God's Final Judgment Series

Joel 3:1-14

“God’s Final Judgment”

• The good news (or bad depending on which side you are looking at it from) is that god has the final judgment in all matters for all people.

I. The Judgment of God’s People (1-3)

Vs. 1

• “In those days” refers to the time when God restores His people Israel.

o While God is speaking about this time of restoration, I think it is important to note what they are being restored from: that is God’s judgment.

• Vs. 1 captivity – God took them out of their land at the hands of foreign nations (this proves that God’s promise to Abraham was so much more than land).

• Vs. 2 scattered among the nations – God’s people were once scattered all over the globe before the creation of Israel in 1948.

o However this not the restoration that God is talking about here, because a time is coming when they will again be scattered among the nations.

o Matthew 24:15-21

• Vs. 3 The terrible way they were treated not only in captivity, but think in our modern time about the atrocities of the Holocaust.

• All this because they refused to repent from their sin and turn unto God.

• Even in the midst of all this we not only see God’s promise of restoration, but we continue to see how God keeps His hand of protection upon Israel.

o Israel today exists in the midst of hostile nations.

o Think also of our own lives, there have been times when God has had to punish us for unrepentant sin, but even in the midst of those times we can see how God has protected us despite of our own bad decisions.

o Because God has a plan for our lives.

II. The Judgment of the Nations (4-14)

Vv. 4-8

• We see the sovereignty of God in these next four verses, and while God calls out Tyre and Sidon specifically, they can be seen as representing all the enemies of Israel.

o God teaches us that we may not understand why things happen or it may seem as if nothing is being done about evil, God not only knows but God is in control and God will ultimately judge.

Romans 12:17-21 (NASB95)

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

• God will pour out His judgment not only for what they have done to Israel, but also because of their arrogance towards God.

o Vs. 4 “and what have ye to do with me.”

o Not only did they not have anything to do with God, but their arrogance led them to believe they could bring recompense (payback) on God.

o We see great arrogance towards God today.

• We should take great comfort but also have reverent fear, in that God always gets the last say.

Vs. 9

• God begins to describe this final judgment.

• “Prepare war” there is to be a final battle that is played out between God and His enemies.

Vs. 10

• Notice the description here is just the opposite of what is given to the followers of Christ.

o Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3

o Followers of Christ are given peace and rest, while everyone else must get ready for a battle.

Vv. 11-12

• “Jehoshaphat” means ‘God judges,’ so literally “come up to the valley of God’s judgment.”

Vv. 13-14

• The day of God’s judgment looms ever near, and even though the day and time no man knows; this I guarantee  every person who has breathed a breath of life will stand in judgment before God Almighty.

• Are you prepared?