The Pentecostal Church vis a vis The Body of Christ

Faith in Acts: The Pentecostal Church vis a vis The Church, The Body of Christ:

Before continuing our examination of “faith” in Acts, a review of the make up and characteristics of the Pentecostal Church described in the first chapters of the book of Acts compared to The Church, the Body of Christ that exists today is in order. The foundation for that Pentecostal church is actually found in the book of Leviticus, which contains God’s instructions to Israel for seven feasts/ festivals to be celebrated every year. Each was significant both in regards to the Lord’s provision for Israel and to the foreshadowing of their coming Messiah. During His earthly ministry Jesus Christ honored and attended each one because as Israel’s redeemer and Messiah He not only lived according to the Law of Moses, He fulfilled it.

On three of their feast days or weeks, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, the Jews made pilgrimages to Jerusalem. The Passover celebrated when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and each family killed a spotless lamb, put it’s blood on the doorposts and lintel of the door to their homes and ate the lamb in their homes so the Angel of Death would pass over. Jesus Christ fulfilled this feast day when He was crucified on the Passover, He was the ultimate sinless lamb; He was without sin but died for the sins of His people.

The Feast of Pentecost was celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover. It was a celebration of two things; one, the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, which occurred on the 50th day after the Passover and two, the first wheat harvest of the season, celebrating that which was necessary for sustenance, Exodus 34:2222 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.

. Jesus may actually have been born during the Feast of Tabernacles but at any rate He will fulfill this celebration when He returns at His second coming to earth and tabernacles, or lives with His people as their King.

The calendar we use has been adjusted over the past 1900 + years so Bible Commentators estimate Jesus was actually born on about the 3rd or 4th year BC, or before Ammo Domini (AD). Jesus lived 33 years, and assuming He was born in 3 or 4 BC, He would have died on the Passover in 29 AD. He ascended into heaven 40 days after that and then 10 days later He sent the Holy Spirit Who literally filled the believing Jews in Jerusalem who were in attendance at the Feast of Pentecost. That group of believing Jews made up what is known as the Pentecostal church. In sending the Holy Spirit, Jesus partially fulfilled Pentecost in that He fulfilled the Law given to Moses at Sinai and He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell His people, it was a time of abundance, a Spiritual harvest, for He was the Bread of Life, which gave life to His people. However, it was only partially fulfilled then because the full fulfillment will not occur until He returns and calls out a group of Jews Who will be filled with The Holy Spirit during the Great Tribulation yet to come and then go into the Millennial Kingdom with Him. The Church of believing Jews at Pentecost was a very unique church in that the elements and organization thereof was totally different from any assembly before it came into existence and after its members died off, it has not been replicated.

It is estimated that Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, was saved in about the year 37 AD and since he was the first member of The Church, The Body of Christ it can be said the Church, the Body of Christ began about 8 years after the church at Pentecost. This means these two distinct churches overlapped in existence for a while after about 37 AD. Many in the Jewish Pentecostal church were dispersed as they were persecuted after the stoning of Stephen. They ultimately died off but will be resurrected when their Messiah return and brings them into His Kingdom on earth. On the other hand, The Church, The Body of Christ consists of every true believer since the Lord Jesus Christ saved the Apostle Paul. Those believers who have died await the rapture, as do we who are alive and remain at this time.

Because of a lack of understanding of the Word of God rightly divided, 2 Timothy 2:1515 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

, various attempts have been made to duplicate what happened in the Pentecostal church that began in about 29 AD but they have all been totally unsuccessful. This has been the cause of a lot of confusion among some within the church, The Body of Christ. In order to understand the Pentecostal church, which only lasted for about 40 years or so, we need to understand its characteristics:

•It was located in Jerusalem, Acts 1:44 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

, 12; 2:1 - 5, 14.

•It was headed, guided or led by the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, all of whom accompanied Him during His 3 year ministry (Matthias, who replaced Judas, was appointed according to the will of God. The Apostle Paul could not have filled that position because he did not accompany Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, as required, Acts 1:20 - 2620 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

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•It consisted totally of Jews or proselytes to the Jewish religion that were totally unanimous, or of one accord in their thinking, Acts 2:1 - 51 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

& 10. (Have you ever observed any group, assembly or church wherein the people have been totally unanimous in their thinking?)

