Signs and Wonders in 2026?

Many Christians believe miraculous “signs and wonders” are still happening today. However, Scripture—not to mention everyday experience—shows otherwise.

The Purpose for Signs and Wonders

To figure out whether “signs and wonders” are still happening today, it helps to understand their purpose—which was to prove the claims of God’s people.

For example, during John the Baptist’s imprisonment, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matt. 11:2-3). And Jesus replied: “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up” (Matt. 11:3–6). “Signs and wonders” proved that Jesus was who he claimed to be!

When Jesus wanted to prove he could forgive sins, he healed a paralytic (Mark 2:10-12). When Jesus wanted to prove he was the bread of life, he fed five thousand+ people with five loaves and two fish (John 6:9, 35). When Jesus wanted to prove he was the light of the world, he healed a blind man (John 9:3-5). And when Jesus wanted to prove he was the resurrection and the life, he raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:25-43).

Anyone can claim to be the long-awaited Messiah; but Jesus proved it with “signs and wonders.” These miraculous “signs and wonders” confirmed the claims of Jesus and his apostles, and they helped establish the Christian Church and get it off the ground.

“Signs and Wonders” are Linked to the “Last Days”

“Signs and wonders” were a “last days” kind of a thing. The last days of what? The last days of the old covenant age. And the apostle Peter said the “last days” arrived in his day:

“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days that I [God] will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:17–21, quoted from Joel 2:28–32).

Peter said the last days (of the old covenant age) had finally arrived. And the “signs and wonders” proved it! These were the telltale signs that a significant change—from the old covenant age to the new covenant age (Jer. 31:31)—was finally happening. In fact, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for not recognizing the times they were living in:

“When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times” (Matt. 16:2-3).

Of all people, the religious leaders who knew the Old Testament Scriptures best should have recognized the times they were living in—that they were living in the last days of the old covenant age. After all, the faithful were reporting miracles everywhere. Yet the religious leaders turned a blind eye.

The Ceasing of “Signs and Wonders”

But “signs and wonders” would not last indefinitely. Its end is specifically linked to the fall of the temple, the end of the old covenant age, and the second coming.

Regarding its link to the fall of the temple…Daniel said, “Seventy weeks are determined…to seal up vision and prophecy” (Dan. 9:24). According to a broad spectrum of commentators—premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial alike—the term “to seal up vision and prophecy” means that miraculous “signs and wonders,” which God used to confirm his prophets, would eventually cease because the Bible’s prophecies will have finally been fulfilled.

And when would “vision and prophecy”/ “signs and wonders” cease? Daniel went on to link it to the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem:

“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Dan. 9:26).

Daniel linked the end of “vision and prophecy”/ “signs and wonders” to the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem—which happened in AD 70. Therefore, this is when “signs and wonders” must have ceased.

Further proof of this is that Jesus said during his earthly ministry:

“For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:22).

The term “all things written” refers to all things written in the Old Testament, which means Daniel’s Seventy Weeks prophecy—including the ceasing of “vision and prophecy”/ “signs and wonders”—must have been fulfilled in Jesus’ generation.

Regarding its link to the end of the old covenant age and the second coming…Paul said “signs and wonders” would confirm Christians until “the end/second coming” (1 Cor. 1:4–9). In other words, “signs and wonders” would continue until the end of the old covenant age/second coming.

And when would the end/second coming happen? While Paul did not give a timing indicator in this passage, we can figure it out pretty easily by comparing Scripture with Scripture. As a matter of fact, the disciples asked Jesus that very question in the Olivet Discourse (in AD 30):

“Tell us, when will these things be [destruction of the temple]? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3).

Then Jesus listed the various precursors—such as false messiahs, persecution, and great tribulation (vv. 4-28)—and then Jesus said:

“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matt. 24:34).

Jesus said all these things—including the destruction of the temple, the second coming, and the end (of the old covenant age)—would happen within his generation. Note: a biblical generation equates to around forty years (see Heb. 3:8–10, Num. 14:30–34, Neh. 9:21). Therefore, since Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in around AD 30, then all these events must have happened by AD 70.

And since Paul said “signs and wonders” would confirm Christians until the end/second coming, therefore, “signs and wonders” must have ended in AD 70.

Everyday Experience

Our everyday experience also confirms that “signs and wonders” have ended. After all, if that were not the case, Christians would be hanging out at ICU wards in hospitals healing people. But that obviously isn’t happening.

Does this mean God no longer acts supernaturally? Not necessarily; however, today God most often uses natural means to get things done. Specifically, he uses his people, who are his “hands and feet” (1 Cor. 12:12).

During the “last days” time period (AD 30–70), God used supernatural “signs and wonders” to confirm Jesus and the apostles and establish the Church. But that has been accomplished. So today God most often uses his people—his “hands and feet”—to do things. While this may seem rather insignificant compared to miraculous “signs and wonders,” Jesus said his disciples would do even greater works than he did:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do” (John 14:12)

And this has happened! For instance, while Jesus fed five thousand+ people in Israel, Christians today feed many times that, all throughout the world, through organizations such as the Salvation Army and Red Cross. While Jesus healed many sick people during his travels throughout Israel, his people today heal many times that, all over the world, by establishing hospitals such as St. Jude’s Hospital, Christian Hospital, and Mercy General. God is still at work; only today, he most often uses natural means—his people—to accomplish things.

By Alex Polyak, director of The Bible Fulfilled, 1/25/26