Pentecost and Kingdom

The coming of the Spirit will bring the collapse of kings and governments. Peter preached these words on the day of Pentecost.

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 servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven 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).

Peter was describing the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. People of all ages had been touched by the Holy Spirit. The three thousand people who called on the Lord that day were saved.

Peter said that after the coming of the Spirit, the sun would be turned to darkness and the moon to blood. He was not prophesying literal events in the sky, but using normal Old Testament imagery for the destruction of a kingdom. The prophets often described the collapse of a great nation or empire in similar language. For example, Ezekiel used the following words to describe the defeat of Egypt by Babylon.

When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light (Ez 32:7).

The words give a graphic description of Egypt being overcome by a greater power. This prophecy was fulfilled when Pharaoh lost his throne.

The sun and moon are symbols of kings and empires (see also Isaiah 13:6, 20,11; 24:21; Jeremiah 15:8,9; Amos 8:9-11), so Peter was warning that the coming of the Holy Spirit would bring the collapse of human kings and governments. Instead of calling on them for salvation, people will call on the name of the true Lord, who is Jesus.

Towards the end of his message, Peter said,

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ' Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-36).

The outpouring of the Spirit is proof that Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God. He will remain there until all his enemies have been defeated. Peter declares that Jesus has been made Lord and Messiah. These are both political terms. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to bring all things into submission to Jesus. When that happens there will be no role left for human kings and governments. They have no place in the kingdom of God.

Christians are keen to see visions and dream dreams, but we are not so excited about the impact of Pentecost on kings and governments. I am not sure why?