When the Master was about to leave the little group of workers with whom He had been associated during His earthly ministry, He promised to give them another comforter, "even the Spirit of truth." This promise was abundantly fulfilled in the apostolic age. But it did not terminate there, for the gift of the Spirit was to "abide" with the church 'for ever." One of the best and most coveted of the spiritual gifts following Pentecost was the Spirit of prophecy, which was manifest so abundantly in the apostolic church. This gift has been specifically promised also to the "remnant of her seed," who are de scribed as having "the testimony of Jesus Christ," which "is the Spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
Paul's statement confirms John's prophecy, for he foretold that the church, "waiting for the com ing of our Lord Jesus Christ," would "come be hind in no gift"; and he specifically mentions the "testimony of Christ" as being "confirmed" in this waiting church, and indicates that only as this gift is "confirmed" can the other gifts be manifest, or can they be truly ready for the coming of the Lord. (See 1 Cor. r :6, 7.) The word "confirmed" indicates much more than the mere presence of the gift in the church. It means that the church must be established in this gift, and strengthened by it, the very existence of the church to be assured and its truths made certain by the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We use the word "confirmed" in both a good and a bad sense. We speak of a confirmed drunkard—one who is wholly given over to drink and estab lished in the evil habit. He will return again and again to the bottle. His whole thought and expec tation is only and always how he can get another drink.
And now, using the word in a good sense, one who is confirmed in the Spirit of prophecy will be wholly directed in all his plans, his thoughts, and his life by the counsel and instruction from the Lord through this gift. He will return to it again and again. He will never be satiated, always he will have a new thirst, a renewed hunger for more and ever more of the living water, and the bread of life that is found so abundantly in the writings of the Spirit of prophecy. When the church, and especially the ministry, are thus confirmed in this, one of the most important of the gifts of the Spirit, then the remnant will be ready for the full outpour ing of the latter rain in the loud-cry message.
There is danger that some may feel that the Testimonies from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White were written for the church as it was forty, fifty, or sixty years ago, and that in these changed world conditions they may not be so important. But the instruction published in the past is needed today even more, as a shield against the subtle delusions that will seek entrance into the church during these final stages of the conflict. We are told that everything that can be shaken will be shaken. "Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God's people on every side."—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 116.
A short time before Mrs. White's death she wrote: "I have been shown that the false theories advanced in the past have by no means been given up. As favorable opportunities come, they will have a resurrection."—Life Sketches, p. 92. A careful study of these writings is the best shield that I know of against false doctrines or controversial questions that bring in division. In 1890 MTS. White wrote:
"There will be a hatred kindled against the Testimo nies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them for this rea son,—Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions, and bind up souls in his delusion, if the warnings and reproofs and counsel of the Spirit of God are heeded."—E. G. WHITE, Letter 40, 1890.
There is great responsibility resting upon our workers and leaders, and especially upon our teachers who are training the future workers for this cause. Our young people, growing up into leader ship in this movement, need to be "confirmed" to day in the "testimony of Christ." Never before has the world faced such a troubled era as it does today. Never before have our young people stood in greater need of the counsel and help that is found in the writings of the Spirit of prophecy. The times demand clear minds and understanding hearts, and surely nowhere else will the youth find a clearer delineation of our time or a better guide through these international crises that follow one another in such rapid succession, than in these precious volumes.
Too often the young people coming from our colleges, and even some of our workers, seem to have a vague or uncertain idea as to just what relation the Spirit of prophecy has to this move ment. Also there is need of young workers' being definitely informed of the arrangements Mrs. White herself made for the continued publication of her books and for the selection of material from the manuscripts that she left in the custody of the trustees of her writings, which she appointed be fore her death. In the experience of some of our newer workers there appears to be a need for a sound basis for confidence.
The facts concerning the operation of the pro phetic gift and the writing and publishing of E. G. White books, with much additional valuable in formation concerning the guidance that the Spirit of prophecy has given this movement since its ear liest days, are to be found in the four brochures—The Custody and Use of the Ellen G. White Writ ings, Prophetic Guidance in Early Days, The Ellen G. White Books, and The Prophetic Gift in Action —which the trustees of the Ellen G. White Publi cations have made available at their office in the General Conference.
During the years that I was teaching Bible at Walla Walla College, I made it a practice to see that all senior theology students obtained these brochures, and further, they were assigned as col lateral reading in one of the theology classes. Their contents were discussed in class recitation, the position of the Spirit of prophecy in our move ment was emphasized, and the work of the trustees of the E. G. White Publications was outlined. I believe the discussion based on these brochures led to a clearer understanding of this important phase of our movement than a mere theoretical presentation of the subject would have accom plished. The sound information which these spe cial publications yielded proved a definite aid in establishing a firm basis for confidence. I would heartily recommend them to every worker and prospective worker.
That days of uncertainty and distress lie ahead of us we all admit. But as workers in the cause of God, we need not approach the future in darkness. We are the "children of light." The "light that shineth in a dark place," the prophetic light, will illuminate the pathway of all who will make the prophetic message their, constant study.
We sometimes marvel that the disciples, after three years with the Master, were so unprepared for the closing scenes of His earthly ministry, even though He had plainly foretold all the events that took place. But is there not danger that we will approach the crisis hour of our experience as un prepared as they? This need not be our experi ence, even though the danger of it is foretold in The Great Controversy, page 594:
"In the prophecies the future is opened before us as plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ. The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more under standing of these important truths than if they had never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every im pression that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready."
Are we as workers using the information that has been given us of what is coming on the world, in preparing our people for what will surely over take many of them as an overwhelming surprise? I fear that we sometimes fail to appreciate the real value and significance of the messages that God's Spirit has sent to the remnant church.
"In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the Testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will, and the course He would have them pursue."—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 661.
"Through His Holy Spirit the voice of God has come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith of the believers in the Spirit of prophecy.. . Time and trial have not made void the instruction given... The instruction that was given in the early days of the message is to be held as safe instruction to follow in these its closing days. Those who are indifferent to this light and instruction must not expect to escape the snares which we have been plainly told will cause the rejectors of light to stumble, and fall, and be snared, and be taken."—Review and Herald, July 18, 1907.
Perilous times face the remnant church. Satan is to make war upon it in these last days, and unless we as workers are not only grounded and settled in the truth, but also confirmed in the testimony of Jesus Christ, there is danger that we and our flocks may come up to the day of God unprepared.