to what does "the valley of jehoshaphat" refer?

This expression must be considered in view of its surrounding context, as well as in the harmony and scheme of the Scriptures. This prophetic passage begins by establishing the timeframe for the fulfillment of this prophecy: "in those days" and "in that time" (verse 1). To determine when "those days" and "that time" occur, consider the preceding verses. In Joel 2:28, the prophet spoke of a time when, "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."

On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32. Before quoting Joel's prophetic passage, Peter cried, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). Thus, "those days" and "that time" (Joel 3:1) refer to the Gospel Day, or Holy Ghost Dispensation, that formally began on the Day of Pentecost (A.D. 33).

The particular portion of the Christian dispensation the writer was speaking of in Joel, Chapter 3, can be determined more clearly by considering the succeeding verses. In verse 12, he spoke again of "the valley of Jehoshaphat," and in verse 13, "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full." John referenced this verse when he wrote, "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Revelation 14:15). 

Revelation 14:1 portrays "mount Sion" being back in visible view and the "Lamb" (Christ) back in His position as head of the church. This prophetically establishes the timeframe as the evening-time portion of this Gospel Day. That is when God is gathering people out of the "earth," or man-made religion, as symbolized by the beast that arose in Revelation 13:11 (the religious system of Protestantism). This is a time when, as Joel 3:2 depicts, the Lord "will also gather ... whom they have scattered."

Regarding "the valley of Jehoshaphat," Adam Clarke wrote, "There is no such valley in the land of Judea; hence the word must be symbolical." The name "Jehoshaphat" means "Jehovah judges" or "the Lord judges" (Cruden's Complete Concordance). That is exactly what the Lord is doing in this evening-time portion of this Gospel Day. Speaking of this part of the Christian dispensation, Revelation 15:4 says, "Thy judgments are made manifest."

Joel 3:1 speaks of "the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem." One scholar wrote, "This may refer to the return from the Babylonish captivity." Indeed, it does, using the Old Testament occurrence as symbolic of the New Testament event. When Joel 3:2 records, "I will also gather all nations," it is symbolic of all the denominations from which God is gathering His people. The latter portion of Joel 3:2 speaks of those "scattered among the nations." It is the same condition where the Lord said, "I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day [a symbolic representation of the Protestant era]" (Ezekiel 34:12).

There is a further symbolism when speaking of "the valley of Jehoshaphat." While not a literal valley, it brings to mind what occurred concerning "Jehoshaphat," recorded in 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20. In this passage, "Jehoshaphat" was confronted with the amalgamation of several enemies of God's people: "the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir" (verse 22). This is typical of the amalgamation of the enemies of truth we face in this evening time, as depicted by the eighth beast in Revelation, Chapter 17. 
​
Revelation 20:7-8 tells of the consolidation of "Satan" ("the adversary" in the Greek, which is "the dragon," representing paganism; Revelation 20:2) and "Gog, and Magog," symbolizing papalism and Protestantism. In 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, as well as, throughout the Revelation, we see a consolidation of all the enemy's forces such as we are seeing today. However, each of the Scriptures where this is depicted also shows an ultimate, absolute victory for God and His people and a vindication of the truth, just as in the time of Jehoshaphat. Second Chronicles 20:22 reads, "The Lord set ambushments" and brought a great victory in the end, even as He shall do at the ending portion of this Gospel Day. The prophetic picture of "the valley of Jehoshaphat" is an encouraging portrayal of the ultimate victory of Christ, the church, and His truth prior to His Second Advent!

Earl R. Borders

From the July 2024 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter