The Locust Swarm

Joel tells of a past locust plague in Israel and describes its detailed devastation like that of a destruction with weapons.

The Day of the Lord

The Day of the Lord is defined as when God will defeat all evil for good and save His people. Israel's past becomes our future.

Faithful Restored

Joel urges people to give their hearts to God while there's time. If they turn to Him on the Lord's Day they will be spared.

God's Spirit on All

God will pour out His Spirit upon people in the last days. This is fulfilled centuries later on Pentecost after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension.

A New Eden

God's people won't be the only ones restored in the future - the earth gets renewed too. God will heal creation into a new Eden.

THE BOOK OF joel

OT/NT: Old Testament

SECTION: Minor Prophets (2 of 12)

TRADITIONAL AUTHOR: Joel

KEY PEOPLE: Joel and the people of Judah.

SUMMARY: Canonically, the Book of Joel is the twenty-ninth book of the Holy Bible (1), the twenty-ninth book of the Old Testament (2), and second of the twelve Minor Prophets books (3).

The Book of Joel accounts for justice (4) over evil in a form that's unique to the other Old Testament prophets. Unlike the other Books, Joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts that seems traverse across time. No particular mention of Israel's sins is present in the book, but the consequences of the terrible events described are certainly clear: God will one day wipe out all evil and start creation over. But through this destruction also comes eternal protection for those who believe in Him.

Salvation from the Messianic King is once again prophesied, but this time the Holy Spirit (5) is prophesied to come too, causing seemingly ordinary people to have visions, divine dreams, and be filled with God's Spirit. That's exactly what happened during Pentecost (6) to Jesus' (7) disciples (8) after His death (9) and Resurrection (10), ensuring us that the Day of the Lord (11) is even closer at hand today.

COMING UP: Next up is the book of Amos (12). Click HERE to explore!

For a printer friendly version of this narrative (and more!), please explore the PDF documents offered above.

FOOTNOTES:

  (1) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-good-news

  (2) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/old-testament

  (3) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/ot-minor-prophets

  (4) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/justice

  (5) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/the-holy-spirit

  (6) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/pentecost

  (7) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/jesus-christ

  (8) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/twelve-apostles

  (9) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/obituary-of-jesus

(10) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/resurrection-of-jesus

(11) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/day-of-the-lord

(12) http://www.downriverdisciples.com/amos

SOURCES:

(a) The Bible Project https://thebibleproject.com/explore/joel/