Joel 2 lists a
sequence of major events relating to Israel in the 7 years
tribulation.
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.
Verse 15,16 is a
rapture verse. The bridegroom is Jesus, while the bride is
the church. A note here, the children, and those that suck
the breasts (infants) are not allowed to attend a solemn
assembly. So this event has nothing to do with a gathering
in the Jewish temple. The infants and children's
appearance in these verses is because these children and
infants shall be taken into rapture.
But what happens
to Israel and Judah after the rapture?
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?
There is an
urgent prayer to God, and ask God to spare His people
Israel, and give not God's heritage to reproach, so that
heathen and gentile nations shall rule over Israel and the
Jews. Satan knows his time is short. He is gearing up
nations to attack Israel.
18 Then will the
LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
After rapture
and the church is gone, God shall be jealous for His land,
pity His people and turn His attention to Israel and the
Jews.
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.
Verse 20 is the
battle of Gog/Magog. Immediately after rapture, a northern
army which is made up of Gog's army shall invade Israel.
God shall drive him ( Gog) into a land barren and
desolate, with his face (Gog's face) toward the east sea.
The East Sea is the Dead sea. From Ezekiel 39:11, we learn
that the valley of Hamongog shall be the burial place for
Gog and his armies. The valley of Hamongog is situated to
the east of the Dead sea. I have attached a map of
Hamongog.
Verse 21 to 27
is God's blessing to Israel during the first half of
tribulation. They shall eat sufficiently.
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: 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.
Verse 28,29,30
is events in the second half of tribulation. God shall
pour out his spirit on the Jews while they are under
persecution. They shall dream dreams and young men shall
see visions.
31 The sun shall
be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Verse 31 is
parallel to Matthew 24:29. The sun shall turn dark, the
moon shall not give her light. This is the phenomenon
before Jesus' return to earth. The great and the terrible
day of the LORD is Jesus' second coming to earth.
Verse 32 wraps
up the 7 years tribulation. There will be deliverance in
mount Zion.
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.
Ray