Joel 2:30-32
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The imagery of "blood and fire and columns of smoke" isn't just describing destruction; it's intentionally echoing the plagues of Egypt and other powerful displays of God's intervention. This connects the coming judgment on unfaithfulness with God's past mighty acts, showing that His powerful works continue, bringing both awe and dread depending on how people respond.
This passage comes as God announces a profound outpouring of His Spirit and a restoration for His people. Following this promise of blessing and renewal, Joel shifts to describe awe-inspiring, even terrifying, signs in both the sky and the earth, signaling a coming "great and terrible day of the LORD." These dramatic portents – blood, fire, and smoke – serve as harbingers of significant upheaval, whether understood as literal atmospheric phenomena or symbolic representations of coming judgment and divine intervention.
Joel paints a dramatic picture of 'wonders' in the heavens and earth. What kind of events are these, and why would God send them?
This verse describes 'wonders' – not necessarily miracles of grace, but portents, extraordinary phenomena that signal a major shift. The imagery of "blood and fire and pillars of smoke" evokes destruction and upheaval.
Cosmic and Terrestrial Alarms
These wonders are described as occurring "in the heavens and on the earth." This indicates a sweeping scale of events, affecting both the celestial realm (sky, sun, moon) and the terrestrial realm (land, cities, people).
Dual Significance
Commentators note that these portents often point to a dual meaning: divine judgment on the disobedient, and a prelude to new divine action. For instance, many see this prophecy pointing forward to the destruction of Jerusalem, a judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah. Yet, it also signifies the establishment of the Christian faith and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
As one commentary puts it, "Each revelation of God prepares the way for another, until that last revelation of His love and of His wrath." These 'wonders' serve as cosmic alarms, announcing that God is about to act in judgment, but also clearing the way for His ultimate purposes.
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Why does God's activity sometimes look so terrifying, with 'blood and fire'?
Joel's prophecy reveals a profound truth about God's actions: they can be experienced in radically different ways by different people.
A Revelation for All
God's wonders are not just for His faithful followers. They are shown "in the heavens and on the earth," impacting everyone. The imagery of "blood and fire and pillars of smoke" points to events that are terrifying and destructive for those on whom God brings judgment.
Light and Darkness Coexist
This is similar to how God delivered Israel from Egypt. For the Egyptians, the pillar of cloud was darkness and terror. But for the Israelites, it was light and guidance.
As the commentary notes, "all God's workings are light and darkness at once, according as people are, who see them or to whom they come." The same divine action can be a sign of salvation for believers and a sign of wrath for unbelievers. Joel is foretelling a time when God's judgment will be powerfully displayed, yet these same events are part of the unfolding of His redemptive plan for those who trust Him.
Understand the original words
mopheth · Hebrew Noun
Signs or portents in the natural world that testify to God's presence, judgment, or coming intervention in history.
shemesh · Hebrew Noun
The central luminary of the solar system, often used in biblical prophecy as a symbol of divine presence, glory, or, when darkened, as a sign of judgment and divine intervention in history.
choshek · Hebrew Noun
A state of absence of light, frequently associated in Scripture with judgment, chaos, the realm of the dead, or the removal of God's favor and presence.
yareach · Hebrew Noun
The night luminary; in prophetic literature, celestial phenomena involving the moon often signal dramatic transitions, apocalyptic events, or the disruption of the natural order at the approach of God.
yom YHWH · Hebrew Noun phrase
A significant period of divine intervention in human history, characterized by the manifestation of God’s holiness, the judgment of the wicked, and the salvation of the righteous.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the covenant-keeping God of Israel, revealed to Moses, representing His self-existence, eternity, and personal relationship with His people.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To be delivered, rescued, or made whole from danger, judgment, or sin, emphasizing God as the ultimate source of preservation and redemption.
Tsiyyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
The hill in Jerusalem that became the seat of the Davidic monarchy and the site of the Temple; it serves as a theological symbol for the dwelling place of God’s presence and the center of His rule on earth.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The holy city of God, often synonymous with Zion, representing the spiritual capital of Israel, the place of God's sanctuary, and the focal point of divine blessing and justice.
peletah · Hebrew Noun
Those who remain after a time of divine judgment or catastrophe; a remnant kept by God through faith to carry on the covenant promises.
