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miraculous spiritual gifts

Note: This post is the continuation of a series that is intended to be read in order. If you've not read the prior posts, please start here.

This is the final post I currently have planned for this series. I'm confident I'll add more later, but for now, this is it.

I hope you've enjoyed, benefitted from, or at least been challenged by the material I've presented.

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On to today's post.

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A wonderful byproduct I experienced from studying the things covered in this series over the past few years has been increased clarity on a question Christians have pondered for centuries:

What happened to the miraculous spiritual gifts we read of in the New Testament? When did they cease and why?

This has been quite the puzzler for innumerable Christians.

Some believe these gifts still continue today.

Others have long acknowledged a lack of widespread undeniable evidence of supernatural gifts similar to what we read of in the New Testament.

If the miraculous spiritual gifts we read about in the New Testament have indeed ceased, then when did they stop and why?

I finally have peace that I can confidently answer these questions with Scripture.

Let me show you.

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Go into all the world and preach the gospel

Note: This post is the continuation of a series that is intended to be read in order. If you've not read the prior posts, please start here.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared multiple times to His disciples. During these interactions, Jesus gave the apostles some instructions regarding their mission following His ascension.

Jesus charged them with what became known as "the great commission."

Matthew's account describes the earliest of these recorded such conversations, from Galilee:

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matt. 28:16-20 NIV)

It's called "the great commission" because earlier in Jesus' ministry, He sent the apostles on a smaller mission around the towns of Israel, only (see Matt. 10). To distinguish the two, that first sending is commonly referred to as "the limited commission." It was limited by Jesus to only the towns of Israel and only the Jews.

Over the centuries, many—probably most—Christians have believed that the great commission applied to them and all Christians just as much as it did the apostles.

I used to believe this, too.

However, after my studies of the past several years, I now realize that Jesus' specific instructions applied only to the eleven apostles.

All Christians share a responsibility to evangelize in accordance with their ability and opportunity. But the great commission was given specifically to the apostles.

This realization has some big implications on our lives today.

Let me show you...

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Note: This post is the continuation of a series that is intended to be read in order. If you've not read the prior posts, please start here.

Throughout this series I've sought to highlight certain passages that formerly were unclear or confusing but with the insight gained through this study, are now clear.

There are numerous such examples in the Scriptures. When they fell within the context of an individual post, I addressed them there.

Some of these Scriptures don't naturally fall within those subjects, however. I intend to address three of them now and add others later, as time and opportunity permit.

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One Scripture that had always somewhat puzzled me was Ecclesiastes 12:1. It says:

1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;
(Eccl. 12:1 NASB)

Most of this verse sounded clear, but what, exactly, are "the evil days?"

I used to assume it was old age that Solomon was referring to. You know, when you get old, you're kind of set in your ways and don't want to change and so turning to GOD might be less likely.

But that never fully satisfied me because it required too much of a stretch from what the text said.

So, what are the evil days there in Ecclesiastes 12:1?

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Note: This post is the continuation of a series that is intended to be read in order. If you've not read the prior posts, please start here.

So, what does all of this that we've covered during this series mean for us today?

It's an excellent question, probably one you've been asking for a while now. I've been asking it for several years, as well.

My succinct, transparent answer: I'm still figuring that out.

But... I have a lot better grasp on it today than I did 18 months before writing this post. And, Lord-willing, I will have a much better idea 18 months from now than I do today.

I've come to realize that we never fully arrive in our understanding of these things. You never reach a point where you say, "There," dusting off your hands, "I've learned all that the Bible has to teach about Jesus' second coming, what happens after death, the resurrection, the judgment and the big picture of the Scriptures."

Yet, somehow, this realization isn't (or at least it shouldn't be) depressing. Instead of feeling hopeess, we should feel excitement, like exploring a room full of treasures so big you can never reach the end.

treasure room

Here are 10 practical impacts for Christians today based on what we've covered during this series.

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bride and groom - the church and Jesus

Note: This post is the continuation of a series that is intended to be read in order. If you've not read the prior posts, please start here.

Is there a more Scripture than Revelation 21-22? 

As incredible as it might sound, once I understood the truths I've explained in this series, when I read these verses again, their beauty increased ten-fold.

Let me show you why.

New heaven and earth

In Revelation 18-20, Jerusalem was judged. Rome and the nations who persecuted the Christians were judged. Satan was judged. And all the dead, righteous and wicked, were judged.

The old heavens and earth/land passed away, fleeing from Jesus' presence.

Death and Hades (the realm of the dead) were cast into hell.

Every enemy of GOD's people had been eliminated.

That brings us to Revelation 21, where John wrote: