Miraculous Gifts Have Ceased

I Corinthians 13:8-10 says the miraculous gifts would cease “when that which is perfect is come.” But what does “that which is perfect” refer to? Because the perfect is contrasted with the part in this context, the perfect would have to be of the same nature as the parts (just like a piece of cherry pie comes from a whole cherry pie). Because the parts in this context have to do with the “partial” revelation of God’s New Testament law (verses 8-9), the perfect of verse 10 would therefore refer to God’s complete revelation, that is, the completion of the New Testament. Since the New Testament was completely written and all put together within a couple of centuries or so of Jesus' death, then the miraculous gifts ceased at that time.Zechariah 13:2 teaches true prophets would “pass out of the land” of the Messiah’s rule “in that day.” But when is “that day”? Let’s examine the immediate context. Zechariah 13:1 declares "In that day there shall be a fountain opened ... for sin and for uncleanness.” 9:9 pronounces “thy King cometh unto thee, … lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a... donkey.” 11:12-13 prophesies "So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver ... cast them to the potter." 12:10 reads "... his only son ... whom they have pierced.” 13:6 asks “What are these wounds in thine hands?” And 13:7 states “smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.” As you know all of these statements refer to the time period of the first coming of Christ. So Zechariah 13 agrees with I Corinthians 13 that prophecy (and the other miraculous gifts) ceased during the first century timeframe, and do not still continue on today.To listen to a public debate on this subject, go to http://www.bibledebates.info/DebatesAudio/MiraculousGifts-WeatherlyDonahueDebate19960810/index.htm