How was Jesus to be sent to
those first generation converts?
“Whom the heaven must receive
until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
For Moses truly said unto the
fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto Me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.
And it shall come to pass,
that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from
among the people.
Yea, and all the prophets
from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise
foretold of these days.
Ye are the children of the
prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto
Abraham, And in thy Seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Unto you first God, having
raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:21-26).
How was Jesus sent to bless
the Jews to turn them all from their iniquities? Did He come visibly, bodily?
No, but He did come. He came after God raised Him from the grave and He had ascended. He came at Pentecost, in the Spirit. The candlestick that
lit the seven churches of Asia lit up the 120 followers of Jesus in the baptism
of His Spirit.
“And when the day of
Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a
sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4).
This was the Spirit of truth
that Jesus promised He would pray to His Father to send. All that Jesus had told them in secret they could now made public from the housetops. And what sermons they
boldly preached!
“Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask
in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in My
name, I will do it.
If ye love Me, keep My
commandments.
And I will pray the Father,
and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him:
but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:12-18).
The first disciples had
stayed in Jerusalem, as Christ commanded them. They had made amends between
each other, were united in a fellowship they had never known as followers of
Jesus, the Son of David, the King of the Jews. They knew He was hearing them
by a faith they hadn’t had before they touched His throne of grace and glory.
They were loving Him and keeping His commandment that they love one another.
They were abiding in Him and His words repeatedly rehearsed among themselves were
abiding in their hearts. Oh, how they groaned that they had been so slow of faith and hardhearted while the Saviour was with them! So Jesus prayed His Father to send them His Spirit,
just as He had given a token of that when He breathed on them before ascending, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” (John 20:22).
Their obedience to the gospel moved the Father of glory to send them another
Comforter which was Jesus Himself, so that He could keep His promise, “I will
come to you.”
In this way at Pentecost
Jesus came to them, as Peter revealed to them, “Unto you first God, having
raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). They received the refreshing from the
presence of the Lord when He would send Jesus.
Two thousand years after the
Early Rain of the Father’s Spirit through His Son, the second bookend of the
baptism of His Spirit would see the same scenario in the Latter Rain of the Spirit of God
through Christ.
“Said the angel, ‘List ye!’
Soon I heard a voice like many musical instruments all sounding in perfect
strains, sweet and harmonious. It surpassed any music I had ever heard, seeming
to be full of mercy, compassion, and elevating, holy joy. It thrilled through my
whole being. Said the angel, ‘Look ye!’ My attention was then turned to the
company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had
before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian
angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from
their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of
soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had
endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet their features,
marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of
heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the
deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy.
{EW 270.4}
The numbers of this company had lessened.
Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who
did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to
perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left
behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking
hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Evil angels still pressed around
them, but could have no power over them.
{EW 271.1}
I heard those clothed with the armor speak
forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound; some
wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who had
been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear
of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had
been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than
life. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, ‘It is the
latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the
third angel.’” Early Writings, p. 271.
“The angel who unites in the
proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with
his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. The
advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God;
the first angel’s message was carried to every missionary station in the world,
and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest which has been
witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these
are to be exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third
angel. {GC 611.1}
The work will be similar to that of the
Day of Pentecost. As the ‘former rain’ was given, in the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious
seed, so the ‘latter rain’ will be given at its close for the ripening of the
harvest. ‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth
is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the
latter and former rain unto the earth.’ Hosea 6:3. ‘Be glad then, ye children
of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former
rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former
rain, and the latter rain.’ Joel 2:23. ‘In the last days, saith God, I will
pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.’ ‘And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:17,
21. {GC 611.2}
The great work of the gospel is not to
close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The
prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening
of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here
are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he
said: ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and
He shall send Jesus.’ Acts 3:19, 20. {GC
611.3}
Servants of God, with their faces lighted
up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to
proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth,
the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed,
and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying
wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation
13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their
stand. {GC 612.1}
The message will be carried not so much by
argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have
been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear
fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their
influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully
comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light
penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest
children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections,
church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than
all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large
number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.” Great Controversy, p. 612.
By His Spirit, Jesus will be very near, personally, literally, by faith.
By His Spirit, Jesus will be very near, personally, literally, by faith.
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