Biblical Tests of a True Prophet

 

Mat 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

 

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     Sometimes our visualizations of and expectations of a prophet are not very realistic. It is because of that common reality that I am writing this document. But I fully warn you, this may be a bit shocking to some. So put on your spiritual seat-belt for some of you are in for a rough ride.

 

The Test of a True Prophet According To the Law and to the Testimony

 

What is a prophet? First I will give the Bible definition from its first use of the word in Scripture.

 

1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Meaning of the Word Prophet in Genesis 20:7:

Number 5030

Transliteration:

nabiy' {naw-bee'}

Word Origin:

from 5012

TWOT:

1277a

Part of Speech:

noun masculine

Usage in the KJV:

prophet 312, prophecy 1, them that prophesy 1, prophet 0376 1, variant 1

Total: 316

Definition:

1. spokesman, speaker, prophet

A. prophet

B. false prophet

C. heathen prophet

TDNT - Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TWOT - Theological Word Book of the Old Testament

 

Definition of a prophet according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary:

 

proph⋅et

/ˈprɒfhttp://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.pngɪt/ http://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gifShow Spelled Pronunciation [prof-it] http://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gifShow IPA

Use prophet in a Sentence

See web results for prophet

See images of prophet

–noun

1.

a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration.

 

2.

(in the Old Testament)

a.

a person chosen to speak for God and to guide the people of Israel: Moses was the greatest of Old Testament prophets.

 

b.

(often initial capital letterhttp://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png) one of the Major or Minor Prophets.

 

c.

one of a band of ecstatic visionaries claiming divine inspiration and, according to popular belief, possessing magical powers.

 

d.

a person who practices divination.

 

3.

one of a class of persons in the early church, next in order after the apostles, recognized as inspired to utter special revelations and predictions. 1 Cor. 12:28.

 

4.

the Prophet, Muhammad, the founder of Islam.

 

5.

a person regarded as, or claiming to be, an inspired teacher or leader.

 

6.

a person who foretells or predicts what is to come: a weather prophet; prophets of doom.

 

7.

a spokesperson of some doctrine, cause, or movement.


Origin:
1150–1200; ME prophete < LL prophēta < Gk prophhttp://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/660000/i/emacracute.pngtēs, equiv. to pro- pro-
2 + -phētēs speaker, deriv. of phánai to speakhttp://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png


prophethood, noun

prophetless, adjective

prophetlike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

 

 

 

Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Company, 1965, defines a prophet as:

 

 

“1: one who utters divinely inspired revelations. 2: one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight; 3: one who foretells future events; 4: an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group.”

 

It is of paramount interest and importance that in the very first incident in Scripture wherein the word prophet is used, the prophet, Abraham, lied about his wife, telling Abimelech, king of Gerar, that Sarah was his sister. Why is this interesting and of paramount importance?

 

The reason it is so interesting as well as important is because so many folk have the wrong impression of what constitutes a prophet. They have this nebulously imagined concept that in order to be a prophet, one must be just about perfect, and God could not use anyone who wasn’t as perfect as they have decided a prophet should be.

 

But here we have Abraham, whom God said was a prophet, and the father of the faithful, telling a lie, which clearly violates one of the tests of a true prophet, Isaiah 8:20. And God called him a prophet while he was involved in the lie! He had not even admitted to it and confessed it yet, before God told Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet.

 

Another moral factor as regards Abraham, is the fact that even as an old man, far into the future from his run-in with Abimelech, he took a concubine in an effort to have a child. In the minds of many, that would surely have disqualified him from being a prophet and the father of the faithful as designated by God. But it seems that God sees things in individuals that others don’t seem to see.

 

Then there was Jacob. He had two wives and two concubines. Many don’t know that he had two concubines as well.

 

Then there was David, who was called a man after God’s own heart. He had a man killed so he could have his wife.

 

Then there was Solomon, who had 700 official wives and 300 concubines. Some would scorn: How did he ever make the Sacred Canon?!

 

1.   King Solomon's Wives, Solomon's Women, Concubine, 1 Kings 11

Solomon held fast to them in love. He had 700 official wives and 300 concubines.... The Holy Bible 1 Kings 11:1-3. I remember trying to tell a man who was ...www.kingsolomonsgate.com/xxx.htm

 

Do all Prophets Experience All of the Tests of a Prophet?

 

Vance Ferrell, John Grosboll, and most folk, expect all prophets (messengers) to manifest all twelve signs of a true prophet, and that just is not a realistic expectation. There is no account in Scripture that all the prophets, major and minor, exhibited all twelve of those signs. Not even John the Baptist exhibited all those signs. At least all those signs are certainly not recorded in Scripture, as applied to all prophets, and since John is mentioned as being the greatest of all prophets, one would think it would have been recorded that he experienced those tests.

 

Were the Prophets of Scriptures Self-Announced?

 

It is God via the agency of the Holy Spirit who appoints prophets and they could not successfully function as such without that appointment.

 

It is often said that so and so is a self-appointed prophet. Exactly how would one know that as long as one spoke according to the Word and the Spirit of Prophecy? As far as being self-announced is concerned, all of the prophets did indeed announce that they had a message from the Lord, and pray tell, how would anyone else know that but them—initially, that is?

 

Bible Justification for Self-Announcement

 

Jer 23:28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 

 

All of the prophets except Jesus, were self announced. In the Temple system, when persons entered the Temple they were asked if they had a message from the Lord. If they did, they could relate it. Thus, the custom of self-announcing was entrenched in Jewish society and that carries through in the Bible, where all of the prophets self-announce what they are told by God. If one receives a revelation from the Lord, pray tell, who else can confess or announce it? So try to remember these facts of Scripture when you read or hear that Ron Beaulieu is a self-appointed prophet. All the prophets were self-announced by their message which could come through none other than themselves.

 

Self announced: 1Cr 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord

 

Jones and Waggoner—Messengers

 

Jones and Waggoner were selected by God to deliver the righteousness by faith message in 1888. God knew their end from their beginning. He knew that Waggoner would leave his wife and marry a nurse in England. He knew that both Jones and Waggoner would unite themselves with Kellogg’s Alpha of Apostasy. Yet, He saw something in those two men that He chose to use. I read A.T. Jones’ last words and Testament and it caused me to weep. I believe he will be saved.

 

Were all of the Prophets Righteous all of Their Lives?

 

What about Abraham, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Jacob, Paul and the disciples. Were they righteous throughout their lives? We have already discussed Abraham, so what about Moses and the rest?

 

Deu 34:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

 

Exd 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 

 

Aaron was appointed by God as a prophet helper for Moses. But look what he did in the golden calf incident! Did God not know what Aaron would do? Of course he knew, but nonetheless, He had a purpose for Aaron.

 

Consider David, called a man after God’s own heart, BY GOD, and yet he had more than one wife and he had a man killed so that he could have Bathsheba, his wife. David sorely repented, but nevertheless, his favorite son died.

 

Then there was Solomon with 700 wives and 300 concubines. But Ellen White says that he will be saved. And many of his writings made it into the Sacred Canon—Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Song of Solomon, and it is believed that he penned some of the Psalms.

 

Consider Jacob, who had two wives and two concubines. But he was faithful to God in the end. And Paul killed Christians for a time. God called a killer to work for Him. What is the purpose of all this? To demonstrate that it would be wise to be careful when we carelessly judge one another and ascend the judgment seat reserved for God alone. In no way am I trying to condone sin in these men. But their example could well encourage one to persevere in the Christian walk when he/she might otherwise feel too far gone to be important to and used of God.

 

True Prophets are not Psychics

 

1Ki 13:11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 

 

Were the father a psychic, he would not have needed his sons to tell him all about the work of the man of God who did the works in Bethel. Prophets tell only what God tells them to say. They do not read minds or know all.

 

While we’re considering prophets, let’s take some interesting considerations concerning Ellen White. She said at one time that she would not change one word of The Great Controversy. Yet, the following statement which appears in the 1884 edition of the GC, is nearly beyond recognition in the 1911 edition, and its meaning is nigh totally distorted. Maybe she did not change it. Maybe others did. This statement gives the end result of the SDA church militant:

 

"Jesus sends HIS PEOPLE a message of warning to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying 'in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters [Rev. 14:6, 7.].

The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful men, who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was not to be committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection with God, and had REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN therefore they WERE NOT of the number described by the apostle Paul: 'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness' [1 Thess. 5:4, 5].

 

The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should be the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour's advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for his coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw HIS CHURCH, like the barren fig-tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility, penitence and faith--which alone could render the service acceptable to God--was lacking. Instead of the graces of the Spirit, there were manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, oppression. A BACKSLIDING CHURCH closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did nor forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness to fail but they departed from him, and SEPARATED THEMSELVES from his love. As they REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, his promises were NOT FULFILLED to them."  E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 199-200 [The 1884 edition of The Great Controversy].

 

Then there is the issue over her very first vision, which is cited in Early Writings, pp. 14, 15. It was first given in Word to the Little Flock, p. 14. I will give both versions and let you pick out the important difference. Remember, this is her first VISION:

First, the original Word to the Little Flock, p. 14, publication:

 

 "While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them--when a voice said to me, 'Look again, and look a little higher.' At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way of, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming....

By this time the 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus' new name." E.G. White, Word to the Little Flock, p. 14.

 

Now the Early Writings version: Look for the words: “It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected.” But don’t look too long, for they are not there.

 

  “While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, "Look again, and look a little higher." At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage

                                                                            15

them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, "Alleluia!" Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below. Soon we [SEE APPENDIX.] heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down from Mount Sinai. {EW 14.1}

 

     The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.” {EW 15.1}

 

So we find that even Ellen White had some problems. You just read her first VISION. Why is it not related in Early Writings, when that book is for SDA’s? Those words are still true. They merely referred to the final time of the end when all who have violated the Midnight Cry light, all along the pathway, will find it impossible to get back on the pathway to heaven. So important! Yet expunged from Early Writings, so that most of God’s “chosen” people are oblivious to those words and thereby the eternal implication of them.

 

The Rationale—Primarily Known Only to the White Estate!

