Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

God instruction in reading the Holy Bible:

First of all, let us be reminded of how God instructs His people reading the Holy Bible, but the skepticism of many:

Isa 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

Taking the day of Pentecost literally (“letter” of the word), it is just the incident when the Apostles/Disciples of Christ received the Holy Ghost. But this refers to the day when all chosen of God are filled with the Holy Ghost. This must be true from Abel up to the last soul that, with God’s foreknowledge, will receive His Spirit. For how could salvation be attained without the guidance of the Holy Ghost?

The Holy Ghost and the need to receive Him

People may be talking of the Holy Ghost, but have varied perceptions of Him:

• Many people say, “The Holy Ghost is the 2nd person of the Holy Trinity”
• Others say, “The Holy Ghost is the force of God”
• Still others say, “The name of the Holy Ghost is Jesus Christ”

The image of man at creation:

Gen 1:27  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him…”

Since God is a Spirit (John 4:24), He must be referring to Jesus Christ who was in the form of man (Phi 2:6-7). If Jesus Christ was pictured as a Lamb (Joh 1:29) ; so was man conjured up to be a sheep also. The Fall, however, changed this “image” of man when he was driven out of the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life was separated from him (Gen. 3:24). For details read the articles:

Tracing the ‘Original Sin’ (Physical Sin OF EVE)

http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/Tracing_the_%27Original_Sin%27

• How could the concept of ORIGINAL SIN,

Psa. 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Rom. 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.”

• Be reconciled with the following:

Ezek: 18:20 “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father ...and the wickedness    of the wicked shall be upon him.”  

Deu 24:16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither

What Really is the Sin of Eve (Spiritual Sin OF EVE)

http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/What_Really_is_the_Sin_of_Eve

• What made the Tree of Knowledge (of good and evil) so abominable to God?
• Does nakedness (before the Fall) indicate innocence?
• Or, spiritual nakedness of the “robe of righteousness” for not eating the fruits of the Tree of Life?

Since then, no longer is man symbolized by a sheep but rather that of a goat as we find Jesus Christ giving the parable of a King separating the “sheep from the goats” in Matthew 25:32-33. Now it is understandable for God to describe man in the following:

Psa 14:3  “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Rom 3:10  “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one 11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

David recognized this when he wrote:

Psa 51:5  “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

As goats, what good things does God expect from man and this is discerned by those who humble themselves and accept the truth. Nothing!

Thus:

Isa 64:6  “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”

Therefore there is need for conversion from “goat to sheep.” This is what our Lord told Nicodemus, a renowned teacher of the law in Israel, to be “born again” (John 3:3). The proof that Nicodemus was still a goat, and therefore limited to the “letter” of the word is, he could not understand the spiritual language of Jesus as Lamb.

Joh 3:4  “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

The Jews in general showed this characteristic of a goat when He told them:

Joh 2:19  “…Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Again limited to the “letter” of the word:

Joh 2:20  “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”

This human understanding of the word exposed the spiritual ignorance of man, especially the religious leaders, that Jesus called “spiritual blindness.” Raising the temple in three days was taken literally by the Jews:

Mat 27:40  “…Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Are not words in the Holy Bible in general likewise taken to the “letter” many people? Many examples may be given and nobody can deny this.

God speaks the language of man

While God speaks the language of man as the Holy Bible is written, be it in English, Spanish, Chinese, and others, He needs to expound His words further for they have distinct meaning. The prophets received this revelation and had to depend on God’s exposition of His words, knowing that He speaks parables.

Eze 20:49  “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?”

Prophecy on how Jesus Christ would speak:

Psa 78:2  “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.”

True to what is written, look if Christ spoke except in parables, and if His Apostles are given the authority to expound on them:

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

Hence, this great revelation of God that many people “cannot see” exposes the false apostles of Christ:

2 Cor 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Only after conversion from sheep to goat can man accept the following!

