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Thus will be fulfilled Christ's promise to His disciples； 〃I will come
again； and receive you unto Myself。〃 John 14：3。 Those who have loved Him and
waited for Him； He will crown with glory and honor and immortality。 The
righteous dead will come forth from their graves； and those who are alive
will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air。 They will hear the
voice of Jesus； sweeter than any music that ever fell on mortal ear； saying
to them； Your warfare is accomplished。 〃Come； ye blessed of My Father；
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world。〃
Matthew 25；34。
Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord's return。
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Chapter 4
Pentecost
As the disciples returned from Olivet to Jerusalem； the people looked on
them； expecting to see on their faces expressions of sorrow； confusion； and
defeat； but they saw there gladness and triumph。 The disciples did not now
mourn over disappointed hopes。 They had seen the risen Saviour； and the
words of His parting promise echoed constantly in their ears。
In obedience to Christ's command； they waited in Jerusalem for the promise
of the Fatherthe outpouring of the Spirit。 They did not wait in idleness。
The record says that they were 〃continually in the temple； praising and
blessing God。〃 Luke 24：53。 They also met together to present their requests
to the Father in the name of Jesus。 They knew that they had a Representative
in heaven； an Advocate at the throne of God。 In solemn awe they bowed in
prayer； repeating the assurance； 〃Whatsoever ye shall
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ask the Father in My name； He will give it you。 Hitherto have ye asked
nothing in My name： ask； and ye shall receive； that your joy may be full。〃
John 16：23； 24。 Higher and still higher they extended the hand of faith；
with the mighty argument； 〃It is Christ that died； yea rather； that is risen
again； who is even at the right hand of God； who also maketh intercession
for us。〃 Romans 8：34。
As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise； they humbled
their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief。 As they called
to remembrance the words that Christ had spoken to them before His death
they understood more fully their meaning。 Truths which had passed from their
memory were again brought to their minds； and these they repeated to one
another。 They reproached themselves for their misapprehension of the
Saviour。 Like a procession； scene after scene of His wonderful life passed
before them。 As they meditated upon His pure； holy life they felt that no
toil would be too hard； no sacrifice too great； if only they could bear
witness in their lives to the loveliness of Christ's character。 Oh； if they
could but have the past three years to live over； they thought； how
differently they would act！ If they could only see the Master again； how
earnestly they would strive to show Him how deeply they loved Him； and how
sincerely they sorrowed for having ever grieved Him by a word or an act of
unbelief！ But they were comforted by the thought that they were forgiven。
And they determined that； so far as possible； they would atone for their
unbelief by bravely confessing Him before the world。
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The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and
in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ。
Putting away all differences； all desire for the supremacy； they came close
together in Christian fellowship。 They drew nearer and nearer to God； and as
they did this they realized what a privilege had been theirs in being
permitted to associate so closely with Christ。 Sadness filled their hearts
as they thought of how many times they had grieved Him by their slowness of
comprehension； their failure to understand the lessons that； for their good；
He was trying to teach them。
These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching。 The disciples
felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that
was to fit them for the work of soul saving。 They did not ask for a blessing
for themselves merely。 They were weighted with the burden of the salvation
of souls。 They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world； and
they claimed the power that Christ had promised。
During the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had often been
revealed in a marked manner； but never in its fullness。 Now； in obedience to
the word of the Saviour； the disciples offered their supplications for this
gift； and in heaven Christ added His intercession。 He claimed the gift of
the Spirit； that He might pour it upon His people。
〃And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come； they were all with one accord
in one place。 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind； and it filled all the house where they were sitting。〃
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The Spirit came upon the waiting； praying disciples with a fullness that
reached every heart。 The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His
church。 It was as if for ages this influence had been held in restraint； and
now Heaven rejoiced in being able to pour out upon the church the riches of
the Spirit's grace。 And under the influence of the Spirit； words of
penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven。
Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard。 All heaven bent low to
behold and to adore the wisdom of matchless； incomprehensible love。 Lost in
wonder； the apostles exclaimed； 〃Herein is love。〃 They grasped the imparted
gift。 And what followed？ The sword of the Spirit； newly edged with power and
bathed in the lightnings of heaven； cut its way through unbelief。 Thousands
were converted in a day。
〃It is expedient for you that I go away；〃 Christ had said to His disciples；
〃for If I go not away； the Comforter will not come unto you； but if I
depart； I will send Him unto you。〃 〃When He； the Spirit of truth； is come；
He will guide you into all truth： for He shall not speak of Himself； but
whatsoever He shall hear； that shall He speak： and He will show you things
to come。〃 John 16：7； 13。
Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to
receive the promised blessing。 For this they were to wait before they
entered upon their work。 When Christ passed within the heavenly gates； He
was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels。 As soon as this ceremony
was completed； the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich
currents； and Christ was indeed glorified； even
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with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity。 The
Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's
inauguration was accomplished。 According to His promise He had sent the Holy
Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had； as priest and
king； received all authority in heaven and on earth； and was the Anointed
One over His people。
〃And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire； and it sat
upon each of them。 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost； and began
to speak with other tongues； as the Spirit gave them utterance。〃 The Holy
Spirit； assuming the form of tongues of fire； rested upon those assembled。
This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples； which enabled
them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been
unacquainted。 The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which
the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work。
〃There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews； devout men； out of every nation
under heaven。〃 During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost
every part of the inhabited world； and in their exile they had learned to
speak various languages。 Many of these Jews were on this occasion in
Jerusalem； attending the religious festivals then in progress。 Every known
tongue was represented by those assembled。 This diversity of languages would
have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel； God therefore
in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles。 The Holy
Spirit did for them that which
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they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime。 They could
now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad； speaking with accuracy the
languages of those for whom they were laboring。 This miraculous gift was a
strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of
Heaven。 From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure； simple；
and accurate； whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign
language。
〃Now when this was noised abroad； the multitude came together； and were
confounded； because that every man heard them speak in his own language。 And
they were all amazed and marveled； saying one to another； Behold； are not
all these which speak Galileans？ and how hear we every man in our own
tongue； wherein we were born？〃
The prie