The Holy Spirit has fallen on the 120 disciples in the upper room. The Apostle Peter is explaining what has happened and what it means to the House of Israel, some of whom–thousands of Jews–having gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Day of Pentecost.

Chapter two verses thirty-two through thirty-six: In verses 32 and 33 Peter tells the Jews gathered outside the house that God has resurrected Jesus of Nazareth and given Him His Holy Spirit, and that Jesus has in turn poured out that Spirit on His obedient followers.

In verse 34 Peter reminds the Jews of a Truth that the Institutional Church refutes vehemently–that Jesus did not take deceased true believers with Him when He ascended to the Father where they supposedly abide to this day in heavenly bliss. Nor has anyone else gone to either heaven or hell. See Life After Death. In verse 34 we are told that David, “a man after God’s own heart,” “… has NOT ASCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS.” Rather, “… HE–David–is both DEAD AND BURIED and his sepulcher–the box containing HIM (his soul/nephesh/physical remains)–is with us until this day” (vs. 29). Note it: DAVID–“HE”) WAS STILL WITH THEM AFTER HUNDREDS OF YEARS. This was some seven weeks after Jesus had supposedly taken all dead saints to heaven with Him when He ascended. DAVID, ALONG WITH EVERY SAINT WHO HAS DIED “IN HIM” BEGINING WITH ABEL, IS STILL IN THE GRAVE AWAITING THE LORD’S RETURN WHEN, HAVING BEEN RESURRECTED, THEY WILL JOIN HIM IN THE AIR (1 Thes. 4:15-17). See Heaven and The Resurrections.

In verse 36 Peter proves that the Word of God and Jesus Christ Himself were sent to the House of Israel by saying to the Jews who had traveled to Jerusalem from “every nation under heaven”: “Therefore, let ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL (all tribes) know that God has made this same Jesus, whom ye (the Jews) have crucified, both Lord and King (of all Israelites).” Peter was telling the Jews to return to their homelands where they were to tell all Israelites living around them that their Messiah had arrived, had died for their sins and had then returned to the Father.

Recall that upon the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians in 721 B.C., the northern tribes, called Israel, had been carried away into captivity. Some time later God caused them to leave the area and to be scattered throughout the world as He had prophesied He would do (Jer. 9:16/Isa. 12:14,15;20:23). Having been scattered “as dew” among the Gentiles, Israel would serve as His light to them (Isa. 42:6/49:6/60:3). More than a century later the Lord did the same thing to the Jews (tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi), first sending them into Babylonian captivity, then scattering them throughout the world. Because of their rebellion against God, both houses of Israel were defeated, enslaved and scattered to the four winds where they would live among the heathen–Gentiles. It was to those scattered Israelites that the apostles would take the gospel–the Words of their Messiah–God’s light. Those Israelites who embraced their Messiah would then become God’s “light to the Gentiles” among whom they lived. In this way Israel would tell the world about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. Unfortunately, those Israelites and their Gentile converts–the Institutional Church–taught and continue to teach the world a perverted gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). For this reason, God will cause the defeat, enslavement and scattering of modern Israel (the so-called “Christian nations” of the world) during the Great Tribulation. For more information hear my recent teachings concerning the seven seals of Revelation on my YouTube site. The address is proveallthingsofgod.

Peter told the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost that they were to return to their homes in Gentile lands and tell the Israelites living there that their promised Messiah had come to earth. The apostles would later be sent to those Israelites bearing their Messiah’s Message–the gospel. The Lord’s Word to the Israelites of old–the House of Israel–combined with His Word to the modern day Israelites–His church–are found in what is called the Holy Bible (Eph. 2:20). L.J.