The Spirit of Prophecy

Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

Before God acts on a large scale, He sends warning through prophets. This pattern continues, not ends, at the cross.

It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.

The prophetic gift is explicitly promised in the last days. Both sons and daughters. Both old and young.

"It will be in the last days, says God, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy."

Peter, at Pentecost, applies Joel's prophecy to the church age. The gift is given to the church, not withdrawn from it.

God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

Prophets are listed AMONG the gifts given to the church. Not a vestige of an earlier age — an ongoing ministry.

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Prophets continue UNTIL the church reaches full maturity. We are not there yet.

The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and hold Jesus' testimony.

The end-time remnant has two marks: keeping God's commandments, AND holding the "testimony of Jesus" — defined in Revelation 19:10 as the spirit of prophecy.

I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look! Don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."

The defining text. The "testimony of Jesus" — Christ's witness through chosen messengers — is "the Spirit of Prophecy." Adventists understand Ellen White's ministry as a fulfillment of this end-time gift.

Don't quench the Spirit. Don't despise prophesies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.

Paul gives the right method: don't reject prophetic gifts on principle, but test them carefully. Hold what is good. Discard what is not.

Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Discernment is not optional. Genuine prophetic gifts are tested by Scripture — not the other way around.

Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they don't speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

The test: agreement with "the law and the testimony" — the written Word. Any prophetic claim that contradicts Scripture is by definition false.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

A second test: fruit. The life produced by genuine prophetic ministry is one of love, service, and faithfulness to Christ.

We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture itself is the "more sure word." Any later prophetic gift functions as a lesser light — pointing back to the Bible, never substituting for it.