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Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White
In The Patriarchal Age
The prophetic gift is not limited to any one age. Early in the in-
spired record we find instances of its manifestation. Enoch, the seventh
from Adam, was a prophet. Looking down through the centuries, he
saw with prophetic vision the coming of the Lord, and the execution
of the final judgments upon the ungodly.
Jude 14, 15
.
To Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob the Lord appeared in vision,
foretelling the blessings that would come to their posterity. With them
he renewed his covenant, and they were led to look forward to the final
reward of the righteous, and to behold the glories of that heavenly city
whose Builder and Maker is God.
Hebrews 11:10
.
Moses, who was chosen of God to lead the Israelites out of Egyp-
tian bondage into the land of Canaan, was a mighty prophet. Predicting
the coming of the Messiah, he said, “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
. God gave many
revelations to this faithful man; and though the divine glory was not
fully revealed to him, yet the word declares that God talked with him
“face to face.”
Deuteronomy 34:10
.
After the children of Israel were settled in Canaan, the influence
of the idolaters by whom they were surrounded, turned them from the
true God, to the worship of the sun, the moon, and the stars, and also
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to the worship of graven images made of gold and silver and wood
and stone. Thus they transgressed the commandments from heaven
that had been given for their own good. The loving heart of God was
grieved as he saw the chosen nation led away from their creator and
benefactor, into a course of action tending toward ruin.
Amid the general apostasy there were some who maintained their
allegiance to Jehovah; and from among these, God chose prophets
whom he commissioned to call the people to repentance, and to warn
them of the evils that their course would surely bring upon them. “The
Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up
betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and
on his dwelling place.”
2 Chronicles 36:15
.
Prominent among the prophets of Israel were Samuel, Elijah, El-
isha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. In stirring words they
called upon the people to turn from their evil ways, giving assurance