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Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
selected
articles from:
FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
These Signs Shall Follow
©FOUNDATION Magazine Editorial,
May-June 2001
The huge growth of
the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement today coincides with the degree to which
the vast number of Charismatics accept the errant teachings of their leaders.
Covering meetings through the years, we have been amazed at the ease with which
Charismatic teachers twist, lift out of context and blatantly misapply Bible
texts without even raising an eyebrow in the audience.
For instance, in every Charismatic conference we have ever covered on behalf of Foundation
magazine, the speakers have always told the audience that speaking with new
tongues, mighty works, signs and wonders will follow those who believe-
"That's what the Bible says! " claim these leaders. They base much of
their teaching on Mark 16, but as we carefully study the entire immediate
context and also understand the Scripture in Its wider dispensational context,
we find that this prophecy of the Lord was given to His disciples who would
.soon become the apostles. Only this limited number of men whom the Lord
personally sent forth-the apostles-were to have their ministries validated by
these miraculous demonstrations of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
When Mary Magdelene saw Christ's empty sepulchre, the
angel instructed her to tell the good news to "His disciples and
Peter" (Mark 16:7). She told those "that had been with Him" (v.
10) of the resurrection, and the disciples, in response to her report,
"believed not" (v. 11). Later, the two on the road to Emmaus testified
"unto the residue," to the disciples of Christ, of His glorious
resurrection, but "neither believed they them" (vv. 12,13). And
finally, the risen Lord Himself "appeared unto the eleven ...
and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness
of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after
He was risen" (v. 14). Notice carefully that is was "them," the
same disciples who throughout this text were admonished for their unbelief, who
Christ specifically commissions to go preach the Gospel of a risen Savior. Those
who believed that Gospel would be saved, but when the text speaks of "them
that believe" in verse 17, it is referring to the formerly
unbelieving disciples. In Mark 16, Christ promised "signs shall follow them
that believe," speaking of these eleven who formerly lacked belief
regarding His resurrection but who certainly now believed as they were sent
forth with the message of the risen Savior. Signs would follow them, the
now-believing apostles!
Future accounts confirmed this promise of Christ to His
disciples. The miracles worked by the apostles to authenticate their message
"confirming the word" (v. 20)—are abundant and detailed (Acts
5:12-16; Heb. 2:3-4; etc.). These miracles were undeniable and were intended for
a specific purpose. The current "signs and wonders" movement does not
meet the test of the Biblical record of the apostolic ministries. No more
apostles exist today, for the "foundation of the apostles and
prophets" (Eph. 2:20-21) has been laid. We now have the completed Word for
confirmation, and we must build only thereon.
D.W.
Costella
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