Seek For The Old Paths

     Chapter 2

     “The Testimony of Jesus”

 

I know that many of you are anxious to hear my explanation of precisely how it is that Satan has succeeded in deceiving even conservative, Spirit of Prophecy loving Adventists on this crucial subject. But before I do that I feel I need to spend some time (the next three chapters) on another subject. A subject that is possibly more important than any other: the exact place that God designs the Spirit of Prophecy to occupy in the life of every true Seventh-day Adventist.

In this chapter all I want to do is emphasize the importance of the Spirit of Prophecy.

M. L. Andreason once wrote:

“In my more than sixty years of official connection with the denomination, one of my chief aims has been to inspire confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy. The last two years I have spoken on the subject 204 times.”  {Letters to the Churches 42, 43}

 Ellen White herself tells us:

 “As the end draws near and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, it becomes more important for those who accept present truth to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the third angel’s message from its very rise.”  {5 Testimonies 654}

 She also tells us:

 “In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue.”  {5 Testimonies 661}

 I question whether it is possible for us to ever fully appreciate the greatness of the truth contained in that last sentence; I do not question the blessedness of trying.

I want to make a few comparisons. They involve the work of three of the greatest, holiest men that ever walked this earth, compared to the work of Ellen White.

Person #1—Moses, the man of whom it is written:

 “Moses was fitted to take pre-eminence among the great of the earth, to shine in the courts of its most glorious kingdom, and to sway the scepter of its power. His intellectual greatness distinguishes him above the great men of all ages. As historian, poet, philosopher, general of armies, and legislator, he stands without a peer.”  {Patriarchs and Prophets 246}

 “God blessed his ready obedience, and he became eloquent, hopeful, self-possessed, and well fitted for the greatest work ever given to man.”  {Patriarchs and Prophets 255}

 “Moses did not merely think of God, he saw Him. God was the constant vision before him. Never did he lose sight of His face.”  {Education 63}

 “Moses, the holiest of men.”  {Signs of the Times, November 10, 1881}

 “There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”  {Deuteronomy 34:10}

 This incredible man Moses, who went up into the mount with God to receive the Ten Commandments, who stood in the place of God to His people, wrote five very small books (six when you include the book of Job). Ellen White wrote over a hundred books; many of them over twice the size of all those books of Moses combined. Consider another wonderful fact: Those few small books by Moses were to guide God’s people for thousands of years. That multitude of books from the pen of Ellen White were all written for the end of time.

Person #2—John, the man of whom it is written:

 “The one who most fully reflected the likeness of the Savior.”  {Steps to Christ 73}

 “…His best-loved disciple.”  {Desire of Ages 146}

 “…by association with Christ, the Great Teacher, he obtained the highest education which mortal man can receive.”  {Sanctified Life 61}

 “The epistles of John breathe the spirit of love. It seems as if he wrote with a pen dipped in love.”  {Acts of the Apostles 554}

 “…John, the recorder of the most sublime truths of the gospel.”  {Introduction of Great Controversy, first page}

 This wonderful man, who most fully reflected the likeness of the Saviour, who recorded the most sublime truths of the gospel with a pen dipped in love: wrote well under fifty thousand words. Ellen White wrote over ten million.

 Person #3—Paul, the man of whom it is written:

 “…except Him who spoke as never man spake, the most illustrious teacher that this world has known.”  {Education 51}

 “He had that greatest of all wisdom…”  {Education 66}

 “There never lived a more self-denying, persevering worker.”   {Acts of the Apostles 367}

 “No man ever lived who was a more earnest, energetic, and self-sacrificing disciple of Christ than was Paul. He was one of the world’s greatest teachers. He crossed the seas and traveled far and near, until a large portion of the world had learned from his lips the story of the cross of Christ.”  {4 Testimonies 409}

 “I am Jesus…I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister.”  {Acts 26:15, 16}

 This most dedicated of all Christians, this greatest of human teachers, this man who wrote more books of the New Testament than all of the other New Testament writers combined: wrote approximately a hundred and twenty pages. Ellen White wrote over fifty thousand pages.

I cannot even begin to adequately describe the greatness of the gift that God has given to us in the Spirit of Prophecy. Surely God, through His holy prophets, can do an infinitely better job describing it than I can:

 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.”  {1 John 3:1}

 “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”  {Psalms 118:23}

 “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?”  {Isaiah 5:4}

 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”  {Hebrews 2:3}

 Please, pray that you will realize more fully than ever before, that the Spirit of Prophecy truly is: “the testimony of Jesus.”

 

Next: Chapter 3 – “So Many Warnings”