Joel 3

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, Joel 3:1

God has restored his people on several occasions after their sin and unbelief. He had to restore them from their seventy-year exile in Babylon. Now God is restoring his people from their two-thousand-year-old exile among all the nations. “Those days” and “that time” have now arrived but sadly, not many Christians and even Bible students understand this. Some Christians and some whole Christian denominations are even now actually fighting against Israel politically, economically and in other ways. This is known as the BDS movement, where Christian groups boycott, divest and sanction Israel at every opportunity.

The Jewish exiles ( diaspora ) began to return to the land of Israel in the 1880s. At this writing, Israel now has a population of almost ten million people. Holy Jerusalem is about to reach one million in population and has now become the largest city in Israel.

God did say that he would have to restore Israel a second time: “In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea” (Isa. 11:11 ESV). The first time was from Babylon or the East, but the second time was from all the nations of the earth. The Hebrew of this verse reads “from the Islands of the sea,” or “from the coastlands of the sea,” and is translated like this in several Bible versions (NAS, NKJ, NRS).

So, an incredibly important biblical event has been happening in our lifetimes and sadly, it has received little attention from the worldwide church and even from evangelicals, who supposedly believe their Bibles. How tragic! The fortunes of Israel have been largely restored since Israel is now one of the upcoming scientific and inventive powerhouses in the world. Israel has won three major wars against the Muslim Arabs and continues to display a fearsome military power today.

The gross misunderstanding of Israel among Christians and even Christian commentators is clearly seen in these remarks of a popular scholar and commentator: “But in this chapter, one should forget all about the secular Israel, the Jewish state, the Hebrew nation, the fleshly Israel, the old Israel, etc. All of the references to Judah, Jerusalem, Zion, ‘my heritage Israel,’ etc. are used in a spiritual sense of the church and kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord.” [1] This is a very clear example of Replacement Theology or Supercessionism, the idea that the church has completely replaced Israel in God’s purpose.

Those who hold this view would say that the current State of Israel has no special significance for Christians. How this differs from former commentators like Matthew Henry who says: “The restoration of the Jews, and the final victory of true religion over all opposers, appear to be here foretold.” [2]

“I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land” (3:2). We note immediately that all nations on earth are gathered here. This is none other than the great Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). Israel is a very small country as we have mentioned. There are slightly over 50 air miles (approx. 90 km.) between Armageddon (Megiddo) and Jerusalem, where the Valley of Jehoshaphat is located. The world’s military planners would certainly want to conquer the capital city of Jerusalem. For centuries the Kidron Valley, between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives has had the name Valley of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat simply means “God judges.”

Phillips remarks: “The Valley of Jehoshaphat” is the Kidron Valley…And in ‘the valley of Jehoshaphat’ God intends to put an end to Gentile power and judge the Gentile nations for the way they – collectively and individually – have treated the Jewish people.” [3] Zechariah the prophet has stated: “For this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye” (Zech. 2:8).

In the great passage of Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks to the righteous in his judgment of nations: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matt. 25:40). Then he speaks to the wicked: “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt. 25:45-46). Some scholars have pointed out the scarcely understood fact that the brothers and sisters of Jesus were Jewish.

Today the Valley of Jehoshaphat has become a vast burial place for Jewish people in both ancient and modern times. However, that same valley might soon become a burial place for the nations of the world. They will die there by the thousands and perhaps by the millions. Feinberg says, “The lifeblood of the nations will drench the soil of the earth.” [4]

No doubt, the valley got its name from King Jehoshaphat. In his great battle with Ammon, Moab and Seir (2 Chron. 20:15-17), God told him through the prophet that he would not have to fight but only watch as the Lord destroyed all this vast enemy. It happened just as the prophet said. All that Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel had to do was watch and rejoice. So shall it be when God destroys all of earth’s armies at Megiddo and the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

We notice in verse 3:2 above that the nations were on trial because they had scattered the Lord’s people and divided up his land. There are two biblical facts that are clear. The people of Israel are God’s people and the land of Israel is God’s land. He makes that plain in a number of passages (cf. Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 13:15; 15:1,18; 17:1-5, Lev. 25:23; Isa. 14:25; Jer. 2:7; Ezek. 36:5; 38:16; Joel 1:6).

