Download 9. revival and regeneration foretold

BIBLE STUDY 3
REVIVAL AND REGENERATION FORETOLD
Key text: Joel 2:28-32
Opening Hymn: SDAH 269
Closing Hymn: SDAH 260
Introduction
The Bible and Christian history has revealed that ‘revival’ is the major means that God has
used to regenerate His people for service. It is the purpose of God to renew His people in the last
days. God has revealed His prophetic truth concerning revival and regeneration of His people
through the prophet Joel. He was a prophet in the southern kingdom, Judah. The prophet Joel
foretold the coming revival and regeneration of God’s people in chapter 2:28-32. Revival is the
work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life after
repentance.1 Also, regeneration is the spiritual transformation in a person, brought about by the
Holy Spirit that brings the individual from being spiritually dead to become spiritually alive.2 Joel
predicted that in the last days, the Holy Spirit will be the means of restoration and transformation of
God’s people. This lesson considers (1) Joel’s prophecy in chapter 2:28-32; (2) earlier or partial
fulfillment of the prophecy; and (3) latter or complete fulfillment of the prophecy.
JOEL’S PROPHETIC REVIVAL AND REGENERATION
In Joel 2:28-32, the prophet contemplates a future time, when the Spirit of God is poured out
upon all flesh. The prophet foretold the nature and manner of the revival and regeneration which
will take place. The prophetic truth in Joel 2:28-32 are as follows:
a. Joel predicted that revival and regeneration shall take place after repentance of God’s
people: The prophet in verses 12-27 stresses repentance and God’s assurance of restoration.
According to Joel, it is obvious that God says that before we can expect revival to sweep
through our churches and members, repentance needs to sweep through our lives. This denotes
that repentance shall precede the revival and regeneration as foretold in verses 28-32.
b. Joel predicted that the Holy Spirit shall bring about the revival and regeneration in God’s
people: The Holy Spirit shall cause regeneration in God’s people, which shall bring about
revival in God’s people. Verse 28 says “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.” Jesus affirms
Joel’s prophecy to His disciples in John 14:16-26 and 16:7-15 that the Holy Spirit will be sent
after His departure. Jesus also asked the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 5). It’s
the Holy Spirit who causes us to be born again and to be revived.
c. Joel likened the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to a Rain: Joel predicted that God will cause
to come down for us the former and the latter rain (Joel 2:23, 28). The early rain falls at the
sowing time and helps the seed to germinate and spring up. The latter rain falls near the close
of the season and prepares the grain to ripe and to be harvested. Thus, the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit is in two phases that is: the early and latter rain.
d. Joel predicted some evidence which will follow the revival and regeneration of God’s
people: When God’s people are spiritually transformed, the Holy Spirit will help them to have
a vital spiritual life which Joel outlines as follows:
 God’s children shall prophesy after the revival: The word prophecy has at least two
implications in the Bible. It means fore-telling and forth-telling. Fore-telling is saying
what the future will be or hold before it happens. Forth-telling is proclaiming truth or
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good news. According to Joel, in the last days our sons and daughters shall preach,
instruct, and witness for God.
 Old people shall dream dreams after the revival: Dream is a cherished ideal. Old
men shall have God’s will represented to them by direct inspiration.
 Our young people shall see visions: Vision is the ability to see, think, and plan about
the advancement of God’s work through Divine wisdom.
e. Joel predicted some phenomena that shall accompany the revival: He pictures blood, fire,
and smoke. He tells of wonders in the heavens, with the sun darkened and the moon turned to
blood. These are signs of end times.
f. Joel predicted that deliverance shall follow the revival: Joel predicted that this outpouring of
the Holy Spirit would result in many repenting of their sins and placing their trust in God. He
said “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
EARLIER OR PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF JOEL’S PROPHECY
Joel’s prophetic truth is quoted by Peter the Apostle in Acts 2:17-21, who sees the pouring
of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as the fulfillment of the first part of this prophecy. Ellen
G. White explains that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the days of the apostles was the
beginning of the early or former rain, which came in A.D. 31 at the day of Pentecost3. The earlier
fulfillment of Joel’s prediction of revival and regeneration are discussed as follows:
a. Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled when repentance preceded Pentecost’s revival: First, the
disciples humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief.4 Again, Peter’s
sermon at Pentecost affirmed that repentance should pave the way for regeneration and revival
(Acts 2:37-39).
b. Joel’s prediction was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost to bring
about revival to God’s people: “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:3, 4). The
presence of the Holy Spirit brought regeneration. Peter’s call for the people to be baptised and
to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Jesus in explaining the process of regeneration
said “unless one is born anew (of water and the Spirit), he cannot see or enter the kingdom of
God (RSV, John 3:3, 5). The Holy Spirit transformed God’s people to become spiritually alive.
The presence of the Holy Spirit brought about revival. God’s people were devoted to the
Christians’ teaching and fellowship; they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them
to all as any had need; they broke bread, prayed in their homes, praising God and having favour
with all the people (Acts 2: 42-47).
c. The outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the evidence of the Early Rain: The Lord used
rain to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. God gives the rain first to cause the seed to
germinate, so the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples for their spiritual growth.
d. The evidence of revival and regeneration after the out pouring of the Holy Spirit
 God’s people proclaimed the truth after the revival. Peter preached the truth and three
thousand souls were baptized (Acts2:41). The Apostles preached the truth in Jerusalem and
in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth after revival.
 God’s people received direct inspiration. The apostles spoke to the people through direct
inspiration, which they had received from God. They wrote under the inspiration of the
Spirit of God through dreams.
 God’s people received visions. John received vision and wrote the book of revelation. Ellen
G. White received vision and wrote several books.
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e. The fulfilment of Signs on the earth: Joel prophesied that God will give portents in the
heavens and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke (Joel 2:30). Joel’s predictions
symbolize destruction, persecution or tribulation. The fire and smoke that was seen as the result
of the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem in AD70, the persecution of saints which began
under Nero and continued with greater or less fury for centuries. Christians were thrown to wild
beasts or burned alive, some were crucified; others were thrust or be torn by dogs.5 These
occurrences partially fulfil Joel’s prophecy.
f. The fulfilment of wonders in the heavens: Joel said that the sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come (Joel 2:31). Jesus
also affirmed that certain events will precede His coming, and said after that tribulation during
the papacy, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light. As prophesied by
Joel and Christ, the sun darkened on the 19th of May, 1780.
LATTER OR COMPLETE FULFILLMENT OF JOEL’S PROPHECY
Ellen G. White sees the outpouring of the latter rain as the complete fulfillment of Joel’s
prophecy. She opines that near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is
promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Holy
Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain.6 The latter out pouring of the Holy Spirit shall be
given to:
 Those who have a living connection with Jesus. Ellen White saw that many had neglected
the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit
them to live in the sight of a holy God.7
 Those who are daily witnessing for the Master. God’s outpouring of His Spirit will not be
while the largest portions of the church are not labourers together with God. God cannot pour
out His Spirit when selfishness and self-indulgence are so manifest.8
 Those who receive the early rain are only those who are living up to the light they have
received. Unless we are daily practising the Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the
manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.9
Note: Those who do not make their mind up, but wait for the Holy Spirit to induce them to action,
will be destroyed. The latter rain is to be poured out to prepare God’s People to stand in the period
of the seven last plagues. However, it is the purpose of God that the latter rain will bring a revival
of primitive godliness among His people. This primitive godliness shall be seen when the law of
God is restored to its rightful position. 10
 Witnessing after the latter rain: The people of God after receiving the latter rain will proclaim
the third angel’s message to the world: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive
his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation” (Rev 14:9, 10).
 Time of trouble and deliverance of God’s people: Joel predicted that this pouring out of the
Holy Spirit would result in people placing their trust in God. He said “everyone who calls on the
name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel2:32). The saved shall be pursued by the wicked, but
they cannot kill them. God shall preserve His people through angels. God’s people shall call
upon Him for deliverance, then Jesus shall appear in the cloud and He will call forth the sleeping
saints, clothed with glorious immortality. The living saints will be changed in a moment, and
will be caught up with them into the cloudy chariot.
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CONCLUSION
God has revealed that He will renew, transform and restore His people through the Holy
Spirit in Joel 2:28-32. Joel’s prophecy has been fulfilled partially from the days of the Apostles and
we are yet to see the complete fulfillment, which will usher in the coming of the son of God. Before
coming of Jesus Christ there should be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of
God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and
opened the door of their hearts by confession and repentance. Remember, it was by the confession
and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God that the early
disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same
preparation in highest degree that we must made in order to receive the early and latter rain.
REFERENCE
1. Earle Cairns. Reformation and Revival, 2003.
2. John Piper. Through the Washing of Regeneration, 2000.
3. Ellen G. White, Last Day Events (1992)
4. The Acts of the Apostles, 1911:37.
5. The Great Controversy, 1949:88.
6. The Acts of the Apostles, 1911:55.
7. Christian Experience and Teachings, 1922:112.
8. Review & Herald, July 21, 1896.
9. Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 1923:507.
10. The Faith I Live By, 1958:326.
PREPARED BY: GEORGE EMMANUEL ACQUAAH
(Personal Ministries Director, Mid-South Ghana Administrative Unit)
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