THE PROPHESY OF JOEL

Joel prophesies to a nation in the midst of a storm, or a famine(Joel 1:4-5). This becomes the predicament of the land after another arises against them(Joel 1:6 describes the invading principality in more spiritual terms.) Joel takes a more spiritual perspective of what he sees in the future.

The prophesy of Joel is significant for this day. It pictures a time when the offering of Gods people is cut off from the house of God(Joel 1:9). Compare with Daniel 9:25. Joy is withered away from the sons of men (Joel 1:12) and the day of vengeance is at hand(verse 15). This refers to God's vengeance against the invading principality

Chapter two continues Joel's prophesy with further information on the nation executing the vengeance of God, refered as the execution of the word of God(Joel 2:11). These are also refered to as the heathen(Joel 2:17). The same are further refered to as the Northern army(Joel 2:20).

After a while of destruction, God turns again to His people to restore them(Joel 2:23,3:18). So shall it be for this age.

Chapter 3 of Joels prophesy concludes with a time of vengeance against the nations that held the prophetic land and its temple captive. These are nations that had ruled over Gods people in the day of the Lords vengeance. While God had just used them to execute vengeance, they too have to face the same judge and according to their dealings are they dealt with. This is the next phase in the earths dispensation.

THE PROPHESY OF HOSEA

Hosea is a book addressed to Israel as a whole, as divided between Judah in the south and what came to be refered as Israel in the North. In reference to the North, the Lord addresses a specific tribe, Ephraim. This is significant because Ephraim as a recognised tribe arose a generation after the twelve sons of Jacob who grew to become the tribes of Israel. With his brother Mannasseh, the other son of Joseph, Ephraim received a portion on the land of Canaan as a tribe in its own right.

Prophetically, Ephraim represents a generation that arises just when we think that the lot of the heritage of the house of God in its twelve principalities is already cast, divided and settled. His arrival though moves the heart of the father who draws him in and apportions him a heritage amomgst His sons. This is spiritually in reference to a specific nation, a principality born out of the land of bondage, and that finds favour before God.

The nation, though of a different seed than that of the sons of the promise gets a portion in the covenant and its heritage. The relationship between them and God is full of hurdles though, a lot of backsliding and falling to strange worship and deception. It was by Ephraim, the prophesy claims, that the image of jealousy was built to restrain Israel from going to Jerusalem. This idol, represented as the God who drew Israel out of Egypt led many into sin.

This nation of Ephraim in prophesy is alike in many ways to just preceded principalities of the earth. Easily deceived and hard of hearing the nation has fallen into deception and into a season of destruction by an estranged principality. The story of Ephraim is prophetic of the story of our age, which draws to a close in the hands of an invader. All these though is not without hope, as the Lord swore salvation (Hosea 13:12-14). The same is the hope of our generation. The prophey is about a generation being baptized in fire, to sanctify it for a coming age of righteousness and glorious prosperity(chapter 14). This is our word too.