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THEBOOKOFJOEL
Lesson6,Chapter3
WeconcludedJoelchapter2inourpreviouslessonandsobeginchapter3today.
IwanttoremindyouthatonlysomeEnglishBibleversionshaveJoeldividedinto
4chapters(liketheCJB);inothersitisonly3chapters.Itdoesn’treallymatter;
allthesamecontentisthere.Whatdoesmatter,however,istheveryfirstwords
ofchapter3.Theymayseemstraightforward;theyareanythingbutthat.
Therefore,we’regoingtoexplorethisfirstverseindepth.Muchdefinitionof
termswillbeinvolvedsothatwecanbestdiscernGod’soracletoJudah…andthat
becausesomuchofitmayverywellaffectus.So,let’sreadtheverybriefJoel
chapter3together.
READJOELCHAPTER3all
The1
st
versereadsthiswayintheCJB:
CJB
Joel3:1"Afterthis,IwillpouroutmySpiritonallhumanity.Yoursonsand
daughterswillprophesy,youroldmenwilldreamdreams,youryoungmenwill
seevisions;
Toproperlydissectthisverse,andtherebyproperlyunderstandallthatcomes
afterit,we’regoingtohavetodeterminewhattheterm“spirit”means,whatthis
spiritdoes,andwho,exactlythisaffectsandwhyitmustbethatway.So,in
regardstotheoutpouringoftheSpirit,andwhoitismeanttoaffectotherBible
versionswillusesomethingdifferentthan“onallhumanity”.Hereisthesame
verseintheNASB.
NAS
Joel2:28"AnditwillcomeaboutafterthisThatIwillpouroutMySpiriton
allmankind;Andyoursonsanddaughterswillprophesy,Youroldmenwill
dreamdreams,Youryoungmenwillseevisions.
Andnow,intheKJVandthepredominanceofEnglishBibles.
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KJV
Joel2:28Anditshallcometopassafterward,thatIwillpouroutmyspirit
uponallflesh;andyoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy,youroldmen
shalldreamdreams,youryoungmenshallseevisions:
So,these3choicesinEnglishspeakofwhoitisthatwillhavetheSpiritpoured
outuponthem.It’sonallhumanity,orit’sonallmankind,orit’sonallflesh.
Humanityandmankindareessentiallysynonyms…socloseinmeaning…that
there’snoneedtoquibble.But,fleshmeanssomethingdifferent.Allofthese
wordsareattemptingtotranslatetheHebrewwordbasar.Technically,basar
literallymeansalllivingcreaturesingeneral(thatis,alllivingcreaturesthatare
notplants).Acat,adonkey,afish,anelephant…Isupposeevenaninsect…and
ahumanallfallintothecategoryofbasar….flesh.Ontheotherhand,aswithall
wordsandwithinallliteratureorhumancommunicationofanykind,context
mustbeaddedtounderstandtheculturalintentofthewordatthetimeitwas
spoken.So,partofthatneededcontextistododeterminewhat“Spirit”is
prophesiedtobepouredout?Let’sseehowwecancometoarationalconclusion
onthat.
Clearly,GoddoesNOTpouroutHisHolySpiritonirrationalcreatureslikeinsects,
cats,donkeys,fish,orelephants.Thatis,HedoesnotpouroutHisHolySpiriton
livingcreaturesthathavenoabilitytoknowoftheconceptofthedivineorthe
infinite,ortoobeyGod’sdirectiontotheminanykindofconsciousway,orto
operatewithasenseofchoicewithinamoralcodeofrightandwrong.Butthere
isanotherkindofSpirittheBibledescribes.ItisGodputtingthenecessaryspirit
oflife…thebreathoflife…intolivingcreaturesinorderthattheyhavelife.The
attributeoflife…despitewhatDarwinismandothersciencestriestoconvinceus
isthecase…comesnotfromrandomaccidentsofnature,butratheritssourceis
fromoutsidethesphereofthephysicalandnatural.Deadthingscannotmake
somethingelseoritselftocomealive.So,intelligentandadvancedhuman
beingscanmixalltheindividualchemicals,andelements,andstringsofenergy
thatwefindthatlivingcreaturesareindeedphysicallymadeof,butthatalone
cannotgivethatconcoctiontheattributeoflife.Inthiscontext,then,lifesimply
meansanimationalongwithsomelevelofconsciousnesscausedbyGodthat
givesthatblobofotherwiselifelessprotoplasmaspiritoflife.Whileallliving
creatureshavethesamelevelofanimation(theabilitytomoveandfunctionas
alivingentityversusaninanimateanddeadentitylikeastoneoralumpofclay),
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ontheotherhandlivingcreaturesarecreatedbyGodwithvariouslevelsof
consciousnessandself-awareness.Afishhaslessconsciousnessthanan
elephant,forinstance,aninsectlessthanafish,andnophysicalbeinghasas
greatalevelofconsciousnessandoffullself-awarenessasahumanbeing.
