Pentecost Is Not Fulfilled! Part 2

Pentecost Is Not Fulfilled!

Chapter 8, Part 2 Preview: Was the primary meaning of the Day of Pentecost fulfilled on the day when the Holy Spirit breathed new life into The Assembly (Ekklesia) that Jesus (actually Yeshua*) promised He would “rebuild” [Strong’s 3618], or does Pentecost have more to do with events taking place “BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome DAY OF THE LORD”? This chapter is not focused on the first century Pentecost, it is about the prophesied events necessary to fulfill the essence of Pentecost’s meaning—that Peter thought was going to happen right then and there. Peter actually jumped the gun on Pentecost in 31 AD, thinking that “the Day of the Lord” was about to begin. Why did he think that “the Day of the Lord” was imminent then—and why should you now?

This chapter is really about what was NOT fulfilled on Pentecost of 31 AD! For an explanation on the near future fulfillment of Pentecost see: Israel’s Seven Apocalyptic Days, Part 2.

Meanwhile, up in the clouds...

We who are alive ... will ... meet the Lord in the air.

There could not be a more affirmative statement that the apostles thought that their generation would live to see the return of Yeshua.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 We declare this to you on the Master’s own authority, that WE who survive and are alive, at the coming of our Master, will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep [into the Kingdom]. 16 Because our Master will personally come down from Heaven, with a mandate, and with a voice like the chief Messenger, and with Yehovah’s trumpet; and the dead who belong to the Messiah, will rise first. 17 Then, WE who are still alive, having survived, will be carried away together with them into the clouds, to meet our Master in the lower atmosphere; and this is how we will accompany our Master forever. GV

The apostles continued to ask Yeshua when He was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel but He would not tell them:

Acts 1:6-8 When they assembled, they asked Him, “Master, are You about to restore the Kingdom of Israel to its former state”? [1] 7 He replied, “It isnt for you, to know the time remaining or the fixed dates that Yehovah has established by His own executive authority. 8 yet when the sacred spirit descends on you [on Pentecost], you’ll receive power, and you’ll be My witnesses in Jerusalem, thruout Judea and Samaria, and in the remotest parts of the earth”, GV

There was very good reason for the disciples to ask if Yeshua were going to restore the Kingdom of Israel. They had come to believe that He was the Messiah and were longing for Him to bring about the political changes described in the entire 49th chapter of Isaiah:

Isaiah 49:5-6 Now says [Yehovah] who formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, and that Israel be gathered to Him (for I am honorable in the eyes of [Yehovah], and My God is become My strength); 6 yes, He says, “It is too light a thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give You for a light to the nations, that you may be My salvation to the end of the earth.” WEB

It was simply inconceivable to them for the Messiah to come, but then not fulfill all of the Messianic promises in their generation. (For that matter, John the Immerser, the Elijah to come of Matthew 11:13-14, didnt fulfill much of his mission either, as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6. See Does Father (God) Travel in Time?

There was another extremely compelling reason that the apostles expected that they would see the Kingdom restored. The apostles knew for certain, in hindsight, that the the mysterious seventy “weeks” prophecy of Daniel 9 was a timetable for their time.

Daniel 9:26 After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One will be cut off, and will have nothing; and the people of the coming prince will destroy the city and the temple; and its end will be with a flood, and all the way to the end there will be war; desolation is determined. WE

Following Yeshua’s being “cut off”, it only seemed logical that the seven year run of the Beast would follow on the heels of the crucifixion.

Daniel 9:27 He’ll sanction a covenant with many for one ‘seven’. Then in the middle of the ‘seven’ he’ll stop the sacrifices and the offerings. From a wing [of the temple] abominations will come from the one causing the desolations; until the predetermined end time, when fury will be poured out on the awestruck. WE

Daniel elaborated more on the Abominator who would cause the sacrifices to cease in chapter 11.

