6.15.25 ~ Prophecy, Prophecies, Prophets

Good morning!

In yesterday's Torah portion, Behaalotecha (Num. 8-12), we highlighted what I call the 'Garden of Eden' service to the Lord, through the Levites (Num.8:26), prophecies (Num. 11:24-30) and the establishment of the greatest prophet, Moses (Num. 12:6-8). This backdrop gives a dynamic framework in comparison to the grumbling Israelites (Num. 11:1-3), the false leadership and influence of the mixed multitude/erev ra  to  stimulate false hunger for the 'enslaved past' and 'GMO' process of God's perfect food supply; the manna from heaven (Num. 11:4-9).

Yesterday's zoom call: God's call for us to move forward and the emotional obstacles we have to overcome to fulfill His calling (Num. 8-12)

For everything true there is a counterfeit. The latest in America is vigilante groups impersonating ICE agents; kidnapping, robbing, and who knows what else...Impersonating the truth has been going on for millennia. In the next few studies, I want to share with you some 'food for thought' on the modern day prophets that are popping up all over the place; like the pharmaceutical industry of today, that deceives the world (Rev. 18:23), modern day 'profits' are doing the same.

If there was ever a breeding ground with 'fertile soil' for these false messages 'germinating' it's now. With AI information available at our fingertips, the access to knowledge is far beyond the experience to handle it appropriately and many, too many are desperate for life answers.

We are 15 days past Pentecost, the time when Joel 3:1-2 was initiated.

And it shall happen afterward: I will pour My spirit upon all flesh/bāśar, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.  Your elders shall dream dreams, your young men see visions.  And even upon male slaves and slavegirls in those days will I pour My Spirit.
(Joel 2:28)
(Compare Num. 12:6-8)

I think most of us are familiar with this verse and Peter's Pentecost sermon,  where he quotes Joel's prophecy (Acts 2:17). Ironically, the word translated as flesh is also the word for gospel/bāśar. What this means for our "Sherlock Holmes" investigation is that the bāśar in Joel (and in Acts) is undoubtedly directed towards all of mankind, but intertwined is the act of proclaiming the good news/gospel/bāśar.  In other words, God isn’t pouring out the spirit without a purpose, and the purpose isn’t to make you or me feel good.  The purpose is to implement, with the pouring out, the task and responsibility of proclaiming.  Therefore, prophecy, dreams, and visions follow the pouring out of the Spirit.  Many can claim what they want, but until the experience moves one to publish good tidings/bāśar, Joel’s prophecy isn't fulfilled.

And while we’re on the subject, remember that prophecy is not prediction.  God doesn’t pour His spirit on you so that you can start proclaiming the future.  You aren’t tasked with telling someone else what God wants them to do.  The prophets were not fortune tellers.  They published God’s concern, for good or evil, with striking intensity, no matter what the personal cost.  Prophecy is sympathy for God, proclaimed to men.

When Joel proclaims that God will pour His spirit on all mankind, he’s stating that all mankind will gush with praise, proclaim the majesty and sovereignty of God, and overflow with the good tidings of His kingdom.  God’s goodness will show up in dreams and visions across all the boundaries of human existence.  In other words, there won’t be any rich or poor, slave or free, male or female distinctions when it comes to extolling the graciousness of God (Gal. 3:28).  If Peter believed that Joel’s prophecy applied, then we should have seen an 'open-arms welcome' to all who responded to the proclaiming of the gospel of God.  But even Peter failed to understand Joel's words; That’s why he had to be taught about 'food' on the roof (Acts 10-15).  Joel's prophecy obliterates all human borders.

And that’s why Joel’s prophecy cannot be about the modern Church, even the ideal Church. With over 51,000 different denominations to our credit, I'd say, "we're a long way from  manifesting Joel 2." Add into that thought, 'All flesh', includes all flesh, not just Christians. The Church, under Constantine's powerful influence, deliberately sacrificed the Jews in order to promote its own human agenda. This was not God’s plan, as even a cursory reading of the Bible suggests. This was empire-building on behalf of men whose objective was to raise themselves through religious manipulation and personal vendetta. And these men, unfortunately, are the saints of many within the faith.

If you are the exception to these statements, praise God! For most of us, speaking of me, myself and I, Joel’s prophecy doesn’t even come close to being manifest in our modern ekklesia/church. As long as our modern day evangelical mindset rejects the Torah, God's fundamental and eternal instruction book for all of mankind, this antisemitic New Testament philosophy will only be a counterfeit to this part of Joel's prophecy.

On Shabbat I listened to a Holocaust survivor...I'm a long way away from boldly proclaiming the bāśar. On this 15th day of counting towards the first fruit of the wine, I'm asking for a greater measure of Joel 2; appreciating my comfortable pew, but not getting comfortable in my pew.

Rak Chazak Amats/be strong and courageous!

Shalom,
Alan