1 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;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.
22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

1Blow yee the trumpet in Zion, & sound an alarme in my holy mountaine: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cōmeth, for it is nie at hand;

2A day of darkenesse and of gloominesse, a day of clouds and of thicke darkenesse, as the morning spread vpon the mountaines: a great people and a strong, there hath not beene euer the like, neither shall be any more after it, euen to the yeres of many generations.

3A fire deuoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wildernes, yea and nothing shall escape them.

4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horse men, so shall they runne.

5Like the noise of charets on the tops of mountaines shall they leape, like the noise of a flame of fire that deuoureth the stubble, as a strong people, set in battell aray.

6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blacknesse.

7They shall runne like mighty men, they shall clime the wall like men of warre, and they shall march euery one on his wayes, and they shall not breake their rankes.

8Neither shall one thrust another, they shall walke euery one in his path: and when they fall vpon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9They shall runne to and fro in the citie: they shall runne vpon the wall: they shall clime vp vpon the houses: they shall enter in at the windowes, like a theefe.

10The earth shall quake before them, the heauens shall tremble, the Sun & the Moone shall be darke, & the starres shall withdrawe their shining.

11And the Lord shall vtter his voyce before his armie, for his campe is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turne yee euen to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.

13 And rent your heart and not your garments; and turne vnto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindnesse, and repenteth him of the euill.

14Who knoweth if he will returne and repent, and leaue a blessing behind him, euen a meate offring and a drinke offring vnto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctifie a fast, call a solemne assembly.

16Gather the people: sanctifie the congregation: assemble the elders: gather the children, and those that sucke the breasts: let the bridegroome goe forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weepe betweene the porch and the altar, & let them say; Spare thy people O Lord, and giue not thine heritage to reproch; that the heathen should rule ouer them: Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

18 Then will the Lord be iealous for his land, and pitie his people.

19Yea the Lord will answere and say vnto his people; Behold, I will send you corne and wine, and oyle, and yee shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproch among the heathen.

20 But I will remoue farre off from you the northren armie, & will driue him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the East sea, and his hinder part towards the vtmost Sea, and his stinke shall come vp, and his ill sauour shall come vp, because he hath done great things.

21 Feare not, O land, be glad and reioyce: for the Lord will doe great things.

22Be not afraid, yee beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wildernesse doe spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine doe yeeld their strength.

23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and reioyce in the Lord your God: for he hath giuen you the former raine moderately, and he will cause to come downe for you the raine, the former raine, & the latter raine in the first month.

24And the floores shall bee full of wheate, and the fats shall ouerflowe with wine and oyle.

25 And I will restore to you the yeeres that the locust hath eaten, the canker worme, and the caterpiller, and the palmer worme, my great armie which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eate in plentie, and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you: and my people shall neuer be ashamed.

27 And ye shal know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall neuer be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to passe afterward, that I will powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh, and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophecie, your old men shall dreame dreames, your yong men shall see visions.

29 And also vpon the seruants, and vpon the handmaids in those dayes will I powre out my Spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heauens, and in the earth, blood and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The Sunne shall be turned into darkenesse, and the Moone into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.

32 And it shall come to passe that whosoeuer shall call on the Name of the Lord, shall bee deliuered: for in mount Zion and in Ierusalem shalbe deliuerance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant, whom the Lord shall call.

I == Num 10:5 , 9 ; Jer 4:5 ; Joel 1:15 ; 2:15 ; Obad 1:15 ; Zeph 1:14-15

II == Ex 10:14 ; Amos 5:18 , 20

III == Gen 2:8 ; 13:10 ; Isa 51:3 ; Zech 7:14

IV == Rev 9:7

V == Joel 2:2 ; Rev 9:9

VI == Jer 8:21 ; Lam 4:8 ; Nah 2:10

IX == Jer 9:21 ; John 10:1

X == Isa 13:10 ; Ezek 32:7 ; Matt 24:29

XI == Joel 2:25 ; 3:16 ; Amos 1:2 ; Rev 18:8

XIII == Ps 34:18 ; 51:17 ; Jon 4:2

XIV == Isa 65:8 ; Amos 5:15

XV == Num 10:3 ; Joel 1:14 ; 2:1

XVI == Ex 19:10 , 22 ; 2nd Chr 20:13 ; Joel 1:14 ; 1st Cor 7:5

XVII == Ex 32:11-12 ; Deut 9:26-29 ; Ps 42:10 ; 79:10 ; 115:2 ; Ezek 8:16 ; Mic 7:10 ; Matt 23:35

