Why Tongues? (John 7:37-38; Zechariah 14:8; Isaiah 12:3; Acts 2:6-7,11; 1 Corinthians 14:21-22; Mark 16:17-18)

John 7:37-38 says, "Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, 'If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said [Zech. 14:8], from [out of ,KJV] his innermost being [belly, KJV] shall flow [continuously] springs (and) rivers of living water." (Amplified)

The setting of this passage, is the Feast of Tabernacles, which celebrated the coming harvest. Water was taken, by the priest, from the pool of Siloam, [which was spring fed, from under the temple mount], and brought to the temple in "belly" jars, and poured out, each day, for 7 days, with the sacrifices. On each of the first 7 days of the feast, bullocks were sacrificed in decreasing amounts, starting at 13 the first day; 12 the second; 11 the third; 10 the fourth; 9 the fifth; 8 the sixth; and 7 the seventh; until 70 in total were sacrificed. The eighth day was considered a feast day in itself, and a day of the greatest rejoicing. On this day only one bullock was sacrificed as water was poured out.

70 - The Jewish belief, established by God, was that all nations came from 70 nations, and find their origin in that number.

WATER - the Jewish practice of pouring out water was taken from Isaiah 12:3, "... with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation."

Zechariah 14 was read, every year, at the beginning and end of this feast, and the water represented two things:

1) The future out-pouring of the Holy Spirit of God.

2) A good harvest, because rain would be poured out by the Lord.

BULLOCKS - 70 bullocks were sacrificed to offer atonement for the 70 nations of the world, so they too would have an abundant harvest through getting rain. On the eighth day the one bullock represented atonement and deliverance for the nation of Israel itself, a time of great rejoicing, and the " most important day of the feast."

BELLY - When Jesus cried out, He was saying, that you won't have to carry water of salvation and deliverance anymore in "belly" jars, for the river will flow out from your "belly". [ the word is most commonly used in the Greek for the womb, the place of giving birth, and here means the innermost being].

Jesus paraphrased Zechariah 14:8, interpreting the "living waters" flowing from Jerusalem, to be rivers of living waters, from Believers, flowing out to all nations. Specifically these verses speak of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to "... every nation under heaven..." [ every man heard them speak in his own language (Acts 2:6-7), they heard them speak in their own languages, the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:11)].

Speaking in other languages is:

1) A sign to the Jewish nation of God's salvation and deliverance for the whole world (1 Cor. 14:21-22).

2) One of the signs that Believers have sworn allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ,[i.e., "... believe in my name..."] as the one true King of the earth, over the lives of men. (Mk. 16:17-18).

Prophetically, every time someone is baptized [or, filled] with the Holy Spirit, and speaks in tongues [other languages]:

1) It is a declaration that God's salvation and deliverance through the Lord Jesus Christ, is for all nations. The act is symbolic of speaking in one of the original 70 languages of the world. For this to cease, in this dispensation, would mean that God is no longer concerned for all nations of the world.

2) It is the river of the Holy Spirit flowing out of you, in the spiritual realm, to the nations of the world as you prophesy and declare the wonderful works of God, in other languages.

Soon, the 7 days of the nations of the world will come to a climax... with the eighth day, where Israel will receive her salvation and deliverance and there will be a time of great rejoicing on this "... most important day of the Feast".

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.