Joel 2:30

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, etc.] This, and what follow, refer to the prodigies seen in the air, and done in the earth, a little before the destruction of Jerusalem F64; when in the air were seen comets and blazing stars, particularly one in the form of a sword, hanging over Jerusalem, and appearances of armies engaged in battle; and, on the earth, a flame was seen in the temple, and a voice heard in it, saying, let us go hence; the doors of it opened of themselves; an idiot went about, crying woe to the people, woe to the city, etc. blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke; “blood” may design the great slaughter of then by the Roman army in the land of Judea, and…”

“As Messiah's manifestation is full of joy to believers, so it has an aspect of wrath to unbelievers, which is represented here. Thus when the Jews received Him not in His coming of grace, He came in judgment on Jerusalem. Physical prodigies, massacres, and conflagrations preceded its destruction [JOSEPHUS, Wars of the Jews]. To these the language here may allude; but the figures chiefly symbolize political revolutions and changes in the ruling powers of the world, prognosticated by previous disasters (Amo 8:9; Mat 24:29; Luk 21:25-27), and convulsions such as preceded the overthrow of the Jewish polity. Such shall probably occur in a more appalling degree before the final destruction of the…”

“And I will shew wonders - Each revelation of God prepares the way for another, until that last revelation of His love and of His wrath in the Great Day. In delivering His people from Egypt, “the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt Deuteronomy 6:22. Here, in allusion to it, He says, in the same words, of the new revelation, “I will shew,” or “give, wonders, or wondrous signs,” (as the word includes both) wonders beyond the course and order of nature, and portending other dispensations of God, of joy to His faithful, terror to His enemies. As when Israel came out of Egypt, “the pillar of the cloud was a cloud and darkness to the camp of the Egyptians,” but “gave light by…”

“Wonders - They who read what historians report of these times, will see this fulfilled in the very letter. Blood - Possibly eruption of blood, as some fountains have been reported to have run with blood, prefiguring the great effusion of blood by the sword, and wars following. Fire - Either breaking out of the earth, or lightning in the air. Joel 2:31”

“2:30-31 The future outpouring of God’s Spirit would be accompanied by signs and wonders. Blood and fire and . . . smoke, together with the darkening of the sun and the moon, are indications of God’s coming in judgment (see 2:10; Mark 13:24; Rev 6:12).”

“I will: Mat 24:29; Mar 13:24; Luk 21:11, Luk 21:25, Luk 21:26; Act 2:19, Act 2:20; Rev 6:12-17 pillars: Gen 19:28; Jos 8:20; Jdg 20:38, Jdg 20:40; Sol 3:6; Rev 18:9, Rev 18:18 Joel 2:31”