THE VALLEY OF DECISION

THE VALLEY OF DECISION

Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Joe 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
Joe 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

For many years, I believed and taught that it was the PEOPLE who were making the decision-- to serve God or not serve Him.
But, that theory is one that the Lord stripped away when I became willing for Him to teach me what the scriptures were trying to tell us. After quite a bit of tearing down my former beliefs, He was able to start teaching me what I believe is more in line with His plan for humanity.

What, and where, is the VALLEY OF DECISION?

The word "decision" throws us off course, because it has come to mean differently now than it did when the KJV was translated.

I was sent a writing of a 17th century writer a few years ago, in which the word "decision" was used in its original sense. It sheds light on the "valley of decision" which brings it more into line with the remainder of the passage

In 1619, when the article was penned, the writer said that there would come a DECISION, in which the true believers would be SEPARATED from those who were not entirely sold out to God. IT IS GOD WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION-- separating the wheat from the chaff, a "threshing" if you will.

The proclamation of the testimony WILL BE AS BY THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET, to alarm the nations of the earth, and more especially all the professors of Christianity, because attended with the power of acting all wonders.

So there shall be an authoritative decision (separation, setting apart Webster.) given forth immediately from Christ, to the putting an end to all
controversies concerning the true church.

This decision will be the actual sealing of the members of this church with the name of God; giving them a commission to act by the same: this new name will distinguish them from the seven thousand names of Babylon.

The election and preparation of this church is to be after a secret and hidden manner, as David in his minority (childhood) was elected and anointed by the prophet of the Lord; yet was not admitted to the outward profession of the kingdom for a considerable time afterward

Thus Moses, Joshua and Aaron may be considered as types of some upon whom the same spirit may come, yet to rest in greater proportions, whereby they shall make way for the ransomed of the Lord to return to mount Zion; but none shall stand in any considerable office under God, but those who are tried stones after the pattern and similitude of the chief corner stone, Christ.

Only HE knows the HEARTS of men. We have to judge by the sight of the eye and the hearing of the ear. He reads the heart.

This is pinpointed in Mal 3 where it tells about the Lord making up His Jewels. They will be those who-- Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often (lit: Consulted) one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that FEARED the LORD, and that THOUGHT (lit: Reckoned) upon his name. 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:18 Then shall ye return (lit: look back or around), and discern (see clearly) between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (There is a vast difference between those who SERVE God, and those who neglect the personal refinement which He offers to them.)

This will be a fiery trial through which very few will be able to pass or bear up in, wherefore the waiters for the visible breaking out of this church are strictly charged to hold that fast which they have and to wait together in the unity of pure love, praying in the Holy Ghost according to the Apostolic pattern that they may be sent forth to multiply more universally.

This trial will be of absolute necessity to every one in particular, and to all in general, for the constituting and cementing of the true Philadelphian Church, by clearing away all the remaining infirmities of nature, and burning away all that is of hay, stubble and dross which they may have added to the work of the Lord; for nothing must remain in the fire, for as a refiner will the Lord purify the sons and daughters of it and purge them as perfect righteousness.

Through the operation of the Holy Spirit in these waiters may for a long time contend with many infirmities and evils, and yet if it be kept continually warm and watched, it cannot at the last but work out a perfect cure and bring about full and total redemption from the earth.

II Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWETH them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of GOLD and of SILVER, but also of WOOD and of EARTH; and some to HONOUR, and some to DISHONOUR. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

It is my firm belief that Malachi wrote of the same time of "decision" (separation) as Joel did when he wrote: Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit [as] a REFINER and PURIFIER of silver: and he shall PURIFY the SONS OF LEVI, and PURGE them as gold and silver, THAT THEY MAY OFFER UNTO THE LORD AN OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
There may be some living at present who may come then to be fully and totally redeemed having another body put on them, that is one after the priestly order.

This anointed priestly body will render them impregnable, and qualify them for that high degree of spiritual government to which they are called.

Wherefore it is required on our part to suffer the spirit of burning to do upon us the refining work, fanning us with the fiery breath, and searching every part within us until all be pure and clean, and we thereby arrive to a fixed body from whence the wonders are to flow out. This body will be the sealing character of the Philadelphian Church.

Upon this body will be the fiation (decree) of the Urim and Thummim, that are to be appropriated to the priests of the Melchisedechian order, whose descent is not to be counted in the genealogy of that creation which is under the fall, but in another genealogy which is from the restoration.

Another term used in the third chapter of Joel is found in verses 2 and 12. It means basically the same thing as the Valley of Decision.

Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Joe 3:12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

The name Jehoshaphat is a combination of two words. Jeho(vah) and Shaphat (judges) = Jehovah judges.

Thus, there are three main terms that refer to and describe the same event. They are: Valley of Decision (Division), Valley of Jehoshaphat (God’s judgment), and Armageddon (Summit of Rendezvous, or meeting).

GOD OVERTHROWS ALL INSTITUTIONS OF MANKIND,
(POLITICAL, FINANCIAL, RELIGIOUS) AND ESTABLISHES HIS ORDER IN THE EARTH.