THE PROMISE FULFILLED by J. O. Corliss

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 8, 1902

THE PROMISE FULFILLED.

By J. O. Corliss

IMMEDIATELY after renewing to His disciples His promise of power for witnessing (Acts 1:8), the Saviour went before them to Mount Olivet, a short distance southeast from Jerusalem, and there gave them His parting charge and blessing. As the closing words of the gracious benediction fell from His lips, the Saviour separated from them, and ascended out of their sight. Sorrowfully they stood gazing heavenward where He left them, when suddenly two shining beings appeared, and relieved their anxiety by saying that the same Jesus they had seen thus depart, would come again in the same way as He had gone. Verse 11. They then returned to the city to await the fulfilment of the Saviour’s promise.

Ten days later came the day of Pentecost, when the disciples, by mutual understanding, were all together in a certain place of public gathering. This was the time of the harvest feast of the Jews, which occurred the fiftieth day after the Passover feast, but was really a supplement to the Passover itself. This was counted by the Jews a day of great rejoicing, inasmuch as it was the time when the first-fruits of the ripening harvest were offered to God in recognition of His bountiful blessing in producing the crop. Jesus having been sacrificed, and raised again to life as the first-fruits of those whom He came to gather in the world’s harvest (1 Cor. 15:20), it was fitting that on this occasion the disciples should expect a greater revelation of light, which was to expel the darkness that sin and death had brought into the world. Acts 26:23.

In this the disciples were not to be disappointed; for suddenly there came from toward heaven, in the ears of all, a sound like the violent rushing of a mighty current, which filled the whole place of the assembly. Accompanying this were tongues of brightest light, like the flame which shines in the eyes of the Son of God and burns about His feet. Rev. 1:13-16. This fire of God’s glory separated and rested on each of the disciples, filling them with the promised Spirit of God. After this preparation came the part of witnessing for Christ. Through the divided tongues distributed among the disciples, the Spirit gave utterance to its testimony, in the various languages of all the nations there assembled.

This was the “early rain” of the Gospel, by which the previous seed-sowing of the Lord

might germinate among all nations at once. Matt. 13:37. Its bestowal was unlike anything before witnessed, and all present were astonished beyond measure. They knew that they were not deceived; for their eyes had seen the outpouring of the Spirit, and their ears had heard simple Galileans clearly and fluently speak the praises of a risen Saviour in the many languages of Asia, Egypt, and far-away Rome. Hearing the story in so miraculous a manner, they were sure to repeat it upon returning to their native lands, and so sheaves would be quickly gathered for the Saviour in all nations. Col. 1:23.

But like many others of God’s mysterious workings among men, this movement was misunderstood by some of those present. The seeing and hearing most remarkable things, things that sane men would not hesitate to pronounce miracles, they began to cast about for some natural explanation of the phenomena, with which to quiet those who might be seriously affected thereby. The expected opportunity quickly came. While a certain portion of the people were gravely questioning the meaning of the strange happenings, others lightly said, “These men are full of new wine.”

Foolish as this statement seems, in view of the skilful use of foreign languages made by the disciples, it gave them a desirable opportunity to defend their course and to preach more fully the Gospel of Christ. After denying the charge of drunkenness, Peter said that the exhibition witnessed was but a fulfilment of what had been predicted hundreds of years before by the prophet Joel. That prophet had declared that the Spirit of God given in the last days, would lead men and women to speak in honor of God from what was revealed to them direct from heaven. But we can not expect men in one age of the world, more than those of another to receive such things as a fulfilment of God’s promise of power. As at Pentecost, there may now be found those who will attribute the exercises of God’s Spirit through men to some evil source. Such things must be, so long as men give their powers to the control of God’s enemy. Especially will it be so as the time of the Spirit’s probation becomes more limited, because Satan will work harder to destroy souls, as he sees his end nearing. Rev. 12:12. But amid all this, the comforting assurance is that, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21. Praise His name for power, not only to witness for Him here, but to save us at His coming.

So, then, the scenes of Pentecost were only the beginning of what the Spirit of God can do and will now do among men who yield themselves to its impulses. But more: In conjunction with these gifts of the Spirit to operate through humanity, God shows wonders in the heavens, and signs in the earth, that the faithful may have tokens of the near coming of that “great and notable day of the Lord,” when Jesus will again come in the clouds of heaven, according to the promise of Acts 1:11. Thank the Lord that this promise, too, is about to be realized. Then the time of witnessing among sinners through the Spirit’s power will have passed, and the saints will have been brought to the kingdom above to meet the Saviour face to face, and dwell eternally in His presence. J. O. CORLISS.