•The Jewish members came from all over the then known world and spoke the languages of the countries from which they came, and yet they all could understand each other perfectly, Acts 2:5 - 135 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

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•The characteristics of that church had been foretold or prophesied in the Old Testament to occur in the last or end days, Acts 2:14 - 2014 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 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:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

, Joel 2:28 - 2928 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

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•Everyone in the church was required to sell everything they had and give the proceeds into a common pool from which everyone in the church shared, Acts 2:44 - 4644 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

. They all were literally of one heart and mind and none claimed anything his own but everything the group possessed was shared in common, Acts 4:32 - 3732 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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•They spent their time in being taught, i.e., learning doctrine, and fellowshipping with each other, eating and praying, Acts 2:4242 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

, 46 & 47.

•They were obedient to the Law of Moses and worshipped in the Temple in Jerusalem, Acts 2:4646 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

, 3:1.

•Miracles, signs and wonders were performed by the Apostles, Acts 2:4343 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

; 3:2 - 8.

•The leaders of this church had never been trained in the schools of the time, that is, they were unlearned and ignorant but they had been with Jesus during His ministry and spoke with boldness and understanding, Acts 4:1313 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

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•Judgment for disobedience was just and final as with Ananias and Sapphira who withheld for themselves part of what they sold instead of giving it all to the common pool of goods, Acts 5:1 - 111 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

. (Those who may believe these two were not necessarily punished for withholding part of what they possessed but just for lying about it should carefully read what Jesus Christ told the rich ruler who told Jesus he had kept all the commandments from his youth up. Jesus told him that was not enough, he had to sell everything he had and give the proceeds to the poor in order to enter the Kingdom of God because it was literally easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, Luke 18:18 - 2718 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

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•Everyone (that’s everyone) in that church was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness (confidence), Acts 4:3131 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

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•They gathered together of one accord (in one cohesive unit) on Solomon’s porch in the Temple in Jerusalem where the Apostles performed many miracles. Those not in the temple moved their sick out of their homes and laid them in their couches or beds on the street so when Peter walked by and cast his shadow on them, they were all healed, Acts 5:12 - 1612 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

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•The Chief Priest and Israel’s National leaders (the Sadducees) were indignant or jealous and had the Apostles thrown in prison but at night the Angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and told the Apostles to go to the Temple and speak about life through resurrection. The Apostles did so and when the Chief Priest and the leaders subsequently sent to the prison for them they found the doors all locked and secure with guards standing by as if nothing had happened. When they opened the prison doors they found the Apostles missing, Acts 5:17 - 2317 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

. They were then informed that the Apostles were in the Temple preaching, Acts 5:2525 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

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That Pentecostal church was but a foretaste of what will happen during the Great Tribulation, which will occur after we, the Body of Christ have been raptured, that is, taken to heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ. During that time there will be a group of Jews who God will save, protect and carry through the Tribulation into the 1000-year reign of Christ.

The Pentecostal church that started some 1986 years ago, faded and disappeared because Israel, as a Nation rejected it and that didn’t take long. Stephen was falsely accused by some Jews, and was brought before Israel’s leaders where he recited the history of their nation but when he accused them of killing their Messiah and breaking the law of Moses they lost it and stoned him to death. That was the beginning of the end of the Pentecostal church, Acts 6. The money and goods in their common pool on which they lived was used up making it necessary for the Apostle Paul to subsequently take up collections from the believers in Macedonia and Achaia for them, Romans 15:2525 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

-31, 1 Corinthians 16:11 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

-3. Then, in 70 AD the Romans under Titus overran Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple.

But the collapse of the Pentecostal church did not catch God by surprise. He knew it was going to happen and had a great plan in His mind for mankind. He saved Saul, a leader of the Pharisees and one of the chief agitators persecuting the Pentecostal church. Paul had stood by holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen and subsequently was on the road to Damascus to arrest some of the Jewish believers there. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him, saved and sent him as an Apostle to the Gentiles (and to any Jews who believed), Acts 9. And so Saul became Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, not because he had accompanied Christ during His earthly ministry like the 12 Apostles, but because The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him personally from and in heaven, 2 Corinthians 2:2 - 42 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

, to reveal to him the message of God’s Grace for the Church, the Body of Christ, which had been a secret God had kept from anyone from the beginning of time, Romans 16:25 & 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

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Our English word apostle is translated from the Greek word “apostolos” (G652). The Greek means “a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.” Jesus Christ’s Apostles to the Jewish Church at Pentecost where the 12 that had accompanied Him on earth whereas He sent Paul to both Jews and Gentiles with the Gospel or good news of Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and what that has done for us, 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

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(It is noteworthy that the singular for the Greek word Apostle is never found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John or Acts, it always appears in the plural - Apostles. However, the singular for the Word Apostle is found 16 times in the Pauline Epistles. The 12 Apostles were to Israel, Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles and of course any individual Jews who believe the Gospel he was given.)

