Understanding Prophesy: Divine Inspiration and Spiritual Guidance

To prophesy is the act of speaking or writing through divine inspiration, serving as a channel for the Holy Spirit to communicate God's will, instruction, or future events to His peopleGP 45.1+1. It is a manifestation of the "Spirit of prophecy," which is defined as the Holy Spirit sent from God to impart the prophetic gift to man Revelation 19:10GP 45.1.

The Nature and Purpose of Prophesying

Prophesying serves several vital functions within the church and the lives of believers:

• Instruction and Correction: The gift of prophecy acts as a corrector of error and a confirmer of truth, helping believers understand the Word of God more clearlyEW xxiii.2. It was given to help the church develop a Christian character and to guide them through difficult periods of historyLLM 33.8+1.

• A Sign of God's Choice: In the time of Moses, the spirit of prophecy rested upon the seventy elders as a sign that God had chosen them to assist in leading the people Numbers 11:251SP 283.2.

• Building the Church: Spiritual gifts, including prophecy, are intended for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ Ephesians 4:12GSAM 384.4.

• Witnessing for Jesus: The "testimony of Jesus" is explicitly identified as the Spirit of prophecy Revelation 19:10. This gift is a characteristic of the "remnant" or the last generation of the church that remains faithful to God's commandments Revelation 12:17GCDB March 18, 1891, page 150.3.

Prophesying in the Last Days

The exercise of this gift is not limited to ancient times but is promised to be especially active in the last daysMEDM October 9, 1907, page 323.2.

• A Perpetual Gift: The instruction to "despise not prophesyings" refers to the exercise of the prophetic gift throughout the Christian age, particularly just before the second advent of Christ 1 Thessalonians 5:20MIRP 40.3.

• A Guide through Peril: God revealed the perils of the last days to His servants so that the church might be warned of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils 1 Timothy 4:1Con 92.1.

• Restoration for the Remnant: As the third angel’s message arose to reveal the law of God in its fullness, the prophetic gift was immediately restored to guide the movementLLM 33.8.

Testing the Gift

Because both true and false prophets exist simultaneously, believers are commanded to "prove all things" and "hold fast that which is good" 1 Thessalonians 5:21MIRP 40.3+1. A true prophetic gift will always point to Christ and be in perfect harmony with the Scriptures, which were authored by the same Holy Spirit3SM 30.3+1. While human knowledge is currently imperfect and we "prophesy in part," these gifts are essential until "that which is perfect" comes and we see God face to face 1 Corinthians 13:9-12PP 25.2+1.