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

• Does the “flesh” or body benefit from the words of God where Jesus emphasizes their spiritual meaning? Demonstration:

After Jesus “opened the eyes” of the man born blind, read this carefully:

Joh 9:35  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

Joh 9:37  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

• Can the prophets and apostles give meaning or expound on the words that are expressed in parables?

Only the Holy Spirit “quickeneth” the word making it “alive”, and it is this that leads to eternal life.

1 Co  2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Tracing the identity GOD ahead of the Holy Ghost

It is the Testament or Covenant of salvation of God that made it possible for man’s conversion from goatto sheep. In salvation we need to know and believe the following:

1. Who is speaking in the following? Is He not Father God?

Isa 43:3 “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…”

2. The truth is there is only One God:

Deut 6:4  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”

Deut 4:35 "Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him."
Psa 86:10 "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone."

Mal 2:10  “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?

1 Cor 8:4  “…we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”

3. That this One God is the Father. This is hard to believe with human understanding.

1 Cor 8:6  “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him…”

4. The need for God to “manifest Himself in the flesh.” “Many” people seem to have missed this.

Since Father God is the testator or maker of the Testament (many verses in the Old Testament), and the fulfillment thereof requires His death, He had to “manifest Himself in the flesh.”

Heb 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”

1 Tim 3:16 KJV “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”

5. The need to identify Jesus Christ

There is no other God in the flesh but Jesus Christ (Phi 2:6-7) where He had to perform TWO ROLES:

As FATHER, also called Christ that means Saviour (Isa 43:11) or Messiah, Jesus fulfilled the testament with His death:

• JESUS accepted worship since childhood, before and after His death and resurrection (many verses).
• JESUS accepted the title Rabbi that means Teacher, Master or Lord (many verses) (Mat 23:8)
• JESUS deserved to be called Father (many verses) (Mat 23:9)
• JESUS before His death announced the fulfillment of the Testament of salvation (Joh 19:30)

As SON, also called the “Anointed One,” He showed the Way as model to the chosen:

• JESUS cannot do anything but only by the power of the Father. (Joh 5:19)
• JESUS did not accept He is good. (Luk 18:18-19)
• JESUS declared He has God (Mat 27:46, Joh 20:17) like His brethren (Rom 8:29)

Now the following verse is made clearer affirming the two roles of Jesus Christ!

Isa 43:3 (Father God speaking) “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…”

The proof for the foregoing is revealed to Apostle John in:

1 Joh 5:20  “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

So is this truth about Jesus Christ also revealed to David:

Psa 18:31  “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”

The need to recognize God and Jesus Christ was emphasized by Jesus Himself in:

Mar 12:29  “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

Therefore Paul wrote:

1 Cor 8:6  “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1 Cor 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

All these truth about Jesus was demonstrated to Simon Peter that requires divine revelation to recognize Him!

Mat 16:15  “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?”

Mat 16:16  “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

It really needs divine revelation, a “miracle”, to clearly recognize JESUS CHRIST in order to be “freed” from this rebuke:

Joh 8:19  “…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

The truth about God “and” Jesus Christ was revealed to Abel, Abraham, Moses, and Old Testament saints by FAITH!

Heb 11:1  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Heb 11:13  “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them…”

Joh 8:57  “Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Tracing the identity of the HOLY GHOST

In the Testament of Salvation, Father God promised Himself to be the inheritance to the priests:

Eze 44:28 (Father God speaking) “And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance…”

Psa 16:5  The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup…”

God identified the “priests” in:

Eze 44:15  “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary…”

The “priests” as revealed to Peter are the real believers:

1 Pet 2:9  “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”

At the fulfillment of the Testament, the INHERITANCE received by the beneficiaries was the HOLY GHOST! This clearly points to another manifestation of Father God. This time He took the characteristics of the amiability and sensibility of a dove that was no longer to be feared receiving Him as shown in:

Exo 20:18  “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

Jesus’ promise!

By divine revelation, clearly the Holy Ghost is Father God Himself! Now look at this promise of Jesus Christ to His Disciples!