Daniel 11:30-31 Ships from Kittim will come against him; he will be discouraged and turn back, venting his anger against the dedicated covenant, and take action; he’ll even return, and have an understanding with those who abandon the dedicated covenant. 31 Forces will stand on his part, and they’ll profane the temple, including the fortress, and stop the continual burnt offering, and they’ll set up the horrific abomination. WE

Balaam’s Prophecy

There is another little considered prophecy about the Messiah that would have had a tremendous impact upon anyone living at that time who understood it. It is known as Balaam’s prophecy:

Numbers 24:17-23 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will emerge from Israel, and will crush thru the forehead of Moab, and destroy all the sons of Sheth [and something about their] buttocks. 18 Edom will become your possession. Seir, his enemy, will also be a possession, while Israel is valiant. 19 Someone from Jacob will gain dominion, and destroy the survivors of the city”. 20 He looked at Amalek, and stated a proverb: “Amalek was the first of the nations, but in the end he will be destroyed forever”. 21 He looked at the Kenite, and stated another proverb: “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is built into a cliff. 22 Nevertheless Kain will be wasted, when Asshur carries you away captive”. 23 He spoke another proverb: “Oye, who will live when Elohim does this? WE

Father inspired Balaam’s prophecy. It shows that Father can even inspire an ass. (Numbers 22:28) This prophecy associates Yeshua’s birth with a Star and also explains in more detail that the Star would eventually destroy the wicked kingdoms. It will be such a traumatic time that its no wonder that Balaam said “Oye, who will live when Elohim does this?” Indeed uncountable people will die then.

There is a very credible account of how the Magi located Yeshua entitled When They Saw the Star*) by Henry M. Morris. No other explanation I’ve seen even comes close to the one given here. Certainly the apostles would have been aware of the virgin birth and the signs associated with His birth such as the star. It took some time but they came around:

John 6:69 We believe and know that you are the Messiah, the Son of the living Aloha (Father)”. GV

Between the signs of His birth and their typically late understanding that came with His death, as foretold in the Scriptures, much of what they witnessed with their own eyes, the apostles would have staked their lives on their belief that all of prophecy was about to be fulfilled by their Messiah. Yet time and circumstances proved them wrong. However they were still unquestionably certain that the Messiah had come to their “generation”.

Jewish Expectations

All of the Jews of that time also believed that Daniel’s prophecy was for their own time. In fact Josephus, in his book Wars of the Jews, chapter 6, said that the “oracle” was driving them to “madness”.

“... while at the same time they had it written in their sacred oracles [Daniel 9], ‘That then should their city be taken, as well as their holy house, when once their temple should become four-square.’ But now, what did the most elevate them in undertaking this war, was an ambiguous oracle that was also found in their sacred writings, how,’ about that time, one from their country should become governor of the habitable earth.’ The Jews took this prediction to belong to themselves in particular, and many of the wise men were thereby deceived in their determination .... However, it is not possible for men to avoid fate, although they see it beforehand. But these men interpreted some of these signals according to their own pleasure, and some of them they utterly despised, until their madness was demonstrated, both by the taking of their city and their own destruction.”

The Jewish culture was saturated with imminent Messianic expectations.

Here is an example of the thought of the day from The Testament of Judah:

“24. And after these things shall a Star arise to you”... from Jacob in peace, and a Man shall rise from my seed, like the Sun of righteousness, walking with the sons of men in meekness and righteousness, and no sin shall be found in Him. And the heavens shall be opened above Him, to shed forth the blessing of the Spirit from the Holy Father; and He shall shed forth a spirit of grace upon you, and ye shall be unto Him sons in truth, and ye shall walk in His commandments, the first and the last. This is the Branch of God Most High, and this the Well-spring unto life for all flesh. Then shall the sceptre of my kingdom shine forth, and from your root shall arise a stem; and in it shall arise a rod of righteousness to the Gentiles, to judge and to save all that call upon the Lord.”

The Testament of Judah is an apocryphal document supposedly comprising the dying commands of the twelve sons of Jacob. “The testaments were written in Hebrew in the later years of John Hyrcanus, in all probability after his final victory over the Syrian power and before his breach with the Pharisees, in other words, between 109 BC and 106 BC”.*)

The Roman’s were also aware of Daniel’s prophecy:

“There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief, that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judaea to rule the world. This prediction, referring to the emperor of Rome [from the Roman perspective], as afterwards appeared from the event, the people of Judaea took to themselves; accordingly they revolted and after killing their governor, they routed the consular ruler of Syria as well, when he came to the rescue, and took one of his eagles. Since to put down this rebellion required a considerable army with a leader of no little enterprise, yet one to whom so great power could be entrusted without risk, Vespasian*) was chosen for the task”.

Emperor Tacitus*) also said that: “The majority of the Jewish people were very impressed with the belief that it was contained in ancient writings of the priests that it would come to pass that at that very time, the East would renew its strength and they that should go forth from Judaea should be rulers of the world”. (Tacitus, History, v. 13).

