Presents
The
Book of Joel
Presents
The
Book of Joel
INTRODUCTION
Locusts, Locusts, Everywhere!
The Book of Joel gives us the details of that fearsome locust army from the 9th chapter of Revelation.
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
Our Father lets us know that these are His words, not man's, that He has given us through His servant Joel, the son of Pethuel, whose name means "vision man of God". That's cool, because it is written in this book that in the last days the young men, i.e. the sons and daughters of the prophets, will see (understand) visions, i.e. the visions God gave to their fathers, like the one we are studying now!Joel 1:1
The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
Listen closely and take heed ye elders, all you who are in charge of your families (vs. 3). Ask yourselves if you have ever seen anything like this before in your life that is even anywhere close to what I'm about to tell you? So pay attention, listen and learn, and then pass it on![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?
Tell your generations and their generations until the last generation (of sons and daughters) is here, which is the generation when all these things He has foretold us shall be fulfilled (Mat. 24:34). And He has foretold us all things, the details of which He told us through His prophets: Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."[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."
When our Father uses an analogy of a person, or an animal, or a place, or a thing, we are supposed to understand the characteristics of that person, place, or thing in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of that which He would have us know. Therefore we need to know at least the basics of what locusts are and how they behave and especially how they eat since that is what verse four describes them doing in Four Different Stages. You can learn about locusts from an encyclopedia or by going to credible websites such as: http://daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locust/about/australia/biologyJoel 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."It is the gentle rain that falls from heaven, from God's Word, that gives "life" and makes things "green" as was declared long ago in that great "Song of Moses" which the overcomers of Satan and his locust army will be singing at the victory celebration in Rev. 15:3.
Yes, our Father pours out the rain to make the earth bring forth abundantly, but the locusts swarm to consume everything that is "green" before them, leaving nothing but desolation and waste behind them.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:
The Gnawer
The Swarmer
The Devourer
The Consumer
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.
The new wine is the truth of God's Word which never reaches their lips because these "drinkers of wine" who think they obey God's commands (though they have never studied His Word enough to know what they are and therefore do not do them, i.e. are not doers of the Word) drink from the golden cup of idolatry held in the hand of the great religious whore described in Rev. 17!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.
Purple and scarlet are the colors of royalty and the priesthood. Those who have studied the Book of Hosea know that adultery and fornication are symbolic terms for religious idolatry, which is a form of worship made to appear to the spiritually "drunk" as Christianity, when in fact it is only churchianity where "the new wine" is not found. It is even written that if you try to put new wine (truth) into those old brittle "wine skins" they will burst asunder from the fermentation, which is the purification process of His Word (Mark 2:22).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!
Again, by the time you read about the locust army in Rev. 9 you will already know that the harmless looking little locusts, which by themselves seem like such nice people, do rip and tear like the great cheek teeth of a lion when they "swarm" upon the land.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.
Horses are symbolic of power and these locusts (men) are like the horses prepared for the great endtime battle when the trumpets blow! In this prophetic sense it refers to the Four Horses of Rev. 6, those first Four Seals which are the Four Hidden Dynasties of Religion/doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse), Politics/political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse), Economics/economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse) and Education/teachings of our schools and media. (The Man on a Pale Horse), i.e. "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" Click #1848, & #1011 or #1012 to learn more.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!
They appear to be gentle as a woman, which is what the figure of speech "had hair as the hair of a women" means. In other words, their "covering" of hair is just a disguise, a cover-up, because when they open their mouths, they rip and shred and tear like the "biters" of a lion. This is no different than the analogy used of false preachers described as "wolves in sheep clothing"![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.
The next question is: "Do you know who the Kenites are?" The word "kenite" is a "transliteration", which is simply when you convert the letters of one language into the letters of another. That differs from a "translation" where you convert a word to its meaning. The meaning of "kenite" comes from the Hebrew word "Qayin" or "Kayin" who is known to us English speaking peoples as "Cain". You see, the letter "Koph", ÷, in Hebrew, the first letter in the name Kayin, Qayin, Cain, has the sound of a "K" or a "Q" or a hard "C", just like the names Kathy and Cathy are pronounced exactly the same way in English. A Cainite, or Kenite, is therefore a son of, or descendent of Cain (not to be confused with a Canaanite).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:
We will discuss more of these locusts and even give the date when they entered into the "storehouse" of United States of America and began gnawing away! Hint: It was about the same time as the 1st of the Four Stages of Zionism. Oh, here is the Hebrew definition of "storehouse".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).
OK, I too hate it when someone keeps me in suspense. It was 1913! More on this latter. **************End of lesson 1øöÈBà �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.
Do you remember earlier in our study who it is that causes the new wine to be cut off? It is a false nation, a nation likened unto devouring locusts who will rip and tear like the cheek teeth of a great lion and strip bare all that is green with life and liberty and happiness before them, leaving total spiritual desolation in their wake.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.
We identified this nation from Amos 6:4 as stemming from the kenite controlled nation from the house of Hemath. It grows into the NWO which is then headed by Apollyon, king of the locust army! Rev. 9:11 "And they [the locusts] had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon." Do you know who he is? Oh good, you looked it up Strong's Concordance! That's right, he is the Destroyer, the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, i.e. the abominable one who destroys or makes desolate!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.
It is also interesting to note the Hebrew definition of "nation" in both Joel 1:6 and Amos 6:4:EÁðïëëýùí Apolluoônap-ol-loo'-ohn
Active participle of G622; a destroyer (that is, Satan):—Apollyon.
However, it should be made quite clear that our Father takes full responsibility for sending this nation against His people. In fact, in Joel 2:11 He will call this locust army "His army" but let us understand why He allows them come upon His people! You see, way back in Deut. 28 we were given a choice as a people and a nation, just like Adam & Eve were given choices. We have FREE CHOICE! We have the right to CHOOSE to follow God's commands which bring us life, liberty and happiness through His blessings, OR we have the right to CHOOSE liberalism and man's ways, which bring death, bondage and unhappiness by the curses which follow BAD CHOICES! Deut. 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Here are those two clear choices He set before us: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.
Course of Action - Choice #1
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.
It seems that our people in these last days have chosen Plan #2 which is to observe and do all the adulterous/idolatrous traditions of men which He commanded us not to do! So we will skip through the long list of curses (judgments) in vss. 16-37, and pick them up as they continue in verse 38: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:
Plant, chomp! Plant, chomp! Chomp, chomp go the locusts!Deut. 28:38
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
All that labor in the field and not much to show for 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.
To cast its fruit means to drop it before it is ripe![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.
