Concerning the events that transpired on the day of Pentecost, and the ensuing years that followed, church history has catalogued the path that the early church traversed. A number of truths have been garnered from that single event, that still impact Christendom to this day. First of all, a paramount truth is that the Apostolic Church was born on the day of Pentecost. Another truth is that Peter preached the first sermon of the newly born church. Yet, another truth is the belief and formulated doctrine that the Holy Ghost was given solely to empower the apostles for the preaching of the gospel. A strong movement was born from Acts 2: 38 that promotes baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. My mother was firmly set in the movement and ministered therein for 56 years. The movement is loosely called "Jesus Only."

From that single outpouring of the Holy Ghost on that day, today, Christendom is littered with so many religious movement and beliefs the landscape now looks like a mighty patchwork quilt, that is able to dim the eye and blur the vision. As the theme above suggests, this work is meant to highlight a single truth, being taken apart from the cluster and concentration of multitudes of other truths. Not only was the Holy Ghost meant to endue the apostles with power to preach the gospel, but also to work miracles, to heal the sick, and to convict the masses of sin, and to highlight the need to turn to Christ in repentance. This influence was so great that three thousand souls received Christ and were added to the church on that day and shortly there-after another five thousand souls came to know Jesus Christ as Savior. A simple glance across the broad spectrum of Christendom, brings to the fore the huge number of Christian Denominations that trace their roots back to the events of Acts 2, and the lasting events that permeate one society after another around the world.

So far as this article goes, the single most complex form of doctrine that should easily be aligned with the scriptures is "Christ sitting on David’s throne". The largest accepted form of doctrine in this regard, held by multitudes who subscribe to the form of doctrine held by Al Lindsay and the "Left Behind" group of believers are multitudes that follow that form of doctrine, who are basically adamant that Christ will come to sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem upon his second coming "in the future." It is because of that composed set of beliefs that we have set out to try and put all the biblical support we can find to undergird the truth that we will attempt to highlight in the biblical chronology. One of my strictest lesson I have had to learn in my quest to grow from truth to truth, is the need to relinquish my grasp on the truths that I already possessed. A simple process came to mind that I had to deal with in all sincerity.

Growing in God, and in the knowledge of his full salvation, is like climbing a flight of stairs. We use the stairs to climb from a lower level to a higher level. We use the stairs in our climb: but we will never get to the floor above, until we get off the level below. We leave the stairs in place for others coming behind to also access the upper level. We leave the stairs in place for others who are likely to come from behind us. In this process, I had to learn to let go of some "present truths" in order to acquire more truths, and even greater truths. Before we join Peter in his first sermon of the newly born Apostolic Church, let us do a background check of the mindset of the entire group of disciples assembled with Jesus shortly before he was caught up to heaven. We are told by Luke in the opening introduction to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles (it should actually be called the Acts of the Holy Ghost, for so it was).

As Jesus and his disciples gathered together, perhaps for the last time, they thought it to be the appropriate time to enquire of Jesus the timing of the promised "kingdom of God." "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6. It should be noted that Jesus did not address their question. Rather, he pointed to the coming of the Holy Ghost, that would occur in about ten days hence on the day of Pentecost. Peter was among those asking about the pending kingdom, and at that point in time, we must assume that Peter had no updated knowledge of the subject of the kingdom of God. It should be noted that at this juncture in time, the disciples are walking and learning Christ as ordinary men and women. The Holy Ghost was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorified: and he did say, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient (more profitable) 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.

Actually, the truth is that it was Christ who would return on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Ghost to infill the disciples and to infill all of God’s converted believers—referred to as "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27. How do we know for sure what really happened on Pentecost? Here is Christ setting the scene for the disciples! "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him (speaking of the Spirit of truth) for he dwelleth with you, and shall BE IN YOU." John 14:16,17. We can safely assume that the disciples had not even a vague understanding of what Christ was saying, because in his statement, Jesus portrayed himself as being the Spirit of truth. But how can a man in a human body be the Spirit of truth? Amazing as it sounds, Christ was indeed the Spirit of truth, and we have a classic example of this truth in John 7:37-39. Thus, we read: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39.

So, then, all the out pouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, and the amazing display of Spirit filled preaching, and the saving of three thousand souls in that single meeting, would not have been made possible if Jesus Christ had not died, buried and risen from the dead. Let us not forget this thought in passing! It was only after the giving of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost that we can say, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. 1:27. Walking, preaching, healing the sick, and even raising the dead all was set in a human frame and as such, Jesus Christ could not be in anyone. From this vantage point, we can now understand why it was so necessary for Christ to have died, to have risen again in a glorious body, and to implant his glory IN US.

Because of this glorified man, who became the captain of our salvation, he has authored a new plan that was adopted in the "born again process" making it more than simply rejoicing is sins forgiven. Peter added his vision and understanding of the born-again process! "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2^nd Peter 1:4. This attest to the fact that our salvation experience means more than a brand-new feeling inside of us. It means more than being able to lay claim to eternal life. To me, the highlight of our salvation is right now, in this body of flesh and blood, we are able to partake of the divine nature. To this end, Paul prayed earnestly that we might be filled with all the fulness of God, and the process where in we became partakers of the divine nature. See Ephesians 4:19.

