The Book of Joel: Chapter 2

Pictured is the Jezreel Valley. All nations will gather here in the battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 11-14 and Revelation 16:14-21)

Without too much introduction, this chapter almost entirely relates to us. There will be horrible destruction and war prior to the second coming of the Savior, but that day will be great and terrible. It will be great for the followers of Christ and terrible for those that chose not to follow him.

Verse 1

This verse is also talking to us. We need to "blow the trumpet" as a warning voice and in sharing the gospel. Blowing the trumpet made from the ram's horn was a warning that danger was approaching. The second coming is a dangerous event for the wicked and unrepentant. We also need to know that the "day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand". Zion and the Lord's holy mountain is where his temple is (Isaiah 2:1-3). It can also be anywhere he speaks to his people or anywhere the "pure in heart" happen to be (Instead of going into a full discussion about Zion being the pure in heart, see the following references: D&C 45:66-70; 82:14; 133:2,13,18,26-32,56).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: "Zion is people. Zion is the saints of God; Zion is those who have been baptized; Zion is those who have received the Holy Ghost; Zion is those who keep the commandments; Zion is the righteous; or in other words as our revelation recites: 'This is Zion - the pure in heart.' (D&C 97:21)

Verses 2-10

These verses describe the army coming to fight Israel in the battle of Armageddon. See also Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Revelation 9:1-10 for more information on this. I'll probably be posting the book of Ezekiel in about another month or so. In this battle the army is described as being like locusts that devour the crops and cover the land. There are so many of them that the sun will scarcely shine through. There are so many of them that the earth will quake from their march. They will be as a devouring flame to the land, leaving everything behind them desolate. In verse 4 the horses symbolize war. In verse 5 the chariots symbolize a powerful army.

Verse 6 shows the reaction to this army. The faces of the people "shall be much pained" and "all faces shall gather blackness" meaning they will be feeling fear and gloom. The next few verses explain this fear. They members of the army can run and climb like mighty men. They do not break the ranks. "When they fall upon their sword, they shall not be wounded". This can only describe the fact that any weapons used against them are ineffectual. Perhaps they also have mighty armor. They are easily able to climb the walls of Jerusalem and plunder the houses.

Verse 11

This verse is awesome. Try to imagine being in Jerusalem and seeing what the army above is doing. Seeing that nothing you do can stop them and knowing that soon they'll be here and you would most likely just be hoping for it to happen quickly. Imagine if your family was with you and how helpless you would feel in trying to protect them. Now read verse 11. "The Lord shall utter his voice before his army; for his camp is very great". There is great hope in that. For the faithful, it would be more than hope. They would know that the Lord and his great army would deliver them.

Verses 12-18

These verses are interesting because it sort of breaks from the battle description and the Lord is speaking to Israel (and us) again trying to persuade them to repent and turn to him. The custom of the day was to rend your clothes when mourning but he said "rend your hearts, not your garments". This means that true repentance was something that happens inside us, like a broken heart and a contrite spirit. After more verses explaining the mourning and repentance, verse 16 shows us that there will be a certain point where the Lord (as the bridegroom) will reclaim Israel (as the bride) and consider them once again to be his chosen people. After all of this (remember that obedience precedes the blessing) verse 18 says "Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people".

Verses 19-27

These verses describe a complete 180 from what we've seen so far in most of Hosea and Joel. Israel and Judah were both very wicked but at this time they have repented and come to the Lord and look at the blessings. No more famine. They will have satisfactory corn, wine and oil. The threshing floors would be full of wheat. He will take care of the army spoken of above, and any of Israel's enemies for that matter. He gives them comfort. He is sustaining them. After years of famine, hardship and wanting, they finally have more food than they need. They also are looking to him for protection and he is providing it. Verse 27 is great because it says "ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel". Sometimes it's hard for us to tell (our fault, not his) if he is with us. This is a great blessing to know he is there and to know the reason they know is that they are righteous and spiritually in tune.

