Joel Chapter 2 – part 2 of 9

So Joel chapter two tells us of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and tells us of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and goes on to show the disciples assembled in the upper room awaiting the outcome – that is, what should come to pass afterwards, in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. We should bear in mind, in considering the marvel of Joel’s prophecy, that the man Joel the son of Pethuel lived and died centuries before Jesus was born, and could of himself have had no knowledge of these things, confirming for us – if confirmation be needed – that this is the word of the Lord inspired by the Spirit of God alone. Joel therefore ranks as a very great prophet of the Lord, and deserves our utmost respect at all times. (Who would dare refer to Joel as a ‘minor prophet’?) But to properly understand chapter two we need to fix the main events in our minds according as they were prophesied. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain,” begins the chapter. Now “My holy mountain” is Calvary, beloved, and the trumpet is the alarm that sounds to herald the battle about to begin there. Until we clearly perceive that Christ suffered we cannot begin to appreciate the benefits He has won for us. The spiritual riches we inherit are the spoils of war. Had He lost the battle, there would be no Spirit poured out for us or for the apostles. The main event of chapter two is not Pentecost, but the Cross of Jesus Christ. The second main event is of course Christ’s Resurrection, as verse fifteen says, “Blow the trumpet in Zion.” This second trumpet sounds what we call the “All Clear,” the signal of victory, the battle won, the end of war, the cessation of hostilities. Christ becomes the Lord of Hosts, the victorious Overcomer, the great Amen, having ascended to the right hand of God at this point. Afterwards – not before – the Spirit is poured out upon all flesh. So if we take chapter two of Joel in three sections we will see first the battle, second the victory, and third the spoils of war. Only then can we appreciate that our receiving of the Spirit is due to the Cross of Calvary.