Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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THEBOOKOFJOEL
Lesson7,Chapter3Continued
WeopenedourstudyofJoelchapter3lasttime.Asweprogressed,itbecame
clearthatotherProphetsandtheirprophecieswereintertwinedwith,andin
somecasesexpoundedupon,Joel’sprophecyespeciallyasconcernsthe
restorationofJudahandIsraelatthesameGod’swrathwaspouredoutuponthe
nations.Biblically,theterm“thenations”(goyiminHebrew)meanseverynation
onplanetEarthexceptforIsrael.
WealsoincorporatedJeremiahasoneofthoseProphetsthathelpstoexplainand
flesh-outJoel(andviceversa),andhighlightsthematterthatanotherandnewer
covenantwouldcomeaboutatsomepoint,andthiswouldoccurinconjunction
withthepouringoutofGod’sHolySpirit.Allofthesedifferentelementsoperate
together,likepiecesofpuzzlethatarefittedtogether,tomoveGod’splanof
redemptionforward,tomaketheoverallpicturemorediscernable,andto
eventuallybringthatplantoitsultimatefulfillment.Wherearetheseplansand
pieceslaidout?PrimarilyintheProphets.
ThisnewercovenantthatIjustspokeofcomesfromJeremiah31,anditspeaks
ofanewcovenantthattheConstantinianChurch(asformedinthe4
th
century)
hassomewhatreformulatedandspunintoasomethingitcallsTheNew
Covenant.Thatis,thisnewercovenantofJeremiah31hasbeengiventheofficial
nameof“TheNewCovenant”(althoughtheBibleinnowaygivesitatitle).The
Churchhasfurtherinterpretedthistomeantheestablishmentofafinaland
specialcovenantmadewiththegentileConstantinianChurch,whichreplaces
andabolishesallpreviouscovenantsthatGodmadewiththeHebrews.This
doctrineisthesupportingpillar…theweightbearingwall…ofConstantinian
ChristianityeventhoughtheProphetJeremiahdefinesthiscovenantcompletely
differently.Tobegin,with,thisnewercovenantisnotwithgentilesbutratherit
isexclusivelywithIsrael.
CJB
Jeremiah31:30"Here,thedaysarecoming,"saysADONAI,"whenIwill
makeanewcovenantwiththehouseofIsra'elandwiththehouseofY'hudah.
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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WealsodiscussedthatGodhasNOpatternofanewercovenantabolishinga
previouscovenant;but,ratheritisalwaysthatanewercovenantaddstothe
previousones.Allremainineffect,eachneweronebuildingupontheolderone.
Nobiblicalcovenanthaseverbeenabolished.Interestingly,Christianitytendsto
beabitschizophrenicaboutthisissuebecauseatthesamemomentitdeclares
steadfastlythatnewcovenantsabolisholderones,theyalsoinsistthatGod’s
oldestrunningcovenant,TheCovenantofNoah,accordingtowhichGodwill
neveragaindestroytheearththroughaflood,remainsineffect.Inaddition,we
alsodiscussedhowbiblicalcovenantsalwaysoperateinaconcisepatterndueto
theirverynatureofbeingcovenants.Thus,ithasbecomeanapologeticthat
Christianityusestoattemptexplainawaytheseinconsistenciesbysayingthat
theNewCovenantisn’tevenreallyacovenant;instead,it’sapromise.A
one-waypromisewherebyGodpromisesandguaranteessalvationtoanyone
whocallsonthenameofChrist.Therefore,thosewhorelyonthispromisehave
noduties,obligationsortermsrequirementsotherthantoclaimbeliefinJesus.
Folks,thisisnotascomplicatedasitseems;apromiseisnotacovenant,anda
covenantisnotapromise.HereisWebster’sDictionary’sdefinitionofwhata
promiseis.
a:adeclarationthatonewilldoorrefrainfromdoingsomethingspecified
b:alegallybindingdeclarationthatgivesthepersontowhomitismadearight
toexpectortoclaimtheperformanceorforbearanceofaspecifiedact
c:reasontoexpectsomething
especially:groundforexpectationofsuccess,improvement,orexcellence
Apromiserequiresnothinginreturn.But,allbiblicalcovenantsbydefinition
requireanagreementbetweentwoormoreparties,eachsidehavingobligations
andduties.Abiblicalcovenantisalwaysconditionalbasedoneachpartyabiding
bythetermsoftheagreement(thecovenant).Ifapartyisofferedacovenant
butdoesnotcompletetherequirementsforthecovenanttobemade,ofifthe
partybreaksthecovenant,orleavesordisavowsthecovenant,thereare
negativeconsequences.So,tobeintellectuallyhonest,iftheConstantinian
mainstreamChurchcontinuestoinsistontheirinterpretationofwhatJeremiah
propheciesasbeingmoreaone-waypromisethanacovenantthatalwayshas
conditions,thenitoughttobelabeledtheNewPromiseandcertainlynottheNew
Covenant.
