"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:2-4.
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
"They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. . . .
"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:17, 18, 20.
Speaking In Tongues
"I call upon our ministers, physicians, and all church members to study the lessons that Christ gave His disciples just before His ascension. These lessons contain instruction that the people need." Testimonies, Vol. 8 p. 299.
WHAT WERE THE LAST INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY OUR LORD JUST BEFORE HIS ASCENSION?
"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. . . .But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." Acts 1:4,5,8,9.
This Scripture clearly shows us that Christ's last instructions to His disciples were to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the outpouring of the Holy Ghost which would enable them to carry the message of salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Acts 2: tells us how this was accomplished.
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:1-11
THE SOURCE OF THEIR POWER. "After Christ's ascension, the disciples were gathered together in one place to make humble supplication to God. And after ten days of heart searching and self-examination, the way was prepared for the Holy Spirit to enter the cleansed, consecrated soul temples. Every heart was filled with the Spirit, as though God desired to show his people that it was his prerogative to bless them with the choicest of heaven's blessings. . . .The sword of the Spirit flashed right and left. Newly edged with power, it pierced even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow. The idolatry that had been mingled with the worship of the people was overthrown. New territory was added to the kingdom of God. Places that had been barren and desolate sounded forth his praises." Review and Herald, June 10, 1902.
"THEY FELT THE BURDEN OF SOULS.---Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word: "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." The Spirit of Him who died that sinners might live, animated the entire congregation of believers.
"The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day.---Signs of the Times, Feb. 17, 1914." Evangelism pp. 698,699 .
There are five points from these Scriptures we would like to enlarge upon.
1. They were all with one accord in one place when the Holy Spirit was poured out. They had put away all differences from among them.
2. Notice that the tongues of fire that sat upon each of them was CLOVEN. Cloven tongues would symbolize the ability to speak in more than one tongue or language. (The Spirit of Prophecy Volume Three, p. 265)
3. All that were in the upper room (Acts 2:4) received the Holy Ghost.
4. In Acts 2:6, it says: "Every man heard them speak in his own language. "This shows they spoke a known language, not an unknown tongue.
5. In Acts 2:5-11, it shows that every nation under heaven was represented there at Jerusalem at that time. The disciples were GALILAEANS (Acts 2:7) and couldn't speak other languages. The Lord performed a miracle by pouring out His Holy Spirit to enable them to speak in other languages so as to present the message to all the world.
"The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted. The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work.
"'There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile they had learned to speak various languages. Many of these Jews were on this occasion in Jerusalem, attending the religious festivals then in progress. Every known tongue was represented by those assembled. This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring. . . .From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language." Acts of the Apostles p.39, 40.
"The disciples were to preach among other nations, and they would receive power to speak other tongues." Desire of Ages p. 821.
"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Cor. 10:11.
SHOULD WE EXPECT A SECOND PENTECOST?
"The Lord did not lock the reservoir of heaven after pouring His Spirit upon the early disciples. We also may receive of the fullness of His blessing. Heaven is full of the treasures of His grace, and those who come to God in faith may claim all that He has promised. If we do not have His power, it is because of our spiritual lethargy, our indifference, our indolence. Let us come out of this formality and deadness (RH June 4, 1889)." 6 Bible Commentary p. 1055, E. G . White Comments.
"Should not the power of God be even more mightily revealed today than in the time of the apostles?---Signs of the Times, Feb. 17, 1914." Evangelism p. 698.
"As Christ was glorified on the day of Pentecost, so will He again be glorified in the closing work of the gospel, when He shall prepare a people to stand the final test, in the closing conflict of the great controversy (RH Nov. 29, 1892).7 Bible Commentary p. 983, E.G. White Comments.
"In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, the Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the gospel." Great Controversy (Introduction) p. 9.
"The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold....
"The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the "former rain" was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the "latter rain" will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. . ."In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh." "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:17, 21.
"The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close." Great Controversy pp. 611,612.
"You are getting the coming of the Lord too far off. I saw the latter rain was coming as the midnight cry, and with ten times the power." E.G. WHITE, taken from Spalding & Magan's collection p. 4, paragraph 3.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THIS PROMISED POWER?
"It should be remembered that the promises and the threatenings of God are alike conditional." Evangelism p. 695.
"When we bring our hearts into unity with Christ, and our lives into harmony with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples on the day of Pentecost will fall on us.-- Review and Herald, June 30, 1903." Evangelism pp. 697,698.
"An Awakened Church.--When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.--Review and Herald, July 21, 1896." Evangelism p. 699.
"The third angel's message is to lighten the earth with its glory; but only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it when it shall have swelled into the loud cry." Review and Herald, Nov. 19,1908.
"Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord--fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit...." Evangelism p. 702.
"Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 214.
"Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 187.
"I saw that none could share the "refreshing" unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action." Early Writings p. 71.
HAS OUR CHURCH COMPLIED WITH THESE CONDITIONS?
"I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. The Lord has not closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders.
"The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 217.
"God's displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in responsible positions." Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 270.
"...But if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will be held responsible for those sins...." Testimonies Vol. 3, p. 265.
"What a lesson is this to men holding positions of responsibility today in the church of God! What a solemn warning to deal faithfully with wrongs that bring dishonor to the cause of truth! Let none who claim to be the depositaries of God's law flatter themselves that the regard they may outwardly show toward the commandments will preserve them from the exercise of divine justice. Let none refuse to be reproved for evil, nor charge the servants of God with being too zealous in endeavoring to cleanse the camp from evil-doing. A sin-hating God calls upon those who claim to keep His law to depart from all iniquity. A neglect to repent and to render willing obedience will bring upon men and women today as serious consequences as came upon ancient Israel. There is a limit beyond which the judgments of Jehovah can no longer be delayed. The desolation of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with impunity." Prophets and Kings pp. 416,417.
"...If the presence of one Achan was sufficient to weaken the whole camp of Israel, can we be surprised at the little success which attends our efforts when every church and almost every family has its Achan?..." Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 157.
"There is chaff among us, and this is why we are so weak...." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 288.
WHAT MUST WE DO TO RECEIVE THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPRIT?
"The neglect to bring purity and truth into practice will grieve the Spirit of God and weaken them because God is not in their midst to bless. Internal corruption will bring the denunciations of God upon this people as it did upon Jerusalem." 2 Selected Messages p. 378.
"Let us as a people, as far as possible, cleanse the camp of moral defilement and aggravating sins. When sin is making its march upon the people who claim to be elevating the moral standard of righteousness, how can we expect God to turn His power in our behalf and save us as a people that did righteousness? . . . If as a people we do not keep ourselves in the faith and not only advocate with pen and voice the commandments of God, but keep them every one, not violating a single precept knowingly, then weakness and ruin will come upon us." 2 Selected Messages p. 379.
"Let the church commence the work of purification before God by repentance, humiliation, deep heart searching, for we are in the antitypical day of atonement --solemn hour fraught with eternal results." 2 Selected Messages p. 378.
"While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth." Great Controversy p. 425.
"The time has come for earnest and powerful efforts to rid the church of the slime and filth which is tarnishing her purity. The church of Christ is called to be a holy, powerful people, a name and praise in all the earth." Testimonies to Ministers p. 450.
WHAT ARE THE LORD'S PLANS FOR HIS PEOPLE?
"Warnings and reproofs are not given to the erring among Seventh-day Adventists because their lives are more blame worthy than are the lives of professed Christians of the nominal churches, nor because their example of their acts are worse than those of the Adventists who will not yield obedience to the claims of God's law, but because they have great light, and have by their profession taken their position as God's special, chosen people, having the law of God written in their hearts. . . . They are God's representatives upon the earth. Any sin in them separates them from God and, in a special manner, dishonors His name by giving the enemies of His holy law occasion to reproach His cause and His people, whom He has called 'a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,' that they should show forth the praises of Him that hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light....
"'The Lord reproves and corrects the people who profess to keep His law. He points out their sins and lays open their iniquity because He wishes to separate all sin and wickedness from them, that they may perfect holiness in His fear. . . . God rebukes, reproves, and corrects them, that they may be refined, sanctified, elevated, and finally exalted to His own throne."' Testimonies, Vol. 5 pp. 661, 662.
