All
the Gifts of the Spirit Will be Revived and Exist Amongst the True Remnant
Until the End of Time
|
Do you think it is
reasonable to conclude that 1 Cor. 14:39 (below) meant that ONE PERSON, Ellen
G. White, was to covet to prophesy and only one person was to receive that
gift? Why would God instruct us to covet to prophesy and not intend that more
than one person should receive that gift of the Spirit? Covet to prophesy is a direct commandment of
God.
“Wherefore, brethren, covet
to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”
1 Cor. 14:39
Ellen White said that after her death
great changes would be made. Those great changes have occurred in the form of
abominable apostasy by way of replacing pillar doctrines for apostate doctrines
taught by fallen Babylon and violating direct commands of God, breaking His
statutes more than all others, Ezekiel Chapter 5. And that is the reason why
Ellen White says that Ezekiel 9 is literally fulfilled “beginning at His
Sanctuary,” apostate Jerusalem, the House of Jacob. 5T 211.
Would it not be reasonable for God to
anoint young, old men, and maidens as visionary reformers to restore the
original landmarks in the framework of truth. That is
exactly what God said He would do.
“Men will go forth in the spirit and
power of Elijah to prepare the way for the second advent of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is their work to make crooked things straight. Some things must be torn down,
some things must be built up. The old treasures must be reset in a framework of truth. They are to preach
God's Word; their testimony must not be molded by the opinions and ideas that
have been regarded as sound, but by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth
forever.” [1888 Mtl. p. 169 para. 01] p. 506, Para. 3,
[1888MS].
“In immediate connection with the scenes
of the great day of God, the Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special
manifestation of His Spirit. Joel
2:28. This prophecy
received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of
divine grace which will attend the closing work of the gospel.” {GC
ix.3}
“The remnant of the Gospel Church will
have the gifts. War will be waged against them because
they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Revelation 12:17.) In Revelation 19:10, the testimony of Jesus is defined to
be the spirit of prophecy. Said the angel, “I am thy fellow servant, and of thy
brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.” In Revelation 22:9, he repeats the same
in substance, as follows: “I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the
prophets.” From the comparison we see the force of the expression, “The
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” But the testimony
of Jesus includes all the gifts of that one spirit. Says Paul: “I thank my God always on
your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in
everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even
as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no
gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-7. The
testimony of Christ was confirmed in the Corinthian Church; and what was the
result? They came behind in no gift. Are we not justified, then, in the
conclusion that when the remnant are fully confirmed in the testimony of Jesus,
they will come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ?” {EW 143.2}
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit which
was to attend the preaching of the gospel by the followers of Christ was
announced by the prophet in these words: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My
Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also
upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My
Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and
fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. Joel 2:28-31. {PP 21.2 }{PP 22.1}
Note: The context of Joel 2:28-31 in the
above statement involves the time when wonders in the heavens and earth, blood,
fire and pillars of smoke and when the sun shall be turned into darkness and
the moon into blood. God, not Ellen White, says that “your sons and your
daughters (plural—not one) and your old men (not one man) shall dream dreams
and your young men (plural) shall see visions.
Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, quoted
this prophecy in explanation of the wonderful scene which then occurred. Cloven
tongues like as of fire sat upon each of the disciples; they were filled with
the holy spirit, and spake with other tongues. And
when the mockers charged that they were filled with new wine, Peter answered,
“These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is
but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel.” Then he quotes the prophecy substantially as found in Joel (quoted
above), only he puts the words ‘in the last days,’ in the place of “Afterward,”
making it read, ‘and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will
pour out of My Spirit, etc.’” {PP 22.2}
It is evident that it was that part of the
prophecy only which relates to the outpouring of the Spirit, that began to be
fulfilled on that day; for there were no old men there dreaming dreams, nor
young men and maidens seeing visions and prophesying; and no wonders of blood
and fire and pillars of smoke then appeared; and the sun was not darkened and
the moon was not turned to blood at that time; and yet what was there witnessed
was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel.
It is equally evident that
this part of the prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Spirit was not
exhausted in that one manifestation; for the prophecy covers all days from
that time on to the coming of the great day of the Lord. {PP
22.3}
Note: Some say there will be no more
prophets because Ellen White didn’t say there would be. But such persons
thereby grossly contradict Ellen White in the above paragraph from Patriarchs and Prophets. Ellen White is
speaking of Joel 2:28-31 in context, and she says: “It is equally evident that
this part of the prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Spirit was not
exhausted in that one manifestation: for the prophecy covers all days from that time (the
first Day of Pentecost in context) on
to the coming of the great day of the Lord.” End note.