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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Sincethepremiseofthisnewcovenantbeingaone-waypromiseisanerroneous
one,asitgoestotallyagainstwhattheBiblehastosayaboutit,thenitbecomes
clearthatwedohaveobligationsandthoseobligationsbeginwithYeshua’s
directinstructiontousinHisSermonontheMounttocontinuetoobeytheLaw
ofMosesandtheProphets.TheconsequenceforNOTobeyingthisdirective
rangesfrombeinggiventheleastpossiblesocialstatusasamemberofthe
comingKingdomofHeaventonotbeingdeniedmembershipintoitatall.Only
Godwillmakethejudgmentastowhichofthoseconsequenceshappenstous.
Thus,asweconsiderourstatusbeforeGodnowandespeciallyintheseEnd
Times;andasitconcernsthefoundationalbackdropforinterpretingallbiblical
propheciesandunderstandingallbiblicalcovenants,keepthisfirmlyinmindas
were-readJoelchapter3.
RE-READJOELCHAPTER3all
Verse1ofchapter3speaksaboutthreethingshappeninguponthepouringout
ofGod’sHolySpiritamonghumans.Itwasthat“their”sonsanddaughterswould
prophesy,and“their”oldmenwouldreceivedivinerevelationsbymeansof
dreamingdreamsandyoungmenbyseeingvisions.ThisisspeakingaboutGod
openingtheflood-gatesofHeavenandgivingspiritualgiftsofinspirationto
regular,everydayIsraelitesasopposedtojustcertainappointedpeople;
historicallythoseappointedpeopleweretheProphets.Letmesayitthisway:
ThePURPOSEofGodgivingoutHisHolySpiritsowidelyandgenerouslywithin
Israel(asfirsthappenedatPentecost)istoallowthose3thingstohappen
outsideofthetightcircleofdesignatedProphetsasithadbeenbeforethis
moment.TheProphetEzekiellendssomethingofimportancetoaddtoJoel’s
prophecyonthismatter.
CJB
Ezekiel39:26-29
26
Theywillbeartheirshameandalltheir[guiltfrom]
breakingfaithwithme,oncetheyarelivingsecurelyintheirland,withnooneto
makethemafraid.
27
ThiswillbeafterIhavebroughtthembackfromthe
peoplesandgatheredthemoutoftheirenemies'lands,therebybeing
consecratedthroughtheminthesightofmanynations.
28
Thentheywillknow
thatIamADONAItheirGod,sinceitwasIwhocausedthemtogointoexile
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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amongthenations,anditwasIwhoregatheredthemtotheirownland.Iwill
leavenoneofthemthereanymore,
29
andIwillnolongerhidemyfacefrom
them,forIhavepouredoutmySpiritonthehouseofIsra'el,'saysAdonai
ELOHIM."
Thekeyissueofthispassage,andhowitcloselyrelatestoJoel3:1isthis:it
speaksofpouringoutGod’s(Holy)SpiritonthehouseofIsrael.Inthispassage
however,italsospeaksoftheEndTimeswhenthefinalremnantsofthe10Lost
TribescomebacktotheLandofIsrael(andthisnodoubtincludeswhatever
relativelyfewJews…membersofthetribesofJudahandBenjamin…remain
outsideofmodernIsrael).So,isthissayingthatthePentecosteventoftheHoly
SpiritbeingpouredoutonIsraelisonefulfillmentofJoel’sprophecy,butthatthis
prophecyinEzekielspeaksofyetanother,differentandlaterfulfillmentofthat
sameprophecy?Yes;butperhapsnotquiteinthewaywemighttypicallythinkof
it.Thatis,itisnotnecessarilyinaperfectserialfashionofonethinghappening,
andthenanother,andthenanother.Thisisthecasebecausetheverbtensesof
thispassagearesuchthatinEzekieltheHolySpirithasalreadybeenpouredout;
orbetter,itwaspouredoutforthefirsttimeasthebeginningofalongprocess
ofpouringout.MostBibleversionsignoretheoriginalHebrewverbtensesand
insteadsay“whenIwillpourout”MySpirit;thatis,itisanactionthatisinthe
futurefromwhentheprophecywasspoken.Inhistoricalretrospect,clearlythis
intentionalverbchangeisdoneinordertovalidateChristiandoctrinaltraditions
ofsomesort,yetitisnotwhattheBibleactuallysays.So,whatthispassageis
sayingisthattheSpiritbeingpouredonthosereturningIsraelitesisnotsome
newevent;rather,itisacontinuingoneBECAUSEGodhasalreadybegunHis
pouringoutofHisSpiritonthem(theIsraelitespresentinJerusalem),andthe
inauguraleventwasatPentecost.
