THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jun 7, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 23.

THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.

1. By what are the Lord's prophets endowed? "The Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him [Moses], and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders; and it came to pass that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease." Num. 11:25.

2. How does the Lord make Himself known to His prophets? "If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto Him in a dream." Chapter 12:6.

3. How do we know that the prophecies of the Scriptures are from God? "No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time [margin, "at any time"] by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:20, 21.

4. Did the Lord intend that the prophetic gift should continue in the church after His departure? "When He ascended up on high, He . . . gave gifts unto men. . . . He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Eph. 4:8-11. "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1 Cor. 12:28. In addition to the apostles as prophets, we have special mention of Agabus and Philip's four daughters." See Acts 11:27, 28; 21:8-11.

5. What spiritual gift are we enjoined to especially desire? "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." 1 Cor. 14:1.

6. Why should we desire the prophetic gift? Because "he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." V. 3.

7. What is the consequence when the Spirit of prophecy is withheld? "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Prov. 29:18. "We see not our signs; there is no more any prophet; neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name forever? Why withdrawest Thou Thy hand, even Thy right hand? pluck it out of Thy bosom." Ps. 74:9-11. So the withdrawing of the prophetic gift is deemed equivalent to withdrawing the right hand of God.

8. Why does God withhold the Spirit of prophecy? Because the people depart from His law. "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is He." Prov. 29:18. Because of Jerusalem's apostasy, we have this description of her condition: "Her gates are sunk into the ground; He hath destroyed and broken her bars; her king and her princes are among the Gentiles; the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the Lord." "Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee; and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment." Lam. 2:9, 14.

9. The Spirit of prophecy is a characteristic of the "remnant" (or last-days) church. "And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [the church of God], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17. "The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy." Chapter 19:10.

10. The Lord warns us against false prophets. "There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matt. 24:24. We have also this timely instruction: "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20.