Christians: Is this referring to the 144,000 or the saints at the Second Coming, or is it something else?

Question

Please give the source of your answer.
Joel 2
1 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming.
It is close at hand-

2 a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army comes,
such as never was of old
nor ever will be in ages to come.

3 Before them fire devours,
behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,
behind them, a desert waste—
nothing escapes them.

4 They have the appearance of horses;
they gallop along like cavalry.

5 With a noise like that of chariots
they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire consuming stubble,
like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;
every face turns pale.

7 They charge like warriors;
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,
not swerving from their course.

8 They do not jostle each other;
each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
without breaking ranks.

9 They rush upon the city;
they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;
like thieves they enter through the windows.

10 Before them the earth shakes,
the sky trembles,
the sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.

11 The LORD thunders
at the head of his army;
his forces are beyond number,
and mighty are those who obey his command.
The day of the LORD is great;
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it?

Answer 1

Neither.
It is a prophecy from the 2nd Chapter of the Prophet Joel foretelling in figurative language the threat of a plague of locusts which was about to overrun the land of Israel in his day. It probably also foreshadows a plague of demons to be unleashed upon the earth in the last days (Revelation 9:1-12)

Answer 2

Salam
In the Quran Allah SWT speaks of the days of the end listed carefully depicting some against and some for goodness. His plan is not going to bend, its only us that makes things harder on ourselves and such things are called self oppression and oppression by others. There is fundementalist in any religion and there is some that see words are in fast happening. What you posted there is a time and that time is not given to us or you or anyone when that such things will happen in shattering thunder and awe greater than anything else we can ever imagine on that final day it will be more than show that you ever seen or witnessed.
The day is the day the only Ruling King Allah SWT will make us all witness in standing without movement for that day is his time not ours.
Allah is in a state of no time and we are the ones appointed time. There is some that lead the way and others that are good at what they do and need to be able to continue in such mannors in peace and patience and if there is resistance it needs to be talked about not forced upon.
InshAllah Amen

Answer 3

Read the whole book of Joel. It is describing the last days. Pay attention to Chapter 3 Verse 3.

Answer 4

the 144 000 are a reference in revelation to 12 000 Jewish male virgin evangelists who go preaching in the face of the Antichrist who wont be able to be killed until their job is done

the above is talking about a different scenario because there is mention of locusts devouring Israel as well as the surrounding nations if they don't repent of their going astray from the lord

also later in the same chapter there is a passage that peter quotes from in acts 2 which is generally thought of as being the beginning of the fulfilment of that prophecy so the bits before it in Joel chapter 2 could well be a warning to Israel prior to the day of Pentecost

in summary then no i don't think the above is directly referring to the 144 000 mentioned in revelation

Answer 5

The Valley of Decision called Armegeddon and the numbered saved is referring to the Nation of Israel..Revelation Chapter7. Sounds like nuclear proliferation..2nd Peter Chapter 3

Answer 6

I do believe both Joel & Revelation to be figuritive in their descriptions of the end times.

There are 2 major purposes of these books that really go hand in hand. (1) These prophesies are to be an encouragement to the saints in time of persecution because (2) Christ WILL triumph!

Answer 7

Listen to this command from God: “Blow a horn in Zion, O men, and shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land get agitated.” (Joel 2:1) Why react in that way? The prophecy answers: “For the day of Almighty God is coming, for it is near! It is a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick gloom, like light of dawn spread out upon the mountains.” (Joel 2:1, 2) There is a real sense of urgency attached to the great day of Almighty God.

Imagine the impact of the prophet’s vision as the relentless locusts turned a veritable garden of Eden into a desolate waste. Listen to the description of the locust army: “Its appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like steeds is the way they keep running. As with the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains they keep skipping about, as with the sound of a flaming fire that is devouring stubble. It is like a mighty people, drawn up in battle order. Because of it, peoples will be in severe pains. As for all faces, they will certainly collect a glow of excitement.” (Joel 2:4-6) During the locust plague in Joel’s day, the anguish of the Baal worshipers mounted, and the flush of anxiety could be seen on their faces.

Nothing stopped the orderly, tireless locusts. They ran “like powerful men” and even scaled walls. If ‘some of them fell among the missiles, the others did not break off course.’ (Joel 2:7, 8) What a vivid prophetic portrayal of God’s present-day army of figurative locusts! Today, too, God’s locust army keeps on going straight ahead. No “wall” of opposition deters them. They do not compromise their integrity to God but are willing to face death, as did thousands of Witnesses who ‘fell among the missiles’ for refusing to heil Hitler during Germany’s Nazi regime.

God’s modern-day locust army has given a thorough witness in “the city” of Christendom. (Joel 2:9) They have done so throughout the world. They are still climbing over all obstacles, entering millions of homes, approaching people on the street, speaking to them over the phone, and contacting them in any way possible as they declare God’s message. Indeed, they have distributed billions of Bible publications and will distribute many, many more in their ceaseless ministry—both publicly and from house to house.—Acts 20:20, 21.

Joel 2:10 shows that a very large swarm of locusts is like a cloud that can blot out the sun, moon, and stars. (Compare Isaiah 60:8.) Is there any doubt who is behind this military force? Above the roar of the insects, we hear these words of Joel 2:11: “Almighty God himself will certainly give forth his voice before his military force, for his camp is very numerous. For he who is carrying out his word is mighty; for the day of Almighty God is great and very fear-inspiring, and who can hold up under it?” Yes, God is sending forth his military force of locusts now—before his great day

Answer 8

Saints @ the second coming. The 144,000 is just symbolic.