Reading a book of the prophets cannot be approached in the same manner we take with the books of the Law, history, or the likes of Psalms or Ecclesiastes. It is definitely important to understand when the propet was speaking in relationship to these other books, but we have to adjust to a different style of writing, a different way of expressing things. It’s important to keep in mind that prophets not only speak literally for their own times, but with dual and sometimes multiple future fulfillments in mind.
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Of course this sounds very familiar. It’s the key text quoted by Peter :”(Acts 2:17-24)”:in his very first sermon explaining what was happening at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the church. It’s telling that Hebrew scholars — even modern ones — attribute this passage to events which will happen in concert with the arrival of the Messiah.
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To be sure, one of the burdens that should be on every Christian’s heart in the Last Days is for the unsaved, that they might yet turn to Christ. But I’m not sure that we fully realize that we’re called to have an additional burden: to intercede on behalf of all Christians, especially those who have made a verbal commitment to Christ but have yet to follow through by living a changed life for Christ.
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I am sure that signs in the sun and moon will literally take place in the Last Days, as Scripture repeatedly refers to them. :”(Is. 13:10; Is. 34:4; Jer. 4:23; Ez. 32:7-8; Mt. 24:29; Rev. 8:12)”: There will be something physically observable in these things. But I also can’t help but notice that light and darkness is often a biblical metaphor for a person’s spiritual condition.
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“The day of the Lord” is something specifically identified in Scripture. It is not to be confused with the Rapture or the ultimate, final judgment at the end of history. The day of the Lord is that point at which God’s wrath is poured out. Whereas the discipline of God’s judgments are intended to lead people in a spiritual return to God, the day of the Lord is that ultimate point in destiny when there is no longer any opportunity for repentance and all that is left to be experienced is the full brunt of God’s wrath.
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Through Joel, God uses a past event to describe an even greater event to come. “The valley of Jehoshaphat” refers to a multi-nation invasion of Judah that took place during Jehoshaphat’s reign. :”(2 Chronicles 20:1-30)”: What happened during that event foreshadadows or teaches us what will happen in this even greater, coming event.

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Just a short note to acknowledge that the recent events of the Middle East involving Israel and Lebanon and Gaza — a.k.a. Tyre, Sidon (Lebanon) and Philisita (Gaza) — are no mere coincidence. They are most likely a member of what Jesus refers to as “birth pangs”, waves of events that occur with greater and greater frequency and strength until their final, ultimate fulfillment in a single, last event. The point here is not some kind of “Nyah, nyah, I told ya so”, but rather a deep concern that there is so little time remaining for these people to turn to Christ and yet be saved. Time for that opportunity will expire soon. The enlightened faithful do not celebrate this fact, but even more earnestly pray and seek every opportunity for additional souls to come into the Kingdom of God on all sides.

Lord, that you would soften the hearts and open the eyes of all Your children that they may experience the greater miracle of receiving Your Son in spite of the most overwhelming and seemingly impossible circumstances. With You, nothing is impossible._††_†