Joh 14:18  “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Jesus Christ must have fulfilled His promise when He said:

Mat 28:20 “…lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Jesus Christ is the TRUTH and will never tell a lie. Therefore He must have come already and the Apostles/Disciples recognized Him as the HOLY GHOST. This was confirmed by Paul when he wrote:

2 Cor 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

There is only One Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Cor 8:6) , and there is only one good Spirit, the HOLY GHOST. Clear recognition of Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost makes the real believers enjoy “liberty” from human doctrines regarding “their mysterious” identity.

“All with one accord”

The Disciples were “all with one accord” regarding:

• The truth about the identity of the Holy Ghost who, by divine revelation, is Father God “and” Jesus Christ. How many people talking about Pentecost and claiming its benefit have this truth? And
• The veracity as regards the “letter” of the word considered only as “first witness” that further requires the “testimony” of the Holy Ghost, as “second witness” to the truth.

Cor 2:12  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

The “spirit of the world” refers to human spirit in understanding and interpreting the word of God. The chosen people however rely solely on the wisdom coming from the Holy Ghost on the hidden message of the “letter” of the word.

1 Cor 2:13  “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

As a result the chosen of God received “power from on high” as promised.

Luk 24:49  “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

How many people realize this could apply to Christianity today that is divided into sects, and each is claiming the truth? Divergence of beliefs and doctrines is being ignored by “many” people.

“In one place”

Literally, this indicates a particular location and at a certain time. However, is not “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8)? And He is the TRUTH (John 14:6)! Does the “word of God pass away”?

Mat 24:35  “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Mat 5:18  “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Therefore Pentecost has been going since Abel, during the time of Christ, in our time, and until the last soul that God knows would submit to the truth in His words. Salvation therefore is interwoven with Pentecost.

Act 2:2  “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”

“A rushing mighty wind”

This is the power of God that is manifested by the truth in His words. Were not the Teachers/Doctors of the law, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and the Priests put to silence when Jesus Christ spoke? At Pentecost, or the “Day of the Lord,” this is likewise manifested in the life of real believers.

Joh 3:7  “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Since the word of God is “alive” and will never pass away, many people like Nicodemus are exposed in our time by simply taking the “letter” of the word:

Joh 3:9  “Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”

Joh 3:11 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”

Beneficiaries of Pentecost emit the “power from on high” as promised by our Lord when He told His Disciples to “tarry in Jerusalem.” We should see this in our time, in the life of real believers, since the word does not pass away.

“Filled all the house where they were sitting”

“House” symbolizes the body of the chosen that became the “temple of the Holy Ghost.”

1 Cor 6:19  “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

1 Cor 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

The characteristics of the sheep (typified by the Disciples of Christ) are clearly discernible from those of the goats (hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the Scribes and Pharisees).

Act 2:3 KJV  “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:3 NIV “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.”

“Cloven tongues”

The description of “cloven tongues” may be derived from the following:

Lev 11:3 KJV “Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.”

Hence, “cloven tongue” literally means a split tongue. It is unsightly and would utter blurred or indistinguishable expression of words. Jesus Christ in His role as SON, being the model of the chosen, should have had this characteristic. Were Jesus’ words clear to His listeners? Are they attractive as to entice many people? What is written, many of those who earlier followed Him left for that reason when He said:

Joh 6:54  “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”

Joh 6:60 “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

Only a handful remained with Him:

Joh 6:67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

These are some examples how Jesus spoke “spoke in tongues.”

• Was it clear to His listeners when He said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it,” when actually He was referring to His body? (Joh 2:21-22)
• Did Jesus clearly express telling His Disciples to avoid the “leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” when He was referring to their doctrines?
• Was not Nicodemus exposed an ignorant professing servant of God on hearing the need to be “born again” when he thought of going back to his mother’s womb (Joh 3:4) ? What Jesus meant was the need for spiritual conversion from goat to sheep after being “born of water and of Spirit”.

