Spirit of Prophecy (SOP)

joe8585 · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:12 am Post subject: Spirit of Prophecy (SOP)

O.K., This is my first post, and I don't know if this is in the right place, if not please feel free to move it. But I've been an Adventist for 3yrs now. But, after reading and studying I have hit a huge pothole in my beliefs and faith.

I read over and over again in Adventists Publications that the Spirit of Prophecy (We'll call it SOP) that the SOP is Ellen White. But when I researched it in the bible, in Revelations, I see that the SOP is the "Testimony of Jesus".

Not a big deal so far, but then i thought about what a testimony is. A Webster's defines it as this, "firsthand authentication of a fact." And the definition set my mind running. What is this testimony of Jesus? I realized that the bible is a complete testimony of the life of Jesus. Everything from Genesis to Revelation tells of the life and sacrifice of Jesus.

At to seal the deal, the bible is the only true first hand account and authentication to the fact that Jesus was Lord of All. Please do not think that i am trying to claim Ellen White as a False-Prophet, and liar. That is the farthest point from what this thread is trying to accomplish. Ellen White was not a "Firsthand account of Jesus" but the bible was.

And maybe we all are reading and building upon the 17th fundamental a bit too much. Yes, the bible says that His remnant church will have the SOP, but we see that the SOP is the Testimony of Jesus. And that is to say the bible, but more over, the COMPLETE bible. God's endtime church will adhere to all that the Bible is and stands for, not a just picking and choosing what does not convict them. And that is a true fundamental outlined by the Scripture of God.

Please if I am completely wrong here, please correct me and show me my errors. This is something that is really kicking me in the head. Please feel free to give all the input you want.

In Christ,

Joe

Eugene Shubert

What is the testimony of Jesus?

The testimony of Jesus is Jesus' testimony. I believe it is "a firsthand authentication of fact" from Jesus Himself.

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." John 18:37.

It's obvious that the Apostle John enthusiastically declared the doctrines that Jesus taught and was persecuted for it. Revelation says that John was banished to the island that is called Patmos "for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9).

If we believe in the testimony of Jesus, we should also believe in the testimony of God in the same way:

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:9-12.

At this point I want to remind you that the prophets of the Old Testament prefaced their messages with a "Thus says the Lord" about 418 times. Curiously, the prophets of the New Testament typically spoke in a different manner. Here are the only exceptions that come to mind at this moment:

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1).

A certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" Acts 21:10-11.

Does this imply that, overall, the general New Testament witness is less inspired?

To clarify the issues that Seventh-day Adventists struggle with, here are three of the most "extreme" statements by Ellen G. White (that I know of) where the SDA's officially acknowledged prophet plainly described her authority:

"Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument. It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin. Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived. But those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them. This class you will ever find in perfect harmony with the testimony of the Spirit of God." Testimonies for the Church Volume Three, page 257.

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct." Testimonies for the Church Volume Three, pages 252-253.

"Just as long as God has a church, he will have those who will cry aloud and spare not, who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw that individuals would rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their natural feelings. They would choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and have peace cried in their ears. I view the church in a more dangerous condition than they ever have been. Experimental religion is known but by a few. The shaking must soon take place to purify the church." Spiritual Gifts, Vol 2, 284.

I honestly don't see how any of this contradicts Scripture.