Keith Malcomson: "In this message you will hear the Biblical basis for believing that God will send more outpourings of the Holy Spirit. Many are saying that the day of revivals and genuine outpourings is over but in this message we will see that while there is a church in the earth and until Jesus returns that there will continue to be seasons of revival."
In the above message Malcomson attempts to make a case for an eschatological worldwide revival before the day of the Lord. He argues from Acts 2:17-21 and Joel 2:28-32).
Malcomson: "It is not enough to pray for revival.. it is not enough to read a book about revival.. that is not sufficient.. we must be absolutely convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that God wants to, that he is going to send another revival.. we must be utterly convinced.."
The Cosmic Disturbances
In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Acts 2:17-21; Joel 2:28-32).
The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. (Joel 2:31).
The cosmic disturbances described in the above passages are what Malcomson refers to as a "cosmic blackout". We know from the scriptures that the great tribulation will occupy the second half of the 70th week of Daniel and that it will be cut short by the cosmic disturbances when the sixth seal is broken. (Matthew 24:22; Revelation 6:12-14). It is at this point that the rapture becomes imminent before the seventh seal is broken. (Matthew 24:29-31). The cosmic disturbances are a precursor to the day of the Lord ..before the Day of the Lord. (Joel 2:31).
The phrase "the day of the Lord" is repeated three times in Joel 2. (Joel 2:1,11,30). The phrase "In those days" therefore refers to a specific period of time i.e. the days immediately preceding the day of the Lord when the seventh seal is broken and the trumpets and bowl judgements come into play. (Revelation chapters 8,9,15,16).
In those days?
And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:26-32).
Joel 2:26-32 indicates finality. The Lord reiterates that Israel will never again be put to shame. Israel shall certainly be put to shame during the time known as "Jacob's trouble" i.e. during the period known as the great tribulation. (Zechariah 12:10). This information debunks the view that Joel 2:26-32 refers to a national revival in Israel prior to the great tribulation. Afterwards i.e. after Israel has repented God will pour out His spirit on all flesh. (Joel 2:28-29).
Keil and Delitzsch: "Judgment upon all nations goes side by side with the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Joel 2:30. "And I give wonders in the heavens and on earth, blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. Joel 2:31. The sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the day of Jehovah, the great and terrible (day), comes. Joel 2:32. And it comes to pass, every one who shall call upon the name of Jehovah will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem will be fugitives, as Jehovah hath said, and among those that are left will be those whom Jehovah calls." With the word ונתתּי, Joel 2:3 is attached to Joel 2:2 as a simple continuation (Hitzig). The wonders which God will give in the heavens and upon earth are the forerunners of judgment." {1}
Constable: "Peter made a significant change in Joel’s prophecy as he quoted it from the Septuagint, and this change supports the view that he was not claiming complete fulfillment. First, he changed 'after this' (Joel 2:28) to 'in the last days' (Acts 2:17). In the context of Joel’s prophecy the time in view is the day of the Lord: the Tribulation (Joel 2:30-31) and the Millennium (Joel 2:28-29). Peter interpreted this time as the last days. Many modern interpreters believe that when Peter said "the last days" he meant the days in which he lived. However, he was not in the Tribulation or the Millennium. Thus he looked forward to the last days as being future. The "last days" is a phrase that some New Testament writers used to describe the age in which we live (2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2; James 5:3; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Judges 1:18), but in view of what Joel wrote that must not be its meaning here. In the Old Testament 'the last days' refers to the days before the age to come, namely, the age of Messiah’s earthly reign. That is what it means here." {2}
Barnes: In the last days.... This expression was understood by the writers of the New Testament as referring undoubtedly to the times of the gospel. And hence they often used it as denoting that the time of the expected Messiah had come, but not to imply that the world was drawing near to an end: Hebrews 1:2, "God hath spoken in these last days by his Son"; 1 Peter 1:20, "Was manifested in these last times for you"; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:18, "Little children, it is the last time," etc.; Jde 1:18. The expression the last day is applied by our Saviour to the resurrection and the day of judgment, John 6:39-40, John 6:44-45; John 11:24; John 12:48. Here the expression means simply "in those future times, when the Messiah shall have come." {3}
Times of refreshing
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:19-21).
This message followed the healing of the lame beggar and it was directed to the Jews who had rejected Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:1-10). The "times of refreshing" was contingent upon Israel's repentance and the context is Messianic. These "times of refreshing" will be enjoyed by Israel after the return of Jesus Christ.
Thayers Greek Lexicon: "ἀνάψυξις, ἀναψύξεως, ἡ (ἀναψύχω, which see), a cooling, refreshing: Acts 3:20 (19), of the Messianic blessedness to be ushered in by the return of Christ from heaven;" {4}
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:19-21).
This message followed the healing of the lame beggar and it was directed to the Jews who had rejected Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:1-10). The "times of refreshing" was contingent upon Israel's repentance and the context is Messianic. These "times of refreshing" will be enjoyed by Israel after the return of Jesus Christ.
