We've seen trouble coming, the the Tribulation, then the healing. Now, the golden future.
In the final days, Judah will be gathered back in Jerusalem. He will gather all nations to the valley of judgement (Jehoshaphat) and judge them for scattering the Jews and breaking up the land granted to them. They will also be judged for treating God's people like property to be traded, especially mentioning the children.
Next He pronounces judgement on Phoneticians and Philistines because they stole treasures from God an moved them into their own temples. And they also took Jews into slavery and sold them. In return, God is calling back to those Jews who were stolen and the Phoneticians and Philistines will receive their recompense by having their children taken and sent far away. The Ryrie Study Bible footnote mentions that this has been a near fulfillment by Artaxerxes and then Alexander the Great.
Next, He switches to the future:
Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men!
Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up!
10 Beat your plowshares into swords [We'll see this reversed after Armageddon.]
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, “I am a mighty man.” Joel 3:9–10
Prepare for war, using whatever you have at hand. It's Armageddon. The weak can even proclaim to be called as mighty men. Then He calls on the surrounding nations to send their mighty ones. He is inviting these surrounding nations to come to the valley of judgement.
Now it's on. The wicked are ripe for harvest and judgement. The win press is full, which is a common symbol of God's wrath. This time it's not a cup of wrath, but an overflowing vat!
Now is the time God decides. The time for man to make a decision is over. [Take heed, please, to those of you whom I love dearly but who refuse to choose Him.]
The sun, moon, and stars all reflect the severe storm.
The Lord roars from Zion
And utters His voice from Jerusalem,
And the heavens and the earth tremble.
But the Lord is a refuge for His people
And a stronghold to the sons of Israel. Joel 3:16
Hallelujah!
He is my refuge and stronghold, even in the worst storm.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God,
Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain.
So Jerusalem will be holy,
And strangers will pass through it no more. Joel 3:17
That's it Jerusalem is now Zion and no more attacks or corruption will prevail. Hallelujah. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
This is still the Millennial kingdom, but even so, verse 18 tells us that the earth, the personified ground will begin to heal in this region and we see eternal life flowing from the Savior in the castle:
And in that day
The mountains will drip with sweet wine,
And the hills will flow with milk,
And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water;
And a spring will go out from the house of the Lord
To water the valley of Shittim. Joel 3:18
We know it's the Millennial kingdom because we learn that Egypt will be wasted and Edom will be desolate for shedding innocent blood. So life will go on outside of Judah as it is now; but one day beyond even this, we'll see the whole world renewed.
But Judah will be inhabited forever
And Jerusalem for all generations.
21 And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged,
For the Lord dwells in Zion. Joel 3:20–21
Judah will be safe and her blood will be avenged.
And then one day, in a new heaven and new earth, we will live eternally to praise His name.
Amen.