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Joel 2:23 and the Other Verses of Joel 2

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note: The heart refers to the mind.

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.

While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.

Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2026 would occur during October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in April. Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, and if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in March, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The verse of the day for September 20th is Joel 2:23. The title of the book Joel is also known as “The Book of Joel.” Because it is useful to study a verse in the context of the verses around it, below is content related to Joel 2.

Note: Content in Joel 2 involves a prophecy that has dual fulfillment. In that regard, that prophecy has both near fulfillment and far fulfillment. The near fulfillment involves something that was in the future from the perspective of Joel but has since occurred sometime during the time of ancient Israel. The far fulfillment involves the Battle of Armageddon during the Tribulation. With regard to the Tribulation, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.

Dispensation	Start	Ending or Interruption

Age of the Gentiles	Adam	The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Age of Israel	Exodus	The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost.

Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel)	First Advent of Christ	The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ.

Church Age	Day of Pentecost	The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church.

Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed)	Rapture	The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ.

Millennium	Second Advent	The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.

Eternal State	Great White Throne Judgment	The Eternal State will be never-ending.

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.

Some of the rulers during the Tribulation can be referred to as the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, the king of the West, and possibly a Jewish ruler who can be referred to as the dictator of Palestine. The king of the West is also known as the Antichrist with a capital A, the beast, and the first beast. The false prophet is also known as the second beast. The false prophet will be supporting the Antichrist. Content related to the king of the West being referred to as the first beast is in Revelation 13:1–12. The content of Revelation 13:11–18 references the false prophet.

The king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, the king of the West, and the false prophet are all evil. If there will be a dictator of Palestine, then the dictator of Palestine will also be evil. The king of the North is the one who starts a world war. The world war that is started by the king of the North will culminate in the Battle of Armageddon. In the Battle of Armageddon, the forces of the king of the North, the king of the South, the kings of the East, and the king of the West will converge on the land of Israel during warfare in the Middle East region (also known as the Mideast). The forces of those evil rulers will threaten the Israelites. In dramatic fashion, the Lord Jesus Christ will then return to save His people from destruction. That return of the Lord is the Second Advent. In that regard, the content of Revelation 19:11 indicates that the Lord will be riding a white horse on the occasion of the Second Advent. Unspecified in the Bible is whether the Lord will be riding a literal horse or a vehicle that from the perspective of the apostle John could be described as a horse, including a flying vehicle that might resemble a flying motorcycle. In that regard, the visions that John had were described by John with words that were part of Johnʼs vocabulary. Also, when the Lord will be returning to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will be amongst clouds. That topic is covered in Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; and Luke 21:27. In contrast to the content of Revelation 19:11, the content of Revelation 6:2 indicates that the king of the West will seem to be a hero riding on a white horse. In that regard, the king of the West is a pseudo-savior—in other words, a false savior.

Joel 2:1

Blow a shofar/trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is coming. Surely it is near,

Note: Zion [ZIGH-uhn] is the mountain on which Jerusalem is located. Also, the word Zion can be used to refer to Jerusalem. In that regard, the word Zion as used in this verse refers to Jerusalem.

A shofar is a trumpet used by ancient Israelites. Regarding near fulfillment, the reference to a shofar could be a literal reference. Regarding far fulfillment, the reference to a shofar could be a literal reference or could be a metaphorical reference to an air-raid siren or some other such device for alerting people.

The phrase day of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One can refer to any time when God the Father carries out judgment. That phrase can also refer to a specific day. Regarding near fulfillment, the day of judgment would literally be near to the time that Joel gave this prophecy. Regarding far fulfillment, the word near is used metaphorically. Such a metaphorical usage can call attention to the fact that the day is approaching and will eventually arrive even though it might seem to be a long way off. Also, what might seem like a long time for people is a relatively short time in comparison to eternity. That day that involves the far fulfillment of this prophecy is a time period during the Tribulation. That time period of judgment will culminate on the occasion of the Second Advent.

Joel 2:2

a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like the dawn is spread over the mountains, a great and mighty people: there has never been anything like it, nor is there again after it to the years of many generations.

Note: The clouds mentioned in Joel 2:2 can be the result of a battle. For example, in a battle, there can be smoke from various sources. Regarding near fulfillment, there can be smoke from fires blazing or from smoke screens that are generated to obscure the movement of personnel, animals, or vehicles. Regarding far fulfillment, there can be smoke from fires blazing; from smoke screens that are generated to obscure the movement of personnel, animals, or vehicles; or from the firing of weapons.

Joel 2:3

A fire has consumed before it, and behind it a flame burns. The land is like the Garden of Eden before it but a desolate wilderness behind it, and nothing at all has escaped it.

Note: In this verse, the uses of the perfect tense in the phrases A fire has consumed before them and nothing at all has escaped them are references to the future from the perspective of Joel. Such uses of the perfect tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

The uses of a present tense in the phrases a flame burns and The land is like are also references to the future. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

In this verse, the pronoun it refers to an invading force. Regarding near fulfillment, the phrase The land is like the Garden of Eden is a metaphorical reference that indicates that Israel will be prosperous when attacked at the time that the near fulfillment would occur. Regarding far fulfillment, that phrase is a metaphorical reference that indicates that Israel will be prosperous when attacked during the Tribulation. The metaphorical reference involving prosperity contrasts with what will occur as a result of Israel being attacked. In that regard, the phrase a desolate wilderness behind them indicates that the attackers will destroy the prosperous environment of Israel, leaving a wake of destruction in place of that prosperous environment.

