End-Time Prophetic Revelations

Part I: Overview

Part I: Overview

Key Text: Joel 2:28, 29

Study Focus: Joel 2:28–32, Acts 2:1–21, Eph. 4:11–14, Rev. 12:17, Rev. 19:10, Acts 2:36–42.

Introduction

Introduction

Joel 2:28 promises a special manifestation of the prophetic gift before the coming of the Lord: “ ‘And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy’ ” (NKJV), indicating there will be an intensification of prophetic utterance before the day of the Lord. Revelation 12:17 describes the final remnant on earth as those who “have the testimony of Jesus,” a distinctly Christian prophetic utterance.

Seventh-day Adventists have always believed in the continuance of spiritual gifts beyond biblical times. “The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested” as stated at https://adventist.org/beliefs/official/gift-of-prophecy.

This lesson focuses on the nature of the prophetic gift at the end of time. It provides the teacher an opportunity to guide the class in reflecting on Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry as a part of fulfilling the end-time promise of the prophetic gift.

Part II: Commentary

Part II: Commentary

• The gift of prophecy and the other spiritual gifts will continue until the second coming of Christ.

The Scriptures provide no evidence to suggest that the prophetic gift—or any of the spiritual gifts—ceased with the closing of the biblical canon. On the contrary, the Bible offers substantial support for the continued presence and operation of these gifts up to the end of time. Joel 2:28 is a foundational text in this regard, prophesying about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days: “ ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy’ ” (ESV). This passage directly ties the manifestation of the prophetic gift to the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31), clearly indicating that the gift of prophecy would reappear prominently as the end of time approaches.

Similarly, Malachi 4:5 anticipates a revival of the prophetic spirit in the form of an Elijah-like message before the final judgment: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” While Jesus Himself acknowledged that this prophecy was partially fulfilled through John the Baptist (Matt. 17:10–13), who came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17, NKJV), He also implied that the ultimate fulfillment would occur in the eschatological future—just before the final day of the Lord.

The New Testament reinforces this continuity of the prophetic gift. Jesus warned His disciples that false prophets would emerge in the last days, deceiving many (Matt. 24:11, 24). This caution logically presupposes the presence of true prophets during the same period—otherwise, the warning against falsehood would lose its meaning. Paul also affirms the ongoing role of spiritual gifts, including prophecy, in building and guiding the church until the culmination of God’s redemptive plan.

In Ephesians 4:12, 13, he writes that these gifts are given “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (RSV). This passage clarifies that spiritual gifts will remain active until the church reaches its divinely intended maturity—a goal that will not be fully realized until Christ’s second coming.

• The “testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17) is the gift of prophecy manifested to God’s end-time people.

From this biblical foundation, Seventh-day Adventists affirm that the prophetic gift will reappear significantly at the end of time. Revelation 12:17 highlights a defining characteristic of God’s faithful remnant: those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). The phrase “testimony of Jesus” has been the subject of careful linguistic and theological study, and Adventist scholars have concluded that it refers explicitly to the prophetic gift. Revelation 19:10 clarifies this connection: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This link is further reinforced in Revelation 22:9, where the angel identifies John and his “brothers the prophets” (ESV) with those “who hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 19:10, ESV) and associates this testimony with prophetic revelation.

Through meticulous examination of these passages in their original Greek context, Seventh-day Adventist scholarship has confirmed that the “testimony of Jesus” indicates the manifestation of the prophetic gift within the end-time remnant. Consequently, there is strong biblical evidence to conclude that God will restore the prophetic gift markedly and unmistakably before the second coming of Christ, guiding His faithful people through the tumultuous final events of earth’s history (see Ranko Stefanovic, Chapter 9: “The ‘Spirit of Prophecy’ in the Revelation of John,” in Alberto Timm and Dwain Esmond, eds., The Gift of Prophecy in Scripture and History (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2015), pp. 186–197.

• The prophetic gift of Ellen G. White empowers the mission of the church and motivates believers to commit themselves deeply to Christ.

Consider the following summaries of Ellen G. White’s statements on teaching and preaching Christ. Discuss with your class how these ideas affirm the prophetic gift, or “testimony of Jesus,” and focus Seventh-day Adventist mission on Christ.

