Chapter VIII: Part V: The Holy Spirit

Outpouring Of The Spirit At Pentecost. "It shall come to pass in the last
days ... I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh." Acts 2:17.

The Holy Spirit And His Work

The Ascension Of Christ. "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you
another Comforter." John 14:16.

1. What precious promise did Jesus make to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion?

“I will pray the Father, and _He shall give you another Comforter_, that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:16.

2. Who is the Comforter, and what was He to do?

“But the Comforter, even _the Holy Spirit_, whom the Father will send in My name, _He shall teach you all things_, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” Verse 26, R. V.

3. Why cannot the world receive Him?

“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, _because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him_.” Verse 17.

4. How intimate is His union with believers?

“But ye know Him; for _He dwelleth with you_, and shall be _in you_.” Same verse.

5. Whose presence does the Holy Spirit bring to the believers?

“I will not leave you comfortless: _I will come to you_.” Verse 18.

6. What promise is thus fulfilled?

“Lo, _I am with you alway_, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20. See also John 14:21-23.

7. What threefold union is thus established?

“At that day ye shall know that _I am in My Father_, and _ye in Me_, and _I in you_.” Verse 20.

NOTE.—Rom. 8:9 shows the Spirit of each of the three persons of
the Godhead to be one and the same Spirit.

8. How does Jesus, through the Spirit, seek an entrance to every heart?

“Behold, _I stand at the door, and knock_: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20.

9. Why was it necessary for Christ to go away?

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for _if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you_; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” John 16:7.

10. What was the Comforter to do when He came?

“And when He is come, He will _reprove_ [margin, _convince_] the world of _sin_, and of _righteousness_, and of _judgment_.” Verse 8.

11. By what other title is the Comforter designated?

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even _the Spirit of truth_, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26.

12. What did Jesus say the Spirit of truth would do?

“Howbeit 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 16:13.

NOTE.—The Spirit _speaks_ (1 Tim. 4:1); _teaches_ (1 Cor. 2:3);
_bears witness_ (Rom. 8:16); _makes intercession_ (Rom. 8:26);
_distributes the gifts_ (1 Cor. 12:11); and _invites the sinner_
(Rev. 22:17).

13. Whom did Christ say the Holy Spirit would glorify?

“He shall glorify _Me_: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” Verse 14.

NOTE.—It is plain from these scriptures that the Holy Spirit is
the personal representative of Christ upon the earth, abiding in
the church by dwelling in the hearts of the believers. It follows
that any attempt to make a man the vicegerent of Christ in the
place of the third person of the Godhead is an attempt to put man
in the place of God. Thus does the fundamental principle of the
Papacy set aside the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

14. How has God revealed to us the hidden things of the kingdom?

“But God hath revealed them unto us _by His Spirit_: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10.

15. Who moved upon the prophets to give their messages?

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the _Holy Ghost_.” 2 Peter 1:21.

16. After Pentecost, how was the gospel preached?

“With the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” 1 Peter 1:12.

17. How are believers sealed?

“In whom also after that ye believed, ye were _sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise_.” Eph. 1:13.

18. What warning is therefore given?

“_Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God_, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30.

19. Is there a limit to the strivings of God’s Spirit?

“And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” Gen. 6:3.

NOTE.—The limit is determined by the creature rather than by the
Creator. It is when there is an utter abandonment to evil, and
further appeals would be without avail. God foreknowing all
things, may designate a definite period of probation for man, as
in the case of the one hundred and twenty years before the flood
(Gen. 6:3); but His Spirit never ceases to strive with man as long
as there is hope of his salvation.

20. For what did David pray?

“Cast me not away from Thy presence; and _take not Thy Holy Spirit from me_.” Ps. 51:11.

21. How willing is God to give to us the Holy Spirit?

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13.

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O for that flame of living fire?
Which shone so bright in saints of old;
Which bade their souls to heaven aspire,
Calm in distress, in danger bold!

Remember, Lord, the ancient days;
Renew Thy work, Thy grace restore;
And while to Thee our hearts we raise,
On us Thy Holy Spirit pour.
WM. H. BATHURST.

Fruit Of The Spirit

David And Jonathan. "The fruit of the Spirit is love." Gal. 5:22.

1. What is the fruit of the Spirit?

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. 5:22, 23.

2. What are the works of the flesh?

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like.” Verses 19-21.

NOTE.—The evils here mentioned are a close parallel to the lists
found in Matt. 15:18, 19; Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:29-31; and 2 Tim.
3:1-5.

3. How may the works of the flesh be avoided?

“_Walk in the Spirit_, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16.

4. By what is the love of God shed abroad in the heart?

“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts _by the Holy Ghost_ which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5.

5. What is love declared to be?

“And above all these things put on love, which is the _bond of perfectness_.” Col. 3:14, R. V.

6. By what does genuine faith work?

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but _faith which worketh by love_.” Gal. 5:6.

7. What does love do?

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but _love covereth all sins_.” Prov. 10:12. “Have fervent charity among yourselves: for _charity shall cover the multitude of sins_.” 1 Peter 4:8.

8. Of what does the kingdom of God consist?

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but _righteousness_, and _peace_, and _joy_ in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 14:17.

NOTE.—It is the Christian’s privilege to have righteousness,
peace, and joy,—a righteousness which is of God by faith (Rom.
3:21, 22); a peace that passeth understanding (Phil. 4:7), which
the world can neither give nor take away; and a joy that rejoices
evermore (1 Thess. 5:16; Phil. 4:4).

9. In what way does love manifest itself?

“Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil.” 1 Cor. 13:4, 5, R. V.

10. What does God’s gentleness do for us?

“Thy gentleness hath _made me great_.” Ps. 18:35.

11. What spirit should we show toward others?

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but _be gentle unto all men_.” 2 Tim. 2:24.

12. What does the goodness of God do?

“Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that _the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance_?” Rom. 2:4.

13. How should we treat those who have wronged us?

“Dearly beloved, _avenge not yourselves_, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore _if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head_.” Rom. 12:19, 20.

14. How does faith determine our standing with God?

“But _without faith it is impossible to please Him_: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6.

15. How does God regard the meek and quiet spirit?

“Whose adorning ... let it be the hidden man of the heart, ... even the ornament of _a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price_.” 1 Peter 3:3, 4.

16. In our Christian growth and experience, what is to accompany faith, courage, and knowledge?

“Add to your faith virtue [courage]; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge _temperance_.” 2 Peter 1:5, 6.

NOTE.—One of the briefest and best definitions of temperance is
_self-control_. The word in the text means much more than mere
abstinence from intoxicating drinks,—the limited sense now
frequently given to it. It means control, strength, power, or
ascendency over exciting and evil passions of all kinds. It
denotes the self-rule which the overcomer or converted man has
over the evil propensities of his nature. Commenting on this
passage, Dr. Albert Barnes says: “The influences of the Holy
Spirit on the heart make a man _moderate_ in all indulgences;
teach him to restrain his passions, and to govern himself.”

17. How highly is he commended who controls his spirit?

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and _he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city_.” Prov. 16:32.

18. What is said of all these different virtues?

“Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:23, last clause.

NOTE.—The law condemns sin. But all these things, being virtues,
are in harmony with the law. They are produced by the Spirit; and
the law, which is spiritual, cannot, therefore, condemn them.

19. From what condemnation does Spirit-leading save us?

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, _ye are not under the law_.” Verse 18.

20. To what unity are Christians exhorted?

“Endeavoring to keep _the unity of the Spirit_ in the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:3.

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Spirit of life, and light, and love,
Thy heavenly influence give;
Quicken our souls, our guilt remove,
That we in Christ may live.

His love within us shed abroad,
Life’s ever-springing well;
Till God in us, and we in God,
In love eternal dwell.
THOMAS HAWEIS.

Gifts Of The Spirit

Healing The Leper. "He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
Eph. 4:8.

1. Concerning what subject ought we to be informed?

“Now _concerning spiritual gifts_, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Cor. 12:1.

2. When Christ ascended, what did He give to men?

“Wherefore He saith, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [margin, a multitude of captives], and _gave gifts unto men_.” Eph. 4:8.

3. What were these gifts that Christ gave to men?

“And He gave some, _apostles_; and some, _prophets_; and some, _evangelists_; and some, _pastors_ and _teachers_.” Verse 11.

4. How are these gifts elsewhere spoken of?

“And God hath set some in the church, first _apostles_, secondarily _prophets_, thirdly _teachers_, after that _miracles_, then _gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues_.” 1 Cor. 12:28.

5. For what purpose were these gifts bestowed upon the church?

“_For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ_: ... that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Eph. 4:12-15.

6. What result is to be obtained by the exercise of the gifts in the church?

“_Till we all come in_ [_into_, margin] _the unity of the faith_, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, _unto a perfect man_, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Verse 13.

7. How is unity preserved in the diversities of gifts?

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but _the same Spirit_.” 1 Cor. 12:4.

8. For what purpose is the manifestation of this one Spirit given?

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man _to profit withal_. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of _wisdom_; to another the word of _knowledge_ by the same Spirit; to another _faith_ by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of _healing_ by the same Spirit; to another the _working of miracles_; to another _prophecy_; to another _discerning of spirits_; to another _divers kinds of tongues_; to another the _interpretation of tongues_.” Verses 7-10.

9. Who controls the distribution of the gifts of the Spirit?

“But all these worketh that one and _the selfsame Spirit_, dividing to every man severally _as He will_.” Verse 11.

10. Was it God’s design that all should possess the same gifts?

“Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” Verses 29, 30.

11. Were the gifts of the Spirit to continue forever?

“Whether there be prophecies, _they shall be done away_; whether there be tongues, _they shall cease_; whether there be knowledge, _it shall be done away_.” 1 Cor. 13:8, R. V.

12. When will the gifts of the Spirit be no longer needed?

“_When that which is perfect is come_, then that which is in part shall be done away.” Verse 10.

The Gift Of Prophecy

Writing The Prophecies. "And He sent and signified it by His angel unto
His servant John." Rev. 1:1.

1. How did God communicate with man in Eden?

“And the Lord God _called unto Adam, and said unto him_, Where art thou?” Gen. 3:9.

2. Since the fall, by what means has God generally made known His will to man?

“I have also spoken _by the prophets_, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, _by the ministry of the prophets_.” Hosea 12:10.

3. What things belong to God, and what to us?

“_The secret things_ belong unto the Lord our God; but _those things which are revealed_ belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29:29.

4. How fully and to whom does God reveal His purposes?

“Surely the Lord God will do _nothing_, but _He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets_.” Amos 3:7.

5. Can the wise men of the world foretell the future?

“Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show unto the king.” Dan. 2:27, R. V. See notes on page 202.

6. Who did Daniel say could reveal secrets?

“But _there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets_, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” Verse 28.

7. How did the prophet Daniel acknowledge the insufficiency of human wisdom?

“_As for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living_, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.” Verse 30.

8. After revealing and interpreting the dream, what did Daniel say?

“The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass _hereafter_.” Verse 45.

9. How does God show His foreknowledge?

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and _new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them_.” Isa. 42:9.

10. How does the Lord reveal Himself to His prophets?

“If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a _vision_, and will speak unto him in a _dream_.” Num. 12.6.

11. Under what influence did the prophets of old speak?

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake _as they were moved by the Holy Ghost_.” 2 Peter 1:21. See 2 Sam. 23:2.

12. How are both the origin of prophecy and the means of communicating it still further shown?

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, _which God gave unto Him_, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and _He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John_.” Rev. 1:1.

13. What angel revealed to Daniel his visions and dreams?

“Whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man _Gabriel_, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And _he informed me, and talked with me, and said_, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” Dan. 9:21, 22. See also chapter 10, and Rev. 22:9, 10.

14. What Spirit was in the prophets inditing their utterances?

“O which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time _the Spirit of Christ which was in them_ did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11.

The Anointing Of Christ. "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a
dove, and it abode upon Him." John 1:32.

15. How were the Lord’s words to the prophets preserved?

“Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then _he wrote the dream_, and told the sum of the matters.” Dan. 7:1. See Jer. 51:60; Rev. 1:10, 11.

16. By whom has God spoken to us in these last days?

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us _by His Son_.” Heb. 1:1, 2.

17. What was one of the offices to be filled by the Messiah?

“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee _a Prophet_ from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall harken.” Deut. 18:15.

18. What was foretold through the prophet Joel?

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; _and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions_.” Joel 2:28.

19. When did this prediction begin to be fulfilled?

“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 upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:16, 17.

20. What were some of the gifts Christ gave to His church?

“When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... And He gave some, _apostles_; and some, _prophets_; and some, _evangelists_; and some, _pastors_ and _teachers_.” Eph. 4:8-11.

21. By what means did God deliver and preserve Israel?

“_By a prophet_ the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and _by a prophet_ was he preserved.” Hosea 12:13.

22. When Moses complained of his slowness of speech, what did God say Aaron should be to him?

“And he shall be thy _spokesman_ unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a _mouth_, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.” Ex. 4:16.

23. What did God afterward call Aaron?

“And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be _thy prophet_.” Ex. 7:1.

24. What is one test by which to detect false prophets?

“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, _if the thing follow not, nor come to pass_, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Deut. 18:22.

25. What other test should be applied in determining the validity of the claims of a prophet?

“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, _Let us go after other gods_, which thou hast not known, and _let us serve them_; thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. _Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice_, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.” Deut. 13:1-4.

NOTE.—From these scriptures it will be seen that, in the first
place, if a prophet’s words do not prove to be true, it is
evidence that God has not sent that prophet. On the other hand,
even though the thing predicted comes to pass, if the pretended
prophet seeks to lead others to break God’s commandments, this,
regardless of all signs, should be positive evidence that he is
not a true prophet.

26. What rule did Christ give for distinguishing between true and false prophets?

“_By their fruits_ ye shall know them.” Matt. 7:20.

27. What general rule is laid down for testing all prophets?

“_To the law and to the testimony_: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.

28. How did God’s prophets anciently use the words of former prophets in exhorting the people to obedience?

“_Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets_, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity?” Zech. 7:7.

29. What is the promised result of believing God’s prophets?

“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; _believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper_.” 2 Chron. 20:20.

30. What admonition is given regarding the gift of prophecy?

“_Despise not prophesyings._ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thess. 5:20, 21.

31. What will characterize the last, or remnant, church?

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, _which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ_.” Rev. 12:17.

32. What is the “testimony of Jesus”?

“The testimony of Jesus is _the spirit of prophecy_.” Rev. 19:10. See Rev. 1:9.

33. What results when this gift is absent?

“Where there is no vision, _the people perish_: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Prov. 29:18. See also Ps. 74:9.

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What poor, despised company
Of travelers are these,
Who walk in yonder narrow way,
Along the rugged maze?

Ah! these are of a royal line,
All children of a King,
Heirs of immortal crowns divine;
And lo! for joy they sing.

Why do they, then, appear so mean,
And why so much despised?
Because of their rich robes unseen
The world is not apprized.

But why keep they that narrow road,—
That rugged, thorny maze?
Why, that’s the way their Leader trod,
They love and keep His ways.

Why do they shun the pleasing path
That worldlings love so well?
Because that is the road to death,
The open road to hell.

What! is there then no other road
To Salem’s happy ground?
Christ is the only way to God,
No other can be found.

The Outpouring Of The Spirit

Peter Preaching On The Day Of Pentecost. "This is that which was spoken by
the prophet Joel." Acts 2:16.

1. For what did Christ, just before His ascension, tell His disciples to wait?

“And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, _until ye be endued with power from on high_.” Luke 24:49.

2. With what did He say they would be baptized?

“Ye shall be baptized _with the Holy Ghost_ not many days hence.” Acts 1:5.

NOTE.—John the Baptist had foretold this baptism. He said: “I
indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt.
3:11.

3. For what work was this baptism to prepare them?

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and _ye shall be witnesses unto Me_ both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

4. What were some of the results of the preaching of the gospel under the outpouring of the Spirit?

“Now when they heard this, _they were pricked in their heart_, and said ... Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: _and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls_.” Acts 2:37-41. “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; ... _and believers were the more added to the Lord_, multitudes both of men and women.” Acts 5:12-14. “And the word of God increased; and _the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly_; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7.