Joel 2:4

Its appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses, so they run.

Note: In this verse, the pronoun Its refers to an invading force. The uses of a present tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future from the perspective of Joel. It is possible that the content of this verse refers only to an invasion that involves a far fulfillment because Joel described the invading force as having an appearance like that of horses instead of indicating that horses were part of the invading force. Also, the fact that Joel used the word like in this verse calls attention to the fact that Joel was describing objects using terminology familiar to Joel. In that regard, the references to horses describe objects other than horses. Because Joel was describing objects in the future, it is possible that what Joel is describing is some sort of or sorts of vehicles.

Joel 2:5

With a noise as of chariots [literally: Like the noise of chariots], they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling/noise of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, like a mighty people arranged for battle.

Note: The use of a present tense in the phrase they leap is a reference to the future. Also, rather than indicating that there will be chariots, Joel indicated that there will be noise like that of chariots. Regarding near fulfillment, the reference to chariots could be a literal reference, or it could be a metaphorical reference to noise other than that of chariots. Regarding near fulfillment, the reference to mountains could be a metaphorical reference that refers to the invaders being very mobile.

Regarding far fulfillment, the reference to chariots could be a metaphorical reference to the noise of ground vehicles or the noise of aerial vehicles—or both. In that regard, Joel provided descriptions in terms of the vocabulary that he had. Leaping on the top of mountains is reminiscent of aerial vehicles such as helicopters, aerial vehicles such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [YOO-AY-VEEZ] (also known as drones), or such as airplanes that can take off and land vertically. Below are links with pictures of such airplanes. Those links to pictures show what airplanes that can take off and land vertically can look like. If the content of Joel 2:5 describes airplanes, those airplanes might look different than the airplanes in the pictures at the below links.

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7282455

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7347811

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7347840

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7269814

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7277619

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132203

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7287011

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7236469

Joel 2:6

Before it, the people are in anguish; all faces have turned pale / have become flushed.

Note: In this verse, the pronoun it refers to an invading force. The use of a present tense in the phrase the people are in anguish is a reference to the future. The uses of the perfect tense in the phrase all faces have turned pale / have become flushed are also references to the future.

Joel 2:7

They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like soldiers. They each march in his pathways, and they do not deviate from their paths.

Note: In this verse, the pronoun They with a capital T and the pronoun they with a lowercase t refer to the personnel of an invading force. The uses of a present tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future.

Joel 2:8

They do not crowd each other. They march everyone in his path. When they fall upon / fiercely attack / suddenly attack the weapon / missile / javelin / spear / sword, they do not stop / they are not wounded.

Note: The uses of a present tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future. In the context of a battle, the phrase fall upon means to fiercely or suddenly attack. Coincidentally, there is an anti-tank missile system named Javelin. Below are links with pictures of Javelin missile systems. The first picture shows a tube launcher with a missile inside it. The second picture shows a Javelin missile system being carried by the third person from the left side of the picture. The third picture shows a missile in flight after exiting from a tube launcher.

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7303838

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9323357

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9323339

Joel 2:9

They rush on the city; they run on the wall. They climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like a thief.

Note: The uses of a present tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future.

Joel 2:10

Before it, the earth has quaked; the heavens have trembled. The sun and the moon have grown dark, and the stars have lost their brightness.

Note: In this verse, the pronoun it refers to an invading force. The uses of the perfect tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future.

Joel 2:11

Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has uttered His voice before His army. Surely His camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is indeed great and very awesome—and who endures it?

Note: Each invading force is God the Fatherʼs army in the sense that God the Father uses an invading force for judgment of people who disobey the Word of God. God the Father uses one group of evil people to carry out judgment on another group of evil people. In that regard, the use of the word word in this verse is in the sense of a command rather than to the Word of God. Rather than indicating that God the Father communicates with each invading force, the use of the word word in this verse indicates that each invasion by each invading force is in accordance with God the Fatherʼs will. In that regard, God the Father permits evil people to perpetrate evil acts, and the perpetration of those evil acts can be used for judgment of people who disobey the Word of God.

The use of the perfect tense in the phrase has uttered is a reference to the future. The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse are also references to the future. Regarding near fulfillment, God the Father used an invading force for judgment of Israelites who disobeyed the Word of God. Regarding far fulfillment, God the Father will use an invading force during the Tribulation for judgment of Israelites who will be disobeying the Word of God. Regarding the phrase who endures it followed by a question mark, people who disobey the Word of God will be unable to endure a situation involving an invasion unless such people change their ways so as to regularly study and obey the Word of God.

Regarding the foregoing, when an insufficient amount of people in a region are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who study and obey the Word of God regularly, then people in that region will experience divine discipline in the form of a crisis or crises. For unbelievers, such divine discipline involves crisis evangelism. In that regard, a crisis can provide an opportunity or opportunities for the sharing of the gospel—the good news that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity. For believers, a crisis can give them an opportunity or opportunities to study and obey the Word of God regularly. Such a crisis can involve evil people attacking that region. Other types of crises can also give people in such a region an opportunity or opportunities to become believers who study and obey the Word of God regularly.

