Joel 1:1–20 chronicles the physical and spiritual desolation that will exist in the land of Israel (1:6, 10) just prior to the day of YHVH, the destruction of the Almighty (1:15). Israel’s pitiable condition is due to external forces (symbolized by worms, caterpillars and the lion, 1:4, 6, 7) coming against Israel laying her land waste. The prophet urges YHVH’s people to humble themselves and to call a sacred assembly fast (a probable prophetic reference to the forty days of repentance (Heb. teshuvah) leading up to the fall appointed time of the Day of Atonement (Heb. Yom Kippur).
Joel 2:1 opens by announcing the blowing of the shofar in Zion, and the sounding of the alarm (ruwa, Strong’s H7321, meaning “to shout, raise a sound, to cry out, give a blast, to shout a war-cry or alarm for battle, to sound a signal for war”) in Jerusalem. This is a clear reference to the fall festival of Yom Teruah, the Day of the Blowing of Shofars, or Day of the Shouting This is announced as a day when YHVH’s people are to tremble and to prepare for the coming of the day of YHVH, which is near.
The prophet next goes on to describe that day of YHVH as one of darkness (or obscurity) and gloominess (calamity or wickedness), heavy or thick dark cloudiness (2:1). On that day, a great army will swarm over the land with a devouring fire going before them while the heavens tremble, the earth quakes and the sun, moon and stars become darkened. (2:1–11). This army is invincible and immortal (2:8) and is described as YHVH’s army, which is very strong and executes his word (2:11). This is the very great and terrible day of YHVH, who can abide, comprehend or endure it? (2:11)
Scripture elsewhere describes only one immortal army that can fit this description in Joel’s prophecy, and that is the army that accompanies Yeshua at his second coming as prophesied in Revelation 19. This is a time when Yeshua will come to judge the earth, including the false religious systems of the world, which has on its hands the blood of YHVH’s saints (Rev 19:2). Yeshua, the Judge, will return riding a white warhorse and he will come to judge and to make war (Rev 19:11). His eyes burn with fiery indignation, he wears many crowns (he is taking to himself, the dominion and authority of all earthly leaders), his robe is dipped in blood and his name is called “The Word of Elohim,” which is a reference to Yeshua, the Living Word of Elohim (John 1:1–14). Accompanying Yeshua will be a heavenly army all clothed in white linen robes of righteousness (Rev 19:13–14). From Yeshua’s mouth proceeds sword (representing his Word) with which he will smite the nations (Rev 19:15, 21). After defeating the earthly wicked, treading them with the fierceness of his wrath (see also Rev 14:14–20), he will rule them with a rod of iron as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:15–16). This event, the day of YHVH’s vengeance or wrath, will culminate in a mighty battle between Yeshua’s spiritual army and the armies of the world including the false prophet and those who worshipped his image. This is the famous climactic battle of Armageddon, which in Revelation 16:16, will occur at the end of the seven bowl judgments of Revelation. Scripture calls the seven bowl judgments, also called the seven last plagues (Rev 15:1), the wrath of Elohim (Rev 14:10,19; 15:1,7; 16:1,19). Elsewhere in the writings of the ancient biblical prophets, this time period is called the day of YHVH’s wrath, or simply, the day of YHVH. As a result of these seven plagues falling upon the earth by the hand of YHVH’s judgment, the religious, economic, and political system of Babylon the Great that rules the earth will fall (Rev 17 and 18).
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