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Signs and Wonders Gal. 4:22-26 tells us that there are only two valid covenants of worship that have been established and authorized by God: "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." The First or Old Covenant was given and established with the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai. The Second or New Covenant was given by the Lord with the coming of John the Baptist: Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Associated with these two covenants of worship were signs and wonders given by God. Micah ties the length of time of the signs and wonders associated with the two covenants: Micah 7:14 "Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvellous things." From the time that God poured out his ten sore judgments upon the nation of Egypt until the children of Israel passed over Jordan to go in to possess the land of Canaan was a period of approximately forty years. Likewise, from the time that the Lord Jesus Christ began his public ministry until the destruction of Jerusalem at 70 A.D. was a period of approximately forty years. When the children of Israel were being delivered out of the land of Egypt and ultimately delivered into the land of Canaan, there was a daily manifestation of supernatural signs manifest from God. These signs included the ten sore judgments upon Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea wherein the children of Israel crossed on dry ground and Pharaoh and the Egyptian armies were drowned in the Red Sea; the miracle at Marah; the daily supply of manna for forty years; the fact that the clothes and shoes of the children of Israel waxed not old upon them for forty years; and the rock that followed them wherein they were given water for forty years. These daily signs ceased when the children of Israel crossed over Jordan. Likewise, when the Lord established the New Covenant we see a similar pattern of supernatural signs and wonders for forty years. The Lord cast out devils, raised the dead, healed the sick, turned water into wine, walked on water, cleansed the lepers, caused the blind to see, made the deaf to hear and the lame to walk. Moreover, he gave power to the apostles to do many of the same things. Further, we see the Lord feeding the multitudes on one occasion with five barley loaves and two fishes and on another occasion with seven loaves and a few fishes. Next, we see the miraculous death, burial and resurrection of the Lord. Finally, the Lord gave ability and commandment to the apostles in Mark 16 just prior to his ascension back into heaven: 14 "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." These signs and wonders continued with the apostles and they on whom they laid their hands until the destruction of Jerusalem at 70 A. D. After the destruction of Jerusalem these daily signs and wonders ceased. In the following essays we will discuss in more detail some of the principles outlined above.
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