Thayers Greek Lexicon: "ἀνάψυξις, ἀναψύξεως, ἡ (ἀναψύχω, which see), a cooling, refreshing: Acts 3:20 (19), of the Messianic blessedness to be ushered in by the return of Christ from heaven;" {4}
Meyer: "καιροὶ ἀναψύξ.] seasons of refreshing: namely, the Messianic, as is self-evident and is clear from what follows. It is substantially the same as is meant in Luke 2:25 by παράκλησις τοῦ Ἰσραήλ,—namely, seasons in which, through the appearance of the Messiah in His kingdom, there shall occur blessed rest and refreshment for the people of God, after the expiration of the troublous seasons of the αἰὼν οὗτος (2 Timothy 3:1; Galatians 1:4; Acts 14:22).[145] The αἰῶνες οἱ ἐπερχόμενοι in chap. Acts 2:7 are not different from these future καιροί. This explanation is shown to be clearly right by the fact that Peter himself immediately adds, as explanatory of καιροὶ ἀναψύξ.: καὶ ἀποστείλῃ τὸν προκεχειρ. ὑμῖν Ἰησ. Χ., which points to the Parousia. {5}
The Former Rain and the Latter Rain
James refers to the coming of the Lord and follows it with the analogy of the early and late rains.
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. (Joel 2:23).
KJV: ..the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Brown Driver Briggs: בָּרִאשֹֽׁון׃ (ba·ri·sho·vn.)
רִאשׁוֹן adjective former, first, chief {7}
Ellicott: "The former rain moderately. — St. Paul adduces the gift of the rain as a witness to the people of Lystra of the existence and beneficence of God, who “gave us rain from heaven, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” The possibility of the interpretation of “the former rain moderately” out of the Hebrew words by a “teacher of righteousness,” as in the Vulg. and in our margin, has led to the connection of this passage with a prophetic intimation of the advent of the Messiah.
In the first month. — Better, as at first, as before."
In the first month. — Better, as at first, as before."
Some commentaries teach that the former rain refers to the advent of the Messiah as Ellicott above. Others teach that it refers to literal rain i.e. H20. {8} There is no evidence to support Malcomson's isolated interpretation that there will be a third additional outpouring "in one month" preceding the 70th week of Daniel. (1 John 4:1).
Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of the LORD’s house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,’ for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. (Jeremiah 27:16; cf. Jeremiah 23:21).
Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet.” (Jeremiah 28:5-9).
It is appropriate for believers to preach the gospel and to hope and pray for genuine converts everywhere. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Timothy 4:2). We all want to see our friends and loved ones repent and come into the kingdom. However, there is no scriptural evidence to support the theory that God will send a worldwide revival beginning at Jerusalem before the 70th week. Joel 2:23 has been abused by various false teachers within the Latter Rain Movement as a pretext for various false revivals. The Latter Rain Movement appears to have morphed into the New Apostolic Reformation which is an extremely dangerous movement. (Romans 16:17).
Malcomson's manic obsession regarding an eschatological worldwide revival is a false teaching. The false hope of a coming revival is foolhardy and reckless. The scriptures teach the very opposite of Malcomson 's distorted view: Matthew 24:10; Luke 13:23-24; 2 Peter 3:3; 2 Timothy 3:1, 4:3; Jude 1:18. It is critical to take care how we interpret the scriptures, and this applies particularly to teachers. (James 3:1). Bible teachers should make very sure that they rightly divide the word of truth and are not teaching from their own presuppositions and giving false hope to the church. (2 Timothy 2:15; Jeremiah 23:16). It is easy to teach what people want to hear; it is not so easy to teach the hard things. (2 Timothy 4:3). I am reminded of the false prophet Hananiah who was in severe denial of reality and the coming judgement upon the southern kingdom. Jeremiah was stigmatized as a naysayer, and yet it was his word (or rather the Lord's word) that prevailed. Malcomson rants like a deranged cult leader: "..Don't you dare forget this message.. If they (members of his congregation) don't pray about the former and latter rain.. kick them, I tell you, do it for me.." (52:00 mark). Elsewhere he refers to those who disagree with his teaching as being influenced by "a demon of discouragement". {9} Malcomson has put himself in the position of a false prophet! (Matthew 7:15). I am very concerned indeed, both for him and for his hearers.
* See my previous post regarding Malcomson's take on Gog Magog (Ezekiel 38 and 39) and Zechariah 12-14: WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: KEITH MALCOMSON: SOON REVIVAL IN JERUSALEM? (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. Acts 2 - Dr. Constable's Expository Notes - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org
3. Acts 2:17 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org
4. Strong's Greek: 403. ἀνάψυξις (anapsuxis) -- a recovery of breath, a refreshing (biblehub.com)
5. Acts 3 Meyer's NT Commentary (biblehub.com)
6. Joel 2:23 Lexicon: So rejoice, O sons of Zion, And be glad in the LORD your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, The early and latter rain as before. (biblehub.com)
7. Strong's Hebrew: 7223. רִאשׁוֹן (rishon) -- former, first, chief (biblehub.com)
8. What is the meaning of the latter and former rains? (neverthirsty.org)
9. www.limerickcitychurch.com/uploads/7/0/2/9/7029144/demon_of_discouragement_2017.mp3
No comments:
Post a Comment