CHAPTER SEVEN
PENTECOST BROUGHT LIGHT ON THE MORAL PURPOSE OF PROPHECY

Even the disciples were slow to appreciate their Master's interpretation of the Old Testament kingdom prophecies. They, too, were looking for temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke, and thus they were not prepared for their terrible disappointment when they saw their Lord crucified. One writer states :-

"Before His crucifixion, the Saviour explained to His disciples that He was about to be put to death, and to rise again from the tomb. But the disciples were looking for temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke. . . . The words which they needed to remember were banished from their minds, and when the time of trial came, it found them unprepared. The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if He had not fore- warned them." ("The Great Controversy," p. 594.)

Had the disciples a correct understanding of the prophecies they could have had a praise service in recognition of the marvelous fulfillment of prophecy in the death and resurrection of their Lord. Even on the day of the resurrection the disciples did not know the true interpretation of the prophecies concerning Israel. Before Jesus revealed Himself to the two disciples of Emmaus, He explained the prophecies, for "it was necessary for them to understand the witness borne to Him by the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. Upon these their faith must be established. Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was His first work to explain the Scriptures. They had looked upon His death as the destruction of all their hopes. Now He showed from the prophets that this was the very strongest evidence for their faith. The miracles of Christ are a strong proof of His divinity; but a stronger proof that He is the world's Redeemer is found in comparing the prophecies of the Old Testament with the history of the New." ("The Desire of Ages," pp.796-799.)

Old ideas die hard, and even subsequent to the resurrection the disciples still held erroneous views regarding the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the establishment of Christ's kingdom. (Acts 1:6.) Jesus had commanded them to preach "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 10:7). But no until the time of Pentecost, not until they had spent weeks in prayer and the putting away of those things which were no in harmony with Christ, did the disciples really grasp the moral purpose of the prophecies.

"Just before leaving His disciples, Christ once more plainly stated the nature of His kingdom. He recalled to their remembrance things He had previously told them regarding it. He declared that it was not His purpose to establish in this world a temporal kingdom." ("The Acts of the Apostles," p.30.)

"Because of their selfishness and earthliness, even the disciples of Jesus could not comprehend the spiritual glory which He sought to reveal unto them. It was not until after Christ's ascension to His Father, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers, that the disciples fully appreciated the Saviour's character and mission." ("The Desire 0f Ages," p.506.)

Not until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did the disciple. understand the spiritual interpretation of Old Testament prophecies regarding the kingdom. After Pentecost, while teaching a literal, physical salvation of the future, they also taught that spiritual salvation was a present blessing. (see 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 Thess. 5:8; Rom. 13:11; Heb. 9:28; Isa. 25:9 etc.) The disciples could not, at first, see "the spiritual glory' of Christ's work fulfilling the Old Testament prediction.' "because of their selfishness and earthliness."