Joel 2:28-30 is a prophetic passage with a break: verses 28-29 were fulfilled at Pentecost, but verse 30's signs are still future, occurring during the tribulation.
Les Feldick teaches that the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh, with sons and daughters prophesying, old men dreaming, and young men seeing visions, happened at Pentecost as the apostles testified. However, the wonders in heaven and earth—blood, fire, and pillars of smoke—have not yet occurred. Thus, a chronological break exists between verses 29 and 30, with the latter part awaiting fulfillment in the tribulation.
Joel 2:28-30 — This is the exact passage in question, directly addressing the prophecy's content and timing.
Joel 2:28-30 (KJV) declares: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke." The passage presents a sequence of events: first, a spiritual outpouring on all people, then cosmic and earthly signs. From the New Testament, Acts 2:16-21 records Peter quoting this prophecy at Pentecost, indicating its initial fulfillment. The Bible does not explicitly state that all parts have been fulfilled; the signs in verse 30 remain unfulfilled in the biblical narrative up to the end of the New Testament.
Les Feldick explains that Joel 2:28-30 is a classic example of an Old Testament prophecy that combines events separated by a long period. He emphasizes that the Old Testament prophets, including Joel, did not see the interruption of the church age; they saw the first and second comings of Christ as one continuous flow. He points out that verses 28 and 29—the outpouring of the Spirit, sons and daughters prophesying, old men dreaming, young men seeing visions, and servants and handmaids receiving the Spirit—were fulfilled at Pentecost. However, he notes that verse 30's signs (blood, fire, pillars of smoke) have not yet happened; these are tribulation events. Therefore, he places a "parenthesis" between verse 29 and verse 30, indicating a pause in prophetic fulfillment until after the church age.
Les uses Joel 2:28-30 to show that prophecy can contain breaks. He compares it to other passages like the stone being rejected but later becoming the headstone, and Isaiah 9:6 where the child is born but the government is not yet on His shoulder. He teaches that the Old Testament prophets saw events as immediate, but from our perspective, there is a gap—the church age—that interrupts the fulfillment. In Joel, verses 28-29 are fulfilled at the first advent, while verse 30 is reserved for the tribulation, demonstrating a break.
Les explains that when Peter quoted Joel 2 on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), he was confirming that the outpouring of the Spirit had begun. He emphasizes that Peter quoted the prophecy and said "this is that which was spoken," but he also continued into the signs of the sun and moon turning dark, which had not yet happened. Peter's quote included both parts, but the actual experience on that day was the Spirit's outpouring, not the cosmic signs.
Why the Old Testament Never Mentions the Church Age
Who was the stone of Scripture? Christ is. He was the head of the corner. But what'd they do with it? They cast it aside, not knowing who He was. So that's all that was fulfilled. But what does the rest of the verse say? He'd become the headstone of the corner. That hasn't happened yet. So you can put a little break right in the middle of that verse. The builder's stone was refused.
No Break in the Prophecy
Les shows that Joel 2:28-30 has no visible break, but the wonders in verse 30 have not happened, proving a time gap.
Timing of the Outpouring
Les connects the phrase 'afterward' to Christ's rejection and ascension, and identifies the Spirit's outpouring with Pentecost.
Peter's Quote at Pentecost
Les notes that Peter quoted Joel on Pentecost, confirming the first part's fulfillment, but the signs are still future.
Fulfillment at Pentecost
Les clearly states that verses 28-29 all took place at Pentecost when the Spirit came down.
Peter's Reference to Joel
Les reiterates that Peter pointed to Joel on Pentecost, and the described events had indeed happened.
Parenthesis Between Verses 29 and 30
Les explicitly places a parenthesis between verse 29 and 30, with 28-29 fulfilled at the first advent and the rest future tribulation.
The Mystery of the Church: Why It’s Not in the Old Testament
And then the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end war desolations are determined. He shall confirm the covenant with many one week. That's the tribulation. That didn't take place at Christ's first coming, so it's been postponed. All right, now the next one is Joel, chapter 2. That comes right after Hosea. Joel, chapter 2. Joel, chapter 2.
Joel 2:28: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
This verse describes the Spirit's outpouring, which Les says was fulfilled at Pentecost.
Joel 2:29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Continues the Spirit's outpouring, also fulfilled at Pentecost.
Joel 2:30: And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Describes future signs not yet fulfilled, which Les says are for the tribulation.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh, including prophesying, dreams, and visions, was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down. This is confirmed by Peter's quote in Acts 2.
Yes, according to Les, the wonders in heaven and earth—blood, fire, pillars of smoke, and the sun turning dark—have not yet occurred. These are tribulation events that await fulfillment in the future.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Old Testament Never Mentions the Church Age