Close to a million Jews were killed in the Roman victory of AD 70, and 97 thousand were carried away captive. [5] That pattern of killing Jews and scattering them would continue for the next two thousand years. In the fourth century the Christian ruler Constantine even cast them out of their own city Jerusalem. From 1012 to 1492, the Jews were expelled from European cities and countries 34 times. [6] The whole Jewish populations were expelled from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal in 1496. Of course, in the Holocaust, beginning in 1933, six million Jews were murdered, and millions were expelled from Germany and other European countries.

Now, to the matter of dividing up the Lord’s land. Through the good graces of England after World War I, the Balfour Declaration (1917) handed the bulk of biblical Israel back to the Jewish people. Soon a mandate was given to Britain by the nations to settle the Jewish people in their land. However, it was not long until the land began to be divided because of political goals, pressures, and economic aspirations. Almost immediately Britain lopped off about three quarters of the Mandate (all land east of the Jordan River) and formed the Arab nation of Transjordan (Today’s Jordan).

In a further attempt to ease tensions between Arabs and Jews, the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947 was proposed. The planned Arab state was to include most all of the central mountain area (biblical Israel, now called the West Bank) as well as a large tract in the Galilee plus the Gaza strip. The proposed Jewish state would include the vast desert area to the south, a coastal strip and some land around the Sea of Galilee. The Arabs totally rejected this plan, although the Jews were willing to accept it. In the Israeli War of Independence (1948-1949) the Jewish land holdings were increased considerably, including all the Galilee, but Jordan invaded and held Old Jerusalem and the West Bank until the 1967 war. [7]

Beginning with the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991 and the Oslo Accords in 1993, there was a serious international effort, led primarily by the US, to divide Israel further. Under these plans the sacred biblical areas of Bethlehem, Shechem (Nablus), Jericho, and certain large tracts of Judea and Samaria were given to the Arabs. [8] Liberal Jewish people in the Israeli government agreed to this plan while evangelical Christians living in Israel were appalled. We can certainly say that God was angered with all this.

Few people stopped to consider the toll that this “peace process” exacted. By September, 1998, the fifth anniversary of the Oslo Accords, 279 Israelis had been killed in terrorist attacks. This figure exceeded the number of Israelis killed in the 15 years prior to the Oslo Peace Accords. [9]

We now ask, did we think God would not hear all the despicable things we have spoken against his people? Did we think God would not notice the evil things we have done to them and how we have spoken against and divided up the Lord’s land? Have we unknowingly joined hands with those who are trying to persecute his people and divide his land?

“They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink” (3:3). This verse, perhaps above all others, reveals that the nations did not and still do not regard the Jews as God’s heritage. Feinberg says, “Little do the nations realize how they incur the wrath of God when they lay violent hands upon his heritage and the plant of his choosing.” [10] Utley comments: “…This verse highlights the greed and immorality of the invaders. They saw no value in the lives of God’s people….” [11]

God’s Rebuke And Challenge To Surrounding Nations

Now what have you against me, 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. Joel 3:4

Tyre and Sidon were prominent city-states in ancient Phoenicia (today’s Lebanon). In King Solomon’s time these cities were blessed because they cooperated with Israel. Since that time the devil has turned them against Israel. Lebanon fought against the nation in the Israeli war of independence. Then modern Lebanon allowed the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) to move into the country and use it as a base to fight Israel. Later, Lebanon opened her doors to the Hezbollah from Iran. Both of these organizations are terrorist groups who are violently opposed to Israel. While the PLO is now gone from Lebanon, the Hezbollah remains and has from 40,000 to 150,000 rockets pointed at Israel. In the 2006 Lebanon War they fired 4000 rockets at Israel causing much destruction. [12] At present, they daily pound northern Israel with rockets.

