The American Wisdom Series

Presents
The Book of Joel

INTRODUCTION

The name JO-EL means "Yahveh is God". This sets the stage and lets us know two important things right away, even before we begin our study of this prophetic and timely book. First and most important of all, it lets us know that only Yahveh, the Great "I AM", is God, for there is no other!In that sense, you could say that JO-EL is the first of the 10 Commandments summed up in one word. Secondly, because JO-EL contains God's personal and covenant name, Yah, which is short for YHVH, it also let's us know that He isn't some remote god or creator out there in the universe somewhere, but that He is our Father, the one who created our very souls. This is so important to keep in mind as we read about the judgment and spiritual destruction contained in this awesome book, for you see, God loves all of His children and is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)". That is His purpose and His will which will be evidenced time and again in Joel by His many calls to repentance. So we are comforted in knowing that God's chastisement, the judgments and plagues He brings upon the land, are part of His overall plan designed to bring His children who have gone astray back to His open and loving arms.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the Book of Joel was written concerning the judgment and events of "the last days" that usher in the "Day of the Lord" and the return of Jesus Christ. In fact, the prophecy of Joel is undated and there is no reference to time (though Peter will set the clock on Pentecost Day) because it speaks of the very same "Day of the Lord" that John was taken to "in the spirit" in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:10). Revelation, which means to "uncover" or "reveal", really contains nothing new that isn't explained in detail elsewhere in the Word of God.

Also, if you are fortunate enough to have a Companion Bible you should turn to page 1224 and familiarize yourself with the four part structure outlining the simple message of our Father through His servant Joel. That message can also be summarized in one sentence: "Listen closely My children, for though the following unpleasant events described herein must take place, if you will repent and turn to me you shall emerge unharmed and live with Me happily ever after."

Again, the subject of Joel is the "Day of the LORD" declaring that a destruction SHALL COME in the form of devastating and vicious spiritual destruction that will consume like a plague of locusts all those who do not have the "Seal of God" in their foreheads* (Rev. 9:4). Yes, it is coming soon, it is even nigh at hand, so you servants of the Most High need to sound the alarm in His Purple Mountains Majesty and Blow the Trumpet in Zion! These two verses sum up the knowledge and the duty of a servant of God in these last days:

Joel 1:15
Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Joel 2:1
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;

 Joel chapter 1
 

Joel 1:1
The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

[2] Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

[3] Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

By the way, if your father or one of your forefathers has broken this commandment of God in Joel 1:3 to tell your children His words contained herein, then YOU get busy studying His Word and learn the truth and restart the process with your children. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Joel 1:4
That which the palmerworm 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 caterpiller eaten.

Below are some excerpts from the websites listed above:

"What are locusts?

Locusts are insects belonging to the order Orthoptera. They are identical in appearance to grasshoppers with which they share the family Acrididae. The only difference between the two types of insects is that locusts can exist in two different behavioural states (solitary and gregarious) whereas grasshoppers do not. When the population density is low locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers. However, when the population density is high locusts form highly mobile gregariously behaving bands of nymphs or swarms of adults. It is this change from one behavioural state to another, known as phase change, that makes locusts such devastating pests. Phase change may be accompanied by changes in body shape and colour, and in fertility, survival and migratory behaviour. These changes are so dramatic in many species that the swarming and non-swarming forms were once considered to be different species."

"What causes a locust plague? In general, locust plagues occur when widespread areas of inland Australia receive good rainfall in successive seasons. High rainfall stimulates good growth of grass rendering the habitat ideal for locust breeding."

Deut. 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.

Also, you will find the four stages of the locust noted in your Companion Bible which are as follows:

These four stages describe the complete and total destruction by Satan's locust army. "4" is also the number which denotes "earth" (see appendix 10 in your Companion Bible) for the whole earth is consumed in the wake of the locusts. They also describe their MO, their method of operation as to how they enter in and the stages by which the locusts, through the Four Hidden Dynasties, devour the earth. You might also find it interesting to trace recent locust plagues from a website courtesy of the UN at http://www.fao.org/NEWS/GLOBAL/locusts/Plagues.htm. Just remember that the locusts spoken of here in Joel and in Revelation are symbolic of MEN, not insects, for they make up the "nation" we shall read of in verse 6!

But first, lets pause with another warning and wake up call to those Christians who are spiritually drunk from sipping the wine from the cup held to their lips by the religious harlot of Rev. 17, which is churchianity following after the traditions of men.

Joel 1:5
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

Rev. 17:4
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

There are many, many different analogies used throughout the scriptures to describe the deception of these last days. The one we are learning here in the Book of Joel is that the truth has already been cut off from the mouths of the spiritually drunk for it has been consumed away by the unholy nation of locusts! Yes, a nation!

Joel 1:6
For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

Rev. 9:7
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

You see, "on their heads were as it were crowns like gold", which means they control the kings (crowns) of the earth, behind the scene so to speak, and "their faces were as the faces of men" because although you do not see many of those who actually wear the crowns, i.e. are in charge, they are MEN, not insects!

[8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

Let's identify what "nation" Joel is speaking of in verse 6 who will be so strong and burdensome to our people. We will find the answer in the Book of Amos, whose name means "burden"! This is the same book that details what the great famine of the end time is that Christ told us in Mat. 24 and Mark 13 would be a SIGN of the times before He returns. The famine is not for bread but for the "hearing of the Word of God" (Amos 8:11-13). Neither are the locusts insects, but men of great deception!

Amos 6:14
But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.

The only thing left to know is "Who is Hemath?" That's a no-brainer if you seek the answer in God's Word. You will find in the Book of Chronicles that Hemath is the father of the Kenites of the house of Rechab who were not of Israel but had affixed themselves to the tribes of Israel and became their scribes.

