Is Joel's Prophecy For The Church?
Does Joel's prophecy quoted by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:16)
apply to the Church today?
When we rightly divide the word of truth, we learn that the prophecy of Joel (see
Acts 2:16) relates to Israe.jpg/180px-Joel_(Michelangelo).jpg)
l in
millennial kingdom context (read
Joel 2:28-32), and not to
be confused with the Church age. When Peter quoted Joel, he quoted kingdom
language while anticipating the millennial reign of Christ to commence in his
life-time. Note the evidence of the out pouring of the Spirit of God in Joel
(2:28). Prophecy, dreams, visions, all of which are consistent with Israel in
the O.T. experience and will once again be experienced during the millennial
kingdom of Christ. Because Israel rejected the millennial offer of
Christ' reign on earth... the prophecy of Joel is yet to be fulfilled.
Note: Israel rejected the offer of the
millennial kingdom
on three separate occasions... Once by
God the Father, second: By God the Son, and third: by God the Holy Spirit...
#1. They Rejected God the Father
when they killed John the Baptist.
#2. They Rejected God The Son
when they crucified Christ.
#3. They Rejected God The Holy
Spirit when they murdered Stephen.
Joel's prophecy as presented by the apostle Peter
was rejected by Israel... Joel's prophecy will be offered once again during the
millennial kingdom of Christ with Israel's full acceptance of the Christ.
Contrast Peter's quote of
Joel 2:28 with what Paul teaches the
Church concerning
the filling and the fruit of the Holy Spirit (See
Gal. 5:22,23). The major
difference in which the Holy Spirit will work according to Acts 2:16 in light of
Joel 2:28 is that the Holy Spirit will come upon (outwardly) all flesh. This is
the way the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament and will again according to
Joel's prophecy. Today, or with the Church, the Holy Spirit works inwardly (John
14:16,17;
Eph. 5:18).
In Peter's address at the time of
Pentecost, he spoke with outward evidences of
the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1,4). The Holy Spirit literally came upon (outwardly)
their flesh. The point is this: In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit is working outwardly
with Israel and not the Church. It is not until we get to
Acts 13 that we begin
to observe the Holy Spirit working inwardly in the Church.
Not to distinguish this major difference in which
the Holy Spirit works will
cause confusion and division in churches.
Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger
Invitation
To Christ - Copyright © 2009