OUTLINE OF JOEL

I. The Day of the Lord in Retrospect............................. 1:1-20

A.  The Past Day of the Locust     1:1-12

Joe 1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

Joe 1:5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

Joe 1:12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

B.  The Past Day of the Drought     1:13-20

Joe 1:19 O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

II. The Day of the Lord in Prospect............................... 2:1-3:21

A. The Imminent Day of the Lord......................... 2:1-27

1. Prophecy of the Imminent Invasion of Judah................ 2:1-11

Joe 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Joe 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

2. Conditional Promise of the Salvation of Judah..................... 2:12-27

Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joe 2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

B.  The Ultimate Day of the Lord . . . 2:28-3:21

1.  Last Events Before the Terrible Day of the Lord..................... 2:28-32

Joe 2:28 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:

Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

2.  Events of the Terrible Day of the Lord..................... 3:1-21

a.  Judgment on the Gentiles    3:1-15

Joe 3:12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

b.  Restoration of Judah    3:16-21

Joe 3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

Joe 3:20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.