Friday, May 23, 2008

What About The Lord's Army in Joel 2:11?

Dr. Couch, on Joel 2:11 it says that the verse is about The Lord's Army, yet most dispensational commentators state that it is some kind of destructive, diabolical force. What do you say?

ANSWER: I am not sure which dispensationalists you are reading. All the ones I checked say clearly that this is about the Lord's Army. The dispensational Bible Knowledge Commentary, Unger's OT Commentary, and the Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary all agree. These are the latest dispensational works. In the Popular volume, Dr. Fruchtenbaum writes on Joel 2:11: "God is able to execute His word, and He will execute it during the great and terrible Day of the Lord." Unger adds, "His intervention in God's invasion against His people will be a somber spectacle of the greatness and awesomeness of the Day of the Lord (v. 31; Joel 1:15; 3:14), and "who can abide (endure) it? (Ezek. 22:14; cf. Matt. 24:13)."

I cannot imagine a conflict over this passage. It seems quite clear in meaning and in context.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch