Realization of a Dream

Joel 2:28 “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.”

Before the soon and coming day of the Lord, there will be signs and wonders, prophetic fulfillment, and the opportunity to share the gospel throughout the world…there will also be signs of terror. The prophecies in Joel regarding last days events has been gradually unfolding, not in a pattern of slowness but in a measured, calculated process by which all things will be fulfilled.

The revelation of prophecy shows that God’s hand is moving in the world and yet at the center of His narrative is His people. When the culmination of events concludes, there will be no doubt for those left behind as to what they are experiencing.

There will be many who miss the signs but it won’t be for lack of God’s call.

What are those signs?

First, it is important to remember that the events that are beginning to unfold are events that God has declared and announced long ago. These signs are not happening randomly and they will end in their prescribed time.

Joel 2:2 “A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
A people come, great and strong,
The like of whom has never been;
Nor will there ever be any such after them,
Even for many successive generations.”

Who is this mighty people?

The darkness and gloom that hangs over the land is the symptoms of sin and separation from God. This darkness hangs over the minds of those who are left without the light and the hopelessness of this world pervades their lives.

That people are a unique people where the fire of the Lord goes before them and in their wake are others who have been changed.

Joel 2:3 “A fire devours before them,
And behind them a flame burns;
The land is like the Garden of Eden before them,
And behind them a desolate wilderness;
Surely nothing shall escape them.”

The fire is none other than the Spirit of the Lord. Upon His anointed alights His power and their message carries the weight of conviction. The Moral law is the standard of righteousness that brings darkness and despair to those who live in sin, it defines God’s judgement and for those who attempt to maintain their own righteousness, all that is left is devastation.

Joel 2:7 “They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like men of war;
Every one marches in formation,
And they do not break ranks.
They do not push one another;
Every one marches in his own column.
Though they lunge between the weapons,
They are not cut down.”

The unity of the Spirit is the bond every believer shares. It is by the Lord’s authority that His church goes forth and accomplishes greatness for generations. It is by this love for one another the church shows forth the Love of God, they are a testimony of His Spirit that dwells within them. This army of the Lord is arrayed for battle, shod with the armor of God and led forth by the Word of God.

Joel 2:11 “The Lord gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?”

The soon and coming day of the Lord will be preceded by signs in the heavens, Earthquakes, storms, eclipses of the sun and moon, and the stars will diminish in brightness. Sound familiar? Earthquakes are happening everywhere with more following each day. We are also witnessing celestial events with an increasing move toward the culmination of the church age.

Joel 2:10 “Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.”

Today, astronomers have found that the stars are actually moving away from us and growing dimmer. The Bible consistently remains true.

Joel 2:12-13 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.”

The message God’s people carry is a proclamation the Lord has for this world.

It is in brokenness of heart in repentance that the contrite come before the Lord Almighty. In humility they present themselves and He lifts them up, the call still goes forth today for all who would believe. The Lord has withheld His vengeance from this world so that His grace, which was bought with a price, might be received.

It is difficult not to grow angry when evil continues to flourish in this world but the Lord says that He moves slowly in His anger, not bringing about His wrath prematurely.

Joel 2:17 “Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”

Israel fulfilled the prophecy of Ezekiel and returned as a nation in 1948. The anti-semitism today has reached a feverish pitch and the forming coalition of enemies is at their door. Israel is still relevant today, they are God’s timepiece of last days prophecy and we are witnessing the culmination of God’s promises for that nation. The Lord has restored their prosperity and He has blessed their land by making it fruitful.

Joel 2:23 “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.
The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.”

Dreams and Visions

The Lord’s people is His Church, it has been given the message of the gospel and so it goes forth in power and does not return void. He confirms His Word by dreams and visions, but for those who doubt He reinforces the message that was set so long ago.

Stay ready, be the man or woman He has called you to be and listen for that final trumpet call….it will not delay.