Key word: “Day of the Lord”
Joel is a little book with a powerful impact on the prophetic understanding. That is because it is wrapped around what is call “the Day of the Lord”, referenced directly five times (1:11, 15, 22, 31, 3:14) and alluded to a few other times (see 3:1). In a general sense, the day of the Lord is used to describe a time of judgment, destruction and doom, throughout the Old Testament. That is how Joel begins, describing a coming locust infestation coming on Judah for its continual rebellion against the Lord (1:1-2:17). See 1:15. Yet with all the doom and gloom of this coming judgment, there was time to alter its course. If the people would truly repent (2:12-13). Judgment would be averted.
Beginning with 2:18, Joel turns to the future and describes a glorious future that would be the Kingdom Age. This too is described as the Day of the Lord (2:28-31). This text receives a lot of attention because Peter quotes it in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. But as Joel 3:1-2 indicates, these events are not fulfilled at Pentecost, or in the Church Age, but awaits the end times.
The great and awesome Day of the Lord (2:31) being described is a future event which comes in three stages:
1) The Tribulation – a 7-year period of time of unprecedented judgment on the earth.
2) The return of Christ as the rightful king over the whole earth.
3) The Millennial Kingdom on the earth with Jesus sitting on the throne of David ruling the whole earth. Our key verse reminds us of this great future the Lord has determined for His people. How we look forward to this wonderful day.
Key verse: Joel 2:28 – “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind.”