Joel 2:12

“Even now,”—a declaration of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One—“return to Me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Note: The heart refers to the mind. The content of this verse involves God the Father calling for the people of Israel to change their thinking. That change of their thinking involves changing from disobeying the Word of God to studying and obeying the Word of God.

Joel 2:13

“Rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love and relenting of evil/calamity.

Note: The heart refers to the mind. In this verse, the phrase Rend your heart is a metaphorical command to the people of Israel to change their thinking. The phrase Now return to calls attention to that changing of thinking.

The word anger in this verse is an anthropopathism [an-thruh-poh-PATH-iz-uhm]. An anthropopathism is a term that describes the Members of the Trinity using human characteristics in order to help understand the essence of the Trinity. The Members of the Trinity donʼt literally become angry; the usage of the word anger helps human beings understand the wrath of God the Father. The word relenting in this verse is also an anthropopathism. The usage of the word relenting helps human beings understand the justice and love of God the Father.

Joel 2:14

Who knows? He turns back, and He has relented and has left a blessing behind Him, a gift and a drink offering of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead.

Note: This verse refers to blessings for Israelites if those Israelites would obey the Word of God. As with the usage of the word relenting in the previous verse, the usage of the phrase has relented in this verse is an anthropopathism that helps human beings understand the justice and love of God the Father.

Joel 2:15

Blow a shofar/trumpet in Zion. Consecrate a fast. Proclaim a solemn assembly.

Note: The content of verses 15–17 refers to the time period of Joel.

Joel 2:16

Gather the people. Sanctify the congregation. Assemble the elders. Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her chamber.

Joel 2:17

Let the priests, Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing Oneʼs ministers, weep between the porch and the altar, and say, “Spare Your people, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, and do not make Your inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why do they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their 'Elohiym/Godhead?’”

Note: In this verse, the reference to priests refers to the Levitical priests during the time period of Joel.

Joel 2:18

Then Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is zealous for His land and has pity on His people.

Joel 2:19

Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One answers and says to His people, “Behold, I am sending you grain, new wine, and oil, and you have been satisfied with it. I no longer make you a reproach among the nations.

Note: In Joelʼs time period, there had been a locust plague. That topic is covered in Joel 1. In that regard, the content of Joel 2:19 refers to restoration of prosperity after destruction. The phrase no longer make you a reproach among the nations is a reference to a time of far fulfillment. That time period is the Millennium.

Joel 2:20

“I remove the northern one far from you, and I have driven him into a parched and desolate land and his vanguard into the eastern sea and his rear guard into the western sea. His stench has arisen, and his foul smell comes up because he has done great things.”

Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrases I remove the northern one far from you and his foul smell comes up are references to the future. Regarding near fulfillment, the phrase the northern one references an adversary coming from the northern direction. Regarding far fulfillment, that phrase references the king of the North.

The vanguard of a military force is the front part of that force. The stench referenced in this verse refers to the odor of rotting corpses. In this verse, the reference to great things refers to things involving the use of military power.

The king of the North is also known as Gog [GAHG], and his dominion is known as Magog [muh-GAHG]. In that regard, it is important to distinguish the various uses of the word Gog and Magog in the Bible. Regarding the past, there are Bible verses referencing Gog and Magog. In that regard, the content of 1 Chronicles 5:4–6 contains a reference to a man named Gog, who was a son of an Israelite named Joel. This Joel is different from the prophet Joel. The Joel who was the father of Gog was a descendant of Reuben, one of the sons of Jacob. Jacob was a son of Isaac. Isaac was a son of Abraham, the progenitor of the Israelites. Below is content related to 1 Chronicles 5:4–6.

1 Chronicles 5:4

The sons of Joel are Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

1 Chronicles 5:5

Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, and

1 Chronicles 5:6

Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser [Tiglath-pileser in 2 Kings 15:29], king of Assyria, has carried away into exile. He is leader of the Reubenites.

The content of Genesis 10:2 and the content of 1 Chronicles 1:5 contain references to a man named Magog. That man was a son of Japheth, who was a son of Noah. In that regard, below is content related to Genesis 10:2.

Genesis 10:2

The sons of Japheth are Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Below is content related to 1 Chronicles 1:5.

1 Chronicles 1:5

The sons of Japheth are Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Gog and Magog are also referenced in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In those chapters, the king of the North is referred to as Gog, and his dominion is referred to as Magog. Also, the land of Magog is referred to as being north of the land of Israel. Regarding Gog and Magog, below is content related to Ezekiel 38:1–7.

Ezekiel 38:1

The word of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One comes to me, saying,

Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense is a reference to what has occurred in the past. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

Ezekiel 38:2

“Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and [or chief prince of Meshech and] Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Ezekiel 38:3

and you have said, ‘Thus has said 'Adonay [add-oh-NIGH] Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and [or chief prince of Meshech and] Tubal.

Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase you have said in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. That use of the perfect tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used for the purpose of giving a command? Doing so can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father. In other words, the importance of obeying the command is emphasized.

Ezekiel 38:4

I have turned you around and have put hooks into your jaws, and I have brought you out and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords:

Note: In this verse, the uses of the perfect tense in the phrase I have turned you around and have put hooks into your jaws are references to the future. Such uses of the perfect tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

Ezekiel 38:5

Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet,

Ezekiel 38:6

Gomer with all its troops, Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.

