The Vanguard of a New Message
The Holy Spirit loses no time when He has a prepared people. He loosed their tongues, lifted their voices, and led them forth. But the fire was necessary too. The tongues and fire combine to illustrate the completeness of equipment for those who witness to the glory and grace of God. The suggestiveness in the figures is most extensive—too much so for many of the enlightening details in this writing. But as witnesses they were to possess a zeal and to constitute a light.
"
Ye are the light of the world," Jesus said. Now that light was to shine, even unto the darkened uttermost part of the earth.
As a matter of fact, what took place on the Day of Pentecost was, in miniature, a preview of the over-all picture of the church witnessing for Christ to the ends of the earth, to the end of the age, telling forth His Word and presenting His claims in all the languages of men.
In this connection, it must be clearly noted that they spoke in "
other tongues" and not in unknown tongues—that is, tongues other than their own. Why? The text plainly states that the people in Jerusalem on that particular day were from "
every nation under heaven." How could these apostles talk to people who did not understand their language?
One of two things had to take place if a witness were to be borne. Either the foreigners would have to understand the language of the witnesses, or the witnesses would have to speak the languages of the foreigners. In either case, a miracle was necessary.
The Lord chose to work through the witnesses.
Hence, He empowered them to communicate to the throngs. They spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance. And what they spoke was understood by those of foreign countries. In utter amazement, the people said: "How hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born?"
The answer is simple:
First, the Holy Spirit proved His power.
Second, He presented His pattern for world evangelism.
People of all nations must be addressed in their native tongue.
The Bud and the Blossom
If it be asked why the Holy Spirit does not today grant miraculously and immediately the ability to speak in the almost three thousand tongues and dialects in the world, we can only answer that His ways are not our ways. However, while witnesses must follow natural courses in order to converse in French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and other languages, it is still true that the Holy Spirit enables missionaries to grasp the languages, and the Gospel is reaching out to the ends of the earth.
On the Day of Pentecost, this special power was given. That day, some three thousand were saved. That day, some three thousand more witnesses were added to those who had been welded together by the fire of the Spirit into one body.
John, in his apocalyptic vision, heard a voice. He turned "
to see the voice" (Revelation 1:12). Upon turning, he saw seven lamp-stands, symbolic by his own explanation of the seven churches, which in turn are probably pictorial of the whole Church era. In the midst of them he saw the Lord Jesus. Now what was the voice which was "
as the sound of many waters"? It was the voice of divine testimony through many witnesses agelong and worldwide. It was the Lord speaking through His messengers.
Thus, what we found in embryo on the Day of Pentecost we will find in full development in the Book of the consummation where jubilant saints are singing a new song —a song of redemption. We observe that they are "
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation."
Who told each one about the Saviour?
How did they learn about redemption?
Through witnesses, sent-ones, Spirit-led individuals. Each heard the Good News in his own tongue. Thus, the Gospel goes to the uttermost part—quickening, enlightening, gladdening hearts of people everywhere with a pervasive hope.
~ end of chapter 1 ~
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