"As the end draws near, and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, it becomes more important for those who accept present truth to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the third angel's message from its very rise."—"Testimonies," Vol. V. p. 634.
I was brought up a staid Presbyterian, skeptical of all things fanatical and visionary, and so I know something of the difficulties of presenting the Spirit of prophecy to those not of our faith. To meet this difficulty I have carefully and prayerfully made and used the following outlines over a period of years. Through God's blessing these have been used in establishing new converts and also in reclaiming those who left our ranks because they could not accept the visions and dreams of Mrs. White.
If my fellow workers have found the subject hard to present, or hard for the reader to accept, I would say, try giving it as a purely Bible doctrine, showing that the gift of prophecy was to be restored to the remnant church just as the Sabbath and other kindred truths were restored after being largely lost sight of during the Dark Ages. And by all means, never attempt to present this subject until your prospect has accepted the Sabbath truth. "Prophesying serveth . . . for them which believe." Do not mention the instrument until the fact has been well established from the Bible that the restoration of the gift of prophecy is part of the message.
It is not essential that the reader be a Sabbathkeeper before the subject is presented, but he must be a believer. Often a person is under strong conviction, but, having dependent loved ones, his faith is weak. In such cases, the Spirit of prophecy is a mighty factor in strengthening decision. Next in importance to belief in the Sabbath before presenting the Spirit of prophecy, is knowledge of the sanctuary question.
"Such subjects as the sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are perfectly calculated to explain the past advent movement, and show what our present position is, establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious future."--"Early Writings," p. 63. (See also page 61.)
Gift of Prophecy in the Remnant Church
1. Rev. 12:17; 19:10. Stress the two earmarks of the remnant church: the commandments of God and the Spirit of prophecy.
2. Eph. 4:8, 11-15. The five gifts of the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. Their purpose; how long to remain. Given to the church by the Lord Himself "when He ascended," "in order fully to equip His people for the work of serving." (Weymouth.) The churches claim to have four of the gifts, but where is the gift of prophecy?
3. Prophet—a man or a woman through whom God speaks in a special way. Num. 12:6.
4. Eph. 4:12. Purpose of the gifts, "perfecting" ("equipment" in original). "For the equipment of the saints, for the business of the ministry, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ." (Moffatt.) Stress the need of this complete equipment.
5. How long to remain. Eph. 4:13-16.
"Till we should all attain the unity of the faith and knowledge of God's Son, reaching maturity, reaching the full measure of development which belongs to the fullness of Christ—instead of remaining immature, blown from our course and swayed by every passing wind of doctrine, by the adroitness of men who are dexterous in devising error; we are to hold by the truth, and by our love to grow up wholly into Him. For He, Christ, is the head, and under Him, as the entire body is welded together and compacted by every joint with which it is supplied, the due activity of each part enables the body to grow and build itself up in love." (Moffatt.)
Show the vital necessity of all five gifts or links in the chain in order to bring the church to a "unity of the faith." If the church has lost part of her "equipment," she will be "carried about with every wind of doctrine." "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." Study carefully r Corinthians r :3-ro. The true church, waiting for the coming of Christ, will come behind in no gift. The testimony of Christ will be confirmed unto the end. There will be no divisions, but it will be "fitly joined together."
1. Acts 13:1; 11 :27; 21:8, 9. Prophets in the early church. Four young women, prophetesses in the early church. Acts 21 :8, 9. Other prophetesses: Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Anna, Elizabeth, and Mary were said to prophesy.
2. Rev. 12:17: 1:0. Prophet in last, or remnant, church. "Remnant." The last end of a bolt of cloth must be like the first end. The remnant church will be like the first gospel church. In final message, all truth restored.
3. Rev. 5:5. Origin and transmission of message: God, Christ, angel, prophet, church.
Not the "revelation of Saint John the Divine," but "the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him." The prophet is not infallible, but the message is infallible, because it is God's message.
1. Rev. 19:10; Dan. 9:21, 22; Luke 1:26, II, 18-20. "His angel," Gabriel, still lives.
He is the last link on God's side, and the prophet is the first link on man's side; hence, "fellow servants" or yokefellows. (Rev. 19:10.) "Testimonies," a Biblical term, used twenty-three times in one chapter—Psalms 119. Hebrew: A-do-soy, meaning "His testimonies," or "that which the prophets have written or spoken." Rev. 22:16; Neh. 9:26, 29, 30: 2 Kings 17;15; Jer. 44:23.
10. Micah 3:5-7. The gift is withheld when the church turns from the voice of the true prophet to that of false prophets. Such conditions prevailed in the time of the "falling away" of the church during the period foretold in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.
11. 1. IRev. 12:17; 19:10. The gift fully restored. _______________ To be concluded in August
