THE LAST DAYS

1. Within the last 3 months the office phone rang.

2. On the other end of the line was a Christian who lives in this state but not in Elkhart County.

3. This member of the church owns a business.

4. He called from work to tell me that he had a question.

5. He really wanted to know the meaning of Acts 2:19-21.

THIS MAN IS NOT ALONE. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE CHURCH THAT WANT TO KNOW WHAT THESE VERSES MEAN. IF THESE VERSES CAN BE INTERPRETED WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN BECAUSE THERE ARE OFTEN MISUED TO TEACH ERROR.

A. Most of us realize that these three verses were written a long time ago.

B. They were originally written by the prophet Joel and quoted by Peter.

C. Peter said Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled.

D. In Acts 2:16 Peter said “This is that.”

E. This statement implies that at least some of Joel’s prophecy happened on Pentecost.

F. In the years that have passed since Joel’s prophecy thousands have studies this prophecy.

G. Tonight I am going to present what seems to be the best three explanations for Joel’s predictions.

H. Once this is done I want to argue that just one of these interpretations is the most compelling.

I. One approach to interpreting Joel’s prophecy is that all or most of it happened on Pentecost.

J. That is, most of this prophecy was fulfilled on the day that the Holy Spirit came.

2. There was a time in my life when I found this explanation to be appealing.

3. Let’s do some comparing.

4. In Acts 2:19 we find that “wonders” were to be shown in the “heaven above.”

5. Joel predicated that there would be “blood, fire, and smoke.”

6. What happened on the Day of Pentecost?

A. There was a wonder from heaven.

B. Acts 2:2 says that a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind came from heaven.

C. This sound filled the house where people were sitting.

D. Tongues that looked like fire appeared and sat on the apostle’s heads (verse 3)..

E. This was not exactly something “in heaven” but it was definitely from heaven.

7. On the day of Pentecost things also took place on the earth.

8. When the Spirit descended the Jews were making their daily sacrifices.

9. This was done at the “third hour” (verse 15).

10. What happens when people sacrifice an animal?

11. There is blood, fire, and smoke—the very things described in Acts 2:19.

12. On the day of Pentecost people were calling on the name of the Lord (verse 37).

13. People wanted to know about salvation.

14. The sun being darkened and the moon being turned to blood has been interpreted as a dreary day.

15. Some have affirmed that the conditions on the day of Pentecost fulfilled this prophecy.

16. THIS IS A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THE PROPHECY. IF THIS VIEW IS ADOPTED EXPLAINING WHAT THE “DAY OF THE LORD” MEANS IS VERY DIFFICULT. ABOUT THE BEST PEOPLE CAN DO IS TO SAY THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD WAS AN EVENT THAT HAPPENED SOMETIME AFTER THE DAY OF PENTECOST.

A. The second explanation for these verses is related to the second coming of Christ.

B. Some think that Joel and Peter spoke about the end of the world.

C. This explanation says that most of the prophecy will be fulfilled at the end of time.

D. This explanation is filled with problems.

E. Notice verse 21 – READ

F. How can we reconcile this was the Lord’s final return?

G. When the Lord comes back will be a time for judgment, not a last opportunity for salvation.

H. This view presents us with another difficulty.

I. Do we remember from Mt. 7 that Jesus said “narrow is the gate that leads to life”?

J. Jesus said that few will be saved.

K. Peter and Joel said that “anyone who called” would be saved.

L. Acts 2 implies many people; our information about the Day of Judgment says few will be saved.

17. An examination of Joel’s prophecy provides us with some other reasons to reject this explanation.

18. Verses 17-21 all go together.

19. In verses 17-18 we have descriptions of spiritual gifts.

20. Spiritual gifts and the “day of the Lord” were to be in the same time frame.

21. These two things go together.

22. The spiritual gifts are gone and Jesus still hasn’t returned.

23. Since the gifts and this day of the Lord went together another time (event) was predicted.

24. Perhaps the most compelling reason to reject the second coming is a statement from the Lord.

25. Listen to what Jesus said in Mt. 24:36-38.

A. In this section of Matthew 24 Jesus discussed His final return.

B. He made a point and then illustrated it.

C. READ Mt. 24:36-39.

D. The Lord said that there will be no indications for His second coming.

E. The people in Noah’s day were surprised. They didn’t have a clue about the timing of the judgment.

F. Jesus said that same will be true concerning the end of time.

26. In Acts 2 we have signs that point to (predict) the “day of the Lord.”

27. THE TWO BEST EXPLANATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR ACTS 2:19-21 ARE INTERESTING AND PERHAPS EVEN CONVINCING UNTIL WE STUDY THEM IN DETAIL. IN THE END WE FIND THAT THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE BIBLE.

