TIMING THIS UP

Joel 2:28-31 says,
"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. 
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."

I have heard many a pastor, preacher, teacher, scholar and understudy describe their belief on the timing of when God is going to pour out His Spirit on all people.  Now it is time for my observation(s) to be included for consideration.

Right off the bat in this verse you have the words "And afterward" followed by the key words "I will pour out my Spirit on all people".  Then later in this verse you have "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD".  So, Joel 2:28-31, the key verse, seems to be sandwiched in between two events.  The last one is given - "the great and dreadful day of the LORD".  This title or designation as well as "the great day of the LORD" is defined by many as the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation (a 7 year period of judgment by God of Israel, the earth, and unbelievers of Christ).  Now we need to find out what event was meant by - "And afterward".

Joel 2:18, 20 states, "Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.  I will drive the northern army far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land, with its front columns going into the eastern sea and those in the rear into the western sea.  And its stench will go up; its smell will rise."

There is speculation as to who the northern army is here and why they are attacking Israel.  However, for the sake of this blog and observing the time frame, I will assume that Joel 2:18, 20 is talking about the Gog/Magog Atttack (Ezekiel 38 and 39).  Other people have placed this Attack at different places on the time-line, but I position the Attack prior to the start of the Tribulation.

So, with "And afterward" being after the Gog/Magog Attack and "the great and dreadful day of the LORD" being the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation, I then place Joel 2:28-31 at least around the start of the Tribulation and possibly in to the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation.

It is important to note that the Restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit is the lacking element off the earth during the Tribulation.  The Holy Spirit will still convict people of their sins during the Tribulation and many will come to salvation in Christ during this time because we notice there will be martyrs for Christ who are beheaded (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:13-17).  But unhindered lawlessness will prevail for a period of time known as The Tribulation.  It is during the first part of this time frame that I believe God pours out His Spirit on all people.  His sons and daughters prophesy, His old men will dream dreams, His young men will see visions.  Both men and women will experience this.  During this time, God will also show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood.  And all this AFTER a "northern army" attacks and BEFORE the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

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