JD: Another point made by our listener David is one that we hear all the time when either you or myself suggest that the sign gifts have ceased. Here's the statement, Jesus the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now that's quoting Hebrews 13:8. And with the idea that if this was happening in the first century then it must be happening today.
DJ: Well first of all we know from John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 and other passages that Jesus is the creator which means we can't start this discussion in Acts chapter 2. We must go back to Genesis chapter 1. So while the Lord doesn't change the way He does things does change as He carries out His plan in history. This can be seen by the fact that the Lord started giving tongues and other sign gifts of the spirit just 2,000 years ago after over 4,000 years of history had already past.
If we go back to the beginning of history there's a clear pattern that emerges concerning when and why the Lord intervenes with what I call verse of Revelation and signs and wonders. We find that after long period with little or no revelation and even fewer miracles profits arose and signs and wonders happened and they were often connected with judgement against wickedness and unbelief. This happened with the Flood, the Tower of Babel, the Exodus, Elijah and Elisha and it will happen again in the future with the judgments of the Tribulation period after the Rapture.
Also Bible teachers often call the time between the testaments from Malachi to John the Baptist the era of silence and the reason is there's no record of revelation or miracles during that time. So if the Lord has established this pattern concerning His work and history then the question is is it possible or even likely that we're living in such a time in history and I would suggest that it is.
JD: David James, Bible in hand with some Biblical thoughts about signs, wonders, and miracles for today.
We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
Let me remind you what Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24. In verse 24 Jesus said that signs and wonders would be used by false prophets and false Christ to deceive the world in the last days. The Apostle John who wrote the book of Revelation said in chapter 13 that the Devil, Antichrist, and the false prophet, the satanic trinity will also be able to do signs, wonders, and miracles. You'll want to check out Revelation 16:13-15 for that same type of Satanic activity as well.
God's word the Bible warns us of deceptive signs and wonders in the last days.
