Chapter Eighteen—The Prophetic Gift Restored

THE gift of prophecy has been restored. Fulfilling the prophecy of Revelation 12:17, this important gift, unknown for long centuries during the apostasy in the church, has been manifested again among the people of God. As foretold in the prophecy, it has been given to the “remnant.” church, the church that keep “the commandments of God,” and, consequently “have the testimony of Jesus,” which is, “the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10.)GoPH 124.1

The gift of prophecy was known and manifested in the Christian church at the beginning, in the days of the apostles. We know from the prophetic word (Revelation 12:17) that it is again to be known and manifested in God’s true church, His commandment-keeping church, in the time of the end. It was removed from the church because of apostasy. When men departed from God, especially when they cast His law behind their backs, and displaced and disregarded His sabbath, substituting a false and counterfeit sabbath in its place, He took from them this gift.GoPH 124.2

The light of truth was not, however, always to be obscured by the darkness of error. The time was to come when the falsehoods were to be exposed and the church called back to its former allegiance and purity of faith. The Reformation began the work, but did not proceed far enough to restore the Sabbath to its rightful place. This was to be done in the final movement and message of the gospel on earth.GoPH 125.1

Our attention is directed by the prophecy of Daniel to the end of the 2300 years (Daniel 8:14) as the time when the final message would begin—a message that would again set before the whole earth those truths which had been hidden for so long by the errors of the apostasy.GoPH 125.2

The 2300 years began in 457 B.C. They ended in 1844 A.D. It is to that time the prophecy directs our attention. At that time a work was to begin in heaven called the cleansing of the sanctuary. At that same time a message of truth was to begin on earth that would restore every lost and perverted truth of the gospel. These two were to go forward together until Jesus came again: the work of Christ in heaven in the most holy place, and the work of His church on earth, that of proclaiming His message of truth.GoPH 125.3

To bear this message to the world it was necessary for God to raise up a new movement and people, separate from the established churches, for they had refused to walk in the advancing light, and had rejected the Sabbath truth. The message now to be given to the world is the threefold message predicted in Revelation: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the boast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” Revelation 14:6-14.GoPH 126.1

The characteristics of this special, threefold, last-day message are worthy of special attention. They are these: It brings back in its purity and power the primitive, eternal good news of the gospel; it bears a message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; it calls men back to the fear (or reverence and worship) of the Creator, which is the beginning of wisdom; it announces the hour of God’s judgment as already come; it calls attention to the fall of creed-bound churches; it warns against the worship of the beast and bis image in con trast with the worship of the Creator; it tellsGoPH 127.1

men what to do as well as what not to do; it restores obedience to “the commandments of God”; it teaches the very “faith of Jesus”; it tells men how to obtain the victory; it preaches the second coming of our Lord; and it makes ready a people prepared for the Lord.GoPH 128.1

This message, then, fits the present situation. It is a message given for this particular time and to meet the special conditions that prevail on the earth today.GoPH 128.2

This final message of the gospel of Christ will so fully prepare those who receive it to meet God that they are said to be without fault before His throne. (Revelation 14:5.) It is therefore evident that the message borne by the third angel will contain all the truth of God. It is through the truth (John 17:17) that the people of God are sanctified; and if those who accept the third angel’s message became without fault before the throne of God, it will be because they have the full and complete truth of the gospel.GoPH 128.3

“This gospel of the kingdom,” the message of the coming kingdom, will also “be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations [not that all will be converted, but “for a witness”] and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24: 14). That is, a people will he raised up, as was John the Baptist, who will take the message of the coming Saviour and the fullness of the truth of His gospel to all the world before His second coming. And when they have completed this task — when they have warned the world, and given it the truth, and the world has rejected the message — “then shall the end come.” To this people, bearing this message, the gift of prophecy will be re-stored.GoPH 128.4