In Joel chapter 2 we read of a great Army that comes onto the scene before the return of the Lord. There has never been anything like it, and there never shall be again. Its called the Lord’s Army. The only way we can really understand who these people are and what they are doing is by understanding symbolic language for its hard to understand.
“For the day of the Lord is coming,” Joel 2:1 “A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them.” Joel 2:2-3
I couldn’t imagine this being the Lord’s Army at first if they are destroying everything in their path but when symbolism is applied it begins to make sense. This could be speaking of a people who are being used by God to destroy the enemy’s strongholds. When you look at Genesis 13:10 you read of Sodom before God destroyed it with fire from heaven. It was like the Garden of Eden.
“And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.”
The next part is harder to understand but could be showing us the time frame in which all this takes place.
“Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run.
With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array.” Joel 2:4-5
It says that they are ‘like’ Horsemen and not that they are riding on horses. Could this be speaking of the forms of transport that we have today. We travel about swiftly and our engines roar. With prophetic language ‘mountains’ can speak of governments, strongholds and nations.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” Isaiah 2:1
Joel 2:6-9 speaks of the anguish brought upon this armies’ enemies. God’s Army is synchronized and under the control of the Holy Spirit. This army enters into houses and takes the enemy captive.
“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” Matthew 12:28-28
The next verses ties up with Malachi 3 and 4 and also Haggai 2 which we will look at next. The clue is that in this day ‘who can endure it?”
“The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?” Joel 2:10-11
We see here the heavens and earth trembling and the stars being affected which are also spoken of in Haggai 2 before the return of the Lord. Malachi 3 speaks of a time before the coming of the Lord and also says “Who can endure it?”
The term “Who can endure this day?” in Joel 2:11 is also used in Malachi chapter 3.
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:1-3
This speaks of a time of preparation before the coming of the Lord and has a double fulfillment. Just as God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for His first coming so will He get us ready for His 2nd coming by using His Spirit filled Church. There will first be a burning of those things that offend Him, among the Sons of Levi. (His Church) God wants a purified Church.
“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the Lord, As in the days of old, As in former years. And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:4-5
These verses speak of a day when God will also deal with sorcerers and all sorts of evil. In the next chapter of Malachi we read of a day that burns wicked things up with fire.
“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.” Malachi 4:1
“You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:3
As I have already said these wicked forces are the powers of darkness that encourage people to do evil. Ephesians says that we are not fighting against flesh and blood anymore but the forces of darkness. This day will be hard to endure for some because of the Lord’s holy fire, but to those surrender to Him and allow the purging they will stand firm. They have become the Lords ministers of Fire His End Time Army.
Isaiah 33 asks the question.
“The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” Isaiah 33:12
The question is; “Who can dwell in the Holy Fire?” It then gives us a long list that will qualify His people to dwell in His fire. A more abbreviated list can be found in Psalm 24:3
“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.”
One thing I have found in my dealings with God in these days is the absolute need to rid my life of idols. My God is a Jealous Lover. As His Bride, we need to have no other loves but Him. He wants to be the King of our hearts. He wants us to burn with a passionate fire for Him alone. As I often say it’s hard for flies to land on a hot stove. We need to hot for Jesus, like a fire burning up enemy’s strongholds as we pass by. May our sun be 7 times brighter. We will look at this verse in Isaiah 30 next.