Dying for a Soda
What is this that we often refer to as “the Spirit of Prophecy”? Why is it useful? Would you like to understand the subject better and be able to explain it to friends? Here is a four-part presentation to help your understanding!
Ever since sin first entered this world, how has God communicated with humanity? “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1).
How does our Creator communicate directly in New Testament times?
He “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (verse 2).
This obviously includes all the teachings of Christ while on earth, as revealed in the four Gospels about the life of Jesus.
“Were the Gospels intended to be the entire teachings of Jesus?
The Lord told His disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). What was this “another Comforter” going to accomplish?
“The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (verse 26).
What is included in this “all things”? Jesus explained, “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26).
What shows that there were more things to be revealed by the Holy Spirit other than what is seen in the four Gospels?
The Lord said, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. . . . I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:7, 12).
Was Jesus unable to tell us everything we need to know while here on earth? Referring to the Holy Spirit, the Lord revealed, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (verses 13, 14).
It is for this reason the disciples were not able to begin their lifework immediately after the ascension. The Lord told them, “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
When the Holy Ghost did come on the day of Pentecost, how was the promise of Christ fulfilled?
“This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and 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 handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:16–18).
The gift of prophecy through men and women was reintroduced and would not cease at the death of the last apostle. This gift was to be present again in the church in the time of the end (verse 17).
In continuation, we will discuss the following questions:
1. Does this promise include the gift of prophecy?
2. How do we distinguish true prophets from the false?
3. What specific rules can we safely follow in this testing process?
How does the apostle Paul recognize that all the gifts of the Spirit will be present in the church till the end of time?
“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7, 8).
Which specific gift is mentioned in this context?
The apostle says, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you” (verses 4–6).
After the period of the Dark Ages prophesied in the New Testament, what two things would specifically identify the remnant church? “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” (Revelation 12:17).
a. The commandments of God.
b. The testimony of Jesus Christ.
What is this testimony of Jesus? “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
“The word of God is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it. But notwithstanding all this, some who profess to make the word of God their study are found living in direct opposition to its plainest teachings. Then, to leave men and women without excuse, God gives plain and pointed testimonies, bringing them back to the word that they have neglected to follow” (Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 454, 455).
“Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given. . . . The Testimonies are not to belittle the word of God, but to exalt it and attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of truth may impress all” (Ibid., pp. 605, 606).
What is the purpose of the testimony of Jesus (the spirit of prophecy)?
“Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21).
The commandments of God are under attack in these last days. Therefore, the law of God needs to be once again magnified. “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples” (Isaiah 8:16).
While the law of God is being promulgated, what false manifestation will also show itself?
“They shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” (verse 19).
There is in the heart of humans a desire to receive instruction from the unseen world, while the Lord’s willingness to impart light and guidance is ignored. Therefore, while the people are being directed to turn to the occult, we are invited to seek the Lord our God. This is implied in Isaiah 8:16.
What are then the rules laid out in the Scriptures regarding true prophets?
(We will cover only five of these in this first article.)
1) All communication from God must be in harmony with His word and His law. “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Corinthians 14:32).
2) The idea of the indwelling Saviour through the Holy Spirit must pervade the prophet’s words and writings.
Can we blindly just believe everyone who uses the name of Jesus? “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:1–3).
There is a difference between professing Christ and having Christ in our life: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). It is insufficient for salvation to believe that Jesus existed. We need to experience the life described by the apostle: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
3) Not catering to the world or prophesying smooth, easy things.
To what do false prophets cater? “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them” (1 John 4:5). This verse comes after showing what true prophets must believe in (rule #2). It reveals that the teaching of false prophets will pander to the carnal heart, instead of exalting the self-denying and cross-bearing way. “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us” (Isaiah 30:10, 11).
4) A life of suffering and self-denial for Christ and reproof of sin.
How do true prophets have to do their work? “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience” (James 5:10). Why did they have to have so much patience and suffer affliction? “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16). How do the false prophets try to make the people feel comfortable? “They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you” (verse 17).
True prophets reveal faithfulness in reproving sin, even when surrounded by a vastly superior number of false prophets as in the case of Elijah. “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1 Kings 18:17, 18).
5) Living out the virtues of a genuine Christian life.
What do we have to carefully evaluate in the life of an individual? Jesus says: “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).
The Lord has put different ministeries in the church: “some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–13). A true prophet among God’s people will promote unity based on the truth until the character of Jesus is reflected in every aspect of their life.
It definitely benefits us to take heed to the words of true prophets! “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).