The Fascinating Link between Eschatology and Spiritual Gifts
Although it might surprise you, there is an essential link between eschatology and the spiritual gifts. However, this connection is often downplayed in the discussion. To be honest, I’ve only seen it acknowledged a handful of times. But the truth remains: what one believes about eschatology, specifically the kingdom of God, has a logical impact on his understanding of the spiritual gifts.
The Connection between the Miraculous and the Kingdom of God
Now, before we talk about eschatology, we need to review the Bible storyline and note that there are specific times in history when there are major displays of miracles. Notably, these miraculous exhibitions are linked to time periods associated with the Kingdom of God. To show this in summary form, I have adapted a chart from Mike Vlach:
| Kingdom Situation | Time Period | Kingdom Mediator(s) | Result |
| Signs and wonders to deliver Hebrews from Egypt | The period of the Exodus | Moses | Israel established as a kingdom |
| Signs and wonders as the kingdom in Israel deteriorates (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 13) | Time of Elijah and Elisha | Elijah and Elisha | Israel continues downward spiral to captivity |
| Signs and wonders as the kingdom presented to Israel (Matt 3–12) | Early ministry of Jesus | Jesus the Messiah | Israel refuses to repent; kingdom to come in the future |
| Signs and wonders as Jesus and kingdom presented to Israel after Holy Spirit’s outpouring (Acts 2–28) | A.D. 33–70 | The Apostles | Israel refuses to believe; kingdom to come in the future |
Importantly, this chart illustrates a foundational reality––miracles are associated with major movements in God’s kingdom program.
Most people won’t have a problem with the above chart. The major disagreements deal with what happens after the last category. Some advocate a cessation of the miraculous spiritual gifts until the time foretold in Revelation 6–19. Others argue for a continuation of the miraculous gifts in the current day.
Although these are good debates to have, the simple point that I want to make is this: what one believes about eschatology, and specifically the Kingdom of God, influences one’s belief about the miraculous spiritual gifts.
The Expectation of the Kingdom of God and Miracles
The Kingdom of God is linked with miracles. Jesus himself declared that His miracles pointed to the Kingdom (cf. Matt 12:28). In Matthew 11:2-5, Jesus answers John the Baptist’s question about His identity by quoting Isaiah’s prophecy about the miracles which accompany the Kingdom of God and the Messiah.
For the dispensationalist, since the Kingdom of God was rejected and still awaits a future coming, the miracles which we expect to accompany the Kingdom also faded out to await a future time. However, for amillennialists and postmillennialists, since the Kingdom of God is present in some form now, there is no reason not to expect the accompanying signs and miracles which we would expect to accompany the Kingdom. If the Kingdom is currently present, one would expect kingdom signs to be currently present. Scripturally, there is a significant link.
I am not saying every amillennialist believes in the continuation of the miraculous gifts today. There are many happy cessationists among the amillennials and postmillennial adherents. In fact, there are continuationists among dispensationalists too. However, I would propose that it seems inconsistent to hold to a present Kingdom of God model and yet deny the miraculous, which was evidence for the Kingdom. Equally, it is somewhat strange to argue for the presence of miraculous signs that are to be associated with the kingdom if one’s viewpoint is that the kingdom is not currently in operation.
My goal here is not to give a detailed analysis of this issue, though perhaps that could be on the table for another time. I enjoy the discussion of spiritual gifts, and I remain convinced that the cascade argument gives compelling reason why spiritual gifts are not in operation today. But for our purposes today, I simply wanted to note this connection between one’s eschatological system and the place of the miraculous giftings.
Peter Goeman
Peter serves at Shepherd's Theological Seminary in Cary, NC as the professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages. He loves studying the Bible and helping others understand it. He also runs The Bible Sojourner podcast and Youtube channel.
4 Comments
Karole Fedrick
I am a dispensational variant who has in my journey over the last 45 years gone from being a happy cessationist to a happy continuationists, because scripturally, I have found nothing to indicate gifts will cease until the Lord’s return, or that God has separated them into miracle gifts and non-miracle gifts.
I understand the skeptism of the Western materialist church, but are genuine gifts being experienced elsewhere, especially in places where the demonic realm is acknowledged? I’m also well aware of the misuse and abuse of the flamboyant gifts, but does man’s denial or mistreatment of God’s gifts negate them? I don’t think so. I’m not a “date setter,” but a firm believer in imminence. If we are on the cusp of the next movement into the Kingdom, shouldn’t we be expecting signs and wonders? A fifth line on the chart before the Rapture? A sixth line during the Tribulation period? A seventh line with the greatest signs and wonders of them all with the return of Christ and arrival of the Kingdom?
So many questions. I would appreciate a more detailed discussion on the gifts.
Have a blessed trip. Maranatha!
Charles Miller
I think that it is interesting to see that “date setting”, while many claim it to be a thing associated with dispensational theology, it is really better associated with charismatic teaching. I would say that almost 100% of cessationist dispensational teachers would not date set, it is those that are charismatic that get into this. I’ve seen people talk about Chuck Smith for instance and link his date setting to dispensationalism, but it is his continuationism that really allows it.
Peter Goeman
Great observation! I think this is a huge point that is often missed.
Dan Moore
Charles, I’ve never heard someone make a correlation between date setting and charismatic teaching. This is intriguing. Is there a list out there with this kind of assessment? Wiki has a long list of those who have made predictions, including some recognizable pentacostal/charismatic leaders (e.g., Pat Robertson). But there are others on their list (e.g., Tim LaHaye, Newton) whom I was not aware were charismatic.