Joel 3

JOEL 3 - The nations judged

CONSIDER

• Prophecy in Joel 3 is partially fulfilled, yet to be completely fulfilled <H88> (Nov 2023)

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** It is Jacob’s trouble -- the prophesied end-of-days dastardly treatment of Israel by the nations of earth -- that will cause the God of Heaven to bring them to Armageddon <J100>

• This will be the culmination of humankind dealing treacherously with God’s chosen people, the Jews

• The Lord’s promise to Abraham includes severe repercussions for anyone who would curse the progeny of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

• God promises to protect the descendants of Israel and this will be evident when all is said and done

Joel 3:1-2 NIV

[1] “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

** Each day that passes, we see the nation of Israel becoming more alienated from the rest of the world. Several nations that once were considered allies are no longer supporting her. Israel is beginning to find that she has no allies. This was all spoken of in the Bible.

This isn’t about dividing land but, rather, dividing the Lord's land. Do we hear “Land for Peace” deals? Israel is being pressured to make new peace agreements contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state. Believers who understand that Israel is God's land must oppose a Palestinian state in any postwar scenario. <R177> (Jan 2024)

Joel 3:1-2 NIV

[1] “In those days and at that time,

when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

** When Israel’s enemies of the past conquered the land, they took it for themselves; it is only in our day that Israel’s enemies sit before a drafting table, dividing up the land 'for peace' <G7995> (Aug 2025)

Joel 3:1-2 NIV

[1] “In those days and at that time,

** God’s Word is quite specific about where and why the Armageddon scenario will be fought <J100>

• While there will yet be a future dividing of God’s Israel, the world has long since divided and partitioned God’s land

• The world of rebels will pay the price for that treachery at the time of Armageddon

• It will be fought because that is where all the wickedness of anti-God forces will be gathered by God, Himself

Joel 3:1-2 NIV

[1] “In those days and at that time,

** The Israelites ultimately placed their trust in the man of Moses, not God <G71>

Exodus 32:1 NIV

[1] When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.”

Numbers 13:27-28,31 NIV

[27] They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. [28] But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. [31] But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

• God remains with the Israelites today but they do not recognize Him and trust in their own abilities

• This pattern was repeated over and over throughout the centuries as Israel continued to place matters in their own hands

1 Samuel 8:5-8 NIV

[5] They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” [6] But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. [7] And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. [8] As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

Isaiah 28:14-15 NIV

[14] Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. [15] You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place. ”

• Israel will continue to ignore God as they move into the end times, exactly as Scripture indicates

• God will pour out sudden destruction on Israel because they not only continue to rely on their own agenda but are willing to divide the land given to them by God through Abraham

• Peace and security will not be possible until the Lord intervenes

Isaiah 28:18,21-22 NIV

[18] Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it. [21] The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon---to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task. [22] Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.

Joel 3:1-2 NIV

[1] In those days and at that time,

** God gave all the Promised Land to Israel and warned the world not to divide it

• The international community believes they can divide Israel and get peace and safety

• The Bible says God will not allow that and His judgment will fall

• God will one day judge the nations based on their treatment of Israel <T203>

• There will be no peace on earth until the Second Coming of Jesus <D41> (Jan 2024)

• Even though the nation of Israel is far from a godly entity at the moment, the land belongs to God and He has deeded it to the descendants of Jacob

• Although the peaceful enjoyment of the land has always depended upon the faithfulness of the people, the Lord gave it to them as an “everlasting covenant” (Psalm 105:7-11)

• Additionally, Scripture makes it clear that He forbids any dividing of the land which the world now proposes as the sole path to peace <B26> (Jan 2024)

Genesis 17:7-8 NIV

[7] I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. [8] The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God. ”

Joel 3:2 NIV

[2] I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

Psalm 105:7-11 NIV

[7] He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. [8] He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, [9] the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. [10] He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: [11] “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”

** Dividing Israel will violate God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 17:7-8) and trigger the Battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:2) <D41>

• Currently 75% of the UN wants a two state solution <M1501> (Nov 2024)

• Nations surrounding Israel are also pushing for such a move, which begs the question: if the Muslim nations cared so much about the displaced persons in the Israeli territory, why aren't they inviting their Palestinian brothers to migrate to their country?

Genesis 17:7-8 NIV

Joel 3:2 NIV

** The prophet Joel revealed that God’s wrath against the nations at the end of the Tribulation will stem from their desire to divide “my land” <B26>

Joel 3:1-2 NIV

[1] In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

** God holds true to His covenant with Abraham regarding His gift of land, blessing those who bless (recognize and uphold) this covenant and cursing those who don’t

• We know the final days will be in response those who tried to divide the land, where God put His name

• Woe to the nations that treat God and His land as though He doesn’t exist!

• As the world pressures Israel into a two-state solution, they ought to tremble because there are grave consequences for dividing God’s land <G7995>

Joel 3:2 NIV

Joel 3:11-12 NIV

[11] Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Lord! [12] “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.

