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Commentary on "The Inspiration of the Prophets"
Day 4: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
This lesson focuses primarily on anecdotes from Ellen White's life regarding visions. There is a clear agenda: to encourage people to believe that Ellen White was a true prophet of God by comparing her experience to the experience of Biblical prophets.
The questions given at the bottom (and their answers) are far more important than the anecdotes given above:
- Why must we not base our belief in her gift on them [E.G. White's physical manifestations]?
- What ultimately must be the final test of Ellen White's prophetic calling?
The answer to the first question is because the Bible is clear that physical manifestations (and even miracles and great signs) never necessarily imply truth. The Bible refers to false prophets who saw false visions, and it warns the church about false prophets who will perform great miracles with the intent to deceive. Consider the following passages:
Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds” (Jeremiah 14:14).
- Your prophets have seen for you
- False and foolish visions;
- And they have not exposed your iniquity
- So as to restore you from captivity,
- But they have seen for you false and misleading oracles. (Lamentations 2:14)
They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, “The LORD declares,” when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. (Ezekiel 13:6-9)
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
False prophets throughout scripture perform miraculous signs and have various physical phenomena, but these things are not an authoritative indication of truth or falsehood. Rather, the New Testament gives us stern warnings to watch out for false prophets.
Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. (Matthew 24:23-25)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (1 Peter 2:1)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
There are many tests we can apply – and if Ellen White or any other modern prophet fails any of them, then we must surrender to Jesus and renounce our belief in the prophet. Scripture gives several tests for false prophets; here are some of the more prominent examples
- Failed prophecy: Have any of Ellen White's prophecies failed?
You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'
When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
- Correct teaching about Jesus Christ: Does Ellen White's doctrine about the nature of Jesus Christ disagree with Scripture?
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:2-3)
- Teaching the true gospel of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ: Does Ellen White teach a false gospel?
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8-9)
Paul rebuked Peter publicly for not acting in line with the true gospel. How much more should we hold accountable anyone who teaches a false gospel!
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. (Galatians 2:14-16)
Ellen White can only be accepted as a true prophet if she does not fit any of the Scriptural tests for a false prophet. Considering the frequency and earnestness of the warnings about false prophets and teachers in the New Testament, she carries the burden of proof. We must require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, not simply a preponderence of evidence.
In fact, considering that “All scripture is inspired by God... so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (1 Timothy 3:16-17), we would do quite well to never accept any extra-Biblical authority – if indeed we do trust in the adequacy of Scripture alone.
Finally, let us remember Christ's unfailing promise to us, given when he named Peter:
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)
Let's pull some relevant observations out of this:
- Jesus will build his church. It is ultimately His work.
- Jesus does the active work of building His church – with “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5).
- There is an implication of completion of His work. “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
- The church belongs to Jesus. It is under His ownership and care—which can never fail.
- Evil cannot prevail against Jesus' church. There is an implication that the gates of Hades will attempt to overcome it, but they cannot succeed.
Let us trust, then, in the Lord of the church, being “having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:7). May he deliver us from deception as we love the truth.
Summary
- The anecdotes in the Sabbath School lesson are given to suggest Ellen White's authenticity, but they are inconclusive.
- Physical manifestations and visions do not necessarily imply truth: false prophets in scripture had them as well.
- We must “test the spirits” using Biblical tests for false prophets. Ellen White can only be accepted if she does not fit any Biblical test for a false prophet. She carries the burden of proof.
- Scripture alone is adequate; we would do well never to accept any extra-Biblical authority.
- Jesus is the Lord of the church; the gates of Hades cannot overcome it.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 26, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com. Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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