Gift of Prophecy [What is It?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
27 May 2022
In the previous episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talked about spiritual gifts. Today, he's going to discuss one of these, the gift of prophecy.
We read in Revelation 12:17 that "the dragon was enraged with the woman and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." And verse 10 of chapter 19 tells us that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
In connection, the eighteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: "The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested."
The gift of prophecy was in operation throughout the Old Testament times. For instance, when Aaron and Miriam rebelled against Moses' leadership, God said to them, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream" (Numbers 12:6).
Before his death, Moses told the Israelites, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear" (Deuteronomy 18:15).
This prophecy was fulfilled through Joshua and the prophets who succeeded him. But its ultimate fulfillment was in the appearance of the Messiah, Who was the Prophet to lead God's people from the slavery of sin into the heavenly Canaan.
Meanwhile, the gift of prophecy was working in the New Testament times as well. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that it would remain in the church "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God" (Ephesians 4:13).
God bestowed this gift of prophecy on a woman by the name of Ellen G. White. She was a woman of remarkable spiritual gifts who lived most of her life in the nineteenth century.
She wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books. Her writings made a revolutionary impact on millions of people around the world. These cover subjects including religion, education, social relationships, evangelism, prophecy, publishing, nutrition, and management.
Ellen White was more than a gifted writer. She was also appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world's attention to the Bible and prepare them for Christ's Second Advent.
From age 17 until her death at 70, God gave her 2,000 dreams and visions. The knowledge and counsel she received through these revelations were all in her writings. Thus, we, Seventh-day Adventists, accept her writings as inspired by God.
However, "the writings of Ellen White are not a substitute for Scripture. They cannot be placed on the same level. The Holy Scriptures stand alone, the unique standard by which she and all other writings must be judged and to which they must be subject" (Seventh-day Adventists Believe…, p. 227).
Indeed, Ellen White was a remarkable woman who met all the tests of a true prophet as in the Scriptures. She helped found the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Through her counsels, God has blessed the church immensely.
As an appeal, 2 Chronicles 20:20 reminds us to "believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets and you shall prosper."
Let us embrace this gift of prophecy God has bestowed upon the church.
More about the gift of prophecy at www.adventist.org/gift-of-prophecy/the-gift-of-prophecy/ and Ellen White's writings at www.egwwritings.org.
