AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES REGARDING THE MIRACULOUS IN THE BIBLE
WITH AN ATTEMPT TO CONFIRM THESE PRINCIPLES
WITH BIBLICAL SUPPORT
MIRACLES PART 2B
Principle #7.
Physical miracles may occur at any time. Nevertheless the
manifestation of physical miracles as signs confirming the
authenticity of a particular Prophet or Apostle began at a certain
period in that person=s life (John 2:11) and generally, except in
the case of Jesus, ended by the time of the death at that person
(2 Kings 2:9-10). Consider the differences in the New Testament
apocryphal books.
(John 2:11 NIV) This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
(2 Ki 2:9 NIV) When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
(2 Ki 2:10 NIV) "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours??otherwise not."
(2 Ki 13:20 NIV) Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring.
(2 Ki 13:21 NIV) Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
Principle #8. Jesus has a unique place in the Father’s program. Only of Him is it said:
(John 21:25 NIV) Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
God had a unique Son to Whom He could give abundant miracles knowing that they would not be squandered.
(John 3:34 NIV) For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
(John 3:35 NIV) The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
Principle #9. Because Jesus has this unique place, those
who rejected the persuasive signs which accompanied Jesus=
ministry and attributed them to Satan, were guilty of an
unforgiveable sin, a sin which in this writer=s opinion cannot be
committed today. Because of this unforgiveable sin, they
experienced the greatest tribulation which Jewish believers will
ever experience. (Matthew 23:34)
(Mat 23:34 NIV) Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
(Mark 3:19 NIV) and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
(Mark 3:20 NIV) Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.
(Mark 3:21 NIV) When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
(Mark 3:22 NIV) And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub ! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
(Mark 3:23 NIV) So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?
(Mark 3:24 NIV) If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
(Mark 3:25 NIV) If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
(Mark 3:26 NIV) And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.
(Mark 3:27 NIV) In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.
(Mark 3:28 NIV) I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.
(Mark 3:29 NIV) But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."
(Mark 3:30 NIV) He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."
(Mat 12:22 NIV) Then they brought him a demon?possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
(Mat 12:23 NIV) All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
(Mat 12:24 NIV) But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
(Mat 12:25 NIV) Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
(Mat 12:26 NIV) If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
(Mat 12:27 NIV) And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
(Mat 12:28 NIV) But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
(Mat 12:29 NIV) "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
(Mat 12:30 NIV) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
(Mat 12:31 NIV) And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
(Mat 12:32 NIV) Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
(Mat 12:33 NIV) "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
(Mat 12:34 NIV) You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
(Mat 12:35 NIV) The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
(Mat 12:36 NIV) But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
(Mat 12:37 NIV) For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
(Mat 23:34 NIV) Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
(Mat 23:35 NIV) And so upon you will come all the righteos blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
(Mat 23:36 NIV) I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
Mat 23:37 NIV) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
(Mat 23:38 NIV) Look, your house is left to you desolate.
(Mat 24:21 NIV) For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now??and never to be equaled again.
Compare Programs ##126-130 on eschatology.
