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In our last study we dealt with the third member of the above structure; the longest
one dealing with the "Good bestowed". Now we turn to the fourth member, the longest
dealing with the "evil removed". Its structure is as follows:
3: 1, 2a.
Gathering
3: 2b.
Place and Act. "I will judge."
3: 3-8.
Judgment threatened
3: 9-12a.
Gathering
3: 12b.
Place and Act. "I will judge."
3: 13.
Judgment executed
3: 14a.
Gathering
3: 14b.
Place and Act. Valley of judgment.
3: 15, 16a.
Judgment threatened.
Joel 3: 1. The opening words of chapter 3: "For behold, in those days, and in that
time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem", should make us stop
and ask which point in time is Joel referring to? Is it those days of Joel 2: 30-32 or
some other time? When is the time that "I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and
Jerusalem?" Before we can answer that question we need to look at the expression
"bring again the captivity". Surprisingly we find it means to "restore the fortunes" or
"relieve from trouble". This is clear from Amos 9: 14, 15:
"And I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall build the
waste cities, and inhabit them: and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof:
they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their
land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith
the Lord thy God."
Jeremiah 30: 3 is another passage which shows the meaning of this expression to be
the gathering and restoring of the people of Israel to their land. Thus these words are
translated as "When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem" by the N.I.V., Moffatt
and R.S.V. The N.E.B. has "when I reverse the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem". We
know this reversal takes place at the Lord's Second Coming.
Joel 3: 2. So, at that time, in those days, about the time of the return of Christ "I will
gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat". This is
again mentioned in Zechariah 14: 2 and the ensuing battle has been fully described in
Joel 2: 2-10. The second half of Zech.xiv.2 describes explicitly the events of Joel 2: 9.
Again care must be exercised over the expression "I will gather all nations against
Jerusalem to battle" (Zech. 14: 2). Here God, once more, is taking responsibility for
events which He allows. Rev. 19: 19 makes it clear that behind this great battle is the
beast, the king of the north, that `little horn' and behind him is Satan!
The mention of Jehoshaphat has led some to want to date Joel's prophecy in the reign
of that king (B.C.819-794) but this is not logical. If a valley bears a king's name we can