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| Jerusalem was completely extirpated by the Roman armies in 70AD, as prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ, and taught by Apostle Peter. |
November
23, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid06GJ9t3TQkGcfcmUzpLsRY2D46PPSoSQgHZgdJ7ju9DkE6Lo46ZH5ouMfsJGrqx6Dl
I
received this inquiry:
"I
need to know more about this church - is it a pentecostal church?"
=======
Dear Sir,
Thank
you for your question.
The
short answer is: No, SDC is not a pentecostal church.
And
since you have asked, you deserved more than a short answer.
Here
is a less short answer.
i.
The day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 is a UNIQUE event in the history of
God’s redemptive purpose.
-
It was an event prophesied in the OT, see Joel 2:28.
-
What happened on the day of Pentecost was a SPECIAL and IMPORTANT SIGN to the
Jewish believers.
ii.
On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, devout Jewish men “out of every nation under
heaven” (Acts 2:6) were gathered at Jerusalem.
-
The Jews had been scattered throughout the whole known world, first by the
Assyrians, and later exiled by the Babylonians.
-
Then, Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian empire issued an imperial edict to allow
all the Jews to return to Judah. Many did not return but remained where they
were. But many of those Jews did not forget their old covenant religion; they
continued to make the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to fulfill their
religious duties.
iii.
What happened on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 (the first Pentecost
after the crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ) was a
SPECIAL and SPECIFIC sign message to the Jewish believers.
-
Their old covenant religion based on the law of Moses was fast coming to an
end. The new covenant religion based on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ has
been inaugurated.
-
Apostle Peter said, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.”
The word “this” refers to the unique
phenomena of “… every man heard them speak in his own tongue… we do hear them
speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God” Acts 2:6b,11b.
-
This was a specific sign prophesied by Prophet Joel, a sign that marks the
dawning of the new covenant religion in Jesus Christ and "the last
days", the passing, of the old
covenant religion in Moses.
-
THAT IS, in Jesus Christ, the old covenant religion based on the ceremonial
laws of Moses was being abolished. They are now called upon to believe in the
promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, the fulfilment of all that was
foreshadowed by the old covenant religion.
iv.
The phenomenon of speaking in tongues (PLURAL, ONE singular gift enabled a man/woman
to speak MANY languages) continued during the 40-year transitional period from
the old covenant religion to the new covenant religion, i.e. AD30-AD70.
-
In AD70, as prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Jerusalem with the
Temple (the heart and centre of the old covenant religion of ceremonies and
sacrifices) were completely razed to the ground by the imperial Roman armies;
THIS officially and finally brought the thousands-year-old old covenant
religion to an end.
-
The long-suffering LORD God gave His children among the Jews 40 long years to
transition into the new covenant religion. It was SO HARD for many to give up
the ritualistic /ceremonial religion they had been brought up with!
-
Many preferred to stay put in their dilapidated hut instead of moving into the
new mansion!
v.
The unique gift of tongues, which enabled the recipient of the gift to speak
different languages that he/she had never learned before, continued during the
transitional period to facilitate and expedite the spread of the gospel during
the Apostles' time. It has CEASED with the passing away of the Apostles. 1Cor
13:8.
- The gibberish of the modern
Pentecostals/charismatics is remotely related to the tongues we read of in the
Bible. They are quite misguided.
I
hope this enlightens you somewhat about your question.
Do
visit our church blog here.
There
are over a thousand notes and articles on biblical matters.
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/
---------
Bill
Taylor
Amen
and AMEN, Bro. Sing!
Patricia
Winkleman
Amen
Thank you for this simple but wonderful explanation. God Bless
