I am currently teaching through the book of Acts. In Chapter 2 we read a prophecy of Joel. This prophecy provides a much-needed correction to much modern theology, especially Covenant Postmillennialism.

One advantage that we have as believers in Jesus Christ that the Hebrew people did not have is an understanding that the last days would be marked by two appearances of Messiah. Jesus came first as a suffering servant depicted in Isaiah 53. Jesus Himself quoted Isaiah 53:12 when He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Matthew saw in Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4.

¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. ¹⁶ When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” Matthew 8:14-17

Jesus will come again to establish His kingdom on the earth. Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of that.

⁶ For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

The days leading up to His Second Coming is what this passage in Joel describes. This is another example of prophecy having both an immediate fulfillment and a longer view fulfillment. The days leading up to Christ’s Second Coming will be marked as we read in verse 28 by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Most cessasionists place the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in the Millennial reign of Jesus. We will see in a moment why that cannot be true.

Notice that this verse says the Spirit will be poured out upon all mankind. I can see an argument here for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the ecclesia. The phrase “all mankind” seems to say something specific. That is, in my opinion, speaking about “those who dwell on the earth” to use the phrase repeated in the book of Revelation, which refers to the unsaved not caught up with Jesus. How strange this will be for those who have denied Christ to witness or even as this verse suggests, open their mouths to give glory to God. That would certainly go against their very nature. For the One who can command the rocks to sing His praises, that would be a small thing.

Next Yahweh says, “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” He follows that up with “your young men” and “your old men.” Who are the “your” here in Joel? They are the Jews living during that time before Christ’s second appearing. I believe that this is speaking about the Tribulation period when Messianic Jews will give testimony to the saving grace of Yahweh through faith in Jesus. But the immediate fulfillment was witnessed by the crowd on that Pentecost. The disciples were speaking in foreign languages about the glory of Yahweh. That could assuredly have included prophetic utterances and explanations of visions.

In verse 18 Yahweh through Joel is speaking to His own, those who have trusted Christ among the Jews and those who have trusted Christ among the Gentiles. Both groups will have come to faith after the Rapture.

These days will also manifest wonders in the skies and signs on the earth below. Verses 19-20 describe a time that appears to parallel events in the Tribulation Period as Revelation presents them.

It seems that Yahweh is informing us through the prophet Joel that He will have a witness upon the earth even till the day of Jesus’ return to destroy His enemies. This is an important point. Some see this passage as relating to what transpires in the Millennial Kingdom. Verse 20 argues against that view. There we read that these events transpire before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall come. Even the context of Joel 2 points to the time of great distress upon Israel and her people. A time when the world opposes Israel and marches to war against her. This is certainly not describing the Millennial Reign of Christ from Jerusalem. It clearly describes the time of “Jacobs Trouble,” the Great Tribulation.

The outcome of Joel’s prophecy is shown in verse 21 – All who call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved. This clearly speaks of deliverance for the Jewish people. A time of salvation and fulfillment of Paul’s statement in Romans 11.

¹¹ I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. ¹² Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! ¹³ But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; ²¹ for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. ²² Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³ And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
²⁷ “This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

“All” Israel is not spiritual Israel consisting of Jews and Gentiles who have believed in Jesus for eternal life. All Israel doesn’t mean the church. Prophecies concerning Israel are not spiritually realized in the church. Israel and the church are two different entities. Deliberately conflating Israel and the church is nonsensical and violates the text. All Israel means every Jew living at the time of Christ’s return will look upon Him and mourn for they will know in that instance Jesus is Messiah. Thus, all will be saved.

John Gill, the Puritan theologian, credited with the development of Hyper-Calvinism,[1] got it right. He wrote of this passage:

And so all Israel shall be saved… Meaning not the mystical spiritual Israel of God, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, who shall appear to be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, when all God’s elect among the latter are gathered in, which is the sense many give into; but the people of the Jews, the generality of them, the body of that nation, called “the fulness” of them, Romans 11:12, and relates to the latter day, when a nation of them shall be born again at once; when, their number being as the sand of the sea, they shall come up out of the lands where they are dispersed, and appoint them one head, Christ, and great shall be the day of Jezreel; when they as a body, even the far greater part of them that shall be in being, shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their King; shall acknowledge Jesus to be the true Messiah, and shall look to him, believe on him, and be saved by him from wrath to come.[2]

Modern Reformed and Covenant theology adherents have drifted so far away from the biblical narrative concerning Israel’s restoration, that they are beginning to stand as enemies of Israel politically, and of other Christians who uphold the truth that Yahweh is not finished with His chosen people. It’s one thing to understand eschatology in a particular manner but another thing entirely to take a physical and political stand against Israel, denouncing her and advocating for her demise. The invectives are becoming increasingly hostile even against other Christians who hold to a different view of Israel.

I recommend a book for your further investigation into this subject. It is Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s, Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology. Dr. Fruchtenbaum does thorough research into the roots of Covenant Theology of the Postmillennial, Amillennial, and Premillennial persuasions. Without question, the most virulent of the three is Covenant Postmillennialism. Many of its adherents have become rabidly anti-Israel and anti-Semitic. They excuse this behavior as warranted against false teaching. Their fight is against Yahweh and His declared plans for Israel. Pray for them to come to the truth.

Dr. Mike Spaulding

Picture Courtesy of Pixabay

[1] John Gill (1697-1771) was a prominent English Baptist pastor and theologian who played a significant role in Puritan eschatology. He is often associated with the development of “hyper-Calvinism,” a theological movement that emphasized the sovereignty of God in salvation.

[2] Biblehub – https://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/11-26.htm