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The Abiding Gift of Prophecy - Contents
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    Section Four: The Christian Era

    Chapter 17—The Witness of the Second Century

    Thus far we have pursued the study of the prophetic gift as it is revealed in the records of the Sacred Scriptures. We have traced its manifestations through men and women of God’s choosing from the time of Adam’s banishment from Eden to the death of John, the apostle-prophet, who wrote the book of Revelation, the last book of the Sacred Canon.AGP 175.1

    From the close of the apostolic period onward, information regarding the manifestation of this gift in the church must be sought in the records of history, particularly of church history. As we enter this field, however, we discover a decided difference of opinion on whether or not the prophetic gift continued after the death of the first apostles and the close of the New Testament canon. One view, held and advocated by certain Christian scholars and writers, is that the operation of the prophetic gift ceased with the close of the first century. Regarding this view, Dr. A. J. Gordon, in his excellent volume, “The Ministry of Healing,” published in 1883, says: Unless otherwise noted, the italics, marks of parenthesis, and brackets in this and the following quotations in this section are the author’s. 2AGP 175.2

    “A call recently put forth in one of our religious journals, asking the opinion of ministers, teachers and theological professors on this point was very largely answered; and the respondents were well-nigh unanimous in the opinion that the age of miracles passed away with the apostolic period…. There were only one or two replies which gave countenance to the view, that miracles are possible in all ages and have appeared more or less numerously in every period of the church’s history.” Pages 1, 2. Boston: Howard Gannett, 1883.

    But notwithstanding this general uncertainty and disbelief, in theological circles, in the continuance of the spiritual gifts bestowed by our Lord and highly prized by His disciples, there have been through the centuries, not only believers in these gifts, but grateful receivers of their benefits. The evidence supportingAGP 175.3

    this view appears substantial. Here are two declarations of great confidence in the continuity of the spiritual gifts:AGP 176.1

    “Witnesses who are above suspicion leave no room for doubt that the miraculous powers of the apostolic age continued to operate at least into the third century.” “The Conflict of Christianity With Heathenism,” Dr. Gerhard Uhlhorn, p. 169. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1899.

    Commenting on this statement, Dr. Gordon argues thus:AGP 176.2

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