Paul calls himself an Apostle at the beginning of most, not all, of the epistles he wrote, such as: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,” 1Corinthians 1:1. See also Romans 11:1313 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

; 1 Corinthians 9:1 - 21 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

, etc. The Apostle Paul was gifted with all the signs of an apostle when he began his ministry: 2 Corinthians 12:11 - 1211 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

. In his early ministry Paul performed miracles the same as those by the Apostle Peter in order to show he was an Apostle of Jesus Christ, but they left him at the end of his life, just as they have left the Church, the Body of Christ. Some of the signs of an apostle were Peter healing the man at the Temple who had been lame from birth, Acts 3:11 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

-11; Paul healing a man who had been crippled from Birth at Lystra, Acts 14:88 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

-18, and later Publius and other diseased on the Island of Malta, Acts 28:8 & 98 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

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People were healed of disease and evil spirits while they lay in their beds and the shadow of Peter passed over them, Acts 15 & 16; The same occurred when people were touched with handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched Paul, Acts 19:11 & 1211 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

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Peter oversaw the punishment of Ananias and Sapphira when they died for the sin of holding back some of the goods they sold, Acts 5:55 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

-10. Paul was used to blind the Jewish false prophet/sorcerer Barjesus because he had attempted to turn Sergius Paulus away from the faith, Acts 13:55 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

-12. Peter was released from prison when the doors were opened by an angel, Acts 5:17 - 2017 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

. Paul was released from the Philippian prison by a miraculous earthquake that unloosed all the chains and doors, Acts 16:25 & 2625 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

. In Joppa, Peter raised Dorcus from the dead, Acts 9:3636 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

-42.

In Troas, Paul raised Eutychus from the dead, Acts 20:77 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

-12.

Peter saw the vision of a great sheet knit together on the 4 corners full of all sort of beasts, animals and fowls that God told him it was okay to eat, lowered down to earth, Acts 10:99 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

-22. (Note that was from heaven to earth.) Paul was caught up to heaven where the Lord revealed to him many things that he could not even talk about, 2 Corinthians 12:1 - 41 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

. (Note, that was from earth to heaven.) Peter and those with him spoke in tongues, that is languages they didn’t know before, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit in order that others with them could understand what they were saying in their own languages, Acts 2:4 - 64 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

. Paul told the Corinthians he spoke in other languages more than any of them, 1 Corinthians 14:1818 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

. It was Paul who healed a woman possessed by an evil spirit, Acts 16:16 - 1816 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

and cast the demons out of people the last time such an event is recorded in the New Testament, Acts 19:13 - 1613 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

and he was bitten by a deadly snake while on the Island of Malta and yet suffered no ill effect, Acts 28:3 - 63 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

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It is by Paul that we understand the miracles and signs that existed during those early years were to demonstrate they were the Apostles of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:1212 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

, but that they were done away when the Word of God was completed, 1 Corinthians 13:8 - 138 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

. This was proven in fact when Paul and his followers came to the end of their ministries and suffered sickness, were jailed where they stayed, and they died.

Only the Apostle Paul reveals the truth of the rapture of Church, The Body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:51 - 5351 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

; Philippians 3:20 - 2120 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

; I Thessalonians 4:13 - 18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 31 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

; Titus 2:11 - 1411 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

, so the next thing that will happen as far as God’s dealing with mankind is the rapture at which time we will be translated to heaven. Then the anti-Christ will be revealed and will make peace on earth for 3 ½ years (it will be interesting to see how he makes peace between the Muslins and Jews). But then ½ way through the Tribulation, he will turn against Israel and it will be hell on earth for 3 ½ years, but God will preserve some of His people through that time while others will be martyred. Then the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, will return to earth, those in the Pentecostal church, all true believers from ages before them, and those martyred during the Tribulation will be resurrected and go into the Kingdom of God on earth.