Thesis
Drawing from the book of Joel and Revelation 19, Pastor Pat McCalla shows that Joel stands at the crossroads of history, pointing backward to what God has done and forward to what He will do — culminating in the return of Jesus as the warrior King of kings. Just as Joel called Israel to return to a God who is merciful, compassionate, and slow to anger, so too are we invited to know Jesus not merely as Savior but as reigning King. Because He is Lord of the past, present, and future, His people can lay down their fears and live with confident, unshakeable hope.
Key points
- 1
The Shema establishes that God is before all things, above all things, and there is no other God — the foundational truth that anchors the entire book of Joel.
- 2
Joel was not written directly to us, but its principles apply fully to us: understanding what God did in the past and what He will do in the future should have radical implications for how we live today.
- 3
The 'day of the Lord' is a recurring biblical theme representing a day of justice, judgment, and freedom — ultimately pointing to the future return of Jesus Christ.
- 4
God's call through Joel is for heart-deep repentance, not outward ritual, because He is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love.
- 5
Joel's vision of the final judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat points forward to the same climactic event described in Revelation — the return of Jesus as warrior King.
- 6
Revelation 19 reveals Jesus returning as the triumphant warrior King — faithful, true, crowned with many crowns, and robed in His own blood — proving that Jesus wins.
- 7
Many believers know Jesus as Savior, but fewer know Him as King — and recognizing His kingship is essential to living with hope, courage, and rest in an uncertain world.
Outline
Introduction: A Boy Named Yeshua
Pastor Pat opens with an imaginative scene of the young Jesus standing on a hillside overlooking the Jezreel Valley — the future site of Armageddon — and introduces the two anchoring themes of the sermon: the Shema and that valley.
The Shema: God Is One
The Hebrew word 'Shema' is unpacked to show that God is before all things, above all things, and the only God — the foundational declaration that frames the entire message of Joel.
Joel's Purpose: Past, Present, and Future
Joel is introduced as a book written three thousand years ago to Israel but applicable to us today, as Joel bridges the past acts of God with His future acts to call people to live differently right now.
The Locust Plague and the Day of the Lord
Joel's description of the devastating locust plague is explored through vivid trivia, and the phrase 'day of the Lord' is traced from Israel's exodus celebration through the prophets to its ultimate fulfillment in the return of Jesus.
The Hinge Verse: Return to God
Joel 2:13 — the sermon's pivot — calls Israel not to outward mourning but to genuine heart repentance, grounded in the character of a God who is merciful, compassionate, and eager to forgive.
Joel's Vision of the Final Judgment
Joel chapter 3 looks forward to God gathering the nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment, with 'forever' promises of God dwelling with His people — language that echoes all the way to Revelation.
The Warrior King in Revelation 19
Revelation 19:11-16 is walked through verse by verse to paint the picture of Jesus returning as a warrior King on a white horse — King of kings and Lord of lords — establishing that Jesus wins because of who He is.
Savior and King: The Full Picture of Jesus
Drawing on his son-in-law's insight, Pastor Pat calls listeners to know Jesus not only as the laughing Jesus or the suffering servant, but as the warrior King — and to leave with a spring in their step because the Lord of past, present, and future has got this.
Memorable moments
God is more willing to forgive than you are to confess
God wants something for you more than he wants something from you
I think a lot of believers know God as their savior but not many know him as their king
the big picture of the book of Revelation is God is saying John, I know it looks like evil win but I wanna remind you, I win
if Jesus is the Lord of the past, present, and future, then relax. He's got this
You and I will never graduate Jesus school
Application
Pastor Pat closes with two direct challenges. For anyone who does not yet know Jesus, his plea is urgent and tender: do not walk out the door without putting your faith and trust in the One who is merciful, compassionate, and slow to anger — a God who wants more for you than He wants from you. For those who already follow Jesus, the challenge is to walk out with a renewed spring in your step. The same warrior King who said 'It is finished' on the cross is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords. That means the anxieties, the fears, and all the unknowns of your future are held by the One who is Lord of the past, present, and future. You can relax — He has got this.