1 Chron. 2:55
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Here is Strong's definition:

ïP÷­ qayin kah'-yin #7014
The same as H7013 (with a play upon the affinity to H7069); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe:—Cain, Kenite (-s).

øöÈBà �oòtsaòro-tsaw' #214
From H686; a depository:—armory, cellar, garner, store(-house), treasure (-house) (-y).

Tell it to the Children! Tell it to their Children! There is a spiritual devastation soon coming upon the land the likes of which you have never seen before, nor ever will again for that matter!

The prophet Joel was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel who all prophesied during the last 7 years of the kingdom of Judah (See note in Companion Bible, pg. 1224) and all of whom spoke of the events of the last days, concurring that those days would be unprecedented.

In fact, Daniel speaks of "that time" as a "time of trouble" such as never was since there was a nation:

Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

So it is time to WAKE UP, ye drunkards who stagger in a spiritual stupor caused by old wine produced from the valley of the traditions of men. The new wine, the truth of God's Word, has been cut off from your mouths.

Joel 1:5
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

Joel 1:6
For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

EÁðïëëýùí Apolluoônap-ol-loo'-ohn
Active participle of G622; a destroyer (that is, Satan):—Apollyon.

éBb ébÉgoòy go'ee,go'-ee
Apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:—Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

Deut. 28:1
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: [2] And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Deut. 28:15
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deut. 28:38
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

[39] Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

[40] Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

[41] Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.

[42] All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

[43] The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.

[44] He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

Deut. 28:45
Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Joel 1:7
He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

Worse yet, because the "fig tree" has been stripped bare before their eyes, our people cannot tell a "good fig" from a "bad fig" (Jer. 24) of whom a mixture of both live in the land today called Israel, which is not the House of Israel at all, but of Judah, and then only in part. You see, the House of Judah today is a "mixed basket" of a small remnant of Judah along with the sons of Cain from the house of Hemath who claim to be of Judah, but are NOT!  Yet most Christians, in their ignorance and blindness, believe that the "bad figs", those "who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9)", i.e. those who "say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie (Rev. 3:9)", are actually God's chosen people! Wow, have our people's brainstems been gnawed off by the locusts, or what? Did you know that only two churches of out of the seven mentioned in Rev. 2-3, the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, know and teach who these deceivers are? Does your church teach who the kenites are? If not, Christ has a problem with your church (Rev. 2-3)!

If only our people would study God's Word and obey His commands and quit letting the scribes of Hemath do their translating for them, we wouldn't be in this mess. Instead, we have become a nation of spiritual harlots instead of remaining spiritual virgins. It is a sad story, even a lamentation to those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Joel 1:8
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.

[10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

øä˜öÀP yitshaòryits-hawr'
From H6671; oil (as producing light); figuratively anointing:—+ anointed, oil.

Joel 1:11
Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

[12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

The "joy of the sons of Adam" is the Joy Bringer, Jesus Christ, whom they have forgotten because they have forsaken His Word.

[13] Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

Yes, the true bread and the wine have been "withholden from the house of your God"!

Joel 1:14
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

[15] Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

[16] Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

[13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Joel 1:17
The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

[18] How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

[19] O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

[20] The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

The question is: "If you have eyes to see and ears to hear and you know that "Day of the LORD" is coming, what should you do about it?" Stick around and find out ishortly! Meanwhile, take some trumpet lessons!

JO-EL means "Yahveh is God" and we are going to learn how good He is to His "sons and daughters" of this final generation who Know Him, and Love Him, and Serve Him.

So let's begin with a recap of what our Father would have us learn in the first chapter of Joel and in doing so we shall see to whom this Book of Joel was specifically written and what it is all about. Here's a clue! Peter told us in Acts chapter 2 that Joel wrote about what the "sons and daughters" of God would be doing in the last days! Would you believe they would be "Blowing the Trumpet in Zion"? What trumpet? The 5th one! (Stay alert in this study!)

(1.) Hear ye, old men... (vs. 2) This lets us know right off that this Book of Joel is written to those who can "HEAR" what is being spoken of, i.e. those who have "Ears to Hear", who are the "old men", meaning the spiritually mature made up of God's elect and anyone else who will take heed and give ear unto the words of the prophets! You see, it is written in this second chapter of Joel and quoted by Peter in Acts chapter two that in the last days the "old men", the spiritually mature in His Word among the sons and daughters of the prophets, would dream dreams, i.e. "see in their mind's eye the dreams and vision of prophets" and bring forth the reality of the prophecies of Joel and Ezekiel and Daniel, etc.! This Book of Joel was written for this time of the prophesying, the teaching of the prophets, by the sons and daughters of understanding in these last days!

(2.) Tell ye your children... (vs. 3) even to the children of the final generation. Tell them about the four stages of the gnawing, swarming, devouring, consuming locusts! We shall see that this Book of Joel specifically concerns the sounding of the 5th Trump of Revelation chapter 9 which describes what the locust army will and will not do when the 6th Trump sounds!

(3.) Awake, ye drunkards... (vs. 5) Who is drunk? Those who have been spiritually "blinded" by the traditions of men, i.e. those who "walk in the spirit of slumber", that drunken spiritual stupor in these last days spoken of by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:8! You see, this Book of Joel describes the WAKE UP CALL, the REVEILLE of the TRUMPET, to those spiritual drunkards who have guzzled the wine of deception of churchianity brought forth and perpetuated by the "many who come in the name of Christ and have deceived MANY (Mat. 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6)"!

(4.) For a nation is come... (vs. 6 & 7) This Book of Joel is written to those who know who the false "nation" is of the house of Hemath and Rechab (1 Chron. 2:55) who have already laid waste His vine, i.e. destroyed the truth of the great heritage and national identity of the true House of Israel. This book therefore concerns those Christians of the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9 respectively, who know and teach who the kenites are. They are the only two churches out of the seven that Jesus Christ found no fault with!

(5.) Lament like a virgin girded in sackcloth (i.e. mourning and waiting) for her husband... (vs. 8) This Book of Joel gives instructions to the 5 wise virgins who fill themselves with the Holy Spirit of God, the anointing oil which fuels the light (remember?), i.e. those who have filled themselves with the knowledge of His Word and who will not be seduced and taken by the false husband, the false messiah, when he appears at the sound of the 6th Trump.

(6.) The new wine is dried up... (vs. 9-12) This Book of Joel is written to those who know and recognize what the great famine of the end time is, which is for the hearing of the Word of God. You see, the foolish virgin's are rejoicing, not lamenting, and they are busy making charitable contributions and doing all sorts of 'wonderful works' in the name of Jesus (we are not condemning their good works), but millions of them believe that Jesus Christ will return at any moment and fly them away in His Rapturemobile! The point is, most of them are almost completely Biblically illiterate and know not the Word of God because the truth of God's Word, the new wine, has been cut off from the "house of God" ("Beth-el" in Hebrew). We learned in our study of Hosea that the churches should be "Beth-els" but alas, they have become "Beth-avens", "houses of emptiness", i.e. void of His Word. The traditions of men have been substituted in place of the oil, the truth from His Word!

(7.) Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests...(vs. 13) To gird yourself is to "put on, as a belt or armor" (see Strong's) which simply means to prepare your mind with the revelations of Jesus Christ, i.e. the Word of God, for Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and to be obedient to His commands contained therein, some of which we are reading right now! 1 Peter 1:13-14 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:" And if you have eyes to see and ears to hear and love and serve God and show forth the praises of Him, then you as a Christian are a priest of the Living God in this final generation. 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" So prepare yourself! This Book of Joel concerns your Father's commission to you in these last days!

royal = âáóßëåéïòbasileios bas-il'-i-os
From G935; kingly (in nature):—royal.

priesthood = jåñÜôåõìáhierateumahee-er-at'-yoo-mah
From G2407; the priestly fraternity, that is, a sacerdotal order (figuratively):—priesthood.

(8.) Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly... (vs. 14) Finally, we are told to sanctify a fast and call a solemn assembly in the house of "your God", who is Yahveh, for only "Yahveh is God" (JO-EL), and cry unto the LORD! This does not say go become some big evangelist or preacher type, but as we shall see, you are to do your priestly duties, those of the "watchman" in this final generation (of whom Ezekiel was our example), to the one, or among the few family and friends, or among as many to whom God has given you charge as His watchman, or simply together with others as we are collectively one body in Christ.

 Joel chapter 2

So guess what your job is if you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Do you understand the foregoing summary of chapter one of this great Book of Joel? Good, then you have had some trumpet lessons and should be able to join the "priestly fraternity" in fulfilling their duties, a major part of which is to:

Joel 2:1
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;

That is exactly what this Book of Joel is all about!! It is about the 5th Trump of Revelation chapter 9 which is sounding right now. It describes the coming of the locust army led by Abaddon, who is Apollyon in the Greek, who we documented is Satan himself. You see, it is written that Michael will soon cast Satan and his angels out of heaven to this earth and there will be Big Time Spiritual WOE to the inhabitants of the earth! Oh, they will be happy as can be in heaven to get rid of the scum bag, but WOE to us down here! Rev. 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time*."

Satan and his angels are coming soon! So gird yourselves and lament and "Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion"! Prepare yourselves spiritually and with intelligence, using wisdom, tell the children of this final generation about the locust army! Yes, Satan and his angels comprise the final stage of that locust army and there will soon be a swarming and spiritual devastation such as this earth has never seen, nor ever will again, "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation" (Dan. 12:1)!

Perhaps the hardest part for most people to see and understand is that the desolation by Satan and his locust army is a spiritual destruction which causes the "spiritual death" of the soul, not the physical death of the flesh body. That's right, the great tribulation of Satan, who Daniel called the "vile person", is actually a time of peace and prosperity which Daniel documents in Dan. 11:24. Thus, the entire premise upon which the any-moment rapture theory is based, i.e. that the great tribulation of this "vile person" is a time of physical pain and affliction, is without foundation. That is why Paul said that Christians need the spiritual protection of the Gospel Armor (His Word) to stand against the fiery darts of the Dragon, the wicked one (Eph. 6), not some transport beam to take them to the fluffy clouds to save their flesh butts! How many times have we documented that even the great famine of the end times is not physical, i.e. for bread, but "for the hearing of the Word of God (Amos 8:11)". You see, the spiritual destruction of your soul is far more devastating and serious than any band of actual locusts, i.e. the insects themselves, could do to your flesh body! Surely you can understand that? That is why Christ said do not even be concerned about those who can kill your flesh body for all flesh is temporary anyway! You be concerned about your soul!

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 23:29
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Luke 21:23
But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Again, the problem is as explained in the Book of Joel. The corn and the wine and the oil have been withholden from the houses of God and our people are spiritually drunken with prosperity and the multitude of distractions in their lives. They stand spiritually naked without any armor of protection and most are completely unawares of the impending spiritual onslaught by the locust army and they shall surely find themselves snared by Apollyon and his band of merry men, unless they soon wake up.

Luke 21:34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

[35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

snare = ðáãßò pagispag-ece'
From G4078; a trap (as fastened by a noose or notch); figuratively a trick or stratagem (temptation):—snare

We will document further that it is the "sons and daughters" spoken of by Joel the prophet who are to trumpet that Satan and his angels are coming first, before Jesus Christ returns. This they do while the sound of the 6th Trump is being delayed, shortening Satan's time to reign! Satan's appearance will be as Jesus Christ and his angels as "angels of light", but their action will as the swarming locusts consuming everything that is green (living) in their path, with the exception of those who have the Seal of God in their foreheads (minds).

