1. The Prophecy of Joel

2. Class One: Has it been like this in your Day? Class Two: Rend your Heart and not Your Garment Class Three: I will Pour out my spirit upon All Flesh Class Four: Multitudes, Multitudes in the Valley of Decision

3. Class One Has it been like THIS in YOUR Day?

4. Author and Date. With no direct reference to the reign of a king, and no historically verifiable events mentioned, dating the prophet’s time of ministry is subject to debate. With no direct reference to the reign of a king, and no historically verifiable events mentioned, dating the prophet’s time of ministry is subject to debate. The events later in Joel’s prophecy are parallel to ideas in both pre - and post exilic prophecies. The events later in Joel’s prophecy are parallel to ideas in both pre - and post exilic prophecies.

5. A Template to Apply  Four Locust-Like Devastations – History/Present  A Call to Repentance - Present  Repentance – Near future  More Devastation – Near Future (?)  An Outpouring of God’s Spirit - Future  General Preparations for War – Future  Assembly for War in Israel - Future  Deliverance - Future  Glory of God seen by All. - Kingdom

6. The Template Applied  Four Locust-Like Devastations – Assyrians  A Call to Repentance - Hezekiah  Repentance – His Reforms  More Devastation – Nebuchadnezzar  An Outpouring of God’s Spirit - Pentecost  General Preparations for War – Last Days  Assembly for War in Israel -Last Days  Deliverance - Christ’s Return  God seen/Known All. - Millennial Kingdom

7. Background of Joel  Time and Date: Suggestions  Time of Joash ~ BC 830 Numerous Commentators [ NIV notes, Unger, Clarke, ]  Problem: Nothing in record of Joash’s time, matches what Joel describes.  Time of Josiah and Zedekiah ~ BC 630 - 590 [C. Parry, T Spongeberg]  Problem: No deliverance from Invader.

8. Best Match  Time of Hezekiah – BC 726 [HAW, DEC]  Demise of 10 Tribes by Assyrians has occurred. Israel has been ruined and wasted, by 3 Assyrian invasions. Judah, also ruined, threatened by the fourth.  Hezekiah rends his heart, and prays for deliverance. Assyrians are driven off by the Angel of the LORD.  Jerusalem is delivered.

9. Who is Joel?  Joel was a common O.T. name meaning The LORD is God in Hebrew. There are several phrases in Joel of similar meaning: 1: 14; 2:13,23,26,27; 3:17,  Of his Father, Pethuel, (LXX – Bathuel), God Delivers, nothing else is known.  The numerous references to sacrifices, meal offerings and temple practices, suggests that Joel, might be of the Levites. In light of their dependence upon the offerings by the nation for a major portion of their daily food, the calamity of drought, invasion and failure of the crops, meant great hardship and devastation of the life style of the Levites.

10. The Devastation  3. Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. (4 Generations !) 4. That which the palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

11. The LORD’s Devouring Armies

12. Swarms of Locust

13. Locusts....  “There are ten Hebrew words used in Scripture to signify locust. Locusts belong to the class of Orthoptera, i.e., straight-winged. They are of many species. The ordinary Syrian locust resembles the grasshopper, but is larger and more destructive. "The legs and thighs of these insects are so powerful that they can leap to a height of two hundred times the length of their bodies. When so raised they spread their wings and fly so close together as to appear like one compact moving mass." They were eaten in a preserved state by the ancient Assyrians.