As we rejoin Peter and the other disciples, we must first take into account the fact that at least ten days prior to Pentecost, Peter was among those asking Jesus Christ if he would at this time restore the kingdom to Israel. This means that he had no correct understanding of the intricacies and dynamics of the kingdom of God. From this vantage point, they entered the upper room where they would spend the next ten days to fulfill the 50 days from Passover to Pentecost. We are told by Luke that after his resurrection, Christ spent 40 days with his disciples, speaking with them things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3. O how we wish that we were given the details of the things Christ shared with his disciples during those forty days! Now, we are within the conclave of the waiting disciples. God moves "on time" as ordered by his divine will and purpose, and so it was that when the day of Pentecost was fully come (this was about 9.0clock in the morning) that the upper room was suddenly found in the embrace of a might rushing wind that filled the room where they were sitting.

Other aspects of this event have been highlighted in previous writings, so we will go directly to the main issue to be studied here. At this juncture, after the cloven tongues like as of fire appeared and sat upon each on in the room, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Soon it was noised abroad and the crowds came to together and were confounded. To bring some semblance of order, Peter, along with the eleven stood up to preach the first "Pentecostal message at the birth of the Apostolic Church." Watch carefully at Peter’s main theme for his sermon!

As we suggested in another place, many truths can be garnered from the events of Pentecost. Today there are scores of religious organizations that structured their doctrines from the events of Pentecost. But out of, and away from, all these assortments of truths, we are going to embrace and elevate the single most important concept that was the main structure of Peter’s sermon on that day. We need to look upon that day and the sermon preached by Peter, through the eyes of the preacher himself, bearing in mind that just ten days earlier Peter had no clear vision, or understanding of what he was about to preach. I like the way Peter opened up his sermon: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Notice that the main theme of this sermon is Christ being seated upon the throne of David. Also, notice, as we shall further see, it did not require the second coming of Christ for him to sit upon the throne of David. Rather, it was dependent upon the "resurrection of Christ" not his second coming. Peter referred to the fact that David being a prophet, and based upon God’s promise to him by an oath, Christ would be raised (from the dead) to sit upon the throne of David. To deny this truth, is to render God’s promises null and void.

Millions of Christians the world over believe and teach that it will be only upon the second coming of Christ that he will sit upon David’s throne in Jerusalem. Let us read the account once more, or part of it. "Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins (according to the flesh) he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ (not of his second coming) that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses." Notice that David in his revelation from God concerning him who’d sit upon his throne did not project the event to occur at the second coming, but at the resurrection. Peter went on, speaking of the resurrected Christ: Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear. Notice how in proper chronological order the truth was heralded. For David hath not ascended into heaven (But Jesus has) but he saith himself the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thing enemies thy footstool. At this juncture, and under current truths that were well known to him by God’s promise with an oath, David had no doubts and was not anxious as to who would sit on his throne. He had a firm and true promise that settled the matter with him forever. I like how David himself announced; "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thy foes that footstool." As far as David was concerned, the matter was settled eternally in the heavens.

As we explained in other writings, David’s throne was a reflection of God’s throne in the heavenlies. Listen to this! "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king, instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him." 1^st Chronicles 29:23. Here is another account that fits in well with our thinking at this juncture. The Queen of Sheba had come to visit Solomon and was so captivated that she spoke of that which was in her heart. She wrote saying: "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice." 2^nd Chronicles 9:8. Based upon these scriptures and those in the book of Hebrews, David’s throne on earth, much like the ancient tabernacle in the wilderness, was a type of God’s throne in the heavenlies. Peter assures us at Pentecost that although David hath not ascended into the heavens, Jesus as the person with rights to the throne has already ascended and is now seated on the right hand of the Father. We are offered a few more testimonies regarding the same truth.

The writer of Hebrews gives us a valid and concise version of this truth. He explains to us in understandable terms how Jesus took control of God’s master plan for the salvation of mankind in general. "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. BUT THIS MAN!! But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. From henceforth (From where he is seated) expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Hebrews 10:11-13. Paul added his voice as another witness: "For he must reign, till he hath put all things under his feet." 1^st Corinthians 15:25. Multitudes have relegated this reign of Christ to some future event when Christ will return to earth to reign upon David’s throne in earthly Jerusalem in Palestine. But according to Peter in his first sermon of the "Apostolic Church" outlined the fact that David had not ascended into heaven to sit on his throne, but as God had promised him by an oath, Christ was resurrected from the tomb and was seated on David’s throne at God’s right hand, from whence he will reign until his enemies be made his footstool.

I like the account offered us in Hebrews 10: 11-13. Christ being raised from the dead to sit in perfectly with the words of Gabriel that assures us, saying: "And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, (At his resurrection) and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:32,33. The death, burial, resurrection of Christ, and the giving of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost were events predestinated by God before the worlds were formed, and before time began, we as his people and His Church as His Body, were chosen in Christ to this glorious end. I like this truth: "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive (must detain or hold) until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouths of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:20,21. There shall not lack one man to sit on David’s throne, for we shall reign with Christ upon his throne, giving glory to God in worship and praise beyond the expanse of time. ALL GLORY BELONGS TO GOD!!