{"id":11104,"date":"2022-10-08T03:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T07:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=11104"},"modified":"2026-04-03T15:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:57:08","slug":"return-to-the-lord-joel-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=11104","title":{"rendered":"Return to the Lord! -Joel 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 8 of 12 in the series Revelation<\/a><\/div>

JOEL 2<\/a><\/h3>\n

1\u00a0 Blow the ram\u2019s horn in Zion<\/strong>,
\nsound the alarm<\/span> <\/strong>on My holy mountain!<\/p>\n

All the inhabitants of the earth will tremble<\/strong>,
\nbecause the day of the Lord<\/span><\/strong> has come,
\nbecause it is near<\/strong><\/span>\u2014<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2\u00a0 A day of darkness<\/strong> and gloom,<\/strong>
\na day of clouds and thick darkness.<\/strong>
\nLike blackness spreading over the mountain,
\na great and mighty army comes<\/strong>,
\nsuch as was never before<\/span>,
\nand will never be again<\/span>,
\neven through the years of all generations.<\/p>\n

3\u00a0 Before them fire<\/span> devours,<\/strong>
\nand behind them a flame<\/span> blazes<\/strong>;
\nthe land is like the garden of Eden before them,
\nbut behind them a desolate wasteland<\/strong>,<\/span>
\nand nothing escapes them.<\/p>\n

4 They have the appearance<\/strong> of horses,
\nand like<\/span> cavalry they run.<\/p>\n

5 As with the sound of chariots,
\nthey leap on the mountaintops,
\nas with the sound of a flame of fire<\/span> consuming stubble,
\nas<\/span> a mighty army<\/strong> arrayed for war.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 . . .<\/p>\n

10 Before<\/span> them the earth quakes,<\/span>
\nthe heavens shake<\/strong>;<\/span>
\nthe sun and moon<\/span><\/strong> darken<\/strong>,<\/span>
\nand the stars<\/span><\/strong> withdraw their radiance<\/span>.<\/p>\n

. . .<\/p>\n

Return to the Lord!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

12\u00a0 Yet even now, declares the Lord,<\/span>
\nreturn to Me<\/strong> with all your heart,<\/strong><\/span>
\nand with fasting and with weeping and with mourning.<\/span><\/p>\n

13\u00a0 Rend your heart, and not your garments<\/span>;
\nreturn to the Lord your God<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span>
\nfor He is gracious and merciful,
\nslow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
\nand He relents from punishing.<\/p>\n

14 Who knows? He might turn aside and relent,
\nand He might leave behind a blessing<\/strong>\u2014
\na grain<\/span> offering and a food offering<\/strong>
\nfor the Lord your God.<\/p>\n

15 Blow the ram\u2019s horn in Zion,<\/span>
\nconsecrate a fast,<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\ncall a sacred assembly.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0. . . 17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
\nWeep<\/span> between the porch and the altar;
\nLet them say, \u201cSpare Your people, O Lord,<\/strong>
\nAnd do not give Your heritage to reproach,<\/strong>
\nThat the nations should rule over them.
\nWhy should they say among the peoples,
\n\u2018Where is their God?\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,
\nAnd pity His people.<\/p>\n

\u00a0. . .<\/p>\n

23 <\/sup><\/span>And children of Zion, exult<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and rejoice in the Lord<\/span> your God,<\/span><\/span>
\nbecause He has given to you<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>the<\/strong> early rain<\/span> for vindication.<\/span><\/span>
\nHe showers down rains for you,<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the early rain and the latter rain<\/span>, in the first <\/a><\/strong>month<\/em><\/a>. <\/span><\/span>
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>Then the threshing floors <\/strong>will be filled with <\/span>grain<\/span><\/span>,<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0. . .<\/p>\n

The Outpouring of the Spirit<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

