In different parts of the world,
00:00:32.64\00:00:34.28
scientists using
powerful radio telescopes
00:00:34.31\00:00:36.90
are listening for
sounds from outer space,
00:00:36.93\00:00:39.58
hoping someday
they'll hear a message
00:00:39.61\00:00:42.01
from intelligent
beings on some other planet.
00:00:42.04\00:00:45.61
It may come as a surprise,
but there's plenty of evidence
00:00:45.64\00:00:49.04
that messages from the farthest
reaches of the universe have,
00:00:49.07\00:00:52.39
in fact, been beaming to
earth for thousands of years now
00:00:52.42\00:00:57.17
but few are listening.
00:00:57.20\00:00:59.49
It's a message from
the Creator of this planet,
00:00:59.52\00:01:02.41
a message of love from God
00:01:02.44\00:01:04.94
trying to win back
His rebellious children.
00:01:04.97\00:01:09.17
You see, we humans
weren't always aliens,
00:01:09.20\00:01:12.21
you see estranged
and separated from God.
00:01:12.24\00:01:15.09
Way back in the
beginning before sin,
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Adam and Eve well,
they had the unique
00:01:17.45\00:01:19.76
privilege of talking
face to face with God,
00:01:19.79\00:01:23.30
strolling along together
in the cool of the evening.
00:01:23.33\00:01:26.15
God designed it this way,
00:01:26.18\00:01:28.08
that nothing
should keep them apart.
00:01:28.11\00:01:31.22
But sad to say, sin came
abruptly ending their privilege
00:01:31.25\00:01:36.18
of this glorious relationship
of love and togetherness
00:01:36.21\00:01:39.51
which lasted for only
two chapters in the Bible.
00:01:39.54\00:01:44.61
Now, why did conditions
change so dramatically?
00:01:44.64\00:01:48.72
Well, simply this.
00:01:48.75\00:01:50.57
When Adam and Eve sinned,
they rebelled against God,
00:01:50.60\00:01:54.49
and sin separates.
00:01:54.52\00:01:56.90
So Adam and Eve
by their own choice
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could no longer have direct
face-to-face communication
00:01:59.58\00:02:02.76
and fellowship with God.
00:02:02.79\00:02:05.21
Now, God loved Adam and Eve.
00:02:05.24\00:02:07.84
And He still wanted
to commune with them.
00:02:07.87\00:02:10.32
So now God had a problem.
00:02:10.35\00:02:12.60
Adam and Eve had
listened to the serpent
00:02:12.63\00:02:15.23
and obeyed
Lucifer instead of God.
00:02:15.26\00:02:18.12
And sin shatters relationships,
sin separates us from God.
00:02:18.15\00:02:24.27
Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 59:2,
00:02:24.30\00:02:29.17
"But your iniquities have
separated you from your God
00:02:29.20\00:02:32.49
and your sins have
hidden His face from you."
00:02:32.52\00:02:37.20
So, what did God
do? Did He give up?
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No, friend, hallelujah.
00:02:40.51\00:02:42.18
He devised the Plan of Salvation
00:02:42.21\00:02:44.04
to give us a chance to
get connected with God again.
00:02:44.07\00:02:47.47
Oh, yes, sin still separate
us from God in this life,
00:02:47.50\00:02:52.10
but it didn't
separate us from His love.
00:02:52.13\00:02:54.98
Because love always finds
a way of keeping in touch.
00:02:55.01\00:03:00.02
Oh, I told you that
Jeannie and I fell in love
00:03:00.05\00:03:02.92
when we were just 17.
00:03:02.95\00:03:04.60
Can you imagine we were seniors
00:03:04.63\00:03:05.83
in high school
instead of Maryland.
00:03:05.86\00:03:08.96
She winked at me
one day in English class
00:03:08.99\00:03:11.73
and the rest is history.
00:03:11.76\00:03:15.27
But unfortunately
after we graduated
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from high school in Maryland
00:03:17.20\00:03:19.03
my family moved across
the continent to California.
00:03:19.06\00:03:22.45
And you talk
about heartbreak hotel.
00:03:22.48\00:03:25.11
Talk about sad, sad
day. We loved each other.
00:03:25.14\00:03:30.50
Back then we didn't
have a nickel to our name.
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So we wrote an
awful lot of letters,
00:03:32.39\00:03:35.15
every day sometimes.
00:03:35.18\00:03:37.16
And once a month we took
turns making telephone calls.
00:03:37.19\00:03:41.45
For three years we kept
finding ways to keep in touch.
00:03:41.48\00:03:45.39
One year she
hitchhiked to California
00:03:45.42\00:03:49.24
then I hitchhiked to Maryland.
00:03:49.27\00:03:51.85
Because you see, love always
00:03:51.88\00:03:53.13
finds a way of keeping in touch.
00:03:53.16\00:03:56.41
And God did, too, with us.
00:03:56.44\00:03:59.18
The Bible tells us,
00:03:59.21\00:04:00.38
sometimes god spoke
through angels to keep in touch.
00:04:00.41\00:04:04.23
David in Psalms says that
God reveals Himself in nature.
00:04:04.26\00:04:09.37
In Old Testament times
00:04:09.40\00:04:10.43
God spoke
through the High Priest's
00:04:10.46\00:04:12.31
two special stones on the right
00:04:12.34\00:04:13.90
and left side
of his breastplate,
00:04:13.93\00:04:15.56
the Urim and Thummim.
00:04:15.59\00:04:18.54
Then occasionally of course,
00:04:18.57\00:04:19.60
we know that He spoke
through dreams and visions.
00:04:19.63\00:04:23.08
Sometimes there was a
great voice from heaven.
00:04:23.11\00:04:26.18
The New Testament tells us
00:04:26.21\00:04:27.37
God speaks
through our conscience
00:04:27.40\00:04:29.73
and also
through the Holy Spirit.
00:04:29.76\00:04:32.54
But of course God's clearest
communiqué ever was speaking
00:04:32.57\00:04:36.69
through Jesus Christ Himself
when He was here in person.
00:04:36.72\00:04:40.90
Once in a while God's spoken
through other signs and tokens.
00:04:40.93\00:04:45.75
Like remember when Gideon
put out that fleece to see
00:04:45.78\00:04:48.81
whether it would be wet or dry.
00:04:48.84\00:04:52.04
But God has chosen to especially
00:04:52.07\00:04:54.14
convey His will to us
00:04:54.17\00:04:56.04
through some of
the most reliable
00:04:56.07\00:04:57.56
and unforgettable personalities
00:04:57.59\00:04:59.38
you and I will ever
meet called God's prophets.
00:04:59.41\00:05:04.93
He chose men and women
00:05:04.96\00:05:06.72
He could trust to be
His mouthpiece like Moses,
00:05:06.75\00:05:11.01
Miriam, Samuel, Elijah, Huldah,
Deborah, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
00:05:11.04\00:05:16.57
prophets and prophetesses,
spokespeople for God.
00:05:16.60\00:05:22.60
Prophets and prophetesses
00:05:22.63\00:05:23.66
were not just
predictors of the future.
00:05:23.69\00:05:25.82
In fact, Amos 3:7 tells us this.
00:05:25.85\00:05:29.59
It says that the
way God keeps in touch,
00:05:29.62\00:05:34.27
the way he does things
is through his prophets.
00:05:34.30\00:05:37.60
Isn't that marvellous?
00:05:37.63\00:05:38.70
Says, "Surely the
Lord God does nothing,
00:05:38.73\00:05:42.05
unless He reveals His secret
to His servants the prophets."
00:05:42.08\00:05:47.42
Now that process of God
speaking to us through people,
00:05:47.45\00:05:52.78
conveying important
messages about salvation,
00:05:52.81\00:05:55.47
God calls "the Gift of Prophecy"
00:05:55.50\00:05:58.36
or "the Spirit of Prophecy."
00:05:58.39\00:06:01.11
And I want you to notice
00:06:01.14\00:06:02.18
how these prophets
received their messages.
