THE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (1)

Pentecost Day

Victor M. Eskew

 

          The word “Pentecost” is an Old Testament concept, but the word itself is only found in the New Testament.  It is found three times in the King James Version.  The first time it is used is in Acts 2:1.  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”  The apostles of Jesus had assembled in Jerusalem following the Lord’s ascension as He commanded them (Acts 1:4).  He had told them that the power of the Holy Spirit would come upon them.  It was on that day the event occurred.  The second time we read the word Pentecost is also in the book of Acts.  Paul was determined to make it to Jerusalem for this feast.  He was so determined that he decided not to spend time in Asia, but sail by Ephesus, a city in which he had established a congregation of the Lord’s people.  “For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend time in Asia:  for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16).  The last time Pentecost is mentioned is in 1 Corinthians 16:8.  This time Paul writes:  “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.”

          Pentecost was one of the three major feast days of the Jews.  It was celebrated fifty days after Passover.  After setting forth the instructions for “the Lord’s Passover” (Lev. 23:5), Moses delineates the directions for Pentecost and the feast associated with it.  He begins with these words:  “And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:  even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord” (Lev. 23:15-16).  Seven sabbaths following a sabbath would account for forty-nine days.  Then the text states:  “…even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath.”  This would add up to fifty days.  This is why it is called (Pente)cost Day (emp, mine, vme).  Notice that Pentecost Day always fell on the first day of the week.  The feast week that was attached to Pentecost Day was called by two names, “The Feast of Weeks” (Exo. 34:22) and “The Feast of Harvest” (Exo. 23:16; lev. 23:15-21).  Pentecost day commemorated the giving of the Law of Moses on Mount Sinai. 

          Pentecost Day is important because the church Jesus promised to build (Matt. 16:18) was established on that day.  Just before He ascended to the right hand of His Father in heaven, Jesus promised to give power to His apostles when the Holy Ghost came upon them (Acts 1:8).  The coming of the Holy Spirit happened on Pentecost Day following the Lord’s ascension.  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).  The words Peter spoke that day are recorded for us in the remaining portion of this chapter.  Peter convicted the Jews of having killed the Christ (Acts 2:22).  He also affirmed that this same Jesus was resurrection from the grave by God.  He concluded his sermon with these words:  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).  This caused many to ask, saying:  “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:38).  Peter’s response was to the point.  “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).  Peter simply pointed out the same instructions he had been given by the Lord in the Great Commission (Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47).  “And they that gladly received his word were baptized:  and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).  These individuals were now saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  According to Acts 2:47, these saved ones were added by the Lord to the church.  This is the first time the word “church” is used in the present tense in Scripture.  The church was now established upon the earth.  From this point onward, it will be a spiritual entity found in the hearts of the redeemed.

          Because the church was established on Pentecost Day, there is a church who has chosen to be called by this name.  Some refer to it as The Pentecostal Church.  This name, however, has been generically applied to many churches.  The largest Pentecostal Church carries this name, “The United Pentecostal Church International.”  Notice, the term “Pentecostal” is still in the name.  It this this church that will be the topic of our studies for the next several months.

          It is interesting that a church that professes to follow Jesus Christ would wear the name of a Jewish feast day.  Why honor a feast day instead of the one who died to purchase the church?  In Acts 20:28, we are told that Jesus purchased the church “with his own blood.”  Jesus is the owner of the church.  Jesus is the builder of the church (Matt. 16:18).  Jesus is the Head of the church (Col. 1:18).  Jesus is Savior of the church (Eph. 5:23).  With all of this Scriptural facts before us, it would seem logical to call the church by the Lord’s name.

          Too, the church was not established on the first day of the week because it was Pentecost Day.  The church was established on the first day of the week because that was the day the Lord Jesus Christ came forth from the grave victorious.  “And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun…and when they looked, the saw that the stone was rolled away:  for it was very great.  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a long white garment; and they were affrighted.  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted:  ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified:  he is risen; he is not here…” (Mark 16:2, 4-6).  Dear readers, the church should glorify the risen Savior and not a feast day of the Jews.

          It also needs to be pointed out that Pentecost Day is no longer a feast to be commemorated.  When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, he nailed the Law of Moses to the cross (Col. 2:14). It was taken out of the way.  It was abolished (Eph. 2:14-15).  The law became dead to man, and man became dead to the law (Rom. 7:4, 6).  The spiritual law that is authoritative today is the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Heb. 8:6).  Jesus ratified the new covenant with His blood (Matt. 26:28).  Under this covenant, Jesus is supreme.  The things found in the Law of Moses, including the day of Pentecost, are simply there for our learning (Rom. 15:4). 

          Nowhere in the New Testament do we ever read of the church being referred to as “The Pentecostal Church.”  This is a manmade name that was chosen for a church.  It was not chosen with wisdom.  It was not chosen with much consideration of the Scriptures.  A Scriptural name is “the church of Christ.”  The apostle Paul did not hesitate to refer to churches by this name in the first century.  To the church at Rome, Paul wrote:  “The churches of Christ salute you” (Rom. 16:16b).