Tongues-Dreams-Visions

Many Pentecostals leave the impression that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and having dreams or seeing visions or speaking tongues was the highest accolade of Christianity. Yet I Corinthians showed that these gifts did not represent maturity, but immaturity. They were present in the immature founding of the church.

The gifts were proof of Christ's reign, but modern Pentecostals deny the current reign, looking for Christ to rule from Jerusalem during their belief in a 1000 year reign. Joel 2:28 was the prophecy about the gifts given when Christ reigned.

Act 2:30  ThereforeG3767 beingG5225 a prophet,G4396 andG2532 knowingG1492 thatG3754 GodG2316 had swornG3660 with an oathG3727 to him,G846 that ofG1537 the fruitG2590 of hisG846 loins,G3751 according toG2596 the flesh,G4561 he would raise upG450 ChristG5547 to sitG2523 onG1909 hisG846 throne;G2362

As in Ephesians 4, when he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Tongues were a sign to support belief in Christ's reign. Since almost all tongue speakers teach Christ's reign is still unrealized, it is obvious they are false prophets.

In the Old Testament dreams and visions were lower level gifts than a direct teacher.

Num 12:6  And he said,H559 HearH8085 nowH4994 my words:H1697 IfH518 there beH1961 a prophetH5030 among you, I the LORDH3068 will make myself knownH3045 untoH413 him in a vision,H4759 and will speakH1696 unto him in a dream.H2472

Num 12:7  My servantH5650 MosesH4872 is notH3808 so,H3651 whoH1931 is faithfulH539 in allH3605 mine house.H1004

Num 12:8  With him will I speakH1696 mouthH6310 toH413 mouth,H6310 even apparently,H4758 and notH3808 in dark speeches;H2420 and the similitudeH8544 of the LORDH3068 shall he behold:H5027 whereforeH4069 then were ye not afraidH3372 H3808 to speakH1696 against my servantH5650 Moses?H4872

Prophets with dreams and visions were considered lower than Moses whom God spoke with face to face.

Num 1:1  And the LORDH3068 spakeH1696 untoH413 MosesH4872 in the wildernessH4057 of Sinai,H5514 in the tabernacleH168 of the congregation,H4150 on the firstH259 day of the secondH8145 month,H2320 in the secondH8145 yearH8141 after they were come outH3318 of the landH4480 H776 of Egypt,H4714 saying,H559

Several dreams and visions are recorded in the New Testament. Both Paul and Ananias had visions before Paul's baptism. Visions could occur before salvation. Peter and Cornelius had visions before Cornelius was saved. Tongues could occur before groups were saved as a sign. Signs appeared in Acts 2 and Acts 10 before groups were saved.

Paul was warned through a vision to leave Damascus.

Phillip's daughters had dreams and visions before Paul's arrest in Jerusalem.

The dreams and visions could occur before or after a person or groups salvation. Peter had the dream of the Animals before the Gentiles were offered salvation. Cornelius' household spoke in tongues and prophesied before being saved and before baptism.

Dreams and visions were considered a lower level of gift compared to speaking with God face to face.

Hebrews bears out the Father dealt with Jesus face to face and conversed with him directly.

Heb 3:1  Wherefore,G3606 holyG40 brethren,G80 partakersG3353 of the heavenlyG2032 calling,G2821 considerG2657 theG3588 ApostleG652 andG2532 High PriestG749 of ourG2257 profession,G3671 ChristG5547 Jesus;G2424

Heb 3:2  Who wasG5607 faithfulG4103 to him that appointedG4160 him,G846 asG5613 alsoG2532 MosesG3475 was faithful inG1722 allG3650 hisG846 house.G3624

Heb 3:3  ForG1063 thisG3778 man was counted worthyG515 of moreG4119 gloryG1391 thanG3844 Moses,G3475 inasmuchG2596 G3745 as he who hath buildedG2680 the house(G846) hathG2192 moreG4119 honourG5092 than theG3588 house.G3624

We see that Moses had more glory than common prophets with dreams and visions and Christ had more glory than Moses. Christ was the only appointed Apostle of the Father. The Father dealt with Christ face to face.

The point of I Corinthians 13 wasn't tongues and prophecy would cease when Christ comes back, but the Father spoke directly through Christ in his presence on earth, and what needed to be finished was this teaching to be documented in scripture and confirmed.

What was needed was for Christ's teaching to be written and confirmed to the church just as Moses' teaching from speaking face to face with God, as Moses saw his similitude, was documented in the Old Testament.

Christ claimed to have seen the Father also.

Joh 6:46  NotG3756 thatG3754 any manG5100 hath seenG3708 theG3588 Father,G3962 saveG1508 he which isG5607 ofG3844 God,G2316 heG3778 hath seenG3708 theG3588 Father.G3962

Keep in mind Hebrews was most likely written after I Corinthians, and more information about Christ's covenant thru his teaching had been documented through Luke and Acts.Hebrews documents that the word now confirmed was an accountable faith we are required to keep.

Heb 2:3  HowG4459 shall weG2249 escape,G1628 if we neglectG272 so greatG5082 salvation;G4991 whichG3748 at the first beganG2983 G746 to be spokenG2980 byG1223 theG3588 Lord,G2962 andG2532 was confirmedG950 untoG1519 usG2248 byG5259 them that heardG191 him;

When Hebrews was written the body of Christ's word was confirmed.

In I Corinthians 13 it says tongues would cease when they had a face to face relationship. This was fulfilled when they had Christ's teaching documented as if being there face to face.

The exact words of Christ could be heard in the context they were spoken.

This does not mean tongues ceased when the New Testament was written, but when that word permeated the church, a little time after its writing. John was told in Revelation he had to prophecy to many peoples, nations, and tongues.

Tongues would be useful until that prophesying was fulfilled. Tongues ceased after John finished prophesying.

This timeline isn't refutable like other theories lke cessation ceased at the writing of revelation, allowing time for it to be diffused meets all objections put forth by Pentecostal apologists. I don't know of a single argument I can't answer with ease.