27.4 The Vision of Stephen on His Death
February 2008
Notes:
Stephen’s Vision
At the time of Stephen’s death, being stoned by the Sanhedrin, he was given a vision of deep significance:
55 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56).
Jesus standing (Greek: his’-tay-mee - stand, standing, stood) on the right hand of God. For emphasis, this is repeated. We have always taken this vision as an encouragement to Stephen in his martyrdom, and a confirmation to the Christian church for their message. But is there a deeper meaning?
The close of probation for the Jewish nation can be compared to the close of probation for the world at the end of time. Daniel 7:9-10 describes a scene of judgment, where “the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit .... the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” During the judgment, God is sitting on His throne. What happens when the judgment is finished? He stands! (Hebrew: aw-mad’ - stand or stood).
1 “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1-2).
Michael stands to deliver the people of God. At the same time the wicked are delivered into the hand of Satan who is now unrestrained. There is a time of trouble such as never was. Revelation chapter seven pictures the angels holding the winds of trouble until the saints are sealed. Probation is given so that every soul has a chance to decide for or against serving the God of Heaven.
Jesus, as High Priest, ministers in the Most Holy Place during this anti-typical Day of Atonement. The last work of cleansing of sin from the lives of God’s people is being done. It is a priestly ministry and a work of judgment. When this is done, the saints are sealed. Probation is closed (Rev. 22:11). The angels let loose the winds of trouble, the seven last plagues are poured out (Rev. 15:1; 16:1-21), and there is a time of trouble such as never was.
Every person has made a decision for or against serving God. It is at this time that Michael stands and the saints receive special protection (Psalm 91) and are sheltered from the seven last plagues. Very soon Jesus comes again and the righteous dead are raised. They join the living righteous and all are taken to heaven.
In Daniel 9:24 the Jews were given 490 years probation to finish the work of God. At the beginning of the last week (seven years) of that time, the Messiah would come. He would be cut off (crucified) in the middle of the week. At the end of that week (three and a half years later) the 490 years would be finished. Probation for the Jewish nation as the chosen people of God, would be finished. The priestly ministry for the Jews as a nation was closed and Jesus was seen standing by the throne of God. He was now ready to work with a people who would bring Him the fruits of righteousness (Matthew 21:41-43).
Among the Jews there many who heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37). This was particularly true among the common people. There were also Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43), members of the Council, interested people among the scribes and lawyers, and even Matthew and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8), wealthy Publicans! At Pentecost “a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). Among these new believers were intelligent people. Of the unlearned fishermen, the chief priests in council had to “(take) knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Of Stephen it was said, “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:10). Of Paul and the other missionaries of the early church they said, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6). There was a spirit and a power in the early church that could not be resisted except by force and by persecution. All this was done by Jewish Christians who heard the gospel message and responded in faith.
On the other hand, the Jewish nation, particularly the leadership rejected Jesus right from the beginning. During the three and a half years of his ministry they repeatedly tried to trap Him, to arrest Him, and to stop Him in any way they could. They finally arrested Him at night, conducted a trial, and crucified Him. There was no question, Jesus, the Messiah, had been rejected by the Jewish leadership.
Jesus is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. For another three and a half years these leaders could observe the effects of His ministry on the lives of His apostles, and of the new converts coming into the Christian church. The brilliant and persuasive Stephen was raised to bring the message directly to the Sanhedrin, itself. This too was rejected and Stephen was stoned to death.
This marked the final rejection of Jesus by the Jewish nation. The 490 year prophecy was completed, their probation was ended. This was the final rejection of Jesus, their Messiah. The Messiah who was the central purpose of the covenant given to Abraham and the object of the temple service over the centuries was rejected.
The stoning of Stephen is recognized as the culminating event whereby the Jewish nation was rejected as the chosen people of God, and the privileges and responsibilities of the covenant passed on to the Christian church. Jesus had warned the Jews that this would happen. The Jewish Sanhedrin finally made it happen with the stoning of Stephen.
When Jesus ascended to the Father, He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). Stephen in his dying vision saw “Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). This was an added sign that Israel as a nation had passed in judgment and that their probation was closed.
If Jesus standing is also a sign that He would now step forth and deliver His people, how was this fulfilled at that time? Of interest here is that there are two probations; one at the end of the 490 years, and the other at the end of the world. Daniel 12:1 speaks of the close of probation at the end of the world. God’s people will then have been sealed, the wicked have made their final decision, and the saints will then be protected by Jesus and the holy angels.
The probation at the death of Stephen marked the beginning of the Kingdom of Grace upon this earth. This is the kingdom of Heaven proclaimed by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2). This is the work that Jesus came to do (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10). Jesus explained to Pilate that “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight” (John 18:36,37). The only weapon used by Jesus and His church would be the sword of truth (Rev. 19:15, 21). And by this sword the captives of Satan would be freed from the errors of deceit and superstition and given new hope and new life!