It is written (Hos. 9:3) that in the last days God's people shall go into "Egypt", which is the symbolic name for "captivity". And boy are our people ever slaves to today's taskmasters. And if you think they do not have whips like those taskmasters in Cecil B. DeMille's movie "The Ten Commandments"... just try not producing the same tally of bricks each day by skipping a couple of interest payments on your mortgage or car loan.[41] Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
We are about to read this exact same thing in Joel. Trees are always symbolic of people in the Word of God, beginning in the garden of Eden where Christ is called the Tree of Life and Satan is called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Read Ezek. 31 for a lesson in trees Live Link to-Ezekiel 31). And how is it that the locust shall consume the fruit and the productivity of our people? It was explained to us long, long ago, even in the next two verses of Deut. 28![42] All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
The "stranger" is that foreign nation, not of true Israel but of Hemath, who affixed themselves to the tribe of Judah in 1 Chron. 2:55. They have become the taskmasters and have taken over the storehouse of our people, i.e. our treasury![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.
BAD CHOICE! Let's return to the first chapter of the Book of Joel where we will now be told in the past tense what the "nation" of Joel 1:6 will do when it is "come upon His land":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:
One of the things the locusts have completely eaten away is the identity of God's vine, His people, the House of Israel. In other words, the bark on our family tree has been stripped away and the branches made so completely bare and white that although we can tell it is like a tree, we can't tell what kind or whose it is. You see, most of our people believe they are gentiles and not of the true House of Israel, largely in part because they have been falsely taught that the House of Israel are all Jews. They must have never even looked at the maps in the back of their Bibles? The House of Israel and the House Judah became two separate nations a long time ago following King Solomon's reign and they will not become one "stick" again until Christ returns (Ezk. 37 Live Link to-Ezekiel 37).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 Live Link to-Revelation 1,2&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.
Christians are to remain true and faithful and wait for their husband, Jesus Christ, to return. Paul even warned about remaining a chaste virgin in 2 Cor. 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." However, many of you who have studied the Book of Hosea with us know that the 10 northern tribes of the House of Israel, with America as their leading nation today, have become spiritual whores and harlots and will already be spiritually married to the false Jesus, Satan, when their true Husband returns. That is why Christ would say in Mark 13:17 concerning these last days "But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! "He was speaking of thier spiritual seduction by the false-christ, Satan, and his angels, made possible by the spiritual "famine", the lack of knowledge of His Word in these last days (Amos. 8:11)! In other words, our people cannot tell the difference between the false Jesus and the real Jesus. When you tell them there are two Jesus Christs, they look at you as if you are nuts!Joel 1:8
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
There is no more sacrifice! The true "bread and wine" have been cut off. The abominable one has already been set up in the minds of most Christians so that when he comes and stands in the Holy Place they will surely follow after him and worship him as Christ. This is the great falling away, the great apostasy spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 2 Thes. 2.[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.
The field is the world which the sons of Adam through Noah and his sons were suppose to farm, i.e. dress and keep and plant the seeds of truth and knowledge. You should know what the "bread" and "wine" symbolizes, and the "oil" which produces "light" for the virgins! Here is the Hebrew definition of "oil" used in verse 10:[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.
You farmers, you sons of Adam, you who should have been diligently working the fields, you should be ashamed of yourselves for allowing the fields to perish where there is virtually no fruit for the harvest at the end of this flesh age! In fact, it is written in Rev. 6 and elsewhere, that you will be ashamed when Yeshua returns.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.
The "sons of men" should read "the sons of adam". Joy is gone because His blessings are gone as the curse of the false nation continues to consume every living thing, the green grass and all the trees of the field EXCEPT those men and woman who have the seal of God in their foreheads. Rev. 9:4 "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." Do not be confused by the syntax of this verse. Remember, trees are symbolic of men, so if you are a man (no gender implied) without the seal of God, His Word, locked in your mind, then you will be a tree which will be spiritually consumed by the locust army.[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.
The real truth is not to be found in most of the houses of God because the fields have been stripped bare and the great famine is upon us. So lament and howl and mourn all through the "night" because our people cannot find the true sacrifice for He has been "withholden from the house of your God". Amos 8:11-13 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.[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"!
It's not celebration time! This is as serious as it gets, for our eternal life and that of our brothers and sisters is at stake here! So sanctify a fast, not a feast, and call a solemn assembly and cry unto the Lord thy God. For behold, alas, time is short and the swarming locusts are about to lick our platter clean!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,
The Day! The Day of the LORD! It IS coming! Are you prepared? Are you one of those who has the "Seal of God" in your forehead, i.e. your mind? Or are you a milk-toast Christian about to have your spiritual clock cleaned?[15] Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
What kind of meals are served in your house of God? Many people have attended church for decades and are still so Biblically illiterate they should be ashamed of themselves. They should be able to work in the field and nourish the seeds they plant, which is to teach others. But no! You see, the bread and wine have been cut off in their house of God and all they get is some skim milk on Sunday mornings. "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." Here is the apostle Paul's admonishment to those who have been Christians for some time now but are still Biblically illiterate:[16] Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
They cannot even eat a steak dinner from the table of the Lord because they are still spiritual babies who haven't matured enough to be able to digest a full course meal!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.
Most "Baby Boomers" are still spiritual babies. It is a fitting title indeed![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.
"Where's the Beef?", asked Clara! Hey, they all have "Mad Cow" disease. There is much religious and spiritual confusion among our people today! And no wonder! The churches do not provide any green pasture nor do they put any food in the troughs for the sheep to come and eat and so the sheep are spiritually scrawny and desolate. Then too, many churches and pastors spend half their time, when they could be feeding the sheep, beating them over their heads to get them to empty their pocketbooks into the church treasuries. They do not believe God's people will pay their way when they receive good meals. Well, I guess guilt trips and false promises of prosperity tied to "giving" is about the only way to get starving sheep to willingly donate their wool, isn't it? To that end, this ministry does not ask for one dime from anyone, no, you can freely dine here any time you want to.[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.
We will discuss this "fire" in more detail when we get to Joel 2:3. Just know for now that it is "spiritual fire" for it burns up all the pastures and all the trees of the field, which are what? Tall brown things with branches and leaves? No! They are people.[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.
In other words, this consumption is worldwide, global, international. ALL the living beings, all the peoples of the whole wide world (www.earth) are consumed by the "fire" that devours the pastures and the trees! It is written that "all the world will wonder after the beast (Rev. 13:3)" "which deceiveth the whole world (Rev. 12:9)".[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 shortly! 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!
(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.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.
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:
WHO is to Blow the Trumpet in Zion and warn the people in His holy mountain (nation)? My fellow Christian, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, then YOU ARE, WE ARE!!!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!
The great battle and tribulation of Satan, the Instead-of-Jesus, in these last days is a spiritual battle for the souls of men, to see who it is that you will worship, who you will wed as your husband. Will you be the first woman taken in the field by the spurious, magnificent, miracle performing, good looking, charismatic supernatural archangel (Apollyon) who comes claiming to be Jesus at the sound of the 6th Trump, or will you wait (endure unto to the end) until Jesus Christ Himself returns at the sound of 7th Trump? In other words, will you be a spiritually chaste virgin and "barren" when Christ returns, or will you be found to be nursing a child having been spiritually "swept off your feet" and impregnated with the rapturous deception of the first Jesus who so easily "took you to wife"?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.
Jesus Christ won't be very happy with those who have left their first love (Him) and jumped in bed with the false-christ! Would you be happy if you went away and returned to find your bride to be nursing a baby! You'd probably say something like, "Why you whore! Get away from me, I never knew you!"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.
So how can we help our brothers and sisters? The instructions are "Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion", yes, the 5th Trump about the coming locust army, and sound the alarm in true Israel! Blow the Bugle and play "Reveille" for them to Wake them Up before it is too late and they are caught in Satan's trap into believing he is Jesus. Many, many will be snared by this imposter for it is written it will be a GREAT APOSTASY (2 Thes. 2)!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!
Are the 7th Trump Troubadours going to escape the great tribulation of the "vile person", Satan. Paul says NO! What does Joel say?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.
Let us understand that it is not just the "Peace, Peace" cry of the NWO that we shall hear before the sound of the 6th Trump, which peace cries we certainly are hearing, but it is the Peace cry of the priests, those foolish (unwise) preachers who prophesy the imminent "Rapture" of the church: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.
The 5th Trump is certainly a "Woe Trump" for these guys and gals! Let's skip to verse 10:Ezekiel 13:3
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
The false prophets have "seduced God's children", i.e. "Deceived Many" just as Christ said they would, for they have built up this phony facade since Margaret McDonald's vain vision in the year 1830 in Glasglow, Scotland, that Jesus Christ is soon coming to take His church away in some Rapture. And many others in this generation have jumped on their jazzy band wagon playing "Rapturety in Blue" right along with them. "To daub with untempered mortar" means to "whitewash" over something. Here is what our Father has to say to those whitewashers:.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:
Their little religious structure will NOT stand when the "rain descends, and the flood comes, and the winds blow, and beat upon that house!" And it shall fall, "and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Mat. 7:27)". And why does their little whitewashed house fall? That's right, they did not build it upon the solid Rock! Instead they used "legos" and built houses upon sand![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.
The preachers have NOT prepared our people for the awesome spiritual battle in the day of the LORD! Consequently, very few of our brothers and sisters actually have the Gospel Armor on and in place to withstand the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph. 6)![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.
They have seen a useless and deceitful oracle, the divination of Margaret McDonald's rapture theory, claiming it is from the LORD, i.e. that it is Biblical. They have "seduced God's children" and yet the LORD hath NOT sent them! Still, they come in His name as Christian ministers and deceive MANY, MANY of our dear brothers and sisters, just as Jesus Christ said they would in Mat. 24 and Mark 13.[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.
The vision they are trumpeting is NOT from the LORD. He did NOT say it and it is NOT spoken in His Word! How dare they claim it is from the Lord God! They do NOT know their Trumpets from a hole in the ground, which is where they are going if they don't repent!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.
You know about Apollyon and his locust army which comes at the 6th Trump, right (Rev. 9:13-21)? Then the first supernatural entity who comes with his angelic entourage, though it will be a most awesome sight, should not be a surprise to you. i.e. overtake you as a thief!1 Thes. 5:4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
If you believe the 7th Trump is about to sound and Jesus Christ is going to return at any moment for His church, you are in the DARK! WAKE UP!!![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!
Again, the duty of the "watchman" is to sound the alarm and give ample WARNING to others. It is our dear brothers and sisters who are spiritually asleep and spiritually drunken in the night?[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
They need to Wake up and Sober up! By the grace of God, at the sound of the 5th Trump, He has opened the eyes of many of us who were blind![7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
We are to put on the Gospel Armor, the breastplate of faith and love and show forth that faith and love to our sleeping brothers and sisters and hope and pray that they awaken, and those who are drunk with the traditions of men and vain visions, that they sober up![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!
Horses are symbols of power and strength. The locust army is a highly trained cavalry of spiritual thundering WARRIORS! We read the same description of them in Revelation 9:Joel 2:4
The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Remember, God uses the analogy of locusts just to paint a graphic PICTURE in our minds of the devastation that is happening spiritually. We can see swarming locusts consume a field or a tree, but we cannot see with the flesh eye the spiritual devouring of the inner man, i.e. a soul. Yet Joel makes it VERY CLEAR that the locust army of Revelation 9 are not insects, i.e. real locusts! They are people set in battle array, i.e. prepared for war!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.
This is spiritual warfare and the fire that devours is spirit! But do not be deceived.The tribulation of Satan, when he comes to earth as the false-christ is a time of peace and prosperity and religious revival. The problem is that it is headed by the religious Beast of Revelation chapter 13, that old sweet talkin' serpent from the garden of Eden (and the land shall be as Eden before them). He will appear claiming to be Jesus Christ but he will be the abomination who maketh desolate the souls 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.
This verse just doesn't bring forth what is said in the Hebrew. Take some initiative and look up the words "pained" and "blackness" in your Strong's Concordance. It will be an awesome time which will cause many to turn pale, i.e. away from the truth.[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!
These are analogies which simply show us in visual terms that Satan's troops are the most highly trained and well organized "army" you have ever seen.[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:
All for one, one for all! The "swords" in the spiritual battle of the last days are not made of steel (Rev. 1:16).[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.
Yikes! Locusts everywhere! They will also take over the Four Hidden Dynasties, even as they are now ALREADY controlled by the first beast, the political beast of Rev. 13. Yes, the airwaves from the prince and power of the air already come right into your living room! Haven't you noticed?[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.
Do you know who the "stars" are that Joel is talking about here who "shall withdraw their shining", i.e. whose lights will go out? Read Genesis 37 and Revelation 12 and you will understand:[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:
Hint: Joseph was the 12th star!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.
Yes, the "stars" are those of the true house of Israel who are swallowed up in the great apostasy, even those foolish virgins who did not have enough oil in their lamps to remain a light unto the end. It is those stars who will "withdraw their shining" when Rapture Boy shows up and sweeps them off their little feet and douses their lamps with his flood of lies!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:
All that is yet to happen in the Plan of God is already written and it has been written for a very, very long time. It is even written in the uncorrupted Zodiac of the heavens (Read appendix 12 in the Companion Bible). Jesus Christ said in Mark 13:23 " But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." Therefore it should come as NO surprise that God calls this locust army "His Army" for He has foretold us that He will bring it upon the land. In fact, we already learned that Michael is in the control tower and has delayed the departure of Flight 666 with Satan and his cronies aboard! The locust army will arrive only when our Father says so, for they can do nothing without His permission. Which also means, if He tells them they cannot hurt one hair on the heads of His sealed servants, though they walk through the valley of the swarming locusts, they have nothing to fear nor worry about.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 He who is in charge. The battle is for your soul, your love!
