The phrase "Last Days" means different things to different people.
Scripture uses the term in such a way,
that it would be fair to say
that we are already in "the Last Days",
and that those Days will climax
with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign.
Along with the Resurrection
of those asleep
and the transformation of those believers living
when Christ returns.
See I Cor. 15 and I Thess. 4
Peter ( Acts 2 )
clearly connects the passage in Joel
with the gift of the Holy Spirit
that was given to the believers
on the day of Pentecost.
Joel is talking about both the time of tribulation
and the kingdom that the Lord is going to set up.
There is a focus on the children of Israel,
since that was the audience Joel was addressing.
Reading through chapter 2,
it seems to be referencing
the time leading up to the tribulation period,
AND
the restorage of Israel after the Lord
returns to rule and reign on earth.
As to the separate issue of
if the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to END
before the Tribulation period,
and then "come back" specifically during that time period,
I do not "SEE" that in the words Paul wrote ( I Cor. 13 ).
He talks about "prophecies", "tongues", and "knowledge"
failing, ceasing, or vanishing.
I know how this passage has been used
( taught for many years by many teachers )
to reference the completed Bible
( including the New Testament ).
Soon after the time of the apostles.
I have a hard time believing that is
the "perfect" which is to come,
that Paul was referencing.
He refers to a clear "seeing" - similar to face to face,
And a full "knowing".
The return of Christ, and our transfiguration
to our spiritual bodies would "fit" better.
That is when we will see and know the things
we currently only see / know dimly.
BOTH are "theories" or "interpretations",
as the EXACT meaning is not specifically "spelled out" in this
or any other passage.
It would be a mistake to use these passages
as "evidence" of a pre-tribulation rapture.
* I Cor. 13:8-10
8 Love never fails.
But whether there are prophecies,
they will fail; whether there are tongues,
they will cease; whether there is knowledge,
it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come,
then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child,
I understood as a child, I thought as a child;
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly,
but then face to face.
Now I know in part,
but then I shall know just
as I also am known.
And here are key passages about the "Last Days" from the New Testament
and Joel chapter 2.
I don't see a clear "division" of the "last days"
referring to only the time of the great tribulation.
And again,
the book of Joel seems to cover the period
when the restoration is to occur,
AS WELL as the Day of the Lord
( and the time leading up to it ).
Several passages would only apply to
when the Lord returns
and sets up His kingdom on Earth.
Below are some passages
I found relevant to the topic of
the Last Days and the Holy Spirit.
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors
through the prophets
at many times
and in various ways,
2 but in these last days
he has spoken to us by his Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things,
and through whom also he made the universe.
3 Above all,
you must understand that in the last days
scoffers will come,
scoffing
and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say,
"Where is this 'coming'
he promised?
Ever since our ancestors died,
everything goes on as it has
since the beginning of creation."
1 The Spirit clearly says
that in later times
some will abandon the faith
and follow deceiving spirits
and things taught by demons.
2 Such teachings come through
hypocritical liars,
whose consciences have been seared
as with a hot iron.
3 They forbid people to marry
and order them to abstain
from certain foods,
which God created to be received
with thanksgiving
by those who believe
and who know the truth.
1 But mark this:
There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money,
boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving,
slanderous, without self-control,
brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash,
conceited, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God—
5 having a form of godliness
but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with such people.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
raised his voice and said to them,
"Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and heed my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is only the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,
says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants
and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming
of the great and awesome
day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever
calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.'
For a fuller Context,
we should read all of the book of Joel.
But for now, let me just add the following,
Joel 2
2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the Lord is coming,
For it is at hand:
**
2:18-32
Then the Lord will be zealous
for His land,
And pity His people.
19 The Lord will answer
and say to His people,
"Behold, I will send you grain
and new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied by them;
I will no longer make you a reproach
among the nations.
20 "But I will remove far from you
the northern army,
And will drive him away
into a barren and desolate land,
With his face
toward the eastern sea
And his back
toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done monstrous things."
21 Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the Lord has done
marvelous things!
22 Do not be afraid,
you beasts of the field;
For the open pastures
are springing up,
And the tree bears its fruit;
The fig tree
and the vine
yield their strength.
23 Be glad then,
you children of Zion,
And rejoice
in the Lord your God;
For He has given you
the former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain
to come down for you—
The former rain,
And the latter rain
in the first month.
24 The threshing floors
shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow
with new wine and oil.
25 "So I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army
which I sent among you.
26 You shall eat in plenty
and be satisfied,
And praise the name
of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people
shall never be put to shame.
27 Then you shall know that
I am in the midst of Israel:
I am the Lord your God
And there is no other.
My people
shall never be put to shame.
God's Spirit Poured Out
28 "And it shall come to pass
afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit
on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream
dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My menservants
and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit
in those days.
30 "And I will show wonders
in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire
and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned
into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome
day of the Lord.
32 And it shall come to pass
That whoever
calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion
and in Jerusalem
there shall be deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among the remnant
whom the Lord calls.
--
Saved by Grace,
Andrew Cross
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.Hebrews 10:23-25
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