An Attack Coming From the North

 RESTORATION

On a positive note, Joel now brings news of restoration.  The land will be fruitful again. (Joel 2:23-26)  Then at some point in the future, an ample supply of spiritual food will become available."I will pour out my spirit on every sort of flesh," says Jehovah, "and your sons and your dauhters will prophesy . . . and even on my male slaves and female slaves I will pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28, 29) That outpouring of God's spirit did not occur as soon as the Israelites were brought back from Babylon their homeland. Rather, it took place centuries later, at Pentecost 33 C.E.  How do we know? 

Under inspiration, the apostle Peter applied  Joel 2:28, 29 to an amazing event that took place on that day of Pentecost. About nine o'clock that moring, there was a mirculous outpouring o holy spirit that moved those who received it to begin speaking "about the magnificent  things of God."  (Acts 2:11) Under insiration, Peter used slightly different wording  when quoting Joe's prophecy.  Did you notiec what adjustment he made? (Read Acts 2:16, 17.)  Instead of beginning the quotation with the words "after that," Peter said: "And in the last days"-in this context, the last days of the Jewish system of things-God's spirit would be poured out "on every sort of flesh."  This indicates that considerable time had passed before Joel's prophecy was fulfilled.

It was after that remarkable outpouring of God's spirit in the first century that the preaching work began to go forward to the greatest extent. By the time the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, about 61 C.E., he could describe the good news as being preached "in all creation under heaven." (Colossians 1:23)   In Paul's day, "all creation" meant the world as it was then known. With the help of Jehovah's powerful holy spirit, the preaching work has expanded much more in our day- "to the ends of the earth"! - ACTS 13:47.

Next time: An Attack Coming From the North-"I WILL POUR OUT MY HOLY SPIRIT" 

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