Verse2saysthatpouringoutoftheSpiritwillbesowidelygiventhatitwillfall
evenonslaves,maleandfemale.Ithinkthiscanbestbecharacterizedasakind
ofGoddirectedsocialrevolutionwithinthepeopleofIsrael.Thatis,inGod’seyes
thereisnoclassdistinctionsandthisistobeepitomizedforBelievers.TheLaw
ofMosessetthestageforthissocialstatusphilosophybystatingthatmaleand
femaleslaveshadhumanrights;theyweren’tfurnitureorbeastsofburden.
They,too,weretobeallowedtoparticipateinthejoyandbenefitsofIsrael’s
covenantrelationshipwithGodiftheychoseto.So,thisisapparentlytakingthis
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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realityofIsrael’scovenantbenefitstoyetanotherhigherandbroaderlevel.We
seethissamepropheticsentimentexpressedslightlydifferentlyintheNew
TestamentsegmentofourBibles.
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1Corinthians12:13ForitwasbyoneSpiritthatwewereallimmersedinto
onebody,whetherJewsorGentiles,slavesorfree;andwewereallgiventheone
Spirittodrink.
CJB
Galatians3:27-29
27
becauseasmanyofyouaswereimmersedintothe
MessiahhaveclothedyourselveswiththeMessiah,inwhom
28
thereisneither
JewnorGentile,neitherslavenorfreeman,neithermalenorfemale;forinunion
withtheMessiahYeshua,youareallone.
29
Also,ifyoubelongtotheMessiah,
youareseedofAvrahamandheirsaccordingtothepromise.
NoticewhatGalatianssaysaboutthisrelationshipbetweenBelieversand
MessiahYeshua;Believersofeverykindandsocialclassareallequallyseedof
Abraham.Now,asopposedtostandardChristiandoctrine,ifallcovenants
exceptfortheso-calledNewCovenantareabolished,howcantheCovenantof
Abraham’spromiseabout“theseed”sillbeinforce?Ipointthisoutnotsomuch
becauseofthenameofourministry(which,frankly,wasgiventhatnameto
highlightthisreality),butratherasfurtherevidencethatnewcovenantsdon’t
replaceoldercovenants.And,thatsomanyConstantinianChurchmanmade
doctrinesareinternallyconflicting;theyareoftenatoddswithoneanother.The
CovenantofAbrahamofcourseremainsintactandrelevantevenafterthe
CovenantofMt.Sinaiwasenacted,andlaterstilltheNewCovenantratifiedby
Yeshua’sbloodcameintobeing.Thisrealitycontinuedtobeunderstoodand
recognizedwellintothe1
st
centurybytheJewishandgentileecclesiaoffollowers
ofChristbeforeitwasalteredinthelater4
th
orearly5
th
centurybythefounding
leadershipofthegentiles-onlyConstantinianChurch.
Ialsowanttopointthisout:thedayofthepouringoutofGod’sHolySpirit
(beginningwithPentecost)isyetanotheroccasionofaDayofYehoveh.Itisa
momentousdayofYehovehinterveningintheaffairsofmen,andthat’swhywe
readwhatwedointhe3
rd
verseofchapter3:
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Joel3:3Iwillshowwondersintheskyandonearth-blood,fireandcolumns
ofsmoke.
WecanabsolutelycallwhathappenedatPentecostbutafewweeksafter
Yeshua’sdeathandresurrection,whentheHolySpiritcamelikearushingwind
andputtonguesoffireabouttheheadsofthedevout,atheophany:an
appearanceofGod.Justaswe’retoldthatifwe’veseentheSonwe’veseethe
Father,soifwe’vewitnessedtheHolySpiritwe’vealsowitnessedtheFather
becauseallofthesearemanifestationsofGod.Verse4confirmsthisbyspeaking
ofanotherDayofYehovehthatisassociatedwithit.
CJB
Joel3:4Thesunwillbeturnedintodarknessandthemoonintobloodbefore
thecomingofthegreatandterribleDayofADONAI."