00:06:02.21\00:06:04.79
They didn't go
to Oxford University
00:06:04.82\00:06:06.95
or to some seminary
00:06:06.98\00:06:08.05
or Harvard's
School of the Prophets.
00:06:08.08\00:06:10.51
No. 2 Peter 1:21 says,
00:06:10.54\00:06:14.11
"For prophecy never
came by the will of man,
00:06:14.14\00:06:17.96
but holy men of God spoke
00:06:17.99\00:06:19.89
as they were moved
by the Holy Spirit."
00:06:19.92\00:06:24.22
The Bible books that they wrote
were not merely their opinions.
00:06:24.25\00:06:28.74
Not just their
smarts or some wise ideas.
00:06:28.77\00:06:31.48
No, it was
"inspired," the bible says.
00:06:31.51\00:06:34.15
Literally that
means "God-breathed."
00:06:34.18\00:06:38.13
But you say, well,
how did God get through
00:06:38.16\00:06:39.96
without
computers or cell phones?
00:06:39.99\00:06:42.52
Ah!
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God said in Numbers 12:6,
00:06:43.93\00:06:46.63
"If there is a
prophet among you,
00:06:46.66\00:06:49.01
I, the Lord, make Myself
known to him in a vision,
00:06:49.04\00:06:53.64
I speak to him in a dream."
00:06:53.67\00:06:57.32
God sent His messages
00:06:57.35\00:06:58.99
by impressing them
with holy thoughts,
00:06:59.02\00:07:01.92
and the Bible is the result.
00:07:01.95\00:07:04.21
This is God's love letter
to us saying, Lon, "I love you,
00:07:04.24\00:07:08.34
and I want to
keep in touch with you.
00:07:08.37\00:07:10.25
I want to guide
you. Help you, teach you.
00:07:10.28\00:07:12.39
Instruct you."
00:07:12.42\00:07:14.33
And all the Bible
authors were part of that plan.
00:07:14.36\00:07:17.96
God speaking to us
through the prophets.
00:07:17.99\00:07:22.61
But now here's
something we tend to forget.
00:07:22.64\00:07:25.70
When Jesus returned
to heaven the Bible says
00:07:25.73\00:07:28.90
that God planned to still
send prophets to keep in touch.
00:07:28.93\00:07:33.89
Notice Ephesians 4:8,
00:07:33.92\00:07:36.63
"Wherefore He saith,
when He ascended up on high,
00:07:36.66\00:07:40.93
He led captivity captive,
and He gave gifts unto men."
00:07:40.96\00:07:45.89
I want you to notice what these
gifts were in Ephesians 4:11
00:07:45.92\00:07:50.51
"And He gave some, apostles
00:07:50.54\00:07:52.17
and some, prophets
and some, evangelists,
00:07:52.20\00:07:55.69
and some, pastors and teachers."
00:07:55.72\00:07:59.27
Why? Why these gifts?
00:07:59.30\00:08:02.04
Verse 12 says,
00:08:02.07\00:08:03.65
"For the
perfecting of the saints,
00:08:03.68\00:08:05.58
for the work of the ministry,
00:08:05.61\00:08:07.25
for the edifying of
the body of Christ."
00:08:07.28\00:08:11.78
Well, someone says,
00:08:11.81\00:08:12.84
how long are these
gifts to remain in the church?
00:08:12.87\00:08:14.77
Notice Ephesians 4:13,
00:08:14.80\00:08:17.90
"Till we all come in
the unity of the faith,
00:08:17.93\00:08:20.73
and of the
knowledge of the Son of God
00:08:20.76\00:08:22.47
unto the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ."
00:08:22.50\00:08:27.50
The gifts strengthen, encourage,
00:08:27.53\00:08:30.09
and give ongoing
stability to our Lord's church.
00:08:30.12\00:08:34.21
Ephesians 4:14,
"That we henceforth be
00:08:34.24\00:08:37.21
no more children,
tossed to and fro,
00:08:37.24\00:08:39.44
and carried about with
every wind of doctrine,
00:08:39.47\00:08:41.29
by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness,
00:08:41.32\00:08:44.21
whereby they lie
and wait to deceive."
00:08:44.24\00:08:48.42
Let me put it this way.
00:08:48.45\00:08:50.19
God's prophets are
the eyes of the church.
00:08:50.22\00:08:55.55
What would we do
without our eyes?
00:08:55.58\00:08:57.68
Pretty necessary for
us to function, right?
00:08:57.71\00:09:00.08
In fact, Paul likened the church
00:09:00.11\00:09:03.40
to the body of Christ.
00:09:03.43\00:09:05.32
Now body has ears, has feet,
has a head, hands, and eyes.
00:09:05.35\00:09:11.06
1 Corinthians 12:27,
"You are the body of Christ."
00:09:11.09\00:09:17.73
And over in Colossians 1:18
00:09:17.76\00:09:20.44
"And He is the head
of the body, the church."
00:09:20.47\00:09:26.10
We see without eyes,
while our body and head
00:09:26.13\00:09:29.95
we'd soon lose our way, right?
00:09:29.98\00:09:32.31
Without vision the
church would be blind, too,
00:09:32.34\00:09:36.01
that's why we need prophets.
00:09:36.04\00:09:38.27
Another word for prophets
is "seers" the Bible says.
00:09:38.30\00:09:42.44
Proverbs 29:18,
00:09:42.47\00:09:45.21
"Where there is no
vision, the people perish."
00:09:45.24\00:09:50.72
Now someone says, "Well,
maybe that was in Bible times,
00:09:50.75\00:09:54.54
but are we to have modern
prophets, Lonnie, visions, too?
00:09:54.57\00:09:58.33
I mean, there's lot
of weird stuff out there.
00:09:58.36\00:10:00.35
Jean Dixon. Mohammed.
Joseph Smith. Mary Baker Eddy.
00:10:00.38\00:10:05.62
What about all those?"
00:10:05.65\00:10:08.06
Folks, the Bible is
crystal clear in Acts 2:17, 18
00:10:08.09\00:10:12.82
that we are to have prophets.
00:10:12.85\00:10:15.60
I want you to notice.
00:10:15.63\00:10:17.69
"And it shall come to pass
in the last days, says God,
00:10:17.72\00:10:21.77
that I will pour out
My Spirit on all flesh,
00:10:21.80\00:10:24.78
your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy,
00:10:24.81\00:10:27.86
your young men
shall see visions,
00:10:27.89\00:10:29.57
your old men shall dream dreams.
00:10:29.60\00:10:31.79
And on My menservants
and on My maidservants
00:10:31.82\00:10:34.98
I will pour out My
Spirit in those days
00:10:35.01\00:10:37.13
and they shall prophesy."
00:10:37.16\00:10:40.81
1 Corinthians 1:6-8 says
00:10:40.84\00:10:44.16
"So that you
come short in no gift,
00:10:44.19\00:10:47.15
eagerly waiting
for the revelation
00:10:47.18\00:10:48.61
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:10:48.64\00:10:49.96
who will also
confirm you to the end."
00:10:49.99\00:10:53.71
Friend, do you see God's
last day called out people
00:10:53.74\00:10:59.18
will have these
gifts including prophecy.
00:10:59.21\00:11:02.21
It's just that simple.
00:11:02.24\00:11:04.32
Oh, but you got to watch out
00:11:04.35\00:11:05.38
because Jesus
warned in Matthew 7:15,
00:11:05.41\00:11:08.69
"Beware" Lonnie,
"of false prophets,
00:11:08.72\00:11:11.82
who come to you
in sheep's clothing,
00:11:11.85\00:11:14.39
but inwardly they
are ravenous wolves."
00:11:14.42\00:11:17.79
Jesus said, you
got to watch out.
00:11:17.82\00:11:19.68
It might look like this sheep
but inside a ravenous wolf.
