A Period of Silence

We recognize clearly that the operation of the prophetic gift was to continue to the close of New Testament times. We acknowledge also the fact that Jesus Christ placed in the church certain gifts, including the gift of prophecy, that He intended to continue to function until His second advent. Finally, we affirm that in the last days the remnant church has particular need of the gift, and that its manifestation is plainly indicated. Thus far we have dealt extensively with the gift in Bible times, and have observed numerous reasons for anticipating its presence in the remnant church, but have given no attention to the period between the close of the apostolic age and the last days. Did not the prophecies concerning the presence of the gifts of the Spirit apply to all the centuries spanned by the history of the church? Were there not crises to be met among God’s people during those years of apostasy, darkness, and reformation?APAY 163.1

Though the records are sparse and inconclusive, we can hardly conceive that God would withhold the prophetic guidance from these faithful Christians. Historians mention a number of individuals who were looked upon as prophets at one time or another during the period. See A. G. Daniells, The Abiding Gift of Prophecy, pages 175-228. Unfortunately it is not possible to point to a fully authenticated instance and say, beyond a reasonable doubt, that that person was a true prophet. This does not mean that the gift was inoperative, but it does mean that for some reason God did not see fit to preserve sufficient information to enable us to reach definite conclusions in regard to this matter. And this is not strange, for the writers of the Bible apparently make up only a portion of the individuals of their times who possessed the prophetic gift. Other persons are referred to in the Bible as prophets, but we have no information by which we may test their experience and none of their writings that we may study today. The silence is of the same kind that reigns between the Old and New Testaments.APAY 163.2

It is likely that because of the apostasy and spiritual darkness of those centuries, manifestations were either limited or only local in their influence. An increase of prophetic revelation seems to be linked with increased attention to the will of God as revealed in His commandments. While the major trend during those years was away from Scriptural truth, it seems clear that there were always some who observed the commandments and did their best to conform to principles of truth. Certainly to these God fulfilled His promise of divine guidance through the working of the prophetic gift in one way or another.APAY 164.1

It must not be forgotten, however, that all of the specific indications of the manifestations of the gift of prophecy following Bible times are given in the setting of the days immediately preceding the second advent. As has been mentioned, this fact does not indicate the absence of the gift during the intervening centuries. The implication is that there will be a revival of the gift rather than simply a continuation of something that had been common throughout the centuries.APAY 164.2