And Emperor Nero was advised by at least one astrologer to move his capital city to Jerusalem because it is prophesied to become the capital of the world —Suetonius, Nero, 40

In Chapter 32: The Mysterious Seventy “Weeks” of Daniel I elaborated on why the the Everlasting Kingdom was not set up in 31 AD. Under different circumstances I believe that it could have been set up then. What circumstances? I simply believe that Father didnt predestine or cause the Messiah to be rejected and murdered by His own people. That is an issue of free moral agency that was built into the plan. This appears to explain why even Yeshua did not know for certain, until the last minute, whether or not He would be spared from being the ultimate sacrifice when it is recorded that:

Mark 14:35-36 He advanced a little, and fell to the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour could pass from Him. 36 He said, “Abba, You can do anything. Allow this cup to pass from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours”. GV

The root word for “possible” is “dunamai”, Strong’s. It means “to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom”.

It is simply no wonder that so many Jewish people thought that the Seventy Weeks prophecy would be fulfilled immediately. When the prophecy wasnt fulfilled, tho it could have been, the Jews began to question their interpretation of Daniel, and came up with various alternative explanations. This accounts for Josephus’ statement about “an ambiguous oracle”.

So after Pentecost the the apostles continued to state that the arrival of the Kingdom of Father was imminent until a few years prior to the fall of Jerusalem. But as the years went by and as they saw that the geopolitical trends were not becoming conducive to fulfilling the prophecies, Peter and Paul eventually fell back on the millennial week concept. They began to teach that the Everlasting Kingdom was far in the future!

Notice this change in their thinking. Here is what they said when they thought that the Great Tribulation was imminent. They cautioned:

1 Corinthians 7:25-31 Concerning virginity, I have no instruction from Yehovah; but I’ll give my [mistaken] counsel as a man who has obtained mercy from Yehovah and is trustworthy. 26 I think this is suitable, because of the impending distress [the perceived coming Great Tribulation]; it is advantageous for a person to remain as they are. 27 Are you bound to your wife? Dont try to be divorced. Are you divorced from a wife? Dont seek a wife. 28 If you marry, you dont sin. And if a marriageable woman is given in marriage to a husband, she isnt sinning. But those in these circumstances will suffer physical tribulation; and I would spare you. 29 Friends, I tell you that time is running out; so that those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30 and those who are mourning, as if they werent mourning; and those who celebrate, as if they werent celebrating; and those who buy, as if they werent buying; 31 and those occupied with this world, not becoming dependent on it, because the sensations of this world are disappearing. GV

Once they realized that the end of the age was not to be in their time, their judgment was the exact opposite:

I Timothy 5:14 I would like to see young women get married, and have children, and manage their households, rather than allow the adversary any opportunity to ridicule them. GV

There was also the belief that the Old Covenant was nearly ready to vanish away, and that the “New Covenant” with Judah and Israel was about to replace the old one.

Hebrews 8:13 When He said, a New Covenant, He has declared that the previous one was old and about to be repealed; and what is old and failing, is about to disappear. GV

The Greek word for “about” above is “eggus”, Strong’s egguv (eng-goos’). When it refers to time it means “imminent”.

New Covenant/New Israel

The Old Covenant certainly took a hiatus with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Yet the New Covenant—that will be the Constitution of the restored Kingdom of Israel—was not implemented when it was anticipated:

Hebrews 8:10-12 But this is the covenant that I will enter into with the DESCENDANTS OF ISRAEL after that time [of Tribulation], says Yehovah; I will put My Torah in their minds—inscribing it on their innermost thoughts [presently acquired with difficulty]. I will be their Aloha [Presently Israel is far from Aloha.], and they will be My people. 11 No one will teach doctrine to their fellow citizens, or a friend, or ask: “Do you know Yehovah”, because they’ll all know Me, from the youngest of them to the oldest [not even close to happening now]. 12 I will be merciful regarding their wrongful behavior; and I will no longer remember their sins”. GV

Jeremiah foretold the time when Father WILL REMEMBER the sins of Israel and that He would bring war, famine and disease. It is the survivors of the Tribulation who will be forgiven their sins!

