Believe His Prophets

Prophets in the Remnant Church

One writer has stated, “The Church which He [Christ] founded was a Church in which prophecy was to be a continuous possession.”—G. C. Joyce, The Inspiration of Prophecy, p. 139. BHP 39.3

Ellen G. White says: BHP 39.4

“‘When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: … and He will show you things to come.’ … John 16:13. Scripture plainly teaches that these promises, so far from being limited to apostolic days, extend to the church of Christ in all ages.”—The Great Controversy, 10 (C.H.L.). BHP 39.5

This is equally true of the church of God in the time of the end and in the end of time. The Bible refers to God’s chosen people of the last days as “the remnant.” BHP 39.6

The following Bible specifications help us to identify the remnant church: BHP 40.1

They will be gathered (Isaiah 11:11); be distinguished from others (Micah 5:7, 8); keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17); shall not do iniquity or speak lies (Zephaniah 3:13); and shall be saved in God’s kingdom (Romans 9:27; Daniel 7:18). BHP 40.2

A study of church history shows that through the centuries there have always been groups of Christian people who have claimed the prophetic gift among them. BHP 40.3

To the church waiting for the coming of the Lord, Paul wrote a message: BHP 40.4

“That in every thing 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 1:5-8). BHP 40.5

Mrs. White adds: BHP 40.6

“In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the Testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:147, 148. BHP 40.7

Seventh-day Adventists believe they are the remnant church because they comply with all the Scripture specifications for it. Among them is the gift of prophecy, or “the testimony of Jesus,” which is “the spirit of prophecy.” It is not for Christians to deny or reject or despise, but rather to test and try the gift as claimed by Ellen G. White, who for seventy years spoke in the name of the Lord, and who claimed to have visions and revelations in which God revealed His “intentions” for individuals and for the church as a whole. Because of the very nature of the divine guidance given through Ellen G. White, Seventh-day Adventists esteem most highly the counsel, the admonitions, the warnings, the reproofs, the encouragement, and the comfort contained in her messages. BHP 41.1

Now that a little more than a century has passed since the earliest manifestation of the gift of prophecy among us, Seventh-day Adventists should pause to evaluate the gift of God in the remnant church and apply the Bible tests. How does the work of Ellen G. White stand the test of time? Has the church prospered as the result of heeding her counsel and of molding its policies in harmony with her “testimonies”? These questions are reasonable and logical and deserve a candid and unbiased answer, not so much to prove that God has chosen and used men and women as His prophetic messengers, but rather to show that Ellen G. White was one of those so chosen by God. BHP 41.2