“But the Day of Pentecost was in
fulfillment of other prophecies besides that of Joel. It fulfilled the words of
Christ Himself as well. In His last discourse to His disciples before His
crucifixion, He said to them: “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you
another Comforter, ... Even the Spirit
of truth.” John 14:16, 17. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things.” Verse 26.
“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide {PP 22.4} you
into all truth.” Chapter 16:13. And after Christ had risen from the dead, He
said to the disciples, “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: But
tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49. {PP 23.1}
On the Day of Pentecost the disciples
were thus endued with power from on high. But this promise of Christ’s was not, any more than the prophecy
of Joel, confined to that occasion. For He gave them the same promise in
another form by assuring them that He would be with them always, even to the
end of the world. Matthew 28:20. Mark tells us in what
sense and what manner the Lord was to be with them. He says, “And they went
forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the
word with signs following.” Mark 16:20. And Peter, on the Day of Pentecost,
testified concerning the perpetuity of this operation of the Spirit which they
had witnessed. When the convicted Jews said unto the
apostles, “What shall we do?” Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to
your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call.” Acts 2:37-39. This
certainly provides for the operation of the Holy Spirit in the church, even in its special manifestations, to
all coming time, as long as mercy shall invite men to accept the pardoning love
of Christ. {PP 23.2}
Note” Special
manifestations refers
to all the gifts including the gift of prophecy. God would not instruct us to
covet to prophesy if He intended that gift was to be given to only one woman.
“Quench
not the spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21. {EW 141.2}
In
this epistle the apostle introduces the subject of the second coming of the
Lord. He then describes the state of the unbelieving world at that time, who
are saying, “Peace and safety,” when the day of the Lord is about to burst upon
them, and sudden destruction come upon them as a thief in the night. He then
exhorts the Church, in view of these things, to keep awake, to watch and be
sober. Among the exhortations that follow are the words we have quoted, “Quench
not the spirit,” etc. Some may think that these three verses are completely
detached from one another in sense; but they have a natural connection in the
order in which they stand. The person who quenches the spirit will be
left to despise prophesyings, which are the legitimate fruit of the spirit. “I
will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
{EW 141.3} prophesy.” Joel 2:28. The expression, “Prove all things,” is limited to the
subject of discourse, prophesyings, and we are to try the spirits by the tests
which God has given us in his word. Spiritual deceptions and false prophesyings
abound at the present time; and doubtless this text has a special application
here.
But mark, the
apostle does not say, reject all things; but, prove all things; Hold Fast that
which is Good. {EW
142.1}
“And
it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon
the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And
I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
delivered: For in mount zion and in Jerusalem shall be
deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom
the Lord shall call.” Joel 2:28-32. {EW 142.2}
This
prophecy of Joel, which speaks of the outpouring of the holy spirit in the last
days, was not all fulfilled at the beginning of the gospel dispensation.
This is evident from the wonders in heaven and in earth, introduced in this
text, which were to be precursors of “The great and terrible day of the Lord.” though
we have had the signs, that terrible day is still in the future. The
whole gospel dispensation may be called the last days, but to say that the Last
Days are all 1800 years in the past, is absurd. They
reach to the day of the Lord and to the deliverance of the remnant of God’s
people: “For in mount zion and in Jerusalem
shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the Remnant whom the
Lord shall call.” {EW 142.3}
This
remnant, existing amid the signs and wonders that usher in the great and
terrible day of the Lord, is doubtless the remnant of the seed of the woman
spoken of in Revelation 12:17—The last
generation of the Church on Earth. “And
the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of
her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.” {EW 143.1}
“We
are well aware that many honest seekers after truth and Bible holiness are
prejudiced against visions. Two great causes have created this prejudice.
