p. 9 | JOEL by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 26, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 17.

JOEL.

By F. D. Starr

BY F. D. STARR.

EIGHT centuries before the birth of our Lord, the prophet Joel uttered his interesting predictions. Tho very short, the book contains some very important prophecies, and very frequent reference is made to the sayings of this prophet. Chapter one brings us to the time when "the day of the Lord is at hand," and the great destruction that shall come upon the land by means of the judgments of the Almighty that fall so grievously upon the transgressors on account of the universal departure from God. The beasts of the field, and the fields themselves, as well as man and the whole creation, are shown to be groaning in pain together, as Paul states in Romans 8, waiting for the day of redemption. This prepares the way for the trumpet blasts of the second chapter to be given, and an alarm to be sounded in the holy mountain of the Lord, or among His people.

The latter rain, as well as the former rain, or the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is brought to view in the second chapter. This is clearly explained by Peter in Acts 2. We there learn that this rich experience is to be enjoyed by God's people in the last days. It is evident from the apostle's explanation that the former rain was given at the day of Pentecost, while the latter rain is to be experienced just before the second coming of our Lord. The remarkable signs that shall be witnessed just before His second appearing are also given by the prophet Joel. "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." It is a matter of most thrilling importance to us, that these wonderful signs have already taken place. The mysterious darkening of the sun, the parallel of which has never been seen, took place May 19, 1780. The following night the darkening of the moon occurred. The "blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke," find their fulfilment in the "fearful sights" and "great signs" that there shall be from heaven, as mentioned by our Lord in Luke 21:11. So the prophet Joel carries our minds down to the time of the coming of the Lord.

Chapter three has a very important bearing upon a very live question at the present time. A question coming prominently to the front is that concerning the peace of the world. Is there to be universal peace? The discussion of this question is taken up in the pulpits of the land, and peace conferences are held by the nations of the earth.

Such predictions as those of Isa. 2:2-4, and Micah 4:1-3 are quoted as proving that all warlike operations are about to cease. But, upon more closely examining these texts, we find that it is not the Lord who has said, "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," but the nations, the people, say this. In this prophecy of Joel we have the matter set before us in its true light, and we see that the Lord's declaration is directly contrary to the declaration of the people. The Lord says: "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears." So, just before the coming of the Lord, the nations will be in an attitude of war. This is the real condition among the nations at the present time. With one of the fiercest wars in the history of nations now being prosecuted, and the other nations making unparalleled preparations for war, we see the prophecy of Joel now being fulfilled before our eyes.