A Second Pentecost for Israel (5/13)
Next week we will celebrate Pentecost for the church. This week I want to highlight a Second Pentecost for Israel. The prophet Joel highlighted the outpouring of God’s Spirit in this passage: In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28, 29
“For everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said.” V. 32
We have been living in “those days.” Fifty days after Jesus’ death, the Jews celebrated a festival of the early harvest. God chose that festival to unveil the church- the followers of Jesus (who were all Jews in the beginning). Ever since, the church, which became more Gentile over the years, has celebrated that day as its birth. As Paul said, God extended salvation first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.
However, Joel also spoke of “restoring the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem” in 3: 1. We have seen that happening in our day! First the Jews were restored to their land in a great twentieth century miracle, then they experienced prosperity, but always in the presence of enemies. God said he will bring the nations against them and judge those who oppose his people. We have seen that over the years also, even to today’s news. Palestinians are once again rioting because of the Presence of Israel, not because of any specific reason. What other group of people disputes the right of another nation to exist!? The duplicity of the current U.S. government just encourages Israel’s enemies.
But out of this warfare God will have His way! The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. Then you will know that I the LORD your God dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her… Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. V. 16,17,20
In that day the mountains will drip with new wine. That sounds like a second Pentecost for the Jewish people as they once again realize that “the one they pierced” (Zech. 12:10) is their Messiah!
The New Testament teaches that Jew and Gentile will come together as “one new man” (Eph. 2:15) That means that the church will be more Jewish than Gentiles currently imagine; and more Gentile than the Jews currently imagine! God is already doing this work with messianic Jews all over the world and in Israel herself. The current government of Israel will ultimately be replaced with Messiah’s true government- the Kingdom of God.
These great events are in process, but we must pray for “the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6) and for Jews to be saved, both now, and in a second and final Pentecost. Next week we will focus our prayers on revival for the church.
Lord, than you that you have outlined your plan of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles in the pages of your prophets, both Old and New Testament. We rejoice in the outpouring of the Spirit that took place centuries ago and birthed the church. But we also rejoice that in these last days you have given new birth to Israel. That you have protected her against all odds. That you have given her prosperity in the midst of her enemies.
We pray for Palestinian people to accept your truth that the Jews aren’t going anywhere. We pray for their salvation and that they would cooperate with your plan instead of fighting against it.
We pray for the spiritual rebirth of Israel. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, knowing that any peace is only temporary until you deal with Israel’s enemies. But in the midst of these judgments, we pray that “all true Israel will be saved”. (Romans 9:6-11:26)
Help Christian believers to realize that our future is in the coming Jerusalem, not any country that we may currently inhabit. Help us continue to do the work of evangelism where we are, but not forget the salvation of the Jewish people. Lord, we pray for a second Pentecost, both for Israel and the world! In Messiah’s name, Amen.