Why Prophesying Why Prophesying

and Speaking in and Speaking in

Tongues Do Not Tongues Do Not

Occur TodayOccur Today

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Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles

Signs, wonders, and miracles are essential to the Christian faith.

They proved that Jesus was sent from God.(Acts 2:22 NKJV) “… attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, .…”

They confirmed the prophet’s messages.(Heb 2:4 NKJV) God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

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It is also essential to understand that they ended.

If they did not end, then: There are additional authorized

messengers. There are additional authenticated

messages.

We must heed all the words from God to man.

Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles—Cont’d—Cont’d

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The claim of continuing messages from God is a great source of confusion and digression in the religious world today.

We need to put that claim in clear contrast to the Scriptures.

We need to be able to demonstrate from the Scriptures the end of miracles.

Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles—Cont’d—Cont’d

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The Scriptures (I Cor. 13 and Eph. 4) teach the principle that there would be a time when signs, wonders, and miracles would end.

That is a valid and valuable approach.

Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles—Cont’d—Cont’d

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The approach in this study for proving the end of signs, wonders, and miracles it to: Identify the ways (modesmodes or means) by

which people received them. Show that these modesmodes of transmitting

these abilities are no longer available today.

Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles—Cont’d—Cont’d

If miraculous abilities cannot be imparted today, they are not available today.

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First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s Hands Apostle’s Hands

The first modemode (or means) of imparting miraculous gifts we will investigate is the laying on of an Apostle’s hands. We will look at occasions on which this

occurred. We will see an explicit statement from

the Scriptures about this mode.

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Example #1: Twelve “disciples” at Ephesus

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

Paul thought they were Christians and asked: (Acts 19:2 KJV) … Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? .…

When Paul learned they were not Christians, they were baptized.

Then—only after they became Christians:(Acts 19:6 KJV) … Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

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Example #2: The Samaritans

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

But, Simon never asked Philip for the But, Simon never asked Philip for the ability to ability to performperform miracles. miracles.

Among the Samaritans (Acts 8:5-13), the evangelist Philip: Worked miracles. Taught and baptized many (including

Simon, a magician). Simon was amazed at the miracles and

signs done by Philip (Acts 8:13).

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Example #2: The Samaritans—Cont’d

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

Then two Apostles (Peter and John) came to Samaria and … (Acts 8:17 NKJV) … laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

They received something Simon could see.(Acts 8:18 NKJV) ... Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given ....

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When Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands that miraculous abilities were transmitted, Simon asked the Apostles to …(Acts 8:19 NKJV) … “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

Simon approached the Apostles (not Philip) for the power to impart miraculous abilities.

Example #2: The Samaritans—Cont’d

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Note Simon’s clear conclusion that the the power was transmitted by the Apostles’ hands:(Acts 8:18 NKJV) …through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given ….

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

Example #2: The Samaritans—Cont’d

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Example #3: Timothy

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

The Apostle Paul had imparted a “gift” to Timothy.(2 Tim 1:6 KJV) ... stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

The eldership (“presbytery”) was present.(1 Tim 4:14 KJV) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

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Example # 3: Timothy—Cont’d

Again, it was an Apostle’s hands that transmitted the abilities.

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

It was “by” Paul’s hands and “with” the hands of the eldership. The eldership was present. Paul’s hands were the means by which

the miraculous abilities were imparted.

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Summary of First Mode

The first modemode (or method) of receiving miraculous abilities is the laying on of an Apostle’s hands.

There is not a single instance of miraculous abilities being imparted by a man (or woman) except by the laying on of the hands of an Apostle.

First ModeFirst Mode: Laying on of an : Laying on of an Apostle’s HandsApostle’s Hands—Cont’d—Cont’d

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But, there are two (and only two) occasions recorded when the miraculous abilities were imparted without the laying on of anyone’s hands.

These two instances demonstrate a second modemode (or method) by which miraculous gifts were received.

Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles

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On the Day of Pentecost (AD 30), the Apostles …(Acts 2:1 ASV) … were all together in one place.(Acts 2:2-3 ASV) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.(Acts 2:4 ASV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spirit with the Holy Spirit

Example #1: Apostles on Pentecost

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On the Day of Pentecost (AD 30) … The Apostles received the ability to speak

in tongues. But, those abilities were not imparted by

anyone’s hands. They came “from heaven” (Acts 2:2) and

“fell” (Acts 11:15) upon the Apostles.

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

Example #1: Apostles on Pentecost—Cont’d

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Example #1: Apostles on Pentecost—Cont’d

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

This was baptism “with the Holy Spirit.”

This was in fulfillment of a promise: That Jesus made just 10 days earlier that...

(Acts 1:5 NKJV) … you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

That Peter said was fulfilled when Jesus, …(Acts 2:33 NKJV) … having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

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While Peter was still preaching…(Acts 10:44 NKJV) … the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

Peter observed that those Gentiles had...(Acts 10:47 NKJV) “… received the Holy Spirit …

And, as a result they did …(Acts 10:46 NKJV) … speak with tongues and magnify God….

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spirit with the Holy Spirit

Example #2: Cornelius’ household

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What happened at Cornelius’ house in AD 40 was a rare event: For a precedent, Peter related it to

something that had happened before to the Apostles.

Peter said those of Cornelius’ house had...(Acts 10:47 NKJV) “… received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

Example #2: Cornelius’ household—Cont’d

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What happened at Cornelius’ house in AD 40 was a rare event:—Cont’d For a precedent, Peter related it to events

on Pentecost AD 30. Peter said the Holy Spirit fell on them...

(Acts 11:15 NKJV) “…as upon us at the beginning. Peter said God gave them...

(Acts 11:17 NKJV) “…the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ .…

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

Example #2: Cornelius’ household—Cont’d

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What did happen at Cornelius’ house?

Peter connected the events at Cornelius’ house with a promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit.(Acts 11:16 NKJV) “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

Example #2: Cornelius’ household—Cont’d

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Peter connected the events at Cornelius’ house with “the baptism of the Holy Spirit” on Pentecost.(Acts 11:15 NKJV) “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

This was baptism “with the Holy Spirit.”

Example #2: Cornelius’ household—Cont’d

What did happen at Cornelius’ house?—Cont’d

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Summary of Second Mode

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

Those Apostles on Pentecost (AD 30) and those of Cornelius’ household (AD 40) received visible, miraculous abilities, just as did: The twelve Ephesians upon whom Paul

laid his hands, and Those of Samaria upon whom Peter

and John laid their hands.

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Summary of Second Mode—Cont’d

Second ModeSecond Mode: Baptism : Baptism with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit—Cont’d—Cont’d

But the the modemode (or method) of imparting the gifts was completely different. No laying on of hands was involved. On Pentecost and at Cornelius’ house,

the abilities seem to “fall” from heaven (Acts 10:44,11:15).

Jesus, the one who baptized with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8), was in heaven (Acts 2:33, Col. 3:1, I Pet. 3:22) .

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There were two modesmodes (or means) by which miraculous abilities were transmitted: The laying on of an Apostle’s hands. “Baptism with the Holy Spirit” by Jesus.

There are no Apostles today (none meet the qualifications—Acts 1:20-23, I Cor. 15:8-9).

There is no “baptism with the Holy Spirit” today (Paul says there is “one baptism” in Eph. 4:5, written AD 62).

Signs, Wonders, and Signs, Wonders, and MiraclesMiracles