B 2:5 -8.

f

Dwellers at Jerusalem `

g  In his own language.

(Te idia dialekto auton).

C

2:9 -13. The representative nations.

The 12 Countries

There are two harvests separated by three months in the festal year of

Israel.  Pentecost being the first, and associated with 'firstfruits', and

the harvest at the end of the year, the sunteleia, of which Pentecost was a

foreshadowing only.  Peter's explanation of Pentecost, given in Acts 2:16 -

21, is inspired and final.  There can hardly be found in human language more

explicit words than Peter's 'This is that'.  Such specific language makes it

imperative that we understand, at least in measure, the teaching of the

prophecy of Joel, and found our idea of Pentecost upon his teaching.  If, as

most will admit, the 'church' cannot be imported into Joel, then that alone

should, if we still hold it, shake our faith in the tradition that the church

began at Pentecost.  We trust the reader will honour the Holy Spirit at this

point, and, leaving the comments of men, turn to the short prophecy of Joel

and read it through.  Seven minutes is all the time it will occupy.  Upon

reading the book through, two verses stand out, namely Joel 1:4 and 2:25:

'That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that

which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which

the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten'.

'I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the

cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army

which I sent among you'.

'I will restore' are words that find their echo in the question of the

apostles: 'wilt Thou restore?' (Acts 1:6), and in the testimony of Peter as

to 'the times of restoration' (Acts 3:21 R.V.).  Repentance is promised.

'Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God'

(Joel 2:13), and the resulting blessing is not only likened to the

restoration of the land from plague and famine, but to the restoring of

Israel's access and acceptable worship under the figure of new wine, and

drink offering (Joel 1:13; 2:14; 3:18).  Prominent also is the 'great and

terrible day of the Lord', a prophetic period of no uncertain value, the

object of much Old Testament prophecy, and certainly having no connection

with the 'church'.  The following outline may help the reader:

A

a

New wine cut off.

b

1:8 -13.

Israel's harvest spoiled.

B

1:14 to 2:14.

Israel a desolation.

C

2:15 -20.

The gathering of Israel.

D

2:21 to 3:1.

I will restore.

C

The gathering of nations.

D

3:2 -8.

I will plead.