Satan is already history! In fact he is called "death", "the son of perdition", which means "the son who will perish", because our Father sentenced him to die in the lake of fire at the end of the Millennium and this earth age. Therefore Satan is as good as dead, but he shall be used to fulfill the negative part of God's plan and he shall be cast out of heaven with his host of angels and used by our Father to chastise His unrepentant children. Why? Because He loves His children and He wants them to return to His open and loving arms!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:
Why turn to your Father? Even besides the fact that He loves you so much, there is none other who can save you!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:
Peter declares the patience and longsuffering of the Lord because of the love He has for His children. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."[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!
So when He says He gives you all power over the enemy, YOU'VE GOT IT!Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
So the question is...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.
The answer is: You know! If you turn to Him, you can have His blessings right now! There will be plenty of corn and wine for you for your Father will see to it that the death angel, Apollyon, and his locust army Passes Over your house because you are His child and you now dwell in His vineyard where locusts dare not go!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!
The northern kingdom, "House of Israel", along with many from the southern kingdom, "House of Judah" were taken by Assyria, in 721 BC well over eight hundred thousand Israelite men 2 Samuel 24:1 - 9 and their families from ten different tribes (2 Kings 17, 18, and 19.) In 2 Kings 19:32-34 we learn that only Jerusalem was spared.
(All total approximately 1,300,000 men plus their wives and children were carried away)
Live Link to- "Do you
know who you really are?"
Are you a Israelite?
Be
thoughtful before you answer.
(Maybe you only think
you're
a Gentile!)
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!
The first order of business is to sanctify a fast and proclaim a day of restraint. This does not mean to conduct a ceremony or have "church", or do something else religious! It means to sound in their ears and declare that it is time for God's children to get crackin' and discipline themselves in the Word of God. To be a "disciple" is to be one who is "disciplined" (educated) in the Word of God.Joel 2:15
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Gather the people and "sanctify" (prepare) the congregation, which means to purify them with His Word! Assemble (i.e. to the spiritual temple of the body of Christ) the old men, the sons and daughters, and the newborn babes in Christ, i.e. all those who are preparing for the "wedding", for the undisciplined in His Word are ignorantly and unknowingly waiting to be taken at any moment in the "rapturous wedding" to the first Jesus who shows up, who will be the false messiah, Satan when he is cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9). You see, though he will appear as Jesus Christ and His Saints, he will actually be Apollyon and his locusts who will eat them alive, including all their clothing and their wedding garments![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!
The problem is that most of the so-called priests and the ministers of the Lord are NOT doing their duties to God and for His people as they should be doing between "the porch and the altar". Instead, they are practicing idolatry and teaching the traditions of men. Here is what the watchman, Ezekiel, saw (even fore-saw in our day, for it was a vision!):[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?
The following practice by the undisciplined in God's Word is directly associated with Ishtar worship which is idolatry and a "great abomination" to 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.
But if the priests DO "sanctify the congregation" and the people DO return unto Him (as per Joel 2:12-14) THEN the LORD will be zealous, i.e. quickly turn, and have compassion on His people.[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.
Editor's Note: Think easter sun rise service!
Easter --- Christians, Please Read these Pamphlets. #6096 By the way, the "asherah", from whence we get Easter, is rated "X"!
#7014 "Six Days Before The Passover" (John 12:1)
#1071 Easter Sunday or Easter Saturday, which is it?
#1159 "Easter Sunrise Worship Services?"
#1153 "Rabbits and her Ishtar eggs"
#1186 Crucifixion on Wednesday - Resurrection on Saturday
#1530 What do you mean you thought Jesus was crucified on Good Friday?
#1541 Jesus was crucified Wednesday and rose on Saturday!
Verses 17 and 18 sum up the concluding words of the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 which the OVERCOMERS of Satan and his locust army will be singing at the victory celebration as recorded by John in Rev. 15:Joel 2:18
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
This is exactly what Joel 2:21 says: "Be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things." Yes, upon repentance, when His people turn to Him with all their heart and mind and soul and ask for forgiveness and His grace, He will then turn ZEALOUSLY (Oh how happy it makes our Father!) and He will pour out His blessings abundantly AND remove the locust army from off your back!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.
You shall have plenty, even in the midst of this great locust army.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:
The northern army is the gnawing, swarming, devouring, all consuming locust army of Joel 1:4! You see, locusts do not even dwell in, nor migrate to, the north from which the locust army comes and "does great things", i.e. spiritually desolates the land. But you who have heeded the warning of the Trumpet of Grace (#5) have NOTHING to fear even when the 6th Trumpet sounds, but only to be glad and to rejoice, for the LORD will do "Great and Marvellous Works" (Rev. 15:3) during that trump, even as He now does a great and marvelous thing.[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.
In fact, as we shall learn, the LORD will even do great and marvelous works through His sons and daughters in these last days, for the Holy Spirit will speak through them and they shall give HIS testimony before Satan and his locust army in view of a worldwide audience, i.e. before people of every nation and tongue as they did in Acts chapter 2, only GREATER! (That is now possible in this final generation with the advent of worldwide satellite TV!)[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!
Where do you spiritually dwell right now?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.
Again, the Song of Moses which the overcomers sing, declares the RAIN in this final generation. Do you know that song? If not, how will you be able to sing it? Just asking. (This does not mean you have to memorize it, but rather to know what it says.)[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.
His Word, His Truth, IS that RAIN, both the former rain which causes the tender herb to germinate, and the latter rain which matures the crop for harvest. (Remember from the entomology of the locust that it is lots of RAIN that causes the locusts to swarm!)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:
The word "publish" is "qara" in Hebrew and it means to "proclaim" or "herald" just as the word "kerusso" does in Greek.[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.
And how will the gospel be proclaimed among all nations? By a great and marvelous work! Haven't you read what Jesus Christ said?Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
He went to the Father and sent His Spirit which, as Peter declared when he quoted JO-EL, shall be poured out (even is poured out) upon His servants and His handmaids in this final generation! We will read more about that POURING RAIN, i.e. pouring out of His Spirit, next!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.