28\u00a0<\/sup>And it will be that, afterwards<\/strong>,<\/span>
\nI will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nthen your sons and your daughters will prophesy,<\/span>
\nyour old men will dream dreams,<\/span><\/span>
\nand your young men will see visions.<\/span><\/span>
\n29\u00a0<\/sup>Even on the menservants and maidservants<\/span>
\nin those days I will pour out My Spirit.<\/span><\/span>
\n30\u00a0<\/sup>Then<\/span><\/strong> I will work wonders in the heavens<\/span>
\nand the earth\u2014<\/span><\/span>
\nblood and fire and columns of smoke<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span>
\n31\u00a0<\/sup>The sun will be turned to darkness,<\/span><\/span>
\nand the moon to blood,<\/span><\/span>
\nbefore<\/span> the great and awe-inspiring day of the Lord<\/span><\/span> comes<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span>
\n32\u00a0<\/sup>And it will be that everyone<\/strong><\/span>
\nwho calls on the name of the Lord<\/span> will be saved<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span>
\nFor on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem<\/span>
\nthere will be deliverance, <\/span><\/span>as the Lord<\/span> has said,<\/span><\/span>
\nand among the survivors <\/span>whom the Lord<\/span> calls.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As a part of His covenant God promised His people some blessings “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,<\/span> 14 that I will give you the rain<\/strong><\/span> of your land in his due season, the first rain<\/strong> and the latter rain<\/strong><\/span>, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil” <\/em>(Deut.11:14<\/a>). Also see Jer.5:24; Hosea 6:3; Zech.10:1; James 5:7<\/a><\/p>\n

The ‘early or first rain<\/span>‘ is a seasonal rain that provides the necessary moisture for the germination and initial growth of the plants. But there is also a rain some time later, closer to the time of harvest<\/strong> that provides a final nourishment to the plants or trees before the collection of the harvest <\/strong>(wheat), and this is called the ‘latter rain<\/span>‘.<\/p>\n

In the ancient Hebrew calendar the first month was Nissan, “And God spoke<\/strong> to Moses and Aaron in Egypt<\/em>: This month is to be for you the first month<\/span>, the first<\/strong> month of your year<\/span><\/em>.” Ex.12:1-2.<\/a> (Feast of Passover, & 1st fruit). Which falls during the Spring. The Feast of Trumpets (now called ‘civil<\/strong> new year’) was always in the 7th<\/strong> month (Lev.23:23<\/a>) during Autumn.<\/p>\n

On ‘Shavuot’ or feast of weeks was the day the Holy Spirit<\/strong> was poured out on the faithful. We find this prophecy of Joel<\/span> about the last days & the outpouring of the Holy Spirit<\/strong> (partially) fulfilled in the New Testament, Acts 2:<\/p>\n

2 When the day of Pentecost had come<\/strong>, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, 4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak . . . <\/strong>13 Others mocking said, \u201cThese men are full of new wine.\u201d
\n14 But Peter<\/strong>, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, \u201cMen of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel<\/span><\/span>:<\/p>\n

17 \u2018In the last days<\/strong> it shall be,\u2019 says God,<\/span>
\n\u2018that I will pour out My Spirit<\/strong><\/span> on all flesh;<\/span>
\nyour sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
\nyour young men shall see visions,
\nand your old men shall dream dreams.<\/p>\n

18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
\nI will pour out My Spirit<\/strong> in those days<\/span>;
\nand they shall prophesy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

19 And I will show wonders<\/span> in heaven<\/strong> above
\nand signs on the earth<\/strong> below:
\nblood, and fire, and vapor of smoke<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

20 The sun<\/strong> shall be turned into darkness,<\/span><\/span>
\nand the moon<\/strong> into blood,<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nbefore that great and glorious day of the Lord comes<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>And whoever calls<\/strong><\/span>
\non the name of the Lord shall be saved<\/strong>.\u00a0 Acts 2<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We believe the day of Pentecost was the early rain<\/span> of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the primitive Church, in order to equip them to witness, spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, & so the Church could grow<\/strong>. During the feast of Weeks or Pentecost<\/span>, people brought as offering<\/span> the first fruits<\/strong><\/span> of their grain<\/span> harvest (barley) to thank God.<\/p>\n

We also believe that before the day of the Lord<\/span>, or before the 6th seal<\/strong> of Revelation 6:9-12 (& Acts 2:20), the Lord may send to His Church again the last outpouring of the Holy Spirit (or latter rain<\/span>) to equip us<\/strong> to witness, spread the gospel<\/strong> to the ends of the earth<\/strong> & to gather<\/span> a great harvest <\/strong>(wheat), before the day of the Lord or the wrath of God comes.<\/p>\n

Jesus said to His disciples, \u201cThe harvest truly is plentiful<\/strong>, but the laborers are few<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> 38\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest<\/span><\/strong>, that He will send out laborers into His harvest<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>” (Mat.9:37-38 & Lk. 10:2<\/a>).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We know that false teachers in the Word of Faith & the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Movements, have been spreading a set of false & twisted doctrines<\/span> using Joel chapter 2<\/strong>. Which started out in the Latter Rain Movement.<\/a><\/p>\n

