A Day of Smoke, Thunder and Lightning

https://www.pcog.org/articles/3703/know-your-bible-a-day-of-smoke-thunder-and-lightning

Why has God called out only a small number of people now as part of His one true Church? Why have only they been given His Holy Spirit, which remains inaccessible to the rest of mankind? Is God playing favorites? Is this the only day of salvation? The day of Pentecost gives us the answers to all of these questions.

God’s firstfruits should have a special view of the day of Pentecost because this holy day pictures them. More than any other day, this holy day—a day of smoke, thunder and lightning—shows their place in God’s Family plan. On this day, God gave His law and His Holy Spirit. On this day, God made it possible for you to be part of the Bride of Christ—a firstfruit in His Family.

While you are not yet a begotten member of that Family, your parents are, and as a teen in God’s Church, you have the potential to be. It is important for you to understand the truth about Pentecost too. So grab your Bible, some notebook paper and a pencil. Let’s understand the fantastic history of the day of Pentecost.

The Law and the Holy Spirit

1. How did God give the Ten Commandments to ancient Israel once they had reached Mt. Sinai? Exodus 19:16-18.

What an awesome display of power! Imagine the profound effect this must have had on the children of Israel. Having just been freed from their captors in Egypt, they must have been deeply moved.

The Israelites came out of Egypt during the Days of Unleavened Bread. By the time they reached Mt. Sinai and God gave them the law on this day of smoke and fire, it was actually the day of Pentecost! This was one of the significant gifts God gave His nation on the day of Pentecost anciently.

2. Did this generation of Israelites that came out of Egypt ever make it to the Promised Land?Numbers 14:28-30, 32; 26:62, 65.

The ancient Israelites did not obey God, even after He gave them such a dramatic display of His power. In reality, these people never even made it out of the wilderness. Their entire generation, except for two people, died in the wilderness, having broken God’s law again and again.