So,theHolySpiritofGodisanothermatteraltogetherseparateanddistinctfrom
theSpiritoflife.TheHolySpiritisuniquetoGod,itisamanifestationofGod,and
isgiven(perhapsloaned)onlytocertainlivinghumanbeingsundercertain
conditionsduetoitsinherentholynature.Iwishtogivecredittotheeminent
GermanBiblescholarHansWalterWolffforwhatIamabouttoexplaininthat
regard.
God’sHolySpirit,then,isNOTprimarilyaboutanimationorcognition…it’snot
mostlyaboutknowledgeorintelligenceorsimpleconsciousnessthewayatypical
humanmindandbodynormallyoperates.Norisitaboutoursoul,whichcanbe
definedasthesourceandrepositoryofourdesires,hopes,andtheessenceof
self;thatis,itistheepicenterofthatwhichmakeseachofuswhoweuniquely
are.Further,theHolySpiritisNOTatourdisposalashumanbeings.Thatis,we
arebasar,flesh,andhavenoabilitytowillGod’sHolySpirituponourselvesnor
tochangeitordiminishitinanyway.Rather,ithastobegivenfreelyandwholly
tousbyGod,asHisdecisionalone,onacase-by-casebasis.Humanityandall
creaturescanbealiveandhaveanimationandconsciousness,andsomewitha
levelofself-awareness,withouttheHolySpiritbeinggiventous.Infact,Ithink
itisfairtosaythatGod’sHolySpiritisthevirtualoppositeofbasar…flesh.Thus,
wereadintheBibleofGodchoosingtogiveHisHolySpiritselectively,andonly
tosomeveryfewhumans,asthevitaldivinepowerforthepurposeofachieving
mightydeedsthatareotherwiseimprobableifnotimpossible,orfordoing
somethingofgreatandimportanthistoricalpurposetomovetheballofGod’s
redemptionplanforwardtowardsitsultimategoal.TheHolySpiritisinvincible,it
iseternal,anditcomesfromtheinfinite(itcomesfromoutsidethesphereof
humanity)andisalwayseagertoputtheFather’spurposeintoaction.Yet,the
flesh(thebasar)isweakandchangeable,andcanberathereasilyovercomeas
saysthefamousproverbgivenbyYeshua.
CJB
Matthew26:41Stayawake,andpraythatyouwillnotbeputtothetest-the
spiritindeediseager,buthumannatureisweak."
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ThismeansthatwhileGod’sHolySpiritandpurposeisplacedwithinthoseofus
whomHehasselectedtogiveitto,anditisastrongandimmovableforce,onthe
otherhandevenwhenweareinpossessionofthatHolySpiritbynomeanscan
webeassuredthatwe’llcarryoutGod’swillbecausethevesselitiscontainedin
(ourhumanbodiesandminds)remainasbutflesh…basar.Complex?
Confusing…ifnotconfounding?Paul,whoIthinkwecanallagreewasgiftedwith
theHolySpirit,saidthisaboutthatmysteriousparadoxthatleavesusallina
conundrum.
CJB
Romans7:14-24
14
ForweknowthattheTorahisoftheSpirit;butasforme,
Iamboundtotheoldnature,soldtosinasaslave.
15
Idon'tunderstandmyown
behavior-Idon'tdowhatIwanttodo;instead,IdotheverythingIhate!
16
Now
ifIamdoingwhatIdon'twanttodo,IamagreeingthattheTorahisgood.
17
But
nowitisnolonger"therealme"doingit,butthesinhousedinsideme.
18
ForI
knowthatthereisnothinggoodhousedinsideme-thatis,insidemyoldnature.
Icanwantwhatisgood,butIcan'tdoit!
19
ForIdon'tdothegoodIwant;
instead,theevilthatIdon'twantiswhatIdo!
20
ButifIamdoingwhat"thereal
me"doesn'twant,itisnolonger"therealme"doingitbutthesinhousedinside
me.
21
SoIfindittobetherule,akindofperverse"torah,"thatalthoughIwant
todowhatisgood,evilisrighttherewithme!
