Page 38 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

The overriding theme of the Book of Joel is the Day of the Lord, a day of God’s wrath and judgment.
This is the Day in which God reveals His attributes of wrath, power and holiness, and it is a terrifying
day to His enemies. In the first chapter, the Day of the Lord is experienced historically by the plague of
locusts upon the land. Chapter 2:1-17 is a transitional chapter in which Joel uses the metaphor of the
locust plague and drought to renew a call to repentance. Chapters 2:18-3:21 describes the Day of the
Lord in eschatological terms and answers the call to repentance with prophecies of physical restoration
(2:21-27), spiritual restoration (2:28-32), and national restoration (3:1-21).

"What is the valley of decision (Joel 3:14)?"

Joel 3:14 says, “Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the
valley of decision.” Many evangelists have drawn from this passage to challenge audiences to “make a
decision” for Christ. Others view this valley of decision as a time of judgment when the Lord decides
the fate of the nations. Which is it: an invitation or a prophecy of doom?

The context of Joel 3 clarifies that this is a time when God judges the earth. Verse 2 says, “I will gather
all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with
them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel.” The Valley of Jehoshaphat is the same as
the “valley of decision.” Jehoshaphat means “Yahweh judges”; the “decision” being made in the valley
is God’s, not the multitudes’. The literal, geographical location of this valley is likely the Kidron Valley
on the east side of Jerusalem.

The focus of Joel 3 is on the future Day of the Lord. This time will include a gathering of the nations
(verse 2), a judgment on wickedness (verse 13), and astronomical signs (verse 15). Joel’s prophecy of
the valley of decision finds its counterpart in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse and the judgment of the sheep and
the goats (Matthew 25:31-46).

Immediately following the prophecy of judgment, Joel transitions to a description of the
Lord’s millennial reign, a literal 1,000-year time period that follows the tribulation. During the
millennium Christ rules as king from Jerusalem. Some interpreters argue the millennium is figurative,
yet many passages, including Joel 3:18-21, describe this time in great detail. Further, Revelation 20:1-
7 refers to “1,000 years” six times. It seems that God desires us to know that the millennial kingdom is
a literal time period.

Ultimately, the “valley of decision” in Joel 3:14 is not about humans choosing whether or not to follow
Christ; it is God handing down His decision of judgment at the end of the tribulation. Wickedness will
be dealt with decisively, swiftly and justly. Praise the Lord for His promise to make all things right one
day and to be “a refuge for his people” (Joel 3:16).

Foreshadowings: Whenever the Old Testament speaks of judgment for sin, whether individual or
national sin, the advent of Jesus Christ is foreshadowed. The prophets of the Old Testament continually
warned Israel to repent, but even when they did, their repentance was limited to law-keeping and
works. Their temple sacrifices were but a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice, offered once for all time,
which would come at the cross (Hebrews 10:10). Joel tells us that God’s ultimate judgment, which falls
on the Day of the Lord, will be “great and terrible. Who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11). The answer is that
we, on our own, can never endure such a moment. But if we have placed our faith in Christ for

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