14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Read full chapter

14 Multitudes,(A) multitudes
    in the valley(B) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(C) is near
    in the valley of decision.(D)

Read full chapter

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Read full chapter

Watch out for those dogs,(A) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.

Read full chapter

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Read full chapter

I will gather(A) all nations
    and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[a](B)
There I will put them on trial(C)
    for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered(D) my people among the nations
    and divided up my land.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.

For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

Read full chapter

The Lord is angry with all nations;
    his wrath(A) is on all their armies.
He will totally destroy[a](B) them,
    he will give them over to slaughter.(C)
Their slain(D) will be thrown out,
    their dead bodies(E) will stink;(F)
    the mountains will be soaked with their blood.(G)
All the stars in the sky will be dissolved(H)
    and the heavens rolled up(I) like a scroll;
all the starry host will fall(J)
    like withered(K) leaves from the vine,
    like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

My sword(L) has drunk its fill in the heavens;
    see, it descends in judgment on Edom,(M)
    the people I have totally destroyed.(N)
The sword(O) of the Lord is bathed in blood,
    it is covered with fat—
the blood of lambs and goats,
    fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice(P) in Bozrah(Q)
    and a great slaughter(R) in the land of Edom.
And the wild oxen(S) will fall with them,
    the bull calves and the great bulls.(T)
Their land will be drenched with blood,(U)
    and the dust will be soaked with fat.

For the Lord has a day(V) of vengeance,(W)
    a year of retribution,(X) to uphold Zion’s cause.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 34:2 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 5.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Read full chapter

19 Then I saw the beast(A) and the kings of the earth(B) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse(C) and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet(D) who had performed the signs(E) on its behalf.(F) With these signs he had deluded(G) those who had received the mark of the beast(H) and worshiped its image.(I) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake(J) of burning sulfur.(K) 21 The rest were killed with the sword(L) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,(M) and all the birds(N) gorged themselves on their flesh.

Read full chapter

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Read full chapter

14 They are demonic spirits(A) that perform signs,(B) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(C) to gather them for the battle(D) on the great day(E) of God Almighty.

15 “Look, I come like a thief!(F) Blessed is the one who stays awake(G) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”(H)

16 Then they gathered the kings together(I) to the place that in Hebrew(J) is called Armageddon.(K)

Read full chapter

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Read full chapter

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(A) being kept for the day of judgment(B) and destruction of the ungodly.

Read full chapter

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;

Read full chapter

An Army of Locusts

Blow the trumpet(A) in Zion;(B)
    sound the alarm on my holy hill.(C)

Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord(D) is coming.
It is close at hand(E)

Read full chapter

15 Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Read full chapter

15 Alas for that(A) day!
    For the day of the Lord(B) is near;
    it will come like destruction from the Almighty.[a](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 1:15 Hebrew Shaddai

After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

17 Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face.

19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Read full chapter

After many days(A) you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations(B) to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.(C) You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm;(D) you will be like a cloud(E) covering the land.(F)

10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind(G) and you will devise an evil scheme.(H) 11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people(I)—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.(J) 12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.[a] 13 Sheba(K) and Dedan(L) and the merchants of Tarshish(M) and all her villages[b] will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?(N)”’

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety,(O) will you not take notice of it? 15 You will come from your place in the far north,(P) you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.(Q) 16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud(R) that covers the land.(S) In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy(T) through you before their eyes.(U)

17 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel. At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. 18 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. 19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake(V) in the land of Israel.(W) 20 The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble(X) at my presence. The mountains will be overturned,(Y) the cliffs will crumble(Z) and every wall will fall to the ground.(AA) 21 I will summon a sword(AB) against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.(AC) 22 I will execute judgment(AD) on him with plague and bloodshed;(AE) I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones(AF) and burning sulfur(AG) on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.(AH) 23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(AI)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 38:12 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
  2. Ezekiel 38:13 Or her strong lions

63 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Read full chapter

God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption

63 Who is this coming from Edom,(A)
    from Bozrah,(B) with his garments stained crimson?(C)
Who is this, robed in splendor,
    striding forward in the greatness of his strength?(D)

“It is I, proclaiming victory,
    mighty to save.”(E)

Why are your garments red,
    like those of one treading the winepress?(F)

“I have trodden the winepress(G) alone;
    from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled(H) them in my anger
    and trod them down in my wrath;(I)
their blood spattered my garments,(J)
    and I stained all my clothing.
It was for me the day of vengeance;(K)
    the year for me to redeem had come.
I looked, but there was no one(L) to help,
    I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm(M) achieved salvation for me,
    and my own wrath sustained me.(N)
I trampled(O) the nations in my anger;
    in my wrath I made them drunk(P)
    and poured their blood(Q) on the ground.”

Praise and Prayer

I will tell of the kindnesses(R) of the Lord,
    the deeds for which he is to be praised,
    according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things(S)
    he has done for Israel,
    according to his compassion(T) and many kindnesses.

Read full chapter

Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken.

And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.

12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord God.

14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.

16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.

18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.

19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.

20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God.

Read full chapter

It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord. This is the day(A) I have spoken of.

“‘Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows,(B) the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.(C) 10 They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder(D) those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign Lord.(E)

11 “‘On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried(F) there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog.[a](G)

12 “‘For seven months the Israelites will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.(H) 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I display my glory(I) will be a memorable day for them, declares the Sovereign Lord. 14 People will be continually employed in cleansing the land. They will spread out across the land and, along with others, they will bury any bodies that are lying on the ground.

“‘After the seven months they will carry out a more detailed search. 15 As they go through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will leave a marker beside it until the gravediggers bury it in the Valley of Hamon Gog, 16 near a town called Hamonah.[b] And so they will cleanse the land.’

17 “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call out to every kind of bird(J) and all the wild animals: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood.(K) 18 You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they were rams and lambs, goats and bulls—all of them fattened animals from Bashan.(L) 19 At the sacrifice(M) I am preparing for you, you will eat fat till you are glutted and drink blood till you are drunk. 20 At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind,’ declares the Sovereign Lord.(N)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 39:11 Hamon Gog means hordes of Gog.
  2. Ezekiel 39:16 Hamonah means horde.

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

Read full chapter

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.(A)

Read full chapter