What is the Spirit of prophecy? Is it a person? Is it applicable in our present time? The many challenges that have been manifested in recent times over the Spirit of Prophecy has caused many to question and some to study to find out what is truth. Truth clearly revealed in the bible is what we seek and as such we look carefully at whether or not the writings of Sister White pass the test using a simple comparison.

1. The Spirit of Prophecy
Are The Writings of
Ellen White still Valid?

2. No Claim
When I was last in Battle Creek, I said
before a large congregation that I did not
claim to be a prophetess. Twice I referred
to this matter, intending each time to make
the statement, "I do not claim to be a
prophetess." If I spoke otherwise than this,
let all now understand that what I had in
mind to say was that I do not claim the title
of prophet or prophetess. {1SM 35.1}

3. No Claim
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. {1SM 34.5}

4. No Claim
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,
Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not;
but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked
him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I
am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered,
No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that
we may give an answer to them that sent us. What
sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the
way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (John
1:19-23)

5. Will Bear The Test
I have written many books, and they have
been given a wide circulation. Of myself I
could not have brought out the truth in these
books, but the Lord has given me the help of
His Holy Spirit. These books, giving the
instruction that the Lord has given me
during the past sixty years, contain light
from heaven, and will bear the test of
investigation. {1SM 35.3}

6. Why No Claim
During the discourse, I said that I did not claim to be a
prophetess. Some were surprised at this statement,
and as much is being said in regard to it, I will make an
explanation. Others have called me a prophetess, but I
have never assumed that title. I have not felt that it was
my duty thus to designate myself. Those who boldly
assume that they are prophets in this our day are often
a reproach to the cause of Christ. {1SM 35.6}
My work includes much more than this name signifies.
I regard myself as a messenger, entrusted by the Lord
with messages for His people.--Letter 55, 1905

7. The Messenger
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall
prepare the way before me: and the Lord,
whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant,
whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith
the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day
of the LORD: (Malachi 4:5)

8. Voice in the Wilderness
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight
in the desert a highway for our God. Every
valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and
hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be
made straight, and the rough places plain: And
the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all
flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the
LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:3-5)

9. Gabriel Speaking of John
But the angel said unto him, Fear not,
Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy
wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and
thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1:13)
And he shall go before him in the spirit and
power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children, and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:17)

10. Zecharias Speaking of John
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote,
saying, His name is John. And his father
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost,
and prophesied, saying, And thou, child,
shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord
to prepare his ways; (Luke 1:63, Luke 1:67,
Luke 1:76)

11. John The Baptist
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then
say the scribes that Elias must first come? And
Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly
shall first come, and restore all things. But I say
unto you, That Elias is come already, and they
knew him not, but have done unto him
whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the
Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples
understood that he spake unto them of John
the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10-13)

12. John The Baptist
And from the days of John the Baptist
until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force. For
all the prophets and the law prophesied until
John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias,
which was for to come. (Matthew 11:12)

13. Why No Claim
The words "that prophet" had reference to Moses. The
Jews had been inclined to the belief that Moses would be
raised from the dead, and taken to heaven. They did not
know that he had already been raised. When the Baptist
began his ministry, many thought that he might be the
prophet Moses risen from the dead, for he seemed to have
a thorough knowledge of the prophecies and of the history
of Israel. {DA 135.2}
• The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet
from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me;
unto him ye shall hearken; (Deuteronomy 18:15)
• I will raise them up a Prophet from among their
brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his
mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall
command him. (Deuteronomy 18:18)

14. Why No Claim
It was believed also that before the Messiah's advent,
Elijah would personally appear. This expectation John
met in his denial; but his words had a deeper meaning.
Jesus afterward said, referring to John, "If ye are
willing to receive it, this is Elijah, which is to come."
Matthew 11:14, R. V. John came in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to do such a work as Elijah
did. If the Jews had received him, it would have been
accomplished for them. But they did not receive his
message. To them he was not Elijah. He could not
fulfill for them the mission he came to accomplish.
{DA 135.3}

15. Should there be a Prophet
And it shall come to pass 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: And also upon the servants and upon the
handmaids in those days will I pour out my
spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in
the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The
sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the great and the terrible day of
the LORD come. (Joel 2:28-31)

16. The Remnant Should
• Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with
the woman, and went to make war with the
REMNANT OF HER SEED, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship
him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I
am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that
have the testimony of Jesus: worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.

17. The Testimony of Jesus
• Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to
worship him. And he said unto me, See thou
do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy
brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
• Revelation 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See
thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and
of thy brethren the prophets, and of them
which keep the sayings of this book: worship
God.

18. Gift of Prophecy
• Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto every one of us
is given grace according to the measure of
the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended up on high, he led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
• Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;

19. Spirit of Prophecy
• 1 Corinthians 12:3-4 Wherefore I give you
to understand, that no man speaking by
the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:
and that no man can say that Jesus is the
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there
are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 12:10 to another prophecy;
The Spirit of Prophecy is thus the Holy
Spirit

20. Wisdom and Understanding
Behold, I have taught you statutes and
judgments, even as the LORD my God
commanded me, that ye should do so in the
land whither ye go to possess it. Keep
therefore and do them; for this is your
wisdom and your understanding in the
sight of the nations, which shall hear all
these statutes, and say, Surely this great
nation is a wise and understanding people.
(Deuteronomy 4:5)

21. Wisdom and Understanding
"In ancient times God spoke to men by the
mouth of prophets and apostles. In these
days He speaks to them by the testimonies
of His Spirit. There was never a time
when God instructed His people more
earnestly than He instructs them now
concerning His will and the course that He
would have them pursue." [VOL. 4, PP. 147,
148 (1876).] {5T 661.1}

22. In Relation to the Bible
The word of God is sufficient to enlighten the
most beclouded mind and may be understood
by those who have any desire to understand it.
But notwithstanding all this, some who profess
to make the word of God their study are found
living in direct opposition to its plainest
teachings. Then, to leave men and women
without excuse, God gives plain and pointed
testimonies, bringing them back to the word
that they have neglected to follow." [VOL. 2, P.
455 (1870).] {5T 663.2}

23. In Relation to the Bible
God has seen fit in this manner to bring the
minds of His people to His word, to give them
a clearer understanding of it." [VOL. 4, P.
246 (1876).] … The word of God abounds in
general principles for the formation of
correct habits of living, and the testimonies,
general and personal, have been calculated to
call their attention more especially to these
principles." [VOL. 4, P. 323 (1879).] {5T
663.2}

24. Walled In
"I said further: As the word of God is walled in with
these books and pamphlets, so has God walled you in
with reproofs, counsel, warnings, and encouragements.
Here you are crying before God, in the anguish of your
souls, for more light. I am authorized from God to tell
you that not another ray of light through the
Testimonies will shine upon your pathway until you
make a practical use of the light already given. The
Lord has walled you about with light; but you have not
appreciated the light; you have trampled upon it. While
some have despised the light, others have neglected it
or followed it but indifferently. A few have set their
hearts to obey the light which God has been pleased
give them. {5T 666.1}

25. Satan’s Design
The enemy has made his masterly efforts to
unsettle the faith of our own people in the
Testimonies, and when these errors come in they
claim to prove all the positions by the Bible, but they
misinterpret the Scriptures. They make bold
assertions, as did Elder Canright, and misapply the
prophecies and the Scriptures to prove
falsehood. And, after men have done their work in
weakening the confidence of our churches in the
Testimonies, they have torn away the barrier, that
unbelief in the truth shall become widespread,
and there is no voice to be lifted up to stay the force of
error. {3SM 83.3}

26. Satan’s Design
This is just as Satan designed it should be,
and those who have been preparing the way
for the people to pay no heed to the
warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of
the Spirit of God will see that a tide of
errors of all kinds will spring into life. They
will claim Scripture as their evidence, and
deceptions of Satan in every form will
prevail.--Letter 109, 1890. {3SM 83.4}

27. The Last Deception
Satan is . . . constantly pressing in the
spurious--to lead away from the truth. The
very last deception of Satan will be to make of
none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish"
(Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work
ingeniously, in different ways and through
different agencies, to unsettle the confidence
of God's remnant people in the true
testimony.--Letter 12, 1890. {1SM 48.3}

28. Source of Hatred
There will be a hatred kindled against the
testimonies which is satanic. The workings
of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the
churches in them, for this reason: Satan
cannot have so clear a track to bring in his
deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions
if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of
the Spirit of God are heeded.--Letter 40,
1890. {1SM 48.4}

29. Safety
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 these last days.--Letter 50, 1906.
{3SM 83.5}