Joh 3:5  “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

• Plus many more

The Disciples after receiving the Holy Ghost with “cloven tongues”, in like manner, spoke this kind of “language” that Jesus articulated. The “bleary or indistinguishable language” is the result of the parted or “cloven tongues” that actually refer to the “two witness” to the truth:

• First witness – The Disciples preached the “letter” of the word, nothing added and nothing taken away, (Deu 12:32) that is symbolized by “water” in:

Eph 5:26  “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

• Second witness – The Disciples fully depended on the Holy Ghost, who is now residing in them, (1 Cor 3:16) for  revelation of the spiritual message on the “letter”:

1 Cor 2:13  “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

“Cloven tongues like as of fire”

Fire emits light and heat. So are the great spiritual message of the word emanating from “cloven tongues.” Fire provides heat when spiritual coldness creeps into the life of the chosen. At the same time fire lights their “lamps” so as to continually see the way to eternal life.

Mat 25:4 “But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.”

“Devout men”

This is what many people of different nationalities speaking different languages and dialects were amazed at the words coming from the mouth of the Disciples.

Act 2:5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Act 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Act 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Act 2:12  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

The Natural Man thinks of people, saying, “Our own tongue, wherein we were born” refers to their native literal languages and dialects, such as: Arabic, Chinese, German, English, and others.

However these are people, “devout men” like Cornelius, a gentile being an Italian, who understood Simon Peter spoke the “words that bestow eternal life” (Acts 10). This truth does not pass away in our time. Real Christians when they speak to “devout people” and believing in different doctrines implanted by men also begin to wonder how they could understand the great spiritual message of the word.

From thereon the words coming out of the mouth of the Disciples would have exuded power like fire.

Jer 23:29  “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”

Isa 33:14  “…fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

Isa 30:27  “Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from.…his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire.”

Jesus, in His role as Son, demonstrated the power of His “tongue” when He was confronted by the Teachers of law, Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. They tried to ensnare Him from His words, but in turn they were the ones caught with their words, thereby receiving sharp rebuke. We have seen Paul in the book of Acts how he faced the enemies of truth. One is King Aggripa. He said:

Act 26:27  “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.”

So powerful is the truth that made King Agrippa declared.

Acts 26:28  “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

Today this is replicated in the life of the real Christians. Whoever tries to refute what they articulate about the great spiritual message of the word, in like manner, heap rebuke from the truth.

“Out of every nation under heaven”

Pentecost therefore did not happen in just one place and at a particular time. Rather it is a spiritual phenomenon throughout the spiritual history of mankind that covers the four corners of the world. Thus, as it is written, different people of different nationalities heard and understood what the Disciples spoke about the TRUTH in the word.

Today, it is really amazing how people from different Christian sects having in them different religious doctrines (languages and dialects), when they hear the truth in the word, they all understand with great joy. Let us not forget that this applies only to the “devout men.”

How far do Natural Men (1 Cor 2:14) understand regarding this episode called “speaking in tongues”? They perceive people of different nationalities speaking different languages and dialects understood the Disciples who spoke the Hebrew language. It is not farfetched for the enemy of God to grab this opportunity having this belief. Thus, it became common occurrence in religious fellowships where some members really speak “blurred languages” believed to be what “speaking in tongues” mean.

Act 2:13  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Act 2:14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Act 2:15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

As in the days of our Lord, the unbelievers see differently when he spoke. Look how they perceived Jesus in the following:

Joh 10:20  “And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”

This was seen in the life of Paul, formerly a Pharisee, after his conversion from goat to sheep. To him this is Pentecost and began “speaking in tongues” or the language of the Lamb.

Act 26:24  “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.”

Act 26:25  “But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.”

For the real Christians today, they are experiencing the same mockery and ridicule when they speak the “language of the Lamb.” Truly, God words never pass away.