00:11:19.71\00:11:27.64
Jesus also said
in Matthew 24:24,
00:11:27.67\00:11:31.41
"For false christs and
false prophets will rise
00:11:31.44\00:11:34.81
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
00:11:34.84\00:11:37.33
if possible, even the elect."
00:11:37.36\00:11:41.41
Now He doesn't say
reject all modern prophets,
00:11:41.44\00:11:44.58
just the false ones.
00:11:44.61\00:11:46.41
In 1 Thessalonians
5:20, 21 Paul tells us,
00:11:46.44\00:11:51.04
Lon, "Do not despise prophecies.
00:11:51.07\00:11:53.98
Test all things,
hold fast what is good."
00:11:54.01\00:11:58.69
If I would tell you I
was holding in my hand here
00:11:58.72\00:12:00.39
a counterfeit $13 bill would
anybody out there believe me?
00:12:00.42\00:12:04.30
Of course not. Why?
00:12:04.33\00:12:07.37
Because friend,
there's no genuine $13 bill.
00:12:07.40\00:12:10.70
No fool would waste
time making a counterfeit
00:12:10.73\00:12:13.78
if there were no genuine.
00:12:13.81\00:12:15.09
Do you see the parallel?
00:12:15.12\00:12:16.84
See, Satan isn't going to
waste his time here in the end
00:12:16.87\00:12:19.86
counterfeiting
with a lot of false
00:12:19.89\00:12:21.55
prophets in the last days,
00:12:21.58\00:12:23.02
if there isn't a
true genuine around.
00:12:23.05\00:12:26.57
When Jesus says, "Right
down at the very end of time,
00:12:26.60\00:12:29.36
Lon, watch out
for false prophets!"
00:12:29.39\00:12:31.45
He's indicating, "Lonnie,
there are true prophets, too.
00:12:31.48\00:12:34.63
Beware of false prophets.
00:12:34.66\00:12:36.68
Yet at the same time,
00:12:36.71\00:12:38.15
believe in God's
true gift of prophecy."
00:12:38.18\00:12:42.62
By the way do you
know what happened
00:12:42.65\00:12:43.75
to the gift of prophecy
00:12:43.78\00:12:45.39
after Christ ascended to heaven,
00:12:45.42\00:12:47.64
after His apostles and
all of the disciples died?
00:12:47.67\00:12:52.16
Well, sad to say, not
many generations passed
00:12:52.19\00:12:55.30
until the New Testament
church became so careless
00:12:55.33\00:12:58.54
and so unfaithful to God
that prophecy basically ceased.
00:12:58.57\00:13:03.95
There was so much heresy,
00:13:03.98\00:13:05.41
so much apostasy
the prophetic gift
00:13:05.44\00:13:08.17
became mute for centuries.
00:13:08.20\00:13:11.39
In fact, Jeremiah
records what always happens
00:13:11.42\00:13:14.67
whenever God's
people apostatize.
00:13:14.70\00:13:16.70
Lamentations 2:9
"The law is no more,
00:13:16.73\00:13:22.17
and her prophets no longer
find visions from the Lord."
00:13:22.20\00:13:27.12
Friend, you check it
out throughout the Bible.
00:13:27.15\00:13:29.80
Whenever God's
people abandoned God's law
00:13:29.83\00:13:32.57
especially the Sabbath,
boom, the lights went out.
00:13:32.60\00:13:37.46
The gift of prophecy died out.
00:13:37.49\00:13:40.34
And Proverbs 29:18 says,
00:13:40.37\00:13:42.79
"Where there is
no prophetic vision,
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.45
the people perish."
00:13:45.48\00:13:49.09
So in the early centuries
of the Christian church,
00:13:49.12\00:13:51.36
when it apostatized and adopted
pagan rites and practices,
00:13:51.39\00:13:54.68
and jettisoned fundamental
Bible truths, guess what?
00:13:54.71\00:13:58.78
One by one the
spiritual gifts dried up.
00:13:58.81\00:14:03.22
During those Dark Ages,
00:14:03.25\00:14:04.87
there were very,
very few evangelists,
00:14:04.90\00:14:07.41
few pastors, few teachers.
00:14:07.44\00:14:09.48
Bibles were literally
locked up and chained shut.
00:14:09.51\00:14:12.35
Forbidden for anyone to
own or read or interpret.
00:14:12.38\00:14:16.19
Just a little handful
of true Christians secretly
00:14:16.22\00:14:19.63
holding tenaciously to
New Testament Bible truth.
00:14:19.66\00:14:22.97
God's precious little remnant,
00:14:23.00\00:14:25.22
as we've studied despite
persecution they hung on.
00:14:25.25\00:14:29.60
And the gift of prophecy
was all but extinguished
00:14:29.63\00:14:34.32
until finally after 1,500
years John Wycliffe, Luther,
00:14:34.35\00:14:40.65
and others slowly began
turning on the lights again,
00:14:40.68\00:14:44.98
translating the Bible
00:14:45.01\00:14:46.12
into the common
languages of the people.
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.17
Secretly distributing them.
00:14:48.20\00:14:49.96
Punished if the
authorities found out.
00:14:49.99\00:14:51.99
But persecution only
whetted people's appetite
00:14:52.02\00:14:55.22
for more of God's Word.
00:14:55.25\00:14:56.90
And old truths
that were obscured
00:14:56.93\00:14:59.12
for centuries began to surface.
00:14:59.15\00:15:01.70
The great religious awakening
of the reformation exploded.
00:15:01.73\00:15:05.62
The Renaissance brought
light and truth and revival.
00:15:05.65\00:15:10.05
Spiritual power
began to spread like fire
00:15:10.08\00:15:12.50
through many, many churches.
00:15:12.53\00:15:13.98
Bible societies were born
00:15:14.01\00:15:15.93
translating the Bible
into dozens of languages.
00:15:15.96\00:15:18.27
And guess what happened?
00:15:18.30\00:15:21.00
Evangelists, pastors, teachers,
00:15:21.03\00:15:24.28
the gifts of the spirit began
coming back into the church.
00:15:24.31\00:15:27.79
And by the mid-1800s,
00:15:27.82\00:15:29.79
the long-absent gift of prophecy
00:15:29.82\00:15:33.05
was restored to God's people.
00:15:33.08\00:15:35.07
The Spirit of Prophecy
00:15:35.10\00:15:36.72
to a group of
dedicated Baptists, Methodists,
00:15:36.75\00:15:40.24
Congregationalists,
Presbyterians,
00:15:40.27\00:15:42.16
and others who were earnestly
00:15:42.19\00:15:44.05
searching the Scriptures
and praying for light.
00:15:44.08\00:15:47.74
Are these believers by the
way were down in South America,
00:15:47.77\00:15:50.40
they were over in
England, in Europe,
00:15:50.43\00:15:52.41
and in the New England
states of North America.
00:15:52.44\00:15:55.05
As they searched the
Bible from cover to cover,
00:15:55.08\00:15:57.48
they discovered something,
00:15:57.51\00:15:59.39
they discovered God's
Law was being trampled on.
00:15:59.42\00:16:02.53
God's great
memorial of creation,
00:16:02.56\00:16:04.62
the day that God asked His
people specially to remember
00:16:04.65\00:16:09.13
and they read the
Book of Revelation
00:16:09.16\00:16:10.47
and they saw there
00:16:10.50\00:16:11.53
the description of
God's last-day people.
00:16:11.56\00:16:13.86
In Revelation 14:12, which says
00:16:13.89\00:16:16.47
"Here is the
patience of the saints
00:16:16.50\00:16:18.67
here are they that keep
the commandments of God,
00:16:18.70\00:16:21.82
and the faith of Jesus."
00:16:21.85\00:16:24.61
They were impressed
00:16:24.64\00:16:26.22
that keeping the
Commandments of God
00:16:26.25\00:16:28.22
involved keeping
the Bible Sabbath.
