Thoughts on the Book of Joel (in many parts); Part A: Introduction

Much has been said about “The Dark Night of the Soul” as of late (as of 2009); it is a quote, actually a title to a book, by a Christian mystic named St. John of the Cross who lived during the Reformation of the mid-to-late fifteen hundreds.  Suffice it to say that his Dark Night of the Soul preceded his Light Day of the Lord; likewise, if we are to participate in the near coming Reformation of our day we must also go the way of the cross into the pure light of His presence in the Holy of Holies.

Every generation, it seems to me, is confronted with a day of scrutiny, a day of judgment, when God shows up to examine His work within the hearts of His people.  I am entirely too blind, without sufficient breadth of knowledge to see across enough horizons to substantiate this point, but I have come to think that the Day of the Lord is many days only culminating in one grand day at the end of the age (and every generation thinks their day is that day; and of course, for them, it is!).  A Day of the Lord, an allotted timeframe within each generation at a designated point of their maturity, appointed by God,wherein He inspects His work within their hearts, is their final window of opportunity to right themselves with God in their particular generation or lifespan.

It is only theoretical that a soul can still be saved while there is breath in it; God alone knows when someone is irredeemable.  Though God’s hand is never too short, enough wrong choices can so desensitize a conscience as to make His hand seem nonexistent.  Every soul from every generation is therefore sealed or labeled for God (as bondservants of God upon their foreheads) or for themselves (as named after the beast or marked with the number of his name, 666, upon their foreheads).  I believe a sealing of our generation has begun to occur; and whose mark will we receive?

 

I believe, that like a sunspot eruption, a sudden flash of brilliance has just shown forth as a clarion call to our generation; this brilliant explosion of light is the emanation of the golden crown upon our Lord’s head and is a sure sign that He is about to execute His authority and punish any subject that is not really a subject, e. g., those that feign subjection but are not genuinely subject to Him from the heart.  He has arisen from off His throne and is about to either hold the scepter up or down in favor or disfavor, mercy or judgment, concerning this generation.

A wonderful Reformation is, indeed, coming, and God is scrutinizing His people so as to fit them for it.  Those that have been judging themselves regularly will need no further judgment; those that have been slack and indulgent will suffer loss and much sorrow, but even now, if they will repent, God can, and will, rescue and restore them.  “But who can endure the day of His coming?  And who can stand when He appears?” (Malachi 3:2).  “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world” (John 3:19).