Heavenly Visions

RELATION OF THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY TO THE BIBLE W. E. READ

THAT there is an intimate relationship between the Spirit of prophecy and the Bible is seen in the fact that so much of the Holy Scriptures came through the medium of this wonderful gift. One has only to remember such expressions as “the word of the Lord came unto me” (Jeremiah 1:4); “the Lord spake also unto me,. . saying” (Isaiah 8:5); “thus saith the Lord to me” (Jeremiah 27:2), to be impressed with this fact. The prophets of old were given visions and dreams, and on these occasions messages came to them from the Most High. Hence we might think of the Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testament, as coming to us, to a large extent, at least, by means of the Spirit of prophecy. HEVI 119.1

In meditating on this question, however, several important facts come to mind: HEVI 119.2

1. The gift of the Spirit of prophecy in the early church. We read in Ephesians 4 of the gifts which the Lord gave to His children in the early days of the Christian Era, that, besides apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, there were also prophets. In the list as given in 1 Corinthians 12, we read that God set in the church “first apostles, secondarily prophets.” Then, in the book of Acts, we read of Agabus, the prophet. Acts 11:27, 28; 21:10. We read of prophets also in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1); of Judas and Silas “being prophets also themselves” (Acts 15:32); and also of the daughters of Philip the evangelist, on whom the gift of the Spirit of prophecy was bestowed. Acts 21:9. HEVI 119.3

2. The gift of the Spirit of prophecy with other gifts was to remain to the end. This is evident from Ephesians 4. The gifts were placed in the church for a particular purpose, and they were to remain “till we all come in the unity of the faith;” till we come “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This certainly means the close of probation when the work of God is done in human hearts. Until that time the gift of prophecy is to remain in the church of God. HEVI 119.4

3. The gift of prophecy is to be seen in the remnant church. When outlining the characteristics of the people of God in the last days, the apostle of old, while telling that they would keep the commandments of God, also mentions that they “have the testimony of Jesus.” Revelation 12:17. The same prophetic writer, in referring to the “testimony of Jesus” in Revelation 19:10, tells us that this testimony is “the Spirit of prophecy.” HEVI 119.5

Again, when the angel speaks to John in vision, he says, “I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 19:10); but in Revelation 22:9 we read, “I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the---ets.” Hence, it is but natural to conclude a prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus; and consequently we conclude that the Spirit of prophecy is to be seen in the ranks of God’s people in the last days. HEVI 119.6

4. This gift is related in a special way to the Holy Scriptures. In the minds of some there is the feeling that the writings of the Spirit of prophecy are an addition to the Bible. HEVI 119.7

It might be helpful in this connection to recall that throughout the centuries there have been many prophets who have ministered to the people of God. The writings of some of these have been preserved and we have them in the Sacred Record. For instance, we have Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others, but do we for one moment believe that we have the complete record of all that Isaiah wrote, or all the messages that Jeremiah ever gave, or all the counsels that Ezekiel bore to the people of God? It must be evident to all that we have but a small portion of the many messages which they gave to God’s children in their day. Isaiah wrote something beyond what we have in the sixty-six books of his prophecy; this can be seen by referring to 2 Chronicles 26:22. HEVI 119.8

Another thing to note is that many prophets are mentioned in the Sacred Canon whose writings have not been preserved at all. What about “the book of Nathan the prophet,” or “the book of Gad the seer”? 1 Chronicles 29:29. What about “the prophecy of Ahijah,” or “the visions of Iddo”? 2 Chronicles 9:29. What about the “book of Shemaiah the prophet” (2 Chronicles 12:15), or “the book of Jehu”? 2 Chronicles 20:34. These were certainly prophets of the Lord. They gave messages to His people. Their names have been recorded, yet their messages never found a place in Holy Writ. Why is this? Were their messages not from God? Were their prophecies not from heaven? Were they not His servants, messengers of Jehovah to His people, giving warnings and exhortations? We all recognize, I feel sure, that they were just as truly prophets as were the others, just as divinely called to the prophetic office as were Daniel and Zephaniah and Habakkuk. HEVI 119.9

Seeing that God had prophets in ancient days, prophets who were divinely commissioned, whose words found no place in the Sacred canon, cannot God have prophets in these days? Can He not have divinely appointed messengers today with the prophetic gift, whose writings form no part of the Sacred Scriptures? HEVI 119.10

How careful we need to be in these days lest we despise the word of the Lord through His servants the prophets! The writings of the Spirit of prophecy are not given to add to the Holy Scriptures; they are given to elucidate, to amplify, and to make plain the divine word. Just as the writings of the prophets amplified, clarified, and more fully explained the writings of preceding prophets, just as the New Testament sheds light and amplifies the truth of the Old Testament, so the Spirit of prophecy today sheds light upon the whole Bible, and brings counsel and light and divine messages for this time to the children of God. It is well to note the following paragraphs from the Spirit of prophecy on this point: HEVI 119.11

“The Testimonies are not to belittle the word of God, but to exalt it, and attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of truth may impress all.” “If you had made God’s word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies.... Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given.” “The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truth of inspiration already revealed.”-Testimonies for the Church 5:665. HEVI 120.1

May we heed the counsel as given by King Jehoshaphat to the people of Israel: “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” W. E. Read The Review and Herald, August 24, 1939. HEVI 120.2