded” (2:8) simply
means that a mere sword cannot stop them.
It should be noted that this prophecy is written in Hebrew poetry.
(6) The “darkened sun” (2:10) is caused by the mass of flying
insects.
(7) Vegetation is destroyed … not human life (2:3). Such is the effect of a locust plague.
(8) There is a resemblance to horses (2:4) …
“Theodoret and Jerome long
since pointed out the resemblance of a locust’s head to that of the horse. The resemblance is very close, as we see the
moment we look at the head of the grasshopper, our English locust. To this day the Gormans call these insects heupferde
(hay-horses), and the Italians cavaletti (little horses). Joel says (verse 4), “Their aspect is as the
aspect of horses, and they ruse like chargers” (Bible Educator, Volume
2, p. 93).
(9) One of the titles of Allah in Moslem literature is “Lord of the
Locusts!” And …
“The Arabs say that the tiny
cross-lines on the wings of the locust form letters, and compose the legend,
‘We are the army of the living God’!”
(ibid, p. 94).
(10) On top of all this the locusts are distinctly spoken of as the
‘army’ of which Joel has been speaking! (2:25).
(11) And as if that’s not enough, verse 28 marks a future event, when
God was to “pour out His Spirit upon all flesh…” And Peter tells us that it took place on the Day of
Pentecost. “This is that” he said,
“spoken of by Joel…” (Acts 2:16).
So, if the events in Joel
2:28 were to take place “afterward” … that is, after the events
of chapter 1:1-2:27 … obviously we are not speaking of events in the middle of
a future Tribulation … or an invasion of Jesus People … or Russian armies … or
men from the Moon!
Joel 1:1-2:27 is Historical,
dealing with events in his day.
Joel 2:28-3:21 deal with
Future events … i.e. future from Joel’s day but not necessarily ours. Verses 28-32 are quoted in Acts 2 as having
been fulfilled then.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A LESSON IN HERMENEUTICS (interpreting Scripture aright!)
Rudyard Kipling wrote …
I have five honest serving
men,
They taught me all I knew:
Mr What and Where and When,
And How and Why and Who!
And these are vital helpers
in grappling with the meaning of much of Scripture … especially these
prophetical books.
Before the study, ask
yourself … Who wrote it? To whom? Why?
When? Where?? And any other question that will shed light
on the background and meaning of the sacred writing.
If you do, you will not find
‘motor cars’ in the Book of Nahum, or ‘Antichrist’ in the Song of Solomon, or
‘General Allenby’ in the Book of Haggai, or ‘Flying Saucers’ in Joel. But, believe me, some folk do (I have their
books)!!
2. A LESSON IN BIBLE PROPHECY
The phrase “Day of the Lord”
does not always refer to the “Day of the Lord” at the End of the Age.
Zephaniah, for example,
speaks of a “Day of the Lord” for Judah (Zephaniah 1:4, 14). Isaiah 13:6 speaks of the “Day of the Lord”
on Babylon (which took place about 537 BC).
Ezekiel 30:3-4 says the “Day of the Lord is near” for Egypt.
And for the inhabitants of
Israel in Joel’s day … the locust plague was a very real “Day of the Lord”!
But, of course, there will
be a “Day of the Lord” at the sound of the Last Trump.
Joel 2:1-2 …
“Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the
day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand- a day of darkness and gloom, a
day of clouds and blackness.”
Likewise the reference to
the “sun being darkened” was not meant to teach that the sun itself ‘went
out’. It was a poetic description of
the locust plague (2:10).
And other mention of this
heavenly phenomena in the Bible might be understood in a similar manner … the
smoke of a burning city could obscure the brightness of the sun, for
example. Is that why Peter quoted Joel
2:30 on the Day of Pentecost … because judgement was about to fall on
Jerusalem…? See Acts 2:14-21.
After all, the destruction
that occurred in AD 70 … a generation after Peter’s sermon … was
a “Day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20) for the Jewish nation!
3. A LESSON IN CONSECRATION
Joel 2:12-13 …
"Even now," declares the LORD , "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God”
Let there be an inner
repentance … not just outward show.
“Rend your hearts and not
your garments” as also said the preacher, after he found $56.70 and one trouser
button in the offering plate…
4. A LESSON IN ANTHROPOMORPHISMS!!
Which is the theological
term used when the Lord is spoken of in human terminology! For example, when the Scripture speaks of
His ‘hand’ or His ‘finger’ or His ‘mouth’ … we are using anthropomorphic
language. And Joel does it too…
“… for he is gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending
calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a
blessing- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.” 2:13-14).
If we get right with the
Lord, says the prophet, maybe He will ‘repent’ (v. 13).
