The failure to understand this has meant that people have interpreted Joel's 'last days' prophecy as referring exclusively to the 'end of the age''.  I have sat under teaching on more than one occasion where the speaker was excited about the 'coming revival' because Joel had prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh 'in the last days' and that we were surely in the last days right now. 

Peter clearly explained on the Day of Pentecost that the outpouring of God’s Spirit that was happening right in front of them in 33 A.D was the fulfillment of that part of Joel's last days prophecy. 

Acts 2:15 "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

All major outpourings starting at the Day of Pentecost have been - and continue to be - the fulfilment of that prophecy.  Therefore there is no reason why God's Spirit would not be poured out on all flesh right now as we are still in the last days, but this is NOT an 'end times' prophecy still waiting for its fulfillment. It has been, and is still being fulfilled in many countries today such as China, Brazil, Alaska and Argentina.

However there was a second part, a less popular part, to Joel's last days prophecy which Peter also quoted on the Day of Pentecost. 

A second part which clearly was not fulfilled at Pentecost, nor has been since. Yet a part still assigned to within the 'last days' period.

A second part which will only have its fulfillment at the end of this church age  Joel says its fulfillment will be before the great and awesome 'day of the Lord' 

In other words Joel's last days prophecy not only opens this present age of church history within the last days at Pentecost - but also closes this present age at the second coming of the Lord. (Joel's words cross reference with the end time details given by Jesus in Matthew 24 and also the sixth seal in Revelation). 

There have been many ages in scripture.

Ephesians 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets

Ephesians 3:9 which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

And there are ages to come..

Ephesians 2:6-7 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

The gospel writers spoke of the age they were in as this present age. 

1st Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

1st Timothy  2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

An age where satan and his cohorts exercised great power over the earth..

2nd Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore  the term ‘the end of the age’ (not ages) refers to the closing chapter of the sixth day (explained later) when Jesus returns.

Jesus assured His disciples that He would be with us even until that time.

Matthew 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.  

After that of course, they will be with Him!

Christ's return at the end of the age is when the harvest will be sorted out by the angels

Matthew 13:39 "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

 Matthew 13:40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

 Matthew 13:49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,  

In these (almost) 2000 years of 'last days' since the cross we have had the 'former rain' which began at Pentecost and lasted for several hundred years. Then following the long dryness of the dark ages the earth has been experiencing the 'latter rain' for nearly 300 years.

James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 

The former rain began suddenly with a dramatic outpouring at Pentecost and over three centuries gradually decreased.  It is certain that the latter day rain is building up to a dramatic outpouring before suddenly stopping at the end of the age because we have God's Word

Haggai 2:9  The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts. 

What a latter day outpouring it has been and continues to be!  The online Revival Library lists the many great awakenings since 1727. These are categorized as The First Great Awakening of 1727-. The Second Great Awakening of 1792 -. The Third Great Awakening of 1830 -. The Fourth Great Awakening of 1857 -. The Fifth Great Awakening 1880 -. The Sixth Great Awakening 1904 -. Then the twentieth Century Revivals - Pentecostal  - Evangelical and finally - Charismatic 1992 -1995   

The popular 'Transformations' videos reveal the recent dramatic changes within nations and communities throughout the world as this latter rain pours out mightily upon them.  

Which people group will the Spirit of God pour out upon tomorrow?  How long will this outpouring last?  Who but God knows.  As Jesus explained to Nicodemus,

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes

It is important at this stage to have some idea of where we are on God's calendar so let me explain my understanding of the Biblical timeline.

Scripture speaks of a day being as a thousand years and a thousand years being as a day to the Lord.

2 Peter 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

From Adam to Abraham is reckoned as 2000 years and from Abraham to Christ as 2000 years, a total of 4000 years..or 4 days. 

This is a vital clue in seeking to understand the Bible's timeline.

In Exodus chapter 12 God tells Moses to change the calendar. The 7th month was now to be the first month. On the 10th day of this new first month the Israelites were to take a male lamb and keep it indoors for 4 days. Then on the 14th day they were to bring it out and kill it at twilight, making sure that none of its bones were broken.

These 4 days may be called the 4 days of the hidden lamb.

This lamb of course was the type for the Lamb of God.

Indeed Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the 10th day of that same Passover month and the people thought He was a conqueror coming to depose the Romans.  However on the 14th day of that month He was revealed as the Lamb, and at twilight He was killed and none of His bones broken.  Just as the blood of the Passover lamb had protected the Israelites and provided for their deliverance from Pharaoh's kingdom under Moses so the Blood of The Lamb protects us and provides for our deliverance from satan's kingdom under Jesus.

