Growth in Understanding
Prophets did not receive all of God’s light at one time. As they faithfully ministered as the Lord’s servants, they received more light and grew in their understanding.
What do the following texts tell us about the spiritual growth experience of biblical prophets? Dan. 8:27, 9:2, Gal. 2:11–16, 1 Pet. 1:10.
The possession of the prophetic gift in biblical times did not imply immediate, full, and complete knowledge of spiritual and other matters. Prophets received increased light as history unfolded and they were able to understand it. They also had to study Scripture, as the case of Daniel illustrates (Dan. 9:2). In Daniel 8:27 the prophet said, “I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it” (RSV). About ten years later the angel Gabriel came and explained to him the full import of the vision (Dan. 9:20–23).
The prophets knew only that which God had revealed to them, and only this were they permitted to set forth as a “Thus saith the Lord.” Since the messages to one prophet often complemented those given to others, it became necessary to study and compare the various revelations in order to get a balanced and comprehensive view of the messages from Heaven.
It was the same with Ellen White: “For sixty years I have been in communication with heavenly messengers, and I have been constantly learning in reference to divine things, and in reference to the way in which God is constantly working to bring souls from the error of their ways to the light in God's light.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 71.
Hence when we compare earlier writings of Ellen G. White with her later works, we sometimes find that her later writings modify, or expand, her earlier writings, reflecting a deeper insight into God’s messages.
She was not a systematic theologian but more of an evangelist and communicator of what God showed her. Her understanding of theology, though founded on Scripture and informed by her visions, grew through the years as she continued to study Scripture, and the writings of others, and was open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
| We must be careful not to place the attributes of God, such as omniscience (knowing all things), on His messengers. What is the danger in seeing prophets as infallible and having full knowledge in all areas of life? |
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