We might ask how God is dealing with Lebanon? According to Reuters,

Lebanon is in an economic meltdown. “Over two years, around 78% of the Lebanese population has fallen into poverty. The World Bank says it is one of the sharpest depressions of modern times…Early in the crisis, Lebanon defaulted on its massive pile of public debt, including $31 billion of Eurobonds that remain outstanding to creditors…The currency has fallen by more than 90%, demolishing purchasing power in a country dependent on imports…The banking system is paralyzed. With depositors locked out of foreign currency savings or forced to withdraw cash in the collapsing local currency, this currently equates to a de facto slump in the value of deposits of 80%…Food prices have jumped by 557% since Oct. 2019 according to the World Food Program, and the economy has contracted by 30% since 2017…Fuel shortages have crippled normal life, affecting essential services including hospitals and bakeries…Vital medicines have also run out…Many of Lebanon’s most qualified have left the country in a steady brain drain.” [13]

Add to all this the massive ammonium nitrate port explosion of 2021 that killed some 217 people and injured 7000. This awful blast displaced 300,000 people and caused widespread destruction. The explosion damaged buildings up to 12 miles (20 km.) away. [14] Lebanon has certainly paid a high price for messing with God’s people and his land.

Then there is Philistia. The King James Version translates this “Palestine.” We must point out that “Palestine” was unknown until the end of the second Roman war against Israel in 135 AD. Emperor Hadrian renamed the land “Palestine” in order to remove all connections with Israel. The land has been called by this name until modern times. The Arabs, in their unending battle with Israel, have called themselves Palestinians and have organized the PLO or the Palestine Liberation Organization to carry on constant attacks and warfare with Israel. For many years Gaza and the West Bank were administered by Israel. However, we might ask how the “Palestinians” are doing today? George Gilder, Discovery Institute co-founder writes:

During these twenty years under Israeli management until the First Intifada [Palestinian uprising] of 1987, the West Bank and Gaza comprised one of the most dynamic economies on earth, with a decade of growth at a rate of roughly 30 percent per year from 1969 to Annual investments in constant dollars soared from under $10 million in 1969 to some $600 million in 1991, rising from 10 percent GDP to around 30 percent in 1988…Life expectancy rose from 48 years in 1967 to 72 in 2000…By 1968, 92.8 percent of the population…had electricity around the clock, as compared to 20.5 percent in 1967…Even more dramatic was the progress in higher education. [From zero in 1967] by the early 1990s, there were seven [universities] boasting some 16,500 students. [15]

Now that Israel has withdrawn from Gaza and has turned over much of the West Bank administration to the Palestinians, we might wonder how they are doing. Gilder says: “In 1993-1997, real private investment is estimated to have declined by an average of 10 percent per year and private investment’s share in GDP to have declined from 19 percent of GDP in 1993 to 10 percent of GDP in 1997. What went wrong?” [16]

We might say that nothing has gone right with the so-called Palestinians. God has promised to bless all those who bless his people and curse all those who curse them (Gen. 12:3). They have continually cursed Israel and they have been continually cursed. According to UNICEF, in the Palestinian areas, around 2.1 million people [out of 5.3 million total] need humanitarian assistance. Work which was once freely permitted in Israel has now been restricted because of their own terrorist attacks. [17] Palestinian leaders seem to be focused only on terror and care nothing about their people. In Psalm 108:9, God says about the Palestinians, “…over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

“For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples” (3:5). Utley comments: “These phrases speak of the common ancient Near East practice of defeated people’s temple treasures…being taken to the victor’s national temple as a visible token of the superiority of the victor’s deity.” [18] Babylon took many of the temple treasures but some or perhaps all were later returned with Zerubbabel. “The Philistines and Arabians had carried off all the treasures of King Jehoram’s house (2 Chron. 21:16-17). Compare also, 1 Kings 15:18; 2 Kings 12:18; 14:14).” [19]

“You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland” (3:6). The mention of Greeks here has caused problems for commentators. If the Greek nation actually existed here, it would place Joel at a much later date. However, early Church of Scotland minister, Robert Jamieson says, “Grecians—literally, ‘Javanites,’ that is, the Ionians, a Greek colony on the coast of Asia Minor who were the first Greeks known to the Jews.” [20] The Greek Nation had not yet come into prominence.

