From what we have gleamed thus far from some of the latest exchanges in regards to this prophecy and its fulfillment it appears that a further examination of the prophecy is prudent.
VERSES 28 and 29 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
As is the custom of God to hide the truth, both form the true Church as well as from the “worldly wise”, (i.e., the Nominal church) until the “due time” for its understanding, often times in symbols, parables, and or dark (hidden) sayings and etc., so likewise it appears to be the divine intention here in Joel’s prophecy.
However the hiding or concealment here consists not in stating matters in symbols or in dark sayings, but in stating the facts in reverse order, that is stating the first fulfillment last, and the last first. And such is God's custom: He gave the natural seed of Abraham and its promises first and the spiritual and chief seed last; yet in the full completion of his plan, the spiritual seed must be glorified before the natural can have its promises fulfilled (Heb 11:40).
If we transpose the words of Joel we can see the two outpourings of gifts, etc., clearly--thus: "And also upon the servants and handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit." [This was fulfilled in the Lord's servants at Pentecost.]
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon ALL flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, [declare] and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions."
In the receiving of these earthly sons, Israel will be the first--"To the Jew first, and also the Gentile." And in harmony with this we read, that in that day--the day of the Lord--God will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication: and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced. (Zech 12:10)
Throughout this Gospel age the Lord has poured out his Spirit upon his servants and handmaidens ONLY; and blessed has been the experience of all those who received it--all who were immersed into the body of Christ, and made partakers of his anointing as spiritual sons; and it was to this feature that the Apostle Peter (Acts 2:16-21) referred in his discourse at Pentecost. He quoted both parts of the prophecy, but, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he did not expound or illuminate the first part; because the time for it to be understood had not yet come.
Hence, instead of explaining the difference between the Holy Spirit upon the servants and the handmaidens during this Gospel age ("IN those days"), and the holy Spirit upon all flesh "afterward," in the next age, he merely says, referring to the holy Spirit poured upon himself and the other believers at Pentecost, "This, this outpouring is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel"--a part of that, the beginning of that which was spoken. It will not all be complete until the pouring out of the Spirit upon all flesh, which has not yet come. Moreover, the prophet mentions other things, which are not yet fulfilled.
The fact is, is that there is to be another future (Verse 28) outpouring of God's Spirit, accompanied by remarkable and demonstrating gifts. But this will not be the same as the previous outpouring in all respects. The baptisms and gifts at the beginning of this age were indications that those who received them were sons of God on the spiritual plane—new creatures. The next outpouring will be a sign of relationship to God as human sons, not as "new" or spiritual ones.
It is God's design, through Christ, in the coming age, to restore the entire human race that are willing, from the condition of human sinners, back to the condition of human sons--the position occupied by Adam before he sinned. (Luke 3:38)--This is the great Restitution mentioned by Peter, in Acts 3:21. But we have seen that before thus restoring the human sons to their proper position and glory, as such on earth, God is now taking out a number of sons who change their nature, and in the resurrection will become perfect spiritual beings, no longer earthly.
Since BOTH of these families are sons, it is proper that God should indicate his recognition of them in some way. Hence he has already at the beginning of our age indicated our acceptance, and so, or similarly, he will indicate the acceptance of the fleshly sons when their age is opening--and it should be indicated soon, we think.
The Prophet Joel mentions both of these outpourings of the Spirit and the gifts attendant. Peter recognized Pentecost as a fulfillment of this, and so it was. Most, and the chief part of the prophecy, was fulfilled there, but not all of it.
There God poured out his Spirit upon his servants and handmaidens; but did he pour it out upon ALL flesh?
Certainly not; only on those who received Jesus and became sons of God by consecration.
In our next post we shall examine the rest of the Prophet Joel’s prophecy, those things which have as yet not been fulfilled.
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