The Holy War — Page 112
112 And, was it not the custom of our Lord that those whom he repri- manded, he strengthened as well? When he said to them to go into the world and these Signs will accompany those who believe, he did not mean you were weak in regards to miracles before, but that future miracles shall happen through you. Was this reprimand given to the priests of our age also? We agree that the promise is a general one, but show us where those through whom this promise is to be fulfilled are also similarly meant to be everyone. We have read out to you all that is in Mark 16 in our statement. Did the same situation exist there or not? Thus, when those through whom these Signs were to be shown were spe- cific, is the stretching of this promise beyond the time of the disci- ples misplaced or not? Regarding the fulfilment of this promise, read Acts 8:14 and see if it is not written that when the apostles John and Peter went to Samaria and found many Christians there, they asked them if they had also received the Holy Spirit or not? They replied that they had not even heard about the Holy Spirit, so they were asked at whose hand they had been baptised. They replied that they had been bap- tised at the hand of John the Baptist. Then they laid their hands on their heads, and they received the Holy Spirit. Does this example not show that our explanation is correct and true, and your stretch- ing to eternity the promise of miracles is wrong? 1 Corinthians 12:4 tells us that, ‘Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. ’ In the same chapter, verse 28, ‘And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?’ This clearly shows that in those days when the disciples were