Joel 1

The word of the Lord enters the whole crisis.

Now listen to Joel 1, verses 5-7.

Wake up, you drunkards, and weep.

Wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth.

This is the moment to see the whole wound rather than turn away.

Now the prophet turns directly to those who minister before God.

Listen to Joel 1, verses 13-16.

Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests.

Therefore we should be ready for the coming of Christ when the signs of the times blossom forth.

Since, however, the fig tree is one of God's symbol for Israel, Jeremiah 24 verses 1 to 3, Hosea 9 verse 10, Joel 1 verse 7, it may be that the parable tells us a little more than appears at first sight.

It may well point to the fact that at the time when the nation of Israel is once more established in the land of Israel, there will also be an uprising of nationhood among other peoples too.

It is remarkable that since the Second World War there has been a considerable increase in the number of nations represented in the United Nations Organization.

They were very severe, and previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be after them." So, when you see locusts, many times in the Bible, most times in the Bible, it's used as a judgment.

Next, you see in Jeremiah 51, verse 14, the Lord of hosts has sworn by himself, surely I will fill you with men as with locusts, and they shall lift up up a shout against you next Joel 1 verse 4 what the chewing locust left the swarming locust has eaten what the swarming locust has left the crawling locust has eaten and what the crawling locust left the consuming locusts has eaten so many times you see in scripture locusts are a judgment from God and it is never a good thing so the note for three says locusts in the Old Testament were used as a judgment for refusing to recognize God's authority and law a plague of locusts was sent on Egypt when the Pharaoh wouldn't let Israel go why because he would not recognize God as a higher authority than himself The same was true of Israel as they moved forward in their history.

And here is a statement from Understanding Daniel and Revelation by Mark Finley, page 255.

The first four trumpets deal with judgments of God on Israel, the pagan Roman Empire, and apostate Christianity.

It is a revelation of Him, and He has revealed to us the heart of the Father.

Today, September 23rd, we are in the book of Malachi, chapters 2 through 4, and Joel, chapters 1 through 3.

We're reading from the New Living Translation.

This is the word of the Lord.

Otherwise, I will come and strike the

land with the curse.

Joel chapter 1.

The Lord gave this message to Joel, son of Pethul.

The day of the Lord is near a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Um, Joel 1 verse 15, Alas for that day, for the day of the Lord is near.

It will come like destruction from the Almighty.

This is actually a reference.

Let me jump a bit.

Joel 1.

If you are there, say a big amen.

Let me show you something that you need to pay attention to.

Joel chapter number 1.

Let's start the reading from verse 8.

Joel 1 from verse 8.

Lament like a virgin, greeted with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

It should go on.

If it doesn't, it, then something not good is gonna happen, okay? Joel 1:3 says, "Tell your children about it." Let your, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

God wants the gospel, the goodness of God, trusting God, a miracle working God, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Jireh, and Jehovah Tsidkenu, and all the names of God to be so awesome that people put their trust in the Lord.

Yes.

[laughs] The third one is a crawling locust.

The thir- the fourth one is the consuming locust, right? And Joel 1:4 says something very important, and that was what made me, you know, classify these, uh, uh, locusts into four.

It says, "What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten." Do you see that? So the chewing locust is just an introduction.

Mm.

They can happen in the soul, too.

In today's episode, Joel calls God's people to return with their whole hearts.

Peter announces the spirit poured out at Pentecost, and our psalm gives us the prayer, revive us again, O Lord.

Let's read the book of Joel.

Joel chapter 1.

The word of the Lord that came to Joel, son of Bethuel.

Hear this, you elders, listen all who live in the land.

Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? Tell it to your children and let your children tell it to their children and their children to the next generation.