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Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2: positively declared that the outpouring of the
spirit then manifest was what had been prophesied by Joel. He not only quotes the
references of Joel to the spiritual gifts, but makes a complete quotation concerning the
whole of these wonders with reference to the sun, moon and stars. In all there are
fourteen items. Seven of them have been fulfilled; seven of them await fulfilment. They
will be fulfilled when Israel repents (Acts 3: 19-21). The coming of the Son of man is
preceded by these things.
The "generation" of Matt. 24: 34 is in view in Acts 2: 40, "Save yourselves from
this untoward generation." It is perfectly true therefore to say that the generation alive
during the ministry of Christ, and during the period covered by the Acts, did not pass
away without these things "beginning to be." They will be resumed when the time
comes, and Rev. 1: goes on from Acts 2: and 3:, the interval of Israel's rejection not
being reckoned. Just as surely as the Lord could say, "this generation shall not pass," so
He could say, "heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."
"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burnt up" (II Pet. 3: 10).
Here the connection with Matt. 24: 35 and 43 is evident, strengthened moreover by
Peter's allusions to the flood and to Noah.
Some men, not seeing the break that has come in the dispensational dealings of God,
have said, "Where is the promise of His coming?" They maintain, with wilful ignorance
that all things have continued right through without break since the beginning of the
creation. Their wilful ignorance of the interposition of judgment at Gen. 1: 2, and again
at the flood, prevent them from seeing that once again the Lord has allowed a break to
come in the unfolding of His purposes. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise."
The thousand years or so of Israel's blindness are but a day, the Apostle Paul in all his
epistles treats of the purpose of God in the long interval between Acts and Revelation.
Reader, the fig tree seems about to bud. If so, the present parenthetical dispensation
draws near to its conclusion. While we see no prophetic word concerning this period in
Matt. 24:, yet by application we may learn the same insistent message, "Watch
therefore, for ye know not the hour." We have considered the moral principle of the
parable (the Fig Tree); in our next paper we must consider the type (Noah and his days).