Then and Afterwards

Joel Pt 6 Then and Afterwards
Introduction/Review
Continue with our study of Joel- look at v2.18-32.

Chap 1- locust plague- God’s judgment
Chap 2- military invasion- God’s judgment
Chap 1/2- God calls for a corporate response
Begin our study today in Luke and Acts.

Lk 24.49, Act 1.8, 12-15, Act 2:1-4
Peter interpreted what was happening- Act 2.16
The Apostles followed the pattern we see in Joel 2-
if we want to see deliverance on a national level-
gather together- pray/fast w/wholeheartedness.
What we see- Acts/Joel- also- prelude to end of- age.
(Mat 21.21, Dan 12.1, Jer 30.7, Heb 12.26-29)

Joel 2.18
Then- in this word- see- major transition- rev- v2.12-17
Then- when people gather together, pray, fast, and cry out to God, THEN, God will be zealous for His land-
1st half of Joel deals w/crisis/need for response-
2nd half begins w/THEN and describes
God’s blessing on those who responded.
God vindicates those who respond- wholeheartedly.
In Joel 2.18-32- see the extravagant blessing that is in God’s heart for His people- Jews/Gentiles.
Whatever blessings God is going to release at the end of the age- we can pray and ask God to release, at least, in part NOW.

It is in God’s heart to bless His people- call on Him now.
As we look at the last half of Joel 2 we are going to see-
v2.18-27- release of natural blessings
v2.18-32 release of spiritual blessings
V2.18 (Ezek 39.25, Zech 1.14, Zech 8.2)

Zealous- great energy/enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause.
God is zealous for His- holy name, inheritance, land.
Wholehearted fasting/prayer-awakens Gods zeal.
His land- God chose the land of Israel before He chose Abraham and has built human history around it.
(Zech 8.2, 14.4, Psa 48, Mat 5.35, Psa 132.13, Ezek 5.5)

Jerusalem is where God will rule the earth for 1000 yrs.
Satan wants to destroy the Jews because Christ will return when they cry out to Him. (Rev 12.1-5)
Hitler had a Satanic plan to annihilate the Jews.
I fear for any country that mistreats Israel- pray for US-
US meant to be an intercessory nation for Israel.

v2.19
One way God shows compassion to a people is to heal their land and make it productive. (Isa 35.1-2, 51.3)
A picture of agricultural/economic restoration.
v2.20 (Jer 3.17)

Picture-political/military restoration-victory over enemies
(Joel 3.2, Zech 12.3, 14.2, Zeph 3.8, Ezek 38.4, Rev 16.3-4, 19.19)
Joel prophesied- Babylonian army would come- north- picture of anti- Christ army- also come from- north.

Ezek 39:12 (NASB) “For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. (Ezek 39.12, Isa 34.2-3)
God will destroy the anti-Christ army- millions will die.

v2.21
Do not fear- Joel exhorted Israel to rejoice before the victory came- even while surrounded by the enemy.

Isa 54:1 (NASB) “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.
God calls Israel a barren woman and calls her to rejoice even before she bears children.

2 Cor 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-
For many- their faith- based on sight- appearance.
Our life w/God is to be based on eternal hope, not outward appearance of present circumstances.
Many do not view life through