Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Prophetic Gift Still With Us

We are counseled to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31), and to “desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). This is one instance where coveting is allowable, and with earnest longing of soul we are to seek God for the bestowal of His gifts upon the church. EGWC 545.5

In order to obtain spiritual gifts it is important that we enjoy the “fellowship of the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1), the “unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3), and have the “fruit of the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:9). Upon those who possess these graces our heavenly Father takes delight in bestowing, as it pleases Him, the gifts of the Spirit. Thus we may be fully equipped, fully qualified, for the service of God. EGWC 546.1

“Before He left His disciples, Christ ‘breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.’ Again He said, ‘Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you.’ But not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fulness. Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working, was the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ. ‘When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.’ ‘Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,’ the Spirit ‘dividing to every man severally as He will.’ The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, 327. EGWC 546.2

Some, looking at the Christian church at large and failing to see the prophetic gift in the ranks of God’s people, argue that, because this gift, together with others, ceased shortly after apostolic days, this is ample evidence to show that God never intended these gifts to continue beyond the early days of Christianity. Such should remember, however, that not long after the apostles passed from the stage of action, a great apostasy set in, and men departed from the truth of God. When worldliness and indifference came into the church, the Spirit of God in a large measure left the church, and many of these gifts were withdrawn. EGWC 546.3

In the last days, however, with a revival of godliness, when men return to the “old paths” and keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, the gifts, and among them the prophetic gift, were to be restored. The keeping of the commandments of God and the manifestation of the gift of prophecy have usually been closely associated through the centuries. This can be seen from such Old Testament scriptures as: “Where there is no vision the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18. EGWC 546.4

“Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the Lord.” Lamentations 2:9. EGWC 546.5

Let us then seek the Lord for power in our lives. Let us seek Him more earnestly for the willingness and the disposition to surrender our wills to His divine control. Thus we shall make it possible for Christ the Lord to take possession of our hearts and to dwell within us “to will and to do of his good pleasure.” EGWC 547.1