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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Joel's Army, continued
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (I Peter 1:12—NIV)
Peter is quick to tell us that the words of the Prophets are addressed to us rather than to themselves.
Perhaps never before and never again will the catastrophic events mentioned in Joel 2:10 take place in the heavens. Are they not the calling card of the return of the Lord Jesus?
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29,30)
The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? (Joel 2:11—NIV)
Later in the second chapter the Lord refers to the locusts as "my great army which I sent among you." But this is not the same as "The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command."
I think I see a difference here.
And notice toward the end of the chapter, keeping in context with the description of Joel's army:
"And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke. "The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes." (Joel 2:30,31—NASB)
When Joel 2:11 says "The day of the Lord is great, it is dreadful," and Joel 2:31 states "the sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes," then we have some basis for viewing them as the same event.
Why would the prophet jump from locusts to the Day of Christ if there were no connection?
The Book of Joel is particularly significant because it was the oracle referred to at the birth of the Christian Church.
The Blowing of Trumpets follows the feast of Pentecost (Leviticus, Chapter Twenty-three). This means that after the Pentecostal experience we can expect to hear about war, judgment, and our being trained as soldiers in the army of the Lord.
The Charismatic move is at a crossroads. It is interesting that whether or not you become a part of the army of the Lord depends on how you "drink the water" (referring to the days of Gideon).
There is a spirit (water) in the land today inviting God's people to be refreshed by laughing, twitching, jerking, making animal noises, laying prostrate on the floor, and engaging in similar behavior. There is no question that it is a spirit and is contagious. If the elders permit it to take place in a local assembly it will not be long before many of the believers are involved.
To be continued.