The Grand Exit - Luke 8:10.com

The Grand Exit

The Bible is a symmetric document. Sin and rebellion began in Genesis, while the Revelation concludes sin and rebellion. I believe the Bible shows us another symmetry, and it is the Day of Pentecost.

I believe the church began on the Day of Pentecost because it could not begin until the Lord Jesus completed His first ministry here on earth. That completion was on the Cross, accompanied by His resurrection and ascension. Fifty days later, on the Day of Pentecost the Apostle Peter quoted the Prophet Joel:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” – Joel 2:28

While this certainly occurred with New Testament prophets like Agabus and the daughters of Phillip the deacon (Acts 11:28, 21:8-9, 21:10-11), please note that Joel said it “would come to pass in the Last Days.” And, there is more to Joel’s prophecy quoted by Peter in the New Testament:

“And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:” – Acts 2:18-20 (quoting Joel 2:29-32a)

Clearly, the latter part of Joel’s prophecy and Peter’s reiteration is apocalyptic and has not come to pass. Yet Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, quoted that passage. That means that Joel’s prophecy is applicable to the Church in the Last Days, which means that there will be another time of spiritual activity, directed by the Holy Spirit, in the Church of the Lord Jesus!

Just a few verses earlier in Joel 2:23, the prophet spoke of the former and latter rain. Perhaps the Lord was speaking metaphorically about the raining down of the Holy Spirit on the early Church and the latter Church, the Church in the Last Days.

Please consider the following:

The supernatural activity in the Tribulation and the increase in such activity prophesied by the Prophet Joel and the Apostle Peter in the “Last Days.”
The insertion of the Church in the middle of the Lord’s relation with His chosen, the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The symmetry of much of the Bible and the spirit-led words of the Apostle Peter.

These facts indicate that there will be another Day of Pentecost in which Believers will prophesy and perform acts that the secular world will not understand – but these acts will be a witness to the Glory of our Heavenly Father!

While considering the possibility of the Holy Spirit moving in the faithful Church, I was impressed with this thought;

The Church of the Lord Jesus, KING of kings and LORD of lords, will not leave this world with a whimper, but will go out with a grand flourish, to the honor and glory of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Lord Jesus, and to the honor and glory of the Lord Jehovah, the Most High God!

I do not know when this will be, but increased spiritual activity will be a sign of its nearness. (Matthew 16:1-3, First Thessalonians 5:4) May it soon come to pass; to the Praise of the Lord and to the saving of souls! Amen! Amen!

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