First, fanaticism, accompanied by false visions and exercises, has existed more
or less, almost everywhere. This has led many of the sincere to doubt anything
of the kind. Second, the exhibition of mesmerism, &C., and what is commonly
called the “mysterious rappings,” are perfectly calculated to deceive, and
create unbelief relative to the gifts and operations of the Spirit of God. {ExV
2.1}
“But
God is unchangeable. His work through Moses in the presence of Pharaoh was
perfect, notwithstanding “Jannes and Jambres” were permitted to perform
miracles by the power of Satan, that resembled the
miracles wrought by Moses. The counterfeit also appeared in the days of the apostles, yet
the gifts of the Spirit were manifested in the followers of Christ. And it is
not the purpose of God to leave his people in this age of almost unbounded
deception, without the gifts and manifestations of his Spirit.” {ExV 2.2}
Spiritual Gifts
“The
gift of prophecy was manifested in the church during the Jewish dispensation.
If it disappeared for a few centuries, on account of the corrupt state of the
church towards the close of that dispensation, it re-appeared at its close to
usher in the Messiah. Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist,
“was filled with the holy spirit, and prophesied.”
Simeon, a just and devout man who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel,”
came by the spirit into the temple, and prophesied of Jesus as “a light to lighten
the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel;” And Anna a prophetess “spake of him to
all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” And there was no greater
prophet than John, who was chosen of God to introduce to Israel “the Lamb of
God that taketh away the sin of the world.” {1SG 5.1}
The
Christian age commenced with the out-pouring of the Spirit, and a great variety
of spiritual gifts was manifested among the believers; and these were so
abundant that Paul could say to the Corinthian church, “the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to
profit withal.” To every man in the Church,
not to every man in the world, as many have applied it. {1SG 5.2}
Since the great apostasy these gifts have rarely been
manifested; and this is probably the reason why professed Christians generally
believe that they were limited to the period of the primitive church. But
is it not on account of the errors and unbelief of the church that the gifts
have ceased? And when the people of God shall attain to primitive faith and
practice, as they certainly will by the proclamation of the commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus, will not “the
latter rain” again develop the gifts? Reasoning from analogy we should expect it.
Notwithstanding the apostasies of the Jewish age, it
opened and closed with special manifestations of the spirit of God. And it is
unreasonable to suppose that the Christian age, the light of which, compared
with the former dispensation, is as the light of the sun to the feeble rays of
the moon, should commence in glory and close in obscurity.
And since a special work of the spirit was necessary to prepare
a people for the first advent of Christ, how much more so for
the second; especially, since the last days were to be perilous beyond all
precedent, and false prophets were to have power to show great signs and
wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very
elect! But to the Scriptures of truth. {1SG
5.3}
And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall
be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall
speak with new tongues; 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. Mark 16:15-18. {1SG 6.1}
Says Campbell’s translation, “These miraculous powers shall
attend the believers.” The
gifts were not confined to the apostles, but extended to the
believers. Who will have them? Those that believe.
How long? There is no limitation; the promise seems to run parallel with the
great commission to preach the gospel, and to reach the last believer.
{1SG 6.2}
But
it is objected that the promised aid was only to the apostles, and to those who
believed through their preaching: that they fulfilled the commission,
established the gospel, and that the gifts ceased with that generation. Let us
see if the great commission ended with that generation. Matthew
28:19, 20. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
alway, even to the end of the world. {1SG 7.1}
That
the preaching of the Gospel under this commission did not end with the
primitive church is evident from the promise, “I am with you alway, even to the
end of the world.” He does not say, I am with you, apostles, everywhere, even
to the ends of the earth; but it is always, to the end of the world, or age. It
will not do to say that the Jewish age is meant, for that had already ended at
the cross. I conclude then that the preaching and the belief of the primitive
Gospel will be attended with the same spiritual aid. The apostles’ commission
belonged to the Christian age, and embraced the whole of it. Consequently the gifts were only lost through
apostasy, and will be revived with the revival of primitive faith and
practice. {1SG 7.2}
In
1 Corinthians 12:28, we are informed that God hath set, placed or fixed, certain spiritual gifts in the church. In
the absence of any scriptural proof that he has removed or abolished them, we
must think they were intended to remain.
{1SG 7.3}
Note:
And is it not strange that the very gift that God says edifies most, the gift
of prophecy, should not be fulfilled as Joel 2:28, 29 says
it will—not to one person only, but to many. End note.