So get with it and "Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion"!

The Book of Joel is the book of the Blowing of the 5th Trump (Rev. 9:1-11), in which Joel describes the complete and utter spiritual destruction soon to come upon the land by the locust army, which culminates with Satanj and his angels coming to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9) claiming to be Jesus Christ with his Holy Saints (2 Thes. 2). All those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4), i.e. are sealed with God's Word in their minds, will flock to the false messiah, who is really Satan and worship him as God. You see, this worshipping of Satan by the sons of Adam IS the great apostasy, the great spiritual slaughter of the souls of men, for if a person who claims to be a Christian worships Satan, the abominable desolator, he or she has just jumped on the "soul" train headed straight for the bottomless pit of outer darkness to await the lake of fire at the end of the Millennium and this earth age.

The Book of Joel also describes the teaching of the visions of the prophets by the sons and daughters of this final generation during this "grace" period of the Blowing of the 5th Trump. (The number "5" denotes "grace" in Biblical numerics. See appendix 10 in the Companion Bible.) That grace period, as we learned, is the holding back of the 6th Trump by Michael the archangel (Rev. 7:30) who, as Rev. 12:7-9 shows, is the one restraining the Wicked One (2 Thes. 2:6) and his angels until Father says it is time to release him, i.e. "that he [Satan] might be revealed in his time (2 Thes. 2:6)!"

We learned that the instruction to God's elect, those with eyes to see and ears to hear who live in the generation preceding the Day of the Lord, is to "Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion!" and "Sound an alarm in His holy nation!" Why? Because a day of darkness and gloominess is about to spread itself across the fruited plains and upon the purple mountains majesty! Joel says there has NEVER been anything like it, neither shall there be even unto the end of generations, and Daniel says it will be a time of trouble such as "NEVER WAS since there was a nation"! Got it? It will certainly be "a close encounter of the third kind". Joel now gives us more of the "vision" of that dark and gloomy day:

Joel 2:2
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.

Now pay close attention:

We now know it is the duty and obligation of the priests, the watchmen of God, to Blow the Trumpet in the last days! But the directions are NOT to toot the horn that Jesus Christ is coming at any moment to rapture His church away. Jesus Christ does NOT return until the 7th Trump, the very last Trump when all flesh is changed in a moment and the twinkling of an eye into their spiritual bodies! 1 Cor. 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

But you see, the majority of the Christian preachers of this hour (those who come in the name of Christ, i.e. as His ministers), are very busy blowing the WRONG TRUMPET! They are Trumpeting the return of Jesus Christ at any moment! Therefore, they are BLOWING the last two Trumpets OUT OF ORDER, and NOT IN TUNE with the chronological order set forth in the Word of God! Think about it! Is it not written that MANY shall come in His name and deceive MANY? They do that not just by teaching the traditions of men and starving the people from the true bread of life, i.e. truth (Amos 8:11), but they are sounding the PEACE TRUMPET of the return of the Prince of Peace, when it is the Trumpet of Sudden Destruction (TSD) that they should be sounding, i.e. the 6th Trump, the coming of the false messiah with his locust army! Paul said when you hear them blow the Peace and Safety trumpet, the WRONG ONE, then look out! It is soon Supper Time for Larry Locust and his friends!

1 Thes. 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Joel 2:3
A fire devoureth before them [i.e. the locust army]; 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.

Ezekiel 13:3
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

Ezekiel 13:10
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

[11] Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

Disclaimer: I couldn't help myself about the "lego" thing. The word for "say" in 1 Thes. 5:3 is actually "lego" in Greek. These false preachers are using their Legos to build Rapturemobiles instead of using God's Word to build a solid Rock house that will withstand the Four Winds when they are let go upon the earth!

Ezekiel 13:4
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

[5] Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.

[6] They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

Ezekiel 13:7
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

But you, brethren, know better than to believe men's fables because you know His Word and therefore abide in the light of His Truth!

Let's return to 1 Thes. 5 and finish Paul's instructions, then we will come back to Joel.

1 Thes. 5:4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

The Trumpet is Blowing and the alarm is sounding! Listen to God's Word, not men!

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

[8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Let us now continue with Joel's description of the soon coming locust army!

Joel 2:4
The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Rev. 9:7
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

Joel 2:5
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.

You see, our people have no idea of the magnitude of this event, though the Word of God declares time and again that there has never been anything like this in history, nor ever shall there be again, because this generation will face the supernatural! It is a time likened to the Flood of Noah which came suddenly (though not without Noah trumpeting the warning from God) and swept away all those who were eating and drinking and marrying with the "fallen angels" in Gen. 6. Even those people who were warned had no idea of the magnitude of the flood! Jesus drew this analogy of the Flood of Noah for us to "take heed" to in Matthew 24:39 "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion! Sound the alarm! The flood of lies by Satan and the locust army are coming, BEFORE the 7th Trump sounds. Tell the Children! Tell the Children!

[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.

[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:

Genesis 37:9
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Rev. 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

Joel 2:11
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?

You see, there is NO CONTEST for who is charge. The battle is for your soul, your love!

Col. 1:16
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:

[17] And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

Therefore, before the sound of the 6th Trump, while we are still in that "grace period" of the 5th Trump, our Father has this to say to His children:

Joel 2:12
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.

And you know what? Since He is in TOTAL CONTROL of all things in both heaven and earth, and since He loves you, His child, so very, very much, if you turn to Him with all your heart and mind and soul and seek Him through His Word, He will see to it that your Gospel Armor is "fire proof" and you have spiritual Gospel Armor Boots (GAB) to squish locusts and scorpions. He can do it because He has ALL POWER!

