Dual Fulfillment in Bible Prophecy
Many prophecies in the Bible are dual. In such cases a prophet speaks
under inspiration of God and a first fulfillment of the prophecy comes
to pass. Then, later, often at the end of the age before the return of
Christ, comes a final, ultimate fulfillment.
An excellent example of duality is found in a prediction Joel made about
the Holy Spirit: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour
out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And
also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit
in those days.
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire
and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon
into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord
... I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of
Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there..." (Joel 2:28-3:2).
God inspired the apostle Peter to quote from this passage to describe
events on the Day of Pentecost, when God founded the Church after Jesus'
resurrection (Acts 2:14-21). Miraculous manifestations of God's power through
the Holy Spirit did indeed occur then (verses 1-13). But these were only
the first fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. The ultimate fulfillment will
come at the time of the end and will involve, among other things, the gathering
of the nations to God's judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. This did
not occur on the Day of Pentecost. So we see that prophecies can be dual.
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