Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 1

 

The Lord Judges the Nations

For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, Joel 3:1

For, behold, in... The 4th section of the prophecy of Joel (Joel 3:1-16, unfulfilled; will be fulfilled at the battle of Armageddon and the day of the Lord). Next, Joel 3:17.

Fourteen Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. In those days and at that time, when I bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem. I will also gather all nations (Joel 3:1-2).

2. I will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2).

3. I will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage whom I scattered among the nations, parting My land among the Gentiles.

4. I will raise them out of the place where you have sold them (Joel 3:7).

5. I will recompense upon your own head.

6. I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of Judah (Joel 3:8).

7. They will sell them to the Sabeans and to a people far off.

8. Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near and let them come up (Joel 3:9-12; cp. Jer. 6:4).

9. I will judge them in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12-14).

10. The sun and moon will be darkened.

11. The stars will withdraw their shining (Joel 3:15).

12. The Lord will roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem (Joel 3:16).

13. The heavens and earth will shake.

14. The Lord will be the hope of His people and the strength of the children of Israel.

And at that time, Which Kimchi refers to the times of the Messiah; and is true of the latter times of the Messiah, of his spiritual reign yet to come.

in those days,... "In those days, and in that time"—when I bring the Jews back from all lands and they have a new nation in Israel with Jerusalem as the capital, I will gather all nations against them (Joel 3:1-2; Zec. 14:1-5; Rev. 16:13-16; 19:11-21).

again the captivity... "Again" indicates that it was done before this, which was true when they returned from Babylon under Ezra and Nehemiah. The next time will be the second time, fulfilling Isa. 11:10-12. The second time is now in process of fulfillment and it will be completed at the second coming of the Messiah (Mat. 24:31).

Judah and Jerusalem... References to Judah, Jerusalem, and Zion in the prophecy indicate that Joel prophesied to Judah. In fact, the ten tribes had been taken into captivity and the northern kingdom completely destroyed before Joel prophesied, as we gather from internal evidence in the prophecy. There is not the slightest mention of the ten tribes so it must be that they were not in existence as a kingdom at that time. So not from the Edomites, Tyrians, and Philistines, that had carried them captive in the times of Ahaz. Nor from Babylon, where they had been carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar. For nothing of what is after foretold followed upon the return of these captivities.

But this designs the present captivity of the Jews, and the restoration of them to their own land (of which see Isaiah 52:8).

The days that are spoken of, here, are the same as the Day of the Lord in the last lesson, when God would pour out of His Spirit on all flesh. I believe the time when Jerusalem and Judah were brought again to their land, is in our times. In 1948, Israel became a nation, and Jerusalem is the spiritual city again.

Judgment Is Announced

Joel. 3:1-8 are a judgment speech against the nations. They contain accusatory elements (Joel 3:2-3, 3:5-6), as well as an announcement of judgment (Joel 3:1-2, 3:4, 3:7-8).

In the future day of the Lord Judah and her enemies will be carefully distinguished. The Lord will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, in fulfillment of Moses’ promise (cf. Deut. 30:3). At the same time God will gather the nations for judgment.