11/17/2020
An important part of rightly dividing God's word includes a right understanding of the spiritual administrations.
The events recorded in Acts 2:1-4 marked the beginning of two simultaneous spiritual Administrations: the Day of the Lord; and the Day of Christ.
According to Acts 2:14-35, Peter explained the meaning of what everybody in the room saw and heard when the disciples starting speaking in tongues, and the miracle of hearing them speak in their own languages the wonderful works of God.
Peter started by quoting from Joel which prophesied of what would be available in the future, which suddenly was upon mankind.
Peter declared they witnessed the fulfillment of Joel's prophesy. That day, or new Administration, was upon them.
It became available for people to be filled with holy spirit, and thus be able to prophesy and see spiritual visions, and dream spiritual dreams (verse 17).
Peter continued to reveal other things that would happen during the same Administration. God would show wonders in heaven, and signs beneath the earth; blood, v***r, smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable Day of the Lord shall come (verses 19-20).
All those things would be available and come to pass before the time that our Lord Jesus will return to the earth for the final judgement, and when he casts the Devil into the "Lake of Fire" with his angels and the people who were born of the Devil's seed.
Even to this day, it is still available to be filled with holy spirit and thus prophesy. According to Romans 10:9-10, people are filled with holy spirit when they believe with their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. Being filled with holy spirit is what makes people "righteous" in God's eyes. It is that simple.
The other events described in Joel's prophesy have not yet come to pass. But they were also included in the abundance of revelation given to the apostle John as recorded in Revelation, which reveals future events leading to the Day of the Lord. It even includes the transition from the old earth to the new earth and new heaven.
The Administrations are named according to the final events.
As described above, the Day of the Lord is the full time period that will end with that event when our Lord Jesus will return to the earth.
The Day of Christ is a different and co-existing Administration also called the Administration of the grace of God.
The apostle Paul addressed it as follows, "For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles; If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given by me to you" (Ephesians 3:1).
The word "dispensation" in the KJV Bible is more accurately translated "administration."
Paul went on to explain that this spiritual administration was a mystery, and was hidden from all the prophets of past ages. Even our Lord Jesus did not talk about this administration during his ministry on earth. Jesus declared that kingdom of heaven was at hand, because it was while he was there. After he died and was resurrected from the dead, the administration of the Kingdom of Heaven was put in abeyance until it is returned in the distant future.
What was the mystery? "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel" (Ephesians 3:3-6).
This administration includes speaking in tongues, walking by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ as seated at God's right hand in heaven, getting born-again becoming the children of God, being sealed with holy spirit, being liberated from the Old Testament law, being liberated from the bo***ge of death and the fear thereof, being justified by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and salvation from the future day of wrath including the tribulation period described in Revelation.
One important verse that applies to God's children in the Grace Administration is, "Standfast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bo***ge" (Galatians 5:1). This liberty was not available before, and will seize to be available after the Day of Christ is fulfilled.
The Administration of the Grace of God will end when the Day of Christ is fulfilled.
The Day of Christ is described in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; and 1Corinthians 15:51-54.
2Thessaloninas 2:3-5 reveals the day of Christ will not come until the "evil one" is exposed.
1Thessalonians 5:4 and 6 says all events surrounding the Day of Wrath will not occur until after the Day of Christ. God's children, born-again during the Grace Administration, will be rescued and saved from having to endure the day of Wrath that is yet to come.
After the Day of Christ is fulfilled, the above listed things connected with the Grace Administration will no longer be available.
The Administration of the Lord's Day will continue until the Day of the Lord is fulfilled. It will continue to be available to be filled with holy spirit and prophesy. Revelation refers to unnumbered masses of people labeled as being "cleansed by the blood of the Lamb," and "white as snow," and "in white robes," all of which are terms that describe being filled with holy spirit.
