Austin Bible Church
The temporary spiritual gift of the interpretation or translation of tongues was the ability to translate accurately what was being said to the foreign unbelievers present, making sure that the one giving the message in a foreign tongue was giving accurate Gospel information. The gift of tongues never functioned without the gift of interpretation of tongues also functioning. This was not simply being well educated in numerous languages. The ones who had this gift would not even know the languages that they were translating! Those that had the gift of giving the Gospel to an unbeliever in his own language (tongues), a language they themselves did not understand, never had the gift of interpretation of tongues. This was so that people in the congregation would believe in the accuracy of the message and that those speaking in foreign languages were not just cranking out gibberish. God had a very special way to make sure that everything was done in decency and order. 1 Cor. 12:10; 1 Cor. 12:30.
"and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:10, NASB)
"All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" (1 Corinthians 12:30, NASB)
It was up to the apostles, leaders in the church and the pastor-teacher to make sure the person with the gift of tongues was accurate. By requiring an interpreter to be present, they could verify the accuracy of the message. The gift of interpretation or translation was always used in association with the gift of tongues. God the Holy Spirit would prompt believers to stand up and give the proper interpretation of tongues or exactly what the believer was communicating to the foreign unbelievers present as far as Gospel information was concerned. If someone with the gift of tongues wanted to speak, but there was no one present with the gift of interpretation of tongues, that person would remain seated and remain silent. 1 Cor. 14:27-28.
"If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:27-28, NASB)
After 70 AD, those that claim they are speaking in tongues or performing interpretation of tongues are contrary to the Word of God. They are involved in either an emotional performance to demonstrate they are filled with the Spirit, which they are not, or they are under demon influence. The engastrimuthos or ventriloquist demon speaks the language of demons and can also speak in many existing human foreign languages. They can also mimic someone's voice or “throw” their voice. This is tongues today as a satanic operation and is part of the perversion of the temporary spiritual gift of tongues. Any “tongues” spoken from 70 AD right on down to the Rapture of the Church is a perversion.
The phrase “a spirit from the ground” in Isaiah 29:4 refers the ventriloquist demon. This is just part of Isaiah’s prophecy about pseudo-tongues. The engastrimuthos demon controls the vocal cords of the unbeliever who speaks in tongues as a satanic operation to distract that person he indwells from either salvation in the case of unbelievers or from Bible truth in the case of others who are believers. He exactly and accurately reproduces the gift of tongues that has long since ceased. This explains how unbelievers can be involved in pseudo-tongues because only unbelievers can be demon possessed.
"Then you will be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust." (Isaiah 29:4, NASB)
Remember that tongues and the interpretation of tongues were the first temporary gifts to be removed. The second spiritual gift to be removed was healing. The third spiritual gift to be removed was apostleship. The rest of the temporary spiritual gifts were removed anywhere between 96 and 100 AD. Some possibly were functioning after 96 AD until the Canon was circulated.