22
ForinmyinnerselfIcompletely
agreewithGod'sTorah;
23
butinmyvariousparts,Iseeadifferent"torah,"one
thatbattleswiththeTorahinmymindandmakesmeaprisonerofsin's"torah,"
whichisoperatinginmyvariousparts.
24
WhatamiserablecreatureIam!Who
willrescuemefromthisbodyboundfordeath?
Thereismoretothispassageofcourse,butwhatpartIhavereadtoyoumakes
mypointthattheHolySpiritisindeedinnaturaloppositiontotheflesh,andonly
somepeoplewilleverbegivenit.Evenso,whentheHolySpiritbecomespresent
inus,itsetsoffanuncomfortabledynamicthatwe’llfightuntilthedaywedie.
Therefore,insummationJoel3:1explainsthat“afterthis”…meaningafterallthe
thingsprophesiedtohappeninthefirst2chaptershavehappened,THENwhat
Godissayingherewilloccur.We’renotgivenacalendardate;weonlyknowit
speaksofsometimelater.And,whatwillhappenisthatthe“Spirit”thatisbeing
pouredoutonhumanscanonlymeanGod’sHolySpirit(andcertainlynotthe
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spiritofphysicallife…animation…thatallcreaturescurrentlyenjoyorthey(we)
wouldn’tbealiveinthefirstplace.
Now.Aswecontinueunpackthedepthsofthatfirstverseofchapter3,the
explanationofwhatwasmeantbythetermSpiritisrelativelyeasytograspas
comparedtowhatcomesnext.Allyourmentalfocusisneeded.Anditisthis:
accordingtoJoel’sprophecy,towhomistheHolySpirittobepouredoutupon?
Aswehavealreadyseen,mostofthetimeinourBiblesitistranslatedtoEnglish
asbeingpouredoutuponallmankind,andsometimesasupon“allflesh”.Ithas
beentakenbyaslimmajorityofscholarstomeanallhumanbeings,worldwide,
ingeneral.Thatis,oneverybodyJewandgentile.TothisIsay:Iagreewith
slightlysmallerminoritysegmentofBiblescholarswhothinkotherwise.I
contendthatsayingthattheHolySpiritwillbepouredoutonallfleshcanbyno
meansbeintendedtoindicateallhumanbeingswillreceiveit.Infact,Idon’t
thinkthisnecessaryincludesgentilesinthewaywenormallythinkaboutthe
termgentiles.Thisisaveryimportantandchallengingmattertodiscuss;and,it
iswhywehavespentsometimetalkingaboutspirit,soul,flesh,andHolySpirit.
NormallythissuchadiscussionhappensonlyinthehallowedhallsofTheological
institutions,butitneednotbethatway.Allofyoucanunderstandthisifyou’lltry.
Evenso,thereiscertainknowledgeneededtoexplainwhyweoughttoaccept
thatJoel’sprophecydoesnot,andcannot,refertoallhumanbeingsreceiving
theHolySpirit,andIcontenditalsocannotrefertogentiles(aswetypicallythink
aboutthatterm).So,I’mnecessarilygoingtolayoutmycasebyrevisitingsome
thingsthatI’vespokenaboutinearlierlessonsandattimesfromotherofthe
BiblebooksI’vetaughton;andinsomecases,fromseveralyearsago.So…here
wego.
First…althoughthereasonformightnotbeapparentimmediately…let’sbegin
withwhattheterm“Israel”means.Untilweunderstandthis,wewon’tbeableto
graspwhattheprocessofRedemptionHistoryisaboutnorwhereitwillendup,
andJoel’sprophecyisknee-deepinthatmatter.Israelisatermthatmustbe
understoodonatleasttwolevels:thespiritualandthephysical.Withoutgetting
intothevariousnuancesonthatterm,whendealingwiththespirituallevel,
Israelembodieswhatisessentiallyadivineideal.Israelisthetotalityoftheideal
ofwhatGodcreatedhumanbeingstobe,andhowhumanbeingsweremeantto
relatetoGodandtooneanother.Theidealisofhumanswhoaretotallyfaithful
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toGod,givingourentireallegiancetoHim,withouteverwavering.Thisideal
definespeoplewhothinksinlessly,behavesinlesslyandatalltimesdoso
righteously.TheyserveGodinthesenseofbeingfullysubmittedtoHiswill.
IsraelisGod’sidealvisionorthoughtaboutwhatHewill(onewayoranother)
eventuallybringaboutamongandwithinhumansonaphysicaland
metaphysicallevel.