"The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain. . . ." Selected Messages Book 3, p. 385.
We learned from our previous studies, found in Booklet's #1-3, that the 144,000 will be God's pure, true, sanctified ministry during the Loud Cry. Those that are left in the church after it is purified will be called holy. It is upon these purified ones that God will pour out His Holy Spirit.
"And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." Isaiah 4:3,4.
WILL THE REMNANT CHURCH HAVE THE GIFTS OF HEALING, AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES?
"The message of the renewing power of God's grace will be carried to every country and clime, until the truth shall belt the world. Of the number of them that shall be sealed will be those who have come from every nation and kindred and tongue and people. From every country will be gathered men and women who will stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb, crying, 'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,' Revelation 7:10. But before this work can be accomplished, we must experience here in our own country the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts." Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students p. 532.
Before this work of sealing the great multitude (second fruits of the living), can be accomplished, we must have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts in like manner as the disciples had on the day of Pentecost after the ascension of Christ. We, too, will have the gift of speaking in tongues at that time to enable us to bring into God's purified church, a great multitude from every nation, kindred, tongue and people (Rev. 7:9).
"Pentecost Repeated With Greater Power. --It is with an earnest longing that I look forward to the time when the events of the day of Pentecost shall be repeated with even greater power than on that occasion. John says, "I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." Then, as at the Pentecostal season, the people will hear the truth spoken to them, every man in his own tongue.
"God can breathe new life into every soul that sincerely desires to serve Him, and can touch the lips with a live coal from off the altar, and cause them to become eloquent with His praise. Thousands of voices will be imbued with the power to speak forth the wonderful truths of God's Word. The stammering tongue will be unloosed, and the timid will be made strong to bear courageous testimony to the truth. May the Lord help His people to cleanse the soul temple from every defilement, and to maintain such a close connection with Him that they may be partakers of the latter rain when it shall be poured out (RH July 20, 1886)." 6 Bible Commentary, p. 1055, E.G. White Comments.
How marvelous it is to know for a certainty that Pentecost will be repeated with greater power upon the Remnant church for the ingathering of the final harvest. Then the true speaking in tongues will be remanifested.
"Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, followed the convictions of his own conscience and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message. I saw that this message will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry." Early Writings p. 278.
"Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand." Great Controversy p. 612.
WILL THERE BE ANY COUNTERFEIT SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND HEALING BEFORE THE LOUD CRY?
It has been said that "the counterfeit generally precedes the true." We will find this to be especially true in the case of speaking in tongues and healings. Let us see what the Spirit of Prophecy has to say on this subject.
"Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world." Great Controversy p. 464.
"I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant." Early Writings p. 261.
"It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought." Testimonies, Vol. 9 p. 16.
"Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world's Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.
"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ....This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion." Great Controversy p. 624.
Back in the early days of the Advent movement, the servant of the Lord counseled and reproved those who were advocating a false speaking in tongues, which was nothing more than a gibberish. Here we have a good example of the counterfeit preceding the true.
"Some of these persons have exercises which they call gifts and say that the Lord has placed them in the church. They have an unmeaning gibberish which they call the unknown tongue, which is unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven. Such gifts are manufactured by men and women, aided by the great deceiver. Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the church." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 412.
"It would be far better for the progress and success of the third angel's message if such persons would leave the truth....
"There are wandering stars professing to be ministers sent of God who are preaching the Sabbath from place to place, but who have truth mixed up with error and are throwing out their mass of discordant views to the people. Satan has pushed them in to disgust intelligent and sensible unbelievers. Some of these have much to say upon the gifts and are often especially exercised. They give themselves up to wild, excitable feelings and make unintelligible sounds which they call the gift of tongues, and a certain class seem to be charmed with these strange manifestations. A strange spirit rules with this class, which would bear down and run over anyone who would reprove them. God's Spirit is not in the work and does not attend such workmen. They have another spirit. Still, such preachers have success among a certain class. But this will greatly increase the labor of those servants whom God shall send, who are qualified to present before the people the Sabbath and the gifts in their proper light, and whose influence and example are worthy of imitation." Testimonies, Vol . 1, pp . 413,414.
