The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

Rule Seven—Their Fruits

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” ²⁴ GSAM 308.3

These words of our Saviour recognize the fact that the gift of prophecy would exist in the gospel age. If no true prophets were to be connected with the work, and every prophetic manifestation was to be from an evil source, would he not have said, “Beware of prophets”? The fact that he tells us so definitely how each kind may be known is the best of evidence that in the work of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, in showing “things to come” (John 16:13), would be the true gift of prophecy. This rule, which in our enumeration we have called rule seven, is an infallible one. Christ did not say ye may know them by their fruits, but, positively, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” GSAM 309.1

We inquire, What is the fruit to be seen in the work of genuine gifts of the Spirit of God? The answer is found in the statement of Paul respecting the purpose of the Lord in placing the gifts in the church: “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... And 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 Christ; till we all come in the unity [“into the unity,” margin] 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.” ²⁵ GSAM 309.2

Apply this rule to the prophetic gift that has been connected with the third angel’s message from its rise, and what is the result?-We find that the continual instruction given through Mrs. White has been in the line of unity and harmony, admonishing to “counsel together,” and to “press together,” to be in unison with Christ, thus insuring true fellowship and union with one another. GSAM 309.3

Some of the opponents of this work have tauntingly said, “If it was not for the visions of Mrs. White, which you have among you, your cause would have gone to pieces long ago.” It is replied, “That is true; because from that source the Lord has given counsel, caution, and light, and thus dissensions have been removed, and the work has prospered.” So what they designed as a thrust against the gift is in reality testimony that its fruit is that of the true gift of prophecy. GSAM 310.1

For sixty years and more have the manifestations of the gift of prophecy through Mrs. White been tested by these seven rules, and in every particular they have met the specifications required of a true prophecy. GSAM 310.2