Modern Prophets and Visions
How would you react
if you met someone who claimed to be a prophet?
Would you even bother to listen to what he had to say, or would you
simply write him off as a loon? Would
you believe anything he said, if he told you God himself had personally given
him the information? Are psychics and
astrologers prophets? Many claim to be
inspired by God.
The last Bible
prophet who brought us God's word was the apostle John. The only one who witnessed the awesome scenes
of the crucifixion was also privileged to receive "the Revelation of
Jesus Christ," where God specifically reveals the Great Controversy
involving the vast universe.
Living in the last
moments of earth's history, where the final scenes of the war will take place,
does it make sense to believe that God would again speak to His people? In Bible days, they knew little of the size
of the universe; knowing what we know today, would God send someone who would
particularly emphasize the Great Controversy involving all God's family, and
point to the truth about God revealed in all 66 books of the Bible and
particularly in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?
In our last study,
we read about the remarkable experiences of the early advent believers, and the
prophecy that showed how God was leading them.
Did they have assurance that it was indeed God leading them? Amos 3:7 says that God will not do
anything unless He first reveals it to His servants, the prophets. Can we then assume that in beginning a
movement to take His final message to the world, He would speak to His
servants, the prophets? It is a
significant fact that many people arose at that time claiming to be prophets-
Joseph Smith, Mary Baker-Eddy and Charles Taze Russell being prominent ones
with many followers; the churches theyfounded are still with us today. How could God's people discern the true from
the false?
The word
"prophet" means one who "speaks (for) God." The Bible itself came to us from prophets who
were guided by the Holy Ghost.
Have you ever
wondered why we no longer have prophets?
Was John the last prophet God has spoken through? Has God stopped speaking through prophets?
The early advent
band believed, as do Seventh-day Adventists today, that
God did, indeed, speak through a prophet to His confused and faithful
Church. They believe that God again
manifested the Spirit of Prophecy through a woman by the name of Ellen G.
White.
Before we discuss
Mrs. White, we will continue our habit of first seeing what the BIBLE has to
say on the subject.
HOW GOD COMMUNICATES HIS MESSAGES
1. The
book of Revelation is a prime example of how the prophetic gift works. The first few
verses explain the steps which are utilized in bringing a message from God to
man. What are these steps?
Revelation 1:1,4
Note: a)
God gave the message to Jesus (verse 1)
b)
Jesus gave it to His angel (verse 1)
c)
His angel gave it to the prophet (verse 1)
d)
John gave it to the Church (verse 4)
2. Does God do anything important
without revealing it to His people?
Amos 3:7
3. What is the source of information true prophets
use?
2 Peter 1:21
4. Must a prophet write a
book of the Bible in order to be authoritative and true?
Answer: At least twelve true prophets, who did not write a
book of the Bible, are mentioned in the Scriptures. Among them is John the
Baptist, of whom Jesus said there was no one greater (Matthew
5. Does God only use prophets who are men?
Judges 4:4
Note: Several women were mentioned as prophetesses in Scripture: Miriam,
Moses' sister (Exodus
GOD'S CHURCH TODAY
6. When Jesus ascended to
Heaven, He left gifts for the Church. What are these gifts?
Ephesians 4:7,8,11
7. How long were these
gifts to remain in the Church?
Ephesians 4:13
Note: These gifts, including prophets, remain in the Church until all
become completely like Christ, which means that they remain until the end of
time.
8. Did God's
I Corinthians 1:6
Acts 21:8,9
Note: I Corinthians 1:7 says that they
had ALL the gifts and verse six specifically mentions the testimony of
Christ, which is the "Spirit" or gift of prophecy.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR THE
9. What does God say will
happen when he pours out His Spirit in these last days?
Joel 2:28-31
Note: God promises to speak through both men and women, young and old!
How fortunate we are to be living in this age!
10. Does the Bible teach
that God's true Church for the last days will have the gift of prophecy?
Revelation 12:17
Revelation 19:10
(cf: Rev. 22:9)
TRUE PROPHETS OF GOD
11. What three things does
Paul command regarding
prophets?
I Thessalonians 5:20,21
12. How do I know that a
prophet is really of God?
Deuteronomy 18:21,22
Note: God does not make mistakes. If someone predicts something
to happen, and it doesn't, God says he has not spoken through him.
13. What is the most
convincing evidence of a true prophet?