InadditiontoPeterdirectlyquotingJoelchapter3whenhestoodbeforeallthose
befuddledJewstoexplainthemeaningoftheawesomeandmind-bendingevent
ofPentecostthattheywerepersonallywitnessing,wefindverysimilarwordsin
theGospelaccounts.InordertohelptofleshoutwhatalltheseProphetsare
tellingusaboutthecominggreatandterribleDayofYehoveh,andhowweeach
aretounderstanditinthe21
st
centurysothatwecanapplyittoourlives,Iam
goingtotaketheunusualstepofourreadinganentirechapterofaGospel
accountinordertomakeitallthemorerealandimpactfulonus.Iwantusallto
turntotheMatthew24,wherewereadaboutChristexplainingmoreaboutwhat
Joelwassayingsome700or800yearsbeforeYeshua’sarrival.
READMATTHEWCHAPTER24all
IhopeafterreadingJoel,andthenourincorporatingsomeofwhattheother
Prophetshadtosay,thatwhatYeshuasaidinMatthewisallclearer.Andfurther,
justhowtheseeventsarecomingintofocusbeforeourveryeyesinthisthefirst
partofthe21
st
century.Ontheotherhand,Yeshua…asisthewayofall
Prophets…conflatesneartermfulfillmentsofthisprophecyaswellasfarfuture
fulfillments.Thegoodnewsisthatwe,today,arefarmoreequippedtoseparate
andidentifyeachofthesefulfillmentsthantheJewsofHisdaywere,andthisis
becauseofthepassingofmuchworldhistory.
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I’mgoingtoresistcommentingonthemanycriticalelementsthatareexposed
byChristinMatthew24,andmainlysticktooursubject.NoticethatinMatthew
24:3thatJesus’sdisciplesaskthequestionofwhen“allofthesethings”will
happenandwhentheolamhazeh…thepresentage…willcometoanend.In
modernChristian-eze,theyareaskingaboutthebeginningoftheEndTimes.
Clearly,theyarenotaskingonlyaboutthecommentYeshuamadeinverses1
and2concerningtheTemplebeingdestroyedbecausethat’saprettynarrowand
concisesubject.Rather,itisself-evidentfromthewordingofthequestionthat
theDisciples’inquirywasaboutmanyotherthingsHehadbeeninstructingthem
concerningfuturethingsthatwouldhappen,withthedestructionoftheTemple
butthemostrecentone.WhatIwantyoutonoticeishowMessiahisdescribing
aseriesofinterconnected,inter-relatedeventsthatareessentiallyacontinuing
actionthatistheprocessofrollingout,overtime,thefulfillmentofmany
propheciesthathadbeengiveninprecedingcenturies.Whenafulfillmentofa
prophecyhappens,mostofthetimeisbutsetsthestageforalaterandeven
greaterfulfillmentofthatsameprophecy.Eachtimethatfulfillmenthappens,the
scaleandeffectofitgetslargerandthesegmentofpeopleinvolvedbecomes
broaderuntilthefinalfulfillmentthatoccursintheEndTimesinvolveseverylast
nationandeverysinglehumanbeingonthefaceoftheplanet.Forinstance:in
verses8,9,and10wereadofthegreatpersecutionoftheJewishBelieversin
Christ,whichintimewillbecomeapersecutionofallJewsintheHolyLandin
general,whichinmoretimewillincludegentileandJewishBelieversinYeshua,
andlaterstillincorporatesallJewsintheworld,etc.etc.untilintheEndTimesall
BelieversinYeshua…nomatterwhoorwhereintheworldtheymightlive….will
bepersecuted.Alreadyinmostoftheworld,Believersarebeingpersecutedon
oneleveloranother.TheWesthadbeensortofalastbastionofprotectionfor
Believers.Butrecently,aswehaveseen,thatprotectionisdissolvingata
tremendousrate.InmostofEuropeandCanandaBelievershavebecome
identifieddeclaredasthreatstothegovernmentandtothepublic,andsotheir
numbershavedwindledtoveryfewandthoselefthavelostmanyoftheirhuman
rightsandreligiousfreedoms.ThisisalsowellunderwayintheUSArightnowas
Believersarerecentlyseenasdangerousradicalswhoareopposedtotheamoral,
anything-goesnewculturalandsocialorderthathaserupted.Because
Believersusuallyrepresentoppositiontothisnewsocialorderandcultural
agenda,socialmediacensorsourspeech,andtheyviewouroppositiontothings
likegenderidentityconfusionandimmoralityasaformofhatespeechthat
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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everyoneelsemustbeprotectedfrom.Ouropenoppositionalviewscaneven
bringcivilandcriminalpenaltieswithit.WhatYeshuawasprophesyingin
Matthew24,then,hasinourdaytakenonthatlargerandbroaderscaleIspoke
about…largerandbroaderthaneverbeforeinhistory.But,theworstisyetto
come.