Jeremiah 14:7-12 Tho our depravity testifies against us, do something for Your name’s sake, Yehovah, because we have turned back repeatedly; we have sinned against You. 8 You are the hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should You be like a foreigner in the land, or like a traveling man only staying for a night? 9 Why should you be like a man taken by surprise, like a mighty warrior unable to save? Yehovah You are among us, and we’re called by Your name; dont leave us. 10 This is what Yehovah says to these people, “You loved to wander; you havent restrained your feet; so I, Yehovah dont accept you; now I’ll remember your depravity, and punish your sins”. 11 Yehovah told me, “Dont pray for the welfare ofthese people. 12 When they fast, I wont listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I wont accept them; but I’ll consume them by the sword, and by famine, and by disease”. WE

Hosea also indicated that there would not be a free ride. It will definitely be a while before Father “wont remember their sins and lawlessness any more”—an indispensable prerequisite of the New Covenant.

Hosea 9:7-9 The days of accountability have come. The days of compensation have come. Israel will know that their “prophets” are fools, and their “inspirational men” are insane, because of the vast number of your sins, and the great hatred. 8 Ephraim was a watchman for my Elohim, a prophet. Yet a fowler’s snare awaits his every path, and hostility in the house of his Elohim. 9 They’ve deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah. He’ll remember their depravity. He’ll punish them for their sins.

Yet even Moses prophesied that “in the latter days”, during a time of Great Tribulation those seeking Father with all their mind and with all their being would receive mercy, because Father will renew His Covenant with them.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 But from there you shall seek [Yehovah] your God, and you shall find Him, when you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in ‘oppression’ [tribulation, KJV], and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to [Yehovah] your God, and listen to His voice: 31 for [Yehovah] your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the Covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. WEB

Here is the current condition of Israel:

Joshua 24:19-20 Joshua told the people, “You cant serve Yehovah; because He is a devout Elohim. He is a jealous Elohim. He wont forgive your rebellion or your sins. 20 If you forsake Yehovah, and serve foreign gods, then He’ll return and hurt you; exterminate you, after He has been so good to you”. WE

The “New Covenant” is by no means fulfilled by individuals being converted at this time. Spiritual conversion simply does not fulfill the detailed prophecy concerning the New Covenant, that is explained in painstaking detail in all of Jeremiah 31.

The First 7000 Year “WEEK”

There are two perspectives that I have encountered regarding “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years”. Either people are aware of the ancient 6000 year deadline (that is reaching critical mass right now) or else they think that Father inspired His apostles to think that time is totally irrelevant! Those who understand the permanence of the Sabbath generally understand the plan. This often goes over the head of those who believe that the Sabbath was done away with. Was it?

Hebrews 4:9-10 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest [sabbatismos sab-bat-is-mos’: a keeping sabbath] for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered into His rest has Himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. WEB

Isaiah 66:22-23 “For as the New Heavens and the New Earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me”, says [Yehovah], “so your seed and your name shall remain. 23 It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me”, says [Yehovah]. WEB

The Apostle Peter did need to mention that Father had not delayed His coming! Some were giving up. But by now Peter was referring to the last days as futuristic. He said that when the last days came that the skeptics would denounce the faithful. Listeners of his day readily understood what Peter meant about the day/millennia statement. He did not need to elaborate. It was only for a while that they thought that Father would cut short His 7000 year long plan—the plan that they had been taught from childhood.

2 Peter 3:3-9 First understand that scoffers will come in the latter days, pursuing their own lusts; 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything remains just as it was from the creation in the beginning”. 5 They deliberately ignore that the Heavens have existed since antiquity, by the Words of Aloha; and that the continents rose up from the waters, after being submerged in water. 6 By means of this same water, the previous world was submerged again [deluged] and destroyed. 7 The Heavens and the earth that now exist are preserved by His Word, being attended to carefully until the fire of Judgment Day, and the destruction of the wicked people. 8 But dear Friends, dont forget this one thing, that one day to Yehovah is like a thousand years; and a thousand years is like one day [1]. 9 Yehovah wont delay His promises, as some leaders delay theirs; rather He perseveres patiently, for your sakes, it is not His purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should receive a changed mind. GV

There is a lot of history concerning the knowledge of the 7000 Year Plan*). The article linked here quotes many very old writers who were aware of the concept centuries and even millennia ago. The commentary of the second half is good too.

I looked up online one of the quotes from the above link and added a bit of context. This quote is from Irenaeus (150 AD.) who was taught by Polycarp, who was taught by the Apostle John. I do suspect that translators—the very heretics he was blasting, altered some of the things attributed to Irenaeus!