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Joel 2:14
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?

Next... more action for God's elect during the Blowing of the 5th Trump. Don't miss it!

JO-EL means YH or YHVH is EL, i.e. Yahveh is God. He is the great "I AM" who brought Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. Do you know where their children are today? Do you know that God, I AM? To know Him is the First of the Ten Commandments!

In Joel 2:1 we were instructed to Blow the Trumpet in Zion warning our people that Apollyon (Satan) and his angels are coming very soon! We were then shown by graphic similitude how this well organized and highly trained "locust army" of "mighty men" will come upon the land and cause great spiritual desolation! It SHALL BE a day of great spiritual darkness and gloominess, that is except for all those who will turn to the Lord their God with "all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning (Joel 2:12)!

Now, in the second half of Joel chapter two, after having understood the severity and serious nature of what is about to happen as depicted in the first half of the chapter, those who are to Blow the Trumpet in Zion are given further details of their trumpeting duties in not only declaring the warning but in DECLARING HIS SAVING GRACE which is available RIGHT NOW!

Joel 2:15
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.

So let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, perform their priestly, sacrificial, and intercessory duties in the House of God!

[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?

Ezekiel 8:15
Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

[16] And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

Joel 2:18
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Rev. 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

[3] And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Joel 2:19
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.

[21] Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

The great things HE will do are even as follows. It is His promise!

Joel 2:22
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.

Deut. 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

[3] Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

published =  êçñýóóùkeôrussoôkay-roos'-so
Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

[13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

[14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Let us now return to JO-EL and see what the result is of that rain which comes down to you, His servant or handmaiden (Joel 2:23):

Joel 2:24
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.

*Note: If you do not know who the so-called lost 10 tribes of the House of Israel are and where they dwell today, then contact Artisan Publishers at www.artisanpublishers.com and purchase the little booklet The Abrahamic Covenant, by E. Raymond Capt.) or log unto pamphlets #1064 and #1020 on this web site.

Do you want to KNOW by what name the servants of the Most High are sent? Moses did:

Exodus 3:13
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them?

[14] And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

[15] And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

JO-EL! AMEN!

Having come this far in the great Book of Joel, we now know "Who" is to Blow the Trumpet and "Where" it is to be sounded and "What"  the sounds are that the trumpeter is to herald, i.e. that Apollyon and his locust army are coming at the sound of the 6th Trump before Jesus Christ returns at the sound of the 7th Trump! Therefore, there is only one thing left to know and understand and that is "When" are we to Blow the Trumpet in Zion and Sound the Alarm!

No problem! We are given that answer by the prophet Joel in these next few verses:

Joel 2:28
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:

Deut. 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Joel 2:28 ... and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

* Note: Isn't it most interesting that the word "Olive" in Greek is actually "Joel" (Yah is El) in reverse. Check it out:

olive = dëáßá elaiael-ah'-yah Strong's #1636
Feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary; an olive (the tree or the fruit):—olive (berry, tree).

Joel 2:28 ... your young men shall see visions:

But there will be another witness by those of another candlestick. It shall be by the "old men" who "shall dream dreams" before the kings and rulers of the nations, just as Christ foretold us in Mat. 24 and Mark 13, which JO-EL refers to in the following phrase given by the Spirit to perk the ears of the wise and spiritually mature who do know the scriptures!

Joel 2:28 ... your old men shall dream dreams,

Genesis 39:20
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

[21] But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Genesis 41:14
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:15
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

[16] And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Now let's go to another historical "type" of vile person, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who also dreamed a dream and sought for someone to interpret it for him.

Daniel 2:3
And the king [Nebuchadnezzar] said unto them [the religious leaders], I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

Daniel 2:26
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

[27] Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

[28] But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

So what did Joel mean by "your old men shall dream dreams?" The dreaming of dreams is the "delivering up" before rulers and kings and before Satan himself, the king of Babylon of Revelation. Christ foretold us all this in Mat. 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21! But even before that He told us through Joel the prophet, didn't he?

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Rev. 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Daniel 1:12
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel 1:15
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

Jeremiah 42:7
And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.

Hey, where is Joel? Did we lose him?

Joel 2:29
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.

Luke 21:25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

(1) Blood and (2) Fire followed by (3) Vapour of smoke. (Joel 2:30, Acts 2:19)

(1) Wars and (2) Rumours of Wars followed by "the (3) Scenes produced by the Smoke from bottomless pit", i.e. "nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. " (Mat. 24:7, Mark 13:7).

(1) Distress of Nations, with (2) Perplexity; followed by (3) The Sea and the Waves Roaring;

Note: We are not going to take the time to re-document the wars and rumors of wars (the cold war) other than to repeat that the 20th century was by far the BLOODIEST century in the history of mankind. If you are not familiar with the 13th chapter of Mark, then you need to be in order to understand the signs of times and the blowing of all 7 Trumpets. Read "Take Heed - a Study of Mark 13"

You "see", it is during the period of the 5th Trump, when the bottomless pit is opened (Rev. 9:2) and those pillars and vapours of "smoke" from that pit ascend into the atmosphere of society which grows ever darker as that locust nation of the kenites, the sons of Cain, using the power of the Four Hidden Dynasties, bring forth the 1st Beast of Rev. 13, which is the political beast, i.e. the New World Order. This is done in preparation for the arrival of the 2nd Beast of Rev. 13 which is Satan, Apollyon and his angelic locust army, who come at the sound of the 6th Trump!

