mos? It is evident from the text, that the caution
against adding to or taking from, refers not to the Bible as
we have the volume compiled, but to the separate book of
Revelation, as it came from the hand of the apostle. Yet no man
has a right to add to or subtract from any other book written by
inspiration of God. Did John, in writing the book of Revelation,
add anything to the book of Daniel’s prophecy? Not at all. A
prophet has no right to alter the Word of God. But the visions
of John corroborate those of Daniel, and give much additional
light upon the subjects there introduced. I conclude then that
the Lord has not bound Himself to keep silence, but is still at
liberty to speak. Ever be it the language of my heart, speak,
Lord, through whom Thou wilt; Thy servant heareth.
Thus the attempt to prove from scripture the abolition of
spiritual gifts, proves a total failure. And since the gates of
Hades have not prevailed against the church, but God still has
a people on earth, we may look for the development of the
gifts, in connection with the third angel’s message—a message
which will bring back the church to apostolic ground, and make
them indeed the light—not darkness—of the world.
Again, we are forewarned that there would be false
prophets in the last days, and the Bible gives a test by which
to try their teachings, in order that we may distinguish between
the true and the false. The grand test is the law of God, which
is applied both to the prophesyings and to the moral character
of the prophets. If there were to be no true prophesyings in the
last days, how much easier to have stated the fact, and thus cut
off all chance for deception, than to give a test by which to try
them, as though there would be the genuine as well as the false.
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In Isaiah 8:19, 20, is a prophecy of the familiar spirits of the
present time, and the law is given as a test. To the law and to
the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them. Why say, “if they speak not,”
if there was to be no true spiritual manifestation or prophesying
at the same time? Jesus says, beware of false prophets,...ye
shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15. This is a part of
“The Sermon on The Mount,” and all can see that this discourse
has a general application to the church throughout the Gospel
age. False prophets are to be known by their fruits; in other
words, by their moral character. the only standard by which
to determine whether their fruits are good or bad, is the law of
god. Hence we are brought to the law and to the testimony.
True prophets will not only speak according to this word, but
they must live according to it. One who speaks and lives thus I
dare not condemn.
It always has been a characteristic of false prophets that
they see visions of peace; and they will be saying peace and
safety when sudden destruction comes upon them. The true
will boldly reprove sin and warn of coming wrath.
Prophesyings which contradict the plain and positive
declarations of the word are to be rejected. An example is given
in the manner of Christ’s second coming. When Jesus ascended
to heaven in the sight of his disciples, it was declared most
explicitly by the angels, that this same Jesus should so come in
like manner as they had seen him go into heaven. Hence Jesus
in predicting the false prophets of the last days, says, if they
shall say unto you, behold, he is in the desert; go not forth:
behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. All true
prophesying on that point must recognize his visible
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coming from heaven. Why did not Jesus say, reject all
prophesying at that time, for there will be no true prophets
then?
Ephesians 4:11-13. “And He gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ.”
We learn from a previous verse that when Christ ascended
up on high, he gave gifts unto men. Of these gifts
are enumerated apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and
teachers. The object for which they were given was the
perfecting of the saints in unity and knowledge. Some, who
profess to be pastors and teachers, at the present day, hold
that these gifts fully accomplished their object some eighteen
hundred years ago, and consequently ceased. Why not then
throw aside their titles of pastors and teachers? If the office of
prophet is limited by this text to the primitive church, so is that
of evangelist and all the rest; for there is no distinction made.
Now let us reason a moment upon this point. All these gifts
were given for the perfecting of the saints in unity, knowledge
and spirit. Under their influence the primitive church enjoyed
for a time that unity. “The multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul.” And it seems a natural
consequence of this state of unity, that “with great power gave
the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and
great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:31-33. How desirable
such a state of things now! But apostasy with its dividing and
blighting influence marred the beauty of the fair church, and
clothed
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her in sackcloth. Division and disorder have been the result.
Never was there so great a diversity of faith in Christendom as
at the present day. If the gifts were necessary for the unity of the
primitive church, how much more so to restore unity now! And
that it is the purpose of God to restore the unity of the church
in the last days, is abundantly evident from the prophecies. We
are assured that the watchmen shall see eye to eye, when the
Lord shall bring again Zion. Also, that in the time of the end
the wise shall understand. When this is fulfilled, there will be
unity of faith with all that God accounts wise; for those that
do in reality understand aright, must, necessarily, understand
alike. What is to effect this unity, but the gifts that were given
for this very purpose?
From considerations like these, it is evident that the
perfect state of the church here predicted is still in the future;
consequently these gifts have not yet accomplished their end.
This letter to the Ephesians was written in A.D. 64, about
two years before Paul told Timothy that he was ready to be
offered, and the time of his departure was at hand. The
seeds of the apostasy were now germinating in the church,
for Paul had said ten years before, in his second letter to the
Thessalonians, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.”
Grievous wolves were now about to enter in, not sparing the
flock. The church was not then rising and advancing to that
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perfection in unity contemplated in the text, but was about to
be torn by factions, and distracted by divisions. The apostle
knew this; consequently he must have looked beyond the great
apostasy, to the period of the gathering of the remnant of God’s
people, when he said, “till we all come into the unity of the
faith.”
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