The American Wisdom Series

Presents

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

Joel 2:1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

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

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

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

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

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

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

Live Link to->>>  Endure til the end

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

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

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

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

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

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:

1 Thes. 5:3

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

Joel 2:3
A fire devoureth before them [i.e. the locust army]; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joel 2:5
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

[6] Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

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

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

[7] They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

[8] Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

[9] They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

[10] The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

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

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

Joel 2:11
And the LORD shall utter his voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

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

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

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

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

[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!

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

Joel 2:14
Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Next... more action for God's elect during the Blowing of the 5th Trump. Don't miss it!                                            
JO-EL means YH or YHVH is EL, i.e. Yahveh is God. He is the great "I AM" who brought Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. Do you know where their children are today? Do you know that God, I AM? To know Him is the First of the Ten Commandments!

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" (Satan and his loyal fallen angel followers) will come upon the land as described in Revelation chapter 13 and cause great spiritual desolation! It SHALL BE a day of great spiritual darkness and gloominess, that is except for all those who will turn to the Lord their God with "all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning (Joel 2:12)!

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

Joel 2:15
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

[16] Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

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

[17] Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

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

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

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!

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

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

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

Joel 2:19
Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

[20] But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

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

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

Joel 2:22
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

[23] Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joel 2:24
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

[25] And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.

[26] And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

[27] And ye shall know that I AM in the midst of Israel, and that I AM the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

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

Moses did:

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

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

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

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

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

Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hey, where is Joel? Did we lose him?

Joel 2:29
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let's review Joel 2:28:

Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And do you know why?"

"Because they love studying His Word!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is Christ's address to Smyrna:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joel 2:32
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.           

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

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

Jesus Christ described the works they shall do when they are delivered up:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Live Link to- Joel chapter 3