14. About Locusts: The 4 types:  Locust – Arbeh – Locust ; Joel 1:4; 2:25; Ex 10:4,12,13,14,19; Lev 11:22; Deut 28:38; 1Kg 8:37; 2Chron 6:28; Ex 10:4,12,13,14,19; Lev 11:22; Deut 28:38; 1Kg 8:37; 2Chron 6:28; Psa. 78:46; 105:34;109:23; Prov 30:27; Nah 3:15,17 [ Grasshopper: Psa. 78:46; 105:34;109:23; Prov 30:27; Nah 3:15,17 [ Grasshopper: Judges 6:5;7:12; Job 29:20; Jer 46:23 ] Judges 6:5;7:12; Job 29:20; Jer 46:23 ]  PalmerWorm – gazam, a caterpillar, creeping locust ; Joel 1:4;2:25; Amos 4:9  Cankerworm – yeleq, a hedge chafer; Joel 1:4; 2:25; Nah. 3:15,16 ;[“caterpillar”, Psa 105.34; Jer 51:14,27 ] Nah. 3:15,16 ;[“caterpillar”, Psa 105.34; Jer 51:14,27 ]  Caterpillar – chasil a devourer; Joel 1:4;2:25; 1Kgs 8:37; 2Chron 6:28; Psa 78:46; Isa 33:4

15. Locusts - more  The devastations they make in Eastern lands are often appalling. The invasions of locusts are the heaviest calamites that can befall a country. "Their numbers exceed computation: the Hebrews called them 'the countless,' and the Arabs knew them as 'the darkeners of the sun.' Unable to guide their own flight, though capable of crossing large spaces, they are at the mercy of the wind, which bears them as blind instruments of Providence to the doomed region given over to them for the time. Innumerable as the drops of water or the sands of the seashore, their flight obscures the sun and casts a thick shadow on the earth (Exod. 10:15; Judges 6:5; 7:12; Jer. 46:23; Joel 2:10 ). It seems indeed as if a great aerial mountain, many miles in breadth, were advancing with a slow, un-resting progress.

16. Locusts Woe to the countries beneath them if the wind fall and let them alight! They descend unnumbered as flakes of snow and hide the ground. It may be 'like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them is a desolate wilderness. At their approach the people are in anguish; all faces lose their color' (Joel 2:6). No walls can stop them; no ditches arrest them; fires kindled in their path are forthwith extinguished by the myriads of their dead, and the countless armies march on (cp. Joel 2:8,9).

17. Locusts If a door or a window be open, they enter and destroy If a door or a window be open, they enter and destroy everything of wood in the house. Every terrace, court, and everything of wood in the house. Every terrace, court, and inner chamber is filled with them in a moment. Such an awful inner chamber is filled with them in a moment. Such an awful visitation swept over Egypt ( Ex. 10:1-19), consuming visitation swept over Egypt ( Ex. 10:1-19), consuming before it every green thing, and stripping the trees, till the before it every green thing, and stripping the trees, till the land was bared of all signs of vegetation. A strong north-west land was bared of all signs of vegetation. A strong north-west wind from the Mediterranean swept the locusts into the Red wind from the Mediterranean swept the locusts into the Red Sea.", Sea.",

18. But – Are the “Locusts” Real or a figure of Something Else?  Is there ANY Biblical information that these Locust devastations actually happened? There seems to be no record of them.  The graphic imagery of locust devastation describes an invading army. The Assyrians were particularly destructive of the agriculture in Israel. The descriptions of the invaders with “cheek teeth of a lioness”, “burning before and afterward”, destroyed and uprooted orchards, destroyed barns and storehouses are all indications of human, rather than animal predators.  And this destruction is almost certainly the cause of the drought and famine that are indicated by the reference to seed destroyed under dirt clods and desolate pastures and dry stream beds. (Joel 1:17-20)

19. Joel 1:17-20 17. “The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down, for the grain has dried up. 18. How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering. 19. To you O LORD, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. 20. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures.” NIV.

20. Drought and Famine ?? - 1:9 We know of several We know of several  Elijah, Ahab in Israel, 1Kgs 17:1-18:46, 3 ½ yrs of drought and famine.  Elisha, at Gilgal, 2Kgs 4:38, famine in the Land.  Elisha, 2Kgs 8:1 – famine for 7 years, entire land

21. God’s Judgments on Israel and Judah  1Kgs 14:14-16 God will smite Israel  1Kgs 14:25-28 by Shishak of Egypt,  1Kgs 15:18 Asa gave all the gold and silver that remained in the house of the LORD, and the kings house, to Benhadad of Syria.  1Kgs 15:27-30 Baasha kills all the remaining seed of Jeroboam.  1Kgs 16:10 - 14 Zimri kills all the house of Baasha...and dies at Tirzah.  1Kgs 16:29 – Ahab son of Omri exceeds all that were before him in evil.  1Kgs 20:1 Benhadad besieges Samaria twice. Ahab is delivered twice.

22. 2 Kgs 10:32,33 32. “In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: 33. from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, Gilead and Bashan.”

23. 2Kgs 15:29 29. “In the days of Pekah, king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-Beth Shemesh, Janoah, Kadesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali: and he carried the people captive to Assyria.”

24. Tiglath-Pileser’s Conquests in Israel

25. 2Kgs 16:7-9 7. “So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria saying, ‘I am your servant and your son. Come up, rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me. 8. Ahaz also took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king’s house and sent a present to the king of Assyria. 9. And the king of Assyria hearkened to him; the king of Assyria marched up against Damascus and took it, carrying its people captive to Kir, and he killed Rezin.”

26. 2Kgs 17:2-3 2. “And he (Hoshea) did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria, and Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute.”

27. 2kgs 17:4-6 4.“But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. 5. Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years besieged it. 6. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.”

28. 2Kgs 17:20, 22,23. 20. “And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, and afflicted them, and gave them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.... 22. The people walked in all the sins which Jeroboam did; they did not depart from them, 23. Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day. ”

29. Habakkuk 1:5-8 “5. Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 6. For lo, I am rousing the Chaldeans, that bitter, hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth (land) to seize habitations not their own. 7. Dread and terrible are they; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves. 8. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Yea their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle, swift to devour.

30. Habakkuk 1:9-11 9. They all come for violence; terror of them goes before them. They gather captives like sand. 10. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they make sport. They laugh at every fortress, for they heap up earth and take it. 11. They sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men whose own might is their god!”

31. Zephaniah 1:1 -3 1. “The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, son Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 2. I will utterly sweep, away everything, from the face of the earth, says the LORD. 3. I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea. I will overthrow the wicked; I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth, says the LORD.

32. Zephaniah 1:4 - 7 4. I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests; 5. Those who bow down on the roofs to the host of heaven; Those who swear to the LORD and yet swear to Milcom; 6. those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him. 7. Be silent before the LORD GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.....”

33. Locust – Like Invasions by the Four Assyrian Kings mentioned in Scripture Tiglath-Pileser III 2Kgs 15:29 BC: 745 – 727 PalmerWorm Shalmaneser V 2Kgs 17:3 BC: 727 – 722 Locust Sargon (Sharrukin) Isa. 20:1 BC: 722 – 705Cankerworm Sennacherib 2Kgs 18:13 BC: 705 – 681 Caterpillar

34. The “Bottom Line” The general opinion of scholars is that these The general opinion of scholars is that these four insect names are all locusts, in various four insect names are all locusts, in various forms. forms. Our Conclusion is that these locusts represent the Assyrian invasions of Israel and Judah.

35. Class Two “Rend Your Heart and not your Garment”

36. God’s orders to “Judah and Jerusalem” Joel 1:8 – 2:17 God’s orders to “Judah and Jerusalem” Joel 1:8 – 2:17 Leading to this directive: “Rend your hearts and not your Garments!” Joel 2:13

37. The Call to Repentance !  “Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the bridegroom of her youth” Joel 1:8 What greater misery could there be for a woman about to be wedded about to be wedded than to find her prospective husband has died!

38. To the Priests “The cereal offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the LORD. The priests mourn, the ministers of the LORD.” Joel 1:9 Joel 1:9 With nothing to offer, how do they serve the LORD in their capacity. How are the people’s sins forgiven without sacrifices, and so on. capacity. How are the people’s sins forgiven without sacrifices, and so on.

39. To those who Farm Joel 1:10 -12 10. The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails. 11. Despair you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. 12. The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree – all the trees of the field – are dried up. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away.