Where
is the proof then that they were abolished? In the same
chapter where the Jewish Sabbath is abolished, and the Christian Sabbath
instituted---a chapter in the acts of the mystery of iniquity, and the man of
sin. But the objector claims Bible proof that the gifts were to cease
contained in the following text; 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. When I was a child, I
spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I
became a man I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly:
but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I
am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. {1SG 8.1}
Well,
this text does foretell the cessation of spiritual gifts, also of faith and
hope. But when were they to cease? We still look forward to the time when {1SG
8.2} “Hope shall change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to
praise.”
They are to cease when that which is perfect
is come—when we shall no longer see through a glass darkly, but face to face.
The perfect day, when the just are made perfect, and see as they are seen, is
yet in the future. It is true that the man of sin, when arrived at manhood, had
put away such “childish things” as prophecies, tongues and knowledge, and also
the faith and hope and charity of the primitive Christians. But
there is nothing in the text to show that God designed to take away the gifts
which he had set in the church, till the consummation
of her faith and hope---till the surpassing glory of the immortal state should
eclipse the most brilliant displays of spiritual power and knowledge, ever
manifested in this mortal state. {1SG 8.3} {1SG 9.1}
The
objection founded upon 2 Timothy 3:16, which some have gravely presented,
deserves no more than a passing remark. If Paul, in saying
that the scriptures were able to make the man of God perfect,
thoroughly-furnished unto all good works, meant that nothing more should be
written by inspiration, why was he, at that moment, adding to those scriptures?
At least, why did he not drop the pen as soon as that sentence was written? And
why did John, thirty years afterwards, write the book of Revelation? This book
contains another text which is quoted to prove the abolition of spiritual
gifts. {1SG 9.2}
For
I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if
any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written
in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation
22:18, 19. {1SG 9.3}
From
this text it is claimed that God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners,
spake in time past to the fathers by the prophets, and, in the commencement of
the Gospel day, by Jesus and His apostles, hath hereby solemnly promised never
to communicate any thing more to man in that way. Hence all prophesying after
this date must be false. This, say they, closes the canon of inspiration. If
so, why did John write his Gospel after his return from Patmos to Ephesus? In
doing so did he add to the words of the prophecy of that book written in the
Isle of Patmos? It is evident from the text, that the
caution against adding to or taking from, refers not to the Bible as we have
the volume compiled, but to the separate book of Revelation, as it came from the
hand of the apostle. Yet no man has a right to add to or subtract from any
other book written by inspiration of God. Did John, in writing the book of
Revelation, add anything to the book of Daniel’s prophecy? Not
at all. A prophet has no right to alter the Word of
God. But the visions of John corroborate those of Daniel, and give much
additional light upon the subjects there introduced.
I conclude then that the Lord has not bound Himself to keep silence, but is
still at liberty to speak. Ever be it the language of my heart, speak, Lord,
through whom Thou wilt; Thy servant heareth. {1SG 9.4}
Thus
the attempt to prove from scripture the abolition of spiritual gifts, proves a total failure. And
since the gates of Hades have not prevailed against the church, but God still
has a people on earth, we may look for the development of the gifts,
in connection with the third angel’s message---a message which will bring back
the church to apostolic ground, and make them indeed the light---not
darkness---of the world. {1SG 10.1}
Again,
we are forewarned that there would be false prophets in the last days, and
the Bible gives a test by which to try their teachings, in order that we may
distinguish between the true and the false. The grand test is the
law of God, which is applied both to the prophesyings and to the moral
character of the prophets. If there were to be no true prophesyings in the last
days, how much easier to have stated the fact, and thus cut off all chance for
deception, than to give a test by which to try them, as though there would be
the genuine as well as the false. In Isaiah 8:19, 20, is a prophecy of the
familiar spirits of the present time, and the law is given as a test. To the
law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them. Why say, “if they
speak not,” if there was to be no true spiritual manifestation or prophesying
at the same time? Jesus says, beware of false prophets,...ye
shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15. This is a part of “The Sermon on
The Mount,” and all can see that this discourse has a general application to
the church throughout the Gospel age. False prophets are to be known by their
fruits; in other words, by their moral character. The only standard by which to
determine whether their fruits are good or bad, is the
law of god. Hence we are brought to the law and to the testimony. True prophets
will not only speak according to this word, but they must live according to it.
