When Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and declared that the last days had come (Acts 2:16,17), he showed clearly that he was totally ignorant of God's plan to usher in a dispensation of grace before the return of Christ.
His ignorance of this was in no way due to some human failing in Peter himself, for the on the day of Pentecost the followers of Christ "were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:4.
Moreover, what Peter said was SCRIPTURALLY correct, In the light of all that had so far been revealed, these WERE the last days. The prophets had said nothing about the dispensation of grace OR the body of Christ. There had yet been NO HINT of any interruption of the prophetic program.
In Joel's prophecy concerning the last days, Pentecost is followed by the great tribulation and the return of Christ. Indeed, the prophets had "testified beforehand" only "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow" (1 Pet. 1:11). Now that the sufferings were over, it seemed as though the glory would soon follow, for no one could deny that the signs of "the day of the Lord" had begun to appear.
So Peter was NOT ignorant of the revealed program of God concerning the day in which he lived. Taught by the Lord (Acts 1:3) and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), he had an intelligent understanding of just where he stood in the divine plan. Hence the dynamic POWER of his message.
The apostles had expected the Holy Spirit to be "poured out" before the great tribulation and the return of Christ, and our Lord had promised them in commissioning them that they would then be supernaturally empowered to speak with other tongues (Mark 16:17). Thus when the Spirit came and they began to speak in other languages Peter knew EXACTLY what was happening and, pointing to Joel's prophecy, said WITHOUT QUALIFICATION: "THIS IS THAT."
"These are not drunken, as ye suppose...BUt THIS IS THAT which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in THE LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit..and..show wonders..and signs..before that great and notable day of the Lord come" (Acts 2:15-20).
As far as God's REVEALED prophetic plan was concerned, the last days- the days so long foretold HAD begun. Israel's long-promised Messiah had appeared, had died and risen again, had ascended to the Father's right hand and had sent the Holy Spirit to guide and empower His own. The next number on the prophectic program was the tribulation period with the judgment of the nations and Messiah's return, and the signs of these things were already beginning to appear. Peter saw the prophetic program for the nation Israel exactly as prophesied for so long: Pentecost, then the tribulation. Just as Peter declared on that day. -C.R.Stam, Things That Differ. "The Last Days" pp. 100-101.
But the tribulation did NOT happen as was prophesized. A mystery, hid in GOd, from the foundation of the world, was revealed to the Apostle Paul that put the tribulation on hold. ANd everything changed at that time. When it has run its course in God's Plan, the tribulation will begin and the remaining prophetic program will be fulfilled.
Thank You for providing the entrance in by an intimate personal relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ and acceptance of the free gift of grace.
TIME IS SHORT PEOPLE! THE AGE OF GRACE IS COMING TO A CLOSE! THE ARK DOORS ARE CLOSING! BECOME BROKEN IN SPIRIT AND ACCEPT THE GIFT! IF YOU RESIST THE GIFT GOD WILL GRANT YOUR WISH! THE USA DESTRUCTION MAY OCCUR RIGHT AFTER THE RAPTURE! THOSE THAT RESIST THE GIFT NOW MAY NOT HAVE AN OTHER CHANCE! ALL YOU DO IS LAY ASIDE YOUR PRIDE AND ASK THE LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRUTH! IF YOU KEEP YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS YOU WILL NOT FIND THE TRUTH!
But the tribulation did NOT happen as was prophesized. A mystery, hid in GOd, from the foundation of the world, was revealed to the Apostle Paul that put the tribulation on hold. ANd everything changed at that time. When it has run its course in God's Plan, the tribulation will begin and the remaining prophetic program will be fulfilled.
With these two paragraphs in juxtaposition, do you see what we see?