The Promise of Joel

Joel, a seventh-century B.C. prophet, gives important insight into future events. When we read this passage, we wonder if he is speaking of his own ancient time or of things in the far future.

Theologians tend to distinguish between two forms of prophecy—classical and apocalyptic. Classical prophecy speaks of concrete nations and uses real numbers and names (see, for example, Jer. 25:1–11). Apocalyptic prophecy, on the other hand, uses highly symbolic language, employs symbolic numbers for times, and often mentions cosmic signs (see Daniel 7). Sometimes we find an overlap of these two types of prophecy (see, for example, Matthew 24).

What about Joel 2:28–31? It seems that this passage falls into this latter category. This means that we should not expect a fulfillment within the lifespan of the prophet or even in the years immediately following his ministry. On the contrary, we should look for the fulfillment of this prophecy in the future. Notice that the context and time frame in which God will give the gift of prophecy—“ ‘before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord’ ” (Joel 2:31, NKJV). Which day is that? First coming of Jesus? Or second? Or both?

When we consider the mention of signs in the sun and moon in Joel’s prophecy, we are immediately struck by the fact that we can find this idea in several other biblical passages as well. Jesus told His disciples about signs in the sun, moon, and stars in His famous end-time discourse (Matt. 24:29). Similarly, John the revelator mentions the same signs (Rev. 6:12, 13). Both Jesus and John target the very last cosmic signs before the second coming of our Lord.

So, we can assume that Joel’s prophecy, which points to similar signs, should have some impact on the end times: “ ‘And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord’ ” (Joel 2:30, 31, NKJV).

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Additional Reading: Selected Quotes from Ellen G. White

The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost will lead to a revival of true religion and to the performance of many wonderful works. Heavenly intelligences will come among us, and men will speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit of God. But should the Lord work upon men as He did on and after the day of Pentecost, many who now claim to believe the truth would know so very little of the operation of the Holy Spirit that they would cry, “Beware of fanaticism.” They would say of those who were filled with the Spirit, “These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13).
The time is not far off now when men will want a much closer relation to Christ, a much closer union with His Holy Spirit than ever they have had, or will have, unless they give up their will and their way, and submit to God’s will and God’s way. The great sin of those who profess to be Christians is that they do not open the heart to receive the Holy Spirit. When souls long after Christ, and seek to become one with Him, then those who are content with the form of godliness exclaim, “Be careful, do not go to extremes.” When the angels of heaven come among us, and work through human agents, there will be solid, substantial conversions, after the order of the conversions after the day of Pentecost.—Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 322.

In His Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. . . .
Yet the fact that God has revealed His will to men through His Word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. . . .
During the ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament were being given, the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual minds, apart from the revelations to be embodied in the Sacred Canon. . . . And mention is made of prophets in different ages, of whose utterances nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close of the canon of Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God.—The Faith I Live By, p. 293.