Ezekiel 38:7

Be prepared and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and you have been a guard for them.”’”

Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase you have been a guard for them in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. As mentioned in the notes for verse 3, using a verb in the perfect tense for the purpose of giving a command can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father.

Below is content related to Ezekiel 39:1–11. Inside the square brackets in the notes for verse 7, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.

Ezekiel 39:1

“Then you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and you have said, ‘Thus has said 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and [or chief prince of Meshech and] Tubal,

Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase you have said in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. As mentioned in the notes for Ezekiel 38:3 and Ezekiel 38:7, using a verb in the perfect tense for the purpose of giving a command can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father.

Ezekiel 39:2

“and I have turned you around, have driven you on, have taken you up from the remotest parts of the north, and have brought you against the mountains of Israel.

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in this verse are references to the future. As mentioned in the notes for Ezekiel 38:4, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

Ezekiel 39:3

“Then I have struck your bow from your left hand, and I dash down your arrows from your right hand.

Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase I have struck your bow from your left hand is a reference to the future. As mentioned in the notes for Ezekiel 38:4 and Ezekiel 39:2, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. The use of a present tense in the phrase I dash down your arrows from your right hand is also a reference to the future. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

Ezekiel 39:4

“You fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I have given you as food to every wing of predatory bird and beast of the field.

Note: The use of a present tense in the phrase You fall on the mountains of Israel is a reference to the future. As mentioned in the notes for Ezekiel 39:3, using a verb in the present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur. The use of the perfect tense in the phrase I have given you as food to every wing of predatory bird and beast of the field is also a reference to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

Ezekiel 39:5

“You fall on the open field / face of the field, for I have spoken,”—a declaration of 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One.

Note: The use of a present tense in the phrase You fall on the open field / face of the field is a reference to the future.

Ezekiel 39:6

“Then I have sent fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety, and they have known that I am Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in this verse are references to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

Ezekiel 39:7

“My holy name I make known in the midst of My people Israel, and I do not let My holy name be profaned anymore. The nations have known that I am Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, the Holy One in Israel.

Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrases I make known and I do not let are references to the future. The use of the perfect tense in the phrase The nations have known is also a reference to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. In the context of Ezekiel 39:7, the word nations is used to refer to non-Israelite people [i.e., Gentiles]. The Hebrew word translated as “nations” in this verse is גּוֹיִם [pronounced goh-YEEM and can be transliterated as goyim], which is an inflected form of the root word גּוֹי [pronounced GOH-ee and can be transliterated as gowy]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)

Ezekiel 39:8

“Behold, it is coming, and it has been done,”—a declaration of 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One. “That is the day of which I have spoken.

Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase it has been done is a reference to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

Ezekiel 39:9

“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel have gone out and have made fires with the weapons and have burned them, both shields/bucklers and bucklers/shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they have made fires of them.

Ezekiel 39:10

“They do not take wood from the field, nor do they gather firewood from the forests, for they make fires with the weapons. They have taken the spoil of those who despoiled them, and they have seized the plunder of those who plundered them,”—a declaration of 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One.

Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrases They do not take and nor do they gather are references to the future. The uses of the perfect tense in the phrases They have taken the spoil and they have seized the plunder are also references to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

Ezekiel 39:11

“Then it has come to pass that, on that day, I give Gog a burial ground there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it is blocking off those who pass by. Therefore, they have buried Gog there with all his horde/crowd/multitude, and they have called it the Valley of Hamon-Gog [or the Valley of the Horde/Crowd/Multitude of Gog].”’”

Note: In this verse, the uses of the perfect tense in the phrases it has come to pass, they have buried, and they have called are references to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the perfect tense to refer to the future can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. The use of a present tense in the phrase it is blocking off is also a reference to the future. As mentioned further above, using a verb in the present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

An additional usage of the words Gog and Magog involves a rebellion/revolution led by Satan at the end of the Millennium, the 1,000-year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ that will follow the Second Advent. In that regard, at the end of the Millennium, Satan will be released from a place of incarceration known as the abyss. Just as Satan will be present on the earth causing trouble during the Tribulation, he will also be present on the earth causing trouble when he will be released from the abyss at the end of the Millennium. On that occasion, he will persuade people to join him in his selfish endeavor of opposing the Trinity. In so doing, Satan will then lead the Gog and Magog Rebellion (also known as the Gog and Magog Revolution). The usage of the words Gog and Magog in reference to the rebellion/revolution led by Satan at the end of the Millennium might be a reference that provides a memory link to the king of the North during the Tribulation. Also, the reference to the king of the North as Gog of Magog might be a memory link to Gog and Magog of ancient times. At the time of the Gog and Magog Rebellion / Gog and Magog Revolution, the Lord Jesus Christ will once again defeat Satan and his minions.

In summary regarding the usage of the words Gog and Magog in the Bible, there was a Reubenite named Gog, there was a grandson of Noah named Magog, the king of the North during the Tribulation is referred to as Gog of Magog, and the rebellion/revolution led by Satan at the end of the Millennium is known as the Gog and Magog Rebellion / Gog and Magog Revolution. Getting back to Joel 2:20, the content of that verse references the king of the North. For additional context regarding the reference to the king of the North in the content of Joel 2:20, below is content related to Daniel 11:36–45.