However, the World Wars and the Cold War did NOT signal the beginnings of sorrows:

Mark 13:7
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

Mark 13:8
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

"This verse [Mark 13:8] has been traditionally interpreted as nations rising in WAR against one another, even as the culmination of World Wars, like a World War III. However, students of His Word know that the final battle is spiritual, and occurs in an era of relative peace and prosperity. It is a fight for the souls of men, not a physical flesh and blood and guts battle at all! That is why we are instructed to put on the Gospel Armor in Ephesians chapter 6 and be prepared to stand against the "fiery darts" of Satan and his locust army!

So what does this verse mean, "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom?" It is really quite simple and is made clear in the Greek from which it is translated. First, the word translated "against" is the Greek word "epi" which means "upon" or "up against", as "along side of", not antagonistically in "opposition to". For example, your epi-dermis is your outer layer of skin which lies against, i.e. is attached to, your dermis, your inner layer of skin so that they are linked together! This is important so here is the Strong's definition in its entirety:

epi, ep-ee', Greek 1909; a primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive], i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative) towards, upon, etc. :- about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, [where-]) fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-) on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through (-out), (un-) to (-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literal or figurative).

Next, the word "rise" in Greek is "egeiro" which means to "rouse" and "stand up", i.e. to "rear up".But the key to really understanding what this "rising" is comes from its root word "agora", which tells us what the rising together is to!

agora, ag-or-ah', Greek 58; from ageiro (to gather; probably akin to Greek 1453 (egeiro)); properly the town-square (as a place of public resort); by implication a market or thoroughfare :- market (-place), street.

This word "agora" is translated either "market" or "marketplace(s)" in every instance in the New Testament except one where it is translated "street", as in market street.  Because this verse is so important to our understanding it seems appropriate that we should study it more in depth. So let's complete all the words and see what "nations" and "kingdoms" mean.

nations = ethnos, eth'-nos, Greek 1484; probably from Greek 1486 (etho); a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan) :- Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

kingdom = basileia, bas-il-i'-ah, Greek 932; from Greek 935 (basileus); properly royalty, i.e. (abstract) rule, or (concrete) a realm (literal or figurative) :- kingdom, + reign.

"Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" simply means that the gentile nations, the non-ruling nations which basically comprise what we call the "Third World Countries", shall rise together in the marketplace, and the ruling nations, the "royal kingdoms" (including true Israel, i.e. the Christian nations and the rest of the Free World) shall also "rise up together" in the marketplace.

So what is it Jesus was talking about? Globalization, One Worldism. This IS the rising of the one world political beast of Revelation 13. It is happening right before our very eyes, if you can see it. (Blepo) Have you ever heard of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the IMF or the World Bank. The kingdoms of Europe have already risen together economically in the marketplace with the implementation of the Eurodollar and the Americas, including Canada and Mexico, are swiftly being brought under "Dollarization". And Worldwide E-commerce has arrived.

On May 5, 2000, there was an usual, highly publicized and talked about "alignment" of the planets, symbols of nations, a sign in the heavens! Four months later (the number "4" denotes earth in Biblical numerics) the following event occurred on earth, a sign in the earth. It was the largest gathering of the leaders of nations, of both the leading Free World Nations (kingdoms) and the Third World Countries (ethnos) in the HISTORY OF MANKIND. Here they all are standing (risen) against (epi) each other. Yep, they are all lined up!

Perhaps it should be pointed out that the "little red planet" Mars did not make the line-up with the other planets. Well, the "little red nation" of North Korea did not make the lineup of the nations either. You can read why they did not make it at http://www.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/09/05/korea.delegation/index.html. Actually it is really quite humorous (if you are not a Korean delegate)! You see, the North Korean officials were frisked and supposedly stripped searched at the airport. So they got mad and went home!

Never let it be said that our Father does not have a sense of humor.

Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

[12] The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

[13] The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The apostle Peter on that first Pentecost Day, 10 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ, very emphatically documented that the Book of Joel was written concerning the sons and daughters of the "last days". It is therefore imperative, if we are in those last days (which we are), and if we are of those sons and daughters (which we are), that we take some extra time and really understand what our Father would have us know through Joel the prophet. It is also written and made explicitly clear in Acts 2 that what was being spoken of by the Holy Spirit through the servants of God on that day were the "Wonderful works of God", which Peter promptly stood up and said was what would happen, i.e. the works of God, in these last days, even the pouring out of the Truth AND the witness before the representatives of all nations and languages! Those works we find written in Revelation are accomplished by the sons and daughters of the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna, respectively and collectively.

Acts 2:11
... we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Then too, we documented that the "smoke from the bottomless pit" is that lengthened duration of time following the "Cold War" when the 1st Beast of Rev. 13:1 rises up out of the sea (people) and causes the waves (nations) to roar, while the 5th Trumpet of Grace heralds its coming, its arrival, and sounds the alarm that the 6th Trump is about to sound! So let us look once again at what "signs" Joel gave us that tell us when the locust army is coming, and also what the Wonderful Works of God are that have been and yet must be accomplished before the Day of Lord and the return of the true Bridegroom, Jesus Christ?

Let's review Joel 2:28:

Joel 2:28
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:

Brother # 80  Päåëöüò  adelphos  ad-el-fos'
From G1 (as a connective particle) and äåëöýòdelphus (the womb); a
brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H1]):—brother.

Sister #79  PäåëöÞ  adelpheô  ad-el-fay'
Feminine of G80; a sister (natural or ecclesiastical):—sister.

Friend  #5384 ößëïòphilosfee'-los
Properly dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun,
an associate, neighbor, etc.):—friend.

Philadelphia #5361 öéëÜäåëöïò  philadelphos fil-ad'-el-fos
From G5384 and G80; fond of brethren, that is, fraternal:—love as brethren.

