Jannes and Jambres by James White

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Oct 16, 1855

Jannes and Jambres.

By James White

"Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth." 2 Tim. iii, 8.

The Apostle in this chapter draws a picture of the "last days;" not of the whole Christian age, but, of these times of apostasy. The message of truth for this time is to be resisted in the same manner as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses. How was that?

"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 all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land." Ex. vii, 1, 2.

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent."

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men, and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart that he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said." Verses 8-13.

So will it be in the last days. Men will have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. Whenever God has sent forth a message of truth, he has accompanied it with the power of his Spirit, with signs and the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Mark xvi, 20; Acts v, 12; xiv, 3; 1 Cor. ii, 4, 5; Heb. ii, 3, 4; Rom. xv, 18, 19. These manifestations from God have been according to the necessities of his people. Will he withhold them from his people in their greatest perils, as they enter the greatest time of trouble? No! no! "IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAITH GOD, I will POUR out of my Spirit." It will come upon the remnant, not only as the dew, or the gentle rain, but God will pour his Spirit out upon them. "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants, and on my hand-maidens, I will pour out IN THOSE DAYS of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy."

These manifestations of the Holy Spirit will of course fully attend the last message of the last days, when in its greatest power and glory. Then men having the form of godliness, will deny the power. Then they will deny the power of the Holy Spirit which will attend the last message of truth. And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses through whom the power of God was manifested, SO will these in the last days resist the truth.

In order for the truth to be resisted AS Moses's message was, it must be accompanied with the power of God as his message was. Therefore when the prophecy of Joel, in regard to pouring out of the Spirit, shall be fulfilled on the remnant, and their message confirmed by signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, then modern magicians, Spiritualists, will resist the truth with miracles and wonders by the power of Satan. God's people will yet be met face to face as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses and Aaron.

No man can show that God has taken away the gifts he put in the Church. They may faintly appear all the way through the Church in her apostasy, her sack-cloth and her connection with earthly kingdoms, but in her last work God will manifest the gifts in their glory. He will, as it were, bring the two ends of this dispensation round till they meet.