XVIII == Deut 32:36 ; Isa 60:10 ; Zech 1:14 ; 8:2

XIX == Joel 1:10 ; Mal 3:10-12

XX == Ex 10:19 ; Deut 11:24 ; Jer 1:14 ; Ezek 47:18 ; Zech 14:8

XXII == Joel 1:18-20 ; Zech 8:12

XXVI == Mic 6:14

XXVII Lev 26:11-12

XXIX == 1st Cor 12:13 ; Gal 3:28 ; Col 3:11

XXX == Matt 24:29 ; Mark 13:24 ; Luke 21:11 , 25

XXXI == Isa 13:9-10 ; Matt 24:29 ; Mark 13:24 ; Luke 21:25 ; Rev 6:12

XXXII == Rom 9:27 ; 10:13 ; 11:5 , 7 , 26

1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming;

2 Yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and somberness! Like dawn spreading over the mountains, a people numerous and mighty! Their like has not been from of old, nor will it be after them, even to the years of distant generations.

3 Before them a fire devours, and after them a flame enkindles; Like the garden of Eden is the land before them, and after them a desert waste; from them there is no escape.

4 Their appearance is that of horses; like steeds they run.

5 As with the rumble of chariots they leap on the mountaintops; As with the crackling of a fiery flame devouring stubble; Like a mighty people arrayed for battle.

6 Before them peoples are in torment, every face blanches.

7 Like warriors they run, like soldiers they scale the wall; They advance, each in his own lane, without swerving from their paths.

8 No one crowds another, each advances in his own track; Though they fall into the ditches, they are not checked.

9 They assault the city, they run upon the wall, they climb into the houses; In at the windows they come like thieves.

10 Before them the earth trembles, the heavens shake; The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withhold their brightness.

11 The LORD raises his voice at the head of his army; For immense indeed is his camp, yes, mighty, and it does his bidding. For great is the day of the LORD, and exceedingly terrible; who can bear it?

12 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

13 Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.

14 Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly;

16 Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber.

17 Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

18 Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

19 The LORD answered and said to his people: See, I will send you grain, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them; No more will I make you a reproach among the nations.

20 No, the northerner I will remove far from you, and drive him out into a land arid and waste, With his van toward the eastern sea, and his rear toward the western sea; And his foulness shall go up, and his stench shall go up.

21 Fear not, O land! exult and rejoice! for the LORD has done great things.

22 Fear not, beasts of the field! for the pastures of the plain are green; The tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and the vine give their yield.

23 And do you, O children of Zion, exult and rejoice in the LORD, your God! He has given you the teacher of justice: he has made the rain come down for you, the early and the late rain as before.

24 The threshing floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will repay you for the years which the locust has eaten, The grasshopper, the devourer, and the cutter, my great army which I sent among you.

26 You shall eat and be filled, and shall praise the name of the LORD, your God, Because he has dealt wondrously with you; my people shall nevermore be put to shame.

27 And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel; I am the LORD, your God, and there is no other; my people shall nevermore be put to shame.

v 1,2. Alarm for near event might have been Assyria coming from the north, v 20. However the emphasis is on the overwhelming day of the Lord. Basically, consider the Day of Christ as the Rapture and surrounding events; The Day of the Lord as the Tribulation through the Millennium and White Throne Judgment; and the Day of God as the time of the new heaven and earth.

v 3-11. Such contrast in v 3. Locusts completely and speedily overrun the land. (Recall noise of locust infestation and bugs even getting in windows, v 9.) The army God sends will come on relentlessly. Verse 10 is a good description of the Tribulation.

v 12-14. True repentance is urged, not mere tearing of garments, realizing the Lord’s mercy. He might yet turn from judgment and allow blessing to return.

v 15-17. The trumpet in v 1 was a call to war, but this is a call to worship. From priests on down, no one was excepted, even newlyweds ordinarily set apart 7 days. The plea was that the name of the Lord be not a reproach among enemies.

v 18-26. True repentance would result in the Lord turning back the enemy. In v. 20 the enemy had done great things, but in 21, the Lord will do great things. (NIV says the Lord in both verses.) He will restore pastures for wild animals, restore rains and harvest, and replenish that destroyed by locusts. Then they would acknowledge God.

v 27. In Num. 11:16-30 seventy elders were given the Spirit, but two men not with them also received the Spirit. (People were not indwelt by the Spirit then.) When one protested to Moses, he wished that the Lord would put His Spirit upon everyone. That wish is fulfilled in these verses and is referred to by Peter in Acts 2:16. The offer for Israel to accept the Kingdom was still open, but they continued to refuse. Thus, total fulfillment as seen in the next two verses awaits the Tribulation. This is quite obviously future, as nothing like this has ever taken place. During that awful time in the Tribulation, Rev. 6:12, not only Israel, but anyone who calls upon God will be delivered, Rom. 10:13.