Yes, according to Les Feldick's teaching, supernatural gifts like tongues and prophecy are no longer needed because the written Word of God has now been completed.
Les teaches that tongues, prophecy, and special knowledge were temporary provisions given while the New Testament had not yet been written. Early churches had no printed Bible, so God gifted men to proclaim His Word directly. Once the printed Scriptures were complete, these gifts faded away because the written Word took over their role.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 — Paul directly states that prophecies and tongues will cease and vanish when 'that which is perfect is come' — the completed written revelation.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes, "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." This indicates that gifts like prophecy, tongues, and special knowledge were partial and temporary by design, meant to be replaced when something complete arrived. The apostle Paul also listed spiritual gifts in the church, including apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28). He asked, "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?" (1 Corinthians 12:29), showing that these gifts were not given to everyone and functioned for a specific period. Scripture says that prophecy was for speaking forth the Word of God, but once the written Word became available, the need for this direct gift ended.
Les teaches that supernatural gifts—tongues, prophecy, and special knowledge—were temporary gifts given to the early church because the New Testament did not yet exist. The early churches grew and reached out in the pagan world "without benefit of the written Word." They depended on gifted men who could proclaim the Pauline doctrines directly by God's power. Once the printed Word came into being—Paul's letters, the Gospels, the book of Acts, and the completed New Testament—the need for such gifted men disappeared. Regarding tongues, Les explains that in the plural, tongues always means known human languages. Paul could communicate among various tribes and dialects without spending months learning each language. This was a supernatural enablement. But that gift has ceased; missionaries today must still learn languages the natural way. Prophecy was likewise a gift to proclaim God's Word before it was in print, and "it is no longer a valid gift because now we have the printed page." Les also clarifies that to be a pastor or teacher remains a gift, but the special revelation gifts of prophecy and tongues were tied to the incomplete state of revelation. The earlier revelations remain foundational, much like basic arithmetic is foundational to higher mathematics, but God continued revealing deeper truth until the full written Word was completed.
According to Les, the early churches did not have the New Testament. The Gospels had not yet been written, and Paul's letters had not yet been recognized as the Word of God. In that situation, God gifted certain men to speak forth His Word directly. Paul told the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy because it was the most important thing a local church could have—men who could proclaim the truth without it being in print. Tongues, in the plural, were known human languages that enabled the Gospel to be communicated across language barriers, as when Paul encountered various tribes and dialects on his missionary journeys.
Les teaches that "that which is perfect" refers to the completed written Word of God—the printed Scriptures. Paul wrote that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge would cease or vanish when that which is perfect came. Until that time, knowledge and prophecy were partial. Les says that once the printed Word came into being, it took over the role that the supernatural gifts had served. The earlier revelations remain foundational, much as basic arithmetic remains foundational to higher mathematics, but the need for those temporary gifts ended.
Les says that the gift of speaking in tongues, as in the plural known human languages, is no longer valid today. He points out that missionaries cannot arrive in a foreign country and instantly speak the language; they must learn it, showing that God has taken away that gift. He does not deny that God can perform miracles today, but he says people need to hear the Word preached rather than seek miraculous signs. He is open to proof of genuine miracles but remains skeptical of unproven manifestations.
Tongues are known languages; Paul didn't need to learn them
Les explains that the gift of tongues was the supernatural ability to speak known human languages without study, which Paul possessed but modern missionaries do not—showing the gift has ceased.
Early churches lacked the written Word
Les shows that prophecy and other gifts were necessary because the New Testament had not yet been written; the early churches depended on gifted men.
Prophecy faded when the printed Word came
Les explicitly says the gift of prophecy faded away because we now have the printed Bible; we no longer need men who proclaim without any written source.
Why Prophecy Is Greater Than Tongues - 1 Corinthians 14 Explained
But yet that was sufficient for the Word of God to feed a hungry heart, see? All right, so now then remember that when Paul speaks of this gift of prophecy, it is under a whole different set of circumstances than what we've got today, all right? Then he comes down to verse 2, for he that speaketh in an unknown tongue.
Apostles and prophets are no longer present
Les contrasts the list of gifts in Corinthians with Ephesians, noting that apostles have fallen off the scene and prophets have left because we now have the printed Word.
Tongues, Prophecy & Order in Worship - 1 Corinthians 14:14-40 Explained
Not like we had in the last half hour. What did I say the gift of prophesying was for? To proclaim or preach the Word before they had the New Testament. It was a gift. Now he says, signs and all this, this isn't going to accomplish all that much, but what will? Preaching the Word. This is what people need to hear today. People have to hear the Gospel. They have to hear the plan of salvation.
Once Scripture was complete, gifted men were not needed
Les reiterates that after the New Testament was completed, the need for men gifted to speak forth the Word without print ended; pastoral and teaching gifts remain.
Prophecy was needed before the Word came into print
Les explains from 1 Corinthians 13 that prophecy was a needed gift before the Word was in print, and that it would pass away when the completed revelation arrived.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Paul directly states that prophecy, tongues, and knowledge are partial and will be replaced when the perfect (the complete written revelation) comes.
1 Corinthians 14:1: Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Paul urged believers to desire prophecy because at that time it was the most important gift for proclaiming the Word before the New Testament was written.
1 Corinthians 12:28: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Paul lists the temporary and permanent gifts in the church; apostles and prophets were foundational for the pre-New Testament era.
1 Corinthians 13:2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Paul mentions the gift of prophecy and understanding mysteries as things that would be superseded by love and ultimately by the completed Word.
According to Les Feldick, the gift of tongues (known human languages) was given to early apostles like Paul to communicate the Gospel across language barriers without study. Since the New Testament is now in print and missionaries learn languages naturally, the gift is no longer needed and has ceased.
Les teaches that before the New Testament was written, believers had no printed Bible. God gifted men to speak forth His Word directly by His power, so prophecy was the most important gift at that time. Once the written Word was completed, this gift faded away.
Les teaches that 'that which is perfect' in 1 Corinthians 13:10 refers to the completed written Word of God—the printed Scriptures. When the New Testament was finished, the partial gifts like prophecy and tongues were no longer needed.
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