Plainer Words since 1968
 
October 23, 2013
 
PLAINER WORDS ONLINE …THE GIFT OF TONGUES – CHAPTER TEN
 
THE COUNTERFEIT
During the Acts Period, Satan was busily at work, endeavoring to counterfeit the gift of tongues. In fact, it has already been pointed out that I Corinthians 12:3 and I John 4:1-3 informs us that among Christians, there was the spirit of the antichrist at work. This spirit of antichrist was working chaos in the Acts Period Churches of God.

The spirit of Satan was actively at work, attempting to deceive the saints. In fact, Satan had the power to produce deceiving (lying) miracles and signs.

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (II Thess. 2:9).

Satan tried the counterfeit signs and miracles throughout the “Acts of the Apostles.” This was part of Satan’s plan to counteract the true signs and miracles which were to confirm the Lord working with the believers. During the Acts Period, there was intense Satanic activity in the spirit realm as he endeavored to counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit. As far as tongues were concerned, he had the ability to impart the gift of tongues (real languages) to people. However, when they spoke in a foreign language, they could not say that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh (I John 1:1-3). They were, also, blaspheming, saying that Jesus Christ was accursed (I Cor. 12:3). It seems that women were very active in this Satanic error (I Cor. 14:33-35).

During “The Acts of the Apostles” the new nation of Israel was being identified. Those who believed and embraced the Pre-Millennial Gospel of the Kingdom of God formed the living nucleus of the new nation of Israel. During the “Acts of the Apostles,” all believers of the Gospel of the Kingdom were incorporated into the “Commonwealth.” Their allegiance was to the Government (Kingdom) of God, not to Rome, or to the Jewish authorities who were beholding to Roman Empire.
 
Where ever a community of believer lived they were instructed by the Apostles, as well as the Apostle Paul, to form a Divine Government of Israel. These local Ecclesias were mini-states. They were the Colonies of Heaven awaiting the manifestation of the Kingdom (i.e., Government) of God. The Colonies of Heaven were to live as if the Day of Christ had arrived. They foreshadowed “things to come,” to wit, the Government of Jesus Christ. Some citizens of the Colonies even mistakenly believed they were living in latter days of the Day of Christ. (This mistaken belief necessitated Paul writing the Epistle—2 Thessalonians).
DISPENSATIONAL BOUNDS

As a result of a thorough investigation of the Word of God, it is clear that the gift of tongues was in use between Acts 2 and Acts 28:28. A study of those epistles written after Acts 28:28 reveal that not one word, concerning tongues, is mentioned.

The Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God program was in view from Acts 2 up until Israel was officially, and judicially, set aside at Acts 28:28. Since the Kingdom program--     the Day of Christ--was placed in abeyance at Acts 28:28, the “gifts of the Spirit” were withdrawn.

We can determine this by recognizing that the program which related to the Church, which is His Body is not associated with this facet of Kingdom Truth. Gifts of the Spirit were related to Acts Period truth. These gifts were given to “every man” who believed the Gospel of the Acts Period Truth.

After Acts 28:28, it is found that not “every man” is so endowed. “Tongues” and the other Gifts of the Spirit are not in operation in this Dispensation of the Grace of God. In fact, those, today, who seek these Pentecostal gifts, admit that only some Christians have them (the truth is no one has the Gift of Tongues). These studies indicate that during the time the gifts of the Spirit were operative, every believer had at least one of the nine gifts. Being endued with these gifts was not based upon their practical sanctification. We noted the carnality of the Corinthian church; yet, the Gifts of the Spirit were to “every man;” despite carnality.

TONGUES SPEAKING TODAY

Pentecostal’s claim, today, that those who are saved may seek a subsequent experience, that is, the baptism of the Spirit. They insist that a believer does not have full consecration, or power for service unless he has received the “gift of the Holy Ghost.” A Christian’s life is incomplete, and his ministry is hindered unless he has experienced this baptism which is subsequent to salvation—to wit, Holy Ghost Baptism.

Christians who adopt this as truth ignore the great declarative statement of Colossians 2:10 which tell the member of the Church, which is His Body that he is COMPLETE IN CHRIST. This completeness is apart from any subsequent Spirit baptism.

An observation of tongues speaking, today, does not have the basics to meet the requirements as Biblical tongues. Biblical tongues were languages of men. Speaking in tongues, today, takes on the form of senseless babblings. This babbling is, sometimes, interpreted in present-day Pentecostal meetings; however, this is no evidence that the babbling is a language of man. It may be claimed to be an “unknown tongue,” but these studies have pointed out that an “unknown tongue,” in Scripture, is a real language of earth.

Isaiah 8:19 speaks about wizards who peep and mutter:

“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:”

There have always been wizards who have been associated with religions. They peep and mutter; that is, they speak in an ecstatic manner. It is really gibberish.

In “Tongues Speaking Today,” by Stuart Allen, he quotes the 1963 edition of the “Encyclopedia Britannica,” which says:

“The gift of tongues and their interpretation was not peculiar to the Christian church, but was a repetition in it of a phrase common in ancient religions. The very phrase “glossais lalein,” ‘to speak with tongues,’ was not invented by New Testament writers but was borrowed from ordinary speech. Virgil draws a like picture of the ancient prophetess ‘speaking in tongues’... the same morbid and abnormal trance utterances occur in Christian revivals of every age ... Oracular possession of the kind above described is also common among savages and people of a lower culture ...”

The compilers of the “Encyclopedia Britannica” are unaware of dispensational truth and the fact that the New Testament writers used the word, “tongues,” to refer to literal languages. They are correct; however, as they pointed out that this “morbid and abnormal trance utterances” have occurred in Christian revivals in every age since Acts 28:28. They are right in referring to this abnormal speaking as “oracular possession.”

The evidence, very strongly, suggests that “tongues speaking,” today, is the fruit of wizards and witches trafficking in “familiar spirits” which results in oracular possession. This possession is not the fruit of the blessed Holy Spirit, but that of demons

Therefore, to take “speaking in tongues” out of the place that God put it originally, to wit, the Acts period, is misleading and very dangerous; this is what Pentecostals and neo-Pentecostals have done.

Do not think, for a minute, that a Christian’s mind and words cannot be activated by the evil one. Look at Matthew l6: 22-23, and you find that Peter’s words had been activated by Satan. Just because someone is saved, does not mean that Satan cannot deceive him, or use him to deceive others. We are to be aware of the “wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).

“Tongues speaking” is out of order in this Present Dispensation of the Grace of God. It is not part of God’s program. Even if the Pentecostals spoke in real “tongues,” today, it would be out of order. Israel is off the scene, and it was a sign to unbelieving Israelites. However, “tongues,” today, are not languages. It is the fruit of “wizards” standing in Christian pulpits, “resisting the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (II Tim. 3:8). They are leading away captive “silly women laden with sins ... ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim. 3:6-7).

Safety is found in acknowledging Present Truth. Second Timothy Chapter Three warns us of this present charismatic movement and “from such turn away” (II Tim. 3:5).

~~THE END~~

Copyright© Thomas L. Ballinger

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