Joel's Prophecy of the Last Days

Joel foresaw the coming of the Spirit in connection with the last days. (Joel 2:28-30) It is important to note that these were the last days of Israel and of the covenant that God made with them in Sinai. (Hebrews 1:1,2; 8:13)

The coming of the Spirit signaled that the time of judgment had arrived. In the chapter following, Joel adds, "For behold in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there...(3:1,2)

Peter Cites Joel's Prophecy As A Warning of Impending Judgment

On Pentecost following Christ's resurrection, Peter described the events occurring on that day. There appeared cloven tongues like fire, a sound as of a rushing wind and eleven Galileans stood miracoulously speaking in dozens of foreign languages before a curious multitude of devout Jews.

Quoting Joel (2:16-20), Peter warns the nation whose hands were still dripping with the blood of the Messiah, namely that judgment upon them would arrive in short order. The national message of warning urged by the apostles was, --repent! For those who did, salvation awaited.

Particularly, they were to save themselves from that perverse generation, (Acts 2:40) i.e. the one upon whom Jesus predicted would come vengeance for all the righteous blood shed on the earth. (Matt. 23:34-38)

The Spirit and the Parousia

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit during the interim of his going to the Father. This was the time of longsuffering and encouragement to the nation to heed the message of repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

During his absence Jesus would not leave the disciples as orphans. In his place, he would send the Holy Spirit as a helper until his return. Through the signs, he worked with the apostles until the end of that age, Mark 16:20, Matthew 28:20.

This time is however brief as Jesus referred to it as a "little while," (John 16:16-19). Jesus' coming, then at hand, (James 5:7,8) came in a very little while, (Hebrews 10:37), --a period of about 40 years.

Jesus' return marked the end of the eschatological Spirit in the last days. No longer is he absent, but once again present with the church, not in humiliation, but in his glory, as Lord of lords and King of kings (2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15).

William Bell is a public speaker and author of the Re-Examination, a study of the Lord's return in the first century. His website is: http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com