MINI-DESPATCH. November 30, 2000
From W. B. Howard ...Editor of Despatch Magazine
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JOEL’S ARMY AND THE BOOK OF JOEL.

The false teaching on Joel’s Army of believers who will take the world and have dominion over it is strong in our day. So is the belief that there will be a great Latter Day Rain outpouring in the near future, a revival which will sweep the churches of Christendom into power with millions being converted, nations and lands “redeemed” and naturally this will “release” to the churches finances and properties to support Christendom’s global “rule.” To understand the depth of the deception which is involved in these fake “Kingdom Now” teachings, it would be of great benefit to read what the Book of Joel actually does say and predict about the Endtimes, as this book is used as a source for the false claims of Joel’s Army doctrines. With this aim in view, there follows a brief outline of the teachings and prophecies of Joel. I will comment briefly on the counterfeit teachings of our day on the book of Joel as we proceed. (The Bible teaching presented by ourselves herein is recognized teaching, fundamental and evangelical standard doctrine - true to God’s Word throughout. These notes are presented, with credit given to Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, Dr H.L. Willmington, Tyndale House pub.).

NOTE: there is a great deception amongst Christians today. This is the deception of “that is your interpretation, these other teachers have their own interpretation.” This faulty reasoning makes it seem that the Bible can be understood in many, many ways, as though the Truth was NOT written in its pages for all to see - if they study and compare Scriptures carefully and prayerfully. There are NOT many ways of looking at the truths the book of Joel shows us, a chain reference using a sound KJV Bible will soon make sense of it all, although there are various applications in Joel’s writings.

What are the basic teachings of the Joel’s Army heretics?
The Joel’s Army fake revival encourages military aggression! These “revivalists” have changed the concept of Biblical prayer, it has become aggression on a spiritual level directed at people and things. This involves coming against principalities and powers in the heavenlies, even directing aggression against Christians to “free” them from demon invasion.  The amazing teaching is that Joel’s end-time army, supposed to be the dedicated and empowered people of Christendom, is now marching against Satan, taking a military victory over the evil forces in the atmosphere and on the planet. The belief is that this army will bring in the kingdom of God on earth, God’s rule will be reclaimed - by the churches. False prophecies have been foisted upon the unsuspecting since the inception of Latter Rain doctrines in the 40’s to AD 2000 and on.

“The Church is asleep, but when she gets woken up and joins together in an ARMY, there’s not any power anyplace that can stop her, for she’ll know nothing but victory when she joins hands and becomes one in purpose and that’s to REVEAL THE KINGDOM ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.” (School for Prophecy, Session 7, Vineyard Ministries, 1989).

NOW, LET US EXAMINE JOEL’S WONDERFUL BOOK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

The book of Joel has a contemporary setting, as well as a prophetic setting. The prophet used an event contemporary in his day to describe coming events.

 CONTEMPORARY EVENTS-
Joel 1. A Review of Israel’s Current Insect Invasion.
 
Nature:                 A terrible locust plague had settled down upon the land (1 :4,12)
Reason:             Because of Israel’s sin (1 :5)
Suggested cure: Call for a special meeting, pray. and repent. (1 :14)

1. Israel and God’s Judgment: A review of the past.11-21.

The locust judgment.

“That which the palmer worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten” (1:4).

Some expositors interpret these words as describing the four stages in the development of the caterpillar, while others consider them to be four different kinds of insects. Locusts were often sent as a judgment from God. (See Deut. 28:38-42; Ex. 10:12-15; 1 Ki. 3:37; Rev. 9:1-12.)

The title name for the locust judgment.
“Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come” (1:15).
This is the second mention in the minor prophets of the term, “The day of the Lord.” It can be found in many passages, both in the Old and New Testaments. (See Isa. 2:12; 13:6,9; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:13, 20; Obad. 1:15, Zeph. 1:7, 14; Zech 14:1; Mal. 4:5; Acts 2:20; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:10.) The phrase is almost always a reference to the seven-year Tribulation period. Here in Joel 1:15, the prophet uses it to refer to the judgment then going on, and the book leads into the prophetic unveiling of the Tribulation period of the future.

NOTE: Joel’s Army is NOT the Christendom in action at the end of the Church Age, it is Jehovah’s Army in the Tribulation, coming against Satan - in the day of the Lord.