Chap. 5 - An Explanation of Early Statements

                An Answer to a Challenge

     {Soon after the republication in 1882 of the three earliest E. G. White books, A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, A Supplement to Experience and Views, and Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, all three of which today comprise Early Writings, certain questions were raised concerning the completeness of some of the articles and the significance of certain statements appearing here or in still earlier published articles. Mrs. White answered these questions in 1883 in the following statement. Reference is made to the teachings on the "shut door." For another reference to the significance of the "shut door" see The Great Controversy, pages 429-432.--COMPILERS.} {1SM 59.1}

     My attention has recently been called to a sixteen-page pamphlet published by C, of Marion, Iowa, entitled Comparison of the Early Writings of Mrs. White With Later Publications. The writer states that portions of my earlier visions, as first printed, have been suppressed in the work recently published under the title Early Writings of Mrs. E. G. White, and he conjectures as a reason for such suppression that these passages teach doctrines now repudiated by us as a people. {1SM 59.2}

     He also charges us with willful deception in representing Early Writings as a complete republication of my earliest views, with only verbal changes from the original work. {1SM 59.3}

     Before I notice separately the passages which are said
                                                                            60
to have been omitted, it is proper that several facts be stated. When my earliest views were first published in pamphlet form, [REFERENCE IS HERE MADE TO THE 24-PAGE PAMPHLET "A WORD TO THE LITTLE FLOCK," PUBLISHED BY JAMES WHITE IN 1847, CONTAINING THREE ELLEN G. WHITE COMMUNICATIONS. --COMPILERS.] the edition was small, and was soon sold. This was in a few years followed by a larger book, The Christian Experience and Views of Mrs. E. G. White, printed in 1851, and containing much additional matter. {1SM 59.4}

     In our frequent change of location in the earlier history of the publishing work, and then in almost incessant travel as I have labored from Maine to Texas, from Michigan to California--and I have crossed the plains no less than seventeen times--I lost all trace of the first published works. When it was decided to publish Early Writings at Oakland last fall, we were obliged to send to Michigan to borrow a copy of Experience and Views. And in doing this we supposed that we had obtained an exact copy of the earliest visions as first published. This we reprinted, as stated in the preface to Early Writings, with only verbal changes from the original work. {1SM 60.1}

     And here I will pause to state that any of our people having in their possession a copy of any or all of my first views, as published prior to 1851, will do me a great favor if they will send them to me without delay. I promise to return the same as soon as a copy can be produced. {1SM 60.2}

     So far from desiring to withhold anything that I have ever published, I would feel great satisfaction in giving to the public every line of my writings that has ever been printed. {1SM 60.3}

       Testimonies Garbled by Eli Curtis

     There is another fact that should be stated here. I am not responsible for all that has been printed as coming from me. About the time that my earliest visions were first published, several articles did appear purporting to have been written by me, and to relate what the Lord had shown me, but sanctioning doctrines which I did not believe. These were published in a paper edited by a Mr.
                                                                            61
Curtis. Of the name of the paper I am not certain. In the years of care and labor that have passed since then, some of these less important particulars have been forgotten, but the main points are still distinct in my mind. {1SM 60.4}

     This man took articles that came from my pen, and wholly transformed and distorted them, picking out a sentence here and there, without giving the connection, and then, after inserting his own ideas, he attached my name to them as if they came direct from me. {1SM 61.1}

     On seeing these articles, we wrote to him, expressing our surprise and disapprobation, and forbidding him thus to misconstrue my testimonies. He answered that he should publish what he pleased, that he knew the visions ought to say what he had published, and that if I had written them as the Lord gave them to me, they would have said these things. He asserted that if the visions have been given for the benefit of the church, he had a right to use them as he pleased. {1SM 61.2}

     Some of these sheets may still be in existence, and may be brought forward as coming from me, but I am not responsible for them. The articles given in Early Writings did pass under my eye; and as the edition of Experience and Views published in 1851 was the earliest which we possessed, and as we had no knowledge of anything additional in papers or pamphlets of earlier date, I am not responsible for the omissions which are said to exist. {1SM 61.3}

               The First Omission

     The first quotation mentioned by C is from a pamphlet of twenty-four pages published in 1847, entitled A Word to the Little Flock. Here are the lines omitted in Experience and Views: {1SM 61.4}

     "It was just as impossible for them {those that gave up their faith in the '44 movement} to get on the path again and go to the city, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another." {1SM 61.5}

     I will give the context, that the full force of the expressions may be clearly seen:
                                                                            62
{1SM 61.6}

     "While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the advent people in the world, but could not find them--when a voice said to me, 'Look again, and look a little higher.' At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a glorious light which waved over the advent band, and they shouted, Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below." {1SM 62.1}

     Now follows the passage said to be in the original work, but not found in Experience and Views nor in Early Writings: {1SM 62.2}

     "It was just as impossible for them {those that gave up their faith in the '44 movement} to get on the path again and go to the city, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another." {1SM 62.3}

            The "Shut Door" Defined

     It is claimed that these expressions prove the shut-door doctrine, and that this is the reason of their omission in later editions. But in fact they teach only that which has been and is still held by us as a people, as I shall show.
                                                                            63
{1SM 62.4}

     For a time after the disappointment in 1844, I did hold, in common with the advent body, that the door of mercy was then forever closed to the world. This position was taken before my first vision was given me. It was the light given me of God that corrected our error, and enabled us to see the true position. {1SM 63.1}

     I am still a believer in the shut-door theory, but not in the sense in which we at first employed the term or in which it is employed by my opponents. {1SM 63.2}

     There was a shut door in Noah's day. There was at that time a withdrawal of the Spirit of God from the sinful race that perished in the waters of the Flood. God Himself gave the shut-door message to Noah:” {1SM 63.3}

The following item is by Pastor John Grosboll, who expects, as does Vance Ferrell, that all of the twelve tests are met by a true prophet. There is no evidence to suggest that in Scripture or the Spirit of Prophecy.

 

Biblical Tests of a Prophet

 

God's last day people will have the gift of prophecy

 

     Rev. 12:17 "And the dragon [Satan] was enraged with the woman [God's pure church], and he went to make war with the rest [final] of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have [and believe and follow] the testimony of Jesus Christ."  Rev. 19:10 "...For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

 

     The National Enquirer said Jean Dixon has only a thirty percent accuracy rate.  That means seven out of ten things she predicts never happen.  But the National Enquirer thinks that's great!  If they only knew!  God's prophets have one hundred percent accuracy rate.  The things they prophesy, always come to pass.

 

          There are some senators, movie stars, and even presidents who would never think about making a decision without consulting their horoscope, or astrologist, peering into a crystal ball, or delving into some other type of false prophecy.  But let's see what the Bible has to say about all this. 

 

     Well, to be quite honest, the Bible is very clear about the source of all these types of things.  In Revelation 16 verse 14 it warns, "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world..."  Then Jesus warned about these last days in Matthew 24:24 by saying, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

 

Note by Ron: Are “dumb dog” watchmen (Isa. 56:10-12) who are indicted with unbelief and who teach only peace and safety, and will never again show the House of Jacob their sins, Testimononies, Vol. 5, 211, false prophets (messengers)? End note.

 

     Believe me friend, God's people in these last days must be very careful not to be deceived by Satan's deceptions, because those who are taken in by them will be destroyed along with these "works of darkness."  Look at God's warning in Isaiah 47:13 and 14:  "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels,  Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.  Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame:  there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."

 

     Knowing this, many Christians today are leery of all prophecy, and run to the other extreme, resisting all forms of prophetic knowledge.

 

     Now answer a question for me.  Have you ever heard of someone making a counterfeit three dollar bill?  Of course not!  Why?  Because there is no genuine three dollar bill!  There can only be a counterfeit, if there's a genuine.  Therefore, when we see all these counterfeit prophets at the end of time, it just proves that God must have a genuine.

 

     The Bible is most clear about distinguishing the counterfeit from the genuine.  Look at Paul's admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; "Quench not the Spirit.  Despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

 

     Did you understand that?  God is simply saying, especially to us in these last days:  "Don't reject all prophecy, just test them, and try them, and make sure they are from Me.  And when you find a genuine prophet, hold fast, and don't let them go."

 

     You see, we can't reject all prophecy in the past, or in the future, because not only does the Bible tell us in 2 Peter 1:21 that "...holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," in the past, but He also told us in the last days, just before Jesus comes, God would send the gift of prophecy to His one true church.

 

     Under the title of this web page we saw two identifying marks of God's last day church outlined in Rev. 12:17.  1.  They will be keeping the ten commandments.  2.  They will have [believe and heed] the gift of prophecy.  The good woman of Revelation 12 represents God's true church.  And when we get to verse 17, the very last verse in that chapter, God identifies His one true fold of John 10:16.  Rev. 12:17 "....which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."  And when we look over to Rev. 19:10 we find that the "testimony of Jesus Christ" is the "spirit of prophecy."  Now you know, there are quite a few Sabbath-keeping churches.  I know of at least five or six denominations that go to church on Saturday. So how do you know which one of them is God's true church?

 

     Well, God gives a second sign for His true church in the last days.  Besides being commandment-keepers, God said:  I'm going to bestow upon them the true gift of prophecy to lead them, and that will be my sign to everyone which one of these Sabbath-keeping churches is my true church.

 

     God has bestowed upon the Seventh-day Adventist movement the Gift of Prophecy -- the true Gift of Prophecy.  I'm not talking about all this ridiculous hocus-pocus you see in the Christian world today.  I'm talking about the gift of Prophecy that stands up undeniably to the 12 biblical tests of a true prophet of God.  I know that's a bold statement, but that's what I want to show you now, and you can take it from there.

 

Note by Ron:  "The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life. He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach.

God is not 'worshipped with men's hands, (as though he needed any thing' Acts 17:25). E. G. White, The Upward Look, 131. End Note:

 

     I realize this is a volatile topic we're talking about here, but the Bible is very clear.  If we are deceived by a false prophet, we are going to follow that false prophet to perdition.  But on the other hand, if we reject the true prophet of God, we are rejecting the manifestation of God's Holy Spirit, and that's the unpardonable sin.  That is why God's people in the last days must be wide awake, studying, and praying Christians who "test the spirits."  Amen?  Amen!

 

Note by Ron: Ellen White said that each of the ancient prophets spoke

more for us than the Jews. In light of this, are SDA’s concerned with SDA leaders when God says they lead to perdition all who follow them?

 

Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed. End note by Ron.    

 

     Let's now put, to a "Biblical test" a little girl who was born in 1827 by the name of Ellen Gould Harmon.

 

     In 1844, at 17 years of age, Ellen Harmon was kneeling in a circle with a group of other young people.  They were praying to God for wisdom and guidance, and while they were praying, suddenly young Ellen was taken in vision and was shown people walking along a narrow, winding pathway with a steep precipice on either side.  The people were walking along very carefully, and as long as they kept their eyes heavenward, light shown on their pathway.  As soon as they looked down, however, the light vanished, and they fell to the rocks below.

 

     The spiritual significance of that is obvious, but this doesn't prove that Ellen Harmon was God's prophet.  Many people, I am sure, have envisioned scenes such as that, but her life, from that moment on, is a different matter.

 

     At the age of 18, she married James White and from then on was known as "Ellen White," or simply, Mrs. White.

 

     From her first vision there in 1844, until her death in 1915, Ellen White received over 2,000 visions, wrote over 50 volumes, 100,000 pages, and over 200 million words.  She was God's prophet to the Seventh-day Adventist movement, and her voluminous writings continue to lead the church to this day.

 

prophet1.jpg

     Now I want to show you why, and how, she fulfills the "12 biblical bests [tests] of a true prophet."

 

     Friend, I have yet to find any of these prophets in other churches who can pass even three or four of these tests, let alone all twelve.

 

     Here are the twelve tests of a prophet.

 

     Test Number One:  Deuteronomy 18:21-22:

 

     "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

 

     In other words, if a prediction a prophet makes does not come to pass, he is a false prophet.  That's pretty straightforward, isn't it?  Not some predictions, but every prediction must come just as prophesied.  This one just blows all these other guys out of the water!  No excuses!

 

     Some may say, "But what about Jonah? He prophesied that Nineveh would be destroyed.  He was God's prophet, but it never happened.  What about that?"

 

     Yes, friend, God told Jonah that if Nineveh didn't repent, He would destroy it, but they heeded Jonah's word and they repented, so God didn't destroy it.

 

     If a person is God's prophet, that prophecy comes to pass according to the conditions given, period!

 

     Test Number Two: Numbers 12:6

 

     "And he said, hear now my words:  if there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream."

 

     According to the Bible, a true prophet of God receives his communications from God by two distinct methods:  dreams and visions.  That's what the Bible says and no further comment should really be necessary.

 

     Test Number Three:  Numbers 24:4 and 16

 

     "He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open...He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:"

 

     Therefore, test number three of these divine manifestations that God gives to identify a true prophet while in vision, is that their eyes remain open.

 

     Very interesting, because this perfectly describes what would happen to Ellen White while she was in vision.  People in her day would wave their hands in front of her face trying to make her blink.  On several occasions men would take their fists and act as if they were going to hit her, then would stop just a couple of inches from her nose!  Never once would she blink while in vision.  She was oblivious to what was happening around her!

 

     Test Number Four: Daniel 10:17

 

     "For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?  for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me."

 

     Another test of a true prophet is that they have no breath while in vision.  In other words, they don't breathe.  According to scripture, this is one of the miracles God performs to identify a genuine prophet.  While in vision, they don't breathe.

 

     During some of Ellen White's first visions, people would hold a mirror in front of her mouth to see if there was any condensation on it.  Why, one man even came up and put his hand over her nose and mouth to see if she was breathing.

 

     In one instance, there was a spiritualist physician in Parkville, Maryland, who bragged, "Ellen White just hypnotizes herself.  If she ever 'went into vision' when I was around, I'd snap her out of it. She wouldn't pull that kind of stuff around me."

 

     You know, God vindicated His servant, because she went into vision one day when this man was in the room.  Now was his chance to "snap her out" of her "mesmerized" state.  So he went up to her and began doing the things he believed would bring her out of her hypnotized state.  Suddenly, he turned and ran for the door.  Just as he got out the side door, the deacon grabbed him by the arm and said, "Where are you going, doctor?"

 

     He turned around and in a strangled voice said, "My God!  She doesn't breathe!"

 

     Test Number Five:  Daniel 10:18

 

     "Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me."

 

      Before a vision, a prophet may be very weak in physical strength.  But when taken in vision, a true prophet will suddenly receive supernatural strength.  On one occasion, Sister White lifted a Bible that weighed approximately 18 pounds, and held it out at arm's length for over 30 minutes!  You should know that she was a frail woman who weighed less than 100 pounds.  Here's a picture of that 18 pound Bible.  That's a regular Bible laying on top of it.  Notice the difference.  Also, while holding the Bible, Ellen also quoted the scripture on the pages exposed at that moment, without looking at them.

 

prophet2.jpg

     I've had that very Bible in my hand.  And with veins bulging on my neck, I held it at arm's length for 53 seconds!  (My arm was shaking for two minutes after that.)  Why, the one-time "strongest man in the world," Mr. Universe, held that Bible out at arm's length for four minutes.  And friend, let me assure you, all the things I'm telling you today are documented, I'm not just talking off the cuff here.

 

     Test Number Six:  Jeremiah 28:9

 

     "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him."

 

     A true prophet absolutely does not lie.  His predictions will be one hundred percent fulfilled.

 

     Test Number Seven:  2 Peter 1:20

 

     "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."

 

     A true prophet does not give his own interpretation of scripture.  Every prophecy he or she proclaims will agree with already established truth.  If they receive new light, it must agree with the old light God has already given.  

 

     Test Number Eight:  2 Peter 1:21

 

     "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

 

     So, a true prophet prophesies in the name of the Lord, not in his own name.  A true prophet will manifest the fruits of that same spirit because he or she speaks through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

 

     Test Number Nine:  1 Corinthians 14:3

 

     "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."

 

     In other words, a true prophet gives direction to God's true church.  And a true prophet's messages will cover all of these three areas:  Edification -- to instruct morally; Exhortation -- this means to strongly advise; and Comfort -- to soothe in distress or sorrow, to console.  All of these three things will be exemplified by a true prophet.

 

     Test Number Ten:  Isaiah 8:19-20

 

     "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:  should not a people seek unto their God?  for the living to the dead?  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

 

     God gives a clear distinction between false prophets and true prophets here -- between the works of hellish darkness, and the works of heavenly light.

 

     How could it be any plainer?  God says, "To the law," what's the law?  It is the ten commandment law of God, " . . . and to the testimony . . ."  What's the testimony?  The "testimony" is the rest of scripture.  " . . . If they speak not according to this word [the 10 commandments and the Bible], it is because they have no light in them."  Friend, that's not what I say, it's what God says.  That means a true messenger of God will keep all of God's ten commandments.  In other words, a true prophet of God is going to be a seventh-day Sabbath-keeper.

 

     Was Ellen White a seventh-day Sabbath-keeper?  You better believe she was.  God showed her in vision how this commandment was being desecrated, ignored, and forgotten by almost the entire world.  And through the prophetic gift of this little lady, God raised up a people who would honor all of His commandments.

prophet3.jpg

    

Test Number Eleven:  1 John 4:1-3

     "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they, are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world."

 

     A true prophet believes in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and will never question the fact that Jesus came in man's fallen nature, in our fallen flesh.  The Bible says any person, or church, claiming that Jesus Christ came to this earth in any other way, than in the fallen flesh that you and I have, is the spirit of antichrist.

 

     In other words, it's imperative that you and I understand correctly Christ's human nature while on this earth.  Ellen White believed and taught the correct biblical definition of Christ's human nature: He came to this earth in our nature, in our fallen, human flesh.  But in spite of that, He never yielded to temptation; He was sinless, and you and I can be victorious over all sin in our life through the power, and the blood, and the strength of our Lord, Jesus Christ, our perfect Example.  Hebrews 4:15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities [not Adam's - the infirmities before he fell - he didn't have any - our infirmities];  but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

 

     Don't you see, Jesus' perfect life on this earth was an example for us to follow.  1 Peter 2:21, "For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye [we] should follow his steps."

 

     This test, Number 11 plainly states that God's true messengers on this earth will be teaching victory over sin, and that Jesus' perfect life is not our substitute, but our example!  Very important:  Christ was our substitute only on Calvary.  His perfect life is our example!

 

     Through the power and strength of Jesus Christ, can we stop sinning?  Yes!  Jude 24:  "Unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

 

     There is not one sin in our life that Jesus cannot give us victory over, if we will just let Him do so.

 

     Test Number Twelve:  Matthew 7:15-16

 

     "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. . ."

 

     In other words, look at what their ministry produces.  If all they produce is a good time, with theme parks and water slides, and all they spend their time doing, is telling people to send them money, on the authority of the Word of God, that person is a false prophet.

 

     Answer one question:  why do all these false prophets today, insist you send them your money?  If they're truly of God, they should be happy for it going anywhere in God's work.  But no, they tell you that you must send it to them before God will bless you.  Well, "by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20).  This is exactly what God showed Ellen White about false prophets in the last days.

 

     Look at the fruits of a ministry, look at the fruits of a messenger.  Are they preaching the truth, or lining their own pockets?  Very important!

 

Note by Ron: We need to be concerned with exactly all Ellen White said about the tithe and support of those with a message. Ellen White said that the “dumb dog” watchmen would never again cry aloud to show God’s people their abominations (sins) Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211. She indicted them in the same reference with unbelief and implied that men, maidens and little children would perish in another literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 beginning at His Sanctuary, the House of Jacob. Why would anyone give such “peace and safety” false watchmen the sacred tithe? Here is whom Ellen White said should receive support:

April 1, 1850 To the "Little Flock."

     Dear Brethren.--The Lord gave me a view, January 26, which I will relate. I saw that some of the people of God were stupid and dormant; and were but half awake, and did not realize the time we were now living in; and that the "man" with the "dirt-brush" had entered, and that some were in danger of being swept away. I begged of Jesus to save them, to spare them a little longer, and let them see their awful danger, that they might get ready before it should be for ever too late. The angel said, "Destruction is coming like a mighty whirlwind." I begged of the angel to pity and to save those who loved this world, and were attached to their possessions, and were not willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice them to speed the messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep, who were perishing for want of spiritual food. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 1}

     As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to believe the truth were letting them die, by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for some of their property, like the young man who came to Jesus, [Matt. xix, 16-22,] they went away sorrowful; and that soon the overflowing scourge would pass over and sweep their possessions all away, and then it would be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up a treasure in heaven. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 2}

     I then saw the glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely, that he left the realms of glory, and came to this dark and lonely world, to give his precious life and die, the just for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and scourging, and wore the platted crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of blood in the garden; while the burden of the sins of the whole world were upon him. The angel asked, "What for?" O, I saw and knew that it was for us; for our sins he suffered all this, that by his precious blood he might redeem us unto God. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 3}

     Then again was held up before me those who were not willing to dispose of this world's goods to save perishing souls, by sending them the truth, while Jesus stands before the Father, pleading his blood, his sufferings and his death for them; and while God's messengers were waiting, ready to carry them the saving truth that they might be sealed with the seal of the living God. It was hard for some who professed to believe the present truth, to even do so little as to hand the messengers God's own money, that he had lent them to be stewards over. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 4}

     Then the suffering Jesus, his sacrifice and love so deep, as to give his life for them, was again held up before me; and then the lives of those who professed to be his followers, who had this world's goods, and considered it so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, "Can such enter heaven?" Another angel answered, "No, never, never, never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth, can never sing the song of redeeming love above." {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 5}

     I saw that the quick work that God was doing on earth would soon be cut short in righteousness, and that the swift messengers must speed on their way to search out the scattered flock. An angel said, "Are all messengers? No, no, God's messengers have a message." RH, April 1, 1850 par. 6}

     I saw that the cause of God had been hindered, and dishonored by some travelling who had no message from God. Such will have to give an account to God for every dollar they have used in travelling where it was not their duty to go; for that money might have helped on the cause of God, and for the lack of it, souls have starved and died for the want of spiritual food, that might have been given them by God's called and chosen messengers if they had had the means. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 7}

     The mighty shaking has commenced, and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing to take a hold and unyielding stand for the truth, and sacrifice for God and his cause. The angel said, "Think ye that any will be compelled to sacrifice. No. no. It must be a free-will offering. It will take all to buy the field."--I cried to God to spare his people, some of whom were fainting and dying. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 8}

     I saw that those who have strength to labor with their hands, and help sustain the cause, were as accountable for that strength, as others were for their property. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 9}

     The I saw that the judgements of Almighty God were speedily coming. I begged of the angel to speak in his language to the people. Said he, "All the thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai would not move those who will not be moved by the plain truths of the word of God; neither would an angel's message awake them." {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 10}

     I then beheld the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. His robe was whiter than the whitest white. No language can describe his glory and exalted loveliness. All, all who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the City, and have right to the tree of life, and ever be in the presence of the lovely Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noonday. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 11}

     Then I was pointed to Adam and Eve in Eden. They partook of the forbidden tree, and then the flaming sword was placed around the tree of life, and they were driven from the Garden, lest they should partake of the tree of life, and be immortal sinners. The tree of life was to perpetuate immortality. I heard an angel ask, "Who of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword, and have partaken of the tree of life?" I heard another angel answer, "Not one of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword, and partaken of that tree; therefore there is not an immortal sinner. The soul that sinneth it shall die an everlasting death; a death that will last for ever, where there will be no hope of a resurrection; and then the wrath of God will be appeased." {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 12}

     I saw that the saints will rest in the Holy City, and reign as kings and priests one thousand years; then Jesus will descend with the saints upon the mount of Olives, and the mount will part asunder, and become a mighty plain for the Paradise of God to rest upon. The rest of the earth will not be cleansed until the wicked dead are raised (at the end of the one thousand years) and gather up around the city; for the feet of the wicked will never desecrate the earth made new. Then fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them; burn them up root and branch. Satan is the root, and his children are the branches. The same fire that will devour the wicked, will purify the earth. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 13}

     In hope of immortality at the appearing of Jesus.” E. G. White. {RH, April 1, 1850 par. 14}

Regular lines -  “So often the same old difficulties arise and are presented in regard to disturbing the ‘regular lines.’ But God will work in some way to make His people understand that THE REGULAR LINES HAVE BECOME FULL OF IRREGULAR PRACTICES…God alone can make men understand that working on REGULAR LINES has led to IRREGULAR PRACTICES.  God alone can make men’s minds as they should be.  The time has come when we should hear less in favor of the REGULAR LINES.  If we can GET AWAY FROM THE REGULAR LINES into something which, THOUGH IRREGULAR, IS AFTER GOD’S ORDER, it may cut away something of the IRREGULAR WORKING which has led away from Bible principles.”  E.G. White, Manuscript Release, #1450, p. 3, 4, 1901.

 

“When we see the regular lines are altered and purified and refined, and the God of the heavens mold is upon the regular lines, then it is our business to establish the regular lines.”  E.G. White, Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 162-168.

 

“The present showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary spirit that the regular lines [organization] may prove to be a failure.”  E.G. White, Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 175.  Written to Brother Daniels, June 28, 1901.

 

“The regular lines had need to be broken as a potter’s vessel is broken, and reconstructed.” Ms. 29, 1903. pp. 1, 3 (General Manuscript, The Southern Work, undated).

"There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine." Testimonies, vol. 1, p 261-62

If you pay your sacred tithe and offerings to any church that embraces two or more gospels, then you lend support to "another gospel", a false gospel. Is this "doing what you can to correct the evil"?

Tithe  “Clearly, plainly, earnestly, tell them how thousands of men and women are using God's money to corrupt themselves and to make this world a hell. Millions of dollars are spent for that which makes men mad. Present this matter so clearly that its force cannot but be seen. Then tell your hearers of the Saviour, who came to this world to save men and women from all sinful practices. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Evangelism, p. 530

Tithe Chap. 191 - The Gift God Accepts

     Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38. {OHC 197.1}

     Let us not complain because we are often asked to give for the upbuilding of the cause. What is it that makes these frequent calls a necessity? Is it not the rapid increase of missionary enterprises? Shall we, by refusing to give, retard the growth of these enterprises? . . . {OHC 197.2}

     All who possess the Spirit of Christ will have a tender, sympathetic heart, and an open, generous hand. . . . To us has been entrusted the work of proclaiming the last message of mercy to be given to our world--the message that is to prepare a people to stand in the day of God. Do we realize our accountability? Are we acting our part in the proclamation of the message? The present time is burdened with eternal interests. We are to unfurl the standard of truth before a world perishing in error. {OHC 197.3}

     The more we bring to God's treasure house, the more we shall have to bring; for He will open ways before us, increasing our substance. I have found this to be true in my own experience. As God multiplies His gifts to us, we must not grow selfish, and withhold from Him our tithes and offerings. We each have a part to act in the work of salvation. {OHC 197.4}

     “Gifts and offerings will not purchase salvation for any of us. The religion of the Bible is that development of our moral natures in which the soul holds converse with God, loves that which God loves, and hates that which God hates. God will not accept your offerings if you withhold yourself. He asks not only for that which is His own in the means entrusted to you, but for His own property in your body, soul, and spirit, purchased at the infinite price of the blood of the Son of God.” {OHC 197.5}

     It is the humble, grateful, reverential heart that makes the offering as a sweet-smelling savor, acceptable to God. {OHC 197.6}

Can you support such apostasy with your sacred tithe and offerings?

What about the following:

"The plain straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body [corporately], responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them." Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 269.

"To divide our interests with the leaders of error is aiding the wrong side and giving advantage to our foes. The truth of God knows no compromise with sin, no connection with artifice, no union with transgression." Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 81. End note by Ron.

 

     Now friend, we just looked at the twelve biblical tests of a true prophet.  You can examine the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you can apply these twelve tests to any person who has ever lived since the time of John the Revelator, which was around 100 A.D.  You can take these twelve tests of Scripture and line them up with anyone who has lived in the past 1800 years.  As far as I know, they will only match up with one person that we know of-- a little woman who lived from 1827 to 1915 by the name of Ellen G. White.

 

Ellen White passed all 12 tests of a prophet!

 

     Look at these wonderful passages from scripture showing us the necessity of a prophet:  Amos 3:7  "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."  Hosea 12:13:  "And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved."  2 Chronicles 24:19:  "Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear."  2 Chronicles 20:20: ". . . Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye prosper."  But are you sure you understand the significance of this Gift of Prophecy?

 

     You see, God manifested Himself to us in His Son.  Jesus came and dwelt among us, and after He left, He promised us something:  it was the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit manifests Himself to us through the gifts.  When we reject the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we reject the Holy Spirit.  When we reject the Holy Spirit, we  reject Jesus.  When we reject Jesus, we reject salvation.  Do you see that?  When we reject the gifts the Holy Spirit gives, we reject Jesus Christ, and the sin that God cannot forgive is the continual rejection of His Holy Spirit!

 

     Do you see the ramifications of this?  Do you see the magnitude of rejecting the gift of the Holy Spirit?  What we've got to do is to "test the spirits."  We must see if what we're seeing is of God, because if we reject it, we are rejecting the Holy Spirit.

 

     You know, I feel sorry for these people who say, "Just give me the Bible and the Bible only -- no modern day prophet, just the Bible."  Now doesn't that sound pious?  There's only one problem with that:  you can't separate the two, because the Bible testifies of latter-day prophets; each testifies of the other.  If you truly take the Bible as the Word of God, then you must accept the true Gift of Prophecy because the Bible testifies to it.

 

     Joel 2:28-29:  "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."

 

     God has given the true Gift of Prophecy to His church in these last days for one reason:  we have a fearful, yet exciting job to do.  We must warn a sensual, seduced world of a coming Savior. God has given the Spirit of Prophecy, its admonitions and its counsels, to prepare His people to do that task.  Will you join with God's people?  Will you accept this precious Gift of Prophecy?  Will you realize its value?  Will you let it prepare you for eternity?  If you do, your success is guaranteed.  If not, nothing but doom can be prophesied concerning you.

 

     Proverbs 1:24-26, 28 simply says:  "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;  But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; . . . Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me."

 

     Oh friend, God has given the true Gift of Prophecy to lead His children down through the ages, and in these last days we need it now more than ever.

 

     "How can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. . . ?"  (Hebrews 2:3).

 

     Will you pray with me?

 

     Lord, I realize many people are reeling from the message they have just read.  They don't know who Ellen White was, they've never heard her name before, and if they have, it was probably negative.

 

     Lord, help these dear folks reading this page right now to read and study this out for themselves, and to not be swayed by the stigma Satan has tried to attach to your true prophet and your true church.

 

     Please, dear Lord, help us to not be swayed from the truth by the opinions of others, but to read, and study, and pray, and permit Your Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, and to "hold fast to that which is good," regardless of the consequences.

 

     Thank you for the strength to stand for the truth in these trying times -- the strength that only comes from you.  In the name of Jesus we pray these things. Amen, and amen. (Unveiling the Apocalypse, pp 49-60)

 

Read a personal testimony from someone who knew Mrs. White  

 

Note by Ron: Are we to assume that all those referred to in Joel 2:28-29, will have all the 12 tests enumerated above? I think not! They may or may not cease to breathe and go into a trance state. They may or may not exhibit super-human strength. There is no record that every prophet in Scripture met all of the above twelve tests. The important thing is that none of their prophesying will contradict the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy. God has ordained things in the spiritual realm so that man can even form a theory and if there is nothing in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy that contradicts, he/she cannot be in error:

 

1.    Weight of Evidence Formula: "1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, [interpreter] since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible." E.G. White, Second Advent Review and Herald, 11-25-84, pr. 24.

2.     

Likewise, one can have dreams, visions and/or revelations, and if they do not contradict one word in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy, they cannot be in error. That formula, in essence, is Ellen White’s formula for a true prophet, and for arriving at truth at the end time, whether or not ALL other elements (tests) accrue. End note by Ron.

 

Joel 2:28-29:  "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."