Rolling on the Floor Laughing
How does laughter relate to Joel? Holy laughter was a phenomenon that occurred in certain Protestant charismatic gatherings. Some of those in attendance would find themselves laughing uncontrollably for no particular reason, sometimes even to the point of falling out of their chairs!
One of the most prominent individuals connected with this type of behavior was South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne who referred to himself as "Joel's Bartender." This is primarily because those at his meetings were viewed as being "drunk with (or in) the Holy Spirit" in reference to a passage in Joel 2.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit (Joel 2:28 - 29).
Overlapping Prophets
The Minor Prophet Joel wrote his book from 596 to 586 B.C. His ministry overlapped those of Ezekiel (597 to 570 B.C.), Jeremiah (627 to 585), Daniel (605 to 530) and fellow Minor Prophet Obadiah (590 B.C.).
The Valley of Decision
Joel is the only place in the King James Bible that mentions "the valley of Jehosphaphat (Jehoshaphat)" (Joel 3:2). The writer also references it as "the valley of decision" (verse 14). Jehoshaphat ruled over the Kingdom of Judah from 872 to 848 B.C.
Since the 4th century A.D., according to some Biblical commentaries, Jerusalem's Kidron Valley has also been known as the valley of Jehoshaphat. What is puzzling is that no evidence exists showing Jehoshaphat's name linked to the valley at the time Joel wrote his book. The prophetic reference to the valley may be only symbolic.
[Where is the Kidron Valley Located?]
Eden
Joel 2 contains one of the rare references to the Garden of Eden outside the book of Genesis.
A fire devoureth before them: and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness: yea, and nothing shall escape them (Joel 2:3).
Other references to Eden not in Genesis include Isaiah 51:3 and Ezekiel 28:13, 31:9 and 36:5.
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea, at 1,412 feet (430.5 meters) below sea level, is the lowest elevation of land in the world. While it is not referenced by name in the KJV Bible, it is called in Joel the "east sea."
But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea (Dead Sea), and his hinder part toward the utmost sea (Mediterranean Sea), and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things (Joel 2:20).
A Call to Repentance
The book of Joel foretells of several events that will reach their fullness in the book of Revelation. Some of these events are below.
There will be calls for repentance during the Day of the Lord (Joel 1:13 - 14, 2:12 - 17).
The Two Witnesses, for the entire period of the Great Tribulation, will be calling people to repent. An angel will also circle the earth and encourage people to repent of their sins. A voice from heaven, when it is announced that Babylon has fallen, will call for people to abandon their sins and not partake of the penalties coming to the disobedient (Revelation 11:3, 14:6 - 7, 18:4 - 5).
Destruction from God
The Day of the Lord will be a time of destruction from God. It will be a time of trial and trouble unlike anything humans have ever experienced (Joel 1:15, 2:1 - 2).
God's wrath is poured out on those who worship the Beast power and refuse to repent of their sins (Revelation chapters 8, 9 and 16).
Warning of the Day
The Day of the Lord will be heralded by the blast of a ram's horn (Joel 2:1, 15).
The opening of Revelation's seventh seal marks the start of the Lord's wrath upon humanity. It will lead to seven angels each receiving a trumpet to blow before a different wave of punishments comes upon the earth (Revelation 8:1 - 6).
A Mighty Army Gathered
The Lord will gather an army in order to fight (Joel 2:11).
Jesus Christ will lead a spiritual army composed of righteous angels and resurrected saints to fight those who oppose his return to earth (Revelation 19:11 - 14).
Signs and Wonders
There will be wonders in the heavens and the earth - blood, fire and pillars of smoke. The sun will go dark, and the moon will appear like blood (Joel 2:30 - 31).
The prophetic sixth seal is opened. A great earthquake takes place, the sun appears black and the moon appears like blood. The stars of heaven will fall to earth and the heavens will look like they have been rolled up and appear to disappear (Revelation 6:12 - 14).
A Harvest of the Wicked
A call is made for a sickle in the valley of Jehoshaphat to harvest those who indulge in wickedness (Joel 3:13).
Two angels will symbolically thrust their sickles onto the earth to harvest those who have experienced the wrath of God (Revelation 14:14 - 20).
Additional Facts About Joel
The insect called a "cankerworm" in the King James is recorded only in Joel 1:4, 2:25 and Nahum 3:15 - 16. A bug labeled the "palmerworm" is also found only in Joel 1:4, 2:25 and Amos 4:9. Both words are believed to be referring to locusts.
The phrase "and my people shall never be ashamed" is mentioned in back to back verses (Joel 2:26 - 27).
Joel is the only Old Testament prophetic book that reveals the moon turning to blood before the return of Jesus Christ (Joel 2:31).
The Bible books of Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, 2Thessalonians, Titus and 2Peter are the only ones that contain exactly 3 chapters.
Joel 2:1 (along with Zephaniah 1:14 - 18, etc.) is one of the passages in the Bible that shows the Biblical Feast of Trumpets pictures the second coming of Jesus Christ (Appointed Times of Jesus the Messiah, chapter 1).