We have always understood the Holy Spirit to have come upon the disciples very obviously, powerfully and permanently on the day of Pentecost....but that is not the first time that the disciples were given the Holy Spirit. In John 20 19-23 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were [e]assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (Italics are mine) This happened on Resurrection Sunday, so often we have said that the church was born on Pentecost because of the very public way that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples; however when reading this it is evident that the first day that the Holy Spirit indwelt the disciples with the ability to share the Gospel for the remission of sins was actually on Resurrection Sunday! So one could make the argument that the church was born on Resurrection Sunday which would make a very nice bookend in which the church is removed..... here's to hoping and praying! That sounds good to me! May it be so. Seems we are all restless for Him to come and take us up. It is so obvious the world we knew is gone and we are in the onset stages for the AC to come onto the world stage. Folks, we are in that time. We are living on the cusp of biblical prophecy. What exciting times we live on! Me He come soon, and very soon! Well said, Churchgal!!! TR
