Because of the fanaticism resulting from the work of men falsely claiming to be taught of God, many good people regard with grave suspicion or even disbelief the claim of anyone to divine revelation. But the searcher after truth must guard equally against deception by false prophets or teachers, and a failure to recognize the true. “Despise not prophesyings,” writes the apostle. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21. CET 244.1
In harmony with this injunction, believers in Christ are urged to give candid consideration to the evidences of divine guidance in the advent movement of the present day, and the manifestation of the gift of prophecy connected with this movement. To disregard the work of the Holy Spirit, as manifested through this gift, is perilous. Yet we are admonished to “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” And the test is given, “ye shall know them by their fruits.” CET 244.2
As well might men expect to gather “grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles,” as to find unadulterated truth and sanctifying power emanating from a base deceiver. “Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.... Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20. CET 244.3
The active labors of Ellen G. Harmon, known after her marriage as Mrs. E. G. White, covered a period of seventy years, sixty years of which were spent in America, and ten years in Europe and Australasia. During this long time she was honored with many revelations, which she believed to be heaven-sent and which she endeavored faithfully to write out for the instruction of the church. Many volumes of her writings have been published and have a world-wide circulation. Many thousands of people, convinced by the scriptures that we are living near the close of this Earth's history, have been led to believe that Mrs. White was an agent through whom God spoke by the Spirit of prophecy to his remnant church. Such a belief is surely worthy of consideration. The character of her work is to be judged by her own life, by her teachings, and by the nature of the revelations she received. CET 244.4
Mrs. White always desired that her work and teachings be tested by the standard of God's word as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. “Let the testimonies be judged by their fruits,” she wrote. “What is the spirit of their teaching? What has been the result of their influence? ... God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs, and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work ... Bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no half-way work in the matter. CET 245.1
“As the Lord has manifested himself through the Spirit of prophecy, past, present, and future have passed before me. I have been shown faces that I had never seen, and years afterward I knew them when I saw them. I have been aroused from my sleep with a vivid sense of subjects previously presented to my mind; and I have written, at midnight, letters that have gone across the continent, and, arriving at a crisis, have saved great disaster to the cause of God. This has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work ... from above, or from beneath? ... Those who really desire to know the truth will find sufficient evidence for belief.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:671, 672. CET 245.2