Someday, the Lord told Joel, there will be an end to things as you know it.
I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. [a]
There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning my inheritance, my people Israel,
for they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land. - Joel 3:2 NIV
God's people will return from all the lands to which they have been scattered and there is going to be a great battle...a war to end all wars. It will be such a great battle that even those exempt from war in the past, the farmer, the one who was too weak, will join the fight.
Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
"I am strong!"
Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, O LORD! - Joel 3:9-11 NIV
All of these will gather for one last confrontation and judgment. And once more, the dwelling of the Lord will be in Jerusalem and it will be there forever. While it will be a frightening time for many, it will be a time of refuge for God's people. It has all been decided. The die has been cast. There will be judgment and a final irrevocable decision.
Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.
The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.
The LORD will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the sky will tremble.
But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
"Then you will know that I, the LORD your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
Jerusalem will be holy;
never again will foreigners invade her. - Joel 3:14-16 NIV
Jerusalem and all of God's people will be holy and wholly his.
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