Prophet
Prophet Prophet Joel
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Prophet Joel — son of Bethuel, who proclaimed a locust plague as divine judgment and prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit "upon all flesh," quoted by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost.
Joel, son of Bethuel, came, by tradition, from the town of Bethoron on the border of the territories of Ephraim and Benjamin. He lived in the 8th century BC. His name means "the LORD is God."
The central prophecy of his book is a devastating locust plague and drought striking Judah, described in vivid, apocalyptic imagery as divine judgment for the nation's sins; the prophet calls for national repentance, fasting, and turning to God.
The prophecy of Joel most significant for Christian tradition is the promise that God will "pour out My Spirit on all flesh": sons and daughters will prophesy, young men will see visions, old men will dream dreams, without distinction of gender, age, or status (Joel 2:28–32). This prophecy is directly quoted by the Apostle Peter in his Pentecost sermon ("this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel" — Acts 2:16–21), making it the scriptural foundation for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles; the second chapter of the book is read as an Old Testament reading at Orthodox Pentecost vespers.
Joel also foretold the "Day of the Lord" with accompanying cosmic signs, a final judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and salvation for "whoever calls on the name of the Lord" (Joel 2:32) — words echoed by Peter (Acts 2:21) and Paul (Romans 10:13).