For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
God will cleanse the blood He has not yet cleansed, and His dwelling in Zion is the ground of that cleansing. The promise belongs to Joel's prophecy of the last days, whose fulfillment in the present state of the nations shows that the last days have come and the Master's return is near. It foretells strife, unrest and preparation for war among the nations, for where men preach beating swords into plowshares God calls to prepare war and beat plowshares into swords. Jerusalem and the surrounding country will bear the brunt of that final attack of the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat, the closing scene of Armageddon just before Christ's coming. That gathering brings the multitudes of earth to a decisive choice before the great judgment day, when the earth is terribly shaken and He whose right it is shall come to reign because men have proved unworthy to rule the world.
Historical Context and Timing
Joel's prophecy was given about 800 years before Christ, older than the prophecies of Amos and Hosea. Its illustrations are local only, with local conditions typifying the calamities that precede the great day of Jehovah and the time of war and trouble that closes earth's history. It contains earnest entreaties to the people of God calling them to fasting and prayer to avert calamity.
The verse belongs to a prophecy of the last days that points to the present age. It shows that the last days have come and the Master's return is near. Its fulfillment is evident in the present state of the nations, as part of the signs in the political world that precede the second advent. It closes the prophecy of Joel 3, which is remarkably fulfilling in the present state of the nations and points to the approaching day of the Lord. It portrays the world brought to a decisive choice involving the multitudes of earth before the great judgment day, when the terrible day comes as a thief in the night demanding decision on who is on the Lord's side, while visions of peace from religious unity misapply the facts by ignoring prophecy and watchmen sleep.
Cleansing Blood and Dwelling
God promises to cleanse the blood, and to keep cleansing it continually. Through that cleansing the body is healed and renewed. Clean blood carries life and healing throughout the body, while contaminated blood becomes an agent of death. That cleansing calls for cooperation with God through pure food, and to ask Him to cleanse the blood while still eating food that contaminates it is presumption. Cleansing also comes through heeding and living by God's Word, which brings healing and relief to the sin-sick world.
The declaration that the Lord dwells in Zion shows Zion to be His habitation in heaven and not only a place on earth. The verse stands among the prophecies that Jesus will raise up and restore Israel. That restoration and gathering includes the resurrection at the second advent. It applies to all the children of promise and not merely to the natural descendants of Jacob.
Final War and Coming
Joel 3 foretells present strife, unrest, and preparation for war among the nations, stirred up by the spirit of the devil. Preparations for war and the gathering of the nations show that the harvest is ripe and the end is near. That preparation leads to world-wide war and then the coming of the King of Kings, when men have proved unworthy to rule the world and He whose right it is shall reign. Joel 3:7-22 describes war and trouble coming in the last days instead of peace, for where many preach beating swords into plowshares, God says the opposite, to prepare war and beat plowshares into swords.
The smooth preaching of peace when war and trouble are coming is popular preaching when the church is popular, and because of it God forsakes His people. This proves Isaiah 2:3 was not fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, for God would not have forsaken His people for preaching the gospel then. Visions of peace from religious unity are a misapplication of facts caused by ignoring prophecy, while watchmen sleep and the terrible day comes as a thief in the night demanding decision on who is on the Lord's side. Its worldwide proclamation as a warning and reform message prepares people for Christ's second coming.
Jerusalem and the surrounding country will bear the brunt of the nations' final attack just before Christ comes. That is the great battle at Jerusalem, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, during the last plague, just before Christ's coming. The closing scene portrays Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. The prophecy portrays the world brought to a decisive choice, involving the multitudes of earth, before the great judgment day. It concerns the last day, when the earth will be terribly shaken and the Lord will come to judgment.
God will cleanse the blood He has not yet cleansed, and His dwelling in Zion is the ground of that cleansing. The promise belongs to Joel's prophecy of the last days, whose fulfillment in the present state of the nations shows that the last days have come and the Master's return is near. It foretells strife, unrest and preparation for war among the nations, for where men preach beating swords into plowshares God calls to prepare war and beat plowshares into swords. Jerusalem and the surrounding country will bear the brunt of that final attack of the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat, the closing scene of Armageddon just before Christ's coming. That gathering brings the multitudes of earth to a decisive choice before the great judgment day, when the earth is terribly shaken and He whose right it is shall come to reign because men have proved unworthy to rule the world.
Historical Context and Timing
Joel's prophecy was given about 800 years before Christ, older than the prophecies of Amos and Hosea. Its illustrations are local only, with local conditions typifying the calamities that precede the great day of Jehovah and the time of war and trouble that closes earth's history. It contains earnest entreaties to the people of God calling them to fasting and prayer to avert calamity.
The verse belongs to a prophecy of the last days that points to the present age. It shows that the last days have come and the Master's return is near. Its fulfillment is evident in the present state of the nations, as part of the signs in the political world that precede the second advent. It closes the prophecy of Joel 3, which is remarkably fulfilling in the present state of the nations and points to the approaching day of the Lord. It portrays the world brought to a decisive choice involving the multitudes of earth before the great judgment day, when the terrible day comes as a thief in the night demanding decision on who is on the Lord's side, while visions of peace from religious unity misapply the facts by ignoring prophecy and watchmen sleep.
Cleansing Blood and Dwelling
God promises to cleanse the blood, and to keep cleansing it continually. Through that cleansing the body is healed and renewed. Clean blood carries life and healing throughout the body, while contaminated blood becomes an agent of death. That cleansing calls for cooperation with God through pure food, and to ask Him to cleanse the blood while still eating food that contaminates it is presumption. Cleansing also comes through heeding and living by God's Word, which brings healing and relief to the sin-sick world.
The declaration that the Lord dwells in Zion shows Zion to be His habitation in heaven and not only a place on earth. The verse stands among the prophecies that Jesus will raise up and restore Israel. That restoration and gathering includes the resurrection at the second advent. It applies to all the children of promise and not merely to the natural descendants of Jacob.
Final War and Coming
Joel 3 foretells present strife, unrest, and preparation for war among the nations, stirred up by the spirit of the devil. Preparations for war and the gathering of the nations show that the harvest is ripe and the end is near. That preparation leads to world-wide war and then the coming of the King of Kings, when men have proved unworthy to rule the world and He whose right it is shall reign. Joel 3:7-22 describes war and trouble coming in the last days instead of peace, for where many preach beating swords into plowshares, God says the opposite, to prepare war and beat plowshares into swords.
The smooth preaching of peace when war and trouble are coming is popular preaching when the church is popular, and because of it God forsakes His people. This proves Isaiah 2:3 was not fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, for God would not have forsaken His people for preaching the gospel then. Visions of peace from religious unity are a misapplication of facts caused by ignoring prophecy, while watchmen sleep and the terrible day comes as a thief in the night demanding decision on who is on the Lord's side. Its worldwide proclamation as a warning and reform message prepares people for Christ's second coming.
Jerusalem and the surrounding country will bear the brunt of the nations' final attack just before Christ comes. That is the great battle at Jerusalem, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, during the last plague, just before Christ's coming. The closing scene portrays Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. The prophecy portrays the world brought to a decisive choice, involving the multitudes of earth, before the great judgment day. It concerns the last day, when the earth will be terribly shaken and the Lord will come to judgment.