The Locust Army of Joel

I actually interrupted other studies to complete a study of this book so I could include it in this series of blogs. I had been putting it off because making specific application is difficult, and I’m still not sure how helpful my understanding will be. I’m pretty convinced that the first chapter had pretty specific application to the people of Joel’s day. I thought it was significant to note how closely the events described corresponded to the words of warning for disobedience recorded by Moses in Deuteronomy 28.

I’m also pretty convinced that, not discounting application to past events, the main thrust of the message beginning with chapter two is concerning future events. In verse 2 the reference is to a time so unique in Israel’s history that there will never be another like it.

Joel 2:1-2 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”

This thought also seems to have a direct connection to the words of Jesus regarding the tribulation period that immediately precedes His second coming to earth as King.

Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

This coming judgment is also described as a time of great darkness and gloom. I think this gives emphasis to the fact that evil and wickedness will be in full reign over planet earth at that time. Revelation tells us that Satan and His hosts will no longer have access to the heavens and will be furious; that fury will be directed in persecution of the people of Israel.

Revelation 12:9, 12-13 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him….“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.”

My struggle comes with determining specific application; but after considering the possibilities, I think it connects with both Revelation 9 and the final battle of Armageddon. Verses 4-5 seem to connect with both Ezekiel 38 and Revelation 9.

Joel 2:4-5 “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.”

Ezekiel 38:4 &9 “And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords…. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.”

Revelation 9:7-9 “And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.”

With verse 6 I only found a specific connection with the passage in Revelation.

Joel 2:6 “Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.”

Revelation 9:4-6 “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”

Once I got to verses 7-9, the passage in Ezekiel seemed to be eliminated. The verses in Joel indicate that this mighty locust army will not break ranks and will be indestructible. The enemy armies of the Ezekiel passage will turn on one another and will be killed.

Joel 2:7-8 “They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.”

Ezekiel 38:21 “And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.”

Ezekiel 39:3-4 “And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.”