I would like to say that I read the letters by MAP and Renee.I think you are on target with that.I would like to add a couple of things and not for the reason of upsetting anyone on this web-site but for helping them to see the truth.

 

We are living in a time when our gift is a "FREE" gift from God. I am not going to get into all the verses to prove this but a Christian will know he has this free gift.To obtain this "FREE" gift all one must do is

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

It is trusting that Jesus took your place on the cross and paid for your sins completely. This is the "mystery" gospel that was given to Paul for the Gentiles.This is the Body of Christ. There are many verses in Paul's epistles that tell us this. This period ends at the rapture.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 

Like Renee and MAP stated there will be a Great Revival after the rapture. This is evident by the "too many to count" being saved during the Great Tribulation.

 

There has been a great lie spread to many churches today and it has to do with the sign gifts. The Bible said these gifts would cease.

1Corinthians 13:8 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.

 

As you can see prophecies, tongues, and knowledge, will cease. The falling away and believing of the lie is something satan is very good at. Satan can do a lot of things and will get even worse during the tribulation.

2Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 

How do we know the sign gifts have ceased? Look and compare the next verses.

1Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Going back to Chapter 13

1Corinthians 13:8 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.

1Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

Look at the gifts listed in Ephesians 4 AFTER the Acts epistles. This is written while Paul was in prison. Where are the sign gifts? They have ceased just like Paul said they would. God is not an author of confusion.The mystery has been completly revealed to Paul and he is writing it down. Read Ephesians for yourself and see how many times "mystery" is mentioned.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (no more sign gifts)

 

The Body of Christ during this dispensation is "sealed" once they believe.The Apostle taught the Jews that they must believe and be baptized before they could receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Before the mystery was given to Paul and the Jews blinded)

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (After the dispensation of the mystery was given to Paul)

 

The Bible is so clear that we are living in a different time than the Apostle taught. Paul was given by God the way to salvation for this dispensation. Satan has come in these last days and "decieved" a lot of people with his FAKE signs. How do we know they are fake?

1-Paul taught they would cease BEFORE faith and hope ceased.

2-Compare the movement today of tongues and healings. Women are highly involved. According to Paul BEFORE he was in prison he said women were to remain silent.

1Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

3-Tongues were for the "unbeliever" yet today the movement says it is for the believer and to prove the person has the Holy Spirit..

1Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:

4-During the period BEFORE this dispensation Christians sold everything they had and owned everything in common.Try to get these T.V. preachers whom base their ministries on these sign gifts to sell what they have and let everyone own it together.

Acts 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

 

The Bible is so clear if a person would just divide it correctly and put the requirements in the correct time period.It is not confusing. Satan is the author of confusion not God.

 

It is amazing to me that people will not accept God's free gift because they want to go back to the law and earn their salvation. They just have a hard time accepting that Jesus did it all for us.

 

There is going to be a Great Revival after the rapture. I do not know how exactly the gifts will come into play then. I do know satan will have the power to do all these gifts as he is doing today in the Charismatic churches. A lot of the more conservative churched are giving in to these sign gifts and will not denounce them as from satan.Remember Satan is the GREAT DECEIVER and just because you "babble" something and you think it is tongue speaking, remember it it probably of satan.

 

Please Please do not take this the wrong way but it is to try and help people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The rapture is close and everyone needs to be counted as worthy. The only way to be counted as worthy is to BELIEVE in Jesus as your savior and him alone. The Jews require a sign and they are temporarily blinded. It looks as though all these people today whom require a sign are part of they that have a strong delusion.They are blinded but they still have time to turn to Jesus before it is too late.

 

thanks

Mike W