This passage vividly describes the terrifying signs that would precede God's judgment, not only pointing to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 but also serving as a powerful symbol for future catastrophic events and the final Day of the Lord.
c. 6 BC - AD 30/33
Birth, Ministry, Crucifixion of Jesus
The life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, are seen by many interpreters as fulfilling some of the 'wonders' prophesied, particularly the darkening of the sun and earthquake during the crucifixion.
c. AD 64 - AD 70
Roman-Jewish Wars Begin
The First Jewish-Roman War erupted, leading to widespread conflict, massive loss of life, and immense destruction throughout Judea and surrounding areas.
AD 66
Various Portents Observed
Josephus records numerous supernatural signs and portents in the heavens and on earth preceding the fall of Jerusalem, including a star resembling a sword over the city and armies seen battling in the clouds.
AD 70— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Roman legions under Titus besieged and utterly destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy and marking a catastrophic turning point for the Jewish people.
c. AD 90s
Book of Revelation Written
Written during a time of Roman persecution, Revelation uses apocalyptic imagery that echoes Joel's prophecies, seeing similar portents as signs of God's judgment and the ultimate end times.
c. AD 100
Gospel of Matthew's Account
Matthew records Jesus directly linking signs in the heavens and on earth to the coming destruction of the Temple, showing how the prophecy was understood in light of Christ's teachings.
Jesus directly quotes Joel's language about the sun and moon to describe the signs that will precede the end times and His coming in judgment.
Luke 21:11This passage also echoes Joel's imagery of terrifying events in the heavens and on earth as precursors to destruction and judgment.
Acts 2:19-20Peter quotes Joel's prophecy in his sermon, applying the 'wonders in the heavens above and on the earth below, blood and fire and smoke' to the outpouring of the Spirit and the events surrounding Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
Revelation 6:12John's vision of the sixth seal unleashes cosmic disturbances – the sun turning black, the moon turning to blood, and stars falling – mirroring Joel's prophetic imagery of apocalyptic signs.
Deuteronomy 6:22This passage recalls how God showed 'wonders and signs' in Egypt, providing a precedent for how God uses extraordinary phenomena to reveal His power and purposes, much like Joel describes.
jfbJoel 2:30: "And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."
30, 31. As Messiah's manifestation is full of joy to believers, so it has an aspect of wrath to unbelievers, which is represented here. Thus when the Jews received Him not in His coming of grace, He came in judgment on Jerusalem. Physical prodigies, massacres, and conflagrations preceded its destruction [Josephus, Wars of the Jews]. To these the language here may allude; but the figures…
ellicottJoel 2:30: "And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."
(30, 31) The sun . . . and the moon.— These words, recalling some of the portents in the ancient history of the Jews (especially as instanced in some of the plagues of Egypt) are taken up by our Lord Himself, as ushering in the great day of judgment; and they are echoed again by St. John in the vision of the opening of the sixth seal: “For the great day of His wrath is come, and who shal…
The imagery of "blood and fire and columns of smoke" isn't just describing destruction; it's intentionally echoing the plagues of Egypt and other powerful displays of God's intervention. This connects the coming judgment on unfaithfulness with God's past mighty acts, showing that His powerful works continue, bringing both awe and dread depending on how people respond.
This passage comes as God announces a profound outpouring of His Spirit and a restoration for His people. Following this promise of blessing and renewal, Joel shifts to describe awe-inspiring, even terrifying, signs in both the sky and the earth, signaling a coming "great and terrible day of the LORD." These dramatic portents – blood, fire, and smoke – serve as harbingers of significant upheaval, whether understood as literal atmospheric phenomena or symbolic representations of coming judgment and divine intervention.
This passage comes as God announces a profound outpouring of His Spirit and a restoration for His people. Following this promise of blessing and renewal, Joel shifts to describe awe-inspiring, even terrifying, signs in both the sky and the earth, signaling a coming "great and terrible day of the LORD." These dramatic portents – blood, fire, and smoke – serve as harbingers of significant upheaval, whether understood as literal atmospheric phenomena or symbolic representations of coming judgment and divine intervention.
"“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that e…" — The imagery of "blood and fire and columns of smoke" isn't just describing destruction; it's intentionally echoing the plagues of Egypt and other powerful displays of God's intervention. This connect…
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