40. Alas for that Day! Joel 1:15 -18 15. Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. 16. Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes – joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17. The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down, for the grain has dried up. 18. How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

41. Action at the LORD’s Direction Joel 1:13,14 13. “Put on sackcloth, O priests and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; For the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 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.”

42. Return to Me, with all your heart” Joel 2:12 12. “ ‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, “ ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. 13. Rend your heart and not your garments.’ Return to the LORD your God., for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from calamity.” Do you hear an echo from the past ? Do you hear an echo from the past ? (See: Ex. 34:6-8 )

43. Moses on Mt. Sinai Exodus 34:6-8 6. “ The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7. keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.’”

44. The Call to Repentance Joel 2:14 -17 14. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing – grain offering and drink offerings for the LORD your God. 15. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast., call a sacred assembly, 16. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 17. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD. Do not make them a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”

45. Who Knows...? This is a most interesting phrase. Question: If the prophet speaks as commanded, why would there be ANY uncertainty about what will happen? Answer: God’s response depends on the THEM. If they truly repent, HE will return from impending destruction. If they don’t, the judgments will stand. Answer: God’s response depends on the THEM. If they truly repent, HE will return from impending destruction. If they don’t, the judgments will stand.

46. Purging Iniquity Purging Iniquity Proverbs. 16:6,7 6.“ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. 7. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

47. Cleaning up Our Life. Psa. 119:9 - 11 9. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, his way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy word.” according to thy word.” 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy O let me not wander from thy commandments. commandments. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” might not sin against thee.”

48. “Repentance” – No Lasting Results  It must occur to any student of the scriptures, to wonder why the times of repentance were so short lived.  Hezekiah provides a wonderful model of genuine repentance. The preparation for the Passover was so sudden, that they needed to invoke the special provision of the Law, to celebrate it one month later then normal.  Hezekiah’s prayer for all – “The good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God ” (2Chron. 30:18,19) shows his inner thoughts. Yet it seems clear that the repentance did not go deeper than the torn clothing the people and their leaders wore.

49. The Call to Repentance by John the Baptist Matt. 3:1-10 2. “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 7. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? wrath to come? 8. Bear fruit that befits repentance, 9. and do not presume to say, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones, to father.’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones, to raise up children to Abraham. raise up children to Abraham. 10. Even now the axe is laid to the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit, is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

50. A Look Forward....  Judah enjoys a 100 yr reprieve from God’s Judgments. Until 587 BC.  Then 70 years captivity until ~ 533 BC  Then a 600 year long return from Exile ending in 70 AD.  Then the “Desolation because of Abominations” spoken of by Daniel.  Then 1918 years to formation of “Israel” in 1948.  And, now we await the Great and Terrible Day of the LORD.

51. Then the LORD became Jealous for His land. Joel 2: 18 - 27 v19 – I am sending you grain, wine and oil. v20 – I will remove the Northerner, from you and drive him into a parched and desolate land,... v20 - the stench and foul smell of him will rise... (Does this remind us of another prophecy?? Hint: Ezek 39)

52. I Will Restore to You the Years that the Locusts have Eaten.  Joel 2:25 –  v26 - You shall eat in plenty...my people shall never again be put to shame.  v27 – You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD am your GOD and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.  How can we understand this?

53. “Then the LORD Heard”  Hezekiah is invaded. Sennacherib’s Judean Campaign – C. BC 701, from his records:  “As for Hezekiah the Jew, who did not submit to my yoke, forty –six of his strong walled cities, as well as the small cities in the neighborhood, which were without number – by constructing a rampart out of trampled earth and by bringing up battering rams, by the attack of infantry, by tunnels, breaches and the use of axes, I besieged an took. Two hundred thousand one hundred and fifty men, young and old, male and female, horses mules asses, camels, oxen and sheep without number I brought out from them, I counted as spoil. Hezekiah himself I shut up like a caged bird in Jerusalem, his royal city; the walls I fortified against him and whosoever came out of the gates of the city, I turned back.