When I was a baby Christian & had little knowledge of the Scriptures, I was going to a congregation that sadly ended up following the NAR movement, so I’m very familiar with their teachings. Leaders in this movement are ‘Dominionist<\/a>‘ & have a false doctrine called Joel’s Army<\/strong> or the Manifested Sons of God<\/a>. They teach this army is them<\/span>, a militant church of immortal<\/span> people (using Joel 2:8<\/a>), that under the leadership of their unique apostles & prophets (that happen to be gnostics & Freemasons), will take over the world by force<\/span> & do spoils. That they<\/span> will bring judgment upon<\/strong> the ungodly and ALL<\/strong> of those who do not accept<\/span> the authority of their false apostles & prophets. <\/strong>They also plan a false ecumenical or interfaith revival<\/span> with many signs & wonders<\/strong>, looking to deceives God’s people into worshiping false gods & practice kabbalah or mysticism.\u00a0 (See more about false prophets even if what they say comes to pass<\/strong> –Deut. 13<\/a>).
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you really think this is what the gospel of Jesus Christ teach us to do? to destroy? or to take by force? Not at all, on the contrary, we are to saw God’s seed<\/a> (His Word) in order for Him<\/strong> to bring a harvest. God will never impose Himself to anybody or force them, we all are free to choose, free to believe<\/strong>. Also the Word says Judgment belongs to God <\/span>(Deut.1:17). He knows everything & doesn’t make mistakes.<\/p>\n

But, because the enemy is twisting God’s Word it doesn’t mean that we reject the Scriptures or what Joel’s prophecy is saying, (that’s is exactly what the enemy would wants us to do). For many years I didn’t want to hear anything about the words ‘latter rain<\/em>‘, but one day I had to acknowledge this words are found in the Bible.\u00a0 But we just need to be very careful, test the spirits<\/span> of those interpreting Scriptures that we normally listen to, & we need to study the Scriptures on our own & ask God’s for His Holy Spirit to teach us<\/strong> & give us wisdom to understand what He is really saying. We need to stop following men’s teachings, there is so much deception these days!<\/p>\n

If we read Joel 2 in context (Joel has only 3 chapters) we will notice in chapter 1<\/a> starts the prophecy mentioning a devastating plague<\/strong> of ‘locust<\/span>‘ that caused a great famine<\/strong>, no grain, no wine, oil, etc. “For a nation <\/strong><\/em>(H1471<\/a>= also (figuratively) a troop of {animals} or a flight of locusts) powerful<\/span> and innumerable <\/strong><\/em>has invaded my land<\/em><\/strong> . . The<\/span> grain<\/span><\/span> offering and the<\/span> drink<\/span> offering <\/span>Have been cut off<\/strong> from the house of the Lord<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em>” (Joel 1:6-12). Then Joel 1:13 starts with a call to repentance, <\/span><\/strong>which continues & is emphasized again in chap. 2:12.<\/p>\n

It seems the prophet Joel it’s comparing the destruction & famine<\/strong> that is caused by the worst locust plague,<\/strong> with a unique period close to the Lord’s Day<\/span> which will witness a terrible destruction <\/strong>of land<\/span>, but which seems to be done by\u00a0 fire<\/span><\/strong> (Joel 1:19 & 2:3), even the animals<\/strong> will suffer from lack of f<\/span>ood<\/span><\/span> & water<\/span> (Joel 1:18-20<\/a>). Only a return to God<\/span><\/strong> and His compassion can remedy such a terrible situation.<\/p>\n

Some believe this army in Joel 2 refers to another terrible ‘locust<\/strong> plague’, but others say it’s a special army<\/strong> of well trained men<\/strong> =war<\/span> (I also believe this is the case, please see Jer 51:14 &27<\/a>) but this is something never seen before<\/strong><\/span> (Joel 2:2 & Mat.24:21), these days some nations have hidden tech., could this be the locust<\/a> that Joel was describing? or could it be super soldiers.?<\/a>\u00a0 Locusts insects usually invaded from the south, but human armies almost always invaded Israel from the north (J<\/span>oel 2:20<\/a>). Either way, this will be a terrible & devastating situation<\/span> that would bring famine & death at a great<\/span> scale never seen before<\/strong>. (Could this be the 2nd, 3er & 4th seals?)<\/p>\n