PENTECOST OF THE FUTURE

 

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What Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out in abundance on the apostles?

“Peter, having stood with the eleven, lifted up his voice and proclaimed... they are not drunk, as you think... this is what was foretold by the prophet Joel: “And it will come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and the sons will prophesy yours and your daughters and your youths will see visions, and your elders will be enlightened by dreams; and on My servants and on My handmaids in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:14-18, see Joel 2.28-29).

 

 

What words in Joel's prophecy indicate that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will happen twice?

“And you, children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God; for He will give you rain in measure, and will send down on you rain, early and late rain, as before” (Joel 2.23, see Os 6.3).

Note. In the land of Israel, the early rain, by watering the land, prepares it for sowing, and the latter rain causes the fruit to ripen for harvest. So earlier, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit prepared the world for the sowing of the seed of the Gospel, and the last outpouring of the Holy Spirit will contribute to the ripening of the precious fruits of the earthly harvest, which Christ called "the end of the age" (see Matt 13.37-39, Rev 14.14-15).

 

 

What should we pray for during the outpouring of the latter rain?

“Ask the Lord for rain at the right time; The Lord will flash with lightning and give you abundant rain, to every grain in the field”( Zach 10.1).

Note.

Before the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit at the outpouring of early rain on the day of Pentecost, they "all with one accord continued in prayer and supplication" (Acts 1.14). At this time, they confessed their sins before God, got rid of their prejudices and prejudices, moderated their selfish ambitions and pretensions, and this opened their hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit, they "all with one mind dwelt together", ready to receive Him .

In order to prepare for the late outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we also need to give up all our sinful habits, ambitions, and inclinations, confess our sins before the Lord, conquer our self, and subdue our hearts to the influence of the love and grace of God.