Isaiah's great vision described in chapter vi is so outstanding (continued)
temple was an indication of God's wrath and displeasure against people for their sins. It was an earnest of the destruction of it and the city, by the Babylonians first, and afterwards by the Romans. And it was designed to strike in awe upon us. Shall walls and posts tremble before God, and shall not we tremble?
(vi) Then again, the house was darkened. It was filled with smoke, which was as a cloud spread upon the face of His throne (Job xxvi. 9). We cannot take full view of it, nor order our speech concerning it, by reason of darkness. In the temple above there will be smoke; but everything will be seen clearly.
There God dwells in Light, here He makes darkness His pavilion (2 Chron. vi. 1)
5. THE UNIVERSALITY OF VISION To each of the prophets, major and minor, visions were granted, and in the book of the prophet Joel (Joel 71. 28) we learn that after an outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh prophecy would be commonplace and visions and dreams would come to young and old. "In the last days' —that is, a great while after the coming of prophecy in the Old Testament Church. It was prophesied and promised, said Peter in that great sermon on the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts ii, and therefore you ought to expect it and not be surprised at it. You should desire it and bid it welcome, and not to dispute it, as not worth taking notice of. The apostle quotes the whole paragraph, for it is good to take Scripture entire.
Now it was foretold: (a) That there should be a more plentiful and extensive effusion of the Spirit of grace from on high than had ever yet been. The prophets of the Old Testament had been filled with the Holy Ghost. But now the Spirit shall be poured out not only upon the Jews but upon all flesh, Gentiles as well as Jews. Or, upon all flesh—that is, upon some of all ranks and conditions of men. The Jewish doctors taught that the Spirit came only upon wise and rich men, and such as men of the seed of Israel, but God will not tie Himself to their rules.
(6) That the Spirit should be in them a spirit of prophecy. By the Spirit they should be enabled to foretell things to come, and to preach the Gospel to every creature. Thus power shall be given without distinction of sex—not only your sons, but your daughters also shall prophesy. Thus power shall be given