A. What is the third explanation for these verses?

B. The best way to interpret these verses is to apply them to the destruction of Jerusalem.

C. When Jerusalem was destroyed people still had spiritual gifts.

D. This fact allows us to put the gifts and the judgment in the same time period.

28. This explanation also allows us to relate this passage to other parts of the Bible.

29. Biblical writers often used unusual imagery to describe national calamities.

30. There are several examples that could be given but I will limit the point to a few passages.

31. These references are Isa. 13:1, 10; Ezek. 32:2; 7-8; and Mt. 24:29.

32. All of these reference describe national calamities.

33. The first passage is Isa. 13:1, 10 – READ

A. The nation of Babylon was going to be overthrown.

B. The prophet predicted a national calamity for this nation.

C. He used the same type of imagery that we find in Acts 2.

D. If this imagery described the down fall of a nation in Isa. 13, why not in Acts 2?

E. The next reference is found in Ezek. 32:2, 7-8 – READ.

F. Egypt and its ruler would be overthrown.

G. The prophet used the same type of language that Joel and Peter used.

H. Even Jesus used this same type of imagery when He described the destruction of Jerusalem.

I. This is found in Mt. 24:29.

34. These descriptions should not surprise us.

35. When we think of the sun shining brightly we are left with a positive image.

36. When the sun darkens things may take on a more ominous appearance.

37. A storm may be moving in.

38. Saying that the sun would be turned to darkness was a symbol of bad news.

39. When Jerusalem was destroyed it was bad news.

40. If an economist said “a cloud is on the horizon” we would know what he meant.

41. The destruction of Jerusalem was not just a cloud. It was a horrific event.

42. It was a “great and notable day” (Acts 2:20).

A. It was such a sight of terror that Jesus made some predictions about it.

B. He said that if this time had not been “shortened” everyone would have died (Mt. 24:22).

C. He said it was going to be so bad that people would need to run (Mt. 24:16).

D. Jesus said “If you forgot you coat, don’t go back for it” (Mt. 24:18).

E. Perhaps the saddest prediction is found in Mt. 24:21 – READ

43. This is completely consistent with what Peter wrote.

44. The destruction of Jerusalem was a horrible day.

45. At the time of Pentecost this day was still in the future.

46. It happened within 40 years of Pentecost.

47. When this time came would there be hope?

48. Yes.

49. People could “call upon the Lord” (i.e. become Christians), verse 21.

A. Those who became Christians would be “saved” (Acts 2:21).

B. Our first reaction to the word “saved” is probably salvation from sin.

C. If we let Jesus explain this from His Mt. 24 discourse we come up with something different.

D. Listen to verse 31 of Mt. 24 – READ

E. Many apply this to the second coming of Christ.

F. The context shows that this is part of the Lord’s discussion concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.

G. Those who were Christians would avoid dying when Jerusalem was destroyed.

H. Christians may have been exposed to suffered but they didn’t need to die.

50. Why not?

51. Mt. 24: 25 tells us – READ.

52. The Christians knew “beforehand” and could thus be saved when Jerusalem was destroyed.

53. Joel and Jesus both spoke of salvation concerning physical life, not the soul.

54. If this is not convincing enough take a look at what Luke wrote.

A. Matthew was not the only one to write about the destruction of Jerusalem.

B. Luke dealt with the same subject in Lk. 21.

C. The passage to begin with is 20^th verse – Lk. 21:20 – READ

D. Jesus spoke about Jerusalem and its destruction.

E. This must be compared to Lk. 20:11 – READ verse 11.

F. This is the same type of wording that we have in Acts 2.

G. Let’s now tie in Lk. 21:18 – READ.

H. The saved were told that “not a hair on their head would perish.”

I. In Acts 2 Peter spoke of being “saved.”

55. Luke wrote both the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

56. He used the same imagery and expressions in both places.

57. Thus, he described the destruction of Jerusalem.

58. God wanted His people to be saved from the physical problems associated with this destruction.

59. For this reason Christians were warned about it.

60. People were also warned about the problem of sin.

61. Today God still issues warnings through His word.

62. Are we interested in these warnings? Do we know what they are? Have we obeyed them?