Chapter 2—The Continuance of the Prophetic Gift

As we have already noted, the NT does set forth a doctrine of “spiritual gifts,” or charismata, “gifts of grace” (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4). These endowments by the Holy Spirit upon individual members of the church are to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, RSV). “As each has received a gift,” he is to employ it in the service of the church and thus assist in forwarding its work in the earth (1 Peter 4:10, 11, RSV; cf. Romans 12:6, 7).BBMP 3.4

Since the gifts are to be continuously bestowed as the Spirit sees fit “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ ...” (Ephesians 4:13, RSV), it is obvious that the gifts are intended to function until the church has completed its ministry and human probation has closed.BBMP 3.5

There is no evidence in Scripture that God ever intends to withdraw the prophetic gift or any of the other gifts this side of the Second Coming (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12). There is, instead, the OT prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 which is repeated by Peter (Acts 2:16-21) foretelling an end-time outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a resultant activity of spiritual gifts. In that connection it is appropriate to note that false prophets will be active in the end-time as well (Mat 24:24).BBMP 3.6