Inverse21,Christelaboratesaboutthefuturetimewhenthefulfillmentof
prophecywillinvolveevenmoreterriblethings.
CJB
Matthew24:21
21
Fortherewillbetroublethenworsethantherehasever
beenfromthebeginningoftheworlduntilnow,andtherewillbenothinglikeit
again!
Yeshuagoesoninverse24towarnoffalseprophets.Understand:thisis
speakingofprophetsclaimingYeshuaasLordandSavior.Itispeoplearising
amongthebodyofBelieverswhorenounceGod-breathedcommandmentsand
patterns,andthencomeupwithnewonesthattheyteachanddemandtobe
followed.Almostalwaysthiswillinvolveaco-operationwiththedirectionsociety
andgovernmentwantstogo.Thissortofthinghasbeengoingonforcenturies,
butneverbeforeourtimehasitbeenthisprevalent.Thesefalseprophetswillput
adishonest“spin”ofBibleprophecies,andconvincethousandsandmillionsof
BelieverstoseekNOTwhattheBibleliterallysays,butrathertoaccepttheir
convolutedexplanationsandinterpretationsinstead.Goingsofarastolabel
thosewhoresist,andinsteaddeterminetobelievewhattheBibleactuallysays,
ashereticsandmalcontents.
Asbadasitisgoingtoget(andwe’restillnotthereyet),Jesussaysthis:
CJB
Matthew24:29
29
"Butimmediatelyfollowingthetroubleofthosetimes,the
sunwillgrowdark,themoonwillstopshining,thestarswillfallfromthesky,and
thepowersinheavenwillbeshaken.
So,aftertribulation(troubles)risesandrises,thensuddenlythecosmoswill
becomeinvolved.Justaschaosisreigningonearth,sonowitbecomesthesame
intheskyaboveus.Theobjectsandluminariesintheskywillreactastheydo
(thesungrowsdark,themoonstopsitshine,andstarsfallfromthesky,etc.)
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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BECAUSEtheseareallportentsofatheophany….anappearanceofGod.Christ
isn’tmakingthispredictionupfromwholecloth,butratherHeisparaphrasing
Joel’swords.Thetimingisimportant.So,I’llsayitagain:itisonlyafter
incredibleandterribletroublesandwickednessonearth,whenallhopeofpeace,
libertyandlifeisgone,thatthisportentofanappearanceofGodwillhappenin
theskiesabove.So,sincethisistheprerequisitesignsforatheophany,then
whatwereadnextoughtnottosurpriseus.
CJB
Matthew24:30
30
"ThenthesignoftheSonofManwillappearinthesky,all
thetribesoftheLandwillmourn,andtheywillseetheSonofMancomingonthe
cloudsofheavenwithtremendouspowerandglory.
BecauseinthemostmysteriouswayYeshuaisGod,thenweseethattheformof
GodthatistheportendedtheophanyisofChristreturning.AsYeshuacontinues
toexplainwhatisgoingtohappen,HesaysthatthesecosmiceventsandHis
returnwillhappenjustlikeitwasinNoah’sday.Thatis,despiteallthesignsand
portentsofthisapocalypticdisastercoming,peoplepaidnoattention.Theywere
obliviousandwentrightonwiththeirregularlivestakingnonoteofwhatNoah
wasdoingandnodoubttellingthem,withtheirwickednessonlyincreasingby
theday.So,whentheflooddidcome,itwasasatotalsurprise….excepttoNoah
andhisfamily.That’showitwillbewhenMessiahreturns.
SincetheProphetsandYeshuaagreeonwhattheEndTimesfulfillmentofthe
DayofYehovehwilllooklike,thenwehavesomethingtogoonastowhereina
sequenceofeventsitfalls.TheBookofRevelationhelpsusbyintroducing3sets
ofjudgments,eachsetconsistingof7separateeventsandeachsetof7givena
name.ThosenamesinorderaretheSeal,Trumpet,thenfinallytheBowl
judgments.IfweweretoreadallofRevelationchapter6we’dfindthatthatfirst
5eventsoftheSealjudgmentsinvolvedsymbolicrepresentationsofman’s
horrendousactsofevilagainstotherman,aswellassomenaturaloccurrencesof
diseaseandpestilence(thatisthe4HorsemenoftheApocalypse).Itchanges,
however,uponthe6
th
ofthe7eventswhenwereadthis:
CJB
Revelation6:12-17
12
ThenIwatchedashebrokethesixthseal,andthere
wasagreatearthquake,thesunturnedblackassackclothworninmourning,
andthefullmoonbecameblood-red.
