p. 6 | Prophecy by M. E. STEWARD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 22, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 38.

Read the full edition

Prophecy

By M. E. STEWARD

M. E. STEWARD

PROPHECY is a light that shines in a dark place. 2 Peter 1:19. Is there any place so dark as the future?

The nature of prophecy:—

1. Prophecy is foretelling future events by inspiration of God; it is also teaching. 1 Corinthians 14.

2. It is the best gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 14:1.

3. It is sure. 2 Peter 1:16-18.

Prophecy is important:—

1. “Believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chron. 20:20.

2. Jerusalem was destroyed because she knew not the time of her visitation. Luke 19:44.

3. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. Prophecy belongs to us and to our children. Deut. 29:29.

Prophecy is designed for three things:—

1. “For the perfecting of the saints.”

2. “For the work of the ministry.”

3. “For the edifying of the body of Christ,” the church. Eph. 4:12.

Biblical record of the prophetic gift:—

1. “Holy prophets have been since the world began.” Luke 1:70.

2. In the former dispensation there were prophets all the way down the ages, to within four hundred years of the birth of Christ. At the time of his birth three persons prophesied,— Zacharias, Anna, and Simeon. The apostles had the gift of prophecy, and it has appeared in godly persons at intervals ever since their day.

3. It will continue “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ;” until “that which is in part shall be done away,” and “that which is perfect is come.” Eph. 4:13. 1 Cor. 13:10. This will be when our Lord comes. Just before the second coming of Christ, the gift of prophecy appears again. Mal. 4:5; Joel 2:28-31.

Prophecy exercised by women:—

1. Miriam, Huldah, and Deborah were among the Old Testament prophets.

2. It is recorded in the New Testament that Anna and the daughters of Philip prophesied. Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9.

3. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.”

“Despise not prophesyings.” 1 Thess. 5:20. The text does not say to despise not the prophecies uttered thousands of years ago. “Prophesyings” is an active, present-tense word, applying to the present time.

“Try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1):—

1. “To the law and to the testimony” (Isa. 8:20); that is, compare them with the Old and the New Testament.

2. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matt. 7:15, 16.

False prophets are:—

1. “Light and treacherous,” profaning the sanctuary, doing violence to the law of God. They are headstrong, despise God, and cause his people to err, while they strengthen the hands of the wicked. Zeph. 3:4; Jer. 23:9-40; Ezekiel 13.

2. They have supposed intercourse with the dead. The Bible says, “The dead know not anything.” Eccl. 9:5, 6.

3. They prophesy out of their own heart, having seen nothing. Eze. 13:3. “In the latter days ye shall consider [understand] it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” Jer. 23:20, 21. False prophets are counterfeits; there is never a counterfeit without a genuine; hence the existence of false prophets proves that there are one or more true prophets.

False prophets in the last days:—

1. “The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith [Scriptural truth], giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1.

2. Our Saviour’s great prophecy predicted false christs and false prophets. “There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders.” “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” Matt. 24:24, 26.

Sanitarium, Cal.