Rev. 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Brother =  Päåëöüò adelphos ad-el-fos'
From G1 (as a connective particle) and äåëöýòdelphus (the womb); a
brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H1]):—brother.

Tribulation =  èëßøéò thlipsis thlip'-sis
From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively):—afflicted, (-tion), anguish,
burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Companion = óõãêïéíùíüò sugkoinoônos soong-koy-no-nos'
From G4862 and G2844; a co-participant:—companion, partake (-r, -r with).

[10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,...

Rev. 1:11
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

[12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

[13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev. 1:14
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev. 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

[8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

John 10:1
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Sheepfold and Sheepcote.
An inclosure for sheep (Jer. 23:3, Ezek.34:14) whither the flock was ordinarily driven for the night. Many were permanent pens, surrounded by a stone wall (cp. Num. 32:16) and entered by a gate (John 10:1). The wall was often surmounted with branches of thorny shrubs. The sheep lay in the yard under the open sky; but doubtless there were in former days, as there are now, low, flat buildings on the sheltered side of the area, in which the flocks were shut up on cold nights. It was common for several flocks to pass the night in one fold under the care of an under-shepherd. The shepherds came in the morning, and were admitted by the under-shepherd. Each shepherd knew the sheep of his own flock, and was known by them (John 10:3,4). Less substantial inclosures were hastily formed of tangled thorn branches for temporary use on pastures remote from home, and caves and other natural shelters were taken advantage of for protecting the sheep at night, the shepherds camping with their flocks. On ranges exposed to the raids of robbers or hostile tribes, towers were erected, about which the flocks and herds were pastured and at night folded (2 Kings 27:9; 2 Chron. 26:10; Mic. 4:8). ("A Dictionary of the Bible", John D. Davis, Baker Book House, 1958, pg. 706.)

[2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

[6] This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them.

John 10:7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

[8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

[9 ] I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Rev. 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

"And do you know why?"

"Because they love studying His Word!"

[10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,

[10... continued] I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

[11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

[12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

[13] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We covered the Works of the Church of Smyrna and the testimony those "some of you" who will be delivered up before the kings and rulers of the nations. That witness will be brought forth when the sons and daughters become "old men", i.e. when the final generation that began in the year 1948 begin to get gray hair and receive their AARP cards. In other words, "ye old men" refers to the age of the generation, not to the age of those who will be "brought before kings and rulers for my names sakes!" Got it?

Also, in so far as we gave examples of God's servants being delivered up, we will not do so again. However, you should make a study of Acts 27:22-25 and read how Paul was delivered up before Caesar. The boat ride was a "little rocky" but hey, no big deal! If God has plans for you (and He does if you love Him) then nothing and no one can or will stop you, though He may allow some blocks or blockheads to fall across your path, giving you some things to stomp on or kick out of your way. "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. [23] For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, [24] Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. [25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me."

Here is Christ's address to Smyrna:

Rev. 2:8
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

[9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

[10] Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

[11] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Joel 2:31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Rev. 9:13
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

[14] Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

[15] And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

[16] And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

In conclusion, do you remember those two profound statements from President Bush's inaugural address which we talked about in our short study, "Angel in the Whirlwind"? Open your ears and "see" if you can hear the Voice from the burning bush spoken through the flesh Bush as the gentle rain fell from heaven that momentous day, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001.

"Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations." (President George W. Bush)

Luke 21:25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars [in the heavens]; and upon the earth distress of nations [blood], with perplexity [fire]; the sea and the waves roaring [pillars of smoke];

Rev. 9:3
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

[4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

But do not be alarmed, nor be afraid, nor be anxious in anyway. Those are tactful ways of saying "CALM DOWN"! The battle is spiritual and those sons and daughters who daily call upon the name of the LORD their God, will the Deliverer surely deliver out of bondage, and out the fiery furnace when they are delivered up before death, and He will bind up the cheek teeth of the lions when His servants are thrown into their dens of iniquity. For it is written, not one hair on their heads shall be harmed in anyway. And they need not premeditate what they shall say at that time for the Holy Spirit will speak right through them. Matthew 10:19 "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak."

Joel 2:32
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.

God bless you brothers and sisters.

We learned from the book named "Yah is El" the good news that in the last days "whosoever shall call on", which also means to publish as in proclaim or herald, "the name of the LORD shall be delivered, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance". Mount Zion and Jerusalem is where the "deliverance" shall be because that is where the Deliverer will be when He returns as King of kings following the finished works of the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna , i.e. the teaching and witnessing of the sons and daughters of the final generation that Joel has been talking about.

We also learned that some of those spiritually rich Christian Soldiers from the Church of Smyrna shall be cast into prison and delivered up before the kings and rulers of the earth who sit in the councils* controlled by those liars and deceivers of the synagogue of Satan. Jesus Christ described the works they shall do when they are delivered up:

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

[10] And the gospel must first be published [i.e. proclaimed] among all nations.

Yes, His willing and faithful servants shall be His instruments in proclaiming the final witness of the gospel and the coming judgment AMONG ALL NATIONS and it is written that the Holy Spirit shall speak through them in the same manner as the example set forth on that first Pentecost day following Christ's resurrection:

Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 25:31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

[32] And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Jeremiah 25:14
For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

Romans 2:6
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Joel 3:1
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

[2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Joel 3:3
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

Rev. 17:1
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

[2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Joel 3:4
Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

The question is: "Do they think they can render a recompense to God, i.e. buy Him off with that which they have stolen and with that which already rightfully belongs to Him?" Give me physical break!

[5] Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:

[6] The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

[7] Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:

Joel 3:8
And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Rev. 5:9
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Sabeans = éàÄá˜LÔsh^ebaò�Œòysheb-aw-ee'
Patronymic from H7614; a Shebaite or descendant of Sheba:—Sabean.

