June 13, 2004

 

  We now come to the great message by Peter in 2:14-36 with its focus on Israel (not the church).

   Chapter 2, verses 14-15- “…ye men of Judea….dwell at Jerusalem…”  clearly, Peter is addressing the Jews present there and not Gentiles.  It is unfortunate that some many are quick to direct Peter’s remarks to the general class of lost Gentiles.  Note vs. 22

“Men of Israel”  and vs.36 “let all the house of Israel…”

   Chapter 2, verse 16 “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel”-  Peter now reaches into the body of the minor prophets and applies a quote from Joel 2:28-32.  He does it in a manner that moves us to see Pentecost as a fulfillment of that prophecy---but just how is it fulfilled?

   When Peter quotes Joel 2:28, he changes one word:

                      “shall come to pass afterward” is changed to

                      “come to pass in the last days….”

He then adds in 2:17- “saith God” .

   Peter believes the manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles is a fulfillment of the Joel prophecy and it pertains to Israel’s “last days”.  However, the majority of Bible teachers also say that this occasion at Pentecost is the birth or beginning of the Church, which is His body, and apply (I Cor.12:13) the baptism by the H.Spirit as fulfilled there.

   Since the portions of Joel that are quoted in 2:19-20 are not seen as literally occurring in Acts 2, some have concluded that such physical and literal events must be spiritualized  with promises given to Israel now to be applied in a figurative manner to the Church of the NT.  The result of such teaching robs Israel of a great portion of OT prophecies.

            The following is suggested as an alternative:

1.  The New Covenant (or Testament) under Christ has blessings both

  for Israel and the Church- see Heb.8:6-12.

2.  Forgiveness of sin is only one provision of the New Cov.-

   Rom.11:27,  Mt.26:28 – it is shared by Israel and the Church.

3.  The dispensing of the Holy Spirit to believers is also under the

    New Covenant- Joel 2:28-32 as fulfilled in Acts 2. 

4. There are other provisions under the New Covenant which are

   unique to Israel and do not apply to the Church.

5.  At Pentecost (Acts 2), at least one provision overlapped the other.

    Peter emphasized the provisions for Israel, whereas, as later

    revealed to Paul, the church was given provisions simultaneously as

    well.  See Eph.3:2-10

 

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6.  So, from Israel’s standpoint (as by Peter), the arrival of the Holy

   Spirit at Pentecost indicated the last days for Israel and verified the

   bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Then, as we apply Pauline

   doctrine which is given later, we see Pentecost as inaugurating the

   church era by “birthing” or “beginning” the Church, which is the

   Body of Christ.

7.   This allows the prophecies to Israel to remain literal and not be

   incorrectly spiritualized and applied to the Church.

8.  Peter would have seen the arrival of the Holy Spirit as the

   beginning of the great world-wide out-pouring of the Holy Spirit

   that coincides with the national conversion of Israel as in

   Joel 2:27;  agricultural prosperity on Israel- 2:23-26; and

   safety and protection in Jerusalem- 2:32.  All of this is with respect

   to the “great and terrible day of the LORD”- 2:31.

 

  The frightening cosmological events of Acts 2:19-20 point us in the

direction of the great Tribulation- Matt. 24:29, Isa. 13:9-11, and

 Rev. 6:12, 8:12.  Peter’s perspective is that of one expecting events of the Tribulation to be expressed;  he shows little knowledge of the content of later NT writing concerning the fall of Israel (Rom.9-11)

and the rise of Gentiles as being the object of divine blessing.  To Peter, the church is only a local gathering of Jewish believers---not

a universal Body of Jew & Gentile.