Introduction to Joel

Name

The name "Joel" is completely theophoric: both parts of the name refer to God. "Joel" = "Jo" ("Yah," short form of Yahweh) + "El" ("God"). The resultant meaning: "Yahweh is God." Remember, Yahweh is the name of the God of the Bible. "God" (El or Elohim) is not a name but a simple noun meaning deity.

Identification

Very little is known about Joel. He apparently prophesied in Judah, probably Jerusalem, and was very likely a citizen of the Southern Kingdom. Since his father is mentioned, his family evidently had some importance (contrast Obadiah). A total of thirteen Joels are mentioned in the Bible.

Date

A majority of conservative scholars, based on a variety of internal evidences, date the prophetic ministry of Joel about 830 B.C. during the minority of Joash (aka Jehoash) and regency of Jehoiada, the high priest. This period is described in 2 Kgs. 11-12 and 2 Chron. 22-24.

It is interesting to note that Joel displayed familiarity with Obadiah's prophecy: compare Obad. 17 with Joel 2:32, Obad. 11 with Joel 3:3, and Obad. 10 with Joel 3:19. Also, 27 of the 73 verses in Joel are either quoted or alluded to by later prophets. For example, Joel 3:16 and 18 are quoted in Amos 1:2 and 9:13, respectively. These facts argue for an early date for Obadiah, an issue much debated by scholars (see the notes on Obadiah).

Theme

The theme of Joel's prophecy is "The Day of Yahweh," mentioned nine times: 1:15(twice), 2:1, 2(twice), 2:11, 2:31, 3:14, 3:18). See the notes on Obadiah for an introductory discussion of the Day of Yahweh. In Joel another harbinger, or contemporary manifestation, of the climactic, eschatological Day of Yahweh is described, this time a devastation of the land by locusts and the subsequent deliverance by the Lord (1:1-2:17). From the discussion of this preview of the Day of Yahweh, Joel proceeds to describe the actual, final manifestation of that day at the end of this age (2:28-3:21). The syntactical clue to this shift is the word "afterward" in 2:28.

Points of Special Interest in Joel

Peter's Quotation of Joel

Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:15-21). He introduces the quotation as follows: 'These men are not drunk, as you suppose...but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel.' Was Peter saying that Joel's prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost? Theologians are sharply divided on this question. There are at least five major views.

1. Termination at Pentecost (e.g., Grotius): the prophecy was fulfilled by certain events in Joel's day as well as at Pentecost, which is seen as the termination of the prophecy.
2. Fulfullment at Pentecost (e.g., E. J. Young): the prophecy was completely fulfilled at Pentecost; this view involves some spiritualization.
3. Eschatological view (e.g., A. C. Gaebelein; common dispensational view): no part of the prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost; it will be fulfilled during the tribulation period prior to the second advent.
4. Typical view (e.g., Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown commentary): the prophecy was fulfilled 'in earnest' or as a downpayment at Pentecost, the climactic fulfillment again occurring just prior to the second advent.
5. Continuous fulfillment (e.g., R. A. Torrey, Hobart E. Freeman): the prophecy began its fulfillment at Pentecost but will have a continuous fulfillment during the interadvent period as God pours out his Spirit on all those whom he saves during this period. The signs and wonders in the heavens above will be fulfilled just prior to the second advent, completing the fulfillment of the prophecy.

I prefer the fifth view. The New Testament seems to speak of two "ages": the present age and the age to come (cf. Matt. 12:32). However, there is an overlap. This age has not ended, and yet we are already "tasting" of the powers of the age to come (Heb. 6:5). Note how Peter interprets Joel's "afterward" in Joel 2:28 to mean "the last days" in Acts 2:17. In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, he seems to identify the beginning of "the last days" with the events surrounding the first advent, and they surely must extend to the second advent. Therefore, this overlap between the two ages is "the last days." Thus, it seems likely that Joel's prophecy covers the entirety of the last days between the first and second advents of Christ. The contents of the prophecy begin at the first advent with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and terminate with the signs and wonders in heaven just "before" the climactic Day of Yahweh at the second advent.

The Order of Events in Joel 3

Note the order of events enumerated by Joel in chapter 3:

1. Scattered Israel regathered back to the land: 3:1-3
2. Nations assemble to fight against Israel (at Armageddon): 3:9-13
3. The celestial signs of Joel 2:30-31 conclude the last days and usher in the Day of Yahweh: 3:14-15
4. Yahweh himself defeats the nations (Messiah returns and wins the battle of Armageddon): 3:16
5. Kingdom blessings ensue for Jerusalem and Israel as Yahweh himself (in the person of the Messiah) dwells in Zion: 3:17-21

This order of events has a name in theology. It is called premillennialism. The same order of events is seen in many of the prophets (e.g., Zech. 14) as well as in the New Testament (Matt. 24, and Rev. 4-21).

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