“Sometimes the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament get overlooked, but they have a lot to say about the times of the end, (which is where we are now) take Joel for example.  These verses from chapter 2 describe a coming army on the day of the Lord.  Joel say’s the day of the Lord is coming, all will tremble, it will be a day of darkness and gloom, clouds and blackness.  He describes a large mighty army such as ‘never was of old, nor ever will be in ages to come.’  He describes what this looks like.  If this is described so many times in the Old and New Testament, maybe we ought to start paying attention.  Joel ends his book with blessings and judgement for the nations.  So many times God say’s Zion is my Holy Hill, Jerusalem will be Holy, never again will foreigners invade her.  I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound like God is going to be happy with anyone who tries to invade, or give away His Holy Hill.  But still they try.  With warnings like this, we know what’s coming.  We have been warned.  Turn to God.  Dark Storm Clouds are on the horizon.

Joel 2:1-11

New International Version (NIV)

An Army of Locusts

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—
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 in ancient times
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 heavens tremble,
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 is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it?

Blessings For God’s People And Judgement For Egypt And Edom

Blessings for God’s People

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.^[a]
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.
²⁰ Judah will be inhabited forever
and Jerusalem through all generations.
²¹ Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?
No, I will not.”

The Lord dwells in Zion!

Credit to Bible Gateway/Wikimedia Commons

Categories: Prophecy