Sunday
June 14
1. IN THE BEGINNING
a. In the beginning, after God ended the work of creation, how did He communicate with Adam and Eve? Genesis 3:8, 9. How did He communicate with the patriarchs?
“The holy pair [Adam and Eve] were not only children under the fatherly care of God but students receiving instruction from the all-wise Creator. They were visited by angels and were granted communion with their Maker, with no obscuring veil between.”—Christian Education, p. 207.
“Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses understood the gospel. They looked for salvation through man’s Substitute and Surety. These holy men of old held communion with the Saviour who was to come to our world in human flesh; and some of them talked with Christ and heavenly angels face to face.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 366.
b. How did God communicate His will to Moses, the great leader of Israel? Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:7, 8.
“Moses was the greatest man who ever stood as leader of the people of God. He was greatly honored by God, not for the experience which he had gained in the Egyptian court, but because he was the meekest of men. God talked with him face to face, as a man talks with a friend.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 1, p. 1113.
Monday
June 15
2. HOLY MEN OF GOD—THE PROPHETS
a. After sin raised a barrier between God and humanity (Isaiah 59:1, 2), whom did the Lord use to reveal His will to them? 1 Samuel 9:9; 2 Peter 1:21.
“It was Christ that spoke to His people through the prophets. . . . It is the voice of Christ that speaks to us through the Old Testament. ‘The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy’ (Revelation 19:10).”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 366, 367.
“The sayings of Christ are not a new revelation. The principles which He expounded were announced to Moses from the pillar of cloud, and to the prophets, who spoke and wrote as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit.”—The Review and Herald, July 7, 1896.
“The more fully we accept the light presented by the Holy Spirit through the consecrated servants of God, the deeper and surer, even as the eternal throne, will appear the truths of ancient prophecy; we shall be assured that men of God spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. Men must themselves be under the influence of the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Spirit’s utterances through the prophets.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 114.
b. What was promised to God’s people regarding His will and plans? Numbers 12:6; Amos 3:7.
“God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 455.
“We must follow the directions given through the spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken to us through His word. He has spoken to us through the testimonies to the church and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy.”—Ibid., vol. 8, p. 298.
Tuesday
June 16
3. THE ROLE OF A PROPHET
a. What is the physical condition of true prophets when they receive divine revelations? Numbers 24:2–4; Job 33:14–16. What should be done with the visions received? Habakkuk 2:2.
“At a meeting held in Dorchester, Mass., November, 1848, I had been given a view of the proclamation of the sealing message, and of the duty of the brethren to publish the light that was shining upon our pathway.
“After coming out of vision, I said to my husband: ‘I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.’ ”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 125.
b. Besides foretelling future events, what else were the duties of the prophets? Hosea 6:5; 12:10, 13; Nehemiah 6:7.
“[God’s] prophets were sent to [the Israelites in captivity] with reproofs and warnings. The people were awakened to see their guilt, they humbled themselves before God, and returned to Him with true repentance. Then the Lord sent them messages of encouragement, declaring that He would deliver them from their captivity, and restore them to His favor.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 468.
“The work of Elisha as a prophet was in some respects very different from that of Elijah. To Elijah had been committed messages of condemnation and judgment; his was the voice of fearless reproof, calling king and people to turn from their evil ways. Elisha’s was a more peaceful mission; his it was to build up and strengthen the work that Elijah had begun; to teach the people the way of the Lord. Inspiration pictures him as coming into personal touch with the people, surrounded by the sons of the prophets, bringing by his miracles and his ministry healing and rejoicing.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 235.
“John, as a prophet, stood forth as God’s representative, to show the connection between the law and prophets, and the Christian dispensation. His work and ministry pointed back to the law and the prophets, while he, at the same time, pointed the people forward to Christ, as the Saviour of the world.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 57.
Wednesday
June 17
4. WOMEN PROPHETS
a. Name some of the women whom God called to the prophetic ministry. Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Luke 2:36; Acts 21:8, 9.
“There was dwelling in Israel a woman illustrious for her piety, and through her the Lord chose to deliver His people. Her name was Deborah. She was known as a prophetess, and in the absence of the usual magistrates, the people had sought to her for counsel and justice.”—Daughters of God, p. 37.
“The prophetess Huldah was living in Jerusalem, near the temple. The mind of the king, filled with anxious foreboding, reverted to her, and he determined to inquire of the Lord through this chosen messenger to learn, if possible, whether by any means within his power he might save erring Judah, now on the verge of ruin.”—Ibid., p. 44.
b. After two men (William Foy and Hazen Foss) refused to unveil God’s revelation to the people, what was shown to Ellen Gould Harmon? What title did she attribute to herself—and why?
“It was not long after the passing of the time in 1844 that my first vision was given me. I was visiting a dear sister in Christ, whose heart was knit with mine; five of us, all women, were kneeling quietly at the family altar. While we were praying, the power of God came upon me as I had never felt it before. I seemed to be surrounded with light, and to be rising higher and higher from the earth. I turned to look for the advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me: ‘Look again, and look a little higher.’ At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the advent people were traveling toward the city.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, pp. 58, 59.
“To claim to be a prophetess is something that I have never done. If others call me by that name, I have no controversy with them. But my work has covered so many lines that I cannot call myself other than a messenger, sent to bear a message from the Lord to His people, and to take up work in any line that He points out.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 34.
Thursday
June 18
5. TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS
a. What is one of the identifying marks of God’s remnant church in these last days? Ephesians 4:11; Revelation 12:17; 19:10 (last part).
“The law of God and the Spirit of Prophecy go hand in hand to guide and counsel the church, and whenever the church has recognized this by obeying His law, the Spirit of Prophecy has been sent to guide her in the way of truth. . . .
“The remnant church will acknowledge God in His law and will have the prophetic gift. Obedience to the law of God, and the Spirit of Prophecy has always distinguished the true people of God, and the test is usually given on present manifestations.”—Loma Linda Messages, p. 33.
“It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. 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.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 211.
“If you lose confidence in the testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth.”—Ibid., vol. 5, p. 98.
“The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God.”—The Faith I Live By, p. 296.
b. While, on the one hand, it is dangerous to reject the words of true prophets, on the other, what warning is also given us against false prophets? Matthew 7:15; 24:24, 25; 2 Peter 2:1, 2; 1 John 4:1.
Friday
June 19
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. How did God communicate with Adam and Eve in Eden?
b. How has God spoken to His people in these last days?
c. Name the general duties of a prophet.
d. How was Ellen G. White’s work similar to that of prophets of old?
e. What should we do if the Testimonies cross our will, ways, or practices?