The argument that it has ceased is straightforward, with the necessary scripture:
- Signs are for the nation Israel. (Exodus 4, Psalms 74:9, Judges 6:13)
- The Messiah was promised to Israel and prophecy stated that he will perform many signs and wonders to prove his identity (Luke 7:20-23)
- When Jesus appeared, he performed all the necessary signs to testify to the nation Israel (John 20:30-21, Acts 2:22, Hebrews 2:4)
- Despite the numerous signs, Israel rejected him by putting him on the cross. (Luke 20:14, Acts 2:36)
- God gave Israel a one year extension as God's favored nation (Luke 13:8-9, Acts 3:26), by sending the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, who performed numerous signs and wonders again in Acts 2-7, in a final attempt to convince Israel to repent of murdering the Messiah and be converted (Acts 3:19-21).
- Israel rejected the Holy Spirit by their leaders stoning Stephen (Acts 7)
- Israel the nation fell and now salvation has been released to the gentiles thru their fall, as God has planned since the foundation of the world (Romans 11:11)
- Paul was given signs and wonders temporary to alert Israel of the change in dispensation (Acts 15:12)
- By the time Acts 28 arrived, even the diaspora of Israel has rejected Jesus (Acts 28:28).
- Signs and wonders have completely ceased at Acts 28.
Any comments and different perspectives?
The "Sign Gifts" ended because they were given to the Apostles by Jesus Christ in the Great Comission of Mark 16:14-16......
"Afterward he appeared unto the
ELEVEN as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. "
Only the ELEVEN Apostles plus Paul had the Sign Gifts as they were the only Apostles. When they died the Sign Gifts ended.
1 Corth. 13:8-9 is your confirmation where we see..........
"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. "
The "PERFECT" in the original Greek is "Teleion" which means COMPLETE. IMHO is the completed Written Word of God.
IT can not mean Jesus Christ as He has always been perfect and did not become complete as He always was.
IT can not mean the 2nd Coming of Christ at the Rapture as there will be millions left behind who will get saved.
IT can not be heaven as 13:10 says the Perfect is come.
Heaven does not come to us....we go to it.
By simple eliminatiion IMO we can see that the only perfect thing left that has come is the
"Completed" Word of God.