Joel 2:1 says, “Blow thee the trumpet in Zion and sound the 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.”
Prophetically, Joel is speaking about blowing the shofar, but more than that it is a call to arms, a call to gather the people of God together for the great end-time battle. We are Joel’s army, a prophetic generation, and the Lord is calling us together now, positioning and preparing us, His end-time army. There is a war going on. It is a time for war. Unfortunately, many prophetic voices today, who are meant to be the shofar of the Lord are crying peace, peace, wrongly directing the army of God, with an unclear sound and signal from the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 14:7-10, Paul clearly tells us in his teaching concerning spiritual gifts and referring to the trumpet which is the prophetic voice that we are to give a distinct sound, for if the trumpet is an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself for battle? An unclear message is not His desire. There are many kinds of voices in the world and they are all significant. This is a time for the restoration of the true prophetic voice and the office gift of the Prophet. It is time to give a clear message from the Lord. The trumpet is used to gather the people of God together with purpose. We need to know – is it for war? Is it for counsel? Is it time to eat? An unclear sound can cause a wrong response in the warrior. He could show up with a fork and spoon rather than the spiritual weapons he needs for war or without his armor on therefore vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.
In Ephesians 6:12, Pauls tells us this is a spiritual battle. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but powers and principalities, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.
In Joel 2:7, the prophet tells us that this end-time army shall run like mighty men, they shall climb the wall like men of war, they shall march, everyone on his ways and they shall not break their ranks. That means that we will be in unity, that we will know our purpose, our place. Because of some of the wrong messages and wrong teaching the present-day army of the Lord, in many cases is MIA, (missing in action) or AWOL, (absent without leave). Some prophetic voices have told us it is time to isolate and separate and a time for a wilderness experience when in actuality God is calling us together, an in-gathering of Eagles who understand spiritual authority, and are being equipped and empowered in their gifting and calling. As Joel told us in chapter 3 verses 9-11, I say to you proclaim this, prepare for war, wake up the mighty men, assemble yourselves, beat your plowshares into swords prepare for battle and prepare for the harvest. Put in your sickle for the harvest is ripe…wickedness is great, the day of the Lord is near we are in the valley of decision. There is a battle going on!
I take seriously the prophetic mandate of the moment. I reverence the call of God to His children. I exhort you to blow the trumpet, to sound the alarm, to speak boldly and clearly the word of the Lord for our generation. To clearly communicate what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the church, with boldness, humility, under proper authority and protocol so that the voice of the prophet will be received. May the Lord bless you in all that you do. May He stir afresh in your heart the gifts and the power of His Spirit. May the eyes of your understanding be enlightened according to his Word and his Will.
