Bible Reading: Acts 3
Acts 3:20-21 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Peter was preaching to the crowd gathered at the temple and watching a lame man jumping and praising God. He told them to repent and be converted. They killed the Prince of Life, but he would forgive them if they would change their minds and trust him. A part of his preaching was a promise that Jesus was coming again. He said that heaven must receive him until the time but he is going to return. When he returns, he will do all the things that the prophets said would happen.
A major stumbling block for many Jews is the fact that Jesus did not restore the Davidic kingdom. This is something that is prophesied in the Old Testament. The Kingdom was not established during the earthly ministry of Jesus. This was one of the questions that the disciples asked of him after his resurrection.
Acts 1:6-7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
It is not time, yet… But it will happen. Many preachers have spiritualized the kingdom promises and do not believe there will be an earthly millennial kingdom. But the Bible tells us there will.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
The kingdom is delayed, but not done away with! Jesus will sit upon his throne in Jerusalem and rule the nations with a rod of iron. All that the prophets foretold will come to pass.
In the meantime we are told to focus on the preaching of the gospel. This is a time of grace and God is calling out a people for his name. Just like the three thousand saved on the day of Pentecost, many will be saved during this time. Wait patiently for the kingdom. Focus on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ now.
In Christ,
Rody