00:16:28.25\00:16:32.57
Simultaneously, as
these sincere Baptist,
00:16:32.60\00:16:36.00
Methodists and
Christians of different faiths
00:16:36.03\00:16:38.47
as they courageously recovered
00:16:38.50\00:16:40.45
that missing fundamental
reformation Sabbath truth,
00:16:40.48\00:16:43.93
guess what happened?
00:16:43.96\00:16:45.72
The missing spiritual gift,
00:16:45.75\00:16:47.72
the gift of
prophecy was also restored.
00:16:47.75\00:16:51.87
You see, God had been waiting.
00:16:51.90\00:16:53.74
Wanting to get back in touch
with His last-day people again
00:16:53.77\00:16:57.59
just like He predicted
00:16:57.62\00:16:58.67
He would do back
in Joel 2:28, 31.
00:16:58.70\00:17:03.19
And they
discovered in Revelation 12:17
00:17:03.22\00:17:06.16
that God's special called
out ones from Babylon are those
00:17:06.19\00:17:12.27
"who keep the
commandments of God
00:17:12.30\00:17:14.65
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:17:14.68\00:17:18.78
Well, what was this
"testimony of Jesus?"
00:17:18.81\00:17:22.39
Over the page they
read in Revelation 19:10,
00:17:22.42\00:17:26.08
"The testimony of Jesus
00:17:26.11\00:17:28.00
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:17:28.03\00:17:34.26
In other words, in the last days
00:17:34.29\00:17:36.17
we must look for
a Bible-based church
00:17:36.20\00:17:39.28
characterized by
having the faith of Jesus,
00:17:39.31\00:17:42.45
keeping all the
Commandments of God,
00:17:42.48\00:17:44.08
and being blessed by
the gift of prophecy.
00:17:44.11\00:17:48.20
Because God still
wants to keep in touch.
00:17:48.23\00:17:50.87
He still has something
to say to this generation.
00:17:50.90\00:17:55.00
Oh, but you ask,
Lonnie, wait a minute.
00:17:55.03\00:17:56.59
"What about the
possibility of deception?
00:17:56.62\00:17:59.33
How can we tell
the difference between
00:17:59.36\00:18:01.07
a genuine prophet of
God and an imposter?"
00:18:01.10\00:18:06.16
You know, throughout history
there have been false prophets.
00:18:06.19\00:18:09.25
In fact, that's why the Bible
lists detailed qualifications,
00:18:09.28\00:18:13.33
distinct characteristics
that identify a true prophet.
00:18:13.36\00:18:17.56
Let's just look
at some of these.
00:18:17.59\00:18:19.72
First of all, a
true prophet's message
00:18:19.75\00:18:22.02
will be in complete harmony
with God's Word and His law.
00:18:22.05\00:18:26.64
Isaiah 8:20,
00:18:26.67\00:18:28.79
"To the law and to the testimony
00:18:28.82\00:18:31.45
if they speak not
according to this word,
00:18:31.48\00:18:33.60
it is because there
is no Light in them."
00:18:33.63\00:18:38.69
Secondly, a true prophet's
predictions come to pass.
00:18:38.72\00:18:43.02
We look at Jeremiah 28:9,
00:18:43.05\00:18:46.60
"When the word of the
prophet shall come to pass,
00:18:46.63\00:18:50.18
then shall the prophet be known,
00:18:50.21\00:18:52.22
that the Lord
hath truly sent him."
00:18:52.25\00:18:55.80
Third, a true
prophet edifies the church.
00:18:55.83\00:19:00.61
Not out there to get
rich like some psychics on TV.
00:19:00.64\00:19:03.71
They instruct. They encourage.
00:19:03.74\00:19:06.16
They counsel.
They point out sin.
00:19:06.19\00:19:08.51
They are not about trying to
go to the tabloid and project
00:19:08.54\00:19:11.47
who movie stars
are gonna marry next?
00:19:11.50\00:19:13.26
No.
00:19:13.29\00:19:14.33
1 Corinthians 14:3, 4, says
00:19:14.36\00:19:17.61
"But he that prophesieth
00:19:17.64\00:19:19.27
speaketh unto
men to edification,
00:19:19.30\00:19:21.91
and exhortation, and comfort
00:19:21.94\00:19:24.10
but he that prophesieth
edifieth the church."
00:19:24.13\00:19:28.68
Fourth "A true prophet
always exalts Jesus Christ
00:19:28.71\00:19:32.80
as the Son of God and
the Savoir of mankind."
00:19:32.83\00:19:35.47
1 John 4:1, 2 says,
00:19:35.50\00:19:38.29
"Beloved,
believe not every spirit,
00:19:38.32\00:19:40.73
but try the spirits,
whether they are of God,
00:19:40.76\00:19:43.15
because many false prophets
are gone out into the world.
00:19:43.18\00:19:46.65
Every spirit that confesseth
00:19:46.68\00:19:48.34
that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God."
00:19:48.37\00:19:53.35
Number five, a true
prophet or prophetess
00:19:53.38\00:19:57.10
can be known by his
or her life and works.
00:19:57.13\00:20:01.39
Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, 18,
00:20:01.42\00:20:05.51
Lon, "By their fruit
you will recognize them.
00:20:05.54\00:20:08.99
A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit,
00:20:09.02\00:20:11.43
and a bad tree
cannot bear good fruit."
00:20:11.46\00:20:15.57
Number six,
00:20:15.60\00:20:17.52
a true prophet never disagrees
with previous prophets.
00:20:17.55\00:20:24.38
This is an important text,
1 Corinthians 14:32, it's says
00:20:24.41\00:20:28.60
"And the spirits of the prophets
00:20:28.63\00:20:32.41
are subject to the prophets."
00:20:32.44\00:20:34.50
In other words,
they never say, well,
00:20:34.53\00:20:37.89
"I've got new light.
00:20:37.92\00:20:40.01
I supersede the Bible."
00:20:40.04\00:20:42.45
And ladies and
gentlemen, listen carefully.
00:20:42.48\00:20:44.06
There are some denominations,
00:20:44.09\00:20:45.39
there are major ones out
there in our country who claim,
00:20:45.42\00:20:48.14
"We have a prophet,
and our prophet has new
00:20:48.17\00:20:50.84
different light from the Bible."
00:20:50.87\00:20:53.28
That's a yellow flag, Paul says.
00:20:53.31\00:20:55.45
Watch out because "The
spirits of the prophets
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.57
are subject to the prophets."
00:20:58.60\00:21:00.56
They line up with all
these spiritual tests.
00:21:00.59\00:21:04.43
And by the way,
while not a biblical test,
00:21:04.46\00:21:07.08
true prophets
have often experienced
00:21:07.11\00:21:09.74
some rather
unusual physical phenomena,
00:21:09.77\00:21:12.44
especially while in vision.
00:21:12.47\00:21:14.59
Quickly, I want you to
just notice five of these.
00:21:14.62\00:21:17.75
The person is in
a trance-like state.
00:21:17.78\00:21:20.37
That comes from Acts 10:10.
00:21:20.40\00:21:22.87
The person does not breath
while in vision, Daniel 10:17.
00:21:22.90\00:21:27.79
Then the person's
natural strength departs.
00:21:27.82\00:21:30.87
They might even faint
or pass out, Daniel 10:8.
00:21:30.90\00:21:34.71
Then the person is given
brief supernatural strength,
00:21:34.74\00:21:38.25
Daniel 10:18.
00:21:38.28\00:21:40.37
And an unusual phenomenon
00:21:40.40\00:21:42.00
is that the
person's eyes remain open
00:21:42.03\00:21:45.17
during the entire
time of that vision.
00:21:45.20\00:21:46.64
That's Numbers 24:3, 4, 16.
00:21:46.67\00:21:51.16
So friend, no matter who
claims to be a prophet for God,
00:21:51.19\00:21:55.19
you got to apply
the biblical tests.
00:21:55.22\00:21:58.00
If they pass, thank God.
00:21:58.03\00:22:00.98
If they don't,
00:22:01.01\00:22:02.77
then you got to follow
Christ's warning, be cautious.
