I will
show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
Joel 2:30-31
“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams.
Your young men will see visions.
And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit.
Joel 2 [30.] I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved;
for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape,
as Yahweh has said,
and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.
Meaning:
These verses depict a vivid picture of cosmic upheaval and divine intervention. The imagery of "blood, fire, and pillars of smoke" evokes a sense of chaos and destruction, signaling the magnitude of the events that will precede the Day of the Lord.
The mention of the sun being turned into darkness and the moon into blood is reminiscent of similar language used in other prophetic passages, such as Revelation 6:12-17. This cosmic disturbance serves as a portent of the impending judgment and the arrival of God's divine justice.
The phrase "the great and terrible day of Yahweh" underscores the significance of this event. The Day of the Lord is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, referring to a time when God will intervene decisively in human history to judge the wicked and establish His kingdom. It is a day of both judgment and salvation, a day of reckoning for the nations and a day of redemption for God's people.
For us today, Joel's prophecy serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of God's judgment and the need for repentance. It calls us to examine our hearts and lives, to turn away from sin and turn towards God in humble obedience.
In Acts 2:16-21, Peter quotes from Joel's prophecy on the Day of Pentecost, applying it to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church age. This demonstrates the multi-faceted nature of prophecy and its relevance across different epochs of history.
But Joel's prophecy also points us forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes in the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom. As we await the consummation of all things, we are called to live in readiness and anticipation, knowing that the Day of the Lord could come at any moment.
In 2 Peter 3:10-13, we read about the coming judgment and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."
These verses remind us of the impermanence of this present world and the urgency of living lives that are pleasing to God. They also offer hope and assurance of the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and the restoration of all things.
In summary, Joel 2:30-31 speaks to us of the certainty of God's judgment, the need for repentance, and the hope of redemption. It calls us to live in readiness and anticipation of the Day of the Lord, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill His promises and establish His kingdom in righteousness and peace.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible