Transcript Biblical Tests of a Prophet

Understanding
the Spirit of
Prophecy
Matthew 24:24 For
there shall arise false
Christ’s, and false
prophets, and shall
shew great signs and
wonders; in so much
that, if it were
possible, they shall
deceive the very
elect.
To the law and
to the
testimony! If
they speak not
according to
this word, it is
because there
is no light in
them
(Isaiah 8:20).
1John 4:8: He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love.
Matthew 22: 36-40
Master, which is the great
commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and
great commandment. And
the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. On
these two commandments
hang all the law and the
prophets.
Ye have heard that it
was said by them of
old time, Thou shalt
not commit adultery:
But I say unto you,
That whosoever
looketh on a woman to
lust after her hath
committed adultery
with her already in his
heart. (Matthew 5:2728)
Ye have heard that it was
said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not kill; and
whosoever shall kill shall be
in danger of the judgment:
But I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his
brother without a cause
shall be in danger of the
judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother,
Raca, shall be in danger of
the council: but whosoever
shall say, Thou fool, shall
be in danger of hell fire.
(Matthew 5:21-22)
“"Brother J would confuse the mind by seeking to make it appear
that the light God has given through the Testimonies is an addition
to the word of God, but in this he presents the matter in a false
light. God has seen fit in this manner to bring the minds of His
people to His word, to give them a clearer understanding of it."
[VOL. 4, P. 246 (1876).] The word of God is sufficient to enlighten
the most beclouded mind and may be understood by those who
have any desire to understand it. But notwithstanding all this,
some who profess to make the word of God their study are found
living in direct opposition to its plainest teachings. Then, to leave
men and women without excuse, God gives plain and pointed
testimonies, bringing them back to the word that they have
neglected to follow."
Theatre
• Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the
theater. Instead of being a school for morality and virtue,
as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality.
Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened
and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs,
lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes deprave the
imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who
habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in
principle. There is no influence in our land more powerful
to poison the imagination, to destroy religious
impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil
pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical
amusements.
Competitive Sports
• Some of the most popular
amusements, such as
football and boxing, have
become schools of
brutality. They are
developing the same
characteristics as did the
games of ancient Rome.
The love of domination,
the pride in mere brute
force, the reckless
disregard of life, are
exerting upon the youth a
power to demoralize that
is appalling. {Ed 210.3}
Competitive Sports
•
Other athletic games,
though not so brutalizing,
are scarcely less
objectionable because of
the excess to which they
are carried. They
stimulate the love of
pleasure and excitement,
thus fostering a distaste
for useful labor, a
disposition to shun
practical duties and
responsibilities.
Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are [these];
Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and
such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told [you]
in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God. {Galatians
5:19-21}
Jewellery or Make Up
There are many whose hearts have been so hardened
by prosperity that they forget God, and forget the
wants of their fellow man. Professed Christians adorn
themselves with jewellery, laces, costly apparel, while
the Lord's poor suffer for the necessaries of life. Men
and women who claim redemption through a
Saviour's blood will squander the means intrusted to
them for the saving of other souls, and then
grudgingly dole out their offerings for religion, giving
liberally only when it will bring honor to themselves.
These are idolaters
(ST Jan. 26, 1882). {2BC 1012.1}
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;
not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly
array;(1 Timothy 2:9)
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of
putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of
the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:3-4)
Love not the world, neither the things [that
are] in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
the world. (1 John 2:15-16)
2. Prophesies to edify the
Church, counselling and
advising in religious matters:
But he that prophesieth
speaketh unto men to
edification and exhortation,
and comfort...but he that
prophesieth edifieth the
church (1 Corinthians 14:3-4).
3. True Prophet will Bare Fruit
Ellen White was not only a messenger, but worked as a
missionary. She helped establish missions in several
places in the world and encouraged everyone to take
part in the great work of spreading the Gospel:
Today the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the single most
widespread Protestant denomination in the world. It sponsors over
5000 schools and 350 academies and colleges, and has
established a worldwide health ministry that supplies healthy
foods to millions of people and sponsors over 200 hospitals in
cities and areas that are often inaccessible. In addition, the
Church runs a worldwide relief organisation—ADRA—which has
played a major role in bringing relief to areas stricken by natural
disasters and wars.