00:22:02.80\00:22:06.76
The Voice of
Prophecy says clearly,
00:22:06.79\00:22:08.93
that God's last-day remnant,
00:22:08.96\00:22:11.59
they have two identifying marks.
00:22:11.62\00:22:15.39
Question is has that happened?
00:22:15.42\00:22:18.30
Are there a people out there
00:22:18.33\00:22:20.47
who keep all the
commandments of God
00:22:20.50\00:22:22.97
and they also have
the testimony of Jesus,
00:22:23.00\00:22:25.61
the gift of prophecy?
00:22:25.64\00:22:28.70
I want to tell
you an amazing story,
00:22:28.73\00:22:30.98
about a woman
born in the 1800's,
00:22:31.01\00:22:33.85
into this confusing
world of different religions
00:22:33.88\00:22:36.92
and multi-denominations
00:22:36.95\00:22:38.53
that exploded out
of the reformation days
00:22:38.56\00:22:40.92
and I personally believe
that God clearly used her
00:22:40.95\00:22:45.06
to establish
exactly the kind of church
00:22:45.09\00:22:47.36
we've been talking about.
00:22:47.39\00:22:49.31
It's a very
beautiful story how God chose
00:22:49.34\00:22:51.68
to "keep in touch"
with His people around 1800
00:22:51.71\00:22:55.49
as Christians began
making known to the world truths
00:22:55.52\00:22:58.20
which had lain
dormant for centuries,
00:22:58.23\00:23:00.34
including the Sabbath truth
which came to these believers
00:23:00.37\00:23:04.19
through our friends
the Seventh-day Baptists.
00:23:04.22\00:23:08.29
Now you look back in
the history of North America
00:23:08.32\00:23:10.13
it was the time of the
great religious awakening
00:23:10.16\00:23:13.55
and in Europe, South America,
00:23:13.58\00:23:16.10
the early 19th Century a
time of tremendous interest
00:23:16.13\00:23:18.96
particularly in
Bible study and prayer
00:23:18.99\00:23:22.15
and the prophecies of
Daniel and Revelation.
00:23:22.18\00:23:26.57
But then came
along something called
00:23:26.60\00:23:28.07
the "Great
Disappointment" of 1844
00:23:28.10\00:23:30.78
that crushed the followers of
00:23:30.81\00:23:32.15
Baptist
preacher, William Miller.
00:23:32.18\00:23:34.03
Lutherans. Methodists.
00:23:34.06\00:23:35.18
Congregationalists they
all suffered unbearable pain.
00:23:35.21\00:23:39.71
The wonderful great revival
in many of these churches
00:23:39.74\00:23:42.22
that "Jesus is
Coming again" was in crisis.
00:23:42.25\00:23:46.65
Jesus wasn't
coming. He didn't come.
00:23:46.68\00:23:49.34
Now what?
00:23:49.37\00:23:50.92
Would God forsake all
these sincere lovers of Jesus
00:23:50.95\00:23:54.70
and seekers for truth?
00:23:54.73\00:23:57.13
Friend, no. He never does.
00:23:57.16\00:24:00.65
He wanted them to know He cared.
00:24:00.68\00:24:03.43
And at this most crucial moment,
00:24:03.46\00:24:05.49
God chose to restore the
gift of prophecy to His people
00:24:05.52\00:24:10.16
and surprisingly, He
called upon one of His
00:24:10.19\00:24:13.55
young
handmaidens her name, Ellen.
00:24:13.58\00:24:18.37
Ellen Harmon
received her first vision
00:24:18.40\00:24:21.86
right after that
Great Disappointment,
00:24:21.89\00:24:24.14
in December of 1844.
00:24:24.17\00:24:27.50
Now she had been a Methodist.
00:24:27.53\00:24:29.64
But she was shown
God's faithful people
00:24:29.67\00:24:32.98
who believed in the
advent travelling along
00:24:33.01\00:24:36.61
an elevated pathway to heaven
00:24:36.64\00:24:39.27
with a brilliant light
illuminating their way.
00:24:39.30\00:24:42.05
What an
encouragement this message was
00:24:42.08\00:24:44.08
to this scattered
group of believers,
00:24:44.11\00:24:45.93
who were nicknamed
because they believe
00:24:45.96\00:24:47.36
Jesus was coming
"Advents" or "Adventists,"
00:24:47.39\00:24:51.73
decades later to become
known as Seventh-day Adventists.
00:24:51.76\00:24:57.39
But for more than 70
years, she spoke, she wrote,
00:24:57.42\00:25:01.14
she taught, and
she counselled for God.
00:25:01.17\00:25:04.97
Her greatest work, as she put
00:25:05.00\00:25:07.29
it was to lead men and women
00:25:07.32\00:25:08.95
to the greater light, the Bible.
00:25:08.98\00:25:12.04
She championed the Scriptures
as the final court of appeal
00:25:12.07\00:25:15.45
in all doctrinal questions.
00:25:15.48\00:25:17.96
I'm quoting what she said.
00:25:17.99\00:25:19.03
She said, "Cling to
your Bible as it reads,
00:25:19.06\00:25:22.01
stop your criticism
in regard to its validity
00:25:22.04\00:25:24.42
and obey the Word,
00:25:24.45\00:25:25.87
and not one of
you will be lost."
00:25:25.90\00:25:29.07
You know, God
blessed her ministry.
00:25:29.10\00:25:31.63
Few authors ever produced
00:25:31.66\00:25:34.19
as much published
religious material
00:25:34.22\00:25:36.19
as Ellen White
did in her lifetime,
00:25:36.22\00:25:38.74
100,000 pages
that's over 52 books.
00:25:38.77\00:25:42.29
They would stand
higher than I'm here.
00:25:42.32\00:25:44.30
Magazine
articles, tracts, pamphlets,
00:25:44.33\00:25:46.74
personal letters of
counsel, advice, and reproof.
00:25:46.77\00:25:50.44
And by the way she
wrote widely on many subjects.
00:25:50.47\00:25:54.25
Doctors and
educators are still running
00:25:54.28\00:25:56.18
to catch up with
some of her insights.
00:25:56.21\00:25:59.15
Can you imagine she
wrote a book on education
00:25:59.18\00:26:03.32
she a person whose
formal education ended
00:26:03.35\00:26:05.67
at the age of nine-years-old.
00:26:05.70\00:26:08.67
Yet a professor at
Columbia University
00:26:08.70\00:26:11.31
has praised its
educational principles.
00:26:11.34\00:26:14.66
And frankly, it is
one of the great textbooks
00:26:14.69\00:26:16.37
of all time on education.
00:26:16.40\00:26:18.61
But she wrote on
diet, she wrote on health,
00:26:18.64\00:26:21.58
she wrote on medicine,
00:26:21.61\00:26:22.77
she wrote on
prenatal care and drugs,
00:26:22.80\00:26:24.81
marriage and the home,
children guidance of children,
00:26:24.84\00:26:27.61
families, much, much, more.
00:26:27.64\00:26:28.97
She wrote on
astronomy, she wrote on history,
00:26:29.00\00:26:31.83
she wrote on
church organization.
00:26:31.86\00:26:33.69
Numerous devotional books
all based totally on Scripture
00:26:33.72\00:26:38.83
and explaining it
in modern language.
00:26:38.86\00:26:42.87
Incidentally her
medical counsel helped found
00:26:42.90\00:26:45.72
Loma Linda
University Medical Centre
00:26:45.75\00:26:48.10
and hundreds of
hospitals belting our world,
00:26:48.13\00:26:51.52
300 high schools and colleges,
00:26:51.55\00:26:53.78
4,000 secondary
and elementary schools.
00:26:53.81\00:26:56.50
In fact, it's the largest
00:26:56.53\00:26:57.56
Protestant school
system in the world.
00:26:57.59\00:27:00.25
Seminaries,
universities all the result
00:27:00.28\00:27:03.00
of her writings
and her influence.
