Message for Pentecost Sunday

When the Holy Spirit Redirected Priorities

Blog by Donald P. Shoemaker

So when they [the apostles whom Jesus had chosen] had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

[Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:6-8 (New English Version)

“Life after the Coronavirus” will not be like “Life before the Virus.”  Church priorities and ministries (what we should do and how we should do it) will not be the same.

Now put yourself with Jesus’ disciples, who were with him after his resurrection and before his ascension (return to Heaven). What will God’s work in the world be once Jesus is no longer with them?  They need answers, because “Life after Jesus’ Ascension and the Day of Pentecost” will not be as before.

Jesus’ followers had one overriding question: “Lord, is it NOW, finally, that you will restore the kingdom to Israel?  We’ve watched you and listened to you.  We’ve gone through the pain of your death and, now, the joy of being with you in your resurrection.  NOW will we see the kingdom restored with Israel having her rightful place in it?” *

Jesus’ answer must have disappointed them.  It certainly will refocus them if they listen.  Without zeroing out God’s promises to Israel, Jesus zeros in on “NOW”. What is God’s timing when it comes to fulfilling his promises?

Jesus clearly and forcefully told them, “The question of when prophetic events will come to be (‘times’) and the exact nature of these events (‘seasons’)—these are none of your business.  Don’t worry about these ‘times and seasons.’  My Father in Heaven has determined them and they are well under his control.  Instead, do what I assign you to do, which the Holy Spirit will give you the power to do.”

“Times” (Greek word: chronos) refers to the sequence of events(this, then this, then that).  “Seasons” (kairos) refers to the significance of the events.  If I say, “It is 12:00 noon” that’s a chronos moment, a tick of the clock.  But if I say, “It’s going down today at hi-noon” that’s a kairos moment–something significant is going to happen. **

When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the waiting disciples at Pentecost, it will notbe to enlighten them about the future, either its times or details.  Instead, the Spirit will be given so they will have the power to do a task—to bear witness to Jesus—his life and ministries, his death and resurrection, his teachings—throughout the world beginning in Jerusalem (verse 8).

How often have you heard preaching that is very certain about “the times and the seasons”?  If we listened to a lot of “Bible prophecy” teaching throughout the Twentieth Century and up till now, we might think Jesus should have just saved his breath.   Many teachers on prophecy talk confidently about when prophecies will be fulfilled and what the exact sequence of things will be.

We have divided our churches and judged the orthodoxy of other Christians over how we think the “times and seasons” will unfold.

• “Pre-tribulationists” believe that Jesus will return and remove the saints before the Great Tribulation occurs. After the Tribulation he will return dramatically to end human history as we know it and usher in his kingdom (the two “returns” together are the “Second Coming of Christ”—Second Coming A and Second Coming B, if that’s reasonable).
• “Mid-tribulationists” believe that the saints will be removed from earth in the middle of the Great Tribulation. The first half is bad, but “you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet” – God is saving his fiercest wrath against evil for the second half.  After this, Jesus will return to set up his kingdom.
• The “Pre-wrath” view teaches that believers will go through the Tribulation almost till its end, and be removed just before God’s fierce wrath is unleashed against evil. They will then return with Christ.
• “Post-tribulationists” believe there is only one climactic “Second Coming” event at the end of the Great Tribulation.
• Some simply teach a “second coming” without trying to fit it into other details (for example, they may not relate it to a Great Tribulation era).

Another opinion, the “partial rapture” view, believes that only Christians who are “ready” (they have reached a particular level of spirituality, or have had certain experiences, or belong to the correct church) will be raptured to be with Jesus when he first appears.  The Christians left behind (the “have not’s”) will have to go through the Tribulation, which thus becomes sort of a Purgatory for them.  This view isn’t widely held, but those who do hold it are quite sure of their own righteousness and don’t mind saying so.

What can we say about all this?   In my opinion, the whole debate is a great tribulation.  It reflects the assumption that we can know “times and seasons” details which Jesus said we cannot know.

I’m opposed to churches and denominations setting forth prophetic timetables and using them as litmus tests to say who’s in and who’s out. I’m opposed to how the dogmatism stifles honest study and open debate.

The sooner we can rid ourselves of doctrinal statements that split hairs on prophecy and try to map it out, the better.  My right hand of fellowship (if we can still extend our right hands after the coronavirus) is ready to accept you, whether you are a “pre-tribber”, “post-tribber” or whatever.   Please accept me.  Let’s study together and learn prophecy to the extent it can properly be known (Deuteronomy 29:29).  And let’s join our voices in the prayer:

“Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

* John Stott, following Calvin, believed that the disciples’ whole question revealed several faulty notions about the Kingdom of God, not just a timing problem about Israel’s role (The Message of Acts, p. 43).  I limit their error to the matter of “timing.”  This reveals another major rift in how Evangelicals understand prophecy. Does Israel have a distinct future in the Kingdom (my view) or are promises to Israel spiritualized in the kingdom (common Reformed view)?

** Stott explains “times and seasons (dates)” differently: “times” are “critical moments” and “seasons” are the orderly development of God’s plan.  F.F. Bruce explains the words much as I do, but notes that the meaning is found in the words as a pair, not separately (The Book of Acts, p. 35).