Dear Ministry Partner,
Last month’s Bible study made a passing reference to Joel’s prophecy that springboarded Peter’s sermon at Pentecost. A deeper look shows that both Joel’s prophecy and Peter’s sermon convey the same message about Israel and the rest of the world.
JOEL’S PROPHECY
The last section of Joel chapter two (which Peter referenced in Acts 2) and all of Joel chapter three point to God’s agenda for the future. Joel conveys two important principles regarding the culmination of history: God will provide for His people, and God will bring His plan to completion.
Considering God’s provision for His people, what future did Joel see? Recall that up to 2:28, Joel was addressing the punishment of Israel in his day, and calling for repentance. What Joel saw in the future is what the prophet Jeremiah spoke of in Jeremiah 33:15–16,
“In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely, and this is the name by which she will be called, ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”
Joel saw that God would cause “wonders” on earth and in the heavens. Joel 2:30–31,
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”
- The earthly “wonders of blood and fire” refer to the warfare noted in Revelation 8:8, “Then the second angel sounded: and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.”
- According to Amos 5:18–20, the heavenly wonders will be undesirable darkness: a full eclipse of the sun, and at night the moon will appear as blood red — all signs of the “Day of the Lord.”
THE DAY OF THE LORD
When “Day of the Lord” is used in eschatology (study of the End Times), it specifically involves a re-gathered Israel. Joel 2:32, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”
The eschatological “Day of the Lord” begins with Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:24–27) and concludes with the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) and the coming of our Lord to defeat the enemies of Israel.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in the heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11–16)
When Zola taught these truths at Megiddo, he would ask the pilgrims if they knew why the name was written on the garment of Yeshua’s thigh? Answer: So that enemies on the ground (at eye level to the thigh of our Lord) would immediately recognize the victorious rider on the white horse — “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10–11
I pray that you can confirm in your spirit that when Yeshua was born in Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago, victory for the Believer (“Believers” is short for “believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah.”) was sealed! Let there be no doubt that God’s provision for His people continues through the Millennium and sees its consummation in eternity.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’” (Revelation 21:1–3)
A DIVINE PROMISE
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit that both Joel and Peter plainly mentioned is not only Joel’s prophetic word, but a divine promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1–3 that God would bless him as a great nation, and that through him all the world would receive the blessing! The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) confirmed the Genesis promise, and Yeshua’s finished work on the cross guaranteed the promise for all eternity.
The consummation of God’s plan is described in Joel chapter three. In the beginning verses, we see that Judah and Jerusalem will again be at the center of God’s attention.
“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” (emphasis mine, Joel 3:1–2)
Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah all speak of this valley using different names but with the same message.
This will be the period of the Great Tribulation (the second half of the seven-year Tribulation) — “the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” The specific enemies of God are noted (Joel 3:4–8) as Tyre, Sidon, and the coast where the Philistines settled (the Gaza Strip). God will provide retribution for the years of unprovoked attack against Israel by His enemies in Gaza and in the nations of the world. God will pour out His wrath as noted in Revelation 6:15–17,
“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”
THE VALLEY OF DECISION
The final struggle is revealed in Joel 3:9–17 as all the men of war and surrounding nations gather now in the “valley of decision.” It is time to decide if their allegiance is with the God of Israel or with Satan. They are unaware that this is their day of judgment!
“The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel 3:16)
In the final verses, Joel paints a picture of Israel’s everlasting well-being. The Lord Himself will dwell in the midst of His people — “For the Lord dwells in Zion.” Joel 3:21
Standing firm with Israel and ZLM,
P.S. To stand with Israel places a person on the side of the victorious King of kings and Lord of lords. That is where I want to be! 
A Note from David and Kirsten
Wow — it is already mid-summer and time for family vacations, barbeques, and quality fun. Our lakeside neighborhood is in its busy season. One thing typically not good in summer — ministry donations.
