Here's how it worked. All believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This continues until the end of the world. But the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was only for the Apostles and included the gifts of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, and prophecy. Prophecy was no different from Ezekiel's, or Isaiah's prophecy. It was God's word. Only the Apostles had this. These were the signs and wonders of an apostle.
But they also passed these gifts on to others through their hands. But those who received these gifts could not pass them on. The gift of the Holy Spirit remains today, but the signs and wonders, expired with the Apostles. Prophecy and tongues when written became the NT writings and expired as the scriptures began circulating.
Ok, First off...I in no way appreciate your remarks about raising the dead. As if someone needed to prove the Lord's spirit by such a miracle. You can see how that is borderline insulting to the spirit right?
I think this is an appropriate launch pad for me to respond a bit. It would help to know why you are coming against people that believe the Word works through many means besides just the written word. Granted, in a particular understanding the written word is himself also, but the revealed word is more than human words and paper which is why I attempt a distinction. You can have the written word and not understand it, because the knowledge has not been given to a person specifically.
Alright so Prophecy, and written word of prophecy it makes sense that it is not to included based off the strong decree otherwise in revelation.
However if you don't believe the events of revelation to have taken place completely or even if you do believe they have taken place partially, it works out the same.
How do you explain Revelation 11:3
"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." ... "5) And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6) These have the power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over the waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."
That looks a bit like signs and wonders does it not? Albeit OT style and not exactly pleasant. Interestingly also they are raised from the dead. Not by human hands mind you but it still occurs.
Then also you have the other scripture that someone else already mentioned about in Acts 2:17-18. I can understand how, since it was used right after an outpouring where some were supposing believers to be drunk it may fit in with cessationism, but then you would have to also conclude that was the great and terrible day of the Lord for it to have ceased completely. The last days I will grant as the last days conceivably began with Christ's ascension. So it seems feasible from even the loosest understanding that since that has not occurred with the events leading up to the Millennial Kingdom that it could potentially be in effect factoring in extreme doubts.
So once again, I am curious as to why you are coming on here to purport this. If you are doing so based off certain individuals making a mockery of the Lord's Spirit, and most probably channeling demonic power in extreme instances or being mere charlatans in others then that is laudable. However extreme care must be taken as the enemy has a false imitation of a lot that the Lord does (consider the Egyptian sorcerers) but that there are limits to how far he can go. It stands to reason that certain elements can go beyond an individual believers ability to discern (still arriving/growing) and it is potential folly to take a stance to mock the mockers.
That's like fighting fire with fire. As you are able to perceive a false working, it is prudent to reserve judgement until you have received confirmation that the Lord does not operate "completely" in this way in some instances.
For instance, we know the verse about snakes, but also that it worked out in Paul's life. So why do you think that was mentioned? For one particular instance only? I take that to mean that no earthly force or creation will prevent you from carrying out the work the Lord has called you to. Consider the Lord being with David protecting sheep. Or Daniel with Lions. Or even Moses serpent eating the others. Essentially that Lord will protect his own for the task that he has called them to. I'm not going to speak to the fake versions of snake handling except "how" it occurs. A viper appeared out of the fire and no harm was suffered...He didn't go looking for a snake to pick up to display anything himself. Personally I haven't ever encountered this practice and know of no one that has. Many have "heard" of it...but it certainly doesn't even sound good. So I guess I'm not sure why you would use that as a talking point at all.
So I am all of a sudden tired and the time got away from me again alas. I want to engage you if you are genuine as I am pretty suspicious and am not at all a fan of mockery of the Lord's Spirit. So there is a lot of profitable discussion that may be able to be had if you just had a brush with something vile and as a defense mechanism ran toward cessationism. A personal conviction is that great care must be taken when discussing manifestation of the Spirit so I do not want to be hasty.
I will say in closing that there a good few things that I don't get about the Lord, life, and the gospel. There are some seeming discrepancies that continue to make more sense as I go along but I have seen quite a few things and I pay attention. There are limits to what our minds can understand and while I'd like to set this verse up a little bit I am curious what you make of it. For myself, any unanswered "hang ups" that the body is split about or there is confusion about due to a seeming unpierceable element in the text or a believer's walk in general I default to this verse as well as faith not being sight. I can pick this up if you'd like but since a lot of people believe the church will be raptured prior to this moment it is of import in discussing matters that have opposing opinions. I am NOT getting into a rapture discussion because that is another split community topic and people are so resolute in opposing ways that it is astounding that each and every one of them is right. Then again, perhaps each should be fully convinced in their own minds for hidden purposes. Who knows. Not I. There are times I expect it any day and then others where I observe a little more closely and it seems years away and sometimes decades. For some reason I don't believe I'll have any part in it en masse, so that of course colors my view. Not sure...I'm starting to get side trailed and respond to all unclear expressions. You know scripture, is it possible to reserve judgement?
Anyway it comes right after the seven thunders (which are a mystery)...
Revelation Chapter 10: 7
"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."