"Some rejoice and exult that they have the gifts, which others have not. May God deliver His people from such gifts. What do these gifts do for them? Are they through the exercise of these gifts, brought into the unity of the faith? And do they convince the unbeliever that God is with them of a truth? When these discordant ones, holding their different views, come together and there is considerable excitement and the unknown tongue, they let their light so shine that unbelievers would say: These people are not sane; they are carried away with a false excitement, and we know that they do not have the truth. Such stand directly in the way of sinners; their influence is effectual to keep others from accepting the Sabbath. Such will be rewarded according to their works. Would to God they would be reformed or give up the Sabbath! They would not then stand in the way of unbelievers." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 418, 419.
Here again we are told that God's people are to have presented before them, the truth concerning the gifts in their proper light. God's people will have the true speaking in tongues during the Loud Cry when the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon them enabling them to speak the different languages of this earth to bring in a great multitude of saints from every nation, kindred, tongue and people (Rev.7:9). But before this will happen, Satan will bring in a counterfeit speaking in tongues, not only in our own church, but in the other churches of the world as well.
"Miracles Wrought Under Supervision of the Enemy. [Matt. 7:21-23 quoted.] These may profess to be followers of Christ, but they have lost sight of their Leader. They may say, "Lord, Lord"; they may point to the sick who are healed through them, and to other marvelous works, and claim that they have more of the Spirit and power of God than is manifested by those who keep His law. But their works are done under the supervision of the enemy of righteousness, whose aim it is to deceive souls, and are designed to lead away from obedience, truth, and duty. In the near future there will be still more marked manifestations of this miracle-working power; for it is said of him, "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men" (ST Feb. 26, 1885)." 7 Bible Commentary pp. 975,976, E.G. White Comments.
"...So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.
". . . None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict." Great Controversy pp. 593,594
SUMMARY:
The Spirit of Prophecy counseled us to "study the lessons that Christ gave just before His ascension." We found in Acts 1:4,5 that Christ's last instruction to His disciples was to remain in Jerusalem until they should receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts chapter two, it tells us how the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those who had put away all differences.
"The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted. The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work." Acts of the Apostles p. 39.
Thus we can see that the purpose of speaking in tongues at Pentecost was to spread the gospel to those of other languages.
We found many quotations in the Spirit of Prophecy foretelling a second Pentecost at the commencement of the Loud Cry or the time of trouble. But before this second Pentecost could be poured out, there are certain conditions that must be met. Early Writings page 71 gives us the conditions: "I saw that none could share the "refreshing" unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action."
As a people, we found, that we have not met these conditions. "Let us as a people, as far as possible cleanse the camp of moral defilement and aggravating sins. 2 Selected Messages p. 379.
"When we have entire wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure;...." Evangelism p. 699.
God's church must be cleansed and purified before He will pour out His Holy Spirit upon His "pure, true, sanctified ministry" (the 144,000). See letter 55, 1886.
Just as the 120 had the gift of tongues to enable them to preach the gospel to every nation under heaven, so the 144,000 will have that same gift, when the earth is lightened with the glory of the angel who joins the third angel to bring in the great final harvest from every nation, kindred, tongue and people (Rev. 7:9).
The Spirit of Prophecy in depicting the power of the Remnant Church during the Loud Cry says: "Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers." Early Writings p. 278.
Thus we found that the gospel work will never close, the final harvest never be garnered in, without a world-wide manifestation of the gift of miracles, including the gift of tongues.
We also found that "Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought." Testimonies, Vol. 9. p. 16.
Back in the early days of the Advent movement, Satan was counterfeiting the gift of tongues. Some were speaking in a gibberish and calling it the unknown tongue. The Spirit of Prophecy says it was "unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven." Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 412.
How fortunate we are to know all of these things ahead of time. How marvelous it is that the Lord has told us in advance, so that we will not be taken unawares by the devil and his many deceptions.
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." 1 Thessalonians 5:4,5.
It is our earnest and heartfelt prayer that the reader of this booklet
be among those "who have their vessels purified, that they may be ready
for the heavenly dew, for the showers of the latter rain." (See: Evangelism
p. 702).