DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH
ACTS
41
AND
`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' (Joel 1:4).
`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' (Joel 2:25).
`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 restitution' (Acts 3:21). Repentance is premised. `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 a 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 one
which certainly has no connection with the `Church'. The following outline may help the reader:
Joel
A a 1:7. 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 3:2.
The gathering of the nations
D 3:2-8.
I will plead.
A
b 3:9-17. Gentile harvest.
a 3:18. New wine restored.
B 3:19-21.
Egypt and Edom a desolation.
The whole prophecy deals with the nation and the nations. It looks to the Day of the Lord, and has no room for,
or reference to, a church in which there is neither Greek nor Jew.
Peter's specific reference is to Joel 2:28-32. Where Joel reads `afterward' Peter says `in the last days'; the words
come to the same thing, and Kimchi, one of the most famous of Jewish rabbis, makes the same observation when
dealing with Joel 2:28. The quotation made by Peter is divided into two parts. The first was actually fulfilled on the
day of Pentecost: the second would have followed had Israel repented. They did not repent, and consequently the
signs in heaven await the Day of the Lord, with which the book of Revelation is prophetically concerned. What
should intervene between the two parts of Joel's prophecy it was no part of Peter's ministry to explain. He
confessed later, when writing to the same dispersion, that they would find help regarding this interval in the writings
of Paul (2 Pet. 3:15,16).
We must now indicate the relation of the two parts of Joel's prophecy, quoted by Peter, showing the present
interval. This of course was not mentioned by Peter, for the times and the seasons which the Father had put in His
own power had not been revealed to him. We, too, only know that a new dispensation fills the gap, because Paul,
the prisoner of Jesus Christ, has made known the fact.
Joel 2:28-31
A I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT:
(1) Upon all Flesh.
(2) Sons.
(3) Daughters.
The last days. Seven-fold
(4) Old men.
beginning at Pentecost. `The
(5) Young men.
powers of the age to come'.
(6) Servants.
(7) Handmaids.
B PRESENT INTERVAL.- Israel not repentant
B FUTURE DAY.- Israel repent and look upon Him whom