...for the day of the LORD is great and
very terrible; and who can abide it? -- Joel 2:11ff
Few people realise how important and wonderful Bible prophecy can
be. Its invaluable benefits include:
1.
Insight into the character of
God;
2.
A preview into the future;
3.
An alarm clock to wake up the
spiritual sleepers and sober up the drunkards (I Thessalonians 5:6);
4.
Incentive for holy living;
5.
Incentive for evangelism;
6.
Prospers those who heed its
timeless message (II Chronicles 20:20 KJV);
7.
The brightest light on this
planet until Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, comes again (II Peter 1:19).
Above all, Bible prophecy is a much-needed ‘early warning service.’
Early warnings save lives and souls.
One of the key themes in Bible prophecy is ‘The Day of the Lord.’ A
simple description is the ‘Day of the Lord’ is that complex, contrasting,
crisis-riddled, change-filled period between the ‘kingdoms of this world’ and
‘the kingdom of Christ’ (Revelation 11:15).
To understand the ‘Day of the Lord,’ you need to study the Old
Testament Book of Joel. This short, 3 chapter prophesy provides unsurpassed
insight on this vital period of history and the future.
A foretaste of the ‘Day of the Lord’ happens in Joel’s day, namely
the 9th Century B.C. The Kingdom of Judah gets hit twice, with a plague of
locusts, then a day of drought.
All of this is just a warm-up to the ultimate, end-time ‘Day of the
Lord.’ In that day, Judah is threatened with invasion but salvation is
promised. More than that, the Holy Spirit will be poured out in revival, last
days proportions. Once the final Day of the Lord comes, the Gentiles who gather
against Judah will be judged (Armageddon) and Judah will be restored.
So why study the Book of Joel? Some of the things you will learn
include:
•
The real nature of the ‘Day of
the Lord?’
•
What’s the distinction between
the ‘Day of the Lord’ and the ‘End-Times?’
•
What are the similarities &
differences between the invasions in chapters 1 & 2;
•
What are some of the
wonderfully unprecedented high points, despite invasions;
•
The prophesied outpouring of
the Holy Spirit (2:28-32);
•
The glorious future God has
prepared for His redeemed.
Study the Book of Joel. Not only will you prosper, Joel will change
your life.
Outline of
Joel
I.
Day
of the Lord in Joel’s Day (1:1-20)
A. Day of Locusts (1:1-12)
B.
Day
of Drought (1:13-20)
II.
Day of the Lord in the Last Days (2:1-3:21)
A. Imminent Day of the Lord
(2:1-27)
1. Prophecy of Judah’s Imminent
Invasion (2:1-11)
2. Promise of Judah’s Salvation
(conditional) (2:12-27)
B. Ultimate Day of the Lord
(2:28-3:21)
1. Final Events before the Day
of the Lord (2:28-32)
2. Events at the Day of the Lord
(3:1-21)
a. Gentiles judged (3:1-15)
b. Judah restored (3:16-21)
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