Payback Time

Read Joel 3.

Here is a verse that is never quoted: "Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears, let the weak say, 'I am a warrior.'"  Verse 10 is the opposite of Micah 4:3 which is depicted in a sculpture at the United Nations building in New York City.

There is coming a day when the nations of earth will gather to fight an ultimate battle.  God's intention in the war is to avenge the blood of His people.  The place is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  The meaning of the word Jehoshaphat is "the LORD judges."  The description of this yet future battle exactly matches Armageddon in Revelation 14, 16 and 19.  Joel 3:14 calls it the day of the LORD and that multitudes will be in this "valley of decision."  It is not that the people will be trying to decide something; rather, it is God who rendering His decision, or verdict, of judgment against them.

The sin of the nations against the Jews and this land, promised to Abraham's descendants, is well documented to this very day.  Some of the sins of Joel's time are mentioned in the opening six verses. Every generation of Jews has had an enemy who announced their intent to annihilate them.  The very existence of Jews in the world and a Jewish state on at least part of their land is a testimony to the power, protection, and grace of God.

However, in that day the Messiah will visibly be revealed to the world with His heavenly army (Revelation 19:11-21).  He will destroy all of Israel's enemies and establish His kingdom in Jerusalem (Joel 3:16).  As the closing verses of this chapter foretells, the Jews will finally acknowledge Jesus as God and King.  The land will become abundant and prosperous.  Instead of the drought (1:20), the streams that Ezekiel 47 prophesied will flow from the throne of God to water the land.

And, believers will rule and reign with Christ in that earthly kingdom.  "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)