One who speaks and lives thus I dare not condemn. {1SG 10.2}
Note:
Some foolishly conclude that because the Bible and Ellen White said there would
be false prophets at the end-time that all prophets would be false. That is a
very foolish and illogical conclusion considering Joel 2:28, 29. Also, the
end-time began in 1798. So if such persons were consistent, they would needs conclude that Ellen White was a false prophet as
well by their foolish reasoning! End note.
It
always has been a characteristic of false prophets that they see visions of
peace; and they will be saying peace and safety when sudden
destruction comes upon them. The true will boldly reprove sin and warn of
coming wrath. {1SG 11.1}
Prophesyings
which contradict the plain and positive declarations of the word are to be
rejected. An example is given in the manner of Christ’s second coming.
When Jesus ascended to heaven in the sight of his disciples, it was declared
most explicitly by the angels, that this same Jesus should so come in like
manner as they had seen him go into heaven. Hence Jesus in predicting the false
prophets of the last days, says, if they shall say unto you, behold, he is in
the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
All true prophesying on that point must recognize his visible coming from
heaven. Why did not Jesus say, reject all prophesying at that time, for there
will be no true prophets then? {1SG
11.2}
Ephesians
4:11-13. “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; [PLURAL] and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in
the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
{1SG 12.1}
Note:
Have all God’s people come into the unity of the faith and unto perfection and
the stature of the fullness of Christ? Nay! Then Ephesians 4:11-13 is still in
force till this occurs. Notice once again the word PROPHETS in the PLURAL
SENSE. Ellen White was one prophet. End note.
“We
learn from a previous verse that when Christ ascended up on high, he gave gifts
unto men. Of these gifts are enumerated apostles, prophets, [PLURAL] evangelists, pastors
and teachers. The
object for which they were given was the perfecting of the saints in unity and
knowledge. Some, who profess to be pastors and teachers,
at the present day, hold that these gifts fully accomplished their object some
eighteen hundred years ago, and consequently ceased. Why not then throw aside
their titles of pastors and teachers? If the office of prophet is limited by this text to the
primitive church, so is that of evangelist and all the rest; for there is no
distinction made. {1SG 12.2}
Now
let us reason a moment upon this point. All these gifts were given for the
perfecting of the saints in unity, knowledge and spirit.
Under their influence the primitive church enjoyed for a time that unity. “The
multitude of them that believed were of one heart and
of one soul.” And it seems a natural consequence of this state of unity, that
“with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:31-33. How desirable such a
state of things now! But apostasy with its dividing and blighting influence
marred the beauty of the fair church, and clothed her in sackcloth. Division and disorder have been the result.
[And this is the case in Adventism as well!].
Never was there so great a diversity of faith in Christendom as at the present
day. If the gifts
were necessary for the unity of the primitive church, how much more so to
restore unity now!
And that it is the purpose of God to restore the unity of the
church in the last days, is abundantly evident from
the prophecies. We are assured that the watchmen shall see eye
to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Also, that in
the time of the end the wise shall understand. When this is
fulfilled, there will be unity of faith with all that God accounts wise; for
those that do in reality understand aright, must, necessarily, understand
alike. What is to effect this unity, but the gifts
that were given for this very purpose? {1SG 12.3}
“From
considerations like these, it is evident that the perfect state of the church
here predicted is still in the future; consequently these gifts have not yet accomplished their end.
This letter to the Ephesians was written in A.D. 64, about two years before
Paul told Timothy that he was ready to be offered, and the time of his departure
was at hand. The seeds of the apostasy were now germinating in the church, for
Paul had said ten years before, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, “The
mystery of iniquity doth already work.” Grievous wolves were now about to enter
in, not sparing the flock. The church was not then rising and advancing to that
perfection in unity contemplated in the text, but was about to be torn by
factions, and distracted by divisions. The apostle knew this; consequently he
must have looked beyond the great apostasy, to the period of the gathering of
the remnant of God’s people, when he said, “till we
all come into the unity of the faith.” Hence the gifts that were set in the church have not yet served
out their time.
{1SG 13.1}
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21. “Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good.” {1SG 14.1} In this
epistle the apostle introduces the subject of the second coming of the Lord. He
then describes the state of the unbelieving world at that time---saying, “peace and
safety”, when the day of the Lord is about to burst upon them, and sudden
destruction come upon them as a thief in the night.
He then exhorts the church, in view of these things, to keep awake, watch and
be sober. Among the exhortations that follow are the words we have quoted, “quench not the Spirit,” &C.