Act 2:16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

“In the last days”

All spiritual happenings are known by God beforehand. While the Natural Man understands “in the last days” to mean the literal end of the world, it actually refers to the “last days” in the life of the chosen. They are symbolized by “world” in the following:

Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is not the literal world or planet earth that God loves, but rather the people. Even this, only those who could humble themselves “like little children” would benefit from the love of God (Mat 18:3).

Mat 5:14  “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

The literal world is lighted by the sun, moon, stars, and illumination generated by electricity and other means. Our Lord is referring to the “spiritual light” coming from Him and radiated by His chosen for the benefit of other people.

“Upon all flesh”

Likewise “upon all flesh” cannot be taken literally to mean “all people” for it contradicts the truth regarding the number of the chosen of God:

Mat 20:16 “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

Mat 7:14  “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

“Sons and daughters shall prophesy”

God is speaking in parables. Sons and daughters cannot possibly refer to the siblings of people, or those of His chosen. These may not even be interested in the word of God. Rather, it refers to the SOUL of the chosen as revealed in the following:

Deut 13:6  “If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul…”

Prophesying is not what the Natural Man understands where it refers to future events. Rather, it pertains to the spiritual truth in the word confirming what our Lord said in:

Mat 5:18  “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Thus, the following is grossly misunderstood by many people. It is being preached that only the “prophets” of Christian sects have the authority prophesy. The laity or members are considered “private.”

2 Pet 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

It is only Christ, not any of the prophets, not an apostle, or any man, can interpret or expound on the word.

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

Christ’s exposition of the word does not pass away with time. Is not “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever,” and He is the truth (John 14:6)? Thus:

Eccl 1:9  “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

Eccc 3:15  “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

Only a few accept the following regarding the word of God.

Eze 20:49  “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?”

Psa 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.”

Modern preachers see the opposite. They tell the people that Christ spoke in parables in order for His listeners to understand easily what He wanted to convey. This therefore resulted in divergence of interpretation of the parables and Christianity is divided into sects.

“Young men shall see visions”

“Young men” indicates “spiritual infancy and not adulthood” as in the following where to them is given divine knowledge and wisdom:

Luk 10:21  “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

A “clear vision” is endowed to them as to see the Way to eternal life clearly. This is in contrast with the wise and the prudent who were called by our Lord, “blind leading the blind.” (Mat 15:14)

“Old men shall dream dreams”

“Old men” refer to what our Lord told Simon Peter when he would be approaching spiritual perfection. This is the dream of finally reaching the “finish line” of the Way to Paradise:

Joh 21:17  “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee…”18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”

Perhaps everyone who is seriously aspiring to reach the SECOND HEAVEN have this blissful dream. That is reserved for “old men” or for people that our Lord has seen worthy of the dream, having “crucified the ‘old man’ that refers to the old human nature.”

Rom 6:6  “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

To note, “old man” has two references:

First -- Attaining matured spiritual stature in the eyes of God, and for this requires

Second -- The need for “old human nature” to die

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.”

END

• Phi 2:6  Who, being in the form of God...
• Phi 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
• Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
• Phi 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
• Isa 43:11 (Father God speaking) “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
• Mat 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
• Mat 23:9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
• Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
• Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do…
• Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
• Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
• Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her…I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
• Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
• 1 Cor 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
  
  Details of the “Day of the Lord” is revealed in the article: Rapture And It's Silhouette
  http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/Rapture_And_It%27s_Silhouette
  
  How loud is the “voice of the archangel and the trumpt (trumpet) of God?Who are the “living and the dead?”How does God explain meeting Him in the air, and when?
• Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.
• Joh 2:22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
• Mat 16:11  How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12  Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
• Joh 3:4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
• Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
• 1 Cor 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
• Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
• Cor 2:14  “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
• Mat 18:3  “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
• Mat 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.For details about the second heaven in read the article:
  
  First-Second-Third Heaven
  
  http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/First-Second-Third_Heaven
  
  If Paul spoke of the 3rd heaven, there must be 1st and 2nd heaven.Where are these three heavens located?What are the "mansions" promised by Christ for the real believers?