How Is a True Prophet Known? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 19, 1906

How Is a True Prophet Known?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

S. N. HASKELL

It is not by any one test alone that we determine whether or not a prophet is a prophet of the Lord. Neither can he be judged by a human standard. His prophecies are not arraigned at the bar of human reason. If so, then human reason is set above the prophet. Who by searching can find out God? “Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? the measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? for he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? for vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.” Job 11:7-12.

The true prophet further unfolds the plans of God. There is an infinity in the plans of God. The mysteries of the past, and the present, and the future are all alike outspread before God. A prophet is a mouthpiece for God. The relation of a true prophet of God to God was illustrated by the relation of Moses and Aaron. “And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” “Thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.”

The Bible has given many tests of a true prophet. These tests are found here and there all through the Bible. To study this question from the Bible standpoint is to study the life and character of the prophets of the Bible; for a prophet in one age of the world is the same as a prophet in any other age of the world. God has never left this world without a prophet or a priest. There have been times when there has been no

open vision, so there have been times when there were no teaching priests. But that does not prove that the living voice of God had left the earth. God is the God of the living, and has had in and among his people his living voice to a greater or less extent. At times it has appeared to be hushed because of the sins of his people, but never has there been a time when earth and heaven have not been connected by God’s living testimony. God lives, and he has a people on the earth which he has created. There will come a time, however, when Satan and his angels will alone occupy this earth for one thousand years. The wicked at that time are in their graves, and the saints on a visit to heaven. They will behold the glory of Christ, which he had with his Father before the world was. During this period the light of God will be withdrawn from the earth.

All the Bible tests of a true prophet will characterize every true prophet. We can not judge of a true prophet because some particular test is seen, but every test must characterize every true prophet. This is recognized in the following words of Moses in Deut. 13:1-3: “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Here is laid down an important principle. It is worthy of much careful study. Signs will always follow believers, but if it is signs only, and the influence of the teaching is to lead away from God, the instructions are plain. “Thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet.” “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Although men or women boast of signs and wonderful manifestations of power, unless the fruit is of the right character, beware of them. “Ye shall know them by their fruit.” It is the influence of their teachings that will ever be a true test.

The great apostle to the Gentiles, who was also a prophet of the Lord, wrote as follows to the church at Corinth. “Need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men; forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” In Corinth was a church of the living God. They had in it the various gifts, including the gift of prophecy. They were enriched in him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them (the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy). According as this was confirmed in them, they came behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Leaving behind him in his work such a church was Paul’s credentials, his epistle, his letter of commendation. This was the fruit of the working of the Spirit of God, and the evidence that Paul was a true apostle and prophet of the Lord. A church without spiritual gifts is like a leafless tree.

San Bernardino, Cal.