How can I test what he or she says?
Isaiah 8:19,20
Note: The Bible is clear; if someone claims to be a true prophet of
God, their teachings will be 100% in agreement with the Bible. God does
not contradict Himself; any new light must agree fully with all former
revelations. We are to test a prophet with the Bible. Read John
Here are other things a true prophet of
God will be:
a) Prophesies as
he is moved by the Holy Spirit, not by man's will (2 Peter
b) Doesn't give his own interpretation of
prophecy (2 Peter
c) Points out sins of people against God (Isaiah
58:1)
d) Warns of coming judgment (Isaiah
24:20-21, Revelation 14:6,7)
e)
Edifies, exhorts, comforts, in spiritual matters (I Corinthians 14:3)
f) Recognizes the
incarnation and Deity of Jesus (I John 4:1-3)
g) Works and lives in harmony with the Bible (Matthew
h) Will not be an
astrologer, magician, witch, medium, or clairvoyant (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
ARE MIRACLES A TEST?
14. Do miracles prove that
a prophet is true?
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Acts 8:9-10
Answer: NO! Devils can also work miracles (Revelation
Conduct may appear to be very spiritual,
but this proves nothing in itself (2 Corinthians
15. God promises to speak
to a prophet in one of three ways. What are these three ways?
Numbers 12:6,8
Note: Crystal balls, palm reading, tea leaf deciphering, star gazing
and talking with the dead are NOT God's methods of communicating with a
prophet. God
sometimes spoke to prophets through visions. Notice how the Bible describes a
prophet in vision:
a) Will lose physical
strength (Daniel 10:8),
b) Then receives
supernatural strength (Daniel
c) No breath in his
body (Daniel
d) Will be able to
speak (Daniel
e) Will not be
conscious of his surroundings (Daniel
10:5-8)
f) His eyes will be
open (Numbers 24:4)
16. What happens to a person
who believes and obeys true prophets? 2 Chronicles 20:20
A PROPHET'S MINISTRY
17. What is prophecy called
in Revelation 12:17?
Note: In light of Revelation 19: 10, the "Testimony of Jesus " means the "Testimony or message
FROM Jesus". When the Holy Spirit inspires a prophet with a message,
we are to regard it as a message from Jesus. To undermine a true prophet is a very
serious matter. It amounts to calling Jesus a liar (Revelation
18. Whom did Jesus say
would have a very great influence in the last days?
Matthew 24:24
Note: Peter also warns against the powerful but evil influence of false
prophets—2 Peter 2:1-2.
19. What types of false prophets does the Bible specifically condemn?
Deuteronomy 18:9-12
Revelation 22:15
Revelation 21:8
Answer: a)
"Diviner"—Fortune teller
b)
"Observer of times"—Astrologer
c)
"Enchanter"—Magician
d)
"Witch/Wizard"—female/malepsychic
e) "Consulter with familiar
spirits"—Spirit medium
f) "Necromancer"—One who supposedly consults with the dead
g)
"Sorcerer"—The modern
counterpart of sorcery is spiritism
h)
"Charmer"—One who casts spells
or uses charms (crystals)
Note: The Lord says that all who do the above things are an abomination,
Deuteronomy 18:12. Spiritism
is one of the major means Satan will use to deceive in the last days (Revelation
Today
there are many forms of spiritism, some not appearing as dangerous as
witchcraft or seances. For example,
anything that promotes witches, wizards, ghosts, and goblins deals with
spiritism. These are often depicted in
television and movie comedies, but are nonetheless dangerous. Halloween, "Dungeons &
Dragons," Ouija boards, "Angels," "Alien abductions,"
some forms of music, magic, astrology, numerology, tarot cards, palm reading,
divining, prayers for the dead, good-luck charms, saints and apparitions,
supernatural experiences, and baptism for the dead are only a few of the ways
Satan uses to snare people into spiritism.
20. John the Baptist did
not write a book of the Bible, but he was a true prophet. Whose counsel does
the Bible say people rejected when they rejected John's counsel?
Luke 7:28-30
Note: The counsel of a true prophet is always the counsel of God. To
reject it, whether the prophet be a Bible writer or not, amounts to rejecting
the Lord's counsel. Such rejection can be fatal to a person.