Genesis 12:1-3 NIV

[1] The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. [2] “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. ”

** Those who proclaim to be Christian must recognize God's gift or inheritance to the Jews

• The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament

• The nation of Israel remains a nation despite the time difference

• Even Christians will be held accountable and put on trial if they disregard God's gift

Joel 3:2 NIV

** The northern people had entered into sin, including idolatry and pagan practices of their neighbors (child sacrifice, sexual sin, etc); Jeroboam built a temple to bring the pagan worship close to home instead of having to go to Jerusalem <H87>

The same thing is happening today where people have a form of godliness but deny it’s power, God is judging us as a result

** God is going to entice (using demons) nations who hate Him to think they are strong, then motivate them to war so He can annihilate them at Armageddon

Joel 3:9-10 NIV

[9] Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. [10] Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”

Psalm 2:1-3 NIV

Psalm 2:4-6 NIV

[4] The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. [5] He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, [6] “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. ”

Revelation 16:16 NIV

[16] Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

** Dividing Israel will trigger the Battle of Armageddon; Joel brings the reader into the last days when God will deal with those who divided His land (Israel) once and for all

Joel 3:2 NIV

Joel 3:11-12 NIV

• Efforts from the Bush, Clinton and Obama presidencies to divide the land with a ‘two state solution’ were evident

• Then on May 11 2021, the Biden administration repeated its support for the two-state solution and White House Press Sec Jen Psaki said, “That is the only way to ensure the just and lasting peace.”

• In Nov 2021, Biden also voiced his intent to open a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem with anti-Semitism on the rise

• The world is still attempting to divide Israel with the ballyhooed ‘two state solution’, particularly the global elite wannabes such as the UN, G20 and those meeting in dark corners around the world, but God will put them in their place!

• These attempts come from the pit of Hell because the Bible says God will drag the nations into the Battle of Armageddon for doing that (Joel 3:2)

• That is one war that is not going to turn out the way world leaders think <D41> (May 2021)

• God says in Genesis that if you mess with my land, it will go badly for you (Gen 17:7-8) <H87>

Genesis 17:7-8 NIV

Psalm 2:1-6 NIV

[1] Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? [2] The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, [3] “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” [4] The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. [5] He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, [6] “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. ”

Revelation 16:12-14 NIV

[12] The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. [13] Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. [14] They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

** Many passages in the Old Testament refer to the darkness of the heavenly bodies as a 'sign' of the Day of the Lord before Jesus returns to the earth <N154>

• Some understand this passage in Joel refers to Armageddon on the Day of Judgment

• The change in sun, moon and stars will occur on the day of this event <B23>

Joel 3:14-16 NIV

** God will move in the minds of all military forces on earth to gather in the valley of Jezreel, the plains of Esdraelon, near the ancient city of Megiddo; this is Armageddon <J100>

Joel 3:14 NIV

[14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

** The Jews of Jesus' time were very familiar with the Old Testament and how God showed Himself; the day of the Lord = day of judgment of divine destruction where everyone will be affected by the destruction of the earth and everyone will be equal without escape, but God will be a refuge to His people!

Joel 3:15-17 NIV

[15] The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. [16] The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. [17] “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.

Joel 2:30-32 NIV

[30] I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. [31] The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. [32] And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

Isaiah 13:6 NIV

[6] Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

Isaiah 13:6-11 NIV

[6] Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. [7] Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. [8] Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. [9] See, the day of the Lord is coming---a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger---to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. [10] The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. [11] I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

Isaiah 13:13 NIV

[13] Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.

Luke 21:7-11 NIV

[7] “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” [8] He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. [9] When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” [10] Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [11] There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Isaiah 24:1-6 NIV

[1] See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants--- [2] it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. [3] The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The Lord has spoken this word. [4] The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. [5] The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. [6] Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

** The prophets more often have such long-term visions in relation to God’s future blessing. Their words about the world of the future are filled with immense joy and excitement. We find ourselves imagining a world in which everything is perfect. Nature is full of abundance. The earth itself rejoices in its Creator. Human life is safe and fulfilling and free from violence, injustice, hunger, and danger. War and violence are no more. People and animals live in harmony and peace. People never again turn away from God in disobedience. People from all over the world and all nations reject their false gods and turn to the living God and worship him with joy and gifts (for example, Isa. 25:6–9; 35; 65:17–25; Jer. 32:37–41; 33:6–9; Joel 3:17–18).

Joel 3:14-18 NIV

[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 moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. [16] The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. [17] “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. [18] “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house and will water the valley of acacias.

Isaiah 25:6-9 NIV

[6] On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine---the best of meats and the finest of wines. [7] On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; [8] he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. [9] In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Isaiah 65:17-25 NIV

[17] “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. [18] But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. [19] I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. [20] “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. [21] They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. [22] No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. [23] They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. [24] Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. [25] The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 32:37-41 NIV

[37] I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. [38] They will be my people, and I will be their God. [39] I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. [40] I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. [41] I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

Jeremiah 33:6-9 NIV

[6] “ 'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. [7] I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. [8] I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. [9] Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.'

** According to the prophets Amos and Joel, the mountains of Israel would one day flow with sweet wine, and God would restore the people so they could rebuild ruined cities (Amos 9:13-15; Joel 3:18) <F66>

Joel 3:18 NIV

[18] “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house and will water the valley of acacias.

** Israel became one of the largest exporter of produce in the world in the 20th century

Isaiah 27:6 NIV

[6] In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.

Joel 3:18 NIV

Isaiah 41:18-20 NIV

[18] I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. [19] I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, [20] so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

** The future of Jerusalem is secure

Joel 3:17,20 NIV

[17] “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. [20] Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.

** The whole course of the events of the world is shown to lead up by Divine providence to the Great Day of the Lord, when “the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain, and the Lord shall be exalted.” Then will be “the times of the restitution of all things;” then will the people of God be brought out of captivity, and vengeance executed upon their enemies. This progress, with its final consummation, is the subject of the concluding lines of Joel’s prophecy. <C32>

Joel 3.

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