A ruler other than the king of the North is referenced in Daniel 11:36. In that regard, either the content of Daniel 11:36–39 indicates that there will be a Jewish ruler who is a dictator of Palestine, or the content of Daniel 11:36–39 references the king of the West. Regarding the content of Daniel 11:36–39 referring to a Jewish ruler rather than to the man who is the king of the West during the Tribulation, the word king is in the content of Daniel 11:36 without anything in that verse indicating the identity of that ruler, including without any reference to the king of the Westʼs covenant-making that is referenced in Daniel 9:26–27. Also, in the content of Daniel 9:26, the king of the West is referenced with a different Hebrew noun than the Hebrew noun that is translated as “king” in Daniel 11:36. The Hebrew noun referring to the king of the West in the content of Daniel 9:26 is נָגִיד [pronounced nah-GHEED and can be transliterated as nagiyd]. That word can be translated as “chief,” “leader,” “prince,” or “ruler.” In contrast, the content of Daniel 11:36 contains the Hebrew noun מֶלֶךְ [pronounced MEH-lek and can be transliterated as melek]. That word can be translated as “king.” The content of Daniel 11:40 contains two instances of the Hebrew noun melek in reference to two rulers other than the ruler referenced in Daniel 11:36. Whereas absent from Daniel 11:36 is anything indicating the identity of that ruler, the content of Daniel 11:40 references two rulers in terms of the geographic locations of those rulersʼ nations. In Daniel 11:40, a ruler referred to as the king of the South and a ruler referred to as the king of the North are referenced as fighting against the ruler who is referenced in Daniel 11:36. The terms South and North are used in reference to where Israel is located; therefore, the term king of the South refers to a ruler located south of Israel, and the term king of the North refers to a ruler located north of Israel. Absent from the content of Daniel 11:36–40 is anything indicating that the attacking occurs outside the land of Israel. In that regard, in order for one to be absolutely certain that the king of the West is referenced in Daniel 11:36, there would need to be a reference to the king of the West being in the land of Israel when the attacking referenced in Daniel 11:40 occurs. Absent from the content of Daniel 11:36–40 is anything indicating the king of the West being in the land of Israel when the attacking referenced in Daniel 11:40 occurs. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that it is possible that the ruler referenced in Daniel 11:36 is a Jewish ruler of Israel.

Regarding the content of Daniel 11:36–40 referring to the king of the West during the Tribulation rather than to a Jewish ruler, the megalomania of the king described in Daniel 11:36 is similar to the megalomania of the king of the West. In that regard, the content of Daniel 8:25 indicates that the king of the West does great things in his mind, the content of Revelation 13:5 indicates that the king of the West is a man who speaks great things, and the content of Daniel 7:8 metaphorically describes the king of the West as a little horn/cornet who boasts about himself. Regarding the description in Daniel 7:8, the king of the West is a horn/cornet who toots his own horn. Regarding the adjective little, absent from Daniel 7:8 and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that that adjective refers to the physical size of the king of the West. Regarding the foregoing, while the content of Daniel 8:25; the content of Revelation 13:5; the content of Daniel 7:8; and the content of Daniel 11:36 all involve megalomania, the context of Daniel 11:36–40 is such that the content of Daniel 11:36 could refer to a megalomaniac other than the king of the West.

The content of Daniel 11:36–38 indicates that the man who is referenced in Daniel 11:36 honors someone who is somehow associated with fortresses/forces/strongholds. The content of Daniel 11:39–45 provides some context for verses Daniel 11:36–38. In that regard, below is content related to Daniel 11:35–45.

Daniel 11:36

“Then the king has done as he pleases, and he exalts and magnifies himself above every אֵל [AYL] and speaks extraordinary things against the אֵל [AYL] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] of אֵלִים [ay-LEEM], and he has prospered until the indignation has been accomplished/finished, for that which is decreed has been done.

Note: In this verse, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase has done, the phrase has prospered, and the phrase has been done are references to the future. Such uses of the perfect tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.

The content of Daniel 11:36 contains three instances of inflected forms of the Hebrew root word אֵל [pronounced AYL and transliterated as either 'el or 'El]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The Hebrew root word אֵל [AYL] is a noun. That noun can be used to refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to a Member of the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit]. The Hebrew noun אֵל [AYL] can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the Hebrew noun אֵל [AYL] in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.

The first instance of the Hebrew root word אֵל [AYL] in Daniel 11:36 is אֵל [AYL]. That instance is a singular form and can be transliterated as 'el. In the context of the content of Daniel 11:36–39, that instance of אֵל [AYL] refers either to false gods or to powerful humans.

The second instance of the Hebrew root word אֵל [AYL] in Daniel 11:36 is also אֵל [AYL]. That instance is a singular form and can be transliterated as 'El. In the context of the content of Daniel 11:36–39, that instance of אֵל [AYL] refers to God the Father.

The third instance of the Hebrew root word אֵל [AYL] in Daniel 11:36 is אֵלִים [ay-LEEM]. That instance is a plural form and can be transliterated as 'eiliym. In the context of the content of Daniel 11:36–39, that instance of אֵל [AYL] refers either to false gods or to powerful humans.