Tobeclear,however,Idon’tmeantoimplythatsomewhereburiedintheBible
wefindthisidealinHeavengiventhelabelofIsraelperse.Whatwedofind,
however,isthatYeshuaisheldupasthe“trueIsrael”…thephysicalmodelofthe
idealIsrael.Thiswasprovedbecausetherulesofthoughtandbehaviorthat
defineGod’sidealcalledIsrael,whicharecontainedintheTorahasgivento
Moses,areexplicitlysaidintheNewTestamenttohavebeenlived-outin
perfectionbyJesus.PaulalsoattemptstoexplainthismysteryofIsraelin
Romans9bysaying:
CJB
Romans9:6
6
ButthepresentconditionofIsra'eldoesnotmeanthatthe
WordofGodhasfailed.FornoteveryonefromIsra'elistrulypartofIsra'el;
So,trueIsraelisthatdivineidealasformulatedbyGodthatIhavebeen
speakingabout.ThisidealexistedlongbeforethepeopleGodintendedtocarry
itoutexisted.Thatisbecausejustaswithhumans,whenweonlytakephysical
actionafterourmindshavedevelopedthethoughttodoit,soitlogicallyfollows
thatbeforesomethingisactuallyandfinallycreatedbyGodoritcomesaboutat
Hisdirection,firstHehasthoughtofit.Thus,whatGodwouldeventuallybring
intobeingonearthinlivingphysicalformcalledIsraelwasFIRSTbutan
organizedthought…anideal…thatHehadinHeaven.Icallthisbodyofthought,
idealIsraelortrueIsrael…justtogiveitanameoralabelsowecandiscussit.
Israelonaphysicallevel,however,mustbethoughtofasapolitical,religious,
andgeographicalentity.Thatis,Israelarephysicalpeople,belongingtophysical
tribes,whointimeunifiedintoaphysicalnationbasedupontheircommon
worshipofacertainGod…Yehoveh.Theyareaseparateandidentifiablepeople
group.Atonepointinhistory,theyweregivenanearthlyterritoryastheirown
tooccupy;theformerLandofCanaan.Thus,inancienttimesasnow,Israelis
seenasatypicalpoliticalentity…peopleaspartofagovernmentsystemlivingin
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aparticularlandwithdefinedboundariesandborders,alongwithasetofunique
culturaltraits.
So,IthinkwecansaythatIsraelasthedivineideal(thatatfirsthadnophysical
attributetoit),attherighttimewasassignedbyGodtoagroupofpeople
descendedfromAbraham,Isaac,andJacob.Technically,thephysicalattributeof
Israelcameabout…thatis,thefirststepofGodtransformingtheHeavenlyideal
calledIsraelintoanearthly,physicalreality…beganatamomentintimewhen
JacobwonawrestlingcontestwiththeAngeloftheLord,andthenGodgave
Jacobanewname…anameneverbeforebestoweduponahuman:Israel.Infact,
tothisday,evenamongJewishBibleandlanguagescholarsthereisno
consensusonwhatthenameactuallymeansorwhereitcamefrom.Itjust
seemstohavehappenedallatonce.ItseemstomethatwhenGodfirstgave
Jacobthatname,itwasmoreprophecythanimmediatereality.Itwasbutthe
beginningofaprocess.Thus,itwasJacobandhisdescendantsthatwerechosen
byGodtobethegroupofpeople…physical,living,breathingmanifestationsof
theheavenlyidealofIsrael…thatwasbroughttoearth.Whatgoodisanidealif
itneverachievesanymorethanbeingonlyanideal…anotion…aninvisiblebut
unrealizedthought?Weactuallyoughtnotbethrownbysuchathing.Such
idealsoneartharecalledphilosophies.Anyphilosopherwilltellyouthatthose
thoughts,nomatterhowextensiveorprofound,arejustavaporunlesshumans
bringittolifebyadoptingthemandactingthemout.Thoughtsandidealsmust
begivenanimationtobeanymorethanjustavapor;andthevehicleofthis
animationofGod’sidealofIsraelwasJacobandtheoffspringborntohim;a
peoplegroupthatwerecalledIsrael.Togettowhereweneedtobe,let’sexplore
thatevenabitfurther.
