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The Testimony of Jesus

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Chapter 9—Of Human or Divine Origin?

The work being carried forward by Seventh-day Adventists is a movement of prophecy. We believe that in the order and purpose of God it fulfills the specifications of divine prediction. It is proclaiming to the nations of men the gospel of the kingdom, the glad news of the return of Christ to this earth to bring to a grand consummation the plan of salvation, to destroy sin from His universe, and to receive His people unto Himself. TOJ 58.1

As we have stated in preceding chapters, this last-day gospel movement was to have associated with it the gift of the Spirit of prophecy. As a church “waiting for the coming of the Lord,” it should have the “testimony of Christ” confirmed in it, and should “come behind in no gift.” 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7. The Divine Record reads that in the closing conflict the dragon would make war against the remnant of the church because that church keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus, and this testimony of Jesus, by the same authority, is declared to be the Spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 12:17; 19:10.) TOJ 58.2

Are the claims of Mrs. E. G. White to her call as the Lord’s messenger to be accredited as the fulfillment of this prediction? They must be accepted in this manner or be rejected altogether. Either Mrs. White was, as she claimed, a messenger of the Lord, and as the Lord’s messenger received divine revelations in visions and dreams, or she stands convicted as a base impostor. Her work must either be accepted for what it purports to be, or be rejected altogether. No halfway position can be taken. The inspiration of her ministry is either from above or from beneath. It bears the credentials of heaven or the stamp of Satan. Regarding this, she herself said: TOJ 58.3

“‘God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs, and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work ... bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.’ TOJ 59.1

“As the Lord has manifested Himself through the Spirit of prophecy, ‘past, present, and future have passed before me. I have been shown faces that I have never seen, and years afterward I knew them when I saw them. I have been aroused from my sleep with a vivid sense of subjects previously presented to my mind; and I have written, at midnight, letters that have gone across the continent, and, arriving at a crisis, have saved great disaster to the cause of God. This has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work of the last thirty-six years from above, or from beneath?’ TOJ 59.2

“Christ warned His disciples: ‘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.’ Here is a test, and all can apply it if they will. Those who really desire to know the truth will find sufficient evidence for belief.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:671, 672. TOJ 59.3

Some are inclined to minimize the importance of these messages, and by specious reasoning and hypercritical distinctions to confuse minds as to their character and value. They would have it appear that some of the messages coming from the messenger of the Lord were inspired and others were not; that the question as to what is inspired and what is not inspired is one which each individual may determine for himself. TOJ 59.4