The reference to אֵל [AYL] of אֵלִים [ay-LEEM] in Daniel 11:36 refers to God the Father being superior to false gods or superior to powerful humans. Of course, God the Father is superior to false gods, and God the Father is superior to powerful humans. In that regard, the man referenced in the content of Daniel 11:36 is so arrogant that that man will speak against God the Father. While unspecified in the content of Daniel 11:36 is what that man will specifically say, whatever he will say will be extraordinary.

Regarding the decreeing referenced in this verse, God the Father knew in eternity past what decisions each human being would choose to make. Because God the Father is just, He permits each human being to make use of his or her volition [voh-LISH-uhn or vuh-LISH-uhn] (free will). Because God the Father knew ahead of time what decisions each human being would choose to make, God the Father foreknew what those decisions would be. With that knowledge about every humanʼs choices, God the Father decreed that those people would indeed make the choices that He knew that they would choose to make. His decree predestined those choices to indeed occur. No matter what Satan or any other angel or any human being or any other creature would try to do to prevent those choices from being made, God the Fatherʼs predestining of those choices ensures that those choices will indeed be made. In that way, God the Father ensures that each human is able to make choices from his or her volition (free will).

The content of Daniel 11:36 is repeated below for reference.

Daniel 11:36

Daniel 11:37

“Also, he has no regard for the אֱלֹהֵי [el-oh-HAY] of his fathers or for the desire/delight of women, nor does he have regard for any אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah], for he magnifies himself above all.

Note: The word Godhead refers to the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit]. In that regard, the content of Daniel 11:37 contains the Hebrew noun אֱלֹהֵי [pronounced el-oh-HAY and can be transliterated as either 'elohei or 'Elohei], which is an an inflected form of the root word אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated as either 'elohiym or 'Elohiym]. Whether or not the transliterations are capitalized depends on whether the Trinity is being referenced or someone else is being referenced. In that regard, depending on the context, the Hebrew noun אֱלֹהִים [el-oh-HEEM] can be used to refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Trinity. In all of the other Bible verses in which the Hebrew noun אֱלֹהִים [el-oh-HEEM] is used in reference to the אֱלֹהִים [el-oh-HEEM] of anyoneʼs fathers, those references to fathers refer to fathers of Israelites. Also, absent from the content of Daniel 11:36–39 is anything that indicates that the king referenced in Daniel 11:36 is a non-Israelite king. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that it is possible that the king referenced in Daniel 11:36 is a Jewish ruler and that it is possible that the usage of an inflected form of אֱלֹהִים [el-oh-HEEM] in Daniel 11:36 refers to the אֱלֹהִים [el-oh-HEEM] of the fathers of that Jewish ruler. In that regard, it is possible that the usage of an inflected form of אֱלֹהִים [el-oh-HEEM] in Daniel 11:36 refers to the Godhead—in other words, to the Trinity.

Also, the content of Daniel 11:37 contains the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [pronounced el-OH-ah and can be transliterated in this context as 'elowahh or 'eloah or 'elohah]. Depending on the context, the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] can be used to refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Trinity. The Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. The context of Daniel 11:36–39 is such that אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] as used in Daniel 11:37 refers to false gods or to powerful humans.

It is possible that the phrase the desire/delight of women in Daniel 11:37 refers to a false god or to a powerful human that is admired by women. In that regard, absent from the context of Daniel 11:36–39 is anything having to do with romance. Instead, that phrase is between a reference to either the Trinity or some other objects of worship in front of that phrase and a reference to false gods or to powerful humans after that phrase. It is also possible that the reference to desire/delight of women in Daniel 11:37 refers to the Messiah—in other words, the Savior. In that regard, it is possible that at the time that Daniel 11 was written, Jewish women wanted to be the woman who would give birth to the Savior. Also, the content of Daniel 11:37 indicates that the king referenced in Daniel 11:36 is self-absorbed. In that regard, it is possible that the reference to desire/delight of women in Daniel 11:37 refers to that kingʼs self-absorption involving not caring about what women want and instead being focused on getting attention.

Daniel 11:38

“Also, he honors an אֱלֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] of fortresses/forces/strongholds in his place, an אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] whom his fathers have not known; he honors with gold, silver, costly stones, and desirable things.

Note: Fortresses have walls for the purpose of keeping outsiders outside. Regarding the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] that is in the content of Daniel 11:37, the content of Daniel 11:38 contains two instances of inflected forms of that noun. One instance of that noun is the inflected form אֱלֹהַּ [pronounced el-OH-ah and can be transliterated in this context as 'elowahh or 'eloah or 'elohah], and the other instance of that noun is the inflected form אֱלוֹהַּ [pronounced el-OH-ah and can be transliterated in this context as 'elowahh or 'eloah or 'elohah]. Depending on the context, the noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] can be used to refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Trinity. The Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. The context of Daniel 11:36–39 is such that both instances of inflected forms of the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] as used in Daniel 11:38 refer to a false god or to a powerful human.

Because both instances of inflected forms of the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] as used in Daniel 11:38 could refer to a powerful human, it is possible that the content of Daniel 11:38 refers to a Jewish ruler honoring the king of the West. Honoring with gold, silver, costly stones, and desirable things can involve the giving of such things to someone. It can also involve using such objects to glorify someone. For example, coins made of gold or silver can be decorated with the likeness of someone in order to call attention to that person. It is possible that costly stones and whatever is described by the phrase desirable things could also be used to call attention to someone.

