Well, I dont think we can continue on this path until we have some sort of written word as to what really happened.Yesnot nessessarily different, just in their own languageI dont know anything about the biographies of the men you listed, but as for Ellen, her doing things such as not breathing or lifting books above her usual capacity during vision would fall into this category.What seems clear is that the preacher spoke in English, he had an translator, and the translator noticed (presumably a bit supprised) that he was no longer needed. This is how I have understood the situation. This could never happen in Sweden, becourse here 90%+ of an average audience would know at least enough english to know if the translator was doing his job correctly. A majority might very well be listening to the English primarily. And the translator would know this. This leads me to the conclusion that for this scenario to be at all plausible, this would take place at some place where a minority or none at all had any significant understanding of the English language. This assumption excludes the entire commonwealth area aswell as all major cities of western Europe. We would end up in east Asia, non-english speaking parts of Africa, South America or perhaps Russia. Being well aquainted with 3abn or american preachers isnt nessessarily something Id expect of people living in large parts of these areas.How do we ever know if it is God who does the miracle?

1.Whether the incident actually happened or not as reported does not preclude us from discussing whether the idea that a preacher would preach in one language and be understood in another one is a reasonable idea. The actual incident is not important, but the principles involved are of value, as well as the reasoning that is involved. In the last days, it is important that we be able to distinguish between the true and the false.

2.Regarding Ellen White, I don't believe she ever claimed not to have been breathing, nor adduced this as proof in any way that she was a prophet. These stories bear absolutely no weight to me, nor do I think they should bear any weight for anybody. One hears these sorts of stories about all sorts of religious figures, such as Joseph Smith, or Mohammed, or many other examples. What has convinced me that Ellen White was a prophet is what she wrote.

The same thing should be true regarding preachers. Satan can counterfeit miracles, and has done so. A miracle is not evidence of truth. It's important that we understand this, or else we are in danger of being deceived. Ellen White herself often spoke of this. It is the Bible that should be used to establish truth.

3.I was speaking about this to a friend, who mentioned another possibility. That would be that the preacher thought he was speaking in English, not realizing he was actually speaking another language. That would both agree with the facts as they were presented (the translator said everyone heard him speaking in their language, because he was), as well as the what the gift of tongues really is (the ability to speak a foreign language accurately that one has not studied). I know I can forget what language I'm speaking in, so this is possible to do.

4.I've heard too many of these stories which haven't panned out that I'm naturally skeptical. I'm surprised that this isn't the experience of others. Every time there's an event like the World Trade Center attack, conspiracy theories immediately follow. Some ridiculous percentage of people in the U.S. (like 30% or 50%, something like that) responded in a poll that they believed that Bush knew about the attacks before they occurred. People believed the same thing about FDR and Pearl Harbor. One can predict the following:

a)Their will be another terrorist attack at some point in the U.S., or something similar (like Pearl Harbor).
b)Whoever is president will be believed by a significant percentage of the population to have known about it ahead of time.

The point I'm making is that there are so many fantastic things which are stated which "upon further review" are seen not to be true.

This doesn't mean that fantastic things should not be believed. I myself believe some things which others would consider fantastic (which others on this forum would attest to). I'm just saying that my experience with these things is that it is prudent to be slow to come to a decision. Weigh all the evidence first. Don't be quick to believe the fantastic things you hear.

My two cents.

This is a possibility, however, could he have not known that he was speaking in the other language? Wouldn't he have also himself heard with his own ears what language he was speaking?

When one is fluent in more than one language, it is not always noticed what language is being used. The translation is automatic and subconscious. This has happened to me.

Wouldn't you think though that after he was made aware of what was happening, he would then realize he is speaking in their language via the gift of tongues?

I'm fluent in Portuguese, and it happens from time to time that I start to speak in Portuguese and don't realize it. I speak to my wife in Portuguese all the time, so this would be especially likely to happen if I've just been speaking to her.

A funny story is I went to Brazil a couple of years ago to interpret, and I got out of synch. This can happen easily if the Brazilian speaks to you in English. In this case my natural reaction is to translate the English in Portuguese to the other fellow, who would be an American. Then, realizing what I've done, I apologize in English to the Brazilian, and then in Portuguese to the American. It takes awhile to get on track.

Anyway what Arnold says is correct. You hear yourself, but just don't realize what language you are speaking, unless you stop to think about it.

That's certainly a more viable possibility than that the preacher was actually speaking English and everyone else heard him speaking something else he wasn't actually speaking.

Well, once I do get a hold of the right person who related that experience on TV, we may get to the bottom of this, however, that is how I remember him sharing itg on TV, unless my memory is also failing me in that area as well.

I wish I had a recording of it.

Regardless of what you think you heard, think through the logic of it.

Also, you don't believe everything you hear or read, right? You must have some criteria for what you believe. Hopefully it isn't simply on the basis of who said it.

The actual incident is important for the reason that we at the present time have 3 different theories floating arround. Which idea are we discussing, is what Id like to clear out. Well, in some cases you have to begin with establishing the bible as authority before you can argue that its word establishes truth. How do you do that?So now we are up on three ideas about what this miracle might have been. #1 Tounges by the preacher without the preacher noticing. #2 English preaching morphing in midflight into another language. #3 An audience temporarily gaining understanding of the previously unknown english language. What really happened?Of course it is possible that what we are discussing never happened at all and is nothing more than an urban legend. But does that mean that it could not have happened? What level of involvement are we to expect from God? Does He customarily involve Himself in events happening on earth. Does He occationally involve Himself in events happening on earth. Does He refrain from involvement as long as the alternative isnt nuclear winter or the once-in-several-lifetimes prophet? Has He ended His involvement in events happening on earth since the close of biblical canon awaiting the final chapter to begin? After all,
Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

As for the "the president knew and did nothing" rumors. They may be founded in the news reporting that claims there was enough intelligence suggesting it would happen but noone took it seriously for such a thing had never happened before.Now, dont be shy Tom. Wouldnt supprise me if you was a closet member of the Skeptics assossiation. :p

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Jhn 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.