The Prophetic Gift in the Gospel Church

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

In the New Testament, where Paul is speaking of the people waiting for Christ’s second coming, he says: “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8. Thus all the gifts are to be manifest among that people who stand at last prepared to meet Christ in peace at His coming. PGGC 27.1

From this it also appears that one gift is singled out, the confirmation of which prepares the way for all the gifts to be developed in the church. That one gift he calls the testimony of Jesus. To ascertain the meaning of this scripture, we will compare it with others. In Revelation, chapter 12, after the persecution of the Dark Ages, we find the apostle speaking thus of the last of the church in her probationary state: “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.” Verse 17. The remnant of the church is the last of the church in its probation here. This is seen in Joel’s prophecy of the Lord’s people just before the great and terrible day of the Lord. In the preparation for that day He says salvation shall be “in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Joel 2:32. This remnant will have war made on them for keeping all of God’s commandments, and for having manifested among them the testimony of Jesus. PGGC 27.2

By looking in Revelation, chapter 19, we get a Scripture definition of the “testimony of Jesus.” This is John’s account, given while in vision on the isle of Patmos. He mistook the beautiful angel that was before him, for an object for him to worship, and said: “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.” Verse 10. We now have an inspired definition that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. PGGC 28.1

When we have the right definition of a word or phrase,, it is proper to substitute the definition in the sentence. Substituting thus in 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7, the text would read, “The spirit of prophecy was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And in Revelation 12:17 it would read that the dragon went to make war with the remnant who “keep the commandments of God, and have the spirit of prophecy.” We see, then, that the remnant church, the members of which will be keeping all of God’s commandments, are to have the gift of prophecy among them, and that that gift is to lead out in preparing the way so that all the gifts will at last be manifested among the people who are waiting for Christ’s coming. Thus, as the Lord’s people return to obedience, to the keeping of all His commandments, the gift of prophecy is restored to His people. PGGC 28.2