(14) Joel 1-3

Chapter 1 is an account of the locust invasion that happened in the days of Joel and that left famine everywhere. He used the enormous cloud of locusts as an illustration of the terrible judgment of desolation that the Lord would bring upon the land of Israel on a day to come, through the armies of the Assyrians (in their first attack, Dan. 11:40-43). In chapter 2:1-11, Joel foretells the armies of the Assyrians coming down from the north and devastating the whole land. This is point #2.

The prophecy then skips points 3 and 4, for the enemy in Joel (as in all the prophets of the Assyrian period) is not the western powers (Babylon). As a result of the terrible invasion coming from the north, the Jews (the remnant) will humble themselves completely and cry out to the Lord for help (Joel 2:12-17). In response to the cry of the remnant, the Lord will come to their aid and remove the army that came from the north (Joel 2:18-20; compare with Daniel 11:45). This is point #5.

When the Lord has cast the army that came from the north out of the land, He will comfort the Jewish remnant and restore Israel (Joel 2:21-32). This explains the gap in the summary between points 5 and 6.

After Israel has been restored to the Lord, many other nations will gather to wage war. This could be considered the second attack of the Assyrians under the leadership of Gog. They will invade the land of Israel and will be judged by the Lord (Joel 3:1-17). The Lord will roar from Zion (He is now seen as back in the land) and will completely destroy the nations that gathered to wage war (Joel 3:16). This happens at point #6 of the summary. There follows the Millennium with the Lord's blessing upon the earth and His divine presence in Jerusalem (Joel 3:18-21).