This present Dispensation Of Grace is specifically "those days of My Spirit," Acts 2:18. It is therefore during this present time that the effectiveness of God's Spirit is limited to "...My servants and...My handmaidens." In other words, those who, when convicted by the Holy Spirit that the Word is true, believe, repent of their sin, and receive Christ as their Savior.

On the other hand, other lost unbelievers, when convicted by the Holy Spirit refuse to believe and reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit as just some foolish "religious experience." Therefore the Holy Spirit is never effective in their life, having been rejected and ultimately ignored and forgotten.

This limitation of the Holy Spirit is proof again that Peter's prophecy in Acts 2 is speaking of events to be fulfilled during this present dispensation, while Joel's prophecy in Joel 2 is speaking of events that are to be fulfilled during the coming Tribulation. More proof of this truth will be presented as we study a little further.

The Hebrew word translated as "wonders" in this verse is the word, "mowpheth." This word literally means "a sign, wonder, or miracle." See Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon, page 458, Strong's No. 4159. In other words, the word refers to events that are totally beyond the scope of human ability.

Joel's prophecy states that such events will occur in "the heavens and in the earth." He then specifically mentions "blood and fire, and pillars of smoke."

The Hebrew words translated as "pillars of smoke" are the words, "timeroth" [which is translated as "pillars"] and "ashan" [which is translated as "smoke"]. The literal meanings of these two Hebrew words are "a column, pillar, or palm tree of smoke [ash]." See Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon, pages 863 and 660, Strong's No's 8490 and 6227.

In other words, at the time Joel's prophecy is fulfilled the earth will be filled with standing upright columns of ash that will resemble palm trees. Keep in mind that palm trees generally have a long trunk with an umbrella shaped crown of leaves at the top. Does this remind any of our readers of a "mushroom cloud?" People in the Middle East are not real familiar with the mushrooms that grow plentifully in the wet portions of the U.S., and other parts of the world, but they sure understand the shape of a "palm tree." Is this prophecy in Joel speaking of nuclear war during the coming Tribulation? Maybe! Maybe not! But it cannot be disputed that it emphatically states that there will be standing upright columns of smoke all over the earth during the time of the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy.

But Peter's prophecy in Acts 2 is not worded the same. Acts 2:19 reads, "And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke."

The Greek word translated as "wonders" in this verse is the word, "teras." It literally means "something so strange as to cause it to be watched or observed; a sign in the heavens; prodigy, portent; miracle; an omen." See Thayer's Greek Lexicon, page 620, Strong's No. 5059. The word is also part of the root from which the English word terror is derived.

Have we living today seen any such "signs" in the heavens? Did the Lord Himself predict such "signs" for the end of this age? Well? Read Luke 21:25-28 again, and this time believe it! Since 1973 such "signs" in the heavens have been occurring at specific intervals, almost always in connection with some Jewish Holy Day or prophetic event, and at an increasing pace as we near the end of the age. Just coincidence? I don't think so!

But notice that Peter's prophecy also speaks of "signs in the earth beneath." This is not what Joel's prophecy said. Joel's prophecy said "in the earth." But this prophecy says, "in the earth beneath."

The Greek word translated as "beneath" in this verse is the word, "kato." This word literally means "down, downwards: below, beneath, to the bottom, the parts or regions that lie beneath." See Thayer's Greek Lexicon, page 341, Strong's No. 2736. In other words, Peter's prophecy is speaking of events occurring under the surface of the earth which would produce "vapor of smoke" on the surface of the earth..

Now let's be honest! Has this been happening? Have there been any earthquakes over the past few years? Did the earthquakes result in any volcanoes becoming active and spewing forth steam, ash, smoke, and magma? How about Mt. St. Helens? How about the whole "ring of fire" around the earth? How about Yellowstone? Is the earth groaning? Anything recent? Didn't the Lord Himself predict such events for the end of this age? And aren't they happening right now at an ever increasing frequency?

Folks, it is quite obvious that Peter's prophecy is now being fulfilled right before our eyes. It is not yet complete! But since we have already seen part of it, rest assured we will see the rest of it. And what is the rest of it?