The subject Jesus Christ is addressing is "the works" of those that believe on Him and who seek to serve Him, in His name, i.e. according to His Word "that Yahveh may be glorified in Yeshua". If you are one who believes in Him after this manner, then He will breathe the breath of eternal life in you (His son or daughter and NOW His servant or His handmaiden) and THROUGH YOU His Trumpet of Grace with the accompanying Warning that the 6th Trumpet is about* to sound will be heard Blowing! (*Or has sounded, i.e. at the time of the delivering up before the false-christ.) Yes, Great and Marvelous are His works!! Do you want to be a part of that great and marvelous work?[13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Do you know that name, which means do you know that God?[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):
Wow! (Not Woe!) A great harvest of wheat to bring into His barn! Good work!Joel 2:24
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
Again, Father calls this locust army HIS army because He allows the enemy to come upon His people as the rod of His correction, i.e. for their chastisement, just as He allowed the king of Babylon to come upon them![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.
Though there is great famine in the land (Amos 8:11), there is no famine for God's elect, for those who eat at the table of the Lord! And they shall be clothed in pure white linen and they shall not be found standing spiritually stark naked without a wedding garment on at the appearance of the true Bridegroom. All others will have been stripped bare by Apollyon and the locusts.[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.
Do you KNOW where the children of the true House of Israel*, the so-called 10 lost tribes, dwell today. Or have the locusts consumed your family tree and stripped off the bark from its branches? Quite frankly, if you do not know where they are then how would know WHO IT IS that dwells in the midst of them? (Understand, this applies also to the gentile who is grafted into the vine.)[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.
Do you want to KNOW by what name the servants of the Most High are sent? Moses did:
The Blowing of the Trumpet in Zion declares this God, the I AM, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, unto the children of Israel. It is YHVH who is EL! There is NO other God!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! **************End lesson 5
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:
Peter qualified the "afterward" as meaning "in the last days": "And it shall come to pass in the last days... (Acts 2: 17). And as we learned from the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32, His doctrine, i.e. His truth, His Word, His spirit, IS that rain which shall be poured out upon all flesh, even all nations: Mark 13:10 "And the gospel must first be published [heralded] among all nations."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:
Hey, you know the saying, "When it Rains, it Pours!" Hmmm... Wasn't that the slogan for Morton Salt? It brings to mind the scripture "Ye are the salt of the earth (Mat. 5:13)". Nevertheless, it is the "latter day rain" of Joel 2:23 which we have already covered that is the pouring out of God's Spirit, His truth.And it is poured out upon ALL flesh through His sons and daughters of this final generation.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:
Through His Spirit, symbolized by the olive* oil, which is received through prayer and by studying His Word, the "wise" virgins of the last days shall and have come to understand (see) the visions of the prophets. It is written that the angel spoke unto Daniel the prophet and said "... Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Yes, they would "See" the visions of the prophets in the last days!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).
This phrase really has a double meaning, because as the young men and women grow in their "understanding" of the visions, they also begin to actually "see the prophetic visions" come to pass, many of which have already come to pass! So these young lovers of God's Word will be teaching His truth in "Brotherly Love" and blowing the trumpet in the ears of their slumbering Brothers and Sisters. They are as watchmen and shepherds over the House of Israel to whom they are sent and they speak out boldly against the deception of the wolves in sheep's clothing who come in the name of Jesus and deceive our people with the traditions of men and by blowing the wrong ram's horn! This is the witness of the Church of Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13), the Church of Brotherly love!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!
Let's document to those with eyes to see and ears to hear what Joel is talking about. Do you know and recall the story of Joseph who was "betrayed by his brothers" and sold into bondage? Well, after Joseph was taken to Egypt, the "woman", who was the master's unfaithful wife, tried to "seduce" him, but to no avail and so the scorned woman saw to it that Joseph was "cast into prison", the king's prison!Joel 2:28 ... your old men shall dream dreams,
But have no fear, the LORD was with Joseph! You see, if you are a servant of God then has PROMISED "He will NEVER leave thee or forsake thee (Heb. 13:5)!"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.
Then the butler and baker who were cast into the prison with Joseph both dreamed a dream and Joseph, having informed them both that "interpretations belong to God", told them the meanings of their dreams. Then later, Pharaoh himself, a type of vile person, also "dreamed a dream" and when he could find no one to interpret the dream the butler "remembered" Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Soooo... Joseph was brought out of the dungeon and "brought before the ruler" of Egypt![21] But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Joseph spoke the interpretation of the dream to Pharaoh as it was given to him by the Holy Spirit! Got it so far?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.
Of course these religious leaders, the so-called wise men, had no clue, no idea whatsoever, what the dream was. But God's servant Daniel, who along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was "taken captive" by the king of Babylon, was shown the interpretation thereof by the Holy Spirit and then he was "delivered up" before this world ruling king.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.
We already know from Joseph's witness that "interpretations belong to God" so therefore man, without God's spirit, no matter how smart he is or thinks he is, cannot know the meaning of the dreams and visions on his own! Wisdom comes God!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?
They are all a bunch of hypocrites and self-serving con-artists who do not know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! You can actually turn on your television set and find many of their modern day counterparts! There is nothing new under the sun.[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;
Nebuchadnezzar's dream was a vision for the latter days! But notice again that God's servant Daniel was "delivered up" before the king of Babylon, and his very life depended on him giving witness from God to king of the golden empire! Hey, NO PROBLEM! Daniel could cut it![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?
Just as Joseph and Daniel were brought before kings and rulers, so shall some of the spiritually mature sons and daughters, "the old men", be delivered up in this final generation and "dream dreams" before kings and rulers as a witness against them! And you know what, neither Joseph nor Daniel had to premeditate what they would say, did they? Neither shall you if and when you are delivered up. In fact, Christ said "Do not premeditate" for He will handle the words of your mouth in that hour: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.
This is the witness of the Church of Smyrna in Rev. 2:8-11: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.
If you are destined and called to be delivered up, take it seriously but "Don't sweat it", i.e. the 10 days of tribulation! "Be thou faithful unto death" simply means "hang in there baby", i.e. in the face of Satan (whose name is death). You know what is happening! Just do as Daniel and his friends did and simply do not partake of the king of Babylon's tainted meat and leavened garbage (the tribulation), but rather eat and digest God's Word prayerfully and after 10 days your countenance will shine with the truth as the Holy Spirit descends upon you like a fiery cloven tongue and gives you utterance, AS HE HAS PROMISED!! Never forget it!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.
You see, on that Pentecost day in Acts chapter 2 (Pente-cost means count 50) when the Holy Spirit descended and Peter quoted from Joel the prophet, it was 10 days after Jesus Christ had ascended into heaven to become our advocate at the right hand of the Father. I.e. He ascended on the 40th day and it was now the 50th, a difference of 10 days before the Comforter would come. (Of course the older you get the faster time seems to go by, so a 10 day wait will go by much quicker to "ye old men and women" than it will for you young visionaries! LOL)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?
