The Prophetic Gift in the Gospel Church

LAW AND PROPHET’S MESSAGE

In the following words of Isaiah is shown to the prophet what is to be expected in the last days: “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever [“the latter day,” margin, Heb.]: that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Isaiah 30:8-11. By reference to 1 Samuel 9:9, we learn that a seer and a prophet mean one and the same, for there we read that “he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer”—one who had visions from God and prophesied. The force, then, of the above scripture is that the gift of prophecy will be connected with the proclamation of God’s law in the last days. This the masses will reject, because they do not like reproof, preferring a smooth path. PGGC 26.2