EVENTS ON EARTH

Phase 3
Scripture References:  Joel 2; Matthew 24; Revelation 6-20

Joel 2:1-16

(V1) "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;"
(V1) Hidden away in the little book of Joel we discover a great wealth of prophetic information concerning events that take place in the last days.  Here in this verse a trumpet calls the people to battle with the message that the Day of the Lord was at hand.  Though the immediate reference was referring to the Babylonian captivity, the complete fulfillment is yet in the future.  I am compelled to ask where are the vocal trumpets today that need to be sounding out this same message to this lost and dying world?

(V2) "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."
(V2) In that day the thick darkness, gloominess and overshadowing clouds spread upon the mountains like the heat of the morning sun.  This was the beginning of the destruction by the locust like invaders that left the land in total desolation.

(V3) "A fire devoured 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."
(V3) Before the invaders a destructive fire burned that destroyed everything in its path and behind it.  Nothing remained but cinders and ashes.  Some prophetic scholars believe that this portion of Joel is referring to our modern day tanks and guns.

(V4) "The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run."
(V4)  According to the Believer's Bible Commentary on page 1109 William MacDonald compares the locusts to "swift steeds climbing the walls like men of war marching in formation, entering everywhere like a thief and blackening the skies with their immense numbers, constitutes some of the most graphic, poetic scriptures in the prophets."  This intolerable invasion is completely at God's command whose campground is very large.  These invaders look and run like horses that are running at break-neck speed toward the heat of a mighty battle at the command of a vicious rider.

(V5) "Like the noise of chariots on tops of the mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoured the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array."
(V5) This verse gives a very impressive description of the invaders by equating their sound with the noise of stagecoaches running on mountain tops.  They also were compared to a blazing fire that even devoured the short stalks that have been left in the field after harvest.

(V6) "Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness."
(V6) Some scholars say this is referring to paleness that covers the face when the blood runs out.  Their hearts would fail them for fear of things coming upon this earth.  Thinking of it as blackenss, it could mean that smoke from the fire made the face turn black, and it could also mean that smoke from the fire blackened the face.  There is another possibility to be considered here. It may mean that it could be speaking of mourning when the color of the face changes at death.

(V7) "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:"
(V7) These destroyers run like powerful men that are able to climb the wall like men ready for the battle every man going his own way and not breaking the lines.

(V8) "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."
(V8) These savage intruders shall not stab one another with a sword as they walk every one in his own path that no doubt was divinely appointed them. If they should fall on their own sword they shall receive no wounds.

(V9) "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."
(V9) At this time the Gentiles were instructed to prepare for war as the enemies of Israel run to and fro in the city and upon the protective wall, while like thieves they entered through the windows of their houses.

(V10) "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:"
(V10) The battle weary earth will quake before them.  The firmament will shake while the sun and moon turn dark and the stars withdraw their gleaming.

(V11) "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?"
(V11) Here the Lord thoughtfully declares his voice before his great army camp for he is powerful when he speaks.  In the Day of the Lord it will be frightening to those who have fought against God in the day of battle; for he will fight with them in the valley of decision.  In another valley called Jehoshaphat the Lord will sit to judge the bordering nations.

(V12) "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:"
(V12) This is the same as when the Lord through the Holy Spirit calls the sinners to him.  He wants them to turn to him whole heartedly with fasting, lamenting and grieving.

(V13) "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."
(V13) In this verse God tells them that he doesn't want their filthy garments split.  He wants heart torn people that are clean.  This is the problem today when some so called clergymen minister only to the outside garment and not the heart.  To preach a message that reaches way down deep in the heart it can't be void of Jesus Christ and the old rugged cross.

(V14) "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?"
(V14) It is my opinion that this verse speaks of the one whose heart has been torn and is born again.  It is possible that he might return to where he was blessed and bring a blessing to the Lord through the church where his life was changed.

 (V15) "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:"
(V15) In this verse a group of people are being summoned to a holy gathering and to dedicate a fast.  In a day yet in their future the priests would cry out to the Lord in a ceremonial penitential gathering.

(V16) "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."
(V16) When the trumpet sounded it was calling the people to assemble to consecrate the assembly, including the elders, the children,  and even those that were breast feeding.  At that time the bridegroom left his chamber and the bride moved out of her residence.
This concludes Phase 3 of Events On Earth.

Dear Reader, before I shut the ole computer down I want to ask you a very important question, ARE YOU RAPTURE READY????