Does Joel's prophecy quoted by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:16)  apply to the Church today?

When we rightly divide the word of truth, we learn that the prophecy of Joel (see Acts 2:16) relates to Israel in millennial kingdom context (read Joel 2:28-32), and not to be confused with the Church age.  When Peter quoted Joel, he quoted kingdom language while anticipating the millennial reign of Christ to commence in his life-time. Note the evidence of the out pouring of the Spirit of God in Joel (2:28). Prophecy, dreams, visions, all of which are consistent with Israel in the O.T. experience and will once again be experienced during the millennial kingdom of Christ.   Because Israel rejected the millennial offer of Christ' reign on earth... the prophecy of Joel is yet to be fulfilled. 

Note:   Israel rejected the offer of the millennial kingdom on three separate occasions... Once by God the Father, second: By God the Son, and third: by God the Holy Spirit...

#1. They Rejected God the Father when they killed John the Baptist.
#2. They Rejected God The Son when they crucified Christ.
#3. They Rejected God The Holy Spirit when they murdered Stephen.

Joel's prophecy as presented by the apostle Peter was rejected by Israel... Joel's prophecy will be offered once again during the millennial kingdom of Christ with Israel's full acceptance of the Christ.

Contrast Peter's quote of Joel 2:28 with what Paul teaches the Church concerning the filling and the fruit of the Holy Spirit (See Gal. 5:22,23). The major difference in which the Holy Spirit will work according to Acts 2:16 in light of Joel 2:28 is that the Holy Spirit will come upon (outwardly) all flesh. This is the way the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament and will again according to Joel's prophecy. Today, or with the Church, the Holy Spirit works inwardly (John 14:16,17; Eph. 5:18).

In Peter's address at the time of Pentecost, he spoke with outward evidences of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1,4). The Holy Spirit literally came upon (outwardly) their flesh. The point is this: In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit is working outwardly with Israel and not the Church. It is not until we get to Acts 13 that we begin to observe the Holy Spirit working inwardly in the Church.

Not to distinguish this major difference in which the Holy Spirit works will cause confusion and division in churches.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger

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