Joel 3:14-16

The prophet viewed many multitudes in the valley, which he now referred to as the valley of decision because there God will make a decision concerning their fate.

"Many preachers have appealed to Joel 3:14 for an evangelistic thrust; their audiences are addressed as ’multitudes in the Valley of Decision’ who must decide their fate. There is a problem with that use of this passage: in Joel the hordes do not gather to make a decision, but to hear one; they will not be deciding their fate, for God has already decreed it. The time for decisions is now past." [Note: Dillard, p. 309.]

This day of the Lord was near from his perspective, which for the prophets was often deceiving due to their foreshortened view of the future. He saw the celestial phenomena again that signaled doom (cf. Joel 2:10; Joel 2:31). Lion-like, Yahweh roared from Zion announcing His attack on the nations, and everything trembled (cf. Joel 2:10-11; Revelation 16:16; Revelation 16:18). For His own people, however, He proved to be a refuge and a stronghold.