The Fellow-Servant Of All

Notice how broad the second statement is. “I am the fellow-servant of them which keep the sayings of this book.” Now the sayings of this book are none other than the testimony of Jesus. For, later it is written: “He [Jesus] which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly.” Revelation 22:20. And again in verse 16 He says: “I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify these things in the churches.”GoPH 190.2

Therefore the angel declares himself to be the fellow-servant of all them that keep the sayings (the testimony of Jesus) of this book. But the book itself was not yet written. John was only then receiving the testimony of Jesus, which was to compose the book. The book would then have to be given to the people, and they in turn, would have to have the sayings of the book, before they could keep the testimony of the book.GoPH 190.3

It therefore follows infallibly, that the angel promises to be the fellow-servant of every one who keeps the testimony of Jesus from that time to the end of the world. “Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book,” (the testimony of Jesus). One of the blessings each one receives, who has, and keeps “the testimony of Jesus,“—“the sayings of the prophecy of this book,” is that the angel counts him a fellow-servant of God with himself. I am so glad that the angel who testified the testimony of Jesus did not restrict the testimony to a favored few, nor restrict his blessed fellowship to that same few; but announces that he fellowships all the humble servants of God who “keep the sayings of this book.”GoPH 190.4

And now let all those who thought that they were excluded from the company whom the angel called fellow-servants, step into the midst of the remnant, “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus,” (Revelation 12:17) every one of whom, without discrimination, is fellowshipped as a servant of God, by the mighty serving angel.GoPH 191.1

It is not said of the remnant that they have the gift to prophesy, but that they have the “testimony of Jesus,” that is the testimony which Jesus has testified, which as Eld. White wrote seventy years ago, “embraced the entire prophetic Word of both Testaments. ”GoPH 191.2

This understanding of the subject magnifies the message for which the remnant stands.GoPH 191.3

With this understanding it reads: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, (“The entire prophetic Word of both Testaments”) which (the testimony of Jesus) is the spirit of prophecy.”GoPH 191.4

THE NARROW PLATFORM What a descending from this broad and comprehensive view, is that which narrows the platform on which the remnant stands, to one of the nine gifts of the Spirit, the gift of prophecy, making it read: The dragon made war on the remnant which keep the commandments of God and have one of the nine gifts of the Spirit.GoPH 191.5

The above view would allow of more than one member exercising one of the nine gifts. But the denominational view confines this one of the nine gifts to one individual out of the 144,000 comprising the remnant, which makes the scripture read:GoPH 191.6

The dragon made war with the remnant which keep the commandments of God and have one among its thousands who has one of the nine gifts of the Spirit. And that one has been dead 25 years.GoPH 191.7

That this is the position of our Seventh-day Adventist brethren, is shown from a pamphlet by the Review and Herald Publishing Company, Washington, D. C., by Eld. Geo. A. Irwin, entitled, “The Spirit of Prophecy.”GoPH 191.8

“The question has been raised: Can it be said that we have the spirit of prophecy [mistaken for the gift of prophecy] in the church, when only one person is recognized as having the gift. We answer yes.” Page 45.GoPH 192.1

On page 7 of a work entitled, “Despise not Prophesying,” by Eld. E. T. Russell, and published by the International Publishing Association, College View, Nebr., it is agreed that: “There is only one, exercising it, (Mrs. E. G. White.)”GoPH 192.2

The correct understanding of this scripture does not deny that Mrs. E. G. White has the gift to prophesy. It only shows that these texts are not dealing with the exercise of the gift of prophecy by one individual or many, but with “the testimony of Jesus,” that which Jesus has testified, whose testimony is the spirit or life of prophecy; or as Eld. and Mrs. White expressed it, the “spirit ” or “soul” of prophecy.GoPH 192.3

The dragon was not wroth with the millions of saints during the dark ages because one among them had the gift to prophesy, but because they heard and kept the testimony of Jesus, “written in this book.”GoPH 192.4

In like manner, the dragon is not wroth with the remnant because one among its thousands has the gift to prophesy, but because all have the testimony of Jesus written in the Book—because all hear and “keep those things which are written therein.” Revelation 1:2, 3.GoPH 192.5

THE GIFT TO PROPHESY And now that it is made plain that the remnant like their martyred brethren, have the testimony of Jesus because they have what Jesus has testified, and what is written in the Book, let us study to learn what the Scriptures say about the gift to prophesy.GoPH 192.6

If the Scriptures said the dragon was wroth with the remnant because they have the gift to prophesy (which it does not) would that mean that only one of its thousands had this gift? Would we understand that the dragon makes war on the remnant because they keep the commandments of God and have one among their thousands who has one of the nine gifts of the Spirit, the gift to prophesy?GoPH 192.7

One of the 144,000 in possession of one of the nine gifts of the Spirit!GoPH 193.1

Is this condition of spiritual poverty that which is announced by the Lord as the riches of the remnant?GoPH 193.2

Is the dragon made furious because one of the 144,000 has one of the nine gifts?GoPH 193.3

Pentecost was the beginning of the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy.GoPH 193.4

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants, and on my hand maidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:16-18.GoPH 193.5

“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.” Acts 19:6, 7.GoPH 193.6

“And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” Acts 21:9.GoPH 193.7

It was the plan of God that every church should have the gifts of the Spirit. And the assembly at Corinth did have all the gifts. 1 Corinthians 1:4-7.GoPH 193.8

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal . . . To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy . . .GoPH 193.9

to another the interpretation of tongues.” 1 Cor, 12: 7-10.GoPH 193.10

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles; [plural], secondarily, prophets; [plural]; thirdly, teachers, [plural] . . . Are all apostles?GoPH 193.11

Are all prophets? Arc all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts.” 1 Corinthians 12:28-31.GoPH 193.12

In chapter fourteen, one of the best gifts is named: “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” V. 1.GoPH 193.13

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” V. 3.GoPH 194.1

“I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied.” V. 5.GoPH 194.2

“Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.” V. 29.GoPH 194.3

“For ye may all prophesy one by one, (all the prophets, ‘do all prophesy?’) that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” V. 31.GoPH 194.4

“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.” Vs. 39, 40.GoPH 194.5