This article is part of my resource titled: An In-Depth Study of the Nature, Purpose, and Duration of Tongues.
When the apostles spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost the crowd was “amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean? But others mocking said, ‘They are filled with new wine’” (Acts 2:12-13). Against this charge of drunkenness Peter and the eleven defended themselves by stating that what was occurring was actually the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy.
Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 when he says:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Joel 2:28-32
The quotation of this prophecy on the day of Pentecost is intriguing. What is meant by “the last days”? What are we to make of the cosmic signs present in this prophecy: wonders in heaven, the sun being darkened, the moon turning to blood and so on? How did tongues relate to the fulfillment of this prophecy? Is this prophecy finding continual fulfillment in our day? These are all valid questions that will be addressed throughout the course of this lesson as we dissect the passage verse by verse so as to ascertain its connection to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
In the Last Days
The first hurdle we need to clear is that of understanding what is meant by the last days. Many of the Pentecostal churches I’ve attended have ascribed to the idea of a secret rapture event that could occur at any moment. They often quote the passage in question in support of the theory that their tongue-speaking is illustrative of the fact that we are currently living in the time immediately preceding the coming of Christ for his church. If such is the case, what then are we to make of Peter tying the prophecy of Joel to his own day? Was Peter living in the “last days” or are we?
It’s important to understand what exactly is meant by this phrase and how it relates to the events of Pentecost. The phrase “last days” is used in other places in Scripture and it doesn’t necessarily mean the time period right before the world comes to an end. The writer of Hebrews says, “long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Heb. 1:1-2).
The last days then, according to the author of Hebrews, was the time period surrounding the life of Jesus himself. In the bigger picture of things he was speaking about the end of the Old Covenant age. The last days both here and in Acts 2:17 have nothing to do with the end of the world or the Second Coming of Christ at the end of world history, but with the end of an era. This phrase is used to depict the closing of the Old Covenant age in contrast to the New Covenant age which began with the ministry of Christ.
Under the Old Covenant the law of God was written on tablets of stone and the people were commanded to obey it. Under the New Covenant the law of God would be written on people’s hearts and by the power of the Holy Spirit they would be enabled to live a life that’s pleasing to God (Jeremiah 31:31-33). The period of time during which the Old Covenant was coming to an end was considered to be the “last days”, meaning the time period marking its end. The transition between Old Covenant and New Covenant didn’t happen instantaneously. It was a process that began with the ministry of Christ and was finalized when the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70. A.D. The Temple’s destruction was a clear indication that the Old Covenant age had come to a close, giving way to the New Covenant age which would extend to the end of time. When Peter ties the “last days” of Joel’s prophecy to his time period, he does so in regards to the end of the Old Covenant era.
So, was Peter and his contemporaries living in the last days? Yes, but not of the end of the world. The Jews understood that when the Messiah came it would mark the end of the Old Covenant era and the beginning of the Messianic one. The last days Peter was living in was the period of time during which the Old Covenant age would end.
I Will Pour Out My Spirit on All Flesh
The next part of the prophecy speaks about the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon all people: sons, daughters, young men, old men, male and female servants. It also speaks of the effects of that outpouring: prophecy, visions, and dreams.
On the day of Pentecost we see that the promised Holy Spirit was dispensed. John the Baptist had told the crowd attending his baptism that “He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11). The promise was also made to the apostles specifically that they would receive power once the Holy Spirit came upon them (Luke 24:47-49, Acts 1:18). The initial recipients of the Holy Spirit baptism were the apostles exclusively. It was only through their direct involvement that others received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17 testifies to the fact that during the stages of the early church, the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on the apostles hands. At the very least it required their presence (Acts 10:44-48).
Nevertheless, the day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. The promise of it was not given to the Jews alone but was to be made available to all who called upon the name of the Lord both of Jewish and Gentile descent. Peter says in Acts 2:39 that “the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” The Holy Spirit was made available to the Jews on the day of Pentecost and subsequently to the Samaritans, the Gentiles, and to all those outside of the land of Palestine as well (See Acts 1:8, 8:4-25, 10:44-48: 19:1-7). The work of the Holy Spirit continues till this day and its presence in the life of a believer is the guarantee of their inheritance (Eph 1:13-14).
When the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost it represented the pouring out of God’s Spirit upon all flesh as predicted by Joel.
Prophesy, Visions and Dreams
As a result of the outpouring of God’s Spirit, Joel says that people will prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams. These are all signs which would point to the promise being fulfilled. When the observance of these phenomena occurred it could be rightly stated that the prediction had come to pass, that, indeed, God’s Spirit was then available to all.
The apostles spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost which is equivalent to prophecy when interpreted. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:5 that “The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” Being that tongues on Pentecost were interpreted, that is, understood by those whom they were spoken to, they were equivalent to prophecy. “The one who prophesies,” says Paul, “speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3). He also “builds up the church” (1 Cor 14:4). When the apostles spoke in tongues on Pentecost it is reported that the crowds heard “them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11). This could certainly be understood as speaking to people for their upbuilding, encouragement and consolation, as is the effect of prophecy.
Furthermore, the book of Acts is filled with believers experiencing visions and prophetic revelations. Ananias had a vision during which God told him to go pray for Saul. Peter had one prior to preaching the gospel to Cornelius and his household. Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for his help and another where he received encouragement from the Lord. Agabus gave a prophecy that foretold a great famine that would take place. He also received revelation from the Holy Spirit when he told Paul how the Jews would bind him when he went to Jerusalem. The prophets Judas and Silas “encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words” (See Acts 9:10, 10:3, 16:9, 18:9, 11:27-28, 21:11, 15:32).
