A Prophecy For Pentecost
--
Joel Two --
Joel two
sounds almost like a restatement of Joel one with the Pentecost prophecies
added. Joel said that the people must assemble and that an announcement should
be made that the day of the Lord is at hand. He described that day as a dark
day of destruction. The people were urged to turn to God and
to cry in repentance unto the Lord. The day of the
Lord would be a day of darkness like nothing ever seen before.
God would send the
army of locusts and a human army also against the nation of
Joel called upon the
people to return to the Lord in true repentance. He understood that God is
"gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and a God of great kindness."
If the people would, in repentance, fast and pray, perhaps God would change His
mind about the punishment He would send blessings and
Joel also proclaimed
the future day of the Lord. Then God's Spirit would be poured out on all flesh
and
The day of the Lord is great -- Joel 2:1-11: The trumpet was blown to warn the nation
of danger and invasion. The warning was sounded in order that the people could
tremble and make matters
right with God before the day of the Lord came. The Lord was sending the
locusts and He was also sending the army of
Word
pictures are often very vivid. God said
before
the invasion the land was like
The
very appearance of both the locust and the Babylonian
army would be a frightening. Neither walls nor
barricades
could hindrance these invading armies. They would climb over the walls
and in rank continue their destruction. This army is so very destructive
because it is the Lord army that He is using to
chastise His rebellious people. The destruction was everywhere and it
was total or complete devastation, in the city and in their homes. In a
figurative way the prophet said, “They make the earth tremble and the heavens
shake; the sun and moon turn dark, and stars stop shining." The day of the
Lord was so terrible that none could withstand it.
The Lord's Invitation to repent -- Joel 2:12-17: At that moment it was not too late for the
people to return to the Lord with all their heart and to cry in repentance to
him. They were told to fast and pray. Joel said, "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto
the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great
kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." (Joel
2:13) Their hope for enjoying God's blessings was for them to turn back to Him.
If they would repent they could have sufficient
grain and wine for
offering sacrifices.
Joel
again called on the people to sound the trumpet on
The
Lord will bless His people -- Joel 2:18-27: The People of Judah would spend seventy
years in Babylonian captivity. Even while they were there the Lord was deeply concerned about the land and He had
pity on His people. The Lord provided an opportunity for His people to return
from captivity. He said, "Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil,
and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach
among the heathen."
God would
drive out the locusts and the army of
God said, "ye shall eat
in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people
shall never be ashamed." What happened to them
would never again happen to them nationally. Having learned that the Lord is
the one and only God
Prophecy pointing to Pentecost -- Joel 2:28-32: The last verses of Joel two are a very famous
prophecy quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost on which the church was
established. (Acts 2:17-21) These event transpired in the "the last days" of the Jewish dispensation. In the
church age the Spirit of God would bring blessing upon all flesh, whether Jew
or Gentile. The outpouring of the Spirit on that day would be accompanied by
miracles upon all flesh. This was proof that the gospel was for all people,
whether high or low, rich or poor.
Joel used several
figurative expressions to describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He said
there would be wonders in the sky above and on the earth below. There will be
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will turn dark, and the moon will be as blood before that great and
terrible day of the Lord comes. Many unusual physical things did take place in connection
with the crucifixion of Jesus. Also these expressions were common in the Old
Testament when prophets were predicting the fall of nations. The fall of
Joel closed this
section with the words, "whosoever shall call on the
name of the LORD shall be delivered."
Observe the statement "shall be
saved" in Acts 2:21. "And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Any that
wish to enjoy the remission of past sins must call on the name of the Lord by
obeying the gospel plan of salvation. In no other way is one promised pardon.
Will you call upon the
lord so that you might be saved? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel
(Romans