Page 290 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

HEALING

World,’ suffered all his life of acute suffering. He had a prophecy of increasing apostasy, not of revival. [See
frail body. Are those today who believe in perfect Mystery, Prophecy, Revelation, Tares, Timothy.]
healing more spiritual than these men and women of The signs and wonders spoken of for the last hours
old? If healing was in the atonement and if it was God’s are deceiving signs. Consider some Scriptures: Mt.
will for us to be in health, to be prosperous, why weren’t 24:24; 2 Th. 2:7-9; Re. 13:13-14. In light of these
these [saints of bygone days] healthy and warnings it is crucial that the Christian be wary of any
prosperous?” (Paul Locke, “What the Bible Teaches signs or wonders movement in these last hours. The
about Healing”). signs and wonders movement prophesied in Scripture
8. The Bible speaks of two kinds of faith—overcoming for the hours prior to Christ’s return is one of demonic
and enduring (He. 11:32-38). Charismatic healers speak deception.
much of faith. “If you have faith, God will heal you; you 10. The healing movement has caused great harm.
must only believe;” but this teaching ignores the fact How discouraging it is for those who try to work up
that faith does not always overcome. There are two enough faith to be healed, only to suffer severe
kinds of faith mentioned in this passage in Hebrews— disappointment when no healing comes. There is
overcoming and enduring. Some heroes of the Bible discouragement on the part of those multitudes who
overcame sickness and troubles by faith, but others, have attended healing crusades and who thought they
whose faith was just as real, were not delivered from were healed, but realized later that there was no
their troubles. Yet the names of those who endured are healing. It is impossible to calculate the damage the
noted as prominently in God’s “hall of faith heroes” as healing movement has done to people through its false,
those who overcame. unscriptural claims. The highway of the healing
The fact is that God’s Word does not guarantee movement is strewn with the wreckage of
physical healing. Sometimes He heals; sometimes He discouragement.
does not. This is the clear example of the New Some might be protesting all of this, saying, “You just
Testament and is the honest experience of godly don’t believe in the miracle-working power of God.”
Christians of every century. God sometimes has a That accusation is not true. I believe in a miracle-
purpose in our sicknesses, and as long as we are in this working God. You see, I DO believe in miracles. My God
body we will be subject to infirmities, weaknesses, can do anything. He created the world in six days. He
disease, old age, death. destroyed the ancient world by a great flood. He parted
The teaching which says God always heals if we pray the Red Sea so the millions of the children of Israel
in true faith has resulted in much confusion, for it is a marched through on dry ground. He brought Jesus into
cruel error. Many have believed this false idea and have this world through the womb of a virgin. He died on the
become discouraged and confused when God did not cross for my sins, and He rose from the dead the third
heal. It is crucial to understand exactly what God day! He has saved multitudes of all nationalities from
promises and does not promise about faith and healing. eternal hell and brought them into the kingdom of His
We must rightly divide the Word of God. dear Son.
9. The Bible warns of false miracles in the last days. I have personally experienced physical healings in
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, answer to prayer. I have experienced all sorts of
and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, miracles, in fact, since I was converted in 1973. I
if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Mt. couldn’t count the miraculous answers to prayer I’ve
24:24). According to many charismatic teachers, the witnessed from the hand of God. Our missionary and
modern sign gift movement is a fulfillment of prophecy. literature ministry has been one long miracle.
They teach that a revival of sign gifts is prophesied My God can do ANYTHING. But my God also does
before the coming of Christ. Not only is this not true; it what He wants when He wants! He isn’t flooding the
is exactly contrary to what the Bible actually teaches world today, nor is He parting the Red Sea today, nor is
about the last hours of this age. Scripture doesn’t He dying on a cross today. And He is not giving a new
foretell a revival of miracle sign gifts in the churches. Pentecost today. That part of His glorious plan has been
Just the opposite. The Scripture prophesies of a accomplished, and He is marching on toward the End.
leavening apostasy which will grow within the lump of My friends, I want to march in step with God. We
Christendom until the whole is leavened (Mt. 13:33). must be satisfied with that which He IS doing, not
The mystery of iniquity will increase over the course of carnally seeking after that which He has done in the
the church age until the final revelation of the great past and that which we WISH He would do!
Harlot of the seventeenth chapter of Revelation. 2 Ti.
3:13 warns that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse We close with the words of Fanny Crosby about the
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” This is a matter of health. This godly woman was blind all her

290 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity