The outpouring of Gods spirit upon the believers in the book of Acts was a partial fulfilment of prophecy from the book of Joel, but it was not the final fulfilment of those prophecies. Thebook of Joel makes reference to the cataclysmic events that take place immediately before “the great and terrible day of Yahweh ”. In Acts 2 of the Apostles, Pentecost was the breaking through of the spirit at the birth of the Christian congregation, and it stands today as a model for us and archetype for the things yet to come in the rapidly oncoming endtimesperiod, both in Jerusalem and around the World.
but this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel, And it shall be in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your elders shall dream with dreams; Acts 2:16-17
Peter and those early Messianic believers experienced a mighty blast of what Joel was speaking of. But the full power of Yahweh is yet to be seen and experienced, as well as realized and released upon “This Generation” living now, at this moment. We could even sat that the best and worst is yet to come. The Acts 2 experience is our standard for what will come to pass in the last days, which, as of yet, have not begun yet.
And I will give wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be changed to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and gloriously appearing day of the Lord come Acts 2:19-20
What happened in Acts 2 will happen again, only in a much greater way. All of the signs of blood, fire and glory were not experienced then in the first century, but they are about to culminate in a way that will rock and shake this world to its very foundations with the very power of Yahweh being exercised.
Theme of the Book of Joel
When Peter preached on Pentecost (Shavauot ) morning, he quoted from the book of Joel. He saw them doing what Joel had prophesied. Joel speaks of extended periods of intercession, which is exactly what true believers were doing before the fire fell down upon them. It seems consistent with the spirit of God that during the belivers prayer times, the spirit directed them to meditate on the prophecy of Joel. Their hearts were so full of the promises and revelations therein that they identified themselves with what Joel had since long prophesied.
They were, in a sense, motivated by the force of the content of that book. And what is the content of that book? The Earth shaking events that will take place immediately before the coming of Yahweh. The revelation of this spurred them on into active intercession. That intercession led to a miraculous revival that shook the world as it was known then.
In our time, a similar pattern will occur again, but on a much wider scale that will actuall y prompt in that coming. The book of Joel is significant because it relates to Acts 2 with the second and final coming of Yeshua. It ties together the three elements in a chain reaction (1) Intensive intercession (2) an earth shaking revival in the midst of disastrous world events (3) the return of Yeshua.
The Great and Terrible Day of Yahweh
Let us examine a little more closely the prophecies of Joel, as they lay the foundation for the endtimes which have as yet not begun, and the return of Yeshua. The book contains a yearning, much like the book of revelation for Yeshua to come back, but it is also a book that contains warning of difficulties that are yet to come……
Alas for the day! for the day of Jehovah is at hand, and as destruction from the Almighty shall it come Joel 1:15
Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is at hand; Joel 2:1
And Jehovah uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for strong is he that executeth his word: for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can bear it? Joel 2:11
The sun shall be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come Joel 2:31
The final consummation of the war between good and evil on the earth is the theme of the book of Joel, just as it is in the book of Revelation. On the one hand we are to desire it because it will bring the return of the Messiah and the outward rule of God here upon the earth, but on the other hand we are going to see the most horrific events ever witnessed on this earth and it will be a fearful time of judgement and revelation.
A worldwide baptism of fire will take place during those endtimes which are still yet to come upon all flesh, “The Generation” living now. That fire will be an immersion of miraculous power, a power which has not yet been seen, but a power and a glory upon the true people of God. It will also mean world wide disaster and destruction. This dual of fire and judgement and glory is part of Yahwehs plan, as he wants the controversy with man and Satan brought to an end…..and so should we……….
Elijah Returns
