Wigglesworth - 4 of 6 - Joel's Prophecy Defending Tongues

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(Part 4 - The following is part of our response to a series of emails from a man who disputed our Smith Wigglesworth_article, and who presented common arguments in support of Pentecostal experiences. He claims to have personal experience with baptism of fire, healing, deliverance and the practice of charismatic tongues, as promoted by Wigglesworth.)

PART 1 - Wigglesworth_1_of_6_Pentecostal_Baptism_of_Fire
PART 2 - Wigglesworth_2_of_6_Pentecostal_Gift_of_Tongues
PART 3 - Wigglesworth_3_of_6_Biblical_Tongues
PART 4 - Wigglesworth_4_of_6_Joel_Prophecy_Defending_Tongues
PART 5 - Wigglesworth_5_of_6_Healing_and_Deliverance
PART 6 - Wigglesworth_6_of_6_Prophecy_Gifts_and_Pentecostal_Practice

1. You wrote, "Here is an interpretation of tongues I received in 1993:"

"God's love is holy. God's love cannot be separated from His holiness. True, and real, love is holy. True holiness is the state and condition of God's love --- His love being clean and pure and unadulterated. Love without holiness is without order and justice. Holiness without love is dead religion without compassion and mercy and peace adn comfort." And this is the truth according to God's Word.

2. Smith Wiggesworth and his follows may believe that you "received" this message from God, but I do not.

3. There is no purpose in God conveying this message to the church today by way of 'tongues' (gibberish). Besides, if this message was really from God, as the Spirit gave you utterance:

a. Why did God speak through you in detached third-person reference to himself?

b. Where in scripture does God use the terminology and structure of statements in your message, such as: "True holiness is the state and condition of God's love"?

c. Where in scripture does God speak of dead religion? He speaks of "pure religion" So, it is possible that he would speak of impure religion.

d. These words just don't sound like God's words. On the other hand, they do sound like the enticing words of man's wisdom. (I Cor 1:17; 2:4; 2:13)

4. You wrote that the explanation for the tongues, 'baptism of the Spirit', and the Last Days came from the Lord by the mouth of Peter (Acts 2:14-20) - i.e. as being the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28

5. This doctrine is commonly taught. BUT that is not what Peter was saying. Please note these observations, as follows:

a. WHAT this passage (Acts 2:14-20) teaches:

1) the Jewish men of Jerusalem and Judea were mocking the Christians, (Acts 2:13)

2) the Christians were NOT drunk. They were fluently speaking known languages. (Unlike many charismatic services today in which people act drunk, babble in unknown languages/gibberish and boast about how DRUNK in the SPIRIT they are. These people today are mockers in keeping with the mockers of Pentecost.)

3) Peter used the opportunity of having their attention to warn the people of God's judgment that was coming in the last days. He gave a perfect presentation of the gospel. He warned them of the judgment that's coming and then immediately (Acts 2:22) explained who Jesus was - as the remedy, what they had done to him, how God had raised him up, …. And then told them to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38)

b. WHAT this passage (Acts 2:14-20) DOES NOT Teach:

1) This passage does not say that people would speak in tongues when God pours out of his Spirit upon all flesh in the last days, (Acts 2:17)

2) At most this passage says that your sons and daughters would prophesy (not speak in tongues). Remember the early verses of I Cor 14 contrasts tongues with prophecy – they are NOT the same thing.

c. But perhaps the greatest oversight in this argument is that you (and the many people who support the argument you presented) have ignored the context of Joel chapter two.

1) Joel is a prophet of the endtimes. Chapter two begins by referring to "the day of the LORD" that cometh. The bible is consistent throughout in referring to his coming as "the day of the LORD", a day of judgment, the battle of Armageddon. The description continues right through to verses 25-27 where God promises to restore the years that the locust hath eaten, etc, and ye shall be satisfied and praise the name of the LORD your God, and my people shall never be ashamed, and ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel.

2) Have these things all happened yet? No. They will happen at his second coming. The context is very important.

3) THEN in verse 28 it says, "And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD". The prophecies and dreams and visions will happen "AFTERWARD".

4) People who claim that they are already being led by these prophecies and dreams and visions are NOT following what Joel said. Joel, in fact, said that these things would not occur until "AFTERWARD", AFTER the battle of Armageddon and into the millennial kingdom.