Joel 2v28-32 (These verses are chapter 3 in the Hebrew Bible)

v28: Afterwards, in this context, doesn’t mean after these things. It means that this is how it is going to be at the end.

· I will pour out My Spirit: The Spirit being poured out is an outcome of redemption. (“First month” -2v23- also alluded to redemption)

· All flesh: This opportunity for redemption is not just for the Old Covenant (Jewish) people. It’s inclusive (John 3v16). This has been G-d’s purpose from the beginning – for all flesh to be blessed – Gen 12v3.

· Sons and daughters – tied to the next generation, Kingdom hope/expectation.

· Shall Prophesy – there is a connection between the moving of the Spirit and prophecy. This is why we should always emphasize prophetic truth in the Scripture.

v29: Redemption is available to males and females.

v30: To understand the timing of the rapture (very different to the second coming of Messiah) G-d gives signs. We will not know the day or the hour, but we can know the season when it will take place – Matt 24v36, Matt 24v32-35, 1 Thess 5v1-11

· Blood, fire, and pillars of smoke: These are going to be plagues that happen in the last days.

v31: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood: This is significant. G-d is saying that there are specific signs that must happen prior to the “day of the L-rd”(prior to the outpouring of His wrath) taking place.

Note: Several things are happening at the same time as these signs (dark sun and moon like blood) take place – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, prophesy, dreams, visions, blood, fire, pillars of smoke. All of these signs will be occurring around the same time, and they are happening to announce the coming of this great an awesome (powerful judgement) day of the L-rd.

v32: In Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance: This does not mean that those who are in that location at that time get to escape. He is speaking of an attitude here – those who call on the name of the L-rd.

· Remnant: Survivors

· Whom the L-rd calls: How does He call them? Through these events (How did G-d call the Egyptians? Through the plagues. Many rejected His call and their hearts became hard, but those who responded to the L-rd’s call joined the Israelites who left Egypt, and they were saved!– Ex 12v38). We know from the New Testament that only those who call on the name of Messiah Yeshua will be saved (Acts 4v10-12).

In the same way that blood was so foundational in the first Passover, the first exodus, so will blood be necessary for the second. (Ex 12v7). The emphasis of Passover is not the exodus from Egypt, but it is the call to enter into the promised land. It was only through the blood that they had the hope of entering into the land, and in that same way it’s only through the blood of Messiah Yeshua that we have the hope of leaving this world for the purpose of entering into the kingdom of G-d.