As believers, it is of utmost importance that we are walking in close fellowship with Christ. As we grow in our relationship, we will experience many things. Many changes will transpire within; but the most exciting is our coming to a fuller, clearer knowledge of all that is Holy. As we submit to the purgings of the Spirit, our minds are renewed, our vision is expanded, and our walk is solidified. We no longer operate from our own limited strength or knowledge. We have learned to lean on the arm of our beloved, to trust implicitly in His wisdom, and to obey whatever He tells us without question. We are more than happy to let God be God. Many look at the spiritual darkness in the world, and feel discouraged and overwhelmed by the immense scope of restoration needed. Sometimes you may even relate to how Elijah felt when he went into the wilderness to die. He felt like he was the only one left. We know that the angel of the Lord came and fed him, and encouraged him to go on. God had more for him to do. He wasn't the only one left, the Lord told him he had 7000 who had not bowed their knees to Ba-al. Today is no different. All across the world, God has individuals that he is preparing to raise up. They are nobody's as far as the world is concerned, but their hearts are for God, and by the power of the Spirit they will do great exploits. The Lord is getting ready to muster his army.
The following verses from Joel and Isaiah pertain to this great purpose that God has purposed to do. The bold type are the words from King James Version; all the type in parenthesis are definitions from Strong's Concordance. Those of you who have a problem with King James, please feel free to apply this study to the translation of your preference, with the full knowledge that regardless of the translation, we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to give us the understanding.
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound the alarm [figuratively to split the ears (with sound), shout for (alarm or joy): cry aloud, make a joyful noise, triumph] in my holy [sacred, hallowed, holy] mountain: let all the inhabitants [properly to sit down(specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); to dwell, to remain, to settle, to abide] of the land [earth] tremble [to quiver with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear: be afraid, stand in awe]: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; [come, shortly].
Joel 2:2 A day of darkness [misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness] and of gloominess [misfortune, dark, thick gloominess], a day of clouds and of thick darkness [gross thick, dark clouds], as the morning [early, light, morning, riseth] spread [to break apart, disperse, scatter, spread] upon the mountains: a great [abundant in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality] people [a people as a congregated unit] and a strong [powerful, numerous, great, mighty]; there hath not been [never existed] ever [eternally] the like [in comparison of], neither shall any more after it, even to the years of many generations [age, generation, evermore.]
Joel 2:3 A fire [burning, fiery, flaming, hot] devoureth [burn up, consume, devour, to eat, consume] before them; and behind [following] them a flame [flaming, head of a spear] burneth [to blaze, set on fire, kindle]: the land [earth] is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate [figuratively astonishment: waste] wilderness [be or become, come to pass, happen]; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
Joel 2:4 The appearance [the thing seen, comeliness, countenance, form, goodly, to look upon, vision] of them is as the appearance of horses [to skip (properly for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight); and as horsemen [a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting) a driver (in a chariot), that is collectively cavalry, horseman], so [rightly] shall they run [rush, break down, divide speedily, guard, bring hastily].
Joel 2:5 Like the noise [to call aloud, a voice or sound] of chariots on the tops [meaning to shake; the head, first, forefront] of mountains shall they leap [to stamp, to spring about, dance, jump, leap, skip], like the noise of a flame [to gleam, a flash; figuratively a sharply polished blade or point of a weapon] of fire [flaming, hot] that devoureth [burn up, consume] the stubble, as a strong [powerful, numerous] people [as a congregated unit] set in battle array [arrange, put in order, expert in war].
Joel 2:6 Before their face the people [congregated tribe or unit] shall be much pained [to dance, to writhe in pain or fear; to wait, travail, tremble, be wounded]: all [every] faces shall gather [grasp, collect] blackness [a flush of anxiety].
Joel 2:7 They shall run [rush, stretch out] like mighty men [powerful; warrior, champion]; they shall climb [ascend, be high or mount] the wall [to join; a wall of protection] like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways [a course of life or mode of action], and they shall not break [to pawn; to lend (on security); to entangle - borrow, break (ranks)] their ranks [well trodden road]:
Joel 2:8 Neither shall one [an individual] thrust [to press, that is, oppress; vex.] another [a brother]; they shall walk every one [properly a valiant man or warrior; every one, man] in his path [course, highway, path]: and when they fall upon the sword [a missile of attack, weapon], they shall not be wounded [break off, finish, stop, be wounded].
Joel 2:9 They shall run to and fro [to course (like a beast of prey) to seek greedily, have appetite, range] in the city [a place guarded by waking or a watch) encampment, outpost]; they shall run [rush, stretch out] upon the wall, they shall climb up [ascend, mount] upon the houses [home, door, court, dungeon, palace, prison]; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief [stealer].
Joel 2:10 The earth [land, nations, world] shall quake [quiver with violent emotion, anger or fear] before them; the heavens [sky aloft] shall tremble [undulate; particularly through fear; make afraid]: the sun and the moon shall be dark, [ashy, dark colored, to mourn] and the stars shall withdraw [take away] their shining [brilliancy, light]:
Joel 2:11 And the LORD [Jehovah] shall utter [appoint, ascribe, assign, bestow] his voice [to call aloud] before his army [wealth, virtue, valor, strength]: for [indicating causal relations of all kinds] his camp [an encampment of travelers or troops] is very [with vehemence] great [abundant]: for he is strong [powerful] that executeth [to do or make, accomplish, advance, bring forth] his word [a cause, commandment, counsel]: for the day of the LORD is great [great (in any sense), older; exceeding] and very terrible [to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten, make afraid, be had in reverence]; and who can abide [measure,; maintain, be able to, abide, bear, comprehend, contain, make provision, receive] it?
Isaiah 13:1 The burden [tribute, utterance, chiefly a doom, prophecy] of Babylon [confusion], which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
Isa.13:2 Lift ye up [advance, accept, arise] a banner [standard] upon [over, above, upon, or against] the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates [door, or entranceway] of the nobles.
Isa.13:3 I have commanded [appoint, charge, command, order] my sanctified ones [to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally); appoint, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify], I have also [to gather] called [to call out, address by name] my mighty ones [powerful, champion, chief, mighty, valiant man] for mine anger [ire, longsuffering, wrath], even them that rejoice [exult, joyous] in my highness [majesty, excellency].
Isa.13:4 The noise of a multitude [a noise, tumult, crowd; abundance, company, may] in the mountains, like [resembling] as of a great [abundant in quantity, size, age, rank, quality] people; a tumultuous [uproar] noise of the kingdoms [dominion, estate, country, realm] of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth [oversee, muster, charge, care for] the host [a mass of persons] of the battle [warfare].
Isa 13:5 They come from a far country [remote, distant] from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons [something that is prepared] of his indignation [fury, especially God's displeasure with sin], to destroy [to wind tightly (as a rope) to bind, to pervert, destroy] the whole [all, any or every] land [earth, nations, world].
Isa. 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand [near, in place]; it shall come as a destruction [violence, ravage, spoil, wasting] from the Almighty.
Isa.13:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint [slacken], and every man's heart shall melt [liquefy, to waste, to faint]:
Isa. 13:8 And they shall be afraid [tremble, alarmed, agitated]: pangs and sorrows shall take hold [seize] of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed [in consternation, marvel] one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Isa. 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel [terrible] both with wrath [outburst of passion - anger, rage, wrath] and fierce [burning] anger [ire], to lay the land desolate [ruin, astonishment, waste]: and he shall destroy [bring to naught, overthrow, pluck down, utterly] the sinners [a criminal, or one accounted guilty, offender] thereof out of it.
Isa. 13:11 And I will punish [visit, do judgment, punish, call to remembrance] the world [earth, inhabitants] for their evil [harm, misery, wickedness], and the wicked [morally wrong, ungodly] for their iniquity [perversity, (moral) evil, sin]: and I will cause the arrogance [pomp, pride, swelling] of the proud [arrogant, presumptuous] to cease [desist, rid, take away], and will lay low [depress or sink, humiliate] the haughtiness [arrogance, pride, swelling] of the terrible [fearful, tyrannical, oppressor].