It is a human way of saying
that our change of attitude to Him will result in us being under His mercy
instead of His wrath. And then He’ll
remove the locusts … and the cornfields and vineyards will prosper again (v.
14).
5. A LESSON IN MINISTRY
Joel 2:17 …
“Let the priests, the
ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar.”
Some ministers spend all
their days wrapped up in social work … out on ‘the porch’ helping the man in
the street. But they neglect the
message of ‘the altar’ … the place of sacrifice where sin is forgiven.
And some ministers spend
their time studying great theological tomes … analysing Greek verbs and
unravelling deep Scriptural truths … so much so that they neglect reaching the
man in the street.
Joel puts the minister
between the porch (the lost humanity) and the altar (Calvary) that he might
bring them together.
6. A LESSON IN DIVINE MERCY
Joel 2:19-27.
If our repentance is sincere, says Joel, the Lord will bless us
again … even “restore the years that the locust has eaten…” (2:25).
He’s the God who delighteth
in mercy (2:13) … and awaits His people to come home … like the New Testament
prodigal.
Hallelujah!!
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A GLIMPSE INTO THE
FUTURE : 2:28-3:21 (N.I.V.)
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INTRODUCTION
25 "I will repay you for the years the
locusts have eaten-the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and
the locust swarm - my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are
full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders
for you; never again will my people be shamed. 27 Then you will know
that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed. 28 "And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those
days.
The word “afterward” divides the historical section
(1:1-2:27), which dealt with a locust plague in Joel’s own day, to the
prophetic section where Joel gives us a glimpse of events that were future …to
him, i.e.
Joel 2:28-29 are quoted by Peter as referring to the
coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16) … “This is
that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,” he said … in spite of
Dispensational commentators who say it was not the fulfilment of Joel’s
prophecy! (V. McGee, pp 169-170; G. Williams, p. 645; Ryrie on Acts p. 20 ‘It will be fulfilled in
the Millennium’! p. 20.)
* * * * * * * * * *
There are some prerequisites needed that will help us understand this portion of Joel’s prophecy aright.
(a) Concerning the ‘Day of the Lord’. This
phrase does not always apply to the End of the Age. For example, there was a ‘Day of the
Lord’ for Babylon (Isaiah 13:1,6); a
Day of the Lord ‘ for Judah (Zephaniah 1:4, 7); a ‘Day of the Lord’ for the House of Israel (Amos 5:1, 18) … And,
of course, there is a ‘Day of the Lord’ when the Lord Jesus returns (Luke
17:26). In Joel 1:15 it referred to a
locust plague about 800 BC. Yet
another ‘Day of the Lord’ is mentioned in 2:31 … and another in 3:14!
These are not synonymous as we shall discover.
(b) Comparing with other prophets. Again and again the Old Testament prophets look forward to the
Messianic Age. And the New Testament
writers quote their writings and apply them to the Christian dispensation…
Haggai 2:6-9 … see Hebrews 12: 26-27. Zechariah 13:1,7 … see Matthew 26:31.
Malachi 3:1 … see Luke 1:76. Most important is Amos 9:11-15. James quotes this and applies it to Gentiles
coming into the church (Acts 15:15-19).
And Joel is about to do the same thing … point us to
the Christian era … and then on into Eternity.
(c) Conquering the Vocabulary!! That
is, the Old Testament prophets describe the events of our day … in the language
of theirs! For example, Amos spoke of
Israel “possessing the remnant of Edom” (Amos 9:15). But when James quotes it he says “Gentiles” instead of “Edom” ...
and those who possess them is the Church … spiritual Israel! Likewise Joel will talk about ‘Edom’ being
punished (3:19) … a prophecy that one day the enemies of God’s people, the
church, will be finally destroyed.
Notice also that some passages are poetry … and not
to be taken in a literal sense! (3: 18).
(d) Catching the Double Reference… Many
Old Testament incidents are a fore-view of future events. A ‘type’ is the Scriptural term (1
Corinthians 10: 11). For example …
David is told his son will build a temple (2 Samuel 7:12-13). David’s son, Solomon, did. But it is a ‘type’ … a Divinely designed
illustration ... of David’s Greater Son building a spiritual Temple.
David’s lament over being betrayed by his friend is
found in Psalm 55:12-14 … a Messianic reference to Judas’ betrayal. The Passover is a ‘type’ of our Saviour’s
sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Joel, likewise, saw the devastating locust plague …
a contemporary ‘Day of the Lord’ … which becomes a preview of a ‘Day of
the Lord’ that was yet future.
