Picture the scene: The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon the early church in the abundant power of the early rain. Peter and John are at the gate of the temple, where, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Peter has bidden a man lame from birth to rise up and walk. He takes him by the hand and the man begins walking, leaping, and praising God.
This miraculous event, of course, causes a stir among the people, for they know this was he who had sat begging for alms. Now Peter gives all glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and explains to them about the Holy One, the Prince of life. He reveals how through the name of Jesus, the lame man was made strong by faith in Him. Peter then boldly proclaims the reality that they had denied the Lord before the Roman authorities and had preferred a murderer (Barabbas) over God’s Anointed One. He then states they had incurred this guilt through ignorance, but further reveals that the suffering of Christ was a fulfillment of prophecy.
But what should they do about this now? The words resound:
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 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” (Acts 3:19–21).
In context, this declaration clearly was made soon after the ascension of Christ. Yet there is a sequence of events for Christians from that time forward:
1. Repent—now
2. Be converted—now
3. That your sins (rather than your names) may be blotted out.
4. When? In the time of investigative judgment before Christ’s return, when the times of refreshing—the Holy Spirit in latter rain power—shall be poured out without measure.
5. Then Heaven will send Jesus Christ. Why not sooner? Jesus will remain in the celestial courts until every principle of His moral law is restored in human hearts—in whosoever will surrender to His will by accepting Him wholeheartedly, entirely.
“At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: ‘Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.’ Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, ‘the time of Jacob’s trouble,’ they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel.”1
Is it time for Jesus to come? Yes, indeed! How can we be ready? The steps in Acts 3:19–21 are plain. Let us deeply absorb this message for the last days during this Week of Prayer and diligently apply it to our hearts!
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