The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

Paul’s Testimony on the Gifts

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians shows that the day of the Lord—the final day of executive judgment—will come upon the masses “as a thief in the night;” but that it will not thus overtake the Lord’s faithful children because they are “children of light, and the children of the day.” Among his admonitions to that watching people he says, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” ⁸ GSAM 201.2

Of the Greek word propheteias, here rendered prophesyings, Greenfield, in his Greek Lexicon, says, “The exercise of the gift of prophecy, in this sense, 1 Thessalonians 5:20.” With this also agree the lexicons of Parkhurst, Robinson, and Liddell and Scott. This, then, is a plain testimony that the true gift of prophecy will be with the church waiting for Christ’s second coming. The admonition is not to despise the gift, but to prove it; finding the good manifestation, to “hold fast” to it. ⁹ GSAM 201.3