54. Hezekiah’s Plight His cities which I had plundered, I divided from his land and gave them to Mitinti king of Ashdod, to Padi, king of Ekron, and to Sillibel king of Gaza, Mitinti king of Ashdod, to Padi, king of Ekron, and to Sillibel king of Gaza, and thus diminished his territory. and thus diminished his territory. To the former tribute, paid yearly, I added the tribute of alliance to my lordship and added that upon him. Hezekiah himself, was overwhelmed by the fear of the brightness of my lordship; the Arabians and his other faithful warriors whom, as a defense lordship; the Arabians and his other faithful warriors whom, as a defense for Jerusalem his royal city he had brought in, fell into fear. With thirty for Jerusalem his royal city he had brought in, fell into fear. With thirty talents of gold and eight hundred talents of silver, precious stones, rouge dakkasi, lapis lazuli, couches of ivory, thrones of ivory, ivory, ushu wood, dakkasi, lapis lazuli, couches of ivory, thrones of ivory, ivory, ushu wood, ukarinnu wood, various objects, a heavy treasure, and his daughters, his ukarinnu wood, various objects, a heavy treasure, and his daughters, his women of the palace, male and female musicians, to Nineveh the city of my lordship, I caused to be brought after me; he sent his ambassadors to give tribute and to pay homage.”

55. Hezekiah’s Deliverance But, WHY did Sennacherib leave Israel without capturing Hezekiah? The Bible supplies the reason: The Bible supplies the reason:  The Angel of the LORD, destroyed 185,000 of his troops, in one night. 2 Kgs 19:35f ; 2Chron. 32:21f; and Isa. 37:36 – 37. 2 Kgs 19:35f ; 2Chron. 32:21f; and Isa. 37:36 – 37.  The spirit of the LORD, drives off the Assyrian like a hoard of locusts.  Sennacherib’s “god” was powerless to deliver him. In 681 BC, he was assassinated in the house of his god, by his own sons. This was the beginning of Assyria’s decline as an empire. In 681 BC, he was assassinated in the house of his god, by his own sons. This was the beginning of Assyria’s decline as an empire.

56. Class Three I Will Pour out My Spirit Upon All Flesh Class Three

57. Peter Explains Pentecost Acts 2:14-21 14. “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be know to you, and give ear to my words. 15. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; 16. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:”

58. Acts 2:17-21 “ 17. And in the last days, it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18. yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19. And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the day of the LORD comes, the great and manifest day. 21. And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” [RSV]

59. Joel 2:28-33  “28. And it shall come pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit, upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.  29. And on my servants and my handmaids in those days, will I pour out of my Spirit.  30.. And I will show wonders in heaven and upon earth, blood, and fire and vapor of smoke.  31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord come.  32. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved: for in mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall the saved one be, as the Lord has said, and they that have glad tidings preached to them, whom the Lord has called. “ [LXX]

60. Joel 3:1 - (Masoretic Text) 1. “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; 2. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour our my spirit. 3. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth – Blood, and fire and pillars of smoke. 4. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. 5. 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 there shall be those that escape, as the LORD hath said, And among the remnant those whom the LORD shall call.”

61. What Peter Didn’t Say... For in mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall the saved one be, as the Lord has said, and they that have glad tidings as the Lord has said, and they that have glad tidings preached to them, whom the Lord has called. “ [LXX] preached to them, whom the Lord has called. “ [LXX] For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as the LORD hath said, And among the remnant those whom the LORD shall call.” Masoretic Text.

62. The Differences  Notice the differences between the OT Septuagint and Masoretic texts of Joel, and what Peter through the spirit quotes.  Peter omits the half of the last verse of Joel.  So, we may conclude that the omitted part applies to a different (and later) time.

63. I will pour out my Spirit on ALL Flesh?  What does this quotation mean?  Is this the outward signs of the Holy Spirit (gifts) as on Pentecost, or the more subtle work through the complete written WORD the OT and NT?

64. Outward Signs of Spirit Gifts  These did NOT continue past the first Century.  And probably not beyond AD70.

65. A Continuing “Out Pouring”??  General increase in Bible Knowledge.  Increase in availability of Printed Bibles and Study Materials.  Counteracts the influence of “Apostasy”.

