Tongues and Prophecy: For Today?
Edit: Be sure to pray for SecDef...he's been rather under the weather lately.
Many debates rage about whether or not tongues and prophesies can still Biblically happen in today's world. These two issues cause disputes, denominations, and debates across the Christian world. Some say tongues and prophecy still occur with frequency today, while some claim that tongues and prophecies died out with the apostles. Which view is correct and which view holds the Biblical evidence?
First off, I will address the issue of tongues. Tongues first appeared right after Christ's ascension into heaven. The gift of tongues fell upon the disciples in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. Tongues came as a result of Christ's promise to the disciples in Acts 1:4-5. Christ promised:
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
As I stated earlier, this promise was fulfilled in Acts 2. When this promise fully came, the reaction of those standing by was negative. They mocked the disciples by saying, "They are full of new wine" (Verse 13) meaning that they were drunk. Even that time, tongues were not readily accepted, much like many Christians do not accept them today. After hearing their comments about wine, Peter immediately stood up and gave a great defense of tongues. Peter's defense can be found in Acts 2:14-39 and I will use part of it in my case for tongues.
We know that the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples on Pentecost causing them to speak in tongues, but does it fall on Christians today? Absolutely. I believe it most certainly does based on the outstanding amount of Scripture that supports this view.
Let's dig in.
Part of Peter's defense was the use of Joel 2:28-32. That Scripture says:
28 “ And it shall come to pass afterward
That I 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.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 “ And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
32 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
As the LORD has said,
Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.
Many argue that this verse cannot be used when referencing tongues, because it never mentions tongues. That, however, is wrong. Peter uses it to defend tongues. Peter, empowered by God, uses this specific God-breathed Scripture in his defense of tongues. If this verse is good enough for Peter and GOD's WORD then it is most certainly good for me. The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit will be greatly poured out in the last days. We are truly in the last days and we know this based on prophecies that are being fulfilled signaling the coming of Christ. As predicted by Joel, the Holy Spirit is being poured out and it is being ignored by many Christians. This is obvious evidence that the Holy Spirit is moving, tongues are being uttered, prophecies are being spoken, and healing is occurring.
In Mark 16:17 we read part of the Great Commission. Mark 16:15-17 reads:
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
The Great Commission is obviously still for today. I challenge anyone to find Scripture that says it is not for today. This declaration of speaking in new tongues in right alongside preaching the gospel. Has preaching the Gospel died out? Absolutely not. We are commanded to preach the Gospel and we are informed that right along with that, Christians will speak in tongues as a sign to non-believers. Christ's message has not changed, the Great Commission has not changed, the need to preach the Gospel has not changed, and neither has tongues. If tongues were to cease, then part of the Great Commission would be gone. And if part of it is gone, then how do we know that all of it isn't gone? Instead, we are to preach the Gospel and tongues still happen as a sign to unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 14:22 reaffirms that tongues are a sign to non-believers. 1 Corinthians 14 also gives the guidelines for speaking in tongues in a church setting. If one speaks in tongues and it is all in accordance with the Word of God then how can we can we say it is not authentic? When a Pastor preaches a sermon, how do we test his words to find if they are right? We do it based on the Word. If his teaching contradicts God’s Word then we know he is wrong. How do we test prophets? By checking the Word. How do we know if a tongue is from God? The same way, by God’s Holy Word.
The Bible also gives no mention of tongues ever ceasing while we are on earth. The Bible does say that love will survive even after tongues, but that is a reference to how long live will last. Once we are in New Jerusalem, tongues may cease, as we may not have a use for them since no non-believers will exist. But, as long as non-believers exist tongues are still useful and still occur today.
Preaching the gospel and speaking in tongues are obviously still for today. So what about prophesies? Are they still spoken? Does it and can it exist today? Absolutely.
Many have argued that prophecy is not for today because God’s Word is finished and any “prophecy” would add to the Bible. This belief that these prophecies would add to the Bible is wrong and un-Biblical. In Revelation 11 we see prophesying occurring in the tribulation, which is still to come. Revelation 11:3 says:
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These witnesses will prophesy in a FUTURE time. Are they adding to the Bible? No. Instead, what they are prophesying will be in accordance with the Bible just like those who prophecy today are. Prophesying that occurs today is not attempting to add to God’s Word. Instead it, if from God, will be in accordance with the Bible. 1 John 2:18-23 talks about false christs, etc and 1 John 4 gives us insight on “testing” spirits to see if they are of God. Any “prophecy” that contradicts God’s finished Word or distorts it is not of God. Instead, prophecy is to be in agreement with the Word and done according to the Word.
1 Corinthians 14 also gives us insight into the purpose of prophecy and how it benefits all those who hear. 1 Corinthians 14:3 says:
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
Prophecies are meant to edify and to comfort. Let us say that someone prophesies that Aunt Martha will be saved in one week. Obviously this doesn’t contradict the Bible. In fact, the Bible supports something like that as it would bring hope to Aunt Martha’s family. The prophecy of course, must be fulfilled to be proven real and from God.
Prophecy is certainly for these days. Joel 2:28-32 says:
28 “ And it shall come to pass afterward
That I 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.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 “ And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
32 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
As the LORD has said,
Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.
These are most certainly the last days. In fact prophesy should now be in its prime, unfortunetly it is not because too many people refuse to get outside their comfort zone and even acknowledge its existence in today’s world. This Scripture most certainly shows that the Holy Spirit is being poured out and people are prophesying.
Note: I am sure I will have to defend this, but I won't be around until Tuesday.
Note: Written from viewpoint of one who has the gift of tongues. | 
