Commentary on "Testing the Prophets"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 3: Monday, February 2, 2009

The premise in today's lesson is that a true prophet of God will be in complete agreement with both the whole law and all of the other prophets of God; in other words, he will be in complete harmony with the whole Bible.

 

Problems

Isa. 8:20 speaks of 'law' and 'testimony'. These are two terms that refer to the same overall entity—the word of God. The 'they' in this verse refers to 'disciples' in verse 16 who will be in complete harmony with all of God's word. In Deut. 4:44 we see that Moses gave the law to the people of Israel. In Verse 45, we see this law defined as "testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments". Deut. 31:9 simply says that Moses wrote (recorded) the law. By this, we understand that he is responsible for the writing of the first five books of the Bible and that they are the testimonies, statutes and judgments given to Israel by God.

The statement; "Every true prophet has made the writings of previous prophets the benchmark for his or her own ministry," is somewhat problematical. A true prophet of God simply communicates the message that God has given him and does not need to cross-check it with established canon. Each prophet’s message is an inspired message from God, and it will automatically align with all God's other prophetic messages.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:16-21 KJV).

What is true is that each individual Christian must make Scripture the "benchmark" for determining if a prophet's words are in agreement with Scripture. This personal searching of the Scriptures is known as the Berean Principle.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few (Acts 17:10-12 KJV).

Why must harmony with the Bible be our final test…..? Consider the following passage:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not (II Peter 2:1-3 KJV).

In response to the question of why people choose to believe false prophets, consider this:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (II Tim. 4:1-4 KJV).

 

Summary

• The real question is: has each of us tested the writings of Ellen G. White and determined if they fit the description of the warning Paul delivered to Timothy?
   

 

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.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

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