|
.
IMMINENT IS THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD
IN
THE "LOW PLAIN OF JEHOSHAPHAT."
"LET THE NATIONS BE AROUSED".
"Let
the nations be aroused and come up to
the low plain
of Jehoshaphat; for there I shall sit in order to judge all the nations
round about." (Joel
3:12). But what does it mean to come up to the low plain
of Jehoshaphat? It seems contradictory. It means that even though the
nations are roused by Jehovah to gather for His Judgement, this "low"
place is the level of their rebellious spirit disposition in
opposition to His Godship. It is the symbolic 'place' where they are
made subject to the Spirit of the Lord's Judgement and will be made to see
themselves as they truly are. They will feel "naked" and ashamed.
(Rev 16:15,16).
BEFORE THE "GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY".
According to
scriptural principle, the duration of the "day
of the Lord" is one year.
(See Ezekiel 4:6 NEB
and Daniel 9:27 Moffatt). It follows therefore that the prophesied "single hour" when the doom of
"Babylon" strikes is one twenty-fourth of the year when the
desolating of the wealth and splendour of "Babylon"
begins (i.e.) 15 days. (Rev 18:10 NEB).
But those who refuse to get out of spiritistic "Babylon" after the
"single hour" has elapsed will continue to suffer
"pestilence, bereavement, famine, and burning" for the remainder of the
year of the Lord's Judgement, just as it is written. (Rev 18:4 8 NEB).
The portents that Jehovah God will
show "in the sky and on earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke"
when "the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood"
will occur just before the
"great and terrible day of
the Lord"
comes.
The duration of the
"day of the Lord"
will be one Jewish year (360 days). (Joel 2:30,31 NEB).
"And it must occur that
everyone who calls on the Name of Jehovah will get away safe
(shall be saved) (NEB);
for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will prove to be the escaped ones, just
as Jehovah has said, and in among the survivors, whom Jehovah is calling."
(Joel 2:32).
THE "VALLEY OF THE LORD'S JUDGEMENT".
All nations are
in the process of being gathered to the Valley of the Lord's Judgement
"on
account of My people and My inheritance Israel, whom they scattered among the
nations; and they apportioned out My own land." (Joel 3:2). When the
nations are gathered according to their warring spirit aspect against God:
"...there I will take My seat and judge all the nations round about." (Joel
3:12 NEB).
Jehovah will be "a refuge for His people and the defence of Israel... but
Egypt shall become a desert and Edom a deserted waste, because of the violence
done to Judah". (From Joel 3:16-19 NEB).
It is important to note that there
are two Israels (ancient Israel and spiritual "Israel"), two Zions
(earthly Mount Zion and spiritual "Mount Zion"), and two tribes of
Judah (the ancient tribe and spiritual "Judah"). Historically,
there are the geographical areas they each cover, but of greater importance is
their spiritual meaning. "My inheritance Israel, whom they scattered among
the nations" are primarily the 144,000 Spirit anointed sons of God
spiritual
"Israel". (Rom 9:6-8
and
25,26 NEB).
(See Heb 12:22-24
and
Rev 7:4,5).
4/3/84
& 29/1/91.
. |
