As far as the gifts ceasing, one can only speculate. Between the book of Malachi and the prophecy of John the Baptist was a cessation of 400 years. There's nothing in Scripture that says it would happen or did happen. I do not know whether the gifts stopped due to unbelief, false teaching, grievous wolves, etc. etc. All I do know is the Scriptures say the signs shall follow them that believe.
I don't believe tongues are a preeminent gift above the others. Paul makes that clear when he tells us that prophecy is to be preferred over tongues.
Mark 16
The Great Commission
14Afterward he appeared to
the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15And he said
to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And
these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken
to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And
they went out and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
....
these things were said ABOUT those He personally sent out.
WE KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE THOSE SIGNS ACCOMPANIED THEM.
don't we?
"So then the Lord Jesus,
after he had spoken
to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God."
Luke 24
44Then he said
to them, “These are my words that
I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said
to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48
You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon
you.
But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 1:4
On one occasion, while he was eating with
them, he gave
them this command: "
Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
that was of course Pentecost.
it's in the PAST.
we read about it.
.........
do
we need the message confirmed with signs - now that we have the Scriptures and The Holy Spirit testifies to us in them of everything concerning our salvation, and Christ?
do we need signs?
does anyone today require a sign?
Jesus didn't like that - at all.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of
the gospel, because
it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
