Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 51

"If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a _vision_, and will speak unto him in a _dream_." Num. 12.6.

11. Under what influence did the prophets of old speak?

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of G.o.d spake _as they were moved by the Holy Ghost_." 2 Peter 1:21. See 2 Sam. 23:2.

12. How are both the origin of prophecy and the means of communicating it still further shown?

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, _which G.o.d gave unto Him_, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pa.s.s; and _He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John_." Rev. 1:1.

13. What angel revealed to Daniel his visions and dreams?

"Whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man _Gabriel_, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And _he informed me, and talked with me, and said_, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding." Dan. 9:21, 22. See also chapter 10, and Rev. 22:9, 10.

14. What Spirit was in the prophets inditing their utterances?

"O which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time _the Spirit of Christ which was in them_ did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." 1 Peter 1:10, 11.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Anointing Of Christ. "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him." John 1:32.

15. How were the Lord's words to the prophets preserved?

"Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then _he wrote the dream_, and told the sum of the matters." Dan. 7:1. See Jer. 51:60; Rev. 1:10, 11.

16. By whom has G.o.d spoken to us in these last days?

"G.o.d, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us _by His Son_." Heb. 1:1, 2.

17. What was one of the offices to be filled by the Messiah?

"The Lord thy G.o.d will raise up unto thee _a Prophet_ from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall harken." Deut.

18:15.

18. What was foretold through the prophet Joel?

"And it shall come to pa.s.s afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; _and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions_." Joel 2:28.

19. When did this prediction begin to be fulfilled?

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pa.s.s in the last days, saith G.o.d, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Acts 2:16, 17.

20. What were some of the gifts Christ gave to His church?

"When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... And He gave some, _apostles_; and some, _prophets_; and some, _evangelists_; and some, _pastors_ and _teachers_." Eph. 4:8-11.

21. By what means did G.o.d deliver and preserve Israel?

"_By a prophet_ the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and _by a prophet_ was he preserved." Hosea 12:13.

22. When Moses complained of his slowness of speech, what did G.o.d say Aaron should be to him?

"And he shall be thy _spokesman_ unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a _mouth_, and thou shalt be to him instead of G.o.d." Ex. 4:16.

23. What did G.o.d afterward call Aaron?

"And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a G.o.d to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be _thy prophet_." Ex. 7:1.

24. What is one test by which to detect false prophets?

"When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, _if the thing follow not, nor come to pa.s.s_, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." Deut. 18:22.

25. What other test should be applied in determining the validity of the claims of a prophet?

"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pa.s.s, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, _Let us go after other G.o.ds_, which thou hast not known, and _let us serve them_; thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your G.o.d proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your G.o.d with all your heart and with all your soul. _Ye shall walk after the Lord your G.o.d, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice_, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him." Deut. 13:1-4.

NOTE.-From these scriptures it will be seen that, in the first place, if a prophet's words do not prove to be true, it is evidence that G.o.d has not sent that prophet. On the other hand, even though the thing predicted comes to pa.s.s, if the pretended prophet seeks to lead others to break G.o.d's commandments, this, regardless of all signs, should be positive evidence that he is not a true prophet.

26. What rule did Christ give for distinguis.h.i.+ng between true and false prophets?

"_By their fruits_ ye shall know them." Matt. 7:20.

27. What general rule is laid down for testing all prophets?

"_To the law and to the testimony_: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20.

28. How did G.o.d's prophets anciently use the words of former prophets in exhorting the people to obedience?

"_Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets_, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity?" Zech. 7:7.

29. What is the promised result of believing G.o.d's prophets?

"Believe in the Lord your G.o.d, so shall ye be established; _believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper_." 2 Chron. 20:20.

30. What admonition is given regarding the gift of prophecy?

"_Despise not prophesyings._ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. 5:20, 21.

31. What will characterize the last, or remnant, church?

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, _which keep the commandments of G.o.d, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ_." Rev. 12:17.

32. What is the "testimony of Jesus"?

"The testimony of Jesus is _the spirit of prophecy_." Rev. 19:10. See Rev.

1:9.