The Last Days

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE LAST DAYS

Acts 2:14-21

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'  

NIV

Having considered the fact that Peter was filled with the power of the Spirit and boldly proclaimed this truth, we need to ponder on his sermon. First, we should examine just what is meant by “In the last days”. In Greek, it reads “In the final days”, however, in all the other translations we have, they use last days. Although the last days, do work well, we prefer to see them as the final days. Now, what exactly are the final days? Because Peter referred to Joel and that what Joel prophesied, starting with, "In the last days” and Peter was making the point that what had just happened, was because it was now in the last or final days. Then we would have to believe the final days started on that day of Pentecost when the Spirit came into the house as a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire settled on each of them and they all began to speak a different dialect. We also have to believe that because days are still occurring, that is the “Last day” has not come yet, that we are living in the final days. This would mean that God has and is pouring out his Spirit on all people, which would include us, especially because we are His people since we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. So, we have the Spirit of God poured out on us, and therefore it would only seem right that there should be some evidence. Peter gives the proof of God pouring out his Spirit because of all the believers speaking in dialects, tongues, or languages from all over the nations. If those who propose that evidence stopped with the disciples and it is not for today, then they must believe the last days are over, and we all are living in the days after the last days, and then we would have missed it all and are left to our own, without God, without Jesus, and without the Spirit. We simply cannot accept that theology, for we know the Spirit because He dwells within and we feel his presence and experience His influence, His leading, and inspiration. In addition, we know for a fact that the “Last Day” has not yet arrived, so we have to know that we are living in the “Last days” the “final days”, however long a period of time that is, only the Father knows. He will determine whenever the “Last days” finish with the “Last Day” when all things on earth with end, and all people will be judged according to their deeds. Whether they accepted or rejected Jesus is the only deed to be judged and rewarded for. In the meantime, we rejoice in having the Spirit poured out on us because we live in the “Last days”