Does Revelation show that God’s people living at the time of the end will experience prophetic ministry in their midst similar to that of God’s people in Old Testament times and in John’s day? The prophetic ministry is visible in the Bible. It has been present in the church since its establishment at Sinai and throughout Israel’s history, and continues in the Christian church today. It will be present in the church until the very moment when the triumphant and glorified church will stand victoriously before the throne of God. The book of Revelation shows that John the revelator was not the last of the prophets, and that the prophetic ministry will continue after his day in the ages to come. While this might be true of God’s people throughout the Christian age, Revelation 12:17 and 19:10 make it clear that God’s end-time people in particular are characterized by being in possession of “the testimony of Jesus” conveyed through “the spirit of prophecy.” In other words, at the time of the end, the church will have the prophetic guidance as in the time of John. Revelation mentions the martyrdom of “the saints and prophets” in the final crisis (16:6; 18:20, 24). GOP 199.2
Thus, Revelation 19:10 (together with 22:6, 9) provides God’s people living in the closing days of this earth’s history with the assurance of God’s special care and guidance through the prophetic gift, just as it was true of God’s people of old. What was true of the church throughout history will also be true of the church at the time of the end. The Bible does not indicate that the prophetic gift will cease some time prior to the Parousia. Revelation shows that the church at the time of the end will experience prophetic guidance until the conclusion of this earth’s history when, with the Second Coming, the prophetic gift will lose its function and purpose for the triumphant church. GOP 199.3
Seventh-day Adventists have traditionally viewed the predictions of Revelation 12:17 and 19:10 as having been fulfilled in the life and ministry of Ellen White (1827-1915). Although such a belief is firmly grounded in the prophecies of the last book of the New Testament, it must be understood that these texts are not prophecies about Ellen White. They are rather about the full manifestation of the testimony of Jesus among God’s people through the gift of prophecy at the time of the end. However, Seventh-day Adventists have experienced the manifestation of the prophetic gift in their midst in the life and ministry of Ellen White as the direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy. What was true of the covenant community during the Exodus could also be applied to the infant Adventist Church that arose in the aftermath of the Great Disappointment: “By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved” (Hos. 12:13). GOP 200.1
The purpose and function of the gift of prophecy in the church today is much like that of the prophetic ministry in biblical times. The role of prophets is to provide guidance to the church and to keep the church in the unity of faith (Prov. 29:18; Eph. 4:13, 14). According to Ephesians 3:2-6, prophets are the agents of God’s revelation. Their role is to unpack the mysteries of Jesus Christ, His life and death, His resurrection, His work in heaven, and His return to earth. William Barclay explains: “We can define the true prophet as the man who has received from Christ the message he brings to men, and whose words and works are at one and the same time an act of witness to Christ.” 49Barclay, 2:177. Many other scholars share this view, including Charles R. Erdman, The Revelation of John (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1936), 148; Wilfrid J. Harrington, Understanding the Apocalypse (Washington, D.C.: Corpus Books, 1969), 226; Beasley-Murray, 276; Morris, 222; Mounce, 342. Bauckham notes similarly that GOP 200.2
the Spirit of prophecy speaks through the Christian prophets bringing the word of the exalted Christ to his people on earth, endorsing on earth the words of heavenly revelations, and directing the prayers of the churches to their heavenly Lord. These are the special functions of the Christian prophets, whom Revelation distinguishes as a special group within the churches ([Rev.] 11:18; 16:6; 18:20, 24; 22:9). 50Bauckham, The Climax of Prophecy, 160. GOP 200.3
The gift of prophecy is a token of God’s care for His people. According to Peter, the Spirit prophesied through the Old Testament prophets of Christ’s suffering and His future glory to follow (1 Peter 1:10, 11). In a similar manner, the Spirit bears witness to the future coming of Christ in power and glory. 51Swete, 249; Mounce, 350. “The prophetic word” is like a light shining in a dark place. God’s people will need prophetic guidance until the daybreak and arising of “the morning star” (2 Peter 1:19). In the Bible, the morning star is Jesus Christ Himself (Rev. 22:16). With His coming, we will have no further