Some may think that these three verses are completely detached from each other
in sense; but they have a natural connection in the order in which they stand. The person who quenches the Spirit will be
left to despise prophesyings, which are the
legitimate fruit of the Spirit, “I will pour out My Spirit, and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy.” Joel 2:28. The expression, “prove all things,”
is limited to the subject of discourse---prophesyings---and we are to try the
spirits by the tests which he has given us in his word. Spiritual
deceptions and false prophesyings abound at the present time; and doubtless
this text has a special application here. But, mark, the apostle
does not say, reject all things; but, prove all things; hold fast that which is
good. {1SG 14.2}
Joel
2:28-32. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I
will pour out My Spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your
old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also
upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My
Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood
and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it
shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord
hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” {1SG 14.3}
Note:
By the thinking of many professing Seventh-day Adventists, Joel 2:28-32 would
read: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My
Spirit upon ONE WOMAN; and your ONE WOMAN and your ONE WOMAN shall prophesy,
your old ONE WOMAN shall dream dreams, your ONE WOMAN shall see visions; and
also upon the ONE WOMAN and upon the ONE WOMAN in those days will I pour out My
Spirit.”
Such persons do serious despite to the Word of
God and thereby despise prophesyings. They are in serious danger of hell fire
because despising prophesying is despising the Holy Spirit. End note.
This
prophecy of Joel, which speaks of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit in
the last days, was not all fulfilled at the beginning of
the Gospel dispensation. This is evident from the wonders in heaven and in
earth, introduced in this text, which were to be precursors of “the great and
the terrible day of the Lord.” Though we have had the signs, that
terrible day is still in the future. The whole Gospel
dispensation may be called the last days, but to say that the last days are all
1800 years in the past, is absurd. They reach to the
day of the Lord, and to the deliverance of the remnant of God’s people. “For in
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in
the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” {1SG 15.1}
This remnant,
existing amid the signs and wonders that usher in the great and terrible day of
the Lord are, doubtless, the remnant of the seed of
the woman spoken of in Revelation 12:17—The last generation of the church on
earth, “and the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesus Christ.” {1SG 15.2}
The
remnant of the Gospel church will have the gifts.
War will be waged against them because they keep the commandments of God, and
have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17. In Revelation 19:10, the
testimony of Jesus is defined to be the Spirit of prophecy. Said the angel, “I
am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.”
in Chapter 22:9, he repeats the same in substance, as follows: “I am thy
fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets.” from the comparison we see
the force of the expression, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
But the testimony of Jesus includes all
the gifts of that one spirit. Says Paul, I thank
my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus
Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all
knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye
come behind in no gift: waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1
Corinthians 1:4-7. The testimony of Christ was confirmed in the Corinthian
church, and what was the result? they came behind in
no gift. are we not justified then in the conclusion
that when the remnant are fully confirmed in the testimony of Jesus,
they will come behind in no gift, waiting for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? {1SG 15.3 {1SG 16.1}
Note:
Did Ellen G. White, as important as her great work was, “usher in the great and
terrible day of the
Lord?” Ellen White defined
the remnant as the
last generation living when Jesus comes. Notice:
"The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church represents the
Christians of the last generation of men, living just prior to the second advent.
The dragon makes war on these for keeping the
commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the
testimony of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chap.
xix, 10, 'is the spirit of prophecy.' Here, then, are
the causes of the dragon's warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance
of the ten commandments, and the revival of the
gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them. When the Devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other
upon the gifts planted in the Christian church by Jesus Christ, then his
satanic majesty was filled with revengeful delight.
But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to Heaven
without seeing death, 'ask for the old paths,
where is the good way, and walk therein,' then the dragon is wroth, and makes
war on them.
The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat
developed, is vividly described in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just
prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the pure testimony, and love
smooth and deceitful things." E. G. White, Spiritual
Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27.
