Joel Part 07

In a prophecy that has not been fulfilled yet, God says that He will bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem. He will also gather all nations, and bring them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, where He will enter into judgment with them, because of their treatment of the people of Israel and the land.   

There will be an accounting, and in this specific place. This will involve the restitution of the land back to Israel, in the sense of a Jubilee, it will go back to its rightful owner. This judgment will occur in a unique place.   

The valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives is the Kidron Valley.  This is very likely the valley referred to as the place where God will judge, or Jehoshaphat.   

The Valley of Jehoshaphat is mentioned—but there is no valley in Palestine with that actual name. “Jehoshaphat” means “YHWH is judge” or “YHWH will judge.” God destroyed the armies of Moab, Ammon and Edom for King Jehoshaphat—perhaps that was in this same valley.  

Joel 3:12–14 calls it the “Valley of Decision”—where the winepress overflows. This probably refers to Revelation 14:20, which states: “Blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs [about 200 miles].” No single valley in Palestine is that long! However, we know that Har Megiddo (Armageddon) is where armies will be gathered, while the actual fighting is to happen at Jerusalem. Perhaps Megiddo will be the staging point, with armies then proceeding in waves down the Megiddo Valley, through Jezreel, and into Kidron. Joel 3:2 says God “will enter into judgment with them” as in “pass judgment” (see also Isaiah 66:16). 

“On account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land” (Joel 3:2).

This verse refers to God’s punishment on Israel, being carried out by gentile nations, but to excess! Because of this, they will also be punished. This refers to the earlier scattering and excessive punishment. God will judge all nations here, as they will all be involved in the time of Jacob’s trouble.   

Joel 3:3 refers to Israelites taken as slaves. Revelation 18:11-13 speaks of merchants selling wares, including bodies and souls of men. There is even a reference to paying a prostitute with a slave instead of with money, and the same for a liquor seller. These graphic accounts depict the value that depraved, self-serving humans put on the life of one that they have control over.  “Such indignities and worse have been perpetrated upon God’s people in our own generation, and the end is not yet. Will God visit with judgment those who are guilty? We can be certain that He will” (Feinberg, 83). 

Minor Prophets class is taught at ABC by Dr. Frank Dunkle.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.