The Day of the Lord

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Text:  Joel 2:1-11

Joel 2:1-2

Blow a trumpet in Zion;
    sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
² a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
    a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
    nor will be again after them
    through the years of all generations.

(ESV)

Followers of Jesus Christ find comfort in the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for it speaks of the day they will be caught up to be with the Lord for eternity.  The Greek word translated caught up in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is harpazo from which we get the word rapture.  1 Thessalonians 4:18 tells Christians to comfort one another with the words of hope of spending eternity with Christ.  This is the day of the Lord Christians live in hope of but is not the day of the Lord spoken of by the prophet Joel in Joel 2:1-11 for this day is a day of destruction. 

As with all studies of the Bible, we must take things in context.  The context of this passage regarding the day of the Lord occurs after Joel’s call to repentance.  Locusts have already destroyed Israel’s crops and yet it appears Israel still does not come to repentance for their sins.  Now God brings an invading army that will take the people of Judah into exile from which they will come to repentance (2 Kings 25:1-21; Ezra 2).  Deuteronomy 28 informed Israel of the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience which included the destruction of locusts and going into exile.  The prophet Joel is attempting to give Israel a final warning to repent and turn back to God before the invasion leading to exile occurs. 

Joel 2:3-11 uses symbolism to illustrate the devastation of this invading army comparing it to destruction like a flame of fire.  With the destruction of the Locusts leaving dry stubble where green crops used to be, the prospect of an army coming in and setting the stubble on fire would have been devastating.  Joel also literally speaks of an army of war horses and chariots coming over the mountains to attack Israel.  The attack of the locusts and destruction of crops has most likely left the people weak and easy prey for a powerful army (Joel 2:4-6).  Joel warns them that the invading army will be determined and ruthless able to scale the walls designed to protect the city and invading the homes of people in the city (Joel 2:7-9).  Using symbolism Joel compares the destruction of the army to that of an earthquake so massive it shakes the heavens and darkens the sun, moon, and stars (Joel 2:10).  Joel 2:11 reminds Israel that this destructive day of the Lord is directed by Him with the purpose of bringing the nation to repentance to receive restoration from the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

The world today faces the same choice as the nation of Israel in the time of Joel.   There is global support for the murder of babies through abortion.  These babies in the womb are wonderful creations of God being formed to become people with the potential to serve God and do great things (Psalm 139:13-14).  God created male and female people with the intention that they would join in marriage to have and raise children to ensure the continuation of humanity.  The perversions of homosexuality and transgenderism are a slap in the face to a creator God, telling Him that you made a mistake in creating them with a particular gender and that the sacred institution of marriage can be between people of the same sex.  Of course, a culture that has removed the idea of a divine creator God would see no problem with abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism.  Fortunately, just as with Israel, God has been gracious but just as with Israel, this grace has limits.  Before it is too late, it is crucial that nations in the world, especially nations like the United States, founded on Godly principles, repent and turn to God. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Joel 2:1-11 speak of monumental days of the Lord.  However, the day of the Lord in Thessalonians is a day of hope with God’s people caught up or raptured to meet the Lord.  The day of the Lord spoken of by Joel and prophesized in Revelation 9 seem similar with the mention of locusts, horses, and chariots with the difference being the day of the Lord in Revelation being global and something yet to occur.  Those reading this post have a choice of whether to experience the hopeful day of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 or face the globally destructive day of the Lord in Revelation 9.  To become part of the hopeful day of the Lord, one must accept Jesus as his or her savior.  If you have never done so, I invite you to accept Jesus as your savior now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations on becoming part of the hopeful day of the Lord.  I now encourage those that prayed to find a church or Bible study where they can associate with others having the hope of eternity with God.  May God bless all reading this post.