00:27:03.03\00:27:05.79
In fact, she's still
quoted by professors, doctors,
00:27:05.82\00:27:09.10
news commentators,
even by Paul Harvey News
00:27:09.13\00:27:12.29
and by the late
Dr. Clive M. McCay
00:27:12.32\00:27:14.61
from Cornell
University has an authority
00:27:14.64\00:27:17.32
in many of these fields.
00:27:17.35\00:27:19.97
Let me just give you an example.
00:27:20.00\00:27:21.97
As far back as 1864,
00:27:22.00\00:27:25.53
Ellen White wrote on
medicine making statements
00:27:25.56\00:27:29.55
people laughed at in her day.
00:27:29.58\00:27:31.82
Because she was so
far ahead of her time.
00:27:31.85\00:27:33.97
But she wrote
"Tobacco is a poison
00:27:34.00\00:27:38.74
of the most
deceitful and malignant kind.
00:27:38.77\00:27:41.87
It is all the more dangerous
00:27:41.90\00:27:43.08
because its effects
upon the system are so slow
00:27:43.11\00:27:46.23
and scarcely perceivable."
00:27:46.26\00:27:49.32
I want to know,
why is this remarkable?
00:27:49.35\00:27:51.73
Because doctors in her
day were prescribing smoking.
00:27:51.76\00:27:56.54
Medical science believed
tobacco and cigar smoke cured
00:27:56.57\00:28:01.30
certain kinds of lung
and repertory disease.
00:28:01.33\00:28:05.60
But she shared more.
00:28:05.63\00:28:07.84
You know, Mrs. White
never heard of a "virus"
00:28:07.87\00:28:10.58
not in her day but in 1905
00:28:10.61\00:28:13.28
she wrote that there
were cancerous germs.
00:28:13.31\00:28:18.66
"Fatal diseases can
be thus communicated"
00:28:18.69\00:28:21.07
she wrote in the
Ministry of Healing.
00:28:21.10\00:28:23.71
Ninety-three years later,
00:28:23.74\00:28:26.21
Newsweek Magazine
carried a headline story,
00:28:26.24\00:28:29.09
"Viruses are
Activating Factors in Cancer."
00:28:29.12\00:28:33.75
Way back in 1902,
Ellen White warned
00:28:33.78\00:28:36.23
San Francisco and Oakland
they'd be visited by the Lord
00:28:36.26\00:28:39.27
because they were becoming
like Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:28:39.30\00:28:42.81
On April 18, you know as
well as I do, 1906 at 5:12 a.m.,
00:28:42.84\00:28:48.15
the great San
Francisco earthquake occurred.
00:28:48.18\00:28:51.22
Her prophecy was true.
00:28:51.25\00:28:53.50
The predicted
judgment did take place.
00:28:53.53\00:28:57.87
Well, you say
who is Ellen White?
00:28:57.90\00:28:59.49
Who was she? What was she like?
00:28:59.52\00:29:02.74
Well, the answer takes us
back to November 26, 1827,
00:29:02.77\00:29:07.07
during the
presidency of John Quincy Adams.
00:29:07.10\00:29:10.96
When twin girls,
Elizabeth and Ellen
00:29:10.99\00:29:14.73
were born to a Methodist
family near Gorham, Maine.
00:29:14.76\00:29:19.03
Ellen was the last of eight
00:29:19.06\00:29:20.33
children born to
Eunice and Robert Harmon.
00:29:20.36\00:29:23.18
She was just a normal happy,
00:29:23.21\00:29:24.39
healthy little girl
until the age of nine.
00:29:24.42\00:29:28.12
But one day, an accident
changed her life forever.
00:29:28.15\00:29:32.23
Ellen and her sister were trying
00:29:32.26\00:29:34.02
to run away from an older girl,
00:29:34.05\00:29:35.80
a classmate, who
was chasing them.
00:29:35.83\00:29:38.34
And as they ran, Ellen turned
to see how close the girl was
00:29:38.37\00:29:43.11
and just then the
girl threw a rock,
00:29:43.14\00:29:45.86
struck her right on
the bridge of the nose
00:29:45.89\00:29:48.17
and seriously injured her.
00:29:48.20\00:29:50.02
For three weeks
she lay unconscious.
00:29:50.05\00:29:52.75
In fact, doctors didn't
give her much hope to live.
00:29:52.78\00:29:55.92
Ellen, never went
back to school again.
00:29:55.95\00:29:58.94
Doctors said she had TB
and would only live six months.
00:29:58.97\00:30:03.16
But little Ellen
she struggled on.
00:30:03.19\00:30:06.34
Since she could no
longer attend school,
00:30:06.37\00:30:08.03
she became an avid
student of the Bible
00:30:08.06\00:30:10.30
and started
attending religious meetings
00:30:10.33\00:30:11.82
and revivals and was converted
00:30:11.85\00:30:13.57
at a Methodist camp
meeting in Buxton, Maine.
00:30:13.60\00:30:16.68
Later, on June 26, 1842,
00:30:16.71\00:30:19.93
she was baptized
in the Atlantic Ocean
00:30:19.96\00:30:22.47
at Portland, Maine.
00:30:22.50\00:30:24.39
Well, she and
her family attended
00:30:24.42\00:30:25.76
meetings in Portland, Maine,
00:30:25.79\00:30:27.05
conducted by a
Baptist lay minister
00:30:27.08\00:30:28.87
by the name of William Miller,
who was a former army captain.
00:30:28.90\00:30:33.33
He was preaching
on the prophecies
00:30:33.36\00:30:34.67
of Daniel and Revelation.
00:30:34.70\00:30:36.49
And the Harmon
family they were absolutely
00:30:36.52\00:30:38.74
convinced of the truthfulness
of Miller's messages.
00:30:38.77\00:30:42.45
But then after the
great disappointment
00:30:42.48\00:30:44.54
of October 22, 1844,
00:30:44.57\00:30:47.88
they too including
Ellen were devastated
00:30:47.91\00:30:51.23
Jesus hadn't come.
00:30:51.26\00:30:53.40
Ellen was only 17.
00:30:53.43\00:30:55.37
She wept, she said, she prayed,
00:30:55.40\00:30:57.59
she studied God's
Word for an answer,
00:30:57.62\00:30:59.44
as did thousands of
the advent believers
00:30:59.47\00:31:01.96
all across New England.
00:31:01.99\00:31:03.27
What should they do,
00:31:03.30\00:31:04.33
should they give up their faith?
00:31:04.36\00:31:06.09
What do they do?
00:31:06.12\00:31:08.45
That was when God
called upon young Ellen Harmon
00:31:08.48\00:31:13.06
to be His prophetess.
00:31:13.09\00:31:15.03
"Me, she said? Me,
lord, me a prophet?
00:31:15.06\00:31:18.41
I'm 17-year-old girl,
I'm fighting tuberculosis,
00:31:18.44\00:31:21.55
I've got a heart condition?
00:31:21.58\00:31:22.69
Me help all of these
thousands of people?"
00:31:22.72\00:31:26.23
And in December of
1844, in her own words,
00:31:26.26\00:31:28.73
she tells of her
reaction, when God spoke to her.
00:31:28.76\00:31:31.66
She said, "After
I had the vision,
00:31:31.69\00:31:34.64
God gave me light,
00:31:34.67\00:31:37.33
He bade me deliver
it but I shrank from it.
00:31:37.36\00:31:40.50
I was young, and I thought
00:31:40.53\00:31:42.12
they would not
receive it from me."
00:31:42.15\00:31:44.83
Lord, I'm too
weak. I can't do it.
00:31:44.86\00:31:47.30
I don't have an education.
00:31:47.33\00:31:49.22
But the Lord told her,
"Ellen, I will strengthen you."
00:31:49.25\00:31:54.36
So, humbly she promised,
00:31:54.39\00:31:57.27
"Lord, if you can
use me, help yourself!"
00:31:57.30\00:32:00.94
And so it was that God
called young Ellen Harmon
00:32:00.97\00:32:04.57
to be His messenger
to His remnant people.
