10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What We Believe and Why - Vol. II
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson
Copyright - Lester Hutson -
1982
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express
written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
Chapter Nine
Joel's Prophecy
INTRODUCTION: TEXT: Acts 2:16-21
There is extensive misunderstanding and misapplication of this text today. Many people, especially the charismatic movement, claim this scripture is currently finding its fulfillment. This scripture is commonly cited as justification for the so-called tongues speaking, miracle healing, miracle working and receiving of direct revelation and visions.
We categorically reject the belief that this type of manifestations of the Spirit are currently in effect. We believe this particular prophecy of Joel has not yet been fulfilled, and that it will not be until the time of the second coming of Christ.
I. THE TIME OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY CAN BE READILY LOCATED.
A. It will be helpful at this point to explain why many do not accurately locate the time of this prophecy's fulfillment.
1. Because of much of the emotional emphasis and manifestations which are currently being produced in the name of the Spirit of God, many have concluded this to be the age predicted by this scripture.
2. Anyone making such an assumption has failed to consider the whole prophecy as quoted by Peter. Most people read verses 16-18 then stop, not recognizing that verses 19-21 are also a part of the same prophecy and must be considered therewith, if a proper understanding is to be gained.
3. II Timothy 2:15 teaches us to "rightly divide the word of truth," and anyone who wrests verses, words, or passages out of context is not rightly dividing the word. Consequently, his conclusions will be false. This is one reason why there is so much false doctrine today. Those who consider verses 16-18 of Acts 2 and attempt to locate the time of their fulfillment, without jointly considering verses 19-21 are not rightly dividing the word of truth. This accounts for their erroneous conclusion that the prophecy is currently being fulfilled instead of properly concluding the fulfillment is yet to come.
B. Verses 19-20 are the key verses in locating the time of this prophecy's fulfillment. These verses read, "And (notice the conjunctive word which indicates what is being said here is a continuation of the foregoing thoughts) I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come." These verses correspond to Joel 2:30-31.
C. Now, if we can locate the time of these events, we will know the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy, for these events accompany the fulfillment of this prophecy. The fact is that the time of these events can be established by scriptures.
1. John writes in Revelation 13 of a beast to whom will be given power "over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." (verse 7)
a. This one, who shall rule over all nations, is the antichrist as referred to in II Thessalonians 2:3-4, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition: who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
b. The wicked nations of earth shall lift up or exalt this antichrist, who will be their head. It is of this that Psalm 83:2 prophesies by saying, "For, lo, thine [God's] enemies [the wicked nations of the earth] make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head [antichrist]."
2. Under the leadership of this wicked head, antichrist, the nations of this earth will rise against God in a battle we call Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).
a. When this happens, Psalm 66:21 warns, "God shall wound the head of his enemies."
b. The kingdom of antichrist shall be utterly destroyed by God, as Daniel foresaw in Daniel 2:31-35. When the Lord comes to fight and establish His own kingdom, it must be said of all earthly kingdoms, "That no place was found for them."
c. Revelation 19:11-21 describes this great event in these words, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS: And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God, That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." You can see here the total destruction of the beast or head of wicked kingdoms and those within those kingdoms.
d. Revelation 14:9-11 will show you that all those who follow Antichrist will be cast into hell. "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever 0receiveth the mark of his name."
e. And, you will not from Revelation 19:20, the destruction of Antichrist himself. "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
3. The Bible states this will be a time of miraculous occurrences in the elements.
a. Isaiah prophesied it this way in Isaiah 13:11-13, "And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heaven, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of his fierce anger." Note that coupled with the punishment of the world (verse 11) is shaking of the heavens and moving of the earth (verse 13).
b. Revelation 6:12-16 records these remarkable words regarding the natural elements of the earth. "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. " Notice that the next verse says that these wonders in the heavens and earth testify that "the great day of his wrath is come." (Revelation 6:17)
c. The apostle Paul referred to this even in Hebrews 12:16-27 which was written about thirty years after Pentecost, which proves Joel's prophecy was yet future when Paul wrote. Paul speaks of the coming shaking of the earth's elements. In Hebrews, Paul is quoting Haggai 2:21-22 which identifies this time of shaking as occurring when God, "Will overthrow the throne of kingdoms," which proves to be the throne of Antichrist.
