|
ACTS 2:17 WAS NOT THE
FULFILMENT OF JOEL 2:28.
THE "LAST DAYS" ARE 1,955 YEARS ?
CORRECTING A MISINTERPRETATION:
In referring to the
prophecy through the prophet Joel, Peter declared that what had happened at
Pentecost would happen in the "last days" of
this
generation. (Acts 2:17 NEB).
He did not say or mean that what was happening to them at
Pentecost was in fulfilment of Joel's prophecy for the "last days".
(Joel 2:28-31 NEB).
For if the "last days" had begun at Pentecost on the occasion of
their speaking in tongues (33 years after Christ's birth), to date these
"last days" would be 1,955 years in length!
The fulfilment of the "last
days" before the coming of our Lord was to be much later in time
when Almighty God shall gather people of all nations according to their spirit aspect
to the symbolic "low plain" of His Judgement at
"Jehoshaphat". (3:1,2 NEB & NWT).
(See Pages 17/5/86,
4/3/86, 18/9/86, &
17/3/86). This is
when Almighty God shall pour out His Spirit, not just upon Galileans, but upon
all mankind, including His faithful servant "sons"
and "daughters". (2:28 NEB).
His "sons" and "daughters" are the ones who will
prophesy and see dreams and visions. Only anointed servants of God on that
occasion in Jerusalem spoke in tongues. But this event was the precursor of what
is prophesied to take place in the "last days". What Peter meant
was that all servants of God on earth would prophesy by
Holy Spirit before the "great and terrible day of the Lord comes."
(2:31 NEB).
PROPHECIES FOR THE "LAST DAYS".
According to the
Oxford Dictionary, to prophesy is to: Speak by Divine inspiration
in the Name of God; to interpret or expound the Scriptures; to utter Divine
mysteries; especially to announce a future event; to predict, to
foretell. This is what faithful anointed sons of God have been doing before the
"great and terrible day of the Lord comes." When faithful servants
of God discuss spiritual matters, He listens. (Mal 3:16 18 NEB).
And before they call to Him for a particular understanding, He answers them,
sometimes in dreams. This is so that they interpret and expound the Scriptures
correctly, including those yet to be fulfilled. Of sons of Zion Jehovah says,
"They are the offspring of the blessed of the Lord and their issue after
them; before they call to Me, I will answer, and while they are still speaking I
will listen." (Isaiah 65:23,24 NEB).
9/6/88.
|