1.
Miraculous Spiritual Gifts - Why would God
stop them?
2. Miraculous Spiritual Gifts - Who performs these miracles today?
3. Miraculous Spiritual Gifts - The Transition Period
4. Miraculous Spiritual Gifts - The "Perfect" has Come
5. How Did Christians Receive Spiritual Gifts?
6. Are There Prophets Today?
Miraculous Spiritual Gifts - Why would God stop them?
Why would God have to tell us that the miraculous spiritual gifts would come to and end if the world comes to and end at His second coming? Think about it, If the world was coming to an end, why do we need to know that the miraculous spiritual gifts would come to an end. Of coarse they would come to an end, we would be in heaven right? Wrong! The world is not coming to and end. And there is another reason why the miraculous spiritual gifts come to and end.
So, have the miraculous spiritual gifts we read of in
the New Testament ceased? If so, when did they cease and why?
Many believe the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit still continue today.
(healings, speaking in tongues, raising the dead, etc.)
Let's start with:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Spiritual Gifts
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you
were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of
God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the
Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are
differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation
of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given
the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through
the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of
tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same
Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He
wills.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Prophecy and Tongues
14 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may
prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for
no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who
prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who
speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who
prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he
interprets, that the church may receive edification.
1 Corinthians 14:39-40 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do
not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in
order.
I do admit, it does sound like Paul is telling Christians to pursue these
miraculous spiritual gifts. The question is Is Paul speaking to you and I
in the 21st century, knowing the bible tells us all these gifts will come to an
end? The Apostles and those that they laid hand on, were able to heal and
raise dead people back to life. Can you still do this today? Look
around, do you see this happening today? Do you see anyone
prophesying 100 percent correctly? No! This is more evidence that we
Christians today cannot do what Jesus disciples could do.
Ask yourself this, Why don't we see these
miracles today, why would God stop them?
The cessation of miraculous gifts was foretold. Paul even tells us that.
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13 Now you are the body of
Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church:
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts
of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles?
Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have
gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly
desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
The Greatest Gift
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of
prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all
faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And
though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is
not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in
the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether
there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish
away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is
perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as
a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see
in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall
know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love.
Paul clearly said that Prophecies would cease, tongue speaking would cease and
special knowledge would cease. Once "completeness" comes, these special
gifts would disappear. This is saying all Prophets will come to and end.
For more about Prophets see
Are There
Prophets Today?
The word translated "completeness" in the NIV is translated "perfect" in other
translations.
NKJV - But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will
be done away.
NASB - but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
AMP - But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is
incomplete and partial will pass away.
YLT - and when that which is perfect may come, then that which [is] in part
shall become useless.
The explanation of this "completeness" (or
perfection) is found in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 11:32-12: And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell
of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the
prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in
battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead
raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of
chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were
tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and
goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- 38 of whom the world was not
worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they
should not be made perfect apart from us.
The Race of Faith
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God.
The Discipline of God
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest
you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Hebrews 12:14-18
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the
Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel
of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to
inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance,
though he sought it diligently with tears.
The Glorious Company
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned
with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,
Hebrews 12:22-29 But you have come to Mount Zion
and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable
company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who
are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men
made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hear the Heavenly Voice
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who
refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away
from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He
has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also
heaven." 27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things
that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot
be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us
have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
What we've just read is incredible; don't miss its significance!
The writer lists out these individuals we read of in the Scriptures who did
amazing things by faith. Some of them conquered foes.
Others suffered great tragedy while standing for their faith. (This clearly
shows this is not people in the 21st century)
Then, at the end of this list of reminders, when the writer had run out of time,
he drops this bomb (for us, because we haven't been taught this as the first
century Christians had been):
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had
been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only
together with us would they be made perfect.
What was it that had been promised to the great cloud of witnesses?
The text tells us it was the kingdom that could not be shaken, the heavenly
Jerusalem, the ultimate Promised Land and fulfillment of GOD's promises to
Abraham.
Why could the heros of faith only be made perfect/complete together with the
first century Christians?
Because until Jesus returned, the mass dead souls were not yet resurrected
(under the altar, remember) and therefore hadn't received their ultimate reward,
their home in the spiritual kingdom of GOD-Israel. The old things were still in
place.
According to the Hebrew writer, these dead souls would receive their kingdom
inheritance at the same time the living first century Christians received
theirs: when Jesus returned, which happened during the first century A.D., just
a few years after this letter was written.
Therefore, the "completeness" or perfection that Paul mentioned in 1 Cor. 13:10
which would bring about the cessation of miraculous spiritual gifts was the
coming of the kingdom of heaven in judgment, eliminating the old covenant and
its land, citizens, temple and worship.
There's even more. The Prophets already told us the miraculous spiritual
gifts would come to and end.
The Holy Spirit arrived on Pentecost after Jesus' ascension back to heaven.
Look again at Peter's words on that day.
Acts 2:12-21
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could
this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
Peter's Sermon
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them,
"Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed
my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third
hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.'
Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32
The salvation mentioned in Acts 2:21/Joel 2:28 referred to salvation from the
judgment of the Lord's return in the first century. We know this because the
very next verse, Joel 3:1, speaks of the gathering and restoration of
Jerusalem's fortunes, which occurred with the transition from physical Jerusalem
to spiritual Jerusalem, at the Lord's return.
Recognizing this, we can plainly see that Joel was prophesying, by inspiration,
that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the miraculous abilities that
followed were signs to warn people of the judgment (i.e., "the great and
glorious day of the Lord") so that they might call upon the name of the Lord and
be saved!
Once that day had come, as it did with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.,
the time for warning (and therefore the need for the miraculous gifts) had
passed.
And that's why the miraculous spiritual gifts existed and why they
stopped existing during the first century.
Read Joel's words once more with this in mind. You can see it indicated in the
text.
Joel 2:28-3:3 God's Spirit was Poured Out in the 1st century not the 21st
century.
28 "And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
32 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be ]saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be [b]deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.
God Judges the Nations
3 "For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.
3 They have cast lots for My people,
Have given a boy as payment for a harlot,
And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
What we just read is more evidence that we are in the Kingdom now, the new
Jerusalem. We see that Miraculous spiritual gifts ended when the temple
fell. 70 AD. The Miraculous spiritual gifts were signs to warn
people of the judgment, so that they might call upon the name of the Lord and be
saved.
Believing that Christ has not yet returned, makes holding the position that SOME of the gifts have ceased indefensible. Believing the last days ended in AD 70, and that the destruction of Jerusalem was God's "Revelation of Jesus Christ" completely removes the dilemma and inconsistency! Preterists are not consistent unless they believe the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased, and the futurists are not consistent unless they believe that all of the gifts are still available. You can't say that the perfect has not yet come but that the gift of prophecy has ceased. That is INCONSISTENT!