GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 388 September 7, 2011
PROPHECY: Near & Far
"And aIso upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit (V29).
"And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke (V30).
"The sun shall be into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord..." (V31).
Joel's Prophecy of Chapter two and Chapter two of Acts, Peter's message on the day of Pentecost.
The words: "In those days" of Joel's prophecy, we see 2000 years between verse 29 and verse 30. The first portion of prophecy is 800 years before Christ. After, the first portion, 2000 years will expire before the second prophecy is realized; and, today, we are almost there. For the serious Bible student, it doesn't take long before we learn to think in terms of "Near and Far."
"Near and far," as our Bible teacher, David Barnum pointed out, have some announcements occur at one time. while others take place at a different time; even though prophecies are within the same passage of Scripture. Certainly, we see this the titled prophecy of Joel and Actss, as listed above.
It is clear that the Holy Spirit came upon the church in the "Last days;" according to the event known as "The Day of Pentecost." And, further, to read it correctly, the Holy Spirit is said to come upon the world just before Jesus returns; "AT THE SECOND COMING. This time will not be such a blessing fom God, however. Again, we see a long time between Pentecost and Jesus' Second coming - 2000 years long.
What we have to see is how prophecies are tied together; even, if they are within the same chapter. For example, in Acts, Chapter Two, Peter longs for Israel to understand how the prophecy of Joel is directly related to Pentecost and the Second Coming. Peter informs Israel that the prophecy has a "Near and Far" meaning.
After acknowledging that Israel knew very well what Jesus did on their behalf - all the miracles and signs - Peter cries out to the nation about what has just occured (v22). He longs for Israel to get the prophecies tied together. Peter wants the nation to be ready "before the great and terrible day of the Lord come:" (V20).
It is Peter's inward desire that the nation of Israel understand "that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (V21). "Hear these words," he cries out to the many thousands in attendance (V22), telling them that Jesus of Nazareth was approved by God; that Jesus was delivered by God's determinate counsel; that, even though the nation crucified Jesus, the Christ, "...God raised up; having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it" (Acts 2:22-23).
Peter's message also includes the hope that David had and looked forward to; something that Israel failed to grasp. "I forsaw the Lord alsways before my face;...therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Acts 2:25-27). Now, that's a wonderful hope!
Whether, Near or Far, all prophecies are determined by Jesus, the Lord's Christ (Annointed One). David was the greatest king of Israel, and Peter thought that the nation would listen and see that David looked to Jesus about his future; that is, the resurrection. Peter wanted Israel to understand that David look beyound this physical life. "David," Peter stated, "... is both dead and buried..." (V29).
David's hope was to be raised and Peter wanted all of Israel to have the same assurance. Here, in the Book of Acts, Peter's Pentacostal message becomes very excited. Peter mentioned that patriarch David was a prophet; then, Peter shows Israel's about David's hope: "...that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would rasie up Christ to sit on his throne" (Acts 2:29-30).
What we have to know is that Jesus is our hope for us today. It doesn't matter if we stay in the book of Acts and the time of Peter's message; or, if we come all the way down to our time, the message doesn't change. "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses" Acts 2:32).
Finally, Peter preaches to Israel "...that God hath made that same Jesus...both Lord and Christ" (Messiah) Acts 2:36. "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (V38).
The Near message is that we recieve Jesus as our savior. The Far message is that we look for His coming. Are you saved and serving?