GOD’S COMMUNICATIONS TO HIS CHURCH

Purpose of Study

To reveal the importance of the Spirit of Prophecy and acknowledge it as the voice of the Shepherd - the Testimony of Jesus - the source of truth and the Meat in Due Season.

Introduction

Isa. 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.”

Prayer Thought: 4T 13.1

Thus are revealed the snares and devices of Satan, the importance of perfecting Christian character, and the means by which this result may be obtained. Thus God indicates what is necessary to secure His blessing. There is a disposition on the part of many to let rebellious feelings arise if their peculiar sins are reproved. The spirit of this generation is: "Speak unto us smooth things." But the spirit of prophecy speaks only the truth. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many who profess to follow Christ waxes cold. They are blind to the wickedness of their own hearts and do not feel their weak and helpless condition. God in mercy lifts the veil and shows them that there is an eye behind the scenes that discerns their hidden guilt and the motives of their actions. {4T 13.1}

“Again: we are forewarned that there would be false prophets in the last days, and the bible gives a test by which to try their teachings in order that we may distinguish between the true and the false. The grand test is the law of god, which is applied both to the prophesyings and to the moral character of the prophets. If there were to be no true prophesyings in the last days, how much easier to have stated the fact, and thus cut off all chance for deception, than to give a test by which to try them, as if there would be the genuine as well as the false. {Ew 138.1} in isaiah 8:19, 20, is a prophecy of the familiar spirits of the present time, and the law is given as a test: "to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Why say, "if they speak not," if there was to be no true spiritual manifestation or prophesying at the same time?.......( EW 138)

“False prophets are to be known by their fruits; in other words, by their moral character. The only standard by which to determine whether their fruits are good or bad, is the law of god. Thus we are brought to the law and to the testimony. True prophets will not only speak according to this word, but they will live according to it. One who speaks and lives thus, i dare not condemn…. It has always been a characteristic of false prophets that they see visions of peace; and they will be saying, "peace and safety," when sudden destruction comes upon them. The true will boldly reprove sin and warn of coming wrath. Prophesyings which contradict the plain and positive declarations of the word, are to be rejected.”

1. A CHURCH WITH THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IN IT

Rev. 10:10 – 11

“And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

The little book is the Book of Daniel, with the 2300 year “sweet” promise of the Sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of those 2300 years - 1844. But became a “bitter” Disappointment when Jesus did not come in 1844. Rev. 10:11 shows the re-commissioning the same group (now few) to “prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” This group of Millerites became the Seventh-day Adventist Church, having the gift of prophecy (Spirit of Prophecy –the writings of E. G. White) among them.

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

a. The Universal Dairy

Isa. 7:21-22

“And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk [that] they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.”

b. The Golden Bowl

Zech. 4:1-6, 11-14

“And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [are] upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [side] thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What [are] these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

ISAIAH 7:21-22

a. THE 2 SHEEP - THE TWO TESTAMENT BIBLE

b. YOUNG COW - THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY (SOP and SROD)

ZECH. 4:1-14

a. THE 2 OLIVE TREES - THE TWO TESTAMENT BIBLE

b. THE GOLDEN BOWL - THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY (SOP and SROD)

NOTE: All the Bible Messages from Heaven since 1844, are Prophetic: the 3 Angels’ Messages, the 4^th Angel’s Message (Sabbath and Sanctuary Truth – Judgment of the Dead and of the Living). Thus these messages written by the Old Testament Prophets were stored for us who are living in the time of the end (see Dan. 12:4/ Amos 3:7/ Isa. 42: 9/ 2Pet. 1:20-21). This is the Butter and Honey which all SDAs must feed on to mature and be harvested in the Heavenly Barn.

Questions:

1.Is the Spirit of Prophecy separate from the Bible?

2.How about those who doubt the SOP?

3.Is the SOP important for our salvation?

1 Thess. 5:18-20 – “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings.”

Rev. 12:17 “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.”

Rev. 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

3SM 30 – “In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit.”

2T. 605 “The Lord designs to warn you, to reprove, to counsel, through the testimonies given, and to impress your minds with the importance of the truth of His word. The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed. Man's duty to God and to his fellow man has been distinctly specified in God's word; yet but few of you are obedient to the light given. Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given and in His own chosen way brought them before the people to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse.”

1SM 30 “The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy. These are not to be twisted and turned to mean what man may want them to mean, to carry out man's ideas and sentiments, to carry forward man's schemes at all hazards.”--Letter 92, 1900.

“Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.” (The Review and Herald, Jan. 20, 1903). Besides the instruction in His Word, the Lord has given special testimonies to His people, not as a new revelation, but that He may set before us the plain lessons of His Word, that errors may be corrected, that the right way may be pointed out, that every soul may be without excuse.-- Letter 63, 1893.”

5T 680 “it is not alone those who openly reject the testimonies, or who cherish doubt concerning them, that are on dangerous ground. To disregard light is to reject it.”

WHEN AND HOW THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY CAME – WHEN WILL IT EXPIRE ?

Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, p.7-16

“Once, man walked with God in Eden. With open face he beheld the glory of the Lord, and talked with God, and Christ, and angels, in Paradise, without a dimming vail between. Man fell from his moral rectitude and innocency, and was driven from the Garden, from the tree of life, and from the visible presence of the Lord and his holy angels….

1SP cont…

“…When all was lost in Adam, and the shades of night darkened the moral heavens, there soon appeared the star of hope in Christ, and with it there was established a means of communication between God and man. In his fallen state, man could not converse face to face with God, and with Christ, and with angels, as when in his Eden purity…. The manifestation of the Spirit of Prophecy was designed for all dispensations…

1SP cont…

“…when Christ shall come again with all the holy angels, and receive His people unto Himself, that where He shall be, there they may be also, John 14:3; and when man redeemed shall walk and talk with God, and Christ, and Angels, in Eden restored; then there will be no further need of the Spirit of Prophecy…. When the redeemer shall come, the controversy be ended, the saints' rest given, and they, all immortal, meet around the Throne with angels, and face to face behold the glory of God and the Lamb, the Spirit of Prophecy will be numbered among heaven's choicest blessings of the past.”

CONCLUSION

1. When man fell, and could not talk to God face to face, the Lord Jesus put in place a system of communication called the “Spirit of Prophecy.”

2. In this system God, in each age, selects Prophets and inspires them to write the Scriptures, then Messengers inspired to interpret the Scriptures to the Church. By this way, the Church is corrected, preserved, enlightened, and used to represent and reveal God to the world. END OF LESSON. AMEN.