Sheba = àá˜LÔsh^ebaò�sheb-aw'
Of foreign origin; Sheba, the name of three early progenitors of tribes and of an Ethiopian district:—Sheba, Sabeans.

On that first Pentecost Day in Acts chapter two when the Holy Spirit descended upon the servants of God who were "all with one accord in one place", Peter stood up and quoted from the great Book of Joel and described exactly what the sons and daughters of God would be doing, i.e. what the "Wonderful Works of God" would be, in the last days before the Day of the Lord. We learned from studying the Book of Joel that God would pour out His spirit on ALL flesh, i.e. all mankind, and that would be done in two manners. First, He would pour out His Spirit on His servants and handmaidens and open the Door to His House, and they would begin to teach the "opened and unsealed Word of God" to their brothers and sisters of the 12 tribes of the House Israel listed in Rev. 7 and sound the alarm that Apollyon and his locust army are soon coming to spiritually consume the land. Along with that warning they would teach the Good News that if your desire is to return unto Him then our patient and loving Father has plenty of green pasture and a safe and restful sheepfold for His lost sheep. Come into His Word and dwell safely in His House!

Here is the commission of the wonderful works of the servants of the Church of Philadelphia, the Church of Brotherly Love:

Joel 2:1
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;

Ezekiel 3:17
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

* It is written in Rev. 3:8 that those of the Church of Philadelphia hast a "little strength".  The "little strength" that they have is possession of the "little book", the Word of God, which gives them strength, not of their own but of the POWER OF THE LIVING GOD! Rev. 3:8 "... for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." You see, they eat and digest His Word, the "little book"!

John ate the little book:

Rev. 10:9
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

Jeremiah ate the little book:

Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Ezekiel ate the little book:

Ezekiel 3:1
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. [2] So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

We said earlier that there were "two" manners of the pouring out of His Spirit on ALL mankind. The first is to the House of Israel and the second is to ALL the nations (ethnos) of world. Joel also told us what that pouring out would be and Peter actually saw a demonstration of it which is recorded in Acts chapter 2 so we can "see" it too.

"You see", things do change when Michael stands up in Daniel 12:1* and casts Satan and angels to this earth. The enemy will have arrived and that abominable one will be found standing in the holy place claiming to be God. The warning that the 6th Trumpet is about to sound will no longer go forth because it will be history, i.e. the 6th Trump will have sounded. And when the False Messiah, also known in type as the king of Babylon, arrives on the scene it is written that some of the servants of God will be delivered up, just like Daniel's companions Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneggo were delivered up to the king of Babylon because they would not bow down to the "image of the beast"! Some will be cast into prison just like Joseph because they will remain virgins and not be seduced by "the woman" who is symbolic of the harlot of false religion.

* Note: The Book of Daniel is the detailed instruction book to the Church of Smyrna who will give witness during the tribulation when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place claiming to be God. That is why Jesus Christ mentioned Daniel in relation to the abomination and that is why Michael's "standing up" "in the time of the end" is referenced in Dan. 12:1 in relation to Rev. 12:7-9. You see, Daniel and his friends "acted out" all that would happen to God's servants during the reign of the king of Babylon and you know what? The results were victory in the lion's den and there was "singing and rejoicing" even in the midst of the burning fiery furnace. You know why? Because He was with them always! By the way, Ezekiel the watchman didn't go through all the things Daniel and his friends endured, did he? Rev. 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

So we know that the "wonderful works of God" in these days includes a witness unto ALL nations of all languages, as evidenced on Pentecost Day, which will happen during the period of the great tribulation when Satan has been cast out of heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9). That is also why Christ said to those spiritually rich Christians of the Church of Smyrna in Rev. 2:9 "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)...". Here are the words of Christ describing the "work" of the witness to ALL nations:

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Joel 3:9
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

The message will be that their little LOVE AFFAIR with the New World Order and their fornicating little-horned LOVER BOY is about to end and it is now DECISION time in the Valley of Jehoshaphat for it is soon going to be JUDGMENT time in that same valley when Yeshua returns! So they can choose to either surrender and turn to YHVH who is GOD (JO-EL) or PREPARE to DEFEND THEMSELVES! Gather together all your mighty men and assemble even your weak and handicapped because your "gonna" need everyone you can muster and all the fire power you can harness, oh great little kings and rulers of the earth!

[10] Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

Micah 4:3
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Joel 3:11
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

Isaiah 13:3
I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

[4] The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

[5] They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

[6] Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Joel 3:12
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

[13] Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

Rev. 14:19
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

[20] And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

[15] The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

2 Thes. 2:8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Joel 3:16
The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

[17] So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

[18] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

[19] Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

[20] But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

[21] For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

Rev. 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Jesus said in Mark 13:9, which we quoted earlier, to "Take Heed" which means that the time has come for us to stop and begin to look around. Many of us have heard from a truly great shepherd of our people and have even taught for many years to our brothers and sisters that "reading the Minor Prophets is like reading tomorrow's newspaper". That still remains true to this day! However, as the Baby Boomer generation of the fig tree has "ripened with aged", some sections of those Minor Prophets now contain current events, TODAY'S NEWS, and some sections even contain history, i.e. prophecies fulfilled! So we all need to stay awake and be alert and not fall asleep on the watch.

We conclude our study of this Book of Joel with the words of prayer given by Pastor Kirby John Caldwell of Houston, TX, which he spoke at the end of the "Benediction Prayer" at the Inauguration of George W. Bush:

"We respectfully submit this humble prayer in the name that is above all other names, Jesus the Christ. Let all who agree say AMEN!"

"Hear ye! Hear ye! ... the message of JO-EL! AMEN!"

"Yahveh is God. And That is That!"