Before His ascension to heaven Jesus told His disciples: ” . . . 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” (Luke 24:49). The second chapter of Acts, verse 1, tells us that the disciples were all with one accord in one place. Probably they were in an upper room, similar to the one in which they had met to partake of the Passover feast with their Master. They were intent at this time on one thing only, the keeping of the “Feast of Pentecost.” They were unaware that on this occasion the “promise of the Father” would be given to them. This “Feast of Pentecost” is referred to in Exodus 23:14 and Exodus 34:22, and had its foundation in the “Law of Moses.” Under this law, God commanded Israel to keep three feasts a year unto Him. One of those feasts was the “Feast of Harvest” or “Feast of Firstfruits”, known better to us as the “Pentecost Feast.” Further reference to this feast is found in Leviticus 23: 15-17. In Numbers, chapter 28, God outlines the days which should be set aside for the keeping of these feasts, and the things that should be done by the priests and the people on those certain days.
When the harvest had been reaped, they were to take a sheaf of the firstfruits to the priest. On the day after the first Sabbath of the harvest season, the priest was to wave this sheaf before the Lord, followed by the sacrifice of a lamb of that year without blemish, for an offering. They were then commanded to count from that day seven Sabbaths or fifty days (Pentecost days), the Greek for “fifty” being “Pentecost”. On that fiftieth day another feast was to be held differing slightly from the first one. On this occasion the people were to take two wave loaves made of fine flour from the newly gathered harvest and baked with leaven, to the priest. He would then wave them before the Lord, after which seven lambs without blemish of the first year, one young bullock and two rams would be sacrificed as an offering (See “Law of Moses”, page 205).
Feasts a Figure
These feasts were but a figure or type of greater things to come. Jesus Christ was the “Lamb of God” without spot or blemish, sacrificed for the sins of mankind (Hebrews 9: 23-28). After the sacrifice of this Lamb on the cross, Jesus’ body lay in the tomb for three days, then He arose from the dead. He came forth from the tomb because death could not prevail over Him. Jesus is often portrayed in the Scriptures as the “Firstfruits” of that harvest, which God, the Great Reaper, shall gather in for His kingdom. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1st Corinthians 15: 20-23). Fifty days after His resurrection came the day of Pentecost, “The Feast of Firstfruits” (See Acts 2:1 where the apostles were assembled together). The twelve apostles, then, represented in a figure the two unleavened loaves of bread. Brother Roberts writes in his book, “The Law of Moses”, concerning the loaves: “Two representing their plurality as distinguished from the individual Christ; loaves as a product of Him; and leavened, to denote they are not without blemish’ as Christ was, but stand before God as forgiven sinners.”
The attention of the apostles seated in this upper room was suddenly captured by a strange, unusual noise from heaven, like a rushing, mighty wind. The noise seemed to be everywhere, even filling the house where they were assembled. In the path of this rushing wind, the room was illuminated by fire which seemed to appear from nowhere, forming itself into the shape of cloven tongues which rested on the apostles. This phenomenon was “the promise of the Father” (Luke 24:49) by which they received the “power from on high” or the Holy Spirit.
Each new era
From the time of creation God has considered the manifestation of His Spirit power to be an essential accompaniment to the commencement of each new era. Such proof is afforded us in the Scriptures. In the book of Genesis we read that Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden because of their sin before God. A flaming sword (manifestation of God’s power) which turned every way to guard the Tree of Life, was placed at the east of the garden. The earth was cursed, and Adam and Eve were henceforth to provide for themselves, while living under the condemnation, “. . . Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19). Here was a new beginning for mankind.
While Israel was in bondage in Egypt, God was preparing a leader, a redeemer for them in order that they might have a new beginning. God spoke to Moses out of the midst of the burning bush, and told him that he was to lead Israel out of bondage into a promised land, described as a “land flowing with milk and honey.” Again at Mt. Sinai God spoke to Israel out of the midst of the fire (Deut. 4: 11-13). Many other incidents can be referred to which lead to the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, when God’s Spirit Power shall once again move over the face of the earth. The cloven tongues “like as of fire” heralded a new beginning for mankind in the first century. The apostles, endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit, were to go forth into the world and proclaim the hope of the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, that in Christ they may have forgiveness of sins and hope of eternal life. Now there is a New Covenant established in the name of Jesus Christ, Mediator and High Priest, through whom repentant sinners may come to God and call Him their Heavenly Father. The gift of the Father to these apostles who were to carry out the commission given to them by Jesus (Acts 1:8) would have other advantages also. It would serve to educate them, to perfect their understanding (Matthew 16:23), and permit them to perform miracles which would confirm the message they had to offer (Mark 16: 17-20).
News spread
The news of what had happened in the upper room quickly spread throughout the city of Jerusalem. Crowds came from everywhere to listen to these men speak in different languages. Luke says in Acts 2:5: “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” The multitude which stood before Peter and the other eleven were made up of these men, and they marveled and were amazed that they could all understand the message being spoken. From that day the apostles went forth commissioned of the Spirit, persuading many to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Ecclesias were established throughout the world, made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Apostles were the only ones who had the gift and privilege of transmitting the power of the Spirit to others. The Apostle John was the last of the apostles to die, and by that time the Spirit power which had been manifest had accomplished its mission. The early ecclesias had found maturity, and the Spirit’s teaching had been committed to writing.
In this generation the Holy Spirit is not manifested as in the first century, but we are abundantly blest in another way. We have received the gift of the Father in His Holy Word as written in the Old and New Testaments. This Spirit Word can perform miracles today, transforming men and women from children of Adam to children of Christ, and creating within them that spirit which will make intercession for us before Christ and God (See Romans 8). Dr. Thomas says: “We have just as much Holy Spirit as we have knowledge of the Word of God.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One