4. So the Bible establishes the time of the miraculous occurrences in the heavens and the earth, which Joel prophesied in Joel 2:30-31 and Peter quotes in Acts 2:19-20, to be when God's wrath is poured out upon the earth and that will be during the tribulation when antichrist reigns and is destroyed.
a. Notice that Joel in Joel 2:30-31 and Peter in quoting him in Acts 2:19-20 mentions, "Wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood."
b. Now, so that no one might misunderstand just when this prophecy would be fulfilled, Joel states in Joel 3:12-16, "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe; come, get down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. the Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."
So there's no question when "the sun and the moon shall be darkened." (verse 15) It will be when "The Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem." Then "the heavens and the earth shall shake." (verse 16)
D. If the comparison of scripture with scripture means anything, as Isaiah 28:10 says it does, then the divine testimony is that Joel's prophecy, which Peter quoted in Acts 2, will find its fulfillment when, and only when, God's wrath is poured out during the coming tribulation.
1. Therefore, the fulfillment of this scripture is yet future.
2. It was not fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, nor is it being now fulfilled, for neither then nor now have the "wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood."
3. The location in time of the fulfillment of this prophecy is definitely established to be during the events surrounding the Lord's return.
II. THE DESTRUCTION OF ANTICHRIST AND HIS WICKED FOLLOWERS, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR THE COMPLETE AND FINAL FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY, DURING THE MILLENNIUM.
A. Upon His return to destroy antichrist, Christ will immediately set up His stone kingdom (Daniel 2:35) and rule the earth for 1,000 years (one millennium). Consider Revelation 20:1-4.
B. The terrible destruction of God's wrath upon the earth will leave a remnant of people.
1. Zechariah 14:16 says, "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles."
2. It is this remnant which constitutes the "all flesh" of which Joel speaks in Joel 2:28 and Peter quotes in Acts 2:17.
3. Lots of people interpret this "all flesh" to refer to all the people of the earth today or all since the day of Pentecost:
a. But, even a short consideration by "rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15) will tell you that the "all flesh" refers only to the flesh on earth at the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy.
b. That the fulfillment of this prophecy is not in effect today is evident. All flesh does not have the spirit, not all young men see visions, nor do all daughters prophesy, nor do all old men dream dreams. In fact much flesh doesn't even believe there is a God.
c. Everywhere you look, you see people who simply don't have what the scriptures say "all flesh" will have at the fulfillment of this prophecy.
d. It is remarkable how people can insist that we are living in the fulfillment of this prophecy when everywhere they look they can observe the fact that it is not being fulfilled
e. You see, this scripture does not predict that "all flesh" who believes or who prays through or who does something else of a religious nature, will have His spirit upon them. No, it predicts "all flesh" with no qualifications.
C. All in this remnant of flesh, which is left following the wrath of God upon the earth, will experience what Joel prophesied in Joel 2:28-29 and Peter quoted in Acts 2:17-18.
1. At that time, the Christ will be King over the whole earth. Zechariah 14:9 says, "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one."
2. Of that time, Joel said, "So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no more strangers pass through her any more... For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion." (Joel 3:17-21)
3. Psalm 22:27-28 prophesied of that day, "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he the governor among the nations."
4. Zechariah 14:21 said, "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seeth therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts."
5. This remnant which is left of all nations will experience the Spirit of God which Joel prophesied, and as Peter reminded his audience, "It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, 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 old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaids I will pour out in these days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy."
6. As Hebrews 8:10-11 shows, God will put His laws in their mind and, "All shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
III. THE SPIRIT OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO A FEW MEN ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WILL BE POURED OUT UPON ALL MEN DURING THE MILLENNIUM AND FULFILLMENT OF JOEL'S PROPHECY.
A. Both Joel and Peter (in quoting him) say that the great events at the end of time and during the millennium will be brought about by the "Spirit" of the Lord.
B. In Acts 2:16 Peter says, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel."
1. Joel said the events to come will be by the Spirit of the Lord. Peter says to the men of Israel that what they saw there on that day of Pentecost was by that same Spirit.
2. In other words, "This (the things you are seeing here on Pentecost) is that (the Spirit of God) which was spoken by the prophet Joel," the very same Spirit, which shall darken the sun and moon and be poured out on all men during the last days.
3. Peter was assuring his audience that what they were seeing (consider Acts 2:4-11) was not the result of drunkenness nor the results of any damnable spirit. Instead, they were witnessing the results of God's Spirit: that same true Spirit which all men will receive during the millennium. In other words, the basis (the Spirit) of what will happen then is the basis (the Spirit) of what is happening here.
C. What happened to a few men on the day of Pentecost is a foretype of what will happen to all men during the millennium.
1. In its foretype, the power was limited to a mere handful.
2. During the 1,000 year reign, it will be upon all.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"