5. How did persecution affect the preaching of the gospel?

“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.... _Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word._” Acts 8:1-4.

NOTE.—“Persecution has only had a tendency to extend and establish
the faith which it was designed to destroy.... There is no lesson
which men have been so slow to learn as that to oppose and
persecute men is the very way to confirm them in their opinions,
and to spread their doctrines.”—_Dr. Albert Barnes, on Acts 4:4._

6. What words of Peter seem to indicate another outpouring of the Spirit?

“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_.” Acts 3:19.

7. What event does he speak of as immediately following these times of refreshing?

“_And He shall send Jesus Christ_, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive [Syriac, retain] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Verses 20, 21.

NOTE.—From this it seems evident that we may look for another
outpouring of the Spirit for a final proclamation of the gospel to
all the world just before Christ’s second advent and the
restitution of all things.

8. What prophecy was fulfilled in the Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit in the time of the apostles?

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said, ... 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 My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:14-18. See Joel 2:28, 29.

9. What expressions in the prophecy of Joel seem to imply a double fulfilment of this outpouring of the Spirit?

“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the _former rain_ moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the _former rain_, and the _latter rain_ in the first month.” Joel 2:23. See also Hosea 6:3.

NOTE.—In Palestine the early rains prepare the soil for the seed
sowing, and the latter rains ripen the grain for the harvest. So
the early outpouring of the Spirit prepared the world for the
extensive sowing of the gospel seed, and the final outpouring will
come to ripen the golden grain for the harvest of the earth, which
Christ says is “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:37-39; Rev. 14:14,
15.

10. For what are we told to pray at this time?

“_Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain_; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zech. 10:1.

NOTE.—Before the apostles received the baptism of the Spirit in
the early rain on the day of Pentecost, they all “continued with
one accord in prayer and supplication.” Acts 1:14. During this
time they confessed their faults, put away their differences,
ceased their selfish ambitions and contentions for place and
power, so that when the time for the outpouring came, “they were
all _with one accord_ in one place,” ready for its reception. To
be prepared for the final outpouring of the Spirit, all sin and
selfish ambition must again be put away, and a like work of grace
wrought upon the hearts of God’s people.

11. How is the closing work of the gospel under the outpouring of the Spirit described by the revelator?

“After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and _the earth was lightened with his glory_.” Rev. 18:1.

12. What does this angel say?

“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, _Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen_, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Verse 2.

NOTE.—The religious world will then be in much the same condition
as was the Jewish nation after it had rejected Christ at His first
advent. See 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

13. What did Peter on the day of Pentecost tell his hearers to do?

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, _Save yourselves from this untoward generation_.” Acts 2:40.

14. What similar call and appeal will be made under the final outpouring of the Spirit?

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, _Come out of her, My people_, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Rev. 18:4, 5.

NOTES.—A great work will be accomplished in a short time under the
final outpouring of the Spirit. Many voices all over the earth
will sound the warning cry. Signs and wonders will be wrought by
the believers, and, as at Pentecost, thousands will be converted
in a day.

Those who fail to heed this final gospel call, like the
unbelieving Jews, will be doomed to destruction. The seven last
plagues will overtake them, as war, famine, death, and destruction
overtook the Jews, who, not believing in Christ, failed to heed
His call to flee, and shut themselves up in Jerusalem to their
doom. Those who heed the call, and separate themselves from sin
and from sinners, will be saved.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Come, Holy Spirit, come,
Let Thy bright beams arise,
Dispel the sorrow from our minds,
The darkness from our eyes.

Convince us all of sin,
Then lead to Jesus’ blood,
And to our wondering view reveal
The mercies of our God.

Revive our drooping faith,
Our doubts and fears remove,
And kindle in our breasts the flame
Of never-dying love.

’Tis Thine to cleanse the heart,
To sanctify the soul,
To pour fresh life in every part,
And new-create the whole.

Come, Holy Spirit, come,
Our minds from bondage free;
Then shall we know, and praise, and love
The Father, Son, and Thee.
JOSEPH HART.