Hi there,
If the gifts have ceased - and the word no longer needs to be confirmed with signs - Will we assume that the two witnesses are fraudulent?
Spiritual gifts have not ceased. Prophetic revelation as we see in Revelation ceased. Apostleship ceased. BUT signs and wonders, healings, personal prophetic revelations, word of knowledge, tongues are all necessary for growth.
We don't see people being raised from the dead as Jesus and Paul did, but that was GOD demonstrating His power then. People always seek the signs and wonders, they want to see miracles. But then faith wouldn't be needed as much, it would cheapened when people depended on seeing and experiencing a miracle to believe, likened to a Carnival act.
There are miracles and when necessary, God works through chosen gifted people for his purpose.
How many sermons have you heard where it seemed designed specifically for you? I had a pastor who had the gift of knowledge, prophecy and tongues. He could speak to and know that there was someone in the audience with a specific problem and minister to them directly. He didn't know them or who they were, but God gave that person a special message. That is a spiritual gift. Evangelism is a GIFT (Eph. 4:11).
As for 1 :Cor. 12, the church is and mist be equipped with God's power to fulfill his plan - peiple just don't always recognize it as such and may pass it off as something else.
Discernment of spirits - yes
Word of wisdom - yes
Word of knowledge - yes
Increased faith - yes
Gifts of healing - yes
Miracles - yes
Tongues - yes
Interpretation of tongues - yes
Many of us are given these gifts not as an everyday practice but at certain times in our lives when we need them.
Did you ever sense an evil person and just know? Did you ever give someone a word of wisdom right at the moment they needed it and it seemed to have come out of nowhere? Some people have this warmth, healing words or a touch that comforts us at the right moment? God is working through.
Or maybe you can tell me how He works through us without giving anyone His powers???
But of course the main question is what about the TWO WITNESSES? Well, they will come during the Great Tribulation period. They witness to the Jews for 1260 days then the Antichrist kills them, they lie in the street dead for 3 days and then rise from the dead. This didnt happen in history. MOSES AND ELIJAH showed up on the Mount of Transfiguration, but only for a moment.
Patience. According to Rom. 11, tje Jews ( a remnant of the 15 million) will rexive Christ during this time. Remember ebery eye will see him - and they will mourn.