Statements after her Death
•
“She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre. She
lived the life and did the work of a worthy prophetess, the most
admirable of the American succession”.{ New York Independent
(August 23, 1915)}
•
“The life of Mrs. White is an example worthy of emulation by all... She
was a humble, devout disciple of Christ and ever went about doing
good... She was honoured and respected by all who appreciate noble
womanhood, consecrated to unselfish labour for the uplifting and
betterment of mankind. Her death marks the calling of another noted
leader of the religious thought and one whose almost 90 years were
full to overflowing with good deeds, kind words, and earnest prayers
for all mankind.ii” {Star (St. Helena, CA: July 23, 1915). }
•
In spite of the fact that the works of Mrs. White were written long
before the advent of modern scientific nutrition, no better overall
guide is available today.iii {Clive M. McCay, "A Nutrition Authority
Discusses Mrs. E.G. White," Review and Herald (Feb 26, 1959): 10. }
4. The true prophet, when in
vision, will exhibit physical
signs.
Physical Signs
1. The prophet falls down weak (Daniel
10:8)
2. The prophet is strengthened by God
and raised up (Daniel 10:9)
3. The prophet’s eyes are wide open
during the vision (Numbers 24:4)
4. The prophet does not breathe during
the vision (Daniel 10:17)
Ellen White in Vision
J.N. Loughborough
In passing into vision, she gives three enrapturing
shouts of “Glory!” which echo and re-echo, the
second, and especially the third, fainter but more
thrilling than the first, the voice resembling that of
one quite a distance from you, and just going out
of hearing. For about four or five seconds she
seems to drop down like a person in a swoon,
or one having lost his strength; she then
seems to be instantly filled with superhuman
strength…
sometimes rising at once to her feet and
walking about the room. There are frequent
movements of the hands and arms, pointing
to the right or left as her head turns. All
these movements are made in a most
graceful manner. In whatever position the
hand or arm may be placed, it is impossible
for anyone to move it. Her eyes are always
open, but she does not wink…
her head is raised, and she is looking
upward, not with a vacant stare, but with a
pleasant expression, only differing from the
normal in that she appears to be looking
intently at some distant object. She does
not breathe, yet her pulse beats
regularly. Her countenance is pleasant, and
the colour of her face is florid as in her
natural state
J.N. Loughborough
I was present at that meeting and witnessed the
examination. I agree with what is stated by Brother and
Sister Lamson, and would say further that it was Doctor
Fleming and another younger physician who made the
examination. After Mrs. White rose to her feet, as they have
stated, quoting the texts of Scripture, Doctor Fleming called
for a lighted candle...He held this candle as near her lips as
possible without burning, and in direct line with her breath
in case she breathed. There was not the slightest flicker of
the blaze. The doctor then said, with emphasis, "That
settles it forever, there is no breath in her body."iv
David Seeley, corroborating the testimony of other eyewitnesses writes
as follows:
5. Did Predictions Come True?
“The use of tobacco and strong drinks has a great
deal to do with the increase of disease and crime.
Tobacco is a slow, insidious, but most malignant
poison, and its use is working untold harm...Boys
begin the use of tobacco at a very early age. The
habit thus formed, when body and mind are
especially susceptible to its effects, undermines
the physical strength and corrupts the morals
(Manuscripts Releases, “115).
We see that cattle are becoming greatly
diseased, the earth itself is corrupted, and
we know that the time will come when it will
not be best to use milk and eggs. But that
time has not yet come. We know that when
it does come, the Lord will provide. The
question is asked, meaning much to all
concerned, Will God set a table in the
wilderness? I think the answer may be
made, Yea, God will provide food for His
people (Counsel for Diet and Foods, 359).
Soon butter will never be recommended, and after a
time, milk will be entirely discarded, for disease in
animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of
wickedness among men. The time will come when there
will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream or butter
(Manuscript Releases Volume 8, Letter 14, 1901, 3}
Sunday Law
• The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe,
persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday.
The lack of divine authority will be supplied by
oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying
love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free
America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public
favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing
Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which has
cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In
the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the
prophet's words: "The dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have
the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17.—Great
Controversy, p. 592
Rome Regain its Lost Supremacy
• God's word has given warning of the impending danger;
let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn
what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too
late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into
power. . . . Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is
strengthening her forces to further her own ends when
the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires
is vantage ground, and this is already being given her.
We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the
Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the
word of God will thereby incur reproach and
persecution.—Ibid., p. 581.
Rome Regain its Lost Supremacy
• The Roman Church is far-reaching in her
plans and modes of operation. She is
employing every device to extend her
influence and increase her power in
preparation for a fierce and determined
conflict to regain control of the world,
to re-establish persecution, and to undo all
that Protestantism has done.—Great
Controversy, pp. 565, 566, bold added.