The heart of her call to mission centers on uplifting Christ. Christ, she emphasizes, always must be the great center of attraction in presenting the third angel’s message. While proclaiming the Sabbath and other vital truths, the righteousness of Christ should never be left out. The sinner’s only hope lies in looking toward Calvary with simple, childlike faith, resting in Christ’s merits and trusting in His mercy. Every effort in gospel labor should point to the saving power of Jesus, ensuring that the message is not merely doctrinal but redemptive (see Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 185, 186).

Preaching and teaching must be Christ-centered, with ministers so filled with the love and joy of Christ that they present Him in every word with deep earnestness. Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and second coming should be the heartbeat of every message. Ministers should uplift Christ in preaching, prayer, and song, leading souls to behold the Lamb of God. Nothing should be introduced into preaching that supplements, or over­shadows, Christ as the wisdom and power of God. Every discourse should guide the hearer toward repentance, salvation, and the assurance of Christ’s absolute sufficiency (see Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, pp. 159, 160).

Many in the world are still ignorant of the plan of salvation, and Adventist ministers must ensure that their messages continually uplift Christ as the sinner’s refuge. It is a mistake to assume that audiences are already familiar with the gospel; instead, every effort should be made to explain the necessity of repentance and faith in Christ. While theological discourses have their place, they should never be devoid of Christ and Him crucified. A practical, heart-searching presentation of Christ’s righteousness reaches souls and transforms them (see Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, pp. 158, 159).

Ellen G. White also warns against preaching that lacks Christ’s righteousness, describing these sermons as dry and spiritless. When preachers fail to emphasize the gift of Christ’s righteousness, their messages become mere intellectual exercises that do not feed the sheep. Instead, the gospel should be presented as rich in meaning, with Christ and His saving merits as the living center of everything. Ministers must preach Christ from their personal experience, sharing the beauty of His mercy and grace in a way that attracts sinners to Him. The gospel must shine like a precious gem, drawing hearts to its radiant truth (see Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 186, 187).

A grave danger exists in preaching that omits the blood of Christ, resembling Cain’s offering—acceptable in form but lacking the necessary atonement. Many ministers deliver well-structured arguments but fail to touch the heart with the saving power of Christ’s sacrifice. Sermons should never be mere intellectual exercises; they must lead hearers to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” As the people entrusted with the final message of warning, “Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world.”—Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 156.

For Further Study: On the centrality of Christ to the Seventh-day Adventist message, see Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 184–199.

Part III: Life Application

Part III: Life Application

The following life application questions, drawn from the above commentary, are offered to enrich your class discussion. Choose from among them, and from those in the lesson, the ones that will best engage your class in meaningful reflection.

• How does the knowledge that spiritual gifts continue until Christ’s return shape our expectations for God’s work in the church today?
• Have you personally witnessed or experienced a spiritual gift in action? If so, explain. How did it impact your faith?
• What steps can we take as a group to identify and nurture the spiritual gifts God has given us?
• How can we encourage one another to remain faithful to biblical truth while staying open to the Holy Spirit’s leading?
• Joel 2:28–32 and Revelation 12:17 affirm that the prophetic gift will be present in the last days. How should this influence our understanding of God’s guidance today?
• What does Ellen G. White’s emphasis on uplifting Christ say about the nature of her prophetic ministry to the church?
• Why must Christ remain central to all preaching, teaching, and witnessing efforts?
• Have you ever heard a sermon or Bible study focused more on doctrine than on Christ? If yes, how did it affect you?
• How can we ensure that everything we do—worship, study, outreach—remains centered on Christ?
• What is our responsibility, as a church and as individuals, to share the prophetic message with others?
• How can we make the prophetic message more accessible and rele­vant to those unfamiliar with it?
• What actions can we take this week to apply the prophetic message to our lives and community?
• Revelation 12:17 says the remnant “have” the “testimony of Jesus.” The Greek word for “have” means a personal possession. Not all members speak with the prophetic gift, but they do possess its counsel. Possession, or custodianship, also involves stewardship. How can we be good individual stewards of the prophetic gift manifested through Ellen G. White?