The Bible speaks of nations that sold Jews into slavery. The Philistines were guilty of this as we note in Amos 1:6. Barnes says, “The Philistines hoped thus to weaken the Jews, by selling their fighting men afar, from where they could no more return.” [21] Tyre was also involved in the slave trading of Israelites (Ezek. 27:13; Amos 1:9). Barnes says of Tyre: “In yet later times the Tyrian merchants followed, like vultures, on the rear of armies to make a prey of the living, as the vultures of the dead.” [22]

“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. 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” (3:7-8). Reformer John Calvin, citing Henderson, states that with the capture of Tyre, Alexander sold 13,000 of its inhabitants into slavery…he tells how Alexander took Gaza killing 10,000 of its citizens and selling the rest of its inhabitants, even women and children, into slavery. [23]

We learn from Utley that the city of Sidon was captured and sold into slavery by Antiochus III in 345 B.C. [24] Apparently, Alexander and his successors liberated many Jews that had been sold into slavery. [25] Truly, God has a way of returning evil upon the heads of those that do it.

“Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’” (3:9-10). All these words tell us that God is getting ready for a showdown or face-off with the nations. Utley says: “A final end-time attack of the kingdoms of this world against the kingdom of our God and his Christ is mentioned over and over in scripture (cf. Psa. 2; Isa. 8:9, 14; 17:12-14; Ezek. 38-39; Zech. 12-14; Rev. 16:14-16; 19:17-19).” [26] Beating plowshares into swords is the opposite of Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3.

The nations are doing everything to prepare for battle. The weak are to convince themselves that they are strong. In Christian circles we sometimes use this scripture as a crutch to lift ourselves up not realizing that it is a scripture describing the enemies of Israel.

We see a picture of this awful last-day war in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation we read: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself…The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (Rev. 19:11-12, 14). In the messianic Psalm 110 we read: “…he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth” (Psa. 110:5-6; cf. Zeph. 3:8).

The Great Battles Of Armageddon And Jehoshaphat

Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, LORD! Joel 3:11

Here, it is God himself who is calling all nations to war in Israel. While Antichrist may seem to be gathering the nations to fight, it is really God who gathers them (3:2; Zech. 14:2). The nations in all their united might and glory are about to be surprised to find themselves battling the angelic legions of heaven (Deut. 33:2; 2 Ki. 6:16) as well as the Lord himself, the one with eyes of blazing fire. This is the judgment of Christ on evil governments.

“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. 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!” (3:12-13). The vast armies of a wicked and degenerate world will gather at Megiddo and Jerusalem feeling that they can make a quick work of tiny Israel. There is no idea in their minds that all the earth’s armies will be annihilated.

The swinging of the sickle is a picture taken from Micah 4:12; Matt.13:30, 39; Rev. 14:14-20. Today we can observe all around us that the harvest of evil is getting ripe. Things that are commonplace today were unspeakable two or three generations ago. Millions of lawless souls are preparing themselves to join forces with the Antichrist, the lawless one (2 Thess. 2:8).

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision” (3:14). Jamieson says, “‘Multitudes, multitudes!’ a Hebraism for immense multitudes.” [27] The prophet Isaiah says: “The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is on all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter” (Isa. 34:2). In addition to the multitudes of armies, we sense that there are multitudes of people trying to make up their minds about Israel. No doubt, some who call themselves “Christians” will have cast their lot with these invading armies.

The latest war in Israel has caused the nation to be slandered and shamed all over the world. God seems to be using this to separate and judge people. Asher Intrater, messianic leader in Israel, explains all this. Ages ago, human beings fell into sin. God’s plan to redeem people centered on Abraham, who believed and obeyed God. God used Abraham to bring forth a believing family and then a believing nation. Through that nation of Israel God fully plans to redeem the world. The Bible does say that salvation comes from the Jews (Jn. 4:22). It is from the Jews that the Messiah Jesus has come to us. It is extremely important that we understand this plan and honor the Jewish people.