Note: This remnant just not merely believe the
Spirit of Prophecy, THEY ARE DESCRIBED AS HAVING THE SPIRIT OF
PROPHECY. They also acknowledge the gift of prophecy
among them. They TEACH THE REVIVAL OF THE GIFTS AMONG
THEM. Those who deny this revival of the gifts
[AND THAT MEANS ALL OF THEM], will not be among that
number who are translated to heaven without seeing death. And since that type
of person usually despises prophesying as well, they disobey the Word of God,
and they will not be found in heaven. They thus speak against the Holy Spirit
gift to the church and those God invests with His REVIVED Holy Spirit gift of
prophecy. And Vance Ferrell is one who denies that all the gifts will be
revived. He says there will be no more prophets because he believes Ellen White
did not say there would be more prophets. You just read otherwise and if you
don’t see it, something is very wrong in your experience. Get on your knees in
your closet until you see what she has said in this article on Spiritual Gifts.
But forget Ellen White for a moment. Vance and many others are also denying the
clear Word of God.
Many won’t believe a
messenger is a prophet unless they prophesy future events, but they are very
remiss in this belief. Ellen White’s prime work, and the work of
God’s messenger (prophets) at the end-time, is to clear away the rubbish of
error and restore the jewels of truth to their proper framework. Ellen White
said that is what Jesus Himself would do if He should come today. If you don’t
recognize that my warning message achieves this objective, you need to get on
your knees and pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob until you do—all
praise, honor, ability and glory to Christ and His enabling power without which
I could do nothing. End note.
I repeat:
“Men will go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah
to prepare the way for the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is their
work to make crooked things straight. Some things must be torn down, some
things must be built up. The
old treasures must be reset in a framework of truth. They are to preach
God's Word; their testimony must not be molded by the opinions and ideas that
have been regarded as sound, but by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth
forever.” [1888 Mtl. p. 169 para. 01] p. 506, Para. 3,
[1888MS].
COUNTERPART: "In the time of the Saviour, the Jews had so covered
over the precious jewels of truth with the rubbish of tradition and fable, that
it was impossible to distinguish the true from the false. The Saviour came to
clear away the rubbish of superstition and long-cherished errors, and to set
the jewels of God's word in the framework of truth. What would the Saviour do if he should come to us now as he did to the
Jews? He would have to do a similar work in clearing away the rubbish of
tradition and ceremony. The Jews were greatly
disturbed when he did this work [As are SDAs today!]. They had lost sight of
the original truth of God, but Christ brought it again to view. It is our work to free
the precious truths of God from superstition and error." E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol.
2, 308.
Joel 2:28-32, next claims our attention. “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days
will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders
in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun
shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and
terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom
the Lord shall call.” {3SG 23.1}
We call attention to the following points in this prophecy: {3SG 23.2}
1. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit noted
in this prophecy, are in connection with the signs of the near approach of the
great and terrible day of the Lord. In fact, they constitute one of those signs. {3SG 23.3}
2. The calling on the name of the Lord, and the deliverance of the
remnant, spoken of in close relation to the great day of the Lord, evidently refer to the closing scenes of the history of the church in
this mortal state. The oppressed people of God are yet to
raise to heaven one united day and night cry for deliverance. Luke 18. This is
symbolized by the message of prayer of the fourth angel of Revelation 14:15.
And in answer to this prayer, the remnant which keep the commandments of God
and have the testimony of Jesus, will find deliverance. {3SG 23.4}
*******3. “We object to that narrow-souled
theology which will not allow the old ladies to have dreams because the
prophecy says, “Your old men shall dream dreams;” And that will not allow young
women to have visions because the prophecy says, “Your young men shall see
visions.” These stingy critics seem to forget that “man,” and “men,” in the
Scriptures, generally mean both men and women, the
book says that it is “appointed unto men once to die.” Don’t women die? “Unto
you, o man, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.” Don’t [Doesn’t] the
Lord call women? But the prophecy does say, “Your sons
and your daughters shall prophecy.” {3SG 24.1} [The
asterisk emphasis is mine. rb]
Note: The wrong grammar “Don’t the Lord call women”
is as the quote appears in the book. Evidently this error was overlooked by the
editor of Mrs. White’s writing of this item. By the above statement, Vance
Ferrell and those who teash there will be no prophets
other than Ellen White, are stingy critics! End note.
On the day of Pentecost the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit,
and began to speak with other tongues, to the great amazement of the multitude.
Some, unacquainted with the operations of the Holy Spirit, said, “These men are
full of new wine.” Peter answered, “These men are not drunken,
as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that
which was spoken by the prophet Joel, and it shall come to pass
in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit, &C. {3SG 24.2}
The prophecy of Joel applies to the Christian age. And we do not object
to applying the term, “last days,” here used by Peter, to
this entire age, though it may have a more limited meaning.
