#DailyDevotion Make No Mistake, We Are In The Last Days
Acts 2 12 They were all amazed and puzzled. “What can this mean?” they asked one another. 13Others sneered: “They’re full of new wine.” 14Then Peter got up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “Jews and all you who live in Jerusalem, understand this, and listen to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. Why, it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about: 17In the last days, God says, “I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Then your sons and your daughters will speak God’s Word, your young men will have visions, and your old men will have dreams. 18In those days I will pour out My Spirit on My servants, both men and women, and they will speak God’s Word. 19I will give you startling wonders in the sky above and marvelous signs on the earth below; blood and fire and a cloud of smoke; 20the sun will turn dark and the moon to blood before the coming of the Lord’s great and splendid day. 21Then everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.”
Hearing the great wind and then hearing the apostles speak the Good News of Jesus Christ in their own native language the crowd had to wonder, “What does the mean?” Some had thought the apostles were drunk. Peter tells them it’s only nine in the morning (apparently Jerusalem isn’t New Orleans). Peter though points out to what this sign meant. It was the fulfillment of what the prophet Joel had spoken about.
I would like to particularly key in on the phrase, “in the last days.” We often think the last days are at some point in the distant future. I’m guessing it must because to us it seems as if the LORD has seemed to have delayed his revelation on the Last Day. We’ve been conditioned by the false teacher Scoffield with his false bible notes in the nineteenth century to think the seals, trumpet and vials of Revelation must take place in order in a certain time period. But Peter tells us no, don’t believe these lies of Satan to make you lazy in your faith and so you will be caught unawares when our LORD Jesus Christ returns.
The last days began with Jesus’ crucifixion. In Matt. 27 it is written, 45 “At twelve o’clock darkness came over the whole country and lasted until three in the afternoon.” This was not an eclipse. Eclipses do not last this long. No, this was the fulfillment of the prophesy the sun will turn dark and the moon to blood. You may object and say Matthew doesn’t mention the moon. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Matthew again notes, 51 “Just then the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth was shaken, the rocks were split, 52the graves were opened, and many bodies of the holy people asleep in death were brought back to life;…” Such startling wonders in the sky above and the earth below. The Jewish crowd hearing this would have witnessed all these things themselves as they had originally had come to Jerusalem for the Passover when our LORD Jesus Christ was crucified. Peter tells by the Holy Spirit we are in the last days. Wake up! Be repentant!
Joel says, “Then everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.” The LORD there he refers to the LORD, the Creator, the God of Israel. Peter points us to see this LORD is the very same Jesus Christ of Nazareth. That great and splendid day of the LORD is Jesus’ resurrection. In his resurrection Jesus showed us he is the LORD, the God of Israel in the flesh. So now, if you want to be saved call upon his name. Trust in the name of Jesus to save you from the judgment to come and he has promised you will be saved. He does not nor cannot lie.
Merciful God and Father, in these last days may the name of your only-begotten son Jesus Christ be proclaimed as LORD so all who hear it may call upon that name and be saved to the glory of your holy name. May we be counted among them and be faithful until the Last Day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.