 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
God told the prophet, "Write the things which are and the things which thou hast seen." I know that He said this to John on the Isle of Patmos, but He also instructed His prophets of old to write what He said to write. "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake (wrote) as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
The prophets were often left "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify." He knew his vision was of God. He just did not know what it really meant, or when it was for. So, if we are to understand Joel's prophesy, we need to understand these two elements: what and when.
First, let us deal with the when. If we examine the passage, we can clearly see that Joel is speaking of the last days. This helps us identify the time. In chapter 3 verse 1 he warns, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain." This is a warning to Gods church! Then he tells us why it is being sounded, "For the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." In verse 2, Joel further describes that day as "A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness." Both Zephaniah and Amos agree with Joel, using very similar descriptions of the last days in their prophecies.
Next we must determine the what. What is this that Joel saw? In verse two, Joel sees "a great people and a strong." He goes on, in terms he is familiar with, to depict what these great people shall look like so you will know how to identify them when they do show up. "The appearance of them is like the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run." How is it that they appear to be as horses? These people are riding on something that appeared to the prophet Joel to be some kind of horse.
Can we look throughout history and find something that appears to be a horse? Are there any other clues to what these horses are in the scripture? Yes, in the next verse. We are told that they sound not like a horse that whinnies, but "Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains." What sounds like a rumbling of a chariot in the distance? Can we hear this sound today? What also has a rider on it, like unto a horseman?
If we analyze this passage considering motorcycles as the fulfillment of this prophecy, all of the elements fit. Motorcycles are even sometimes referred to as iron horses. Motorcycles do make a rumbling sound that sounds like a chariot in the distance. They do have people that ride upon them, even as horses do (some even where chaps like cowboys). Their seats are called "saddles," and many motorcycles have "saddlebags." Some motorcycles, specifically dirt bikes, also leap like horses.
Motorcycles are the fulfillment of Joels' horses! And this great and strong people are the horsemen riding them. They are great because they are doing Gods work. They are strong because they are mighty in the scriptures and have God leading them.
God always gives His people a sign so they will know they are right about the time. Even Jesus gave us a sign of His time by saying He was like Jonah, because as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days, so would Jesus be in the grave three days. If we believe we are living in man's last days, then we must believe that God will give us - and indeed has given us - signs to be able to know in what day we are living.
Motorcycles, like cars, airplanes and many other things that we see today, are just some of the end-time signs from our God in heaven. Let us take heed to these signs and prepare ourselves to do the work of God in these last days.