All of these occurrences, along with the other signs, wonders, and miracles which were performed by the power of the Holy Spirit, testified to the fact that It was being poured out by God upon all people. The sons, daughters, young men, old men, male and female servants of Joel’s prophecy were indicative of the inclusivity of all people groups as being part of God’s plan of salvation. As stated so plainly by Paul in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Under the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, there would be no partiality in regards to who could partake in God’s salvific plan. Salvation no longer belonged exclusively to the Jews but was available to all regardless of race, sex, age, or background.
Wonders in the Heavens Above
The final piece of Joel’s prophetic puzzle is determining what is meant by wonders being shown in heaven and signs on the earth below. If these signs were to accompany the “last days” and Peter was living in them, why don’t we have any record of their occurrence?
Many well meaning believers take passages like this literally. Their interpretation of things results in their expectation that the sun will literally be darkened, the moon will literally be turned to blood, etc. The problem with this approach is that it doesn’t take into consideration the fact that Scripture is composed of many different literary elements such as poetry, hyperbole, symbolism, euphemisms, didactic literature, historical narrative, and so on. Not every part of Scripture can be interpreted the same way.
For example, what if we took the events of Revelation literally and failed to see its use of symbolism? We’d have to expect the real appearance of a pregnant woman from heaven who is clothed with the sun, has the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, amongst many other unthinkable occurrences (See Rev. 12:1-2). Is this really the way we should interpret such a thing? Of course not. We have to interpret each passage of Scripture in light of its context.
When it comes to Joel’s prophecy as quoted by Peter, we have to understand that God is using hyperbole. This is a form of language commonly used by God in connection to divine judgment. This judgment language, if you will, is meant to depict the severity of God’s punishment upon a given nation. It’s not to be taken literally. Here are a few examples of God using judgment language in the Old Testament:
- Isaiah 9:9-13 – “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.”
- Isaiah 19:1 – “An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.”
- Ezekiel 30:1-3 – “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’ For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.”
- Lamentations 2:1 – “How the Lord in his anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud!”
The passage quoted from Isaiah 9 was in reference to the pending judgment of Babylon. This judgment did indeed occur in 539 B.C. but we have no historical or biblical proof that the sun, moon and stars literally stopped giving their light. People as a whole were not made rarer than fine gold, nor did the heavens tremble or was the earth shaken out of its place. These statements were all hyperbolic and weren’t meant to be taken literally. The same can be said for the other passages quoted with regards to God riding on a cloud, the hearts of the Egyptians melting within them, etc.
This being the case, we must assume that Peter’s quotation of Joel had some immediate eschatological relevancy. Meaning that since Peter tied the prophecy to his lifetime, then some judgment event would also have to occur during that time. Indeed it did, and Jesus speaks of it in his Olivet Discourse. In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus tells of the day when the Temple would be destroyed along with the city of Jerusalem. Ironically, Jesus makes use of the same type of judgment language employed by the prophets before him. He says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matt 24:29).
He goes on to say that “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matt. 24:36). The judgment spoken of by Christ occurred approximately 40 years later in 70. A.D. when Roman armies came and destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, leaving not “one stone upon another” (Matt. 24:2).
The idea of judgment accompanying the advent of the Messiah isn’t a novelty. The Old Testament testifies to the fact that when the Messiah came, judgment would ensue. Here are a few passages in support of this:
- Malachi 3:1-5 – “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.
- Malachi 4:5-6 – “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
The cataclysmic signs present in Peter’s quotation of Joel’s prophecy were understood as judgment language by the Jews who were familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures. There would not have been a doubt in their mind as to what this type of language depicted. It was not representative of actual supernatural cosmic activity but of divine judgment. When Peter quotes Joel here, he does so with the understanding that along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would come judgment upon Israel, namely for murdering their own Messiah.
With this understanding we can see how all of Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled in the lifetime of Peter and the apostles. The Holy Spirit was given, signs were manifested, those who called on the name of the Lord were saved, and divine judgment came.
In Conclusion
Charismatic believers tied to dispensational premillennialism often view the passage in question as relating to the end of the world. They’re interpretation of the passage is one which requires us to force upon the text a meaning which isn’t originally there. Being that, in their minds, the events spoken of are futuristic, they’ll have to occur at some point in time immediately preceding the return of Christ. This interpretation, however, gives way to the modern use of tongues in connection to the rapture theory. Some conclude that because they speak in tongues, and that Peter ties speaking in tongues to the “last days”, that we must be living in them. Some will also say that the events of Pentecost were indeed a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy but that the prophecy would continue to be fulfilled until the end of human history.
Given the fact that all which Joel spoke of has already come to pass, these interpretations are erroneous. The Holy Spirit has already been given along with accompanying signs, people from all walks of life have received salvation, and judgment has already come upon Israel as the nation designated to receive it. Once a prophecy has been fulfilled we need not continue looking for its fulfillment. Isaiah 7:14 tells of the Messiah being born of a virgin. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. Do we expect another Messiah to come and do it again? Of course not. When prophecy is clearly and explicitly stated as being fulfilled, we would do well to cease from looking for a future fulfillment of it.