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STUDY #49
TONGUES, MIRACLES, VISIONS, AND PROPHESYINGS
Tongues, miracles, visions and prophesyings are said to be “gifts of the holy spirit”: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11[2]).
These various “manifestations,” especially speaking in tongues and healing, are popular today largely because of a Christian denomination called the Pentecostal Church. This church began in the 1890s and was based on the experiences of the early church disciples at Pentecost. But no manifestation in the church of speaking in tongues and miracles occurred in the church for more than nineteen hundred years. Let us see what the Bible says to us.
Tongues
This manifestation of the holy spirit consisted of speaking in various languages; it began at Pentecost: “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). This ability to speak in tongues was later conferred upon other believers when the apostle “placed his hands on them” (Acts 19:6). But Paul made clear that certain conditions had to be fulfilled if speaking in tongues occurred at any worship meeting: “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God” (1 Corinthians 14:27,28).
Paul explicitly said that “two or at the most three should speak,” and the speaking was to be “one at a time.” Paul further says “someone must interpret.” So strict was this condition that the apostle directed that “if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church.” These important restrictions are ignored in Pentecostal churches today.
What was the purpose of “tongue speaking” in the early church? Paul wrote: “Now brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction. … What then shall we say brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:6,26). “Tongue speaking” was to provide divine revelation for the edification or the spiritual building up of the church through words and messages from God at a time when the New Testament had not yet been written.
The apostle Paul continues: “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2). These words are used to say those speaking in tongues are speaking words understood only by God. Thus the frenzied zeal of some to speak in “tongues” at every given moment is justified as being speech directed to God. But this is not what Paul taught. He said the one who speaks in tongues speaks in an unknown language, “no one understands him; he utters mysteries.” This is what would happen if someone spoke Chinese or Japanese to a group that knew only English. The hearers would not understand a single word. If asked what was being said, they would answer: “Only God knows.” In the case of an “unknown tongue” it would be correct to say that the speaker “does not speak to men but to God,” for only God would understand.
The speaking of languages not understood by the hearers makes it all a mystery because the words are not understood. This ability was to be a sign to unbelievers: “Tongues then are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however is for believers, not for unbelievers” (1 Corinthians 14:22). “Tongue speaking” was to be a sign for the unbelievers. Today it is just the reverse; speaking in tongues has become a sign for believers. But that was not so in the early church as we read: “How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean?” (Acts 2:8,12). It was amazing to the unbelievers, and a great exhibition to them of God’s power.
The apostle Paul spoke more “tongues” than anyone: “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18). He spoke many “tongues” because he was the special apostle to the Gentiles: “For God who was at work in the ministry of Peter … was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:8). Yet in the meetings of the church among the believers, the apostle Paul discouraged the use of this gift if no one understood the language: “Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. … So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (1 Corinthians 14:9,23).
The apostle Paul said gathering together and speaking in “tongues” was something that should not be done at all: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV). The wise man describes it similarly: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools … Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God” (Ecclesiastes 5:1,2). One must be careful in the presence of God. The simultaneous speaking in tongues by a large group benefits no one.
Note what would happen to this gift of tongues: “Where there are tongues they will be stilled” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Paul said this power or “manifestation” of the holy spirit would die out and stop altogether. This was because this “gift” of the holy spirit could be transferred upon another only through an apostle: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. … For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (Acts 10:44,46).
With the death of all the apostles this “gift” of the holy spirit ceased. So why was this gift of speaking in tongues given only to the early church? It was for the work of establishing the “infant” early church in fulfilling two purposes:
1. It fulfilled the great commission of the Lord: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). It was necessary to preach the gospel to all nations in the common language of the people but the apostles and disciples knew only Hebrew and Aramaic.
2. “Tongue speaking” was used by God to communicate divine revelation to guide the early church at a time when the New Testament had not yet been written: “Now brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction” (1 Corinthians 14:6).
So what can be said of today’s “tongues speaking?” Please carefully consider these points:
· How can a “gift” that was conveyed only by the laying on of the hands of an apostle suddenly appear again after so many years?
· Why are “tongues” spoken today without an interpreter in disobedience of 1 Corinthians 14:28?
· Why do many speak tongues simultaneously and not “one at a time” as directed by 1 Corinthians 14:27?
· Why are today’s “tongues” never a sign for unbelievers as they were at Pentecost (Acts 2:7,8)?
The doctrines of those who speak in “tongues” today are not according to the doctrines of the Bible, according to the “Most Holy Faith” (Jude 20).
Miracles and Healings
This is the exercise of the “power” of God to heal diseases both of the body and the mind, to release from demon possession, and even on rare occasion the awakening of the dead. This gift of the holy spirit was exercised in the early church by the apostles and the disciples. Here are some examples: “People brought the sick into the streets … so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by … and those tormented by evil spirits and all of them were healed” (Acts 5:15, 16). “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). “Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman he said, Tabitha, get up … and seeing Peter she sat up” (Acts 9:40). “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul … their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” (Acts 19:11,12).
All these “healings” and “miracles” were always for unbelievers, never for the Christian believers themselves. When Timothy had a stomach problem, Paul did not heal him. Rather he wrote: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). Paul suggested Timothy use of a little wine as medicine, but he did not lay hands on him to cure him.
Today many Christians with health problems seek for a miraculous cure and it does not matter how it comes. How different was the situation in the early church. The Christians at that time realized that the “power” to work miracles was to be only a “sign” for unbelievers and not for themselves. How very different is the purpose of the healings and miracles of today.
There are two instances where two apostles raised a dead person to life. This one was done by the apostle Peter: “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa, so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa and many people believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:36-42).
This was one was done by the apostle Paul: “Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. Don’t be alarmed, he said. He’s alive. Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted” (Acts 20:9-12).
Both miracles were done to establish the power and glory of the Lord and the gospel message to those who were being called to suffer and take up their cross and follow the footsteps of the Master. But the miracles themselves were not to be the basis of becoming a believer or follower of Jesus. The Lord himself did not look for such people to be his disciples: “Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man” (John 2:23-25).
This faith “based on miracles” was present in large numbers in Jesus’ day and continues in large numbers today. But this is not to be the basis of the Christian’s walk of life: “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The Lord himself spoke of Christians who seek for miracles in a prophecy: “Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers” (Matthew 7:22,23).
The Lord describes how many Christians will “on that day” or the day of judgment claim to have done great and wonderful miracles in the Lord Jesus’ name, but the Lord himself will say, “I never knew you … you evildoers.” The Lord will deny ever knowing these miracle workers; he calls them “evildoers.” Jesus does not recognize these miracles as his nor does he recognize such Christians as his servants. That is because such miracles, even though done “in Jesus’ name,” are not authorized by Jesus. Compare the miracles done in the time of Jesus and those done today. On one occasion John said to Jesus: “We saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he was not one of us. Do not stop him, Jesus said. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me” (Mark 9:38,39).
The one doing the miracles was not one of the disciples and not known to them. Even though they forbade the person, Jesus said: “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.”
Many think this authorizes all miracles being done today. Not so. Jesus himself told us: “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time” (Matthew 24:24,25). Jesus warned of an Antichrist system that would develop in the Gospel age that would do miracles in “Jesus’ name” and deceive many. The “false Christs” are false church systems; the “false prophets” are the false teachers in those systems.