RULE SEVEN—“BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM”

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20.PGGC 97.1

These words of our Saviour recognize the fact that the gift of prophecy would exist in the gospel age. If no true prophets were to be connected with the work, and every prophetic manifestation was to be from an evil source, would He not have said, “Beware of prophets”? The fact that He tells us so definitely how each kind may be known, is the best of evidence that in the work of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, is showing “things to come” (John 16:13), would be the true gift of prophecy. This rule, which in our enumeration we have called rule seven, is an infallible one. Christ did not say, “Ye may know them by their fruits,” but, positively, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.”PGGC 97.2

We inquire, What is the fruit to be seen in the work of genuine gifts of the Spirit of God? The answer is found in the statement of Paul respecting the purpose of the Lord in placing the gifts in the church: “Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity [“into the unity,” margin] of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:8-16.PGGC 98.1

Apply this rule to the prophetic gift that has been connected with the third angel’s message from its rise, and what is the result?—We find that the continual instruction given through Mrs. White has been in the line of unity and harmony, admonishing to “counsel together” and “press together,” to be in union with Christ, thus insuring true fellowship and union with one another.PGGC 99.1

One of the fruits of true gifts mentioned in the letter to the Ephesian church is the gathering of a people into the “unity of the faith.” What has been the result in this respect in the rise of the third angel’s message?—Fifty-three years ago, when our publications and work were all in the English language, when reference was made to the unity and harmony taught in the testimonies and existing among the believers, our opponents said, “That is very well now, while your work is all in a limited territory, and the believers of one nationality; but should your work spread into different parts of the earth, and gather people of different languages, with their national peculiarities, you would see the unity disappear, and your work go to pieces.”PGGC 99.2

Do we see it going to pieces? How is it? The message is now printed, believed, and advocated in sixty-seven languages of the world, and has gained a foothold at different places around the world twice-both north and south of the equator-yet there is the same unity and harmony among those accepting the Lord’s counsel through the testimonies as in earlier times. So the visions stand the test of rule seven.PGGC 99.3

In conclusion, let it be borne in mind that attention has been called in this book to nine points of similarity between Mrs. White’s visions and those described in the Bible; to six points of comparison in the practical work of true vision; and, lastly to seven rules. In all of these twenty-two points we find her visions in exact harmony with true prophets.PGGC 100.1

One of the best proofs of the truthfulness of the visions is in the visions themselves. Many of those who read Mrs. White’s writings, who know not the origin of the ideas which she advances, say, “When I read Mrs. White’s articles it seems to me as though her writings are inspired.”PGGC 100.2

In view of the facts presented in the foregoing pages, it is well for all to heed the admonition of King Jehoshaphat to the host of Judah, “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20.PGGC 100.3