Blow a Trumpet in Zion

Joel Pt5 Blow a Trumpet in Zion
Introduction/Review

Continue study of Joel- Joel 2.
Testimonies from last weeks challenge-
Last Sunday- challenged us-examine our lives/ask God-
what adjustments we can make to respond to God’s call to repent/fast/pray- for our nation?

Joel 2 Outline
v2.1-11 military invasion (reiterate locust invasion)
v2.12-17 people’s response in times of judgment
v2.18-32 the promise of God’s blessing
v2.1-2

Some context for Joel 2- Moses-
prophesied what would happen if Israel rebelled-

Deut 28.38-42
prophesied- God would bring a military invasion-

Deut 28.47-55, 64-65
Timeline-
Moses- 1500bc

Joel/locust- 600bc
Babylonian invasion- 586bc
God uses military invasions to shake/judge nations-
see this in- OT/NT. (Mat 24.6-8, Lk 21.20-24, Zech 14.2-5)

Lk 19.43-44 (Roman invasion 40 years later)
Joel has a message for us today as well-

1 Thes 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Demonic deception- everything will continue as always.
Joel is saying- prepare yourself for what is coming.
Preparing is not storing food/water/guns so others starve and we live- (not saying do not store).
Joel- spiritual preparation- prepare- relationship w/God.

v2.1
Blow a trumpet- prophetic proclamation- alerts people to coming danger- so they repent/cry out to God.
Zion-narrow sense-Israel, broad sense-all Gods people- the trumpet blast is a call to God’s people.

Amos 3:7 (NASB95) Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.
If we know disaster is coming and we do nothing-

Ezek 33:6 (NASB) ‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.’

v2.2
Joel compares coming army to- morning clouds- it is sure to come and no one will escape seeing it.
A day of darkness is going to encompass Israel (Babylonian invasion) and eventually- whole earth.
As the morning light gradually increases in intensity, so will the gloom/darkness of the end-times.
A great and might people-looking ahead to-largest army the earth will ever see- anti-Christ army. (Joel 3.2)
No army will be able to defeat the anti-Christ army-
only Jesus will defeat the anti-Christ.

v2.3
This happened to Israel during Babylonian/Roman invasions- will happen again at the end of the age.
Picture of an army- shows no mercy- very destructive-
Nazis- WW2- bombed an area before invaded and burned everything when they left it.

v2.4-6
Terrible time for Israel- the people are in great anguish.
At end of the age- Jerusalem is- anti-Christ main target, but he will come against many nations. (Lk 21.26)

V2.7-9
Picture of Babylonian army but also a prophetic picture of the anti-Christ army- the army will be-
disciplined, courageous, invincible, invasive.
They will be- cruel army, not just satisfied w/conquering.

v2.10
Where else do we see v10?
Act 2.14-21
Partially fulfilled during Roman invasion- 70ad.
Earth did not quake before Babylonia army- now talking about an end-time event.
Jerusalem/nations/entire earth will be shaken-

Haggai 2:6–7 (NASB95)
6“