Unity and Gifts of the Church
By James White
UNITY AND GIFTS OF THE CHURCH. No. 3.
We have shown that the gifts and callings of God, mentioned in Paul’s epistles, will run parallel to the end. In our last on this subject we spoke of the Unity of the church. We now wish to call attention to a few texts which speak of the gift of prophecy in the last days. Rev. xii, 17. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” It is admitted that the remnant here mentioned, are the Christians of the last generation who are embraced in the Sabbath reform, and who keep all of the commandments of God, and that the dragon makes war on them for keeping the Sabbath commandment as well as the other nine. Well, is this all the cause of the war from the dragon? No, they also have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But what is this? If the Scriptures did not give an answer to this question, then we would give the best answer at our command; but as the angel of God gave to John a definite answer, we will give that. Rev. xix, 10. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The spirit of prophecy, then, will be with the Sabbath-keeping remnant, and will be one thing to cause the dragon to make war on them. The dragon will let us keep nine of the commandments of God in peace. The neighbor’s cow is willing that nine lengths of the garden fence should stand firm, if she can break down one for her accommodation. But let us remember that the keeping of the commandments of God, all of them, will bring war. And perhaps there is nothing that will excite the dragon’s wrath more, than for the spirit of prophecy to be in the church. The experience of a few years has given a faithful hint on this point, and some idea of what will be the dragon’s mode of warfare when the text shall have a complete fulfillment. The two armies, after the battle is fought and the victory is won by the saints, are thus described. (1) “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (2) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” To keep the Sabbath is regarded heresy; but the belief that the spirit of prophecy is in the church, and that “sons” and “daughters” may prophesy, as Joel said they should in the last days, is in the eyes of many perfectly contemptible. Said a professed Advent minister sneeringly, “When you can do no more in settling your church difficulties, then they are settled by a vision.” Thank God, sir, that when we have done all we can, in our extremity he reaches down his arm and delivers; that he reproves the wrong and vindicates the right, and restores harmony. Hundreds who read these lines have witnessed to their great joy, the melting of stubborn hearts, and the gushing tears, before manifestations of this kind, and the restoration of complete union to alienated hearts. Yes, thank God for the manifestation of some of the gifts. Rather let us pray that the church may enjoy them all, than to be ashamed of what God has done for us. Those who would sneer at such manifestations, would probably prefer to witness church difficulties managed in the popular way, that is, the parties stand their ground, excuse themselves, and magnify the faults of others, get excited, and finally split up, and in some cases leave the injured to suffer, and the hypocrite to triumph. We prefer a place in that body [1 Cor. xii.] where the eye, as well as the hand the foot and the mouth, has its place, and where the iniquities of the hypocrite can be searched out. It is a frightful fact, that many calling themselves Adventists, trample under their feet the gifts which God has placed in the church, and crucify the Holy Spirit. They accuse us of leaving the Word to follow61visions. But they should know that we believe and teach only those things which we find in the Word. We find therein taught, among other things, the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. The dragon spirit is out against these, and as manifested by some who reject the work of the Spirit, and teach that the law of God is abolished, it reminds us forcibly of the plain testimony of the Lord by the prophet Isaiah. Chap. xxx, 8-11. “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever; that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord; which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits, get ye out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” J. W. (To be Continued)