“And he shall order an image of the beast to be made, and he shall give breath to the image, so that the image shall speak; and he shall cause those to be slain who will not adore it.” He says also: “And he will cause a mark [to be put] in the forehead and in the right hand, that no one may be able to buy or sell, unless he who has the mark of the name of the beast or the number of his name; and the number is six hundred and sixty-six,” (5) that is, six times a hundred, six times ten, and six units. [He gives this] as a summing up of the whole of that apostasy which ‘has’ [will have] taken place during six thousand years.

“3. For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: “Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works.” (6) This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; (7) and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year. —IRENAEUS AGAINST HERESIES BOOK 5.

Above we have a clear explanation from an early source that the Saints) understood the time frame of prophecy. I dont have a Greek copy of Irenaeus’ book, but I strongly suspect that the “end” spoken of is the word “telos”, and that the intent of the word is: “the last in any succession or series” or “that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue” or “the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose”. Another place where “telos” is poorly rendered is in Romans:

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the ‘end’ [aim] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. KJV

Yeshua was the very aim and purpose of the Torah (Law).

Romans 3:31 Then do we abolish the Torah by faith? Absolutely not. On the contrary, we uphold or sustain the authority of the Torah. GV

No Need to be Overtaken as by a Thief in the Night

Most people I talk to expect that Yeshua will return to them as a thief in the night—and I believe them, but I do not plan on being surprised! There are simply too many specific warnings to have an excuse!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 But Friends, concerning times and dates, it is unnecessary for me write to you; 2 because you are well aware that The Day of the Master comes like a thieving false “minister” in the time of moral stupidity and darkness, [1]. 3 As they are saying, “Peace and quiet”, suddenly destruction will burst upon them, like the labor pains of a pregnant woman, and there is no escape. 4 But you, Friends, arent in darkness, so that that Day will surprise you like a thieving false “minister”, 5 because you are all children of the light, and children of the day; you arent children of the night or children of darkness. 6 So let’s not sleep as everyone else does; but let’s stay awake and be sober. GV

[1] or “like a thief in the night”

Father also warned the end time Sardis Assembly to repent:

Revelation 3:3 Remember the way you received and heard; and obey those teachings, and make amends. If you dont pay attention, I WILL COME TO YOU like a thieving false ‘minister’; and you wont know which annual time [1] I will come to you. GV

[1] While “annual time” can be translated as simply “day” or “hour”, the first meaning of hora is “a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year”. This is how the Scriptural calendar, anchored by the spring barley harvest, and visible new moons, is determined. Most of the important historical events (such as Passover and Pentecost of 31 AD) have occurred on these “annual times” just as the prophetic events will occur on Israel’s Seven Apocalyptic Days!

Pay Attention!

So we are sternly warned to “pay attention”. Since we are to be watching for the end time events, here is a big one to watch for, and it is apparently television being implied.

Matthew 24:15-16 When you SEE the sign of the idolatrous abomination of desolation that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the Sacred Place—certainly understand this!— 16 then those who are in Judea should flee to the mountain; GV

Dont let anyone tell you that the “Sacred Place” is the “Church” *), because there are a couple of dozen references to it being the temple in Jerusalem. Perhaps the abomination will take place under the very wings of the cherubim that will be inside that end time Third Temple. That is where the ark used to be kept!

1 Kings 8:6 The priests brought Yehovah’s ark of the covenant to the most dedicated place, into the innermost room of the temple, under the wings of the cherubim. WE

I expect for the ark of the covenant to come out of hiding and be revered again, at least until the Old Covenant is really about to be repealed”, and is actually replaced with the New Covenant.

If you arent watching prophecy now, at least watch out when the temple that was destroyed in 70 AD is being rebuilt. Better yet, be there!

Watch for that!

So the the apostles continued to state that Yeshua’s “second coming” was imminent until a few years prior to the fall of Jerusalem. So even Yeshua’s very apostles were mistaken about prophetic chronology!

The “New Covenant” is by no means fulfilled by individuals being converted at this time. Spiritual conversion simply does not fulfill the detailed prophecy concerning the New Covenant that is explained in painstaking detail in all of Jeremiah 31.

Again:

Revelation 3:3 Remember the way you received and heard; and obey those teachings, and make amends. If you dont pay attention, I WILL COME TO YOU like a thieving false ‘minister’; and you wont know which annual time I will come to you. GV

How does Father know what will happen. Is He continually tweaking every news worthy circumstance, so that His agenda stays on course, or is He the Master of both time and space?