BOTH His servants and handmaids, male and female, will be filled with His spirit and pour forth the teaching and the witness in these last days. And what will be the signs that it is time to blow the trumpet? Pay close attention because the "I" speaking in the next verse, a verse which has caused much bewilderment among people, is "Jesus Christ" who is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8)".Joel 2:29
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Here is how the Lord said exactly the same thing, in exactly the same order, in the Book of Luke:[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Let us look at these same signs together with the other scriptures of those same signs given in the same order so that we might glean a clearer picture of what it is we are to know.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 Live Link to-"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:
The rising of billowing pillars and vapours of smoke from the bottomless pit, which do signal the beginning of sorrows, began with the following signs.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.
Most of you are familiar with the famine of the end time for it is recorded in Amos 8:11-13 which declares that the famine is not for bread nor a thirst for water, but for the hearing of the Word of God. Once again we refer you to the "Take Heed" series for further explanation of the famine and troubles and the upheavals in all aspects of society.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.
We were told in Joel 2, in Acts 2, in Matthew 24, in Mark 13, and in Luke 21 that we would be see "heavenly signs" and "earthly signs". Have you seen any lately? Are you aware of the heavenly signs? In our pamphlet "The Signs in the Heavens" we documented signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars along with heavenly signs."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:
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!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).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.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.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."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.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.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!
The Kingdoms
and the Nations at the Millennium Summit 2000
http://www.un.org
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.
LOL ***************End lesson 6Psalm 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.
Are you familiar with those "Wonderful works"? We learned that a "marvelous work" whereby His doctrine, His Spirit of Truth, the former and the latter rain, would be poured out upon all flesh through His servants and His handmaidens, the sons and daughters of the last days, the final generation of the fig tree. We also learned that there is a great and spiritually dreadful locust army that shall soon descend upon the land when Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven at the sound of the 6th Trump upon a world that will believe the 7th Trump has sounded and Jesus Christ has returned. The false shepherds have prepared our people through the false doctrine of the any-moment Rapture Theory to accept the first supernatural entity who appears as an angel of light!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:
Have you ever thought about the FACT that "sons and daughters" are "brothers and sisters" to each other? Joel was talking about the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, only Peter placed them in reverse chronological order showing the "young men" seeing visions before the "old men" dream dreams! Yes, the sons and daughters Joel spoke of are the brothers and sisters of the Church of Philadelphia. Let's break it back to the Greek: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:
The churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna are the only two churches in the body of Christ that the Lord found no fault with for He approved of their "Works"! The apostle John was privileged to see in a vision the body of Christ in these last days, including all 7 churches. We pick up his testimony in the Rev. 1:9: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.
John saw ALL the events and spiritual battles take place in the final generation all the way to and including the return of Jesus Christ. He saw the locust army and Apollyon and he saw the victory the Lamb and of His saints, even witnessing those overcomers rejoicing and singing at the celebration ceremonies! John was then given his commission and dutifully wrote all those events and the "history" of their results to be our instruction guide and our companion during the current and coming times of tribulation. He also identifies himself with Philadelphia and Smyrna in verse 9.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.
"Thlipsis" is the same word for the "tribulation" of Smyrna. Notice that the reason John was in the isle that is called Patmos was (1) for the Word of God and (2) 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.
John was right there and saw it all!Companion = óõãêïéíùíüò sugkoinoônos soong-koy-no-nos'
From G4862 and G2844; a co-participant:—companion, partake (-r, -r with).
Now let's check out the body of Christ in these last days and see what's up![10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,...
You will find in vs. 19 of this chapter that the 7 candlesticks are the 7 churches which make up the body of Christ.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;
There is a deceiver coming soon who will also stand in the midst of the churches, the temple of God (2 Thes. 2) and he will claim to be Jesus Christ. Here, however, is the description of brilliance and the brightness of the real Jesus Christ.[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.
Jesus Christ will now address the 7 churches and in EVERY case, specifically address their WORKS. Shall He find the "flame of His fire" among them? Yes, here is the church of the sons & daughters, the brothers and sisters, the adelphos and adelpheo: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.
Those who have eyes to see need pay close attention to this. David was a shepherd and the key of David is the key of the Shepherd who opens the seals, which are the "visions" of the prophets "sealed" until the time of the end, and reveals them to the sons and daughters of the Church of Philadelphia! We know from Joel that in "seeing these visions" they then prophesy (teach His Word) and gather as many as will hear the voice of the trumpet, the voice of the Shepherd, into His sheepfold, the door of which He has now opened!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;
You must understand what the door is that is opened to the sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters of the Church of Philadelphia. The door that He opens is the door to the sheep, i.e. to the lost tribes of the House of Israel, His sheep. If you have studied the Book of John with us, then you know of this "Door"! Let's review some of John chapter 10. Jesus speaks:[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.
There is only one way to enter into the sheepfold, that place of rest for the sheep, and that is by the DOOR or the gate. Below is an explanation of what a sheepfold is. It is a resting place for sheep!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.
Now that we know what a sheepfold is, it will be much easier to understand the following parable (vs. 6). These are the words of Jesus Christ, the one and only True Shepherd.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.)
Not only do the false shepherds not enter in through the "Door" but as thieves they steal the birthright and even eternal life from the sheep. But know this: The false shepherd of false shepherds is soon coming into the sheepfold to steal ALL the sheep who do not have the seal of the True Shepherd in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4). He will look just like the True Shepherd but he is the false-shepherd, a thief and a robber indeed! Let's move to verse 6:[2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Do you understand this parable? Has the shepherd of the sheepfold you attend entered in through the door or has he climbed into the pulpit another way? Here's how you can tell:[6] This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them.
This is the DOOR that is opened to the Church of Philadelphia that the lost sheep of the House of Israel may find the true sabbath, the true rest.John 10:7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
The false messiah is coming to steal the sheep, but the door is NOW open to enter into the sheepfold of the True Shepherd. Yes, the true Shepherd has opened that door with the key of David the shepherd, through the sons and daughters of this final generation who show their people where they can find the green pastures during these times of the great famine (Amos 8:11-13)! Meanwhile, many false shepherds are gone out into the world, claiming to be shepherds of His flock, and as Christ foretold us, they have deceived MANY! But they have not deceived the Church of Philadelphia because they know His voice, and listen not to the thief, because they have already entered into the sheepfold through the Door of the True Shepherd![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.
Let's return to the Church of Philadelphia in Rev. 3:[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.
He loves these sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters, the "adelphos" and "adelpheo"!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!"