Summer months are usually “slim” when it comes to people remembering to send their contributions. So here’s a friendly reminder to please remain faithful in your giving to Zola Levitt Ministries. We are able to send our monthly Levitt Letter news magazine and the Personal Letter’s monthly Bible study plus Zola Levitt Presents’ weekly television Bible teaching because of you. In addition, a number of worthy ministries in Israel rely on donations that we forward.
Now at the midpoint of another year, we hope to finish 2019 with strong teaching and in the black financially. Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” ZLM does our best to fulfill that calling by staying debt-free. If you are interested in earmarking your giving for particular expenses, you can designate your financial gifts for television production, TV airtime, and newsletter distribution, or the “general fund” that covers everything as needed.
Zola Tours
One of the most wonderful aspects of this outreach involves opportunities each spring and fall to travel and study in the Holy Land. Our Fall Tour includes a Greek land tour and Greek islands cruise in which you can walk the streets of ancient Ephesus, climb the Acropolis in Athens, and literally walk in the footsteps of Paul as we explore Corinth on the land bridge to the Peloponnese. Bringing family members would give them the spiritual gift of a lifetime. Ice the cake with our Petra extension that explores the famous Siq. (Look up [Google] “Siq” to learn what it is; then watch our travel tips. Go to YouTube.com and enter “zola levitt petra” in the search line.
For everything you need to know about travel with Zola Tours, please contact Sandra at 214-696-9760, or email her at travel@levitt.com. She’ll guide you through the registration process including details regarding passports and domestic connections. Contact her, or visit levitt.com/tours to explore the following options:
| Deluxe (Israel only) | Sep 16–26 | $4,988 |
| Grand Petra (Israel & Petra) | Sep 16–29 | $6,188 |
| Grand Athens (Greece & Israel) | Sep 10–26 | $7,988 |
| Ultra Grand (Greece & Israel & Petra) | Sep 10–29 | $9,188 |
| Deluxe (Israel only) | Mar 16–26 | $5,288 |
| Grand Petra (Israel & Petra) | Mar 16–29 | $6,488 |
On Zola Levitt Presents this month
Recently in the TV studio, we taped short “call out” greetings to our dozens of independent television stations that carry Zola Levitt Presents nationwide. While a majority of our supporters watch us on the Daystar Network, we appreciate the nearly one hundred full-power independent stations across America that have faithfully aired our program over the decades. Watch for these shout-outs on your local station.
With five weeks in July, you’ll have five weekly episodes of our Psalms series to watch and share. If you’re on social media, please “copy and paste” each program’s YouTube link onto your social media page. You can also email those links to friends and family. Please SHARE our wonderful on-location Bible teaching!
Psalms 120–134 are known as the Psalms of Ascent. These psalms may have been sung by ancient Jews going up to the Temple in Jerusalem, and each one is surprisingly appropriate and timely for Believers today. David and Kirsten Hart in our TV studio present teaching by Dr. Jeffrey Seif from Israel, messages from Eitan Shishkoff and Chaim Malespin, Hebrew lessons from Sarah Liberman, plus music by Marty Goetz.
- Psalms 124 & 125
- The Lord has sustained Israel these many centuries. King David saw divine protection and likened it to the mountains that surround Jerusalem.
- Psalms 126 & 127
- Out of captivity and sorrow, the Lord brings joy through deliverance. The Israelites have returned to the Promised Land.
- Psalms 128 & 129
- Israel as a nation has seen much affliction, but the Lord’s
support is unwavering. - Psalms 130 & 131
- At the Western Wall, Jeff speaks of God’s ears that are open to our cries for help. Always there, He faithfully pours out His forgiveness and redemption.
- Psalms 132 & 133
- David wanted to build a temple in Jerusalem because he knew the Lord had chosen it. Zion became His abiding place and remains His to this very day, despite replacement theology.
Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim! —
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! — Psalm 122:6
Zola Levitt Ministries is ECFA approved and has Charity Navigator’s top rating of 4 stars.