As mentioned further above, fortresses have walls for the purpose of keeping outsiders outside. A stronghold could also have a walls. In that regard, a stronghold is a fortified place, and the word fortress can be used to refer a large stronghold, including one that involves a fortified town. The word fortress can even be used to refer to an area larger than a town. Regarding fortresses and strongholds, it is possible that the phrase אֱלֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] of fortresses/forces/strongholds refers to the king of the West and that the king of the West is associated with walls that are built for the purpose of keeping outsiders outside. It is also possible that the phrase אֱלֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] of fortresses/forces/strongholds refers to the king of the West and that the king of the West is associated with equipment that is used when defending against attacking forces. Some examples of such equipment include walls, bunkers, and air-defense systems. Of course, equipment used for attacking could also be used for defending against attacking forces. The king of the West being associated with such equipment could involve such equipment being manufactured in the country of the king of the West. In addition, it is possible that the phrase אֱלֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] of fortresses/forces/strongholds refers to the king of the West and that the king of the West is associated with military forces in general. The king of the West being associated with military forces in general could involve the king of the West using military forces under his command to provide assistance to the man who is referenced in Daniel 11:36. Regarding the foregoing, it is possible that a Jewish ruler depends on the king of the West for protection.

While it might seem that the megalomania described in the content of Daniel 11:36–37 refers to the king of the West rather than to a Jewish ruler because the king of the West being a megalomaniac is referenced in the content of Daniel 8:25; the content of Revelation 13:5; and the content of Daniel 7:8, it is possible that the megalomaniacal king who is referenced in the content of Daniel 11:36 is a Jewish ruler who then becomes overshadowed by the megalomaniacal king of the West. In that regard, the content of Daniel 9:27 and the content of Matthew 24:15–16 reference the abomination of desolation, while absent from the content of Daniel 11:36–40 is any reference to the abomination of desolation. Regarding Daniel 9:27, the content of that verse indicates that the king of the West will be pro-Israel. In that regard, he will be a deal-maker who will be involved in a huge deal with Israel. In the middle of the Tribulation, the king of the West will nullify that deal and then mistreat the people of Israel. In that regard, the king of the West is a capricious man who will switch from being pro-Israel to anti-Israel. The king of the Westʼs capriciousness involves his megalomania. As a megalomaniac, the king of the West will have people use an object for the purpose of giving glory to the king of the West during the Tribulation. That object is called the abomination of desolation. The abomination of desolation will be set up in the temple in Israel during the Tribulation.

The content of Daniel 11:38 is repeated below for reference.

Daniel 11:38

Daniel 11:39

“He has acted against the fortifications / fortified cities / fortresses / strongholds of fortresses/forces/strongholds with a foreign אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah]. Whosoever has acknowledged—he multiplies honor/glory and has caused them to rule over many, and he apportions land for a price.

Note: In this verse, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase has acted, the phrase has acknowledged, and the phrase has caused are references to the future. Those uses of the perfect tense can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. Also, the uses of a present tense in verbs in the phrase he multiplies honor/glory and the phrase he apportions land are references to what will occur in the future. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

Regarding the instance of an inflected form the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] that is in the content of Daniel 11:37 and two instances of inflected forms of that noun in the content of Daniel 11:38, there is an instance of an inflected form of that noun in the content of Daniel 11:39. That instance of that noun is the inflected form אֱלוֹהַּ [pronounced el-OH-ah and can be transliterated in this context as 'elowahh or 'eloah or 'elohah]. The context of Daniel 11:36–39 is such that that instance of an inflected form of the Hebrew noun אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] as used in Daniel 11:39 refers to a false god or to a powerful human.

Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whom is acknowledged. In that regard, it is possible that the reference to acknowledging in this verse refers either to acknowledging the king who is referenced in Daniel 11:36 or to acknowledging the אֱלוֹהַּ [el-OH-ah] who is referenced in Daniel 11:38 and Daniel 11:39. Regardless of to whom the reference to acknowledging refers, the content of this verse indicates that the king who is referenced in Daniel 11:36 will reward the people who do the acknowledging. That rewarding involves giving praise, authority, and land.

Daniel 11:40

“Then at the end time, the king of the South collides with him, and the king of the North storms against him with chariot, with horsemen, and with many ships, and he has entered lands/countries and has overflowed and has passed through.

Note: In this verse, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase has entered, the phrase has overflowed, and the phrase has passed through are references to the future. Those uses of the perfect tense can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. Also, the uses of a present tense in verbs in the phrase collides with him and the phrase storms against him are references to what will occur in the future. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

It is possible that the singular noun chariot in this verse refers to a category of vehicle rather than referring to a single vehicle. Also, the use of the word chariot could refer to a type of vehicle other than a chariot. Similarly, the use of the word horsemen could refer to men traveling by means of vehicles rather than by means of literal horses. In that regard, the visions that Daniel had were described by Daniel with words that were part of Danielʼs vocabulary.