Yes, the opening by the key of David is when the Shepherd (Who alone is worthy) opens the seals of His Word, revealing the visions of the prophets to the brothers and sisters of the Church of Philadelphia, who then prophesy (teach His Word) and gather as many as will hear the voice of the trumpet, the voice of the Shepherd, into His sheepfold.[10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
This is a promise to the sons and daughters of the Church of Philadelphia who prophesy and allow His spirit, His truth, the rain, to flow through them unto their brothers and sisters of the House of Israel. They will not be tempted by the lies and deception of the thief, because his voice is not the voice of the True Shepherd. You see, they KNOW the voice of the True Shepherd which is the Word of God![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.
When the bride marries the Bridegroom she goes to live with Him and is given a new name, which name comes from her new Husband, right? Think about the magnitude of what Christ said here![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.
Do you have ears to hear the true Shepherd's voice, the voice of the Trumpet which John heard in Rev. 1:10?[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:
And what shall be the sign when the witness is given by the "spiritually rich Christian soldiers" of the Church of 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.
This is NOT the same "signs in the heavens" and the "signs in the earth" that occur during the same period when the smoke from the bottomless pit rises. They were signs of the 1st Beast, the political beast, who is here now. No, this is religious, i.e. the sign of the religious beast of Rev. 13. This is when the false-christ, the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stands in the midst of the temple, of the body of Christ, and spiritual darkness prevails as the daily sacrifice through the blood of the Lamb slain is cut off and the moon, symbolic of Satan (lunar), is put in place of His blood. Yes, the whole world, including most of professing Christianity will worship the false messiah. It is written! And when the "locusts come out of the smoke" at the sound of the 6th Trump, some of those sons and daughters who have been prophesying (teaching) for some time now will take a stand, even "take the stand"!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.
Here comes the cavalry, those locusts who have "the appearance of horses prepared unto battle (Rev. 9:7)" and "The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run (Joel 2:4)."[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.
It is time to stay awake and keep alert because my friends, it appears the winds are now a changin'! You can even hear the windbags from all directions "blowing hot air" and "spinning" lies and deception like a whirlwind. They call it the N.E.W.S. which is mostly a bunch of "smoke and mirrors" covering up the activities of the Four Hidden Dynasties as the kenites bring forth the multi-headed, i.e. multi-national, political beast![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.
We have learned from the words of the Lord through the prophet Joel when we compared them with the words the Lord spoke directly to His disciples in Matthew and Mark, that the "pillars of smoke" is the bringing forth of the 1st Beast of Rev. 13:1, when nation rises alongside nation in the marketplace, etc., i.e. the NWO emerges. Then in Luke He tells us that the "vapor of smoke" is, as in causes, the sea and the waves (the people and the nations) to roar, i.e. rage! Here is that verse in Luke with the words of Joel in brackets."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)
Do you know what happens after the these signs when the smoke has successfully darkened (spiritually) much of the earth?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];
Yes, these are the most exciting times in the history of the world, especially for those sons and daughters who have walked through the open door into His sheepfold. The hour is now late and it is soon time for some of God's elect to be delivered up before the security councils of the beast, controlled by the synagogue of Satan, and give witness before the kings and rulers of the nations of the earth, even before "death" himself, i.e. Satan. It is a great and marvelous time to be a True Blue Smyrph, isn't it? (A Smyrph, sometimes spelled Smurf, is a member of the church of Smyrna and Philadelphia. LOL)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."
Has He called you? If so, do you call Him up daily and tell Him you love Him and show forth your love by keeping His commands and the Word of His patience? If you do, then each and every day is just such a beautiful day, isn't it?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:
Satan and legal counselors will "beat up" on them with fiery darts!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:
Once the witnessing "among all nations" has been accomplished according to the Word of God and those nations have chosen their path in the face of that witness, then shall it be "that time" for the restoration of His people and the judgment of the nations as it is written in Matthew 25:31-32.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.
Your loved ones who loved the Lord and have passed on are with Him now (1 Thes. 4:13-18). They are those holy angels, those saints clothed in fine white linen (Rev. 19:14), those onward Christian Soldiers, who shall return following the King of kings and riding upon their white horses.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:
Joel is now going to expound upon this gathering of all nations which follows the witness of those saints who are delivered up and give His testimony. And it is written time after time after time in the scriptures, then "they shall know the LORD is God (Jo-El)". And when that King of kings returns with His saints who shall execute His rod of iron (discipline) then shall all the nations be recompensed for their decisions. That's right, it's pay day and everyone will get exactly what is coming to them in the righteous judgment of the Lord "according to their deeds". It is called true justice for God is no respecter of persons nor does He judge by appearance (Jn. 7:24) but by righteous judgment, a liberal's nightmare indeed! You reap what you sow, remember?[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:
Let's begin Joel's description of the judgment of the nations.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:
The Hebrew word translated captive is "shebuwth" which means figuratively "a former state of prosperity". In other words, Judah and Israel shall be restored to glory and prosperity and joined back together into one stick when the true Messiah returns (Ezek. 37:15-17). We read of that gathering back to Him in the Book of Hosea, the book of the salvation of Israel.Joel 3:1
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
The valley of Jehoshaphat is both the "valley of decision" (vs. 14) and the "valley of Judgment" (Jehoshaphat means "YHVH judges"). In fact, it is simply the valley where the Lord judges the nations for the decisions they have made and the way they have treated His children. Remember, and make no mistake about it, i.e. be not deceived into thinking anyone gets away with mocking God or His children, God will recompense to every nation and to every man according to his deeds:[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.
Pay day is coming. You can count on it! And what have the nations of the world done?Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
They have trafficked and made merchandise of the children of God. In other words they have sold His sons and daughters "down the drain", right into the slavery of the harlot, the great whore, the one world political and religious system with whom the nations of the earth have committed fornication (harlotry) and become drunken with her wine: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.
This is further documented by the next verse in Joel which identifies the wicked nation of Hemath (remember them from the beginning of this study in Joel?):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.
You may recall if you have studied Ezekiel 27 that the "little rock" island of Tyre, along with her plundering sister Zidon (Sidon) on the seacoast, was the World Wide Trading Center of the ancient world, a type and forerunner of the New World Order (NWO), which was headed and controlled by the kenites, even as the NWO is today. And in Ezekiel 28 we learned that the king of Tyre (Tyre means "rock" in Hebrew) is none other than the little rock who is not our Rock, i.e. Satan himself.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!
They, the kenites, have ripped off His people through their deceptive political practices and their usurious, unholy economic central banking systems.[5] Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
In other words, they sold the children unto the Javanites who "trafficked in slavery" and who carried them to distant lands! Pay close attention to this verse because it holds the "according to their deeds" key to the judgment of the sons and daughters of Tyre and Zidon, i.e. the kenites. But also know that neither distance nor oceans afar off can prevent the Lord God from gathering His people. And those traffickers of His people are gonna get what's coming to them![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.
