Articles
Joel 2 Acts 2 This Is That
This is That
God had warned that He would send locusts, pestilence, and drought upon the people if they were unfaithful and forsook Him (2Chron. 7:11-14). In Joel's day they were unfaithful and God sent the locusts to chasten them and cause them to repent and return to the LORD (Joel 1). If they hardened their hearts and refused to return, a greater 'day of the LORD would come'. The Lord threatened to raise up a real army that would overthrow their kingdom (Joel 2). Even then the LORD desires their repentance: "rend you hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (2:13). With such repentance the LORD promises to remove the army (2:20) and to bless the land with productivity (2:21-27).
God then makes several promises in verses 2:28-32.
1. "And it shall come to pass afterward" -- after the destruction and restoration of the people. By the time we get to the New Testament we have watched as Assyria destroyed the northern 10 tribes and Babylon destroyed Judah. We read where God brought them back from such captivity and restored their land and temple.
2. I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. There would be a time when the Spirit of God would be active among all of the people. There are three things that are promised:
- Revelation - your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
- Confirmation - there would be signs and wonders to confirm that this was a message from God. " “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood,"
- Salvation - And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
When the Spirit came upon the Apostles in Acts 2, Peter stated plainly: "But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). We see the beginning of the New Revelation concerning the son of God. We see the confirmation as signs and wonders are done by the apostles and prophets. We see the Salvation as Peter instructs them to "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins" (2:38).
Joel however also spoke of yet another 'day of the LORD' - a great and terrible day (2:31). This outpouring of the Spirit would come BEFORE that day. With the coming of the New Covenant, all those who reject this word of the LORD are to be cut off from among the people. Even as a collective, they would be destroyed. Such great day of the LORD came when God raised up the Romans and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, the temple of the LORD. This brought an end to the Old Testament system of worship.
In Chapter three, Joel holds forth yet another day of the LORD. This is stated in terms of temporal judgment including people preparing for war against the LORD and gathering in the valley of Jehoshaphat. This will be a day of judgment when people are separated into two groups. Those who follow the LORD according to His new covenant will be dwell in Zion. They shall be holy. (17). saved. The rest are those who are arrayed against God's people. This will be a great day of decision in the valley of decision (14). This will culminate in the final day of judgment and the meeting out of eternal consequences.
Brethren, we are in that great war (Eph. 6). It is a war against all that opposes God and truth. If we follow Jesus we will win this war. We need to take the whole armor of God and stand firm in the faith.
There's a great day coming, a great day coming by and by,
When the saints and the sinners shall be parted, right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?
