In our last post we took a look at Verses 28 and 29 of Joel’s prophecy; let us now examine the remainder of that prophecy, Verses 30-32.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”
Let us break it down so as to be properly digested.
Our Lord’s statements here in these last three verses of this prophecy are in reference to the day of trouble, which proceeds the next age, read the preceding context thoroughly.
“Blow (sound, proclaim) ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain (Christendom, the professed kingdom of the Lord): let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh (the Day of Vengeance, the Great Time of Trouble), for it is nigh at hand.” (Joel 2:1)
VERSE 30 “And I will show wonders (signs, “fearful sights and great signs” Luke 21:11) in the heavens (NOT the literal heavens where God resides, but rather the ecclesiastical heavens, the religious powers and influences of this world, both the seen and the unseen) and in the earth (society), blood, and fire (trouble), and pillars of smoke (as pillars of smoke rise from the earth, this may well represent social upheavals, political and financial troubles, confusion and anarchy)”.
“A day of darkness (ignorance of the prophetic developments of that time) and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness…” (Joel 2:2)
The truth is we have no positive knowledge that this language is merely symbolic; it may also have a literal application as well, some great physical manifestation of divine power in connection with the time of trouble. In fact it is a common belief held among many Bible Students that the “great earthquake” spoken of in (Rev 16:18) is not only in reference to the Great Time of Trouble, but also that it may be in reference to a great literal earthquake, possibly the results of the final settling of the earth’s crust or mantel in preparation for the earthly paradise promised. The Scriptures do seem to allude to a great earthquake taking place around the time Gog and his allies attack Israel (Ezek 38:19, 20).
Likewise we have the Lord’s word that in the next age, "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain"(Kingdom). The idea that there would be catastrophes then would be wholly out of harmony with the divine revelation, rather, the appropriate time, if there are to be such calamities such as great earthquakes and etc., would seem to be during the time forewarned "the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation"—at that time, when the "four winds," the fallen angels are let loose. All of these things coming together will constitute the "time of trouble such as never was."
Continued with next post.