Jacob’snewnamewas(asIsaid)moreaprophecythanareality.IfGod’sideal
wastobebroughtintoactionofanysignificance,ithadtooccurwithinapretty
largegroupofpeople.WhenJacobwasre-namedIsrael,hewasbutasingle
person…notagroupofpeopleoranation.Whenhehad12sons,evenhe
togetherwiththosesonsandtheirfamilies…probablynumberingnomorethat
200totalfamilymembers…werebynomeansregardedasadistinctpeople
group,letaloneasanation.So,GodtookthatfamilytoEgyptwherethey
wouldgrowintoalargeenoughgroupofpeopletobeused.EvenwheninEgypt,
theyweren’tyetanointedasanofficialnation,set-apartanddedicatedto
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realizingGod’sideal.Thiswouldhappenonlyafter400yearsofgrowth,andthen
leavingEgyptasanenormousbandofrefugees.Theactualanointingofthemas
anationdevotedtobringingaboutYehoveh’sHeavenlyidealhappenedupon
theirarrivalatMt.Sinai.
AtMt.Sinai,thispeoplegroupofficiallybecameGod’smanifestationofthe
Heavenlyidealonearth.Thevehicleofthisofficialanointingwasthemakingof
anewcovenantwithMosesandthe13tribesthatHeledoutofEgypt(yes,there
were13whentheyleftEgypt,not12).Isay“new”covenantbecauseevery
covenantGodmakesisnewwhenithappens.ThecovenantGodmadewith
Abrahamwasanewcovenant,anditwasthepreliminarystepinbringingthe
HeavenlyidealofIsraelintoexistence,andforexplainingitspurpose.All
AbrahamreallyknewwasthatthisGodthatapproachedHim,toldhimtoleave
hisfamilyandhiscountryandtogosomewhereGodwouldshowHim.Andifhe
didthat,fromAbraham’sfamilylinetheentireworldbeblessed.Howwouldthe
entireworldbeblessed?Abrahamdidn’tknow.But,whatnecessarilyhadto
happenwasthatoneparticularlineofAbrahamhadtobetheonlyonestocarry
onthatcovenantpromise;ifthosepossiblelinesGodselectedAbraham’sson
Isaac.FromIsaac’stwinsons,GodselectedJacob.AndfromJacobgrewthe12
(13really)tribes.And,upontheCovenantofMoses…acovenantmadebyand
betweenGodandthosetribes…theHeavenlyidealofIsraelwasputintoaction.
ListentoDeuteronomy29:9-12.
CJB
Deuteronomy29:9-12
9
"Todayyouarestanding,allofyou,beforeADONAI
yourGod-yourheads,yourtribes,yourleadersandyourofficers-allthemenof
Isra'el,
10
alongwithyourlittleones,yourwivesandyourforeignersherewith
youinyourcamp,fromtheonewhochopsyourwoodtotheonewhodrawsyour
water.
11
ThepurposeisthatyoushouldenterintothecovenantofADONAIyour
GodandintohisoathwhichADONAIyourGodismakingwithyoutoday,
12
so
thathecanestablishyoutodayforhimselfasapeople,andsothatforyouhewill
beGod-ashesaidtoyouandashesworetoyourancestors,toAvraham,
Yitz'chakandYa'akov.
But,we’renotdoneyet,becausethefullestextentofGod’sidealhadbyno
meansbeenbroughtintofruition.Therefore,theProphetJeremiahrevealsthe
nextcovenantthatwastocome.Bynowwe’velearnedthatanewcovenant
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neverreplacesapreviouslygiven(andolder)one.Eachnewoneisbutadditive
tothepreviousones,andtheyallworktogethertowardsacommongoal.The
keytounderstandingthesignificanceofwhatI’mtellingyouisthis:allofGod’s
workingtobringaboutHisHeavenlyideal…transformingitfrommerelyathought
orvaporintoactualbeinghappensthroughHiscovenants.Andtheonly
covenantsHehasmadeafterthetimeofNoaharewithHebrews.Butwait;if
that’strue,howabouttheso-calledNewCovenantthattheChurchtypicallysays
hasnotonlyabolishedallpreviouscovenants,butinfactisacovenantmadewith
gentiles?Let’seasilydispelwhatthatfalseChurchdoctrineclaims.
CJB
Jeremiah31:30-32
30
"Here,thedaysarecoming,"saysADONAI,"whenI
willmakeanewcovenantwiththehouseofIsra'elandwiththehouseofY'hudah.
31
ItwillnotbelikethecovenantImadewiththeirfathersonthedayItookthem
bytheirhandandbroughtthemoutofthelandofEgypt;becausethey,fortheir
part,violatedmycovenant,eventhoughI,formypart,wasahusbandtothem,"
saysADONAI.
32
"ForthisisthecovenantIwillmakewiththehouseofIsra'el
afterthosedays,"saysADONAI:"IwillputmyTorahwithinthemandwriteiton
theirhearts;IwillbetheirGod,andtheywillbemypeople.
TheNewCovenantclaimedbyTheChurchwasmadewithwhom?Israeland
Judah,whichhistoricallytogetherformthewholehouseofIsrael…allofIsrael.
Nomentionofgentiles,norofanyothernationorpeoplegroup,norofsomenew
religion.So,theHeavenlyidealwastobepushedforwardyetfurther,andagain
throughIsrael.Withthatknowledge,let’sreturntoJoel3:1.
So,whoisitthatGod’sSpiritingoingtobepouredoutupon?Theversesaysall
basar…allflesh.But,canthispossiblyintendforustounderstandasallhuman
beings?ChristianityhaslongsaidthatthefulfillmentofJoel’sprophecy
happened7or8hundredyearslaterattheeventtheChurchcallsPentecost.And,
bytheway,theyarecorrect.Let’sreadaboutthis.
CJB
Acts2:1-18ThefestivalofShavu'otarrived,andthebelieversallgathered
togetherinoneplace.
2
Suddenlytherecameasoundfromtheskyliketheroar
ofaviolentwind,anditfilledthewholehousewheretheyweresitting.
3
Then
theysawwhatlookedliketonguesoffire,whichseparatedandcametoreston
eachoneofthem.
4
TheywereallfilledwiththeRuachHaKodeshandbeganto
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talkindifferentlanguages,astheSpiritenabledthemtospeak.
5
Nowtherewere
stayinginYerushalayimreligiousJewsfromeverynationunderheaven.
6
When
theyheardthissound,acrowdgathered;theywereconfused,becauseeachone
heardthebelieversspeakinginhisownlanguage.
7
Totallyamazed,theyasked,
"Howisthispossible?Aren'tallthesepeoplewhoarespeakingfromtheGalil?
8
Howisitthatwehearthemspeakinginournativelanguages?
9
WeareParthians,
Medes,Elamites;residentsofMesopotamia,Y'hudah,Cappadocia,Pontus,Asia,
10
Phrygia,Pamphylia,Egypt,thepartsofLibyanearCyrene;visitorsfrom
Rome;
11
Jewsbybirthandproselytes;JewsfromCreteandfromArabia...!Howisit
thatwehearthemspeakinginourownlanguagesaboutthegreatthingsGodhas
done?"
12
Amazedandconfused,theyallwentonaskingeachother,"Whatcan
thismean?"
13
Butothersmadefunofthemandsaid,"They'vejusthadtoomuch
wine!"
14
ThenKefastoodupwiththeElevenandraisedhisvoicetoaddress
them:"YouJudeans,andallofyoustayinghereinYerushalayim!Letmetellyou
whatthismeans!Listencarefullytome!
15
"Thesepeoplearen'tdrunk,asyou
suppose-it'sonlynineinthemorning.
16
No,thisiswhatwasspokenabout
throughtheprophetYo'el:
17
'ADONAIsays:"IntheLastDays,Iwillpourout
frommySpirituponeveryone.Yoursonsanddaughterswillprophesy,your
youngmenwillseevisions,youroldmenwilldreamdreams.
18
Evenonmy
slaves,bothmenandwomen,willIpouroutfrommySpiritinthosedays;and
theywillprophesy.
PetersaidmoreaboutthisastonishingfulfillmentofJoel’sprophecy,butthis
muchsufficestomakethepoint.ItwasONLYuponJewswhowereintheHoly
Land…thosewhoresidedthereaswellasthosethatwerescatteredovermany
othernationsbuthadcometoJerusaleminordertocelebratethebiblicalfeastof
Shavuot(itcertainlywasn’tgentileswhocame!)…andthispassageinActssays
asmuch.ThebulkoftheseJewwereJewishbybirth,butotherswereJewishby
conversion.Thatis,theywerebornasgentilesbutbyconsciousdecisionleft
theirgentileheritageandinsteadjoinedwiththeJewishpeople(justasdidmany
ofthemixedmultitudethatfollowedMosesandtheHebrewtribesoutofEgypt).
ThereisnodiscrepancythatI’mawareofwithinthemanybranchesof
ChristianitythatthisactionofPentecostasdepictedintheBookofActswas
Joel’sprophecybeingfulfilled(foronereason,theApostlePeterexplicitlysaysit
wasandrecitesword-for-wordJoel’sprophecy).Thereisalsonodiscrepancy
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thatI’mawareofthatatthattimetheHolySpiritfellonlyuponJews(Israel)
becausethat’sallthatwerepresentinJerusalemforthefestival(nopagan
gentilesexceptperhapsforsomegawkersorlocalgentilemerchants).
But,let’stakethatonestepfurther.|SinceweknowwhenthispartofJoel’s
prophecywasfulfilled(atPentecost),didallofhumanity…allhumanbeingsliving
onplanetearth…suddenlyhavetheHolySpiritofGodplacedwithinthem?Did
gentileswhoworshippedBaalreceivetheHolySpiritofGod?Becauseifall
humansontheplanetreceivedtheHolySpiritatthatmoment,whatusewas
thereforChrist?Yeshuacameandwent,Hesaid,sothattheHolySpiritwould
come.Butalso,thatonlythosewhotrustedinHimwouldeverreceivetheHoly
Spirit.So,itisillogicalthatwhatwereadinJoelchapter1meansthatevery
humanbeing…gentilesandalllivingJews…receivedGod’sHolySpirit.Infact,it
wasbutthosewhotrustedYehovehandHisSonYeshuawhoreceivedit,andat
thattimethatwasonlymembersofIsrael…acertainsegmentofJews.Joel’s
prophecydidNOTmeanthatthewholeworldwouldreceivetheHolySpirit,and
aswithallofJoel’sprophecy,itactuallyhadonlytodowithIsrael.Infact,when
wegettochapter4,we’regoingtoseethatasopposedtotheHolySpiritbeing
intendedforIsraelaspartoftheirrestoration,Godspeaksoftheterriblefateof
gentiles.ThatfateistobegatheredtogetherinIsraelasarmyopposedtoIsrael,
sothatGodcandestroythemall.
ThatfirsthalfofJoel3:1couldonlybesaidtospeakofgentilesifitwereliftedout
andawayfromalltherestofJoelandstoodbyitself,especiallybecausethenext
wordsare:Yoursonsanddaughterswillprophesy,youroldmenwilldream
dreams,youryoungmenwillseevisions;(Joel3:1CJB).SinceJoelisspeaking
onlytoIsrael(mainlyJudahatthemoment),thenofcoursecommonsensesays
that“yoursonsanddaughters”arespeakingofIsrael’ssonsanddaughtersand
notoftheirgentileneighbors’sonsanddaughters.Now.AsmuchasI’dliketo,
Idon’tthinkwecanmoveonbecauseoftheelephantthathasjustenteredinto
theroom.IfallofthisisONLYforIsrael,whatofusgentiles?Arewedoomedonly
fordestruction,andallJewsarefatedonlyforredemption?TheConstantinian
Church(theChurchaswe’veknownitfor16centuries)solvedthatproblem
simplyandswiftly.TheychangedthemeaningofIsraeltoChurch.Everywherein
theScripturesIsraelwastobeblessedandrestored,nowitwasgentilesinstead.
So,let’saddressthis.
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PriortoYeshuaitwasalwayspossibleforgentiles(foreigners,strangers)to
becomepartofIsrael.Theydidthatthoughremovingtheirallegiancetotheir
formergodsandworshipping,instead,Israel’sgod;andthroughdisavowing
theirallegiancetotheirgentilenation,andinsteadgivingthatallegiancetothe
nationofIsrael.Inancienttimes,godsandnationswereorganicallyconnected.
Toworshipacertaingodwascompletelytiedtowhatnationthatgod
represented.Thus,itisfairtospeakofagentileconvertingmeantwhenheor
shechangedtheirallegiancetoIsrael.Atthatmomenttheyceasedbeinga
gentile,andinsteadbecameaJew…amemberofnational,politicalIsrael.By
Christ’sday,thishadevolvedabit.Convertedgentilesofcoursegaveuptheir
godsandreligioussystemtoadoptYehovehandtheHebrewfaith.But…they
oftentendedtostayalliedwithwhatevernationtheylivedin,orformedakindof
dualallegiancebetweenthenationwheretheyresidedandIsrael.Let’s
rememberthatinthe1
st
century,onlyabout5%oflivingIsraelitesresidedinthe
HolyLand;the95%livedelsewhere.Thus,agentileconvertingindeedmeant
becomingaJewmostlyinthereligioussense…thatis,adoptingwhatwemight
calledJudaism…butatthesameholdingcertainrightsasamemberofnational
Israel.
Butwhataboutnow…today?Infact,Paulbattledagainstthisideaofgentiles
convertingtoJewsinordertoworshipYeshuaandHisFatherYehoveh,andthus
obtainingthosespiritualbenefits.Paultaughtthatwhileagentilewasindeedto
giveuphisorherformalreligiouspracticesandgodsinfavorofYeshuaand
Yehoveh,thiswasONLYaspiritualtransaction.ThistransactiondidNOTmean
theyhadtobecomeJewsinthesenseofadoptingJudaismor(especiallyinthe
politicalsenseofit)asrenouncingcitizenshipofthenationwheretheyresided,
andinsteadbecomingacitizenofJudahortheGalileeorwhateverremainedof
theHolyLandatthetime.ThoseJews(BelieversinYeshua,mainly)who
demandedfullconversionbygentiles,weregiventhenameofJudaizers.
So,whatistheprocessthatGodordainedforagentiletobeabletopartakeof
thesecovenantblessings…includingtheNewCovenant…thatweregivenONLY
toIsrael?Thehands-downbestplaceintheNewTestamenttogotounderstand
theprocessisintheBookofRomans.I’monlygoingtoquoteandspeakabouta
smallsectionofittoday;youcangotomystudyontheBookofRomansinthe
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TorahClassapporonTorahClass.comtogetamuchmoreextensive
explanation.But,herewehavethecoreofit:
CJB
Romans11:13-18
13
However,tothoseofyouwhoareGentilesIsaythis:
sinceImyselfamanemissarysenttotheGentiles,Imakeknownthe
importanceofmywork
14
inthehopethatsomehowImayprovokesomeofmy
ownpeopletojealousyandsavesomeofthem!
15
ForiftheircastingYeshua
asidemeansreconciliationfortheworld,whatwilltheiracceptinghimmean?It
willbelifefromthedead!
16
Nowifthehallahofferedasfirstfruitsisholy,sois
thewholeloaf.Andiftherootisholy,soarethebranches.
17
Butifsomeofthe
brancheswerebrokenoff,andyou-awildolive-weregraftedinamongthem
andhavebecomeequalsharersintherichrootoftheolivetree,
18
thendon't
boastasifyouwerebetterthanthebranches!However,ifyoudoboast,
rememberthatyouarenotsupportingtheroot,therootissupportingyou.
Twopoints:first,whatdoesPaulsayagentileMUSTdotopartakeofthe
salvationofferedbyChrist?Wemustbegraftedinto…madepartof…theOlive
Tree.TheOliveTreewasthestandardsymbolofthenationofIsrael.Therefore,
PaulsaysagentilemustbecomepartofIsrael.Second,andperhapsmost
important,whatmakesIsrael,Israel…whatisit,precisely,thatagentilemustbe
graftedinto…andwhatistherichrootoftheOliveTree(Israel)?Whatmakes
Israel,IsraelarethecovenantsGodmadewiththem.Nothingelse.Thisisa
biblicalandhistoricalfact,andnotaspeculation.Nocovenants,noIsrael.So,
whenonebecomespartofIsrael,bydefaultonecomesunderthecovenantsof
Israel…allofthem.Onlythendowegetthebenefitofwhatthosecovenantsoffer
tous.TherichrootofIsraelPaulspeaksabout(ametaphor,ofcourse)are
necessarilythosecovenants,beginningwithAbraham’sCovenant,thenthe
CovenantofMoses,andthenfinallytheNewCovenant.Howaregentilesgrafted
in…whatisthemechanismofgrafting…howcanwegentilesbeincludedinthose
covenants?ThroughtrustintheJewishSavior,Yeshua.Priortotheadventof
Jesus,agentilecouldconvertandbecomepartoftheJewishreligionandeven
thephysicalnationofIsraelbytrustinginYehovehtheGodofIsrael.Afterthe
adventofYeshua,agentilecouldbecomepartofIsraelonthespiritual
level…thatis,adoptingandbecomingpartoftheidealofIsrael…without
becomingpartofnationalphysicalIsrael.Agentilecouldremainagentile(no
conversionnecessary)andevenremaincompletelypoliticallyloyaltowhatever
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nationheorshemightresidein…bytrustinginYehovehaswellasthenewest
revelationoftheGodhead,Yeshua.Anywayonewantstolookatit,wehaveto
bepartofIsraeltobesavedsincesalvationiscontainedonlywithintheprovision
ofthecovenantsGodmadewithIsrael,withYeshuaasthegoalofthose
covenants.Again:sincethetimeofJesus,gentileBelieversarenotjoinedto
political,nationalIsraelortoanytribeofIsrael.Rather,wearejoinedtoideal
IsraelintheHeavenlysenseofit.ThereisnooptionBforJeworgentile.
Alottodigest,Iknow.So,let’scallitadayandgiveyouafewdaystoponder
thisbeforewecontinueinJoelchapter3.