How do you define the apostolic and prophetic gifts? And should we expect the experience today to be the same as recorded in scripture and the early church?
That's a good question. I cannot give you a full answer because of limited space and time here but I will provide an outline. I can fill in any questions that may arise.
First, there are times and seasons of the Lord. We must understand that these are
not natural times and seasons as determined by creation:
"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years..."
"He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down."
Instead, the times of the Lord are determined by the revealing of His will in the earth. These are like dispensations
BUT these times should not be understood like the dispensationalists understand them. Instead, they should be seen as building blocks, elements if you will, of His one great divine plan. So, what was once needed or revealed may again be needed and revealed. It is not a one-and-done like some say. Of course some things will not be needed again. For example, there is only One Lord Jesus Christ and Head of the church and He will not be replaced or usurped.
So, as these times are revealed, some are given understanding about what God is doing. This understanding is ultimately to be disseminated to the people who also fear the Lord.
Such people existed in all epochs. It was said of the men of Issachar (part of David's army) that they understood the times and knew what the people ought to do.
"..of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..."
Jesus scolded the Jewish leadership this way:
"Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times."
Paul would carry the theme of times and seasons into his life. He wrote this to the Thessalonians:
"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night."
This contrasts greatly with his assessment of the Corinthians when he wrote this to them;
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able..."
Often, you will read references to "times" and "seasons" or see a phrase like "in the fullness of time" - these are times and seasons of the Lord. Paul would often expound on these things: 1st describing the outcome and then 2nd referencing the eternal reality that supports the conclusion.
Like in this passage:
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."
We read this as a proof text of predestination when it is actually understanding about how one might, being commissioned by the Lord, best serve the people: deliver the understanding that is given and then connect the message with the eternal reality that is vested in the Lord.
Knowing the times are anchored in the Lord (and His one master plan) leaves no room for anxiety or baseless speculation or fear.
I wrote all this to say: The apostolic and prophetic gifts are given to disseminate wisdom and understanding to the people of God about the times and seasons of the Lord. Foundationally, they help the people apply the Word of God to their lives. New scriptures are not needed but knowing
which scriptures are for the day and time can only be discerned spiritually.
Blessings
