Just Thinking
About Pentecost
                                                                                   By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                  April 17, 2019
     "I will remember the works of the Lord: Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.
     I will meditate also of all Thy works, and talk of Thy doings."
                                                                                                        Psalm 77:11-12
PENTECOST
     What role does the Day of Pentecost have to play in Biblical  events, and especially those  of the end-time?  
     Without apology to anyone, I am one of those who was hoping for the coming of the Lord on the Day of Pentecost in 2018, but of course He did not come at that time.  Now the Day of Pentecost is approaching again this present year on  June 9, 2019, exactly fifty days after Passover.  
     THE SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY
    Pentecost, according to the Jewish people, was the exact day when God's LAW was given to Moses and the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai as recorded in Exodus 19 and 20.    On that exact day, the Lord God chose the nation and people of Israel to be His special people, who were to  represent Him on earth,  before all other peoples.  Read it for yourself in Exodus 19:5 and Psalm 135:4.  
     For the next approximately 1,500 years, the Israelites, served as the  representative of the true God,  to all the other nations on the earth.  Sometimes the Israelite people were faithful in carrying out the commission that had been given to them by the Lord God, upholding  His Laws and Word, and giving a good "witness" for the Lord. .  Other times the Israelites were anything but faithful, and  went "whoring" after other gods, and were a disgrace to the Lord God whom they "professed." Yet the Lord God, in His mercy and compassion and longsuffering, always brought them back to Himself.  
The First Coming of Christ
     Then Christ Jesus came into the world as the long awaited Messiah of Israel, Deuteronomy 18:15-19.  He even proved His claims by showing all the "signs" of the Messiah, as the Old Testament Scriptures prophesied He would do.   But the corrupt Jewish priesthood was   having none of it.  They totally rejected the Lord Jesus as their long awaitied Messiah, and crucified Him on the Jewish Passover.
      However, just as prophesied, the Lord Jesus arose from the dead three days later on the "the morrow after the Sabbath," Leviticus 23:9-14.  The Lord remained on the earth with the disciples, "being seen of them forty days," Acts 1:3.  Then the Lord was taken up into Heaven, where He remains to this present day.  However, His angels assured the disciples He would "come again," Acts 1:10-11.  
A Change in Authority
     Then the Day of Pentecost arrived as recorded in Acts 2.  On this day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Lord's Church, numbering at that time only about 120 souls, Acts 1:15.   At that precise time, most of the Lord's Church was made up of Jewish believers.  However, the Lord knew that with the passing of time, His Church would become His own Gentile Bride.  
     The baptism or outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was then a transfer of authority from unfaithful Israel to the Lord's Church.  See the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20, Luke 24:46-49, and Acts 1:8.  
     From that day forward it has been the Lord's Church, and true believers, who have served as the reprentative of the Lord God to mankind upon the earth, Acts 1:8.  
       But here in these "last days"  of this present dispensation, there is another problem.  The Lord's Church and believing people are about to be removed from the earth by the resurrection and rapture.  So after they are removed, what group of people is going to represent the Lord God upon the earth among the nations of mankind?  
Back to Israel Again
     Our readers should carefully read the prophecy of the outpouring or baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the nation and people of Israel again, as set forth in Joel 2:28-32.  Notice especially the "timing" of this event.  It is explicitly stated that this transfer of authority back to the nation and people of Israel will occur "before the great and terrible day of the Lord come," Joel 2:31.  This expression could mean either before the beginning of the Tribulation Period, or before the last half of the Tribulation begins.  
     I personally lean towards it meaning before the last half, of the Tribulation, for the last half is particularly "the great day of the wrath of God," Rev. 6:17; 14:7-11.  
      If this is correct, then it appears to me that the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon Israel again, in the interval between the rapture and the beginning of the tribulation judgments [Rev. 7:1-4] just after after the rapture has occurred.  This outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Israel again, will result in the salvation and sealing of the 144,00 Jews, Rev. 7:5-8.  These 144,000 saved and sealed Jews, empowered by the Holy Spirit,  will then serve as Jewish  evangelists, who will literally carry the gospel to every single place on earth during the first half of the Tribulation Period, Matthew 24:14.  
     But When?
     It appears to me that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Israel again, will occur on Pentecost, exactly fifty days after the rapture of the Lord's Church and beleiving people has occurred on Passover, April 19, 2019.  The bestowing of this authority to represent the Lord God on earth among mankind has always previously been given on Pentecost, so why should it not be given back to Israel again on Pentecost?
     Yes, I am writing and sending out this study on April 17th of this present year, exactly two days before Pentecost begins on April 19th.  Are our readers ready for our Lord to come?  If any reader is not ready, then you had better get ready in a hurry. Carefully read Luke 18:9-14.  This simple prayer, prayed from your heart with all sincerity,  will be sufficient, "God, be merciful to me a sinner,  In Jesus name!  That simple prayer will save your soul, and make you ready to meet the Lord Jesus in the air at the rapture, likely on Passover, April 19th, of this very month.  Hello!  
And If I Am Wrong.....
     Then I will look for the Lord to come on the Day of Pentecost, which is still in the Spring of this year.  Spring is an absolute requirement for the rapture as set forth in the Song of Solomon 2:8-13.  
     Then if the rapture should not occur on either Passover or Pentecost, then I highly suspect we have yet another year to wait and watch.  And I sure hope I am wrong about another year.  I am ready to go, and eager for my Lord to come for me, and for all of  His people.  
     This study is now in the Lord's hands to do with as He shall see fit.  God bless every reader, and save those who are lost, is my prayer.  John 3:16; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:8-13.
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