tongues are prophecy? - really? that is not the purpose of tongues - and prophecy is not solely about the revelation of Scripture
someone needs to take a class ;p
tongues are a confirming gift and also evangelistic gift they have not ceased - i personall spoke in a language i did not understand to someone from that language to witness
i do not seek a repeat of that experience since tongues is not a gift we should be seeking and it is far too often claimed and abused
prophets did not just go and tell the future they went and told the will of God in personal messages - i think God has a will and im sure He communicates with us - so thus prophecy should still be up and running
the whole thing hinges on what is perfect - you claim it is the Bible - I claim it is Christ's return
no gifts have ceased to exist - they may not be active but they are available to go at a moments notice- 1Co 13 clearly states the fullness or completeness is when we are face to face - and as far as i know face to face would kill at least according to OT and Moses - unless we are in heaven and in possession of our new bodies
Tongues had many purposes, one of which was revelatory as indicated by 1Cor.13:8-13, and the context that it is written in.
"When that which is 'perfect' is come then that which is in part will be done away."
The word "teleios" is in the neuter gender and cannot possibly refer to Christ who is masculine. It refers to the Word of God. Perfect means complete or completed. When the God's revelation was completed then that which was in part (prophecy, tongues, and "revelatory" knowledge) was done away.
The spiritual gifts were a sign that authenticated the apostles and their message (2Cor.12:12; Heb.2:3,4). As a whole these sign gifts were given to the apostles to show that they indeed were the apostles, and that their message was from God.
The spiritual gifts were a sign to the Jews (1Cor.14:21,22). They were a sign in that if they didn't take this sign seriously and repent they could be sure judgment would come. Judgement came in 70 A.D. The Temple was destroyed, and the nation was dispersed.
If you read 1Cor.14 you will note that the emphasis is on understanding. Tongues was never allowed to be spoken unless there was interpretation. No interpretation; no tongues. And only a limit of two or three, and that in order--one by one--could speak in a service. Women could not speak.
But the purpose? They were translating what would have been said in prophecy. All throughout the emphasis is on prophecy. Paul said it was better if they would prophecy with understanding then speak in tongues. It was a revelatory gift. It would, in and of itself, pass away. And it did at the end of the first century. No one has this gift during the present century.
No one has the gift of healing during this present century. That doesn't mean that God doesn't heal. He does, often in answer to prayer. Here is an example of the gift of healing.
Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude
out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Peter could heal all that came to him, thousands, and with no exceptions--the lame, the blind, the deaf, the mute, those with missing limbs, lepers, etc. They were healed immediately. They were healed whether or not they had faith, whether or not they were saved. All were healed.
Who in the world has that gift today? No one.
Paul said: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all."
Why did he speak more in tongues, and what was the need? Paul went on three different missionary journeys and established about 100 different churches. As his custom was he went to the synagogue first. Tongues was a sign to the Jew. He would use tongues when it was practical to do so--perhaps in a nation like Spain if he didn't know the language. God would give him the language miraculously. It would be interpreted for the Jews sake. It was a sign for the Jews. It was a revelatory gift for the rest that they might understand the NT as it had not been written yet. It was a sign that he was an apostle appointed by God to carry this message to the places that God was sending him.
Those are the purposes of tongues.
By the end of the first century this gift, as well as the others had ceased.