35-The Gift of Prophecy - NAS

1. God Reveals Himself Through His Prophets.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His _servants_ the _prophets_.

2. Visions and Dreams Are One of the Ways God Communicates His Will.
Numbers 12:6 He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a _prophet_ among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a _vision_. I shall speak with him in a dream.

3. The Dragon Makes War with Those Who Keep God's Commandments and Have the Testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the _commandments_ of God and hold to the _testimony_ of Jesus.

4. The Testimony of Jesus Is the Gift of Prophecy.
Revelation 19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow _servant_ of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the _spirit_ of _prophecy_."

5. The Angel of Prophecy That Appeared to John Also Appears
in the Last Days of Earth's History.
Revelation 22:6 And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true "; and the Lord, the God of the _spirits_ of the _prophets_, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

Revelation 22:9 But he said to me, "Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your _brethren_ the _prophets_ and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God."

6. One of Jesus' Gifts Is the Gift of Prophecy. This Gift Is to Remain in the Church Until the End.
Ephesians 4:8 _Therefore_ it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF _CAPTIVES_, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."

Ephesians 4:11-15 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as _evangelists_, and some as pastors and teachers, [12] for the _equipping_ of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the _knowledge_ of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. [14] As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the _trickery_ of men, by _craftiness_ in _deceitful_ _scheming_; [15] but _speaking_ the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

7. The Church Waiting for Jesus' Coming Will Have All of the Gifts.
1 Corinthians 1:4-7 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, [5] that in _everything_ you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, [6] even as the _testimony_ concerning Christ was _confirmed_ in you, [7] so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the _revelation_ of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8. The Bible Invites Us to "Test the Spirits." Each Prophetic Manifestation Must Meet the Bible Tests of a True Prophet.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, _because_ many false _prophets_ have gone out into the world.

Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in My name, _saying_, 'I am the Christ,' and will _mislead_ many.

Matthew 24:11 "Many false _prophets_ will arise and will _mislead_ many.

Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false _prophets_ will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if _possible_, even the elect.

9. A Test of a True Prophet Is That True Prophets Always Lead to Obedience According to God's Will.
Deuteronomy 13:1-4 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams _arises_ among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, [2] and the sign or the wonder comes true, _concerning_ which he spoke to you, _saying_, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' [3] you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is _testing_ you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. [4] "You shall _follow_ the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His _commandments_, listen to His voice, serve Him, and _cling_ to Him.

10. The prophesies of a True Prophet of God Always Come True, Unless Given As Conditional prophesies.
Jeremiah 28:8-9 "The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times _prophesied_ against many lands and against great kingdoms, of war and of calamity and of _pestilence_. [9] "The prophet who _prophesies_ of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."

11. If prophesies Disagree with God's Previously Revealed Will in the Law and the Testimony Then Do Not Believe Them.
Isaiah 8:19-20 When they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the _spiritists_ who whisper and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? [20] To the law and to the _testimony_! If they do not speak _according_ to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

12. True Prophets Place Emphasis on the Centrality of Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the _spirits_ to see _whether_ they are from God, because many false _prophets_ have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; [3] and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the _antichrist_, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is _already_ in the world.

13. In Vision, a True Prophet Does Not Breathe.
Daniel 10:17 "For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there _remains_ just now no _strength_ in me, nor has any breath been left in me."

14. The Fruits of True Prophet's Lives Reveal Their Divine Credentials.
Matthew 7:15-16 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not _gathered_ from thorn bushes nor figs from _thistles_, are they?

15. Believe His Prophets and You Will Prosper.
2 Chronicles 20:20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the _wilderness_ of Tekoa; and when they went out, _Jehoshaphat_ stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be _established_. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed."

16. God Places True Prophets in His Church to Guide It in Time of Crises.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. [28] And God has _appointed_ in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, _administrations_, various kinds of tongues.

17. A Prophet in the Last Days of Earth's History.
Revelation 12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the _commandments_ of God and hold to the _testimony_ of Jesus.

Seventh-Day Adventist believe that the genuine gift of prophecy was manifest in the church through the writings of Ellen G. White. Her writings do not in any way take the place of the Bible. They are a fulfillment of this text.

Next Bible Study: 36-Baptism

c:\a-\bibsty\_redo_st\updatefi\k_35_na.htm