13
Thestarsfellfromheaventoearthjustas
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
10/14
afigtreedropsitsfigswhenshakenbyastrongwind.
14
Theskyrecededlikea
scrollbeingrolledup,andeverymountainandislandwasmovedfromitsplace.
15
Thentheearth'skings,therulers,thegenerals,therichandthemighty-
indeed,everyone,slaveandfree-hidhimselfincavesandamongtherocksin
themountains,
16
andsaidtothemountainsandrocks,"Fallonus,andhideus
fromthefaceoftheOnesittingonthethroneandfromthefuryoftheLamb!
17
FortheGreatDayoftheirfuryhascome,andwhocanstand?"
Hereatthispointinthesequenceofeventsbeginstherollingoutofsupernatural
cosmicchaosstartingtohappen.Theswitchfromnaturaltosupernaturalevents
uponthe6
th
sealcontinuethroughthe7
th
Sealjudgment,thenthroughallthe
Trumpetjudgments,andfinallythroughalltheBowljudgments.Inotherwords,
somethingchangesmostdramaticallyupontheopeningofthe6
th
seal.Hereis
mytakeonwhatishappening.WhatJesushasdescribed,andwhatthefirst5
sealjudgmentsdescribe,isNOTGod’swrath.Rather,itishumanevilonsteroids
thathasovertakenourplanet.Biblicallyandpracticallyspeaking,thereisahuge
differencebetweentribulationandGod’swrath.Tribulationisalltheatrocities
thatmenperpetrateononeanother.Rampantanduncontrollableevil.God’s
wrathontheotherhandisdivinelyandsupernaturallyorchestratedandsourced.
Itisnotaboutanythinghumansdotooneanother;itisaboutwhatGodisdoing
tohumans.Therefore,itseemstomethatuponthe6
th
sealbeingopened,thisis
whentheoutpouringofGod’swrathupontheentireearthbegins.
Further,itisthebiblicalpatternthatGoddoesNOTusuallydeliverHis
worshippersfromtheirtroubles(theirtribulationsandtheirpersecution),butHe
doesdeliverHisfaithfulworshippersfromHiswrath.Therefore,whateverthe
RaptureofBelieversamountsto,ithappensbeforethe6
th
sealisbroken
indicatingthebeginningofaperiodofGod’swrath.When,exactly,doesthat
happen?Idon’tknow.Inanycase,Idon’tholdtheillusionthatBelieverswill
somehowbesavedfromtribulation.Rather,wewillgothroughitandthisiswhy
IurgeallofmybrothersandsistersintheLordtoprepare!Preparespiritually,
andpreparetangibly.AllthewaybackintimetotheeraofAbraham,a
God-principlewasgiventousthatweneedtopayattentiontoandbethankful
for.WhenAbrahamwaspleadingforLotandanyotherrighteouspeopleof
SodomtoberemovedbeforeGoddestroyedthecity,hesaidthis:
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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CJB
Genesis18:25Farbeitfromyoutodosuchathing-tokilltherighteous
alongwiththewicked,sothattherighteousandthewickedaretreatedalike!Far
beitfromyou!Shouldn'tthejudgeofalltheearthdowhatisjust?"
GodvalidatedthisprincipleandwaitedforanyrighteouspersonsleftinSodomto
beremovedfromthecity,iftheywouldbutheedthewarning.Lotsuffered
tribulation;buthedidn’tsufferGod’swrath.Therefore,althoughIcan’tputa
definitemarkonatimelineastowhenBelieverswillinsomemiraculouswaybe
takenoutofharm’swaybeforeGod’swrathisraineddownonearth,Idoknow
thatitwillhappensometimebeforeHiswrathcommences;itwillbebeforethe
6
th
sealisbroken.Itwillbebeforetheterrifyingcosmiceventsbegin.Itwillbe
beforethesunturnsdark,themoonstopsshining,thestarsintheskystartto
fall.ItwillbejustbeforeJoel’sprophecyofJoel3:3and4isfulfilledforthefinal
time.CanI100%promisethis?No.But,withthedatacurrentlyathandthishas
tobetheconclusionwithoutmuchspeculationorwithoutputtingaChristianspin
ofonekindoranotheronthevariouspropheciesconcerningthistimeperiod.
