This is an interesting question to ponder since many people today claim to be in direct verbal contact with God. Can this be true in the light of 1Corinthians 13:8-10 where it says, 8 "Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; 10 but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with.
Visions, Dreams, and Voices
You know that it is not uncommon for a bad person to be friendly to those he wants to deceive and cheat. “White teeth, black heart,” says the African proverb. And God’s Word says: “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.”—2 Corinthians 11:14.
God no longer contacts people on earth by means of dreams, visions, or voices from the spirit world. He guides and instructs them through the Bible, which can make a person “completely equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:17.
But the Bible says at John 10:3 "The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." Again, we simply have to avoid taking scriptures out of context for emotional purposes. Yes, Jehovah speaks to us today, but he does so through the scriptures, at the meetings and by answering our prayers that are made in harmony with his direction found in His word the Bible.
Have any humans actually heard the voice of God himself?
In three instances in the Bible record, Jehovah is reported as speaking audibly to humans. These are:
(1) At the time of Jesus’ baptism (29 C.E.), when Jehovah said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.” Both Jesus and John the Baptizer undoubtedly heard this voice. (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22)
(2) At Jesus’ transfiguration (32 C.E.), with the apostles Peter, James, and John present, when virtually the same words were uttered. (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35)
(3) In 33 C.E., shortly before Jesus’ last Passover, when, responding to Jesus’ request that God glorify his name, a voice from heaven said: “I both glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd thought that it had thundered or that an angel had spoken to Jesus.—John 12:28, 29.
Now we may see why many tell of “hearing” or “seeing” dead loved ones. Though such apparitions at times may seem friendly, wicked spirit forces are out to deceive humans. (Ephesians 6:12) Also, think about this: Jehovah is a loving God who cares for us. If the dead were alive somewhere and they could come to the aid of their friends and family, would our loving Creator forbid such contact and refer to it as “detestable”? Surely not! (1 Peter 5:7) which says, "while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you"
Can angels speak in English and other earthly languages?
The apostle Paul speaks of “the tongues of men and of angels,” indicating that spirit persons have language and speech. 1Corinthians 13:1 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal." So yes, it does seem that angels have their own language and since they are not physical and don't have vocal cords, their language & form(s) of communication must be different than ours. Just what it is can be anybody's guess since the Bible gives us no indication one way or another.
Angelic voices
Angels, and Jehovah God himself, have been heard to speak in voice sounds and languages audible to men and understandable by them. But it is not to be supposed that such would be the voice with which they communicate with one another in the heavens, for an atmosphere such as exists around the earth is necessary for propagating the sound waves of voice that is audible and understandable to the human ear.
Hearing the Voice of God
On other occasions when God ‘spoke,’ angels were used as his representatives to provide the vocal manifestation. Angels represented God in speaking to Moses in Mount Horeb and to Israel, assembled near the foot of the mountain. (Exodus 34:4-7; 20:1-17; Galatians 3:19) These angels sometimes did not present any visible appearance of a form, as when the voice came from the quaking, smoking mountain. (Exodus 20:18, 19; Deuteronomy 4:11, 12; Hebrews 12:18, 19) At times they made visionary appearances Daniel 8:1, 15, 16; Revelation 14:15-18 and on several occasions materialized in human form to bring spoken messages to men. Genesis 18:1-3, 20; 19:1; Joshua 5:13-15.
To ‘hear the voice of God’ does not necessarily mean the hearing of a literal, audible voice. It more often means recognizing and hearing with obedience what God has caused to be written in his Word and transmitted through his earthly servants who represent him. (1John 2:3, 4) Thus, “voice” is used as applying to “every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth,” Psalms 103:20; Matthew 4:4; In todays world, this communication is written in His word, the Bible.
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