Signs and Wonders - Part I

G. Wasserzug, Ph.D.

Our generation seeks after signs and wonders. Man has increasingly forgotten to listen; he would rather see. This inner attitude can also be found in many believers today. They have difficulty reading or hearing the Word of God. They want to see something very special and experience the extraordinary. Many people only go to church when something "special" is happening. Many churches have given in to this desire and have replaced the simple proclamation of the Gospel with a "show."

To this tendency of modern time we can also add the desire to see signs and wonders, which today have become a definite factor in the life of the Church. How much we are reminded of the words of Jesus, which He had said about His nation Israel at that time: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” (John 4:48).

Today, much uncertainty exists over what the Bible teaches about signs and wonders. Is it “spiritual awakening” or an outward sign of apostasy? It is important that we have a clear biblical knowledge about signs and wonders.

What is a Miracle?

Generally we call anything a miracle that we cannot explain with our understanding (intellect). We define miracles as being a fact or occurrence that lies outside of our scientific knowledge. That is why a “miracle” can change according to the present level of science. Certain things called miracles years ago can be explained today. But we have to admit that with our intellect we can grasp only very little of the facts and processes of nature. The character of things is hidden to us. We are able to explain certain processes and uncover laws of nature, but we cannot answer the questions:
Where from? Why? Where to? For instance, no man knows what “life” is and therefore no man knows what “death” is. We can describe and determine life and death, but the true character of these is hidden to us.

Nature, which surrounds us, is the greatest proof of the fact that a personality unfathomably greater than we are is the cause of all happenings. The Bible says God made and sustains everything. The beginning and the progression of the world are the work of God. How tremendous are the works of God! Let us consider what our God can create from the dust of the earth: the tender rose that we admire, the fruits that we enjoy, the trees and mountains – yes, even man who thinks so highly of himself has been made from the dust of the earth. These are miracles from God before our very eyes. He causes every heart to beat; we depend upon Him for every breath.

We have grown so accustomed to these miracles from God that we hardly notice them anymore or even call them “wonders.” If we would only notice and appreciate these miracles, we would not long to see others. We would adoringly confess: “[God] Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9).
“Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?” (Job 37:16).
“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalm 40:5).

However, there are also those deeds of God that we call “miracles,” which are based upon a special intervention from God into the existing laws of nature. The all-powerful God can employ higher powers to neutralize or to overcome the known laws. If I lift up a stone I interfere with the law of material and a higher power overcomes the law of gravity of the stone. In the same manner and of course in a much greater sense, God intervenes in nature and accomplishes miracles.
The Bible records a great number of God’s miracles. A real miracle of God reveals Him, the Almighty One, as the author of the miracle. He, Himself, or the one called by Him, performs the miracle and the goal of it is that God’s will be carried out or be met.

But the Bible shows us that demonic powers, which are in Satan and his angels, can also perform miracles to fulfill the will of Satan so that he can reach his goal.

For example, consider the miracles God performed through Moses and Aaron in Egypt and those by Pharaoh’s magicians. We read: “Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods” (Exodus 7:10b–12).

The miracles of God in the Old Testament are mighty and sublime in their clear goal: “And ye shall know that I am the LORD your God” (Exodus 6:7).

Is the Lord our God able to do the extraordinary today? Of course! But we cannot force God or motivate Him through our prayers in order to meet our will. He works miracles for His sake, not to satisfy our curiosity or to spare us of the sufferings of this time or to serve our human goals. It is even very dangerous, today, to seek miracles or to try to force them. Satan is only too willing to mislead believers who yearn for miracles, and to satisfy their desire with his wonders in order to bind them unto himself. “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

We read the earnest warning for such experiences in the Word of God: “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:8–11).

We need the Holy Spirit today more than ever, a spirit of discernment so that we can recognize if it is really God who is performing the miracle or if it is Satan who wants to deceive us. The best way to tell if something is of God is to determine whether it is for His glory alone. True knowledge of God’s working in miracles can only be obtained through the study of the Bible. Discussions and opinions confuse more than they help. It is sad that this subject is used today mainly out of sensationalism or to draw many people, which can lead to great spiritual damage.

What is a Sign?

Not every miracle is a sign. Most miracles in the Bible are signs through which God wanted to either prove or affirm something. A sign in Scripture proves a godly truth, confirms a word or a message from God, or verifies a deed as being or having been done in the name and authority of God.

The Miracles of the Old Testament Prophets are Signs

The prophets received a godly authority through the Word of God that came upon them. They proclaimed: “Thus saith the Lord.” God often gave them a special power to perform miracles as a sign to the fact that their word truly was God’s Word and therefore was the truth. Elijah the prophet stepped before the idolatrous nation of Israel with the assertion, “The Lord God of Israel lives.” God is not dead! He demanded a decision from the priests of Baal through fire from heaven: “The God that answereth by fire, let him be God” (1 Kings 18:24). In spite of all their strenuous efforts, the priests of Baal received no answer from their god. After this, Elijah came and prayed: “Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again” (1 Kings 18:37).

And then the miracle happened: “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (verse 38).

This miracle was a sign proving to Israel that Elijah was speaking the truth, that God is alone and has the judgment in His hand. Verse 39 states: “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”

Many times the miracles of the prophets were signs of the truth of their prediction about the future. Elijah’s miracles are similar in many aspects to those of the Lord Jesus, which were meant to confirm Him as the Messiah.

Elijah raised the son of the Shunammite woman from death; he fed the people with little; he healed the leprous Naaman; even his dead body became a source of life (2 Kings 4:5–13). Daniel was spared death in the lion’s den as a sign that his prophetic word was the truth of God over the nations. Even the heathen King Darius had to admit, “the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end” (Daniel 6:26b).

Therefore we see God’s miracles have a higher goal and are more than just help for our little personal lives. The miracles of God in the Old Testament are mighty signs of His existence as the supreme Ruler of all.

The Miracles of Jesus are Signs

Jesus Christ came to the earth as the Son of God, the Anointed One, the Messiah and the King of kings. He offered His people a new era of time with the words, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

The King was here and with Him the kingdom. He proved His claim to the kingdom and the throne of David through His miracles, which were signs of the kingdom. Every Jew could know by these signs that Jesus was in fact the true Messiah in whom the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled. Jesus claimed the promises of the kingdom for Himself.

When through his disciples John the Baptist asked Him, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus answered with the words of Isaiah and pointed to the signs of the kingdom, which were conveyed through Him: “Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:4–5: Compare Isaiah 35:5–6).

Jesus testified that the healings and the raising of people from the dead were signs that He is the true King and that His kingdom is very close here on earth. Therefore, the miracles of Jesus took place primarily for His own sake; they were signs of the kingdom. In the report of the miracle at the wedding in Cana, we read, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11).

Therefore, Jesus did not only heal a few of the sick who came to Him in faith, but He healed them all: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Matthew 9:35).

The preaching of the Gospel and the healing of the sick belong together — the message and the miracle. We also read: “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel” (Matthew 15:30–31).

In these words we clearly see the meaning of Jesus’ miracles. They were signs of the kingdom. That is why Jesus healed all the sick who came to Him. He confronted His people and showed them how wonderful it will be when the kingdom of heaven comes to this earth.

Later Jesus sent His 12 disciples as messengers of the kingdom of heaven. They proclaimed to the people of Israel that the kingdom was very near, because the King Himself had come to be among them. He had given them the authority to confirm this mighty message with the same mighty miracles He had done Himself. He said to them, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7–8).

Therefore, the miracles performed by the disciples were also signs of the kingdom. They were to point to a time when all the promises of the prophets would be fulfilled. Note that the disciples not only had the authority to heal the sick but also to raise the dead!

Jesus changed His message when the scribes and Pharisees in Israel turned away from Him and denied Him as King. Then, instead of offering the kingdom, He concealed it from them. Jesus told of parables of the kingdom that could only be understood by those on the “inside.” But for those who were on the “outside,” the kingdom of heaven became a secret. When the disciples asked, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” Jesus answered them: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew 13:10–11).

From that hour, Jesus no longer revealed Himself as the King of the kingdom; the kingdom was no longer openly proclaimed and the signs of the kingdom ceased. When the scribes and Pharisees approached Him and requested to see a sign, He answered: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39–40).

The sign of Jonah was fulfilled in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. This is truly the greatest sign, which testifies of Him as the Messiah and Redeemer of the world. This sign is also given to us today and we need no other signs.
The offer of the kingdom was closed when Jesus ascended. The King was not there; therefore, the kingdom on earth was being postponed until the King returns. Then the kingdom of heaven will be revealed on earth and the signs of the kingdom will occur in fullness just as the prophets have promised.

Today, however, no one can declare that the kingdom of Jesus Christ is present on this earth in peace and justice. Therefore, nobody can perform the miracles, as did Jesus and His disciples. No one has the authority to heal ALL the sick or raise people from the dead. Therefore holding mass meetings for the healing of the sick is a dangerous
undertaking that can result in severe spiritual damage among the sick, who expected to be healed but ended up being disappointed. Satanic powers might even come in and work, which would mean demonic bondage.

But can’t Jesus Christ heal the sick today? Of course. However, the healing of bodily diseases today is a personal and a pastoral matter and also includes (especially) the renewal of a person’s spirit and soul. The confession of sin and the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, are the inescapable conditions for the healing of
the body, if the Lord desires it.

We are shown the way for personally dealing with a sick person through the elders of the Church in the New Testament. The word is not written in the Bible for nothing and it should find recognition where the true Church of Jesus Christ meets. James 5:14–15 explains the procedure: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

As children of God we may ask our Lord for anything, which includes the healing of our bodies. But the will of God is our greatest desire; therefore, we give to Him in prayer both of our hands. He can place into one hand the healing or into the other hand the disease, if that should add more to His glory. Health is not the highest priority nor is it the most necessary for us, but our life – whether healthy or sick – is for the sole purpose, “that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (John 11:4) and that everything leads to “the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

Sickness and old age are not a shame for the believer, but very often are the means for a deeper sanctification. The Lord could do so much more through ill believers if He would find a “yes” of inner readiness with them. First Peter 4:19 states: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

The Miracles on the Day of Pentecost are Signs

A new time began on the day of Pentecost. Israel had rejected the King and the kingdom. The time of grace began when the Holy Spirit came and filled 120 believing men and women from Israel. Special signs, which were unique and cannot be repeated, followed this great event, the coming of the Holy Spirit on this earth. The sound of a rushing mighty wind, the tongues of fire and the speaking in one language for all to understand were signs that the kingdom of God, under the lordship of the Holy Spirit, who is God, had begun in the hearts of the believers. In that great hour, even the curse of divided languages that had been caused by the building of the tower of Babel was lifted for a short time. People of many nations and tongues came together, asking in surprise, “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8).

This special miracle never was repeated. The apostles spoke in one language that could be understood by everyone as their own. Peter got up and explained what was happening. He pointed to the word of the prophet Joel, who had written about signs of the coming kingdom: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come” (Acts 2:17–20).

What was the prophet Joel writing about? He was not addressing the Church of Jesus Christ, but the nation of Israel. He wrote about the last days, before the great Day of the Lord is revealed — that is, the last hours of the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. He not only predicted a great movement in the hearts of the believers in Israel through the Holy Spirit, but great appearances in the sky and on earth so that the sun will turn dark and the moon changed into blood. But this did not happen on the day of Pentecost. Peter writes that the happenings of Pentecost make the promises written by the prophet Joel absolutely certain.

Pentecost is a Jewish holiday, the first feast of harvest, which is celebrated exactly 50 days after the feast of the sheaf of the first fruits. Pentecost was the beginning of the harvest, but later the Feast of Tabernacles followed, which meant the full harvest (Leviticus 23). The feast of the sheaf of the first fruits was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the resurrected One. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

The feast of the 50th day (Pentecost — 50) was celebrated seven weeks later. Two breads were offered on that day as the beginning of the new harvest: “the firstfruits unto the LORD” (Leviticus 23:17).

This feast was fulfilled on Pentecost, exactly 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The “first fruits” of Israel was filled with the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the harvest.

But the feast of the full harvest had to follow Pentecost. The Feast of Tabernacles, which was celebrated in the seventh month, has not yet been fulfilled. This will be the “great Day of the Lord” Joel wrote about, when all signs that the prophet predicted will be fulfilled and the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh. We look forward to this great day.
The day of “the sheaf of the first fruit” cannot be fulfilled a second time because Jesus will not rise again. The “bread of the first fruit,” the day of Pentecost, cannot be fulfilled again. The Holy Spirit cannot come upon the “first fruits” a second time. The day of Pentecost has passed and the signs of this day will not be repeated.

But an intermission known as the Church Age is taking place between Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles, the great day of the coming of Jesus Christ. The first fruit of Israel is the beginning of the new “royal priesthood” of the Church: “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

Then we read: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

Here the word “church” is used for the first time. Something new appeared; the Church, the Body of Jesus Christ. Thousands were “added,” but the signs of the day of Pentecost were not repeated. Until then only Jews had entered the Church of Jesus Christ. But then Peter was called through a special revelation of the Lord to the house of Cornelius where the Romans were gathered to hear the Word of God when the unexpected happened: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46).

What will happen now? Must these believers from among the heathen become Jews first in order to be accepted into the Church? The Lord Himself answered this question through the speaking in tongues, and Peter spoke Peter emphasizes that they had received the Holy Spirit “as well as we;” he didn’t say they spoke with tongues “as well as we.” Speaking in tongues, that is, speaking in a different language, was a sign ordained for believing Jews who came with Peter and were shocked that the heathen had received the Holy Spirit. Today the acceptance of “heathen” into the Church is no longer necessary.

The same sign of tongues was given again in Ephesians when the Apostle Paul baptized 12 men in the name of Jesus Christ after they had previously received only the baptism of repentance according to John the Baptist. These 12 men had gotten stuck in the time of the kingdom, which John the Baptist had preached. But through Paul’s preaching they were transferred into the new time of the Church. It was a unique case, and the sign of speaking in tongues followed the acceptance of these 12 men into the Church.

Therefore it is not necessary that every believer born of the Spirit of God speaks in tongues. In fact, the sign of speaking in tongues is mentioned as being something special only in three cases in the book of Acts: at Pentecost among the Jewish believers, in the house of Cornelius among the believers from the heathen, and with the 12 men of the Jewish Diaspora who were still living at the time the kingdom was announced.

We have been living in the Church Age for more than 2,000 years. Miracles are no longer necessary as signs that sinners have come to the Lord Jesus Christ and have received the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures attest: “After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13b).

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free”

MidnightCall Magazine

July 2008