C04.03.86.htm

(Cont. from Page 28/2/86).

JOEL. (3).

NOW IS THE TIME FOR A SOLEMN FAST (2:15), AND IS GOD'S MEANS FOR AROUSING HIS PEOPLE. (3:7. 1:13,14).

It is written: "...come back to Me with all your hearts, and with fasting and with weeping and with wailing. And rip apart your hearts, and not your garments". (2:12). Those to be saved out of the imminent arrival of the fear-inspiring day of Jehovah will be those calling upon His Name. (2:31,32). So one may ask: When the "trumpet" is blown in Zion, why does Jehovah require that the congregation gather in solemn assembly for sanctification? (2:15,16)

For the following reason: That the outcome of this time of solemn fasting is either life or death. Solemn fasting is for the purpose of appealing to Jehovah for His mercy; that by His Spirit blessing, His people receive spiritual "food" from Him and have the spirit of uncleanness removed. (2:18,19 NEB).

The outcome that He has promised to His people is that they will be spiritually satisfied, and will no more be ashamed. (2:26,27). After these solemn fasts have taken place as He has willed, it is prophesied: "Thereafter the day shall come when I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men see visions. I will pour out My Spirit in those days even upon slaves and slave-girls." (2:28,29 NEB). This means that during and after this time of solemn fasting Jehovah will only pour out His Spirit upon those who call upon His Name. Jehovah will reward His servants among mankind with His Spirit of recompense.

By Spirit I, an anointed son of God, have made known the spiritual and physical events signalling the imminence of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah and the need for this solemn arrangement to begin; prophecies concerning the calamities of Lebanon, Tyre and Sidon, Ethiopia, Egypt, the "contemptible creature", and the "disgusting thing" "standing in a holy place".

"LET THE NATIONS BE AROUSED".
"Let the nations be aroused and come up to the low plain of Jehoshaphat; for there I shall sit in order to judge all the nations round about." (3:12). But what does it mean to come up to the low plain of Jehoshaphat? It seems contradictory, but means that even though the nations are roused by Jehovah to gather for His judgement, this "low" place is the level of their rebellious spirit disposition in opposition to His holiness. It is the "place" where they are made subject to the Spirit of The Lord's Judgement and will be made to see themselves as they truly are. They will feel "naked" and ashamed. (Rev 16:15,16). Thus shall "powerful ones" be brought down. (3:11).

Spirit anointed "locusts" of God received detailed knowledge of His Spirit judgements. During the time appointed for these "locusts" to prophesy denunciations from God to "devour" apostate* error within His spiritual "land", spiritual "food" from God was withheld and even "cut off from [their]* mouths". (1:5). When all portents from God have taken place, and while the nations are still in spirit "darkness", the fear-inspiring day of the seventh "bowl" of the anger of God will begin. Solemn fasting is for the purpose of being judged with a view to salvation. Jehovah will bring the nations to judgement on behalf of the sons of spiritual "Israel". (2:16). The judgement is:

"ON ACCOUNT OF MY PEOPLE AND MY HERITAGE ISRAEL" (3:2 RSV).
(On account of the spiritual lives of those within His spiritual "land").

(Cont. on Page 8/3/86).

4/3/86.