Intrater points out how the war with the Palestinians has caused people all over the world to take sides, for or against Israel. Today we may have millions and even billions of people in the valley of decision. [28] Many will come out hating Israel and it may well be some of these who will join with Antichrist and fight against God’s nation.

Dreadful events will happen on the Day of the Lord. Zechariah says: “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (Zech. 14:4).

“The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel” (3:15-16). Utley comments: “‘The sun and moon grow dark.’ This is apocalyptic language to describe God’s coming to his creation (cf. Joel 2:10, 31; Isa. 13:10; Jer. 4:23; Ezek. 32:8; Zech. 14:6).” [29]

In Revelation we read: “I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind” (Rev. 6:12-13). Wiersbe says, “When the Lamb becomes a Lion, the nations had better tremble…” [30]

Blessings For God’s People

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. Joel 3:17

We see something absolutely astounding here. The Almighty God, the Ruler of the Universe, will take up his residence in Jerusalem. Few people on earth, even few Christians, would believe this. However, it is all over the Bible. Because this seems to be a controversial subject let us look at a number of scriptures that state this fact explicitly:

Exod. 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

Num. 35:34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”

1 Ki. 6:13 And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.

1 Chron. 23:25-26 For David had said, “Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever…”

Psa. 9:11 Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

Psa. 68:16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?

Ezek. 43:7 He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever…”

Ezek. 48:35 … And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.

Ps. 76:2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

Psa. 87:2-3 The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God.

Psa. 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.”

Psa. 135:21 Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

Joel 3:21 …The LORD dwells in Zion!

Zech. 2:10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD.

Zech 2:11-12 … I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

2 Cor. 6:16 As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Rev. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

This information should drastically change our theology. We will never be able to look at Israel and Jerusalem the same way. We will gain a new respect for the people of Israel. If it is true that the Almighty God will someday live in Jerusalem, then we can see how heaven and earth will be joined together in the last days. After all, the things in heaven are all coming down. The kingdom is coming down, the bride is coming down, the New Jerusalem is coming down, and the Lord himself is coming down. In our modern and postmodern theology, we have everything going up, but the Bible has everything coming down.

Because the holy God lives in Jerusalem, the city will become a very holy place. Isaiah states: “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it” (Isa. 35:8). Isaiah also says: “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem” (Isa. 4:3). Again, Isaiah says: “Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.” (Isa. 52:1). Nahum says: “Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed” (Nah. 1:15).

Beginning with the Millennium and continuing into eternity there will be an incredible beauty and fruitfulness throughout the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. “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” (3:18). The prophet Amos says, “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills,’” (Amos 9:13).

Isaiah says: “ The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.” (Isa. 35:1-2). Isaiah adds: “The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing” (Isa. 51:3).

Wiersbe says: “Jerusalem is the only city of antiquity that wasn’t built near a great river…But in the kingdom, Jerusalem will have a river that proceeds from the temple of God.” [31] The springs and rivers that are going out of the house of God is an eschatological motif that is quite common in scripture (cf. Psa. 46:4; 65:9-13; Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8; Rev. 22:1, 2). [32] Feinberg says: “The Valley of Shittim [ acacias ], on the border between Moab and Israel beyond Jordan, known for its dryness, will be well watered…” [33]

“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” (3:19). Because of Egypt’s long history of violence against Israel, she will inherit a curse from God. It was Egypt that tried to kill all the newborn boys of Israel. It was Egypt that held the people of Israel in bondage for 400 years.

As we have mentioned, it was Egypt’s King Shishak that looted God’s temple in the days of Rehoboam (1 Ki. 14:25-26). It was King Necho of Egypt who killed Israel’s good king Josiah (2 Ki. 23:29). In modern times Egypt has fought four great wars against Israel. We will see that in the Millennium, Egypt will refuse to bring its worship to Jerusalem. For that they will have no rain (Zech. 14:17-18). Egypt, that was so fruitful with its Nile River, will become a desolation in the end-days.