66. The Outpouring in the Last, “Last Days?”  Precursor to the Kingdom Era. Jer. 21:34 “...for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest.”  Isa. 30:20,21 a voice behind them “This is the way, walk in it.”  “For the Earth shall be filled with the Glory of the Lord.” Num. 14:21; Hab 2:14

67. “Former and Latter Rains” Joel 2:23  23. “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, [mg: a teacher of righteousness; according to his righteousness] 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 people of ZION, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness, He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains as before. [ LXX]

68. The Former and Latter Rains

69. Former Rains - October, prepare for plowing: Typically, 1 –2 inches Main Rains – January: Typically, 8 – 10 inches Latter Rains – April, prepare for Harvesting: Typically, 2 –3 inches

70. The Former and Latter Rains R eferences : Deut. 11:14 – First and Latter rains.. Hosea 6:3 – He shall come unto us as rain.. Isa. 30:23 – Then shall he give the rain (see v19 – when Israel dwells safely in the land) Jer. 5:24 – fear the LORD that giveth rain... Joel 2:23 – former and latter rain..

71. The Former and Latter Rains Bro. Carter in (“Prophets after the Exile” – p157) cites Bro. Thomas’ in the Herald of the Kingdom of 1861 – pg 256.... who linked the idea of former and latter rains with the original outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and the coming outpouring of the Spirit on the Sons of Zion in the Kingdom Age. Jer.23:5, 6 “I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch,... he shall be called the LORD our Righteousness”.

72. Class Four  “Multitudes, Multitudes in the Valley of Decision”

73. A Peaceful Happy Time ??

74. “Judgment” “Threshing”. A Peaceful, Happy Time ??

75. References to Threshing  Psa. 1:4 – “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”  Matt. 13:30 – “...gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

76. The Great and Terrible Day of the LORD Arrives  All nations are drawn into Israel to be judged by the LORD.  The warnings and prophetic descriptions – Olivet Prophecy, (Matt 24, Mk 13, Luke 21). Paul in 1Thess. 4, and 2Thess. 1; 2Pet. 3,  Rev. 16 & 19  OT Prophets: Ezek. 38,39; Dan 11,12; Zech. 12-14, Joel 3, Mal. 3, 4;

77. Warning from the Mount of Olives  This will be a time of enormous and terrifying events!  Jesus warns in Luke 21:36, “But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.” [RSV]

78. The Last Days Joel 3: 1-3 1. “For, behold in those days and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2. I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided my land. 3. And they have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, and drunk.”

79. Outline of Joel 3  Into Valley of Jehoshaphat for Judgment  Nations which oppressed Israel (Judah and Jerusalem) to be repaid.  All nations prepare for war.  “ Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’” ( Reversal of what Isaiah sees in Isa. 2:2 for the Kingdom Period.)  Nations will be drawn rapidly to a place called “in the Hebrew Tongue”. The valley of Jehoshaphat (Judgment)  The time of the LORD’s Judgment has arrived.  The sun and moon will be darkened, figurative and literal.  As in Matt 24:29,30, leaders are in the dark; political and spiritual leaders are confused, because what is happening is NOT what they have taught.

80. Outline of Joel 3  Israel is delivered by God’s power, as in the old times,  The events will prove God exists.;  He will dwell in Zion.  Zion is recognized as the Source of all Government for the future.  Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.  The blessings of Restoration will spread outward to the whole World.  The new Temple is there, and its water flow heals the desert.  Egypt and Edom remain as deserts.  The LORD dwells in Zion! as in Yahweh Shammah (Ezek.48:35 )

81. The Valley of Jehoshaphat Valley of Jehoshaphat

82. “The Valley of Jehoshaphat”  According to Unger’s Bible Dictionary, it is the name of the valley to east of Jerusalem, before the Mount of Olives. After the 4th Century AD, it has been called the Kidron Valley.  In 2 Chron 20, there is the record of a great victory that God gave Jehoshaphat the King of Judah against the combined forces of the Moabites, Edomites and others which assembled near Hazazon-Tamar (En-Gedi) on the west side of the Dead Sea.  In great fear of this large host assembled against them, Jehoshaphat and all the people assembled in Jerusalem to pray for deliverance. (v3 – 13). God answered them through Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, who told them they would not have to fight against these people, God would do it for them. They were to go out to see their enemies’ defeat.

83.  The following day, they went out to the wilderness of Tekoa, and as they began to sing and praise God, (v20 - 22), God set the men of the invaders’ armies to fight against one another. When the men of Judah arrived at the Watchtower of the Wilderness (Tekoa), they found all had been slain. (V22- 24)  Following the defeat of these hosts, after four days of taking spoil from the fallen enemies, Jehoshaphat and all Judah assembled in a valley near Jerusalem to bless Yahweh who had delivered them according to their prayers (v26-28). They called the place, the “Valley of Beracah” or Valley of Blessing, in celebration of the great blessing God had bestowed on them. The suggestion is made that the valley before the Mount of Olives was where this celebration occurred....hence the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  There is a remarkable similarity between this victory in Jehoshaphat’s day and the promised victory over Israel’s assembled enemies in the last days... cp Ezek. 38, Joel 3 and Zech 14. Considering also that Jehoshaphat means “Yahweh is Judge”, the parallel is stronger still. “Known unto God are all his works....” Acts 15:18 (kjv)”

84. Could there be another “Valley of Jehoshaphat” ?  But “the Valley of Jehoshaphat” in the latter days, may refer to a physical place or as in the case of “Armageddon” be a place so named for what takes place there. Jehoshaphat (Yahweh is Judge) and Armageddon (sheaves in the valley for threshing/judgment) have a similarity in meaning, and thus could well be the same place.

85. A different Valley of Jehoshaphat  However, where this “valley” is physically, could be answered by referring to Zech. 14:4,5 When the LORD returns to Jerusalem, his feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, and a great earthquake splits the Mount of Olives in two. The great valley is formed which provides a way of escape for the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem. Since the Mt of Olives splits north to south, the Valley itself must run east to west. Given that the elevation of Jerusalem is some 2500 feet above sea level, and the elevation of the Jordan river near Jericho is about 800 feet BELOW sea level, the depth of the valley could be very great – perhaps 5/8 of a mile or even more. Further, it could be of nearly any slope.

86. Valley of Jehoshaphat  As an escape route after the earthquake, from Jerusalem. the valley floor could not be much below the present Kidron Valley on the west end.  Slope is downward to the Jordan some 20 miles distant, about 3%, moderately steep, but passable.  Were the remainder of Jerusalem’s inhabitants to flee eastward, it is not a great stretch to think that the invaders would follow after them. The presence of the LORD (Pillar of cloud and fire) separates the attackers from the remnant fleeing the City.  Old Kidron Valley, obliterated; new valley of Jehoshaphat.  Thus Gog and his armies are drawn into a uniquely made place, where Israel is delivered and the heathen are threshed and destroyed.

87. Jerusalem to the Jordan Showing Earthquake Region

88. The Prophecy of Joel Closes  18. When that day comes, the mountains will run with new wine and the hills flow with milk, and all the river beds of Judah will run with water. A fountain will spring from the house of Yahweh to water the wadi of Acacias.  19. Egypt will become a desolation, Edom a desert waste on account of the violence done to the sons of Judah whose innocent blood they shed in their country.  20. But Judah will be inhabited for ever, Jerusalem from age to age.  21. “I will avenge their blood and let none go unpunished,” and Yahweh shall make his home in Zion.

89. God’s Kingdom on Earth 2. “It shall come to pass, in the latter days, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it, 3. and many peoples shall come, and say; Come let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk inn his paths,” For out of Zion shall go forth, the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem

90. Isaiah 2:4 4. “He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares; and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against, Nation shall not lift up sword against, neither shall they learn war any more.” neither shall they learn war any more.”