Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 2:17 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 2:17 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' says God, 'THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE [divinely prompted] VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM [divinely prompted] DREAMS; |
Bible Question: Friends and colleagues, is this scripture talking about the 'church age?' After reading Peter's sermon explaining their behavior, it seems that his quotes from Joel and David are talking about the 'church age' until the last days. Peter testifies that Joel's prophecy was about then and now, and until the return of thew Lord. Comments? |
Bible Answer: Is Acts 2:17, talking about the church age? No. First of all there is nothing called “THE CHURCH AGE” in the Scriptures. The Greek words AION, GENEA and OIKONOMIA have been most often wrongly translated and also wrongly understood. AION means AGE and GENEA means GENERATIONS and OIKONOMIA means DISPENSATION or STEWARDSHIP. Also the wrong understanding of the words AGES and DISPENSATIONS have led to wrong understanding of many portions of Scripture. This has also given rise to formation of many cult groups and wrong doctrines. Comparing Matt.12: 31,32 and Eph.1: 21 and the right translation of many other portions of Scripture shows clearly that God has revealed to man only about 2 ages. (1) The FIRST age, which is this present age of approximately 6000 years from ADAM to the GLORIOUS RETURN of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. (2) Then there will be the SECOND age of 1000 years, the coming Messianic Age of the glorious reign of our Lord Jesus Christ over the whole earth. The present AGE of 6000 years can be divided into 3 dispensations of 2000 years each. 1) Dispensation of the Gentiles from Adam to Jacob 2) Dispensation of the Jews from Jacob – Israel to the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ 3) Dispensation of Church from the time of the setting aside of Israel to the rapture of the Church. Acts 2: 16 – 21 must be compared with other related portions like Joel 2: 27-32, Isa.32: 12-18, Isa.44: 1-8, Ezek.39: 28,29, Zech.12: 8 – 13: 1 These Scriptures show clearly that there will be a POURING of the Holy Spirit accompanied by signs, miracles and wonders at the time of our Lord’s return to regather and restore the people of Israel to the Promised Land. At that time the whole house of Israel will repent and return back to their Land and the promises given to them in Gen.12: 1-3 and Exo.19: 5,6 etc. will be fulfilled. This kind of POURING of the Spirit or the signs, miracles and wonders occurred during a few occasions in their history when these promises were about to be fulfilled. Those were the times of 1) Moses and Joshua, 2) Elijah and Elisha, 3) the Lord Jesus and His disciples. These things did not occur in a similar manner on any other occasion throughout the human history. THESE THINGS WILL NOT OCCUR DURING THE PRESENT DISPENSATION OF THE CHURCH. These things will take place only after the rapture of the Church when the People of Israel will repent and return to their Land in the presence of our Lord. |