JD: David, probably the most well known sign gift is speaking in tongues and there is definitely a lot of confusion about its purpose. Why the Lord gave tongues as a sign on the day of Pentecost?
DJ: The Jews in Jerusalem were confused about hearing the Galilean speaking in languages that they didn’t understand but there were Jews from all over the known world who were there for the Feast of Pentecost and they did understand what these Galileans were saying. So, Peter goes on to explain what they’re seeing as far as tongues and he does it by quoting Joel chapter 2 and what’s interesting Joel does not mention tongues at all. So the question is how does Joel explain tongues.
Well, the theme of that passage in Joel is the Day of the Lord. Then in Jeremiah 5:15, Jeremiah says exactly the same thing as part of judgment of the Day of the Lord. And then Isaiah in Isaiah 28 again in the context of the Day of the Lord Judgment, Isaiah says, for with stammering lips and another tongue he will speak to this people. What’s so amazing about this is that that is the exact passage of Paul quotes in I Corinthians 14 to say that this is a problem there in the church. So, actually it’s a sign of the Day of the Lord Judgment.
JD: In my study I understand David that the apostle Paul gives
some very strict guidelines concerning speaking in tongues in the church. Would
you agree with that?
DJ: I Corinthians 14:27 he says, if anyone speaks of the tongue
let there be 2 or 3 at the most in each in turn so no more than 3 in any given
church meeting, one at a time and there must be an interpreter. So, someone who has a gift of interpretation
is someone who can understand a language that they have not learned. I think
this gift of interpretation was two fold.
One, it converts tongues into prophecy so edifies the church
and also if someone with a gift of tongues can’t understand what somebody is
saying who thinks he’s speaking in tongues then that person is not really
speaking in tongues and then they can tell them to be silent.
And then finally in verse 34, Paul in the context of speaking
in tongues says let your women keep silent in the churches. If the churches today,
the Charismatic Churches would observe Paul’s guidelines which he says are from
God, probably the Charismatic movement would collapse.
JD: David James with a Biblical understanding of the sign gift
of speaking in tongues.
We report this information because it is setting the stage
for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
You know Jesus Christ
warned about signs, wonders, and miracles that would be prevalent in the end of
times, that’s Matthew 24:24.
Revelation 16:13-16 refers to satanic creatures
using signs, wonders, and miracles to gather the armies of the world to
Jerusalem for the campaign of Armageddon. Revelation chapter 13 tells us of
satanic signs, wonders, and miracles during the tribulation period.
The proliferation of signs, wonders, and miracles today is
actually setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
