The Good News
In conclusion, I must point out that the Judgment in Jehoshaphat is not all bad news. For the book of Revelation clearly teaches that in addition to the Jewish remnant, a great host of Gentiles will be saved during the Tribulation — so many, in fact, that John says they could not be counted (Revelation 7:9).
How will they be saved?
- Responding to the Rapture
- Discovering Bibles
- The testimony of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses
- The Two Witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11)
- The proclamation of the Gospel Angel (Revelation 14:6)
- Responding to the wrath of God
Regarding this last point, Isaiah says, “When the earth experiences God’s judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). Although most will curse God for the judgments, some will be brought to repentance and salvation by the judgments.
As Billy Graham used to say, “The same sun that melts the butter, hardens the clay.” And thus, while the judgments of God will harden the hearts of most, they will melt the hearts of some, bringing them to repentance and salvation.
Conclusion
Let’s end where we began by picking up where we left off in our reading of Joel chapter 3. It describes the result of God’s Judgment in Jehoshaphat. And that, of course, is the Messiah’s glorious Millennial reign which will flood the earth with peace, righteousness and justice, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). Here’s how the prophet Joel describes it in chapter 3 of his prophecy:
17) “Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, live in Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy forever, and foreign armies will never conquer her again.
18) “In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. Water will fill the streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the LORD’s Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias…
20) “Judah will be filled with people forever, and Jerusalem will endure through all generations.
21) …and I The LORD will make My home in Jerusalem with my people! (NLT)
And that, of course, is the reason that Ezekiel tells us that the name of Jerusalem will be changed from Yerushalayim to Yahweh Shemmah, which means “The Lord is There!” (Ezekiel 48:35).
I want to end with the cry of Isaiah. It’s a cry he uttered from the depths of his heart at the end of his book (chapter 64) after having been given vision after vision of the Lord’s Millennial Reign —
1) “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence —
2) …to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!”
Maranatha! And Hallelujah!