Berean Bible Church

The Prophets

Lesson XI

Joel Outlined

March 14, 2010

Introduction

The Book of Joel outlines prophecy that has to do with Israel

Notice the word “land” in

Joel 1:6,

Joel 1:10

Joel 1:14

Joel 2:1

Joel 2:3

Joel 2:18

Joel 2:21

Joel 3:2

Joel 3:18 land implied

I Joel chapter 1 to chapter 2:1-11 Calamities to come to the land of Israel

These verses, primarily , predict the Babylonian Captivity soon to come to Judah

Joel 1:15 we believe, “for the day of the Lord is at hand” has to do with the soon coming Babylonian Captivity. (Reported in Lamentations chapter one)

Quote W.M. Smith “the Scriptures abound with prophecies regarding this event. Prophecies regarding the captivity were made over a period of 150 years, and they occupy at least 220 Bible verses.

II Look at some of the 220 predictions of the Babylonian Captivity

2 Kings 22:15-20

2 Kings 23:26-27

Isaiah 39:6,7 cf Isaiah 64:10,11

Jeremiah 20:4-6

Jeremiah 21:7

Jeremiah 25:9-11

Are you not arrested by the details of the predictions?

III Two subjects occupy much Old Testament Scripture

1. Israel’s bondage and deliverance from Egypt. (To date I have counted 161

references to the end of Jeremiah only)

Keep in mind, it was Israel, not the Church, that came out of Egypt

2. Israel was in bondage and delivered from Babylon.

Keep in mind, that this too, is history about Israel, not the Church

IV Some of the details of Joel chapters one and two

1. Joel 1:4 the land would suffer destruction by worms and locust

cf Joel 2:11,25

2. Joel 1:6 then destruction would come by the hands of a lion-like Nation

Jeremiah 4:6-7 from the North – a Lion

Jeremiah 25:11 captivity to be for 70 years

Daniel 7:4 the Lion is Babylon

3. Joel 1:10,12,18,20 destruction would come by drought

All the things listed are God’s judgments

God controls the weather

Jeremiah 10:10,12,13

Jeremiah 18:22

IV That the Prophet saw beyond Babylon, to a greater judgment, seems clear

Therefore, these verses had a prior fulfillment, some still await fulfillment of greater judgment.

That such predictions, as here recorded in Joel are yet to come to the whole world is clearly taught be Jesus in Matthew 24:6-8

Thus, the prophecies that have had a prior fulfillment typify judgments yet to come.

V Joel 2:12-27 this is the second major prediction of the book

1 Joel 2:25 Joel predicts a restoration of the Jews to their land

2 Joel 2:12-17 if they repent the Lord will turn away the evil

Jeremiah 29:10-14 the Lord’s promise

Cf Nehemiah 1:3,4

Daniel 9:1-4

3 Joel 2:18 The Lord will again be jealous for (pity) His land and His people

4 Joel 2:20 The Lord will remove the Northern Army (Babylon)

5 Joel 2:25 The Lord will restore the lost years

These promises had a partial fulfillment in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah

However, they await a greater, final restoration.

By judging the land and restoring the land, God has already demonstrated how He will fulfill Scripture in the future.

As we pointed out from Hosea 11:1, there are no doubt, hidden prophecies in Joel that will only be understood when they have been finally fulfilled And they will only be revealed when they are fulfilled

Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out”