Joel 2

The Day of the Lord
Text
Comments
.1 ¶ Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
.2  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
  1 - Blow the trumpet This use of the trumpet gives us an idea for interpreting the trumpets in Revelation re0802, re0907. This verse expresses the theme of the book.
   1 - In Zion The call is to those who call themselves true followers. It is not to the world.
   1 - Trumpet Two Hebrew words are translated "trumpet." Here it is the shophar, the ram's horn. Also in ex1916 and jh0604.
   2 - Darkness ... people ... strong The invasion is turned back v17-20.
 3  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
.4  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
   3 - Garden of Eden See ge0208.
   4 - Horses Compare re0907. The horsemen probably weren't running. The word parashim also means horses to ride or for war.
 5  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
.6  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
 7  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
 8  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
 9  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

   5 - Chariots Compare re0909.
   6 - Blackness From pa'rur or parur, a blackened cooking pot. Compare na0210, je3006.
   8 - Neither ... thrust another "each his brother they press not, Each in his way they go on." (YLT, Young's Literal Translation.). Perhaps this means that the final assault on truth will be well organized. Certainly people who accept to follow the beast of Revelation 13 will be following strict orders re1315-17. We may expect that labor unions have great control.
.10  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
 11  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
   10 - Earth shall quake As under the sixth seal and the seventh plague. See re0614, re1618.
   11 - Army Seen also as directed by the one on the white horse re1914. If the book was written during the time of Josiah, it could have predicted the Babylonian invasion. 2ki2016, 2ki22, 2ki23. Compare Zephaniah's description would be parallel zp0114, zp0201.
.12 ¶ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
.13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
 14  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
  12 - Turn ye - From shub, better translated, turn back or return.
  13 - Rend your heart Their actions needed to be sincere.

    This is the work of preparation for the day of atonement le1629f which represents the final judgment/cleasnsing at the end of time.

.15  Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
 16  Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
.17  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
   15 - Blow the trumpet In the sanctuary calendar trumpets were blown ten days before the day of atonement le2323 which ends in those who choose not to comply to be cut off from the camp. In Revelation, trumpets lead up to the time when the Lord comes in wrath and saves the faithful re1116.
   17 - Weep between We may see this as the space between the altar in the courtyard and the entrance to the temple. The porch was an area or room at the entrance 2ch0812, 1ki0864. The reason is clarified by Ezekiel, ez0816. See the temple illustration after mt2313.
.18 ¶ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
 19  Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
.20  But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
   18 - Then As the people of v16 are gathered as prescribed for the day of atonement. At the end of that day we see symbolized the gathering of the righteous and the cutting off of those who only claim to be righteous le2329. Also see the introductory note for Joel.
See latter rain chart.

 21  Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
 22  Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
.23  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
  23 Be glad, O sons 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. (RSV) 
 24  And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
.25  And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
 26  And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
 27  And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

   21 - Fear not, O land The land is the place for the harvest of souls. Winter wheat is planted in the fall and comes up. Then it is dormant during the winter. When spring comes, it grows up from the roots to produce grain in the summer. Rain is needed in both fall and spring.
   23 - Former rain ... latter From moreh, literally "teacher." It is felt that the context requires the present translation. The rain is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit for the work of saving souls. The latter rain is the final gift as the righteous are sealed and the loud cry is expressed throughout the earth re1801. Also de1101-17; mal0307-0405 and zc1001.
  23 - Moderately Literally "with respect to righteousness."
   In comparison, the former rain was the gift of the spirit initiated at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to the followers of Jesus ac02, jn1526f. The latter rain would be for the ripening of the grain and would be for the very end of time on this earth of sin.
   In one sense, all who accept Christ receive both rains. The first is forgiveness or justification – seed sprouting. The latter is sanctification – maturing in Christ. These two are seen in a special way by the first gift of the Holy Spirit after the cross and the final preparation for sealing re0702b also pictured as the cleansing work of the day of atonement le1630.
  23 - First month The calendar began with the coming of spring. The winter date for beginning our current calendar (Jan. 1) was adopted from pagan worship of the sun. It was when they could see the days getting longer. The sun (their god) was coming back.
  25 - I will restore This is a great promise for those who have been disappointed in this life. See ro0818.
.28 ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
 29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
 30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
.31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
.32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
  28 - Afterward The word, 'achar, also means "in the latter part." This is during the end-time outpouring of the Spirit.
  Was this fulfilled at the time of Pentecost? See note below.
  Spirit on all flesh? It seems clear that this would not be those who had sinned against the spirit mt1231 — all the wicked who reject God's final appeal. Those in view here have received the latter rain. They are God's end-time remnant. We will understand better soon.
  31 - Sun ... moon See re0612c.
  32 - Whosoever shall call Those who respond to the loud cry re1801. These are not just Jews. Also ro1011ff.
  32 - Remnant See re1217.

Note, verse 28:
    Was this gift of prophecy given at Pentecost? ac0216ff. In a special sense, yes. Peter and others were speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  The prophetic gift, however, is not evident beyond this from the story. We hear of no prophetic dreams and visions (except later ac2108f). God gave gifts as they were needed. At Pentecost it was the gift of languages (tongues). The gospel was to be communicated to the whole world by people who didn't know the most of the languages. Near the end of time, as indicated by the word, "afterward," we find the specific gift of prophecy. The final remnant, may be seen in verse 32. They would have the gift of prophecy. This double fulfillment is implied by verse 23. In Palestine, there were two seasons of rain as there are in many places of the earth today. From the text we see that the latter (last of two) one would bring a large harvest of souls.
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