Predicting Pentecost

We just celebrated Pentecost yesterday in church, so it's a nice coincidence that today's reading includes Joel's prophecy of Pentecost, Joel 2:28-32. Looking ahead, Joel sees both the New Testament era where Jesus would send his Counselor, the Holy Spirit (28-29), as well as the end of the world, Judgment Day (30-32). How does this prophecy about people having dreams and visions apply to us today? The People's Bible says, "God used dreams, visions and the gift of his Spirit in Old Testament times to reveal his will to men. God reveals himself today through the words of his Old Testament prophets and his New Testament apostles in the Holy Scriptures. All of God's people can read this revelation and teach it to others. God gives his Word to all of us, boys and girls, men and women, old and young, even the simplest, lowliest Christian. Through the Word, God pours out his Spirit on all his people, creates and strengthens their faith in Jesus, produces fruits of faith in their lives, and enables them to speak his revelation to others in the world."