Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Spiritual Gifts in Last Days

This Scriptural passage teaches the perpetuity of these gifts, and we need not be surprised to find Scriptural evidence that such gifts will be seen in the last days. That this is so, we observe in 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7. Here the apostle writes to the church, “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.” EGWC 545.2

Though the apostle is writing to the church at large, his words apply particularly to the church that is waiting for the Advent of the Saviour. In them the testimony of Christ is to be confirmed, and the fact that this gift is to be in their midst is evidence to the great apostle that the church “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” was to have all the gifts. This is seen in the expression, “that ye come behind in no gift.” Furthermore John’s declaration concerning the remnant church in Revelation 12:17 specifically mentions that they “have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Allowing that the interpretation given to this expression by the same apostle is “the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10), it seems that the divine outline foreshadows the revival not only of the spiritual gifts in the church but in a particular sense of the gift of prophecy. EGWC 545.3

“Jesus promised His disciples, ‘The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ ‘When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: ... and He will shew you things to come.’ John 14:26; 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, Introduction, viii. EGWC 545.4