00:32:04.60\00:32:08.02
And I'll tell you, the
Lord did strengthen her.
00:32:08.05\00:32:11.16
On August 30, 1846,
00:32:11.19\00:32:13.12
Ellen married James
White, a young preacher.
00:32:13.15\00:32:16.71
Four boys were
born to Ellen and James
00:32:16.74\00:32:18.66
their names were Henry,
Edson, William, and Herbert.
00:32:18.69\00:32:22.72
Ellen Gould White
lived not only six months,
00:32:22.75\00:32:26.82
but she lived to the age of 87.
00:32:26.85\00:32:29.63
Seven decades longer
than doctors predicted.
00:32:29.66\00:32:33.14
And she died near St. Helena,
California July 16, 1915.
00:32:33.17\00:32:38.30
For 70 years of
faithful ministry
00:32:38.33\00:32:40.79
God used her to help the
world re-discover Bible truth,
00:32:40.82\00:32:46.26
guiding, instructing,
counselling, writing.
00:32:46.29\00:32:50.59
A few weeks after her death,
00:32:50.62\00:32:52.14
a New York newspaper
carried this statement.
00:32:52.17\00:32:55.81
"She showed no spiritual pride
and she sought no filthy lucre.
00:32:55.84\00:33:00.99
She lived the
life and did the work
00:33:01.02\00:33:02.89
of a worthy prophetess,
00:33:02.92\00:33:04.46
the most admirable of
the American succession."
00:33:04.49\00:33:10.42
Yes, her voice is now
stilled and her pen is at rest.
00:33:10.45\00:33:16.61
She's sleeping,
waiting for the resurrection.
00:33:16.64\00:33:21.07
But because of
her exemplary life
00:33:21.10\00:33:22.96
and the
marvellous unfailing guidance
00:33:22.99\00:33:24.99
that both she and her writings
have been to the church,
00:33:25.02\00:33:27.87
Seventh-day Adventists
believe the gift of prophecy
00:33:27.90\00:33:30.73
was manifested in the life
00:33:30.76\00:33:32.42
and work of Mrs. Ellen G. White.
00:33:32.45\00:33:35.29
No, she wasn't perfect.
00:33:35.32\00:33:37.23
She never originated any
new doctrine of the church.
00:33:37.26\00:33:40.69
In fact, she never
called herself a prophet.
00:33:40.72\00:33:42.69
She said, "I'm a messenger."
00:33:42.72\00:33:46.14
We don't accept her
writings in place of the Bible,
00:33:46.17\00:33:49.13
or even as a part of the
bible, or as an addition to it.
00:33:49.16\00:33:53.44
We accept her for
what she claimed to be
00:33:53.47\00:33:56.06
a manifestation of
the "gift of prophecy"
00:33:56.09\00:33:59.72
promised God's
church in these last days
00:33:59.75\00:34:02.54
as specified in
Revelation 12:17.
00:34:02.57\00:34:06.03
Not to take the
place of Scripture.
00:34:06.06\00:34:08.48
Never.
00:34:08.51\00:34:10.07
Her writings only
magnify the Scriptures,
00:34:10.10\00:34:15.50
help make them more plain.
00:34:15.53\00:34:17.88
Her writings are
God's magnifying glass.
00:34:17.91\00:34:22.05
That's what a
prophet's supposed to do,
00:34:22.08\00:34:24.07
magnify and
support the Scriptures.
00:34:24.10\00:34:27.65
A magnifying glass, does it
change the writing on a page?
00:34:27.68\00:34:32.18
No.
00:34:32.21\00:34:33.84
Only helps to see the
print more clearly, doesn't it.
00:34:33.87\00:34:37.10
And over and over again
that's what she said she was.
00:34:37.13\00:34:39.54
She says, "My writings
aren't to give new light,
00:34:39.57\00:34:42.88
but to impress
vividly upon the heart
00:34:42.91\00:34:45.45
the truths of
inspiration already revealed."
00:34:45.48\00:34:50.25
In fact, at the
close of one of her last
00:34:50.28\00:34:52.44
large public meetings,
00:34:52.47\00:34:53.50
a large meeting as
she turned to sit down
00:34:53.53\00:34:55.40
after she spoke at the
podium she turned around
00:34:55.43\00:34:58.35
and she walked
back up to the pulpit
00:34:58.38\00:35:00.35
and picking up the Bible,
00:35:00.38\00:35:02.02
she pressed that
Bible close to her
00:35:02.05\00:35:05.26
and then she held it
outstretched on her hands
00:35:05.29\00:35:07.26
and she said,
"Brothers and sisters,
00:35:07.29\00:35:09.70
I commend to you this Book."
00:35:09.73\00:35:12.35
Not my writings. This Book.
00:35:12.38\00:35:16.14
That's just the
kind of woman she was.
00:35:16.17\00:35:19.59
Ellen died in 1915,
00:35:19.62\00:35:22.42
yet if you go
out to the internet
00:35:22.45\00:35:23.94
and you do a little word
search for Ellen G. White,
00:35:23.97\00:35:26.54
you'll quickly discover
that she is one of today's most
00:35:26.57\00:35:29.06
"tested" prophets,
criticized too by many.
00:35:29.09\00:35:32.39
She's been
attacked umpteen times.
00:35:32.42\00:35:35.33
But I want you to go to
this website for another view,
00:35:35.36\00:35:37.45
www.whiteestate.org.
00:35:37.48\00:35:43.31
I encourage you to
visit the EGW Estate website
00:35:43.34\00:35:46.34
to learn more
about her life, writings,
00:35:46.37\00:35:48.73
and to research any questions
00:35:48.76\00:35:50.26
you may have
regarding her ministry.
00:35:50.29\00:35:53.05
Her legacy, you see,
00:35:53.08\00:35:55.21
is a message to earth
from across the universe,
00:35:55.24\00:36:00.44
from a God of
love who still wants
00:36:00.47\00:36:02.48
to keep in touch
with His children
00:36:02.51\00:36:04.15
just before Jesus comes.
00:36:04.18\00:36:06.47
And God promised He'd do
that in 1 Corinthians 1:4-8
00:36:06.50\00:36:11.05
Paul says, "I thank my
God always concerning you
00:36:11.08\00:36:13.99
for the grace of God
00:36:14.02\00:36:15.13
which was given to
you by Christ Jesus,
00:36:15.16\00:36:17.08
that you were
enriched in everything by Him
00:36:17.11\00:36:20.08
in all utterance
and all knowledge,
00:36:20.11\00:36:21.96
even as the testimony of
Christ was confirmed in you,
00:36:21.99\00:36:25.22
so that you come
short in no gift,
00:36:25.25\00:36:28.42
eagerly waiting
for the revelation
00:36:28.45\00:36:30.05
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:36:30.08\00:36:31.56
who will also
confirm you to the end,
00:36:31.59\00:36:34.23
that you may be
blameless in the day
00:36:34.26\00:36:36.21
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:36:36.24\00:36:39.17
God says to us today
in 2 Chronicles 20:20,
00:36:39.20\00:36:42.39
Lon, "Believe in
the Lord your God,
00:36:42.42\00:36:45.52
and you shall be established,
believe His prophets,
00:36:45.55\00:36:49.60
and you shall prosper."
00:36:49.63\00:36:52.06
Isn't that encouraging?
He has given us guidance.
00:36:52.09\00:36:55.80
He has given us hope for today.
00:36:55.83\00:36:58.24
And He has given us
prophetic guidance for tomorrow,
00:36:58.27\00:37:01.28
just as He has all through time.
00:37:01.31\00:37:04.38
Through the Voice of Prophecy,
00:37:04.41\00:37:06.24
I simply want you
ladies and gentlemen,
00:37:06.27\00:37:09.24
I want to invite you to
examine some of these books.
00:37:09.27\00:37:12.87
Read a couple
of them. Test them.
00:37:12.90\00:37:15.15
Every one is
written simply, clearly.
