20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. [simple_tooltip content=’17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.’](Mark 16:17-20)[/simple_tooltip]
The Lord confirmed the preaching of His Word with miracles. If Jesus and the first century Christians needed the Word confirmed with the miraculous [simple_tooltip content=’God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?’](Heb. 2:4)[/simple_tooltip], then we do too. There is no Scripture that says these miraculous signs have passed away.
Some people have interpreted “that which is perfect” in [simple_tooltip content=’But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.’]1 Corinthians 13:10[/simple_tooltip] to be the complete Bible. This has led them to believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Although God’s Word is perfect [simple_tooltip content=’The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;’](Ps. 19:7)[/simple_tooltip], it is not the perfect thing Paul is referring to here. [simple_tooltip content=’Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.’]1 Corinthians 13:8[/simple_tooltip] does say that tongues shall cease, but it will not happen until “that which is perfect is come.”
In [simple_tooltip content=’For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.’]1 Corinthians 13:12[/simple_tooltip], Paul says, “when that which is perfect is come, we shall see face to face.” This speaks of seeing the Lord face-to-face instead of vaguely, as through a dark glass, as it is now. Some might argue that this is speaking in a symbolic sense, instead of literally face-to-face. But the next comparison in this verse says that then, “when that which is perfect is come,” we shall know all things even as we are also known. There is no other way to interpret this, except as a description of when we will stand before the Lord after this life. Then we will be face-to-face and know all things even as also we are known.
Verse eight says that at the time prophecies fail and tongues cease, knowledge will vanish away. This is talking about the next life, or the new heavens and earth because one of the signs of the end times is that knowledge shall increase [simple_tooltip content=’“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”’](Dan. 12:4)[/simple_tooltip]. So the “that which is perfect” Paul speaks of cannot be the Bible. It has to be either our glorified body or Jesus at His second coming. Either way, tongues and prophecy will remain until that time.
Jesus said that you would cast out demons, heal the sick, speak with new tongues, and signs and wonders would follow you. That means you have a very exciting life to lead today!
