Problem: While Joel 2:28-32 does predict the pouring out of God’s Spirit (v.17), it also predicts, “And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come” (v.19-20). Amillennial interpreters argue that Peter is spiritualizing this OT passage. If the apostles believed that these OT prophecies should be interpreted in a spiritualized sense, then this would give us an allegorical hermeneutic for interpreting the OT. Is this the case?
Solution: Peter does not mean that the moon has turned to blood or that there are clouds of smoke. Peter is not saying that this passage is completely fulfilled (e.g. moon turning to blood, sun blotted out, etc.). Instead, he is just trying to show that it is being partially fulfilled in the pouring out of the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost). Peter quotes this passage to his audience to show that there is still time to repent before that final judgment, as Joel indicated in context (Joel 2:12-27). In other words, if the part about the Holy Spirit came true, then we should get ready for the parts about judgment, as well. In the same way, Jonah partially fulfilled the Abrahamic covenant by bringing a blessing to the Gentiles in Nineveh. However, Jonah’s partial fulfillment would not invalidate the church’s more complete fulfillment through Christ.
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:16-21)
