The Conclusion
III. THE CONCLUSION. In Mark 16:17 we read, "And these signs shall follow them that believe..." The signs listed in Mark 16:17-18, DID follow them that believed; but, only for a short period of time. These signs are recorded in the Book of Acts, the last occurring about 58 A.D. as given in Acts in 28:1-9. Now, some conclusions: The Last Miracle Signs Are Recorded About 58 A.D. (Acts 28:1-9 They had ceased about 38 years before the New Testament was completed.
Paul Could No Longer Heal from About 62 A.D. On. Paul, who had exercised these miracle signs, could no longer do them. He could not heal Epaphroditus, Timothy, Trophimus, nor himself from about 62 A.D. on.
Must Perform All The Signs. (Mark 16:17-18) Since tongues advocates claim Mark 16:17-18 as their license for speaking in tongues, they would also have the power to perform the other four miracles. As stated in Mark 16:7, "These signs (plural) shall follow them that believe." All the signs, not just the speaking in tongues! The Signs Given In Mark 16:1-20 Are Not For Today. Most tongues advocates insist that all the signs given in Mark 16:1-20 are for today. A minority claim just tongues are still applicable today. To this minority, we simply refer the Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 where "know-ledge, prophecy, and tongues" shall be done away with, or "cease", when God's written Word is complete. This was accomplished with the Book of Revelation in about 96 A.D. (Please refer to our section on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.)
Ananias. In Acts 9:10-18, he exercised one of the signs by healing Paul’s blindness. Why do not those speaking in so-called tongues lay their hands on the blind and allow them to see? Recently, as of this writing, I visited a very young girl in the Cleveland Clinic. She was blind, could hardly hear and had just come out of open heart surgery. They could not stabilize her breathing and could do nothing more, medically, than wait and see. Of all the tongues advocates who claim the signs in Mark 16:1-20, where is just ONE who would lay their hands on a person such as this so she could be restored to health. Does one care to step forward?
Stephen. (Acts 6:1-15) "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great WONDERS (plural) and MIRACLES (plural) among the people." (v.8)
Stephen, exercising the signs of Mark 16:1-20, did wonders and miracles among the people. A far cry from someone today claiming tongues for a spiritual "high";but, failing to empty our hospitals by laying on of the hands and the sick recovering.
Philip, the Evangelist
"And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the MIRACLES (plural) which he did. (6) For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed." (Acts 8:6-7)
Philip was exercising the signs of Mark 16:1-20, not just a sign of speaking in tongues. Why do not those who claim the signs of Mark 16:1-20 are for today, do what Philip did? We also must note that "the people...gave HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH PHILIP SPAKE, hearing and seeing the miracles.” The miracles were given to validate the message until the New Testament was completed. Since we have God’s completed Word today in great abundance, there is no need for the miracles.
Barnabas and Paul. (Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12)
"Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what MIRACLES (plural) and WONDERS (plural) God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (Acts 15:12).
These miracles were: healing the sick, casting out demons, the power to escape death when bitten by a venomous viper. These fulfilled Mark 16:17-18 com-pletely and were not to be compared with the shallow emotionalism of the so-called speaking in tongues of today. The one time that Paul mentioned his use of tongues was to quench the "spiritual" pride of the Corinthian tongues speakers.
" I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:" (Corinthians 14:18)
He, no doubt, used this gift on his missionary journeys when he encountered people whose language he did not know. In 1 Corinthians 14:19-20, Paul told the Corinthian church to speak words in the church that could be understood and to grow up and act like men, not children. Paul’s only reason for mentioning his use of the tongues gift was to squelch their spiritual pride. Then, and only then, it was to convey the gospel to a people whose language he did not speak. It was a real language, and not the shallow "jibber-jabber" that we hear today.
Much more could be written to substantiate that the signs of Mark 16:17-18 (including tongues) have ceased, prior to God's completion of His Word. I feel enough has been penned to convince any honest Bible student, who has a desire to know the truth, that these signs are not with us today. A word of warning! Satan will attempt to counterfeit the working of the Holy Spirit in whatever way he can. It is much easier for him with tongues to appease the flesh with emotionalism and sensationalism, than it is to heal the sick, raise the dead, keep you from dying when you drink something poisonous; or keeping you alive when bitten by a deadly, venomous viper. The speaking in tongues can be declared counterfeit and invalid, only if you declare God's Word to be true. Especially as God emphasizes, "Tongues will cease when my written Word is complete." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) And as we have seen, the sign gifts actually were "phased out" before the completion of God's Word
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One false doctrine almost always leads to another. I have found, almost without exception, those who endorse tongues speaking also believe you can lose your salvation. This leads to believing that salvation is obtained by good works, and not a salvation totally of grace by faith. Then—if they are trusting in works to get them to Heaven—they are not saved! Salvation is by faith, alone, without works; and one can never be lost again. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Some come in the "back door" and say, "Yes, I am saved by faith alone; but, if I sin, I can be lost again. " If you feel you have to help Christ out to "keep yourself" saved, it boils down to works again, and you do not have God's salvation!
Dr. Max D. Younce
Face To Face With Tongues