Because the king of the North is the last person referenced as doing action before the pronoun he in this verse and because that instance of the pronoun he is involved in doing action, it is logical to conclude that that pronoun refers to the king of the North. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the king of the North is the person referred to as entering lands/countries, overflowing, and passing through. Also, it is possible that those references to entering lands/countries, overflowing, and passing through refer to the military forces without the king of the North accompanying those forces, and it is possible that those references refer to the military forces with the king of the North accompanying those forces.

Note: Inside the square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.

Daniel 11:41

He has also entered the Beautiful Land / Glorious Land [i.e., Palestine]. Many fall, but these are rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in verbs of Daniel 11:41–45 are references to the future. The uses of a present tense in verbs of Daniel 11:41–45 are also references to the future.

Daniel 11:42

Then he stretches out his hand against the lands, and the land of Egypt does not escape.

Daniel 11:43

Also, he has gained control over [or rule over] the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt, and Libyans and Cushites are at his heels [literally: footsteps].

Note: The Cushites were descended from a grandson of Noah. That grandson was named Cush. The father of Cush was Ham. It is possible that the land Cush was located near Egypt. In that regard, the content of Daniel 11:41–43 is indicative of Cush being located near Egypt because the content of those verses indicate that the forces of the king of the North go through the land of Israel and then into Egypt, Libya, and Cush. Egypt and Libya are both in Africa, and Libya is near Egypt. Therefore, it is possible that Cush is also in Africa and near Egypt.

Daniel 11:44

Then rumors from the East and from the North disturb him, and he has gone forth with great wrath to destroy and to devote many to destruction.

Daniel 11:45

He pitches the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain, yet he has come to his end. No one helps him.”

The content of Joel 2:20 is repeated below for reference.

Joel 2:20

Joel 2:21

Do not fear, O land. Rejoice and be glad, for Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has done great things.

Note: The use of the perfect tense in a verb of this verse is a reference to the future.

Joel 2:22

Do not fear, beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness have turned green and because the tree has borne its fruit. The fig tree and the vine have yielded their strength/wealth.

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future.

Joel 2:23

Rejoice, O sons of Zion. Be glad in Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead because He has given you the early rain for your vindication [i.e., autumn or possibly the teacher for righteousness], and He pours down for you the rain, the early [i.e., autumn] and latter [i.e., spring] rain as before [so with ancient versions; Masoretic Text has in the first].

Note: In this verse, the phrase sons of Zion refers to Israelites. The Masoretic [mas-uh-RET-ik] Text, which is a Hebrew manuscript, has the phrase in the first instead of as before in Joel 2:23. The Masoretic Text was composed after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The use of the perfect tense in a verb of this verse is a reference to the future. The use of a present tense in a verb of this verse is also a reference to the future.

Joel 2:24

The threshing floors have been full of grain, and the vats have overflown with the new wine and oil.

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future.

Joel 2:25

“Then I have made up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust, My great army which I have sent among you,

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future. Also, in this verse, the references to locusts are metaphorical references. In that regard, the content of Joel 1 contains literal references to locusts, and the metaphorical references to locusts in Joel 2:25 can help a person familiar with what is described in Joel 1 imagine the destruction that will have been caused by the enemies of Israel during the time of the near fulfillment and during the time of the far fulfillment.

Joel 2:26

“and you have had plenty to eat to be satisfied and have praised the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead, Who has dealt wondrously with you, and My people are not put to shame anymore.

Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future. The use of a present tense in a verb of this verse is also a reference to the future.

Joel 2:27

“You have known that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead. There is no other. My people are not put to shame anymore.

Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase You have known is a reference to the future. The uses of a present tense in the phrase are not put to shame anymore is also a reference to the future.

Joel 2:28

“It has come about after this that I pour out My Spirit on all mankind/flesh. Your sons and daughters have prophesied. Your old men dream dreams. Your young men see visions.

Note: The content of Joel 2:28 refers to the time of the Millennium. In that regard, the uses of the perfect tense in verbs of this verse are references to the future. The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse are also references to the future. Regarding the phrase all mankind/flesh in this verse, the Millennium will start with only believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those are the people who are referenced in this verse.

Joel 2:29

“Even on the male and female servants I pour out My Spirit in those days.

Note: As with the content of Joel 2:28, the content of Joel 2:29 refers to the time of the Millennium. In that regard, the use of a present tense in the verb of this verse is a reference to the future.

Joel 2:30

“I have displayed wonders in the sky and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke.

Note: The content of Joel 2:30 refers to the Tribulation. In that regard, the use of the perfect tense in the verb of this verse is a reference to the future.

Joel 2:31

“The sun is turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the day of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One—great and awesome.

Note: As with the content of Joel 2:30, the content of Joel 2:31 refers to the Tribulation. In that regard, the use of a present tense in the verb of this verse is a reference to the future.

Joel 2:32

“It has come about that whoever calls on the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is delivered, for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escaped portion / a remnant, as Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has said, even among the survivors/remnants whom Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One calls.”

Note: As with the content of Joel 2:30–31, the content of Joel 2:32 refers to the Tribulation. In that regard, the uses of the perfect tense in verbs of this verse are references to the future. The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse are also references to the future. In this verse, the phrase whoever calls on the name of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, that phrase might refer to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ being the only people who will be alive at the end of the Tribulation, or that phrase refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ praying to God the Father for deliverance from the danger that will be occurring during the Tribulation, and in so praying, doing so in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

John