The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

God’s Purpose and Method

Concerning their work, the purpose and the method of God are revealed in these instructive words: AGP 218.3

“God permitted great light to shine upon the minds of these chosen men, revealing to them many of the errors of Rome; but they did not receive all the light that was to be given to the world. Through these, His servants, God was leading the people out of the darkness of Romanism; but there were many and great obstacles for them to meet, and He led them on, step by step, as they could bear it. They were not prepared to receive all the light at once. Like the full glory of the noontide sun to those who have long dwelt in darkness, it would, if presented, have caused them to turn away. Therefore He revealed it to the leaders, little by little, as it could be received by the people.” Id., p. 103.

That this is God’s method of dealing with His chosen leaders in other generations is made clear in the next sentence: AGP 219.1

“From century to century, other faithful workers were to follow, to lead the people on still farther in the path of reform.” Idem.

It is easy to infer from these illuminating statements that we may not be too exacting of reformers in expecting or requiring that they should have and impart all the light as we have it now in the full blaze of gospel glory. God has many times used men to meet the exigencies of the period in which they lived, who may not have had a full knowledge of the truth as we know it today. AGP 219.2