But let this fact be borne in mind, that the great events of the prophecy are
in close connection with, and are signs of, the
great and notable day of the Lord. The Spirit was
given on the day of Pentecost; hence Peter, pointing to its influence upon
believers on that occasion, could say, “This is that which was spoken by the
prophet Joel.” That was the Early Rain. Believers have ever since enjoyed a
degree of the Holy Spirit, and from time to time God has wonderfully manifested
his power. But, for the close of the dispensation, is reserved the Latter Rain, the
pouring out of the Spirit. Here is the fulfillment of the burden of the
prophecy of Joel. {3SG 24.3}
We object to that stupid blindness which has the entire prophecy
fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, and hence, the “last days” were past more
than eighteen hundred years ago. We find in the record only the exercise of the
gift of tongues. There is no account of dreams or visions on that day.
Certainly the outsiders might well have been amazed on beholding old men
asleep, dreaming in the midst of the excitement and uproar of the occasion. And
well might they have supposed such to be stone drunk. Again, was the sun turned
into darkness, and the moon into blood, on the day of Pentecost? And was that
the great and terrible day of the Lord? No! No! The “last days” must
embrace the last day. Should we say that the
leaves of the New Testament were the last leaves of our Bible, we should speak
correctly; yet they would embrace the last leaf. It would be equally correct to
call the book of Revelation, or the two last leaves of the Bible, the last
leaves. But in each case, the last leaves embrace the very last leaf. So with the last days. If we call the whole Christian age,
or the last century, or the last thirty years, the last days, in each case the
last days must embrace the very last day. With this view of the subject we read
with delight the prophetic description, Joel 2:28-32, of the termination of the
present age with gracious blessings upon the people of God. The Christian age
will terminate with glory to the righteous; yet a severe conflict with the
dragon host is just ahead. {3SG 25.1}
In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God, the
Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation of His Spirit.
Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of
the Spirit on the day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment
in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the
gospel.... {FLB 292.5}
At this time the special endowment of divine grace and power is not
less needful to the church than in apostolic days.
{FLB 292.6}
God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed
those who on the day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour
His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His
word. {FLB 292.7}
The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession
depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God.... {FLB 292.8}
If they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are
theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that
will tell upon hearts. God makes them the channel for the outworking of the
highest influence in the universe. {FLB 292.9}
A Prophet’s Voice in Our
Time
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit
upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. Joel 2:28. {FLB 293.1}
Note: Joel 2:28 deals in plurality of persons, not merely one woman.
End note.
In His Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for
salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative,
infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the
revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience.... {FLB 293.2}
Yet the fact that God has revealed His will to men through His Word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and
guiding of the Holy Spirit.... {FLB 293.3}
During the ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New
Testament were being given, the Holy Spirit did not
cease to communicate light to individual minds, apart from the revelations to
be embodied in the Sacred Canon....
And mention is made of prophets in different
ages, of whose utterances nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close
of the canon of Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to
enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God. {FLB 293.4}
God has ... promised to give visions in the “last days”; not for a new
rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth. {FLB 293.5}
Note: The above statement is fraught with truth because of the foolish
cherished errors God’s people are prone to imbibe. Thus, it is important that
visions correct errors, but most folk would rather that visions predict the
future. Those who are familiar with Ellen White’s visions will recognize that
she did not imbibe much predicting of the future that is not prophesied in the
bible! She was no Jean Dixion, and God does not send
Jean Dixion types to tickle the ears of His people.
Rather Ellen White’s prime work was to correct
serious errors of God’s people and to keep them on the Midnight Cry pathway of truth. And that was the
prime objective of all God’s ancient prophets! Show this writer wherein the
ancient prophets were preoccupied with predicting the ordinary events of their
day. God’s prophets are not soothsayers!
End note.
As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of His
Word, and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make
known to others that which has thus been revealed. {FLB 293.6}
There are those who will be glad to lull you to sleep in your carnal
security, but I have a different work. My message is to alarm you,
to bid you reform your lives and cease your rebellion against the God of the
universe. Take the Word of God, and see if you are in harmony with it. Is your
character such as will bear the search of the heavenly investigation? {FLB 293.7}
—rwb