Larry Berlin
5 min readAug 7, 2023

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The Bible does not give an ending time for any of the gifts of the Spirit. Thus His gifts are still available, according to His will and His timing. Many make the mistake of thinking that they can “command” the work of the Spirit when they call for it, but only God can give such a “command.” As you point out, they were used relative to Christ to prove His origin and authority.

John 5:36

But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

In the OT we find that often when God's people transgressed His law, God withheld blessings and gifts because of their trespass. The prophets were then sent with messages calling His people to return to Him, and to follow Him, and keep His commandments. He pleaded with His people that they should return so that He could again bless them and protect them from their enemies.

His blessings were largely absent from the nation at the time when Christ arrived in person. The nation (mostly the leaders) turned against Christ because they failed to study the prophets and to recognize the clear signs of who He was. They wanted Him to take down the Romans, and elevate the Jews, which wasn't the kind of “kingdom” He was building.

Clearly, the blessings which God wanted to give, were still available because Christ promised them to His disciples at Pentecost. They were able to carry out all the miracles of Christ, and more as the Holy Ghost gave them direction to do so and the power to do them.

John 14:12

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

In theological terms that was the “first rain” or “former rain” which example indicates that the latter rain will be more abundant. God will call those whom He knows are His, and will give them gifts as they are needed. There will be a special outpouring of those gifts shortly before He returns.

Joel 2:23

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

But Satan will also be providing what seems to be the same gifts, so we are not to rely upon miracles as a sign of God's presence or approval. The guiding principle is,

Isaiah 8:20

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

In our time we are witnessing the following passages in Revelation 13 being fulfilled. That “deadly wound” took place in 1798, and it has been healed since then such that this beast power is again drawing the nations in wonderment to follow. That power is still issuing decrees which go against God's Word and most of the world is accepting them. Those wonders which will deceive people have yet to take place, but people are being prepared to be deceived by such manifestations of power, imitating miracles which in the OT were only from God, and from the NT were associated with Christ and the disciples.

The deciding principle is that we can know which power or miracle is God's or the enemy's by comparing what is said by that power to the instructions in the Bible. If they speak not according to God's Word, the miracles are not from God. We are warned to “not be deceived.” See Matthew 24:4-7. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24%3A4-7&version=KJV Those who fail to study and understand God's Word, will be deceived by miracles that are not from God.

Revelation 13:12-14

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

James 5:7

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

The clincher here is that this very parable gives us instruction regarding Christ's return. The supplied wedding garment represents Christ's gospel message. The 10 virgins, who being young women, represent the churches. In the story we find that some of them were prepared with extra oil, and the others failed to have the oil. Those who did not prepare themselves by connecting and following God's Word, were unable to go in to the feast. The “feast” referred to here represents the wedding feast, the celebration in heaven to which Christ will take His people, His Bride, directly after removing them from the dying earth.

Luke 22:30

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 21:7, 9

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 22:6, 7

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Jude 1:20, 21

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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Larry Berlin

A world traveler, fascinated with the Universe, a follower of the Creator. Writing about Bible based mysteries, treasures, patterns, symbols, and prophecy.