These 4 days may be called the 4 days of the hidden lamb.

Going one step deeper we see that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain from the foundation of the world, and so for the 4000 years, or 4 days, He was the 'hidden Lamb'

1 Peter 1:18-21 .. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Revelation 13:7-8 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

God the Son appeared many times in the Old Testament but was always hidden as such. These appearances are referred to as Theophanies.  For example

Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

At the end of the 'fourth day' the Lamb was slain for the world, thus starting the fifth day on God's timeline.

Now, some 2000 years into the New Testament days, we find ourselves approaching the very end of the sixth day.  [Read]

In Biblical understanding each new day starts with evening, at sunset.

Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 

The world instinctively held its breath as the year 2000 drew near. Even masses of Christians prepared for a world shaking event. Millions of computers were expected to crash. Few took a flight on that day.  When the day came and went the world breathed again and normal life resumed. 

The suddenly, shockingly, on September 11, 2001 every nation witnessed the most world shaking event ever captured on film. We all knew in our hearts that a line had been crossed. The world would never be the same again.  The west's response to this event triggered off more atrocities. The middle east became even more of a cauldron ready to boil over. Suddenly no one could feel secure. A new kind of fear took root and still lies just beneath the surface of society. Hearts faint at the merest hint of a terrorist threat on a news bulletin.  Fear. Fear. More fear.

The world is rapidly becoming a more dangerous place as dusk begins to gather towards the end of the sixth day.  The stage is being well set for the entrance of the 'man' who can promise safety. 

The seventh day, the Sabbath Day, the day of rest, is known as 'the Day of the Lord' which means the 'thousand years of the Lord' is the period when Christ reigns with the saints for 1000 years and satan is bound for 1000 years. (see Revelation chapter 20)  There is judgment on rebellious man but the earth finally gets its Sabbath rest.

Christ's Glory will be truly revealed to the world after the six days (i.e. the seventh day)  This was prefigured on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mount Hermon)

Mark 9:2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

Hosea prophesied a three 'day' period after the events of the cross which do not refer to Christ's own resurrection.

Hosea 6:2  After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.

He prophesied this for the Jewish nation who have suffered so much over two thousand years, but of course it also speaks to us as believers.

John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Bible scholar Kevin J.Conner quotes the following verse as one of the seventh day scriptures

Isaiah 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, In the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people And heals the stroke of their wound.

 

Interesting thought.. If ..and it is if.. the terrible events of September 11, 2001 were indeed a timeline marker then it is worth including the verse that immediately precedes the above verse.   Isaiah 30:25  There will be on every high mountain And on every high hill rivers and streams of waters, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall.   If the fall of the towers was a timeline marker then it reveals two things. One is that the latter day rain may be about to increase greatly - and at the same time - that we have now crossed the line into the period known as the 'end of the age'

Finally the 'morrow after the Sabbath' - which symbolizes new beginning and points dispensationally to the New Heavens and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem.

Then comes the end, when He (Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. (1 Corinthians 15:24-25)

The New Testament writers at the start of this 'last days' age pointed to various negatives that would become relevant towards the latter part of this present age.  Paul writing in a period of terrible Roman persecution warned of perilous days that lay ahead for the church.

2 Timothy 3:1  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons

Perilous days and believers being deceived and departing from the faith. Even revival will not stop this happening.  It is written, and written to warn us of very difficult and treacherous days.

Likewise Peter warned the church of days ahead within the last days period.

2 Peter 3:3 .. knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

As we have seen, the latter part of Joel’s prophecy - referred to in Acts - has yet to be fulfilled and this fulfillment will come at the end of this age as it cross references with Jesus’ teaching on the events at the end of this age and also with the sixth seal in the Book of Revelation.

Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"  

Note that this was three questions in one sentence. Jesus had just been speaking of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.  The disciples asked privately 1. Tell us when will these things be?  2. and, what will be the sign of your coming?  3. and, of the end of the age?  One has to therefore carefully unpick the answers to the three questions in the answer Jesus gave them.

Matthew 24:4 -51  And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. "And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. "All these are the beginning of sorrows. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come. "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  "See, I have told you beforehand. "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven r, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When asked to describe significant end of the age events before He returned Jesus gave not even a hint of a world wide revival. In His private talk to them he referred them to what 'Daniel the prophet' spoke of - as recorded in Daniel chapter 12. Presumably He would still refer us to this portion of scripture.

Daniel 12:1-13  "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long shall the fulfilment of these wonders be?" Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. "Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. "Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. "But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days."

Other than the few positive words 'Many shall be purified, made white, and refined' the words are full of dark events.  We ignore them at our peril.