May 19-25, 2002
MEMORY VERSE: “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10.
INTRODUCTION: The Bible characterizes the last days as a time of great unbelief: 2 Peter 3:3–7 says, Know this first, that there shall come in the last days mockers going according to their own lusts and saying where is the promise of His coming for from the time the fathers fell asleep all things continue as from the beginning of the creation. For they wish to forget that the heavens were of old time and the earth out of the water and through the water standing by the Word of God, the world that then was being deluged with water perished and the heavens and the earth now by the same word are reserved for fire kept unto the day of judgement and condemnation of ungodly men.” Eighteen hundred years ago, God through the Apostle Peter foretold here the age of unbelief that we are in today as a direct result of the theories of geology and evolution and higher criticism alluded to in this scripture.
1 What ability does God have that no creature or other intelligence possesses? Isaiah 46:9, 10.
2 How did God show His ability to tell the future to King Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel 2:1–13; 26–28.
3 Why is a knowledge of prophecy especially important in the last days? 1 Corinthians 1:4–8.
4 How does prophecy confirm faith in the existence of God and the validity of the Bible as His inspired Word? John 13:18, 19.
5 What special promise is given to those who live in the last days in regard to prophecy? Joel 2:28, 29; Malachi 4:5.
6 How has this special promise been fulfilled? See note.
NOTE: “After devoting three articles to the Biblical backgrounds and accounts of manifestations of the prophetic gift, Butler in the fourth article introduced Ellen White and her work and demonstrated how she was one on whom the mantle of the gift of prophecy was laid. From firsthand knowledge he wrote of the visions, which he described, and then of her ministry, with which he was personally acquainted. Strong evidence of the integrity of the gift as seen in her experience included the fulfillment of predictions, the knowledge of secret things opened to her, and how her work stood the tests of the claims of the prophet as set forth in the Bible, especially the one Christ gave, ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ He discussed the relation of her writings to the Scriptures.
“In his closing articles Butler observed: ‘We have tested them as a people for nearly a quarter of a century, and we find we prosper spiritually when we heed them, and suffer a great loss when we neglect them. We have found their guidance to be our safety. They never have led us into fanaticism in a single instance, but they have ever rebuked fanatical and unreasonable men. They everywhere direct us to the Scriptures as the great source of true instruction, and to the example of Jesus Christ as the true pattern. They never claim to be given to take the place of the Bible, but simply to be a manifestation of one of those spiritual gifts set in the church by its divine Lord; and as such, should have their proper weight.’” Ellen G. White: vol. 2, The Progressive Years, 1862–1876, vol. 2, by Arthur L. White, 424. 425.
Special Note: See the book Prophet of the End, by the editor of Harvestime Books, Altamont, TN, 37301 for a fuller investigation of this question.
7 What elementary prophecies of the Bible confirm that we are living in the last days of earth’s History? Matthew 24:29; Matthew 24:37–39 (Compare Genesis 6:1–5, 11); Luke 17:28–30 (Compare Ezekiel 16:49, 50); 2 Timothy 3:1–5, 13; James 5:1–8; Revelation 11:18; 2 Peter 3:3–7; Micah 4:1–6; Matthew 24:11–14.
8 Which two prophets spoke especially for the last days? Daniel 12:4; Revelation 22:10–12.
9 What does the Bible say about the dangerous conditions of the last days? 1 Timothy 4:1–6.
NOTE: “We are approaching the end of this earth’s history, and Satan is working as never before. He is striving to act as director of the Christian world. With an intensity that is marvelous he is working with his lying wonders. Satan is represented as walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He desires to embrace the whole world in his confederacy. Hiding his deformity under the garb of Christianity, he assumes the attributes of a Christian, and claims to be Christ Himself.—8MR, 346 (1901).” Last Day Events, 155.
“We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 122.
“The spirits of devils will yet appear to them [the saints], professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them that the Sabbath has been changed, also other unscriptural doctrines.” Early Writings, 87.
“The apostles, as personated by these lying spirits, are made to contradict what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth.” The Great Controversy, 557.
“There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 36.
“Some who were in the 1854 movement have brought along with them erroneous views. . . . They have an unmeaning gibberish which they call the unknown tongue, which is unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven. Such gifts are manufactured by men and women, aided by the great deceiver. Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the church. Some have been deceived here.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 411, 412.
10 What special promise has been given for those who accept the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy for the last days? Revelation 12:17; Romans 9:27; 2 Chronicles 20:20.
NOTE: “As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and explanations would be given me. . . . All these truths are immortalized in my writings. The Lord never denies His word. Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in in these last days.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 320
11 What will eventually happen to those who reject or neglect the gift of prophecy? James 4:17; Matthew 25:33, 34, 41.
NOTE: “You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God’s word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God’s inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 665.
“‘It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies.’ ‘Satan knows how to make his attacks. He works upon minds to excite jealousy and dissatisfaction toward those at the head of the work. The gifts are next questioned; then, of course, they have but little weight, and instruction given through vision is disregarded.’ ‘Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.’” Ibid., 672.