COMING EVENTS-
Joel 2-3 A Preview of Israel’s Coming Enemy Invasion.
 The final invasion at the end of the Tribulation, led by the Antichrist(Rev.16:13-16; 19:11-21)
 Location: Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:2,9-14)

 Purpose:
1. The purpose of Satan-to destroy Israel and her God (Ps.2)
2 The purpose of God-to destroy Satan and his allies (Rev.16:16)

 Results:
1 The salvation of Israel (3:15-21)
2. The sanctification of Israel (2:21-32).

The gathering place of this invasion.
 

“I will also gather all nations,
and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
and will judge them there’’ (3:2). (See also 3:9-14-)
 

The outcome of this invasion.

“The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:15, 16). (Also see Rev. 19:11-21.)

NOTE: the Latter Rain revival is NOT happening now, in our day. This will occur in the Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus, AFTER God has won His triumphant victory over Satan in the Tribulation!
See below:
The blessings after this invasion has been crushed.
1. God’s Spirit will be poured out upon all  flesh. (See 2:28-3Z.) It should be noted that this passage event will mark the fulfillment of Moses’ desire. (See Num. 11:29.) Peter would later quote this passage in Joel on the day of Pentecost. (See Acts 2:16-21.) This he did, not to indicate that Pentecost was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (for it was not), but, rather, as an example of it.
2. All human needs will be provided for (2:21 -27).
3. Nature itself will be transformed (3:18).
4. Christ himself will reign in Zion (3:21).
Mount Zion is the height which rises close to the southwest corner of the old walled city. It was once within the walls of ancient Jerusalem It is held to be one of the most sacred places in Israel, because there is located the traditional tomb of King David. Above it is an upper room believed to be on the site of that upper room in which Jesus and his disciples ate the last Passover together and where he established the Communion service (Mk. 14:12-16; Lk. 22:7-13). This upper room has also been considered to be the place where the twelve disciples were gathered when the Holy Spirit came upon them on the day of Pentecost (Act 1:12-14; 2:1-4).

SUMMARY: 

What does “afterwards” indicate?
Do not become mystified by the “last days” term.
The Hebrew word acherith has a specific interpretation, “afterwards.”
“Afterwards” in Joel 2:28 means “in the last days” (Greek eschatos).
This “last days” must not be confused with the Christian Church’s “last days.”
The Christian Church’s “last days” began with the first advent of Christ (Heb. 1:2), and always shows apostasy as the Church Age closes.
Joel’s “last days” applies to Israel, these “last days” refer to the whole history of Israel, which moves on into the Millennial Reign where Israel is head nation.

Keep this distinction in mind as you read the Bible’s predictions of the “last days” of the Church:
1 Timothy 4:1-3; 11 Tim. 3:1-4; Heb. 1:1,2; 1 Pet. 1:4,5; 11 Pet. 3:1-9; 1 John 2:18,19: Jude 17-19. The Book of Joel does not predict an Army of the Church going out to win a battle over the entire world, nor does it predict a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, such as at Pentecost, happening to the Church in our day. See Joel 2:28,29. That outpouring happens after the Tribulation, in the Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus, to Israel then through them to the world.

The Lord’s Army at Armageddon is seen in Joel 2:11 and relates to Revelation 19:11-21. The repentance of Judah in the land is seen in Joel 2:12-17 see Deut. 30;1-9. The return of the Lord in glory and the setting up of His kingdom see Joel 2:30-32 and Acts 15:15-17. The regathering of the nation of Israel as Christ returns, and the judgement of the Gentile nations, see Joel 3:1-16. Permanent Kingdom blessings (in the Millennium Reign of Christ) see Joel 3:17-21; Zech. 14:1-21 and Matthew 25:32.

EXHORTATION -

Stand for God’s Truth. Do not compromise with the “Joel’s Army” spiritual militia, or follow the plans of those who seek to take “Christian” dominion over the earth. Dominion belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Advent:

“It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. Let me tell you something, friends, it is not love and friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God. It is better to be hated for telling the truth, than to be loved for telling a lie. It is impossible to find anyone in the Bible who was a power for God who did not have enemies and was not hated. It’s better to stand alone with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie. There is only one Gospel [and prophetic Word of God ] and Paul said, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. “ (Ps. Adrian Rodgers, TBC, 12/96).

Editor of `Despatch' Magazine & "Beauty for Ashes" Booklet
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