June 6 - Joel 2:28-32

June 6 - Joel 2:28-32

This passage is also found in Acts 2:17-22 when Peter quotes it as he addresses the crowd who accused the Christians of being drunk, when in fact, the Holy Spirit had come down on the Day of Pentecost. It really is one of my favorite set of verses. These are the positive things to watch for that will signify the coming of the Day of the Lord.

In Numbers 11:24-28, Moses calls together 72 elders and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon them. These men prophesied. Even two men who remained in camp, but were part of the 72 began prophesying. Joshua, who was still quite a young man at the time, freaked out and told Moses that he should stop them!

Moses' response in Numbers 11:29 was, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them."

In the last days, Joel's words from the Lord are that He will pour out His Spirit on all people and they will ALL prophesy. Moses desire will be made manifest.

In Joel 2:30, God says that He will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth.

Now, let's spend a few minutes looking at the Acts 2 passage. Peter needs to explain the miraculous event that has just occurred in Acts 2:1-13. He also is compelled to remind the crowd that Jesus was sent by the God to fulfill prophecy.

In Acts 2:15-16, he says, "These men are not drunk as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:" and he goes on to quote the passage we are studying today.

In Acts 2:22, he fleshes out the fulfillment of prophecy by telling us that "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know."

All men shall prophesy, God will show wonders and signs in heaven and earth. Moses prayed for it, Peter acknowledged it through Jesus Christ. But, the prophecy is not yet finished.

Joel goes on the tell us that the sun will be made dark and the moon will turn to blood before the Day of the Lord. We don't actually see this until the opening of the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12, "I watched as he opened the sixth seal. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red."

Just as the Lord declares the ultimate disaster, He turns to His people and says (in Joel 2:32), "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

While Joel is speaking of the rescue of a remnant of Israel in this passage, Paul uses these same words in Romans 10:13, when assuring the Gentiles of their salvation.

The Day of the Lord will come. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.