Acts 2:20

The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day.

Points to Note:

If one reads the O.T., they will find such language is often used in reference to God's judgment upon various nations (Isaiah 2:9 ff; Isaiah 2:1 ff; Ezekiel 2:7 ff; Amos 2:9). Thus it can refer to times "of social and political revolution" (Stott p. 75); as when. nation completely crumbles. Jesus even used the same language in reference to the destruction that would come upon the city of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25).

Various writers remind us that at least one of these signs "the sun shall be turned into darkness", had been literally fulfilled some seven weeks earlier, when Jesus was crucified (Luke 23:44).

'BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD COME, THAT GREAT AND NOTABLE DAY'-

Points to Note:

The Day of the Lord (esp. in O.T. prophecies) did refer to judgments that God brought upon nations. Basically two views exist concerning the use of the above phrase in this passage: (a) It refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. (b) It refers to the Second Coming of Christ.

Actually both views could fit the passage: Bruce notes, 'a day of judgment, to be sure, but more immediately the day of God's salvation to all who invoke His name.' (p. 69) In either case we must admit that Joel's prophecy was fulfilled over. period of "time" It wasn't all fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. For one thing, no women prophesied on this day (Acts 2:17). This prophecy contains. number of things (a) The Spirit's outpouring which happened in the First Century, and then ceased when the complete revelation had been given (1 Corinthians 13:8). (b) Judgment, which could include the destruction of Jerusalem and or the Second Coming. (c) And. period of salvation prior to that Judgment or. chance to escape the coming wrath of God (Acts 2:21).

The one advantage that the Second coming view has in this context: Being saved will protect one from the wrath of God to be revealed in the last day (1 Thessalonians 1:10), but being. Christian wouldn't necessary protect one from the judgment coming upon Jerusalem-especially if one was in the area at the time.