Most Adventists seem to think that the prophetic gift will not exist in the end time church apart from the writings of Ellen White. The thinking is that there were no prophets after the death of the Apostles, until Ellen White, and there will be none after her.

Really? Church history records that under the inspiration of the spirit the saints prophesied after the death of the Apostles. For example, accurate prophetic pronouncements were one of the things the persecuted Covenanters of Scotland were known for.

What about scripture? When Paul admonishes the Corinthians to pray for spiritual gifts, does he exclude prophesy. Just the opposite!

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Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather [especially] that ye may prophesy. ICorinthians 14:1

14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. ICorinthians 14:31

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. ICorinthians 14:39

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Apparently some in Paul's day were discouraging speaking in tongues. Today, prophesy is discouraged. Interesting.

But aren't we the church with the Elijah message? Elijah started the schools of the prophets. Prophecy is something to be encouraged, something to be taught and nurtured. When Joshua gave Moses the report that some were prophesying in the camp and asked him to make them stop, Moses said, on the contrary, I wish to God that all his people were prophets!!

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And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, [and] that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! Numbers 11:29

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[ March 30, 2002: Message edited by: Mark Shipowick ]

"...would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them." Numbers 11:29

"Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them..." GC 606

Prophet? In what sense? Like Paul or John? Ellen White was more like Paul than like John. Do we need another prophet like Ellen White? What would they say that she hasn't already said? And do we need another prophet like John? Do we need more symbolic messages portraying the future?

I'm just asking questions. I don't pretend to have the answers.

Paul and John were not only prophets, they were also apostles. As apostles, they were the foundation stones of the early church.

The prophetic gift ranks below apostleship. Whereas apostleship indicates leadership and authority in doctrinal matters effecting the entire body of the church, the prophetic gift is often more of a local matter, bringing comfort to the saints. Philip's four daughters seem to have had just the prophetic gift.

I'm thinking more along those lines when I ask the question of whether the prophetic gift is still alive. Another example of just the prophetic gift would be the many young men from the different schools of the prophets who came to meet Elijah on the day he was translated, all of them supernaturally aware that he would be taken from them shortly.

But will there also be end-time apostles? Aren't the gifts irrevokable, Mike? I'm quite confident there will be apostles because we're told that tremendous new truths will come to us. We need the gift of apostleship because the times require the insight of a John and the decisiveness of a Paul.

Personnally its hard for me to imagine the 144,000 with only a limited number of the gifts. If apostleship was granted with the early rain, how could it be withheld at the more abundant latter rain?

Then it would appear that you have answered your own question.

I can't tell from your comments what you think Greg.

This area scares most of us. How many SDA's are praying 'earnestly' for the prophetic gift? But shouldn't we be?

This is interesting topic. But, frankly, For most part, this church has not heeded the prophet has given to this church.

Mark, you're right. The prophetic gift would certainly be helpful at times. I'm just not sure how it would help me personally? I can't think of any way in which my life would be improved if a prophet lived in my area. We have so much truth recorded in the Bible and the SOP which has not been properly appreciated that I can't imagine God sharing more? Do you have any suggestions?

The Testimonies were given to help us know how to apply simple Bible truths to our lives. God determined that we needed more of the gift of prophecy to help us and assist us in our understanding of truth. We could use it now to assist us again. We have lots of truth but unless the Spirit opens our minds (Luke 24:44-45; John 20:22) we can look at it, read it, and still not understand it enough to put it into action.

Maybe we need a prophet to explain the truth about conversion and rebirth?