An Attack Coming From the North!

  Prophecies About Locusts-Similar But Different

JOEL 1:4;2:7, 9, 20

*  They come from the north

* They devastate the vegetation

*  They are driven away

* They represent the Babylonian army that invaded 

    Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. 

REVELATION 9"1-11

* They come out of the Abyss

* They are not to harm the vegetation

* They finish their work

* They represent Jehovah's anointed servants, who 

  boldly proclaim his judgments

The significant differences between the two prophecies lead us to conclude that they are not connected.  Are we saying that the locusts described by Joel  are not the same as the locusts presented  in the book of Revelation?  Yes. In the Bible, it is not unusual for  symbol to convey different meanings in different settings.  For example, at Revelation 5:5 , Jesus is called  "the Lion of the tribe of Judah," Whereas at 1 Peter 5:8, the Devil is described as  "a roaring lion."  In view of the questions raised by our present understanding, we need to look for another explanation of Joel's prophecy. What could it be? 

Next time: An Attack Coming From the North! - WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 

From th jw.org publications