Here are some of the titles given to prophets in the Scriptures:
a) Prophet—I
Samuel 9:9
b) Son of man—Ezekiel
4:1, Ezekiel 5:1
c) Seer—2
Chronicles 16: 7
d) Messenger—Malachi
3:1
e) Fellow
servant—Revelation
f) Servant of
God—I Chronicles
g) Man of God—2
Kings
h) Watchman—Ezekiel
i) Voice of one
crying in the wilderness—Matthew 3:3
THE MINISTRY OF ELLEN G. WHITE
Ellen Harmon was born at
Afflicted with ill
health, Ellen finally was forced to discontinue her education after receiving only
three years of formal schooling.
She was converted at a Methodist camp meeting in March of 1840.
She was baptized at the age of 13 at
When she heard the
preaching of the soon coming of Jesus, she accepted the glad tidings and was
put out of the
Her first vision
was in December of 1844, shortly after the great disappointment of October. It
was a message of encouragement to the band of advent followers. (You may read
her first vision in Early Writings, pages 13-20.)
Shortly after that
vision, she accepted her first speaking appointment. Before the appointment,
she could hardly talk, but after speaking in a whisper for five minutes, her
voice became normal. She was then able to speak clearly and strongly for about
two hours.
During the next 70
years she faithfully delivered the messages God sent to His Church through her.
Over 66 books on various subjects were written by her or compiled from
her writings, besides 2,000 articles for the Review and Herald, 2,000
messages in Signs of the Times, and 500 articles for other publications.
Her written manuscripts total over 100,000 pages, totaling over 25,000,000
words—all written by hand! All this with only a third grade education.
She wrote upon dozens
of fields, always with a foresight and knowledge years, sometimes decades
before her time. In the year 1864, for example, she wrote, "Tobacco
is a poison of the most deceitful and malignant kind, having an exciting, then paralyzing
influence upon the nerves of the body. It is all the more dangerous because its
effects on the system are so slow, and at first scarcely perceivable.
Multitudes have fallen victims to its poisonous influence. They have surely
murdered themselves by this slow poison. " Temperance,
page 57.
That was over 100
years ago! The world laughed at her, but today it no longer laughs. This
unusual prediction, made at the time when smoking was considered harmless, is
one of hundreds of examples of how she was far ahead of her time. Remember,
this was in the days when doctors were still bloodletting and performing
surgery with unwashed hands.
Especially on the fields of health and
nutrition, she has been noted by noted authorities as not only being 100%
accurate, but many decades before her time.
But the most important testimony
she had was what she had to say about God. Miracles or even fulfilled
prophecies are not proof of inspiration.
The only question we need to ask in analyzing her writings is, "Did
she tell the truth?" Those inspired
by the Spirit of Truth will always tell the truth, and always lead us to the
Scriptures. She constantly upheld the
Bible as the only rule of faith. She wrote, "The Bible, and the
Bible alone, is to be our creed, the sole bond of union; all who bow to this
holy Word will be in harmony." (Review and Herald, December 15, 1885). In one of her last public addresses, she told
the students in the chapel of
What then, is the
relationship of her writings to the Bible? Here's what she said: "The Lord
has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater
light." (Colporteur Evangelist, p.37).
Not only do her life, work, and teaching harmonize exactly with the Bible, but
she constantly upheld it, and endeavored to lead men and women to the Holy
Book. She never claimed that her writings were equal with the Bible, or that
they constituted a second Bible. Her only claim was that her writings were
given to lead to the greater light of the Bible.
Seventh-day Adventists do not attach any
superstitious veneration to the name, person, or relics of Mrs. White, but they
do prize the inestimable gift of Divine counsel which is given in permanent
form in her writings.
The "Spirit
of Prophecy" writings do not displace or eclipse the Bible—they
enrich our appreciation of its truth and beauty, as the microscope enhances
the snowflake, and the telescope magnifies the stars.
CONCLUSION
"Put
your trust in the Lord your God, and you will stand
your ground. Believe what His prophets tell you, and you will succeed. " 2 Chronicles 20:20, GNB
The most conclusive evidence that
God truly did speak in a special way to his Church through Mrs. White will be
gained by a firsthand, unprejudiced reading of her inspirational
writings (Psalm 34:8). The Bible says, "Do not restrain the Holy
Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test; keep what
is good." I Thessalonians 5:19-21, GNB
Since an
important test of a true prophet is tasting and seeing
for oneself, do you choose to do so by reading more of Ellen White's books?
My response to Christ is:______________________________