These Days - Pt 4

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:19-21 ESV).

The third period of time Peter refers to is mentioned in our reading today: the days of consummation. The final hope that Peter holds out to his listeners is "that God may (now again) send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old." Here is a period of time which is yet future. It will have its beginning when God sends Christ to earth the second time. This will be the time for establishing, or bringing to final consummation, all that God spoke through his prophets. Christ will reign as king supreme on earth and of his kingdom there will be no end to all eternity. This period, then, begins at the second coming of Christ, includes what is commonly known as the millennium, and extends forever into the future. Surely when Peter said that all the prophets proclaim "these days," he did not mean to exclude any of these three periods of time: neither the earthly ministry of Christ, nor the times of gospel refreshing, nor the final consummation after Christ's return. The earthly prophetic ministry of Jesus was proclaimed by Moses (v. 22). The final age of consummation was proclaimed, v. 21 says, by the holy prophets from of old. And the "times of refreshing" that come through the forgiveness of sins and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit were proclaimed by the Old Testament prophet Joel. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues. So Peter says, "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.'" (vv. 16-17). Therefore, all the days from the coming of Christ, through his earthly life, through the times of refreshing by the Holy Spirit, and unto eternity in the age of consummation—all these days were proclaimed beforehand by the prophets. Now we’ll see more of the impact of this in subsequent days; however, for now you may rest assured that since God said it through all the prophets, it is something that will, without doubt, happen. No wonder John sees this unfolding in the revelation he receives and proclaims, “Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). That is my encouragement. I pray it is yours!