Verses 28-32

In the JSH 1:41 we read that Moroni quoted this scripture to Joseph Smith during the night in his room. Moroni said that this had not yet come to pass but that it would soon. At this point, this prophesy is well into fulfillment. We have felt and are currently feeling this outpouring of the spirit and we are also seeing many of the signs of the latter days. When you think of this outpouring of the spirit, think of all the wards and stakes in the world and the missionaries, Sacrament meetings, Priesthood quorums, righteous prayers, etc...

The Book of Joel: Chapter 1

This chapter describes the prophets warning voice of imenent judgements but also a sincere desire for Judah to repenet.

Verse 4

Joel used the following imagery of a famine to describe Judah's future. The following terms are used to describe the different stages of development in the life of a locust.

• Palmerworm in Hebrew for gazam, which means "gnawer"
  
• Locust in Hebrew is arbeth, which means "many"
  
• Cankerworm in Hebrew is yeleq, which means "licker"
  
• Caterpillar in Hebrew is chasil, which means "consumer"

The LDS Institute Old Testament Manual says...

"Many scholars believe that the palmerworm was a metaphor for the Assyrian-Babylonian invasions. What these two empires left, the Medes and Persians "ate" during their invasions (Locust)...Then the cankerworm would represent the invasion and suppression by Greece (Macedonia) under Alexander the Great, which leaves the caterpillar to represent the invasion and destruction of Judah by Rome. These references seem also to apply to the coming battle of Armageddon."

Verses 5-6

The Israelites were referred to as "drunkards". In fact, being drunken is the only sin mentioned in the book of Joel. However, in it's use, drunken means sin and drunkard means sinner. Or in other words, they were drunken with their own iniquities, which were many. This includes all forms of self indulgence. Telling them to "weep" and "howl" was Joel's way of telling them to show remorse, repent and cry unto the Lord for forgiveness. Joel also told them that a strong nation, without number (many people), will come upon them. He told them that their "teeth are the teeth of a lion" which means they were vicious and fearsome.

Verses 7-8

Vines and fig trees were considered symbols of goodness and choiceness. This verse says that this great nation will lay his vines waste (or lay his people waste). When the bark is pulled off of a tree, the tree usually dies. Saying the nation had "barked my fig tree" is saying it will kill many in Israel and verse 8 describes the lament because of the death, destruction and desolation.

Verse 10

Saying the "field is wasted" means that Israel is no longer fruitful, or at least fruitful to anything that is satisfactory to God.

Verse 11

The husbandmen and vinedressers are those who care for the fields. He is saying they should be ashamed for not taking care of them properly. This can apply to us when we are stewards over offices or people. How well are we taking care of the things and people the Lord puts in our charge.

Verse 14

Joel tries to convince them to not only repent and pray for forgiveness, but also to fast. Not just prayer and fasting, but a time of national prayer and fasting.

Verse 16

This verse describes the loss of temple worship. This is a loss of "meat", which is spiritual sustenance and a loss of "joy" and "gladness".

Introduction to Joel

Similar to Hosea, a main theme of Joel is that the house of Israel had become full of wickedness and would receive terrible judgements. This message is similar to that of some other prophets like Isaiah, Jonah and Amos. Wickedness brings about destruction and righteous and repentance will bring about joy and happiness. Joel was one of many prophets whose prophecies were dual prophesies. They had immediate relevance and they would have relevance at a later date, in many instances this later date is the latter days, or last days.

If you read Joseph Smith-History 1:41 you'll see that the angel Moroni quoted from Joel the night he visited Joseph in his room. He said that the prophecies would shortly be fulfilled. Many have already begun to be fulfilled.

The Book of Joel also gives some great insights into the Battle of Armageddon. The book is literally packed with all sorts of good stuff. 

It is widely believed that Joel's ministry took place during the reign of King Joash in Judah. Unlike Hosea, Joel was sending a warning voice to the people of Judah in the Southern Kingdom. 

Along with the wickedness condemned and judgements foretold, Joel also preached about repentance and salvation. Like all prophets, Joel called upon everyone to repent and come unto the Lord.

We also see that Joel does not refer to the Northern Kingdom at all. It's possible that at this time it technically does not exist anymore, meaning they've been invaded and taken captive.

At this time it also appears that Jerusalem still had walls and that temple worship was still being carried out, so it seems to have taken place either before the siege or after it has been restored.