======================
(i) A Day of Power is coming! … 2:28-29
28 "And afterward,I will pour out my
Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will
dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my
servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
The Lord Jesus had told His disciples that they “
would receive power” after the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
Just as the bareness caused by the locust plague was
followed by the rains that brought back fertility to the land (2:23-25), so the
400 years without a prophetic voice would be broken by the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit. And this would result in spiritual fruitfulness. Nor was this anointing just for judges
(Judges 6:34) or Kings (1 Samuel 10:6;
16:3, etc) or prophets (Micah 3:8;
Isaiah 61:1) or those given a special task (Exodus 31:3), but all
of God’s children … young and old, male and female! Wow!
(ii) A ‘Day of the Lord’ is coming! … 2:30-31
30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on
the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be
turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the LORD.
Why did Peter quote this portion of Joel’s
prophecy? It did not happen on the Day
of Pentecost. But 40 years later
judgement descended upon Jerusalem. The
Roman armies razed the glorious Temple.
The Jewish historian, Josephus, records that 110,000 Jews died of famine
and sword whilst another 97,000 glutted the slave markets of the Roman Empire (Wars
of the Jews, Book 6, chapter 9, paragraph 3).
Just as the darkening of the sun in Joel 2:10 was
caused by the locust swarm, so here the cause is the smoke and flames of a
burning Jerusalem. Nothing literally
happened to the celestial bodies.
(iii) A Day of Deliverance is coming … 2:32
32 And everyone who calls on
the name of the LORD will be saved; for
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said,
among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
The Lord Jesus had foretold this terrible event and
added that when His disciples saw a certain sign they were to flee from
Jerusalem (Luke 21:20-21). This they
did before escape was impossible and before the destruction occurred (Josephus
2/19/7; 2/20/1).
Paul also quotes this verse from Joel and gives it a
‘double reference’ … for the followers of Christ are delivered from spiritual
doom … by believing His word. (Romans 10:12-13)
Joel 3:1 "In those days and at
that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I
will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
Bear in mind there was no chapter break (nor verses)
in the original prophecy. When,
therefore, Joel goes on to say, “in that day” (3:1) he is still referring to
the Christian era.
There is no such place as the valley of
Jehoshaphat. The word means … “Jehovah
Judges!” And in poetic language Joel is
simply saying the unsaved are facing Judgement Day (John 5:22). His people, described here as ‘Judah &
Jerusalem’, will be blessed.
3:2 There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among
the nations and divided up my land. 3 They cast lots for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might
drink.
The sins of today’s unsaved are described in the
language of the eighth century B.C. And also in light of the crimes then
committed against His Old Testament people.
3:4 "Now what have you
against me, O Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying
me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and
speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took
my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6
You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send
them far from their homeland. 7 "See, I am going to rouse them
out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads
what you have done. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the
people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away." The LORD has spoken.
Again, the sins of these ancient peoples against
Israel are a ‘type’, revealing the difference between those who are the enemies
of God’s church … and those who are His.
3:9 Proclaim this among the
nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw
near and attack. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your
pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!" 11
Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there.
Joel calls to the wicked to declare war on God. It is satire!
3:11 Bring down your warriors, O LORD! And, he adds, the Lord is ready for the battle! 12
"Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of
Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.”
The battlefield turns out to be a courtroom. It is the final ‘Day of the Lord’ at the end
of history.
13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is
ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the
winepress is full and the vats overflow- so great is their wickedness!" 14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is
near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will be
darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 16 The LORD will roar from
Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble.
The separation between wheat & tares, sheep and
goats, is about to take place.
·
There
was a harvest that had been destroyed by the locusts (Joel 1:10).
·
There
was a harvest when the Lord blessed his repentant people (Joel 2:22).
·
And
there is a harvest at the Second Advent, when those who rejected the Saviour
will be cut down (3:13).
A similar word picture is used by John in Revelation
14:15-19. Read it!!
3:16 But the LORD will be a
refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Just as He was Deliverer from the locust plague …
and from the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
17 "Then you will know that I, the LORD
your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will
foreigners invade her. 18 "In that day the mountains will drip
new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run
with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the
valley of acacias.
Poetic language is used to describe the blessings
that await God’s people in the New Heavens and New Earth. It is a picture of security and prosperity
and joys untold.
19 But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert
waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed
innocent blood.
The wicked shall be destroyed.
20 Judah will be inhabited forever and
Jerusalem through all generations. 21 Their bloodguilt, which I have
not pardoned, I will pardon."
God’s people will know the joys of sins forgiven and
a Home Eternal.
There will be peace in the
Valley for me, some-day,
There will be peace in the
Valley for me;
(My Lord, I pray)
There’ll be no sadness, no
sorrow, no trouble I’ll see,
The LORD dwells in Zion!
Hallelujah!
*
* * * * * * * * *
He who delivered His people from the locust plague
is ‘just the same today’ and wants to deliver the sinner from the coming Day of
the Lord. But the choice is yours. If you have never done so, commit your life
to the Saviour … now!
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