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Randy,Thanks for the response to my letter. It was encouraging that you took it seriously and answered my questions right away. I have hundreds of questions concerning the prophecy that was given me and the experience of recieving the gift of tongues. I don't fully understand the gift. I use it only as a personal prayer language,when I am so burdened down that I have no idea what I should pray for,or how...the spirit gives utterance. There seems to be an understanding that comes along with it as I am praying...about the subject or direction of my prayer.
My main concern at the moment is that the preacher who had encouraged me to pray for the gift of tongues was incredulous about the prophecy that was given me. He said " Are you calling yourself a prophet?"Because there are no true prophets in this day and age and that I must be decieved. I found that hard to believe after what I experienced. If you recieve any insight into that time frame that we spoke of,about the Jews leaving the city when they witnessed the abomination of desolation ,and went into the mountains for protection....I would appreciate it if you passed it on to me. Of course I will be praying for understanding,and searching the scriptures also,in the meantime.I can't remember all of the scriptures that were related. There was a lot about Edom and Moab. Thanks again for the encouragement. I have been so bogged down by cares of this world that I haven't even read the scriptures on a daily basis. I don't know how I stumbled upon your website...nothing short of a miracle to me...and I praise God for it.May God bless you and keep you always.
D. E.

 My answer:

Hi D.,
Thanks for writing back. It is my pleasure to be of service to you.

You wrote: I have hundreds of questions concerning the prophecy that was given me and the experience of recieving the gift of tongues. I don't fully understand the gift. I use it only as a personal prayer language,when I am so burdened down that I have no idea what I should pray for,or how...the spirit gives utterance. There seems to be an understanding that comes along with it as I am praying...about the subject or direction of my prayer.

My response: It is improperly taught that the gift of tongues is for all believers and that it will be a natural outcome of the filling of the Holy Spirit. This is simply not true. The idea behind this is that the only way a person can understand the deeper things of God is to receive and speak in tongues. I have never spoken in tongues and yet I have the gifts of prophecy, teaching and discerning spirits. I have been overwhelmed by the Spirit of God many times and have received much understanding thanks be to God! All of this has happened without tongues. With that said, The importance of any gift given by the Holy Spirit is that it is used for the benefit of other believers. Unbelievers would benefit little from the gifts because of their inability to discern the things given to them without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are to build up the body. Gifts have an order of importance with prophecy being most important in building others and tongues least important. Paul himself said he would rather all were prophets than speak in tongues. Your use of tongues as a prayer language is a correct use and unless you have an interpreter of tongues around it is the only way you can use it. If God chooses to reveal things to you through the gift of tongues then you have a major obligation that is common among all the gifts, you must share what is revealed to other believers.

You wrote: My main concern at the moment is that the preacher who had encouraged me to pray for the gift of tongues was incredulous about the prophecy that was given me. He said " Are you calling yourself a prophet?"Because there are no true prophets in this day and age and that I must be deceived. I found that hard to believe after what I experienced.

My response: Why would God give the gift of prophecy to the New Testament church if it is not valid for today? I have run into this lack of faith in many 'churches.' There is clear indication in scripture that prophecy is not only a gift for today but that it is the most important one used in the body. Do not let anyone call your prophecy deceit if you know in your heart that it is from God. Prophets have a very special job in the body and they are almost always misunderstood and under appreciated. In most places they are scorned as much as they were by the Jews! On the other hand, in fulfillment of end-times prophecy, many false prophets have arisen and leading many astray. This makes many people 'prophecy shy' and they simply dismiss all prophets, whether true or false. One of the criteria for prophets of God is that what they say comes true. This can be difficult to test if their prophecy is for the distant future. The other criteria is that their prophecy does not contradict scripture or claim to add new revelation, keeping in mind that there is no new revelation apart from the written word of God. In many ways it makes end-times prophets more like re-tellers of prophecy than seers of new revelation. God will give us new details as we draw closer to fulfillments of prophecy, but these cannot conflict with the 'big picture' found in the Word.

You wrote: If you recieve any insight into that time frame that we spoke of,about the Jews leaving the city when they witnessed the abomination of desolation ,and went into the mountains for protection....I would appreciate it if you passed it on to me. Of course I will be praying for understanding,and searching the scriptures also,in the meantime.

My response: We must realize that most of the Jews will be killed or captured. There will be a small contingent left within Israel, probably as slave labor of some sort. I am not convinced that Petra is the place of refuge. I do not know yet why I don't, but in terms of logic, I would highly doubt that the Jews could hide there undetected and without protection. Even the secular media regularly run documentaries about Petra and the belief by many Christians that it is the place of refuge. The scriptures show the escape and protection, by the earth, of some faithful Jews. The scriptures also relate the splitting of the Mount of Olives and the subsequent valley that results as an escape route for them (Zechariah 14:1-9). Their destination (Azel) is not easily pinpointed on the map.

You wrote: Thanks again for the encouragement. I have been so bogged down by cares of this world that I haven't even read the scriptures on a daily basis. I don't know how I stumbled upon your website...nothing short of a miracle to me...and I praise God for it.

My response: I praise God that He led you to me and that He has used me to bring you encouragement! Keep on my sister and let me know how I can help.

In the service of the LORD Jesus,

Randy