Now;forthosewhothinkthatsimplyprofessingbeliefinChristisgoodenoughto
besavedfromGod’swrathconsiderthefinalversesofMatthew24thatgivesus
theanswertothequestionofwhowillbesavedbymeansofanillustration.
CJB
Matthew24:44-51
44
Thereforeyoutoomustalwaysbeready,fortheSonof
Manwillcomewhenyouarenotexpectinghim.
45
"Whoisthefaithfuland
sensibleservantwhosemasterputshiminchargeofthehouseholdstaff,togive
themtheirfoodatthepropertime?
46
Itwillgowellwiththatservantifheis
founddoinghisjobwhenhismastercomes.
47
Yes,Itellyouthathewillputhim
inchargeofallheowns.
48
Butifthatservantiswickedandsaystohimself,'My
masteristakinghistime';
49
andhestartsbeatinguphisfellowservantsand
spendshistimeeatinganddrinkingwithdrunkards;
50
thenhismasterwillcome
onadaytheservantdoesnotexpect,atatimehedoesn'tknow;
51
andhewill
cuthimintwoandputhimwiththehypocrites,wherepeoplewillwailandgrind
theirteeth!
TobereadyforMessiahtocomeistowaitpatientlyasBelieverswhile
maintainingobediencetoGod.WearetocontinuetoserveGod,andtotreat
one’sfellowBelieverswithrespect(thatis,toloveGodandtoloveourneighbor).
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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ABelievermustnotstartactingliketheworld;wemustnotfallpreytothefalse
prophetsthatarearisingwithintheConstantinianChurchthinkingtheseare
differentissuesthanprofessingbeliefinYeshua.TheBelieverswhothinkthat,
andactthatout,areinforaveryunpleasantsurprise;theywillNOTbesaved…
infact,theywillbedestroyed.
MovingbacktoJoel.Joel3:5says:
CJB
Joel3:5Atthattime,whoevercallsonthenameofADONAIwillbesaved.
ForinMountTziyonandYerushalayimtherewillbethosewhoescape,as
ADONAIhaspromised;amongthesurvivorswillbethosewhomADONAIhas
called.
InActs2,PeteralsoquotesthisthoughtfromJoel.Whatdoesitmeantocallon
thenameofAdonai(orintheHebreworiginal,inthenameofYehoveh)?So,to
beclear:tocallonthenameofYeshuaisnotwhattheBibleactuallysays;itsays
wearetocallthenameofHisFather,Yehoveh.TocallonthenameofYehoveh
doesNOTmeanonlytopraytoHim.AndsinceChristsaysthatwearetoprayto
HisFather(wefindthiscommandintheLord’Prayer),thenIthinktheidentityof
thepersonofGodthatisintendedinthephrase“thenameofYehoveh”becomes
self-evident.Itencompassestheideaofconsistentlyandfaithfullyworshiping
Godatalltimes.ThisfurtherclarifiesMatthew24:44–51.Thatis,whentheend
comesandtheskyisliterallyfalling,to“callonthenameofYehoveh”isn’t
referringtothosewhosuddenlyprofessbeliefwhentheyfinallyrealizetheendis
athand.Itiscallinguponthosewhohavestayedconsistentandsteadfastintheir
faithrightuptothatday,patientlywaitingforthistimetoarrive.Asforthose
whoturntoGodwhenthemomentoftheendcomes,Ireallydon’tknowwhat
Godwilldecide…itiskindofabiblicalgrayarea.Thebestsolutionforhumansis,
byfar,foritnottocomedowntothat.TrustChristNOWanddon’tputyourself
injeopardyevenonehourlonger.Thingsarehappeningatlightspeedinthis
presentworld,andtheLordsaysHiscomingwillbesudden.
OK.InordertotellyouwhatIwanttoexplainnext,Iwillbeginbyremindingyou
thatforPeter,heinterpretedhiswitnessingofthePentecosteventthatoccurred
aroundtheyear33A.D.asthefulfillmentofJoel’sprophecyofJoelchapter3.He
plainlysaidso,andthenquotedJoeltomakeitexplicit.Washecorrectinthis
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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assumption?Fromhisviewpoint,athistimeinhistory,hewascorrectandwe
shouldcontinuetounderstandthathewasmostcertainlycorrect.Andyet,aswe
arenowliving2000yearslaterwealsoknowthatwhatPeterexperiencedcould
nothavebeenthesumtotalofallthatJoelprophesied.Otherthingshappened
afterPeter’slifetime(orshortlyafter)thatalsowerefulfillmenteventsofthis
prophecy(suchasthesackingofJerusalemandTemplein70A.D.,andthe
completeexpulsionofJewsfromtheHolyLandaround65yearslaterafteryet
anotherJewishrebellion).Andmostcertainly,fromthecompletelyliteral
standpoint,God’sSpirithasneverbeenpouredoutupon“allhumanity”.Thatis,
theHolySpiritmostcertainlydoesnotlivewithineverylivinghumanbeingon
theplanet…thenornow.