God will do the redeeming and restoring of His people and those traffickers and merchandisers of His people shall get their gourds thumped for their evil deeds and get a taste of their own medicine, as we say. You want to see precious righteous judgment in the manner of "according to their deeds"? Here it is:[7] Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
Oh this is precious justice if you can understand what Joel has said. You see, as it is written the children of Kingdom will now be given the crowns of the earth and will be in charge under the command of the King of kings. We could read of this many places but let's read it in Rev. 5: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.
Well, the sons and daughters of Tyre and Zidon, the kenites, who not only made captives and slaves of God's people but have even more oppressively enslaved the gentiles, the ethnic peoples whom we call minorities in our land, through their divisive class envy agendas and socialist entitlement programs that strip them of their spirit and dignity as a proud people. Joel 3:8 declares that the sons and daughters of Tyre and Zidon are going to be "sold to the Sabeans" and become the "slavees" instead of the "slaveers or slave masters"! Got it? Now let's learn who the Sabeans are.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.
The Sabeans were "a people a far off" even from "a far off nation of Africa".Sabeans = éàÄá˜LÔshebaò�Œòysheb-aw-ee'
Patronymic from H7614; a Shebaite or descendant of Sheba:—Sabean.Sheba = àá˜LÔshebaò�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:
Yes, it was Joel who explained how God would pour out His spirit on His servants and handmaidens in the final generation which began when the fig tree was planted in the year 1948, and they would "hear the word at His mouth" with ears to hear and "see the visions" of His prophets with eyes to see and they would prophesy, which means they would teach the words of the prophets and "give warning from Him, from His Word"! In the Book of EZEK-I-EL (which means "whom God strengthens*") we learned that it is the job of the "watchman" to warn the people, and His servants would be those watchmen unto the House of Israel after the manner of Ezekiel who was the type and forerunner of God's elect in these last days :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;
And so it is Rev. 3:7 that the Shepherd unlocked and unsealed those visions with the key of David to the sons and daughters who are the brothers and sisters of the Church of Philadelphia and, as they have been for some time now, they continue both individually and collectively to Blow the Trumpet in Zion and "give their friends and relatives warning (knowledge) from Him" that the enemy, disguised as an angel of light, is coming FIRST at the sound of the 6th Trump to stand in the holy place claiming to be Jesus and shall deceive the whole world before the true Bridegroom comes at the sound of the 7th Trump.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.
John ate the little book:And the sons and daughters of the Church of Philadelphia have eaten the little book, the Book of Strength. In fact, Christ mentions the "little strength" to let us know that EZEK-I-EL, "God is our strength", is the detailed instruction book to the watchmen of the Church of Philadelphia. Ezekiel was sent to the people of his own language: "Ezekiel 3:4-5 "And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel (He opened the Door for them), and speak with my words unto them. [5] For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel".Jeremiah 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.Ezekiel 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 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.
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:
Then the gospel will be proclaimed among ALL nations (ethnos).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.
And that language which was spoken on Pentecost Day which needed no interpreter, which all people of ALL nations heard and understood in their own language, will once again be poured out upon His servants and handmaidens.Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
But you know something? Even though we know that Jesus Christ has told us not to premeditate what we shall say during that delivering up, for the Holy Spirit will do the speaking, He is SO GOOD TO US for He has not left us without the knowledge of what it is He will say to those kings and rulers of the nations! That's right, He tells us right here in the Book of Joel. Folks, here is the Proclamation that will go forth to the Nations of the Earth by the servants of the Most High: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.
Do you "see" what the Church of Smyrna will be saying? They will be proclaiming the coming of the King of kings and the pouring out of the Spirit of His wrath, that cup of wrath, upon the ungodly! In other words, they will proclaiming the sound of the 7th Trump, not the 6th, for the 6th Trumpet will have already sounded.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!
Go for it now O' kings and rulers, because when the King of kings comes you guys are going to beat your swords back into plowshares and pruninghooks and your going to learn how to use them too![10] Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
The mighty ones coming with the LORD at the sound of the 7th Trump are the "mothers and fathers" (and other loved ones) of the "sons and daughters", i.e. those who have died in the Lord and are part of that great army riding on white horses following the King of kings and Lord of lords. They shall appear first and then we who are alive and remain in the flesh, His sanctified ones, shall be changed in a moment and a twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:52) and join together with them.Joel 3:11Micah 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.
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
Prepare war, ye nations of the earth! The Lord of Hosts is coming with His mighty angels and your NWO party is about to end!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.
He will put a STOP to wickedness and oppression and bloodshed.[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.
You nations better wake up! It is just about harvest time, the time when you WILL reap what you have sown.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.
It is soon, very soon, that harvest time! And unfortunately when the Lord and His angels reap the earth they find it is FILLED with wickedness. Yes, there shall be multitudes and multitudes who shall be squeezed in the winepress of His wrath.[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.
The Greek word translated "blood" in this verse is "haima" which is figurative for "juice of grapes". Nevertheless, it is symbolic of the blood of the multitudes in the valley of decision which figuratively flows as high as the bridles of the white horses whose riders are the reaping angels of His mighty ones, and for as far as one can see, which is what the figure of speech "by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs" means! (Horses run races in furlongs, from 5 to about 12 or so. 8 furlongs is a mile. Do not ask me how I know this!)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:
Fear none of those things because He has promised and shown by example to our forefathers that He "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5)".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.
You can read in detail about these waters which flow from under the throne in the House of the LORD in Ezekiel 47.[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.
Egypt and Edom, though they are included among those nations He pours out His vials of wrath upon in the "Day of Vengeance", are symbolic of captivity and oppression and bloodshed, which He shall put an end to once and for all![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.
In Ezekiel 16 our Father "married" as in "took to wife" the city of Jerusalem to be His dwelling place for ever and ever, and so it shall be.[20] But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
The saints are still patiently waiting and their prayers will be answered in due season, for the judging and avenging in the Valley of Jehoshaphat is not far off.[21] For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
And the LORD shall dwell in Zion! Yahveh Shammah, which in Hebrew means "Yahveh is There"! These are the same words, the words of hope and promise, that conclude the great Book of Ezekiel, the instruction book of the duties of the watchmen in these last days. Meanwhile there is yet some work to be done.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:
Yes, it is soon time for all the world to either agree or disagree that Jesus is the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is soon time that all nations and peoples and tongues of the earth know the meaning of and the message of JO-EL the prophet that they can say AMEN, which means "So be it" or "That is That"!"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!"
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