What is the Spirit of Prophecy? The book of Revelation teaches that Gods end-time remnant church keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 12:17). In a later chapter of that book, we are told that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (19:10, emphasis mine). The apostle Paul also employs such language, using the phrases testimony of Christ, testimony of God, and testimony of our Lord (1 Cor 1:6; 2:1; 2 Tim 1:8). Similarly, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah uses the expression the law and the testimony (Isa 8:19-20) to refer to the messages given by Gods true prophets in earlier times. Thus, for Seventh-day Adventists, the reference to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17; cf. Rev 20:4) suggests that Gods end-time people will be characterized by keeping the commandments of God (all ten of them, including the seventh-day Sabbath) and by the testimony of Jesus, that is, the everlasting gospel given through Gods true prophets (including Ellen G. White). Thus, our Fundamental Beliefs #17 states in part: One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. But some argue that we should not equate the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of prophecy with the writings of Ellen White. While indeed we should not think that these terms refer only to Mrs. White and her work, the term testimony of Jesus (or spirit of prophecy) can be used legitimately for all the messages of instruction, encouragement, and correction proclaimed by Gods chosen messengers, His prophets. (See relevant verses in Rev 1:2, 9; 6:9; 12:17; 19:10; and 22:16.) Because the gift of prophecy is an identifying mark of Gods end-time remnant church (Rev 12:17) and because we believe that this gift was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White, the Seventh-day Adventist church is justified in referring to her writings as the Spirit of Prophecy or the Testimonies, even as we would to all inspired messages from God. Therefore, our Fundamental Beliefs #17 notes: As the Lords messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 10:43:32 +0000
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