Withthatsaid,whatIwanttocontinuetoexplainismostchallengingtoputinto
words.Ineedyoutopaycloseattention,andtostayfocused.Ashardasitwas
towriteit,Ithinkitmaybeequallyorevenharderforyoutograbholdofwhat
I’mattemptingtosaynotbecauseofanylackingofintelligenceoreducationon
yourpart,butbecausemywordsareinadequatetofullycapturethemysterious
natureofprophecy.
So,then,whoarethesesurvivorsofthelasthalfofverse5thataresaved?First,
theterm“saved”itselfmustbeunderstoodinthecontextofwhatitmeantto
peopleinJoel’sday,versuswhatitmeanttoJewishBelievers(atleastsomeof
them)aftertheadventofYeshua,andwhatitmeanstous,today.Whothese
survivorsareisadifficultquestiontodealwithbecauseitdependsonwhether
oneislookingatitfromthepropheticviewofthenearerfutureorfromthe
propheticviewofthefarthestfuture,relativetoJoel’sday.Thatis,likesomuch
elseofJoel’sprophecy,andlikeassimilarpropheciesfromotherProphetsor
eventhosepropheciespronouncedbyYeshua,certainelementsofthe
prophecyareconflatedinthevisionoftheirfulfillmentsincetheyusuallyreferto
morethanmerelyonegrandfulfillmentevent.So,atonetimeinaprophecy’s
mostimmediatefulfillmentithappensinageographicallylocalandnarrowscope,
butthenlaterithappensagainbutinaprettymuchplanet-wide,andtherefore
humanity-wide,scope.Justasitwasonlyinanarrowandquitelocalizedscope
(Jerusalem)atPentecostwhentheHolySpiritwasinitiallypouredoutONLYupon
certainJewswhohadgatheredinJerusalemtocelebrateShavuot,andthenlater
whenitwouldextendtogentileswho(spirituallyspeaking)weregraftedinto
Lesson7-JoelChapter3Continued
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Israel’scovenantsbymeansoftheirtrustinYeshua,soitisthatweshould
understandtheideaofwhothesurvivorsarethatarespokenofinthelastpart
ofverse5.Initsnarrowestscope(whichhappenedwithaneventthatoccurred
withinnomorethanacoupleofhundredyearsafterJoelprophesiedit),itmeant
thosecertainJewswholivedinJerusalemthatsomehowescapedtheonslaught
ofBabylon.Later,itwouldmeanHolyLandJewsingeneralwhoescapedthe
RomandestructionoftheTempleandtheconsequencesofthe2
nd
Jewish
rebellion.Instilllatertimesthescopeofthefulfillmentlikelyexpandsatleastto
alllivingIsraelites(toalltheremnanttribesofJacob)everywhereonearthwho
inonewayoranotherstillidentifywithJerusalemandtheGodofIsrael,andthen
atthefinaleoftheEndTimesitprobablyextendsitsscopetoitswidestscopeand
thereforemeansallthoseIsraelitesthattrustinYeshuaforsalvationandall
gentileswhobelieveaswellbecausebythentheissuefordeterminingwhoa
survivorismeansthosewhoaremembersofthetrueandidealIsrael(thosewho
aresavedthroughYeshua)asopposedtothosewhoaremerelybiologically
descendedfromJacob(calledIsrael).I’llsaythatinadifferentway:the
propheticfulfillmentofJoelis,atfirst,notaboutdeliveryfromsinsanda
pathwayintoaHeavenlyeternity(inthespiritualsense),butratheritisliterally
aboutthedescendantsofJacobbeingsavedfromdeathandslaveryatthehand
ofenemyinvadersinthefullyphysical/earthlysense.OncewearriveattheEnd
Times,however,itprogressesandexpandstobecomeONLYandexclusively
aboutdeliveryfromsinsforallhumanswhoacceptGod’sMessiah,andthenbe
allowedintoHeavenlyeternity,andhaslittleifanythingtodowithphysicaldeath
(whichaffectsallhumans).
Notonlyisthisgenerallyhowprophecyworks,italsoembodiesboththe
conceptsofprogressiverevelationandofprogressivefulfillmentofprophecy.
Ithinkthat’senoughfortoday.We’llbeginJoelchapter4nexttime.