< Joel 3 >

Joel prophesied of the time when the Jews will be brought back to the promised land and to Jerusalem.v.1Joel 3:1XWaiting for response This will be a time of conflict when the nations attack Israel and when God, through Jesus and the saints, saves them. The LORD says he will gather “all nations” into the land and plead with them for his people of Israel because they had scattered them among the nations and parted his land.v.2Joel 3:2XWaiting for response They sold them as slaves throughout the world v.3Joel 3:3XWaiting for response and Israel’s immediate neighbours have been at the forefront of the affliction because they want the land for themselves.vs.4-6Joel 3:4-6XWaiting for response What is not generally recognised is that the land is the LORD’s v.2Joel 3:2XWaiting for response and Israel are his people.v.2Joel 3:2XWaiting for response Of Israel he has declared: “Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee”, Numbers 24:9Numbers 24:9XWaiting for response and God has declared he will judge individuals according to their treatment of his people and, in particular, he will recompense the persecutors of Israel upon their own heads.vs.7-8Joel 3:7-8XWaiting for response

The LORD has spoken v.8Joel 3:8XWaiting for response and called upon the nations to arm to the teeth and prepare for the war in the land of Israel.vs.9-14Joel 3:9-14XWaiting for response This preparation has been going on rapidly ever since the Jews were first allowed to return to the land in 1917, with the invention and development of fearful weapons of war so that even weak nations can obtain them and declare themselves strong.v.10Joel 3:10XWaiting for response But the power of man is nothing to that of God who will overthrow the nations despite all their modern weapons and save Israel vs.15-16Joel 3:15-16XWaiting for response so that all people will know that the God of Israel is the only true and living God.v.17Joel 3:17XWaiting for response Israel’s land will again become a land flowing with milk and honey, it will be cleansed of iniquity, and the LORD will dwell in Jerusalem.vs.18-20Joel 3:18-20XWaiting for response