00:37:15.18\00:37:18.51
Take this little
book "Steps to Christ"
00:37:18.54\00:37:21.22
or the "Desire of Ages."
00:37:21.25\00:37:23.73
Take them home,
your downlink location
00:37:23.76\00:37:25.94
is making this one available
particularly giving it away
00:37:25.97\00:37:28.67
so that you can take a look at
these possibilities these books
00:37:28.70\00:37:32.26
and how they can
enrich your life.
00:37:32.29\00:37:34.68
You know, "Steps to Christ"
00:37:34.71\00:37:35.77
is one of my favorite
devotionals of all time.
00:37:35.80\00:37:38.50
I've worked it so
badly it torn to pieces.
00:37:38.53\00:37:41.53
This book has been
published in more languages
00:37:41.56\00:37:43.74
than any other
religious book except the Bible.
00:37:43.77\00:37:47.20
If you enjoy the
preaching of my messages
00:37:47.23\00:37:49.63
from night to night, friends,
00:37:49.66\00:37:51.56
it's because of
the wonderful impact
00:37:51.59\00:37:53.19
that these books have
made on me personally.
00:37:53.22\00:37:56.13
They have helped me
fall in love with Jesus
00:37:56.16\00:37:58.13
and get back to the Word of
God and study Bible prophecy.
00:37:58.16\00:38:01.23
And Hosea 12:10, 13 says,
00:38:01.26\00:38:04.40
"I have so
spoken by the prophets,
00:38:04.43\00:38:06.31
and have multiplied visions,
00:38:06.34\00:38:07.90
I have given symbols through
the witness of the prophets
00:38:07.93\00:38:11.11
by a prophet the Lord
brought Israel out of Egypt,
00:38:11.14\00:38:14.62
and by a prophet
he was preserved."
00:38:14.65\00:38:19.61
It's a very precious gift,
friend, the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:38:19.64\00:38:25.19
Will you consider these
messages from beyond the stars?
00:38:25.22\00:38:28.74
Good news, comforting news
00:38:28.77\00:38:30.68
that God still
speaks through His prophets.
00:38:30.71\00:38:33.97
And I promise you,
the time of trouble
00:38:34.00\00:38:36.23
and the seven last
plagues are not to be feared,
00:38:36.26\00:38:38.52
not when you've
got God on your side.
00:38:38.55\00:38:41.43
That's why this
could be the most
00:38:41.46\00:38:43.13
important
commitment of your life.
00:38:43.16\00:38:46.35
Listen as Joey and Phil sing.
00:38:46.38\00:38:49.31
The eyes of God
00:38:55.19\00:38:59.39
Are upon me
00:38:59.42\00:39:04.17
He sees everything
00:39:04.20\00:39:08.37
That I dream
00:39:08.40\00:39:13.22
The arms of God
00:39:13.25\00:39:17.18
Are around me
00:39:17.21\00:39:21.88
He keeps me
00:39:21.91\00:39:24.52
Safe and secure
00:39:24.55\00:39:31.66
And He knows where I am
00:39:31.69\00:39:36.69
Every hour of everyday
00:39:36.72\00:39:41.70
He knows each thought I think
00:39:41.73\00:39:45.60
He knows each
word that I might say
00:39:45.63\00:39:50.72
And although there are times
00:39:50.75\00:39:55.11
I stepped out of His will
00:39:55.14\00:40:01.45
I've never been
00:40:01.48\00:40:04.77
Out of His care
00:40:04.80\00:40:10.95
I've never been
00:40:10.98\00:40:14.37
Out of His care
00:40:14.40\00:40:19.37
Let us pray.
00:40:26.04\00:40:27.25
Heavenly Father,
00:40:27.28\00:40:29.35
Lord, we found
something very precious tonight.
00:40:29.38\00:40:33.09
Make find a place in our lives
00:40:33.12\00:40:34.78
and help us to keep our
feet on the path of truth
00:40:34.81\00:40:38.62
and our eyes fixed on
heaven, especially Jesus.
00:40:38.65\00:40:43.35
Thank You for Your
continued revelations
00:40:43.38\00:40:45.51
throughout all times
00:40:45.54\00:40:47.34
and for the promise of
your presence in the day ahead.
00:40:47.37\00:40:50.59
We pray in Jesus name.
00:40:50.62\00:40:53.93
Right now I would like to have
you take your commitment cards.
00:40:53.96\00:40:58.18
Turn to them, right now
00:40:58.21\00:40:59.24
the row captains will
be passing down to you
00:40:59.27\00:41:01.17
and like to have you
respond a couple of decision,
00:41:01.20\00:41:05.04
though questions.
00:41:05.07\00:41:06.10
First of all I think
everyone could check this.
00:41:06.13\00:41:09.52
I believe God still
speaks through His prophets.
00:41:09.55\00:41:14.55
Just check that if you believe
00:41:14.58\00:41:15.74
God does speak
through His prophets.
00:41:15.77\00:41:18.88
Number two, by God's grace
00:41:18.91\00:41:21.18
I commit my
life to Jesus Christ,
00:41:21.21\00:41:23.64
repent of my sins, and
accept His gift of eternal life.
00:41:23.67\00:41:28.33
I hope there will be many that
will chose to check number two.
00:41:28.36\00:41:31.13
And number three, I
desire to be re-baptized.
00:41:31.16\00:41:37.63
Take your commitment as
Joey and Phil sing again.
00:41:37.66\00:41:41.27
This changing world
00:41:45.89\00:41:50.08
Alarms me
00:41:50.11\00:41:54.64
With war, with sin
00:41:54.67\00:41:58.72
And with strife
00:41:58.75\00:42:02.71
But my loving Father
00:42:02.74\00:42:07.19
He charms me
00:42:07.22\00:42:11.65
With joy
00:42:11.68\00:42:13.81
With peace and with life
00:42:13.84\00:42:20.96
And He knows where I am
00:42:20.99\00:42:26.02
Every hour of everyday
00:42:26.05\00:42:30.89
He knows each thought I think
00:42:30.92\00:42:34.68
He knows each
word that I might say
00:42:34.71\00:42:39.63
And although there are times
00:42:39.66\00:42:44.00
I stepped out of His will
00:42:44.03\00:42:50.26
I've never been
00:42:50.29\00:42:53.47
Out of His care
00:42:53.50\00:42:59.67
I've never been
00:42:59.70\00:43:02.96
Out of His care
00:43:02.99\00:43:08.96
Amen.
00:43:13.70\00:43:14.77
I want you to make
sure that you place
00:43:14.80\00:43:16.24
your response
card in the containers.
00:43:16.27\00:43:18.23
The row captains
will receive those now.
00:43:18.26\00:43:20.61
Be sure that they
have them before you leave.
00:43:20.64\00:43:24.59
We have a very
special Discover Guide
00:43:24.62\00:43:26.51
that I want you to
be sure that you get.
00:43:26.54\00:43:28.37
"The Secret of
Growth through Fellowship."
00:43:28.40\00:43:31.59
It's available at
your downlink sites.
00:43:31.62\00:43:33.70
Make sure that you enroll
in our Discover Bible School.
00:43:33.73\00:43:35.97
If you've just joined recently
00:43:36.00\00:43:37.11
it isn't too late to
get all of the lessons
00:43:37.14\00:43:39.57
and graduate
with the certificate,
00:43:39.60\00:43:41.62
a diploma which I will sign.
00:43:41.65\00:43:44.31
Remember our
next Wednesday topic
00:43:44.34\00:43:48.61
an incredible
partnership guarantee called
00:43:48.64\00:43:52.46
"An Investment You Can't
Lose" be sure you join us.
00:43:52.49\00:43:56.05
Want you to invite a friend.
00:43:56.08\00:43:57.73
Until then as we
close our broadcast
00:43:57.76\00:43:59.99
every week on the
"Voice of Prophecy"
00:44:00.02\00:44:01.58
remember, friend,
God really does love you.
00:44:01.61\00:44:07.56