John the Baptist was the greatest prophet that ever lived, yet he did not foretell any future event. He simply, quoted the Scriptures, and warned men to repent of their sins. He did no miracle (John 10:41), but preached the truth as it was recorded in the Bible. This therefore is to be the characteristic of all those who, living in the last days, are prepared for the coming of the Lord, and who give others knowledge in order that they may be prepared. Let us see from the Scriptures that this is so.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.1

At the command of the Lord, Moses in the wilderness selected seventy of the elders of Israel, and set thorn round about the tabernacle; “and the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders; and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cases.” But there were two men who remained in the camp, with the congregation, and did not come to the tabernacle with the other elders, and the Spirit rested upon them also, and they prophesied as well as the others. When Moses was informed of this, Joshua, full of zeal for his master, said, “My lord Moses, forbid them. 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 11:24-29. This was not an idle wish, but an indication of what might have been; and whatever gift may be received from the Lord, ought to be received. Now that such a state of things as Moses desired is possible, and the right thing to exist in the church, is seen from the words of the Apostle Paul: “Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men for edification, and comfort, and consolation. He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. Now I would have ye all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy.” “If all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all; and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 24, 25, 31.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.2

Read still further: When John the Apostle on Patmos was about to worship the angel who showed him wonderful things, the angel said: “See thou do it not; I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 14:10. Now put with this Revelation 12:17: “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.” It is evident from this that the very same people who keep the commandments of God have also the Spirit of prophecy; and it is certain that all the people of God will keep the commandments of God; therefore it is also certain that every one of the people who are ready to receive the Lord when He comes, having finished the work that He gave them to do, will have the Spirit of prophecy.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.3

What It Is to Be a Prophet

Let no one mistake the meaning here; there will be no danger of making any mistake, if we keep in mind what the Spirit of prophecy is. People in general have a fixed and narrow idea of what a prophet is, and what the Spirit of prophecy is. A prophet is one who speaks for God. The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made thee a God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” Exodus 7:1. Now read Exodus 4:16, 16, concerning the relation of Aaron to Moses, and what his work was to be: “Thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; And it shall come to pass, that no shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.” Aaron was the mouth of Moses, to speak for him whatever he wished to say. Moses instructed the people through Aaron. That constituted Aaron the prophet of Moses. Just so whoever receives the words of God at His mouth, and speaks them to the people, is God’s prophet. He may not foretell any future event, but he will speak the words of God. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1 Peter 4:10. “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God.” John 3:34. Thus may and should all the people of God prophesy, and until they do that, they are not giving the testimony to the world that God would have them give; they are not witnessing for Christ. God gives the Spirit in order that all may speak His words, and be faithful witnesses.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.4

God’s People Seers

Still further: “Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer.” 1 Samuel 9:9. A seer is simply one who sees. Now God would have all His people see; for He says in a message for the very last days, “Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18. Whoever can see will recognise the Word of God when it comes to him, and the Word will itself make him see if he will but gladly receive it. And so will all God’s people be seers, knowing God’s will, discerning the signs of the times, and making known the truth to the world. He who has not the Spirit of prophecy cannot discern that Spirit; for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things.” 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.5

How the Gifts Comes

Let no one think that this gift comes arbitrarily, or that anybody can have it simply by declaring that he has it, or by any sort of mere profession that he may make. The Spirit of prophecy is the portion only of those who keep the commandments of God,-not of those who have the form of keeping the commandments, mind you, but of those who do indeed keep them. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and the Spirit comes to everybody as the reprover of sin, first of all. The promise is coupled with this statement: “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” Proverbs 1:23. “The commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 6:23. He who heeds the reproofs and instruction of the commandments of God, will receive abundantly of the Spirit of God, and will know the will of God; for “if any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching.” John 7:17.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.6

Here then we have the great lesson that is to be learned from the record of the work of John the Baptist. That which God is waiting for to-day is a people united not by a formal creed, but by the one Spirit, and thus all speaking the same thing. See 1 Corinthians 1:10. A people filled with the Spirit, and so seeing light in the light of God, and reflecting the light to others. The message of John the Baptist-the preaching of the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins-was never more needed than it is to-day, but it cannot properly be given except by those who know the Word of God when it comes to them, and who are seers. They must receive the Word direct from God, and not from any man, and they must receive the Word first of all as a reprover of the sins of their own lives.ARSH June 23, 1903, page 9.7

May 12, 1903