Chapter 182—From the Beginning
The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:21
.
It is the glory of the gospel that it is founded upon the principle of
restoring in the fallen race the divine image by a constant manifestation of
benevolence. This work began in the heavenly courts.... The Godhead was
stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
gave themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption.
Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his
Maker; but since man separated himself from God by transgression, the
human race has been cut off from this high privilege. By the plan of
redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby the inhabitants of
the earth may still have connection with heaven. God has communicated
with men by His Spirit, and divine light has been imparted to the world by
revelations to His chosen servants.
From the beginning, God has been working by His Holy Spirit through
human instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of
the fallen race. This was manifest in the lives of the patriarchs. To the church
in the wilderness also, in the time of Moses, God gave His “good Spirit to
instruct them” (
Nehemiah 9:20
). And in the days of the apostles He wrought
mightily for His church through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The same
power that sustained the patriarchs... and that made the work of the apostolic
church effective, has upheld God’s faithful children in every succeeding age.
It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that during the Dark Ages the
Waldensian Christians helped to prepare the way for the Reformation. It
was the same power that made successful the efforts of the noble men and
women who pioneered the way for the establishment of modern missions....
Today the heralds of the cross are... preparing the way for the second
advent of Christ.... And as they continue to let their light shine, as did those
who were baptized with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they receive more
and still more of the Spirit’s power. Thus the earth is to be lightened with the
glory of God.
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