JOEL CHAPTER THREE

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Joel. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

****** EXCERPT FROM JOEL CHAPTER TWO ******

Or skip to the beginning of chapter 3:

(Joel 2:28-32) IN THE DAY OF THE LORD, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY AND FOREVER, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE POURED OUT UPON ALL MANKIND RIGHT AFTER THE LORD'S TEMPORAL JUDGMENT UPON THE EARTH. THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD WILL RECEIVE REVELATION FROM GOD - THEY WILL PROPHESY, DREAM DREAMS, SEE VISIONS - SERVING AS ORACLES OF GOD AS THEY RULE OVER THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH. AND BEFORE THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD, THERE WILL BE WONDERS IN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. BLOOD AND FIRE, COLUMNS OF SMOKE. THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, THE MOON TO BLOOD RED RED. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, I.E., REPENT UNTO FAITH ALONE IN THE LORD ALONE TO DELIVER ONE UNTO TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL SALVATION IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE SAVED. BUT ONLY THE REMNANT CHOSEN BY THE LORD WILL CHOOSE TO BELIEVE AND BE SAVED - THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD BEING PRIMARILY IN VIEW THROUGHOUT THIS PASSAGE

[Compare Joel 2:10-11]:

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM JOEL CHAPTER TWO ******

I) [Joel 3:1-21]:

A) (3:1-8) IN THE JUDGMENT DAYS OF THE YET FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD, THE LORD WILL BRING THOSE OF HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL WHO WERE CAPTIVES IN FOREIGN LANDS BACK TO THE PROMISED LAND. AND THE LORD WILL GATHER THE NATIONS INTO THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT UPON THEM FOR ENSLAVING HIS PEOPLE, DIVIDING UP HIS LAND AND HIS POSSESSIONS - HIS GOLD AND SILVER - AND RETURN THEIR RETALIATION IN KIND

B) (3:9-14) THE PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS - FROM THE WEAK TO THE STRONG - WILL BE CALLED TO FACE THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD BY DOING BATTLE WITH THE LORD'S ANGELIC WARRIORS IN THE VALLEY OF JEHOSOPHAT. MULTITUDES UPON MULTITUDES WILL BE ANNIHILATED BECAUSE THEIR WICKEDNESS WAS SO GREAT

C) (3:15-17) THE SUN AND MOON WILL HAVE GROWN DARK, AND THE STARS WILL DIMINISH. AND THE ROAR OF THE LORD WILL BE UTTERED FROM JERUSALEM, SHAKING THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WITH FEAR. BUT THE LORD WILL BE A SHELTER AND A STRONGHOLD FOR HIS PEOPLE, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. AND SO ALL ISRAEL WILL KNOW THE LORD - THAT HE IS THE LORD THEIR GOD, DWELLING IN ZION HIS HOLY MOUNTAIN. AND JERUSALEM WILL BE HOLY, NO ONE AT ENMITY WITH THE LORD WILL EVER PASS THROUGH HER GATES AGAIN

D) (3:18-21) AND IN THE BLESSING PART OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD, THERE WILL BE UNPARALLELED PROSPERITY FOR JUDAH FOREVER; BUT EGYPT AND EDOM WILL BE DESOLATE BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE DONE TO THE SONS OF JUDAH. BUT JUDAH AND JERUSALEM WILL BE INHABITED FOREVER. FOR THE LORD WILL ACQUIT THEM OF THE GUILT OF BLOODSHED WHICH HE HAD NOT HERETOFORE FORGIVEN - FOR THE LORD WILL DWELL FOREVER IN ZION