Volume 25, Issue 4
Page 14
WisconsinChristianNews.com
‘All Israel’ Will Be Saved
By Dr. Mike Spaulding August 2024 I am cur- rently teaching through the book of Acts. In Chapter 2 we read a
end to the increase of His govern- ment or of peace. On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness. From then on and forevermore, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accom- plish this.”
mouths to give glory to God. That would certainly go against their very nature. For the One who can command the rocks to sing His praises, that would be a small thing. Next Yahweh says, “your sons and your daughters shall proph- esy.” He follows that up with
Period as Revelation presents them.
It seems that Yahweh is in- forming us, through the prophet Joel, that He will have a witness upon the earth even ‘til the day of Jesus’ return to destroy His enemies. This is an important point. Some see this passage as relating to what transpires in the Millennial Kingdom. Verse 20 ar- gues against that view. There we read that these events transpire before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall come. Even the context of Joel 2 points to the time of great distress upon Israel and her people. A time when the world opposes Israel and marches to war against her. This is certainly not describing the Millennial Reign of Christ from Jerusalem. It clearly de- scribes the time of “Jacobs Trou- ble,” the Great Tribulation. The outcome of Joel’s prophecy is shown in verse 21 – “All who call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” This clearly speaks of deliverance for the Jewish people. A time of salva- tion and fulfillment of Paul’s statement in Romans 11. “I say then, they did not stum- ble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgres- sion salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their fail- ure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I mag- nify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.”
The days leading up to His Sec-
prophecy of Joel. This prophecy provides a much-needed correc- tion to much modern theology, especially Covenant Postmillen- nialism. One advantage that we have as believers in Jesus Christ that the Hebrew people did not have is an understanding that the last days would be marked by two appear- ances of Messiah. Jesus came first as a suffering servant de- picted in Isaiah 53. Jesus Him- self quoted Isaiah 53:12 when He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). Matthew saw in Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law a fulfill- ment of Isaiah 53:4. “When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: ‘He Himself took our in- firmities and carried away our diseases.’” (Matthew 8:14-17). Jesus will come again to estab- lish His kingdom on the earth. Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of that. “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no
ond Coming is what this passage in Joel describes. This is another example of prophecy having both an immediate fulfillment and a longer view fulfillment. The days leading up to Christ’s Second Coming will be marked as we read in verse 17 by an outpour- ing of the Holy Spirit. Most ces- sasionists place the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in the Millennial reign of Jesus. We will see in a moment why that cannot be true. Notice that this verse says the Spirit will be poured out upon all mankind. I can see an argument here for the Pre-Tribulation Rap- ture of the ecclesia. The phrase “all mankind” seems to say something specific. That is, in my opinion, speaking about “those who dwell on the earth” to use the phrase repeated in the book of Revelation, which refers to the unsaved not caught up with Jesus. How strange this will be for those who have denied Christ to witness or even as this verse suggests, open their
“your young men” and “your old men.” Who are the “your” here in Joel? They are the Jews living during that time before Christ’s second appearing. I believe that this is speaking about the Tribu- lation period when Messianic Jews will give testimony to the saving grace of Yahweh through faith in Jesus. But the immedi- ate fulfillment was witnessed by the crowd on that Pentecost. The disciples were speaking in for- eign languages about the glory of Yahweh. That could assuredly have included prophetic utter- ances and explanations of vi- sions. In verse 18, Yahweh through Joel, is speaking to His own, those who have trusted Christ among the Jews and those who have trusted Christ among the Gentiles. Both groups will have come to faith after the Rapture. These days will also manifest wonders in the skies and signs on the earth below. Verses 19-20 describe a time that appears to parallel events in the Tribulation
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News • Opinion • Commentary from a Biblical Perspective Mike Spaulding interviews authors, researchers, and other people who are making a difference in the communities in which they live. Listen on on www.soaringeagleradio.com, WTTP FM in Lima, Ohio, on Global Star Radio Network Saturdays at 7pm EST, on Talk America Radio, and on Worldview Weekend Radio. Questions or comments may be sent to PastorMike@cclohio.org SoaringEagleRadio.com
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