The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

Chapter 19 — “By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them”

“HE gave 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 fullness of Christ.” ¹ GSAM 299.1

When the Saviour placed the gifts of his Spirit in the church, to accomplish, “as it pleased him,” the work of the Lord until the perfect day should come, he did not leave his people to guess whether a manifestation was from heaven, or from evil spirits, but he gives rules by which we might know whether the spirit was of God or not. Even in these last days, when, as predicted by the prophet Joel, the Lord was to pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, and both sons and daughters should prophesy, ² Paul says the people should not despise prophesyings, but should “prove all things,” and hold fast that which is good.” ³ GSAM 299.2

How else can such manifestations be tested but by comparing them with the Scripture rules for discerning the work of God’s Spirit? Everything that is above the comprehension of finite minds is not necessarily from God, for the Bible declares that in the last days Satan will work miracles, to deceive the world, that he may gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. ⁴ It is then by a careful comparison of the manifestation with the Bible rules that a true spiritual gift may be known. The same care is requisite in this, that men of the world use in detecting counterfeit money. GSAM 299.3