I Corinthians 14:23-25

[joeb]

Quote:

I Corinthians 14:23 Therefore, if the whole church assembles and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and the ungifted and uninitiated or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are demented?

24 But if all prophesy [giving inspired testimony and interpreting the divine will and purpose] and an unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of his sin and reproved and convicted and convinced by all, and his defects and needs are examined (estimated, determined) and he is called to account by all,

25 The secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, falling on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that God is among you in very truth. Amplified Bible

What do these verses tell us about what Paul thinks is the Bible work of a prophet? I found this to be very interesting.

[joeb]

I was hoping there would be some interest in this as it speaks directly to much of the controversy we have around here about Ellen White. Was she a prophet? What did Paul see as being the mission of a prophet?

The following attributes of what Paul saw as the mission of a prophet are in no particular order.

1. Telling the sinner of his sinfulness.

2. Reproving sin.

3. Holding the sinner accountable.

4. Laying bare the secrets of the sinful heart.

5. Interpreting the divine will.

6. Telling us about who God is.

7. Telling us about God's purposes, both for the world as a whole and we as individuals.

8. Giving inspired testimony.

I see all of the above in the writings of Ellen White. Other than the Bible I can not think of any author, book, source, etc... where I've been so informed as to the love of God, my need for a Savior, had the secrets(hidden sins) of my heart so thoroughly exposed and reproved, been able to learn about who God is, etc....

These three verses do a lot to reinforce my belief in Ellen White as a prophet for they were written long before she came onto the scene, yet describe what her writings do for the individual.