Joel means Jehovah is God. In this book we see the hand of God ruling the universe in order to bring about the salvation of His people. Joel wrote of a horrible event that would happen in Judah, an invasion of destructive locusts. The loss of property would be enormous, but the Lord's prophet reminds us that this was of the Lord. Learn that everything which comes to pass, every great tragedy, every catastrophic event that takes place, is of God. Concerning this terrible calamity, we read, "As a destruction from the Almighty shall it come" (1:15). "The day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (2:11). Undoubtedly, this physical judgment was a foretaste of the "day of the LORD," that is, the final judgment. If men cannot abide the day when God sends physical calamities, how shall they abide the day of His fierce anger, when He shall judge this world according to the standard of absolute righteousness? There is, however, more to this book than announcements of judgment. Here we find the promise of God that He will save His people. "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things" (2:21). "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem" (3:1). Judah and Jerusalem are words which refer to the church of the redeemed (Hebrews 12:22). God will save His people with an everlasting salvation through the righteous obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will deliver His people from the bondage of sin and Satan. Joel also wrote of the time when the Holy Spirit would be given in the fullness of His power (compare 2:28-32 with Acts 2:16-40). Note in 2:28, that the time when the Spirit would be poured out would be "afterward." The question is, after what? After the substitutionary death of our dear Savior! After He had satisfied divine justice for all His chosen people. After He brought in everlasting righteousness! It is upon the basis of completed redemption that the Holy Spirit comes to sinners in regenerating power, revealing the Lord Jesus as the only Lord and Savior. The book concludes with a view toward the final judgment when all shall stand before the Lord to be tried by the standard of righteousness (see Acts 17:31). "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the great day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision" (3:14). "Decision" means threshing. This verse has nothing to do with the decisions of men. The passage declares the time of God's decision! The day will come when God will gather His wheat into His barn and the chaff shall be gathered up for burning. All unbelievers will be cast into hell, but in that day, "the LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel...Jerusalem shall be holy...Judah shall dwell forever" (read 3:16-21).