Another great enemy of Israel was Edom, the heritage of Esau. Edom the relative of Israel refused to allow the nation through their country when they escaped Egypt (Num. 20:14-21). They participated in the slave trade against Israel (Amos 1:6, 9). They assisted in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC (Obad. 1:14). Their anger against Israel raged and flamed unchecked over the centuries (Amos 1:11). They harbored an ancient hostility against Israel (Ezek. 5:35). Finally, even the longsuffering God had enough of Edom. In Obadiah 1:10, God says: “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever.” God cursed Edom out of existence. A few Edomites still hung around through history, like King Herod and Haman, but the nation of Edom was gone.

“Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not. The LORD dwells in Zion!” (3:20-21). Here we see again the eternal nature of Jerusalem. This is the true eternal city. God will certainly deal with the nations and peoples who have cursed and harmed his city and shed the blood of his people. Strangely, we do not read anything about the ancient and consistent enemy of Israel – Syria. Perhaps, Syria has already ceased to exist by the end days. In Isaiah 17:1, the prophet says of Damascus, one of the oldest, continuously occupied cities in the world, “…Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.”

Phillips says: “During the millennium, Jerusalem will become the capital of Christ’s world empire. Moreover, the heavenly Jerusalem – the celestial city that will be placed in stationary orbit over the earthly Jerusalem – will endure forever.” [34] There are hundreds of wonderful prophecies about Israel and Jerusalem in the last days (cf. Zech. 13:1; Ezek. 36:24-27; 43:1-5). Wiersbe says of this little book: “The prophecy of Joel begins with tragedy, the invasion of the locusts, but it closes with triumph, the reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” [35]

Footnotes

1. Coffman, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, Commentary on Joel, v. 3:1.

2. Matthew Henry, Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Concise Commentary on Joel, 1706, v. 3:1-8, https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/mhn/joel-1.html.

3. Phillips, Exploring The Minor Prophets, Joel, p. 80.

4. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, Joel, p. 84.

5. Flavius Josephus, Josephus Complete Works (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1960). Wars, p. 6, 9.

6. Gerrish, Does God Play Favorites?, p. 186.

7. Ibid., pp. 94-96.

8. Ibid., pp. 102-103.

9. The Jerusalem Post, 13 September, 1998.

10. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, Joel, p. 82.

11. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Joel, v. 3:3.

12. Google.com. https://www.google.com/search?q=hezbollah+rockets+i+lebanon&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS974US974&oq=hezbollah+rockets+i+lebanon&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i390l3.7423j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

13. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-est/how-bad-is-crisis-lebanon-2021-09-10/

14. Google.com https://www.google.com/search?q=lebanon+explosion&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS974US974&oq=lebanon+expl&aqs=chrome.0.0i433i512j69i57j0i512l8.8286j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

15. George Gilder, The Israel Test (US: Richard Vigilante Books, 2009), pp. 49-50.

16. Ibid., p. 50.

17. Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/appeals/state-of-palestine

18. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Joel, v. 3:5.

19. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Joel, v. 3:5.

20. Ibid., v. 4:6.

21. Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Joel, v. 3:6.

22. Ibid.

23. John Calvin, John.Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible, Commentary on Joel, 1840-57, 3:8. https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cal/joel-3.html.

24. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Joel, v. 3:8.

25. Clarke, Commentary on Joel, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 3:7.

26. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Joel, vs. 3:9-13.

27. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Joel, v. 3:14.

28. Asher Intrater, Multitudes in the Valley of Decision. https://www.tikkunglobal.org/teachingvideos?wix-vod-video-id=64ylDJrJ8k8&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-kt4v50di

29. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Joel, v. 3:15.

30. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 1413.

31. Ibid.

32. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Joel, v. 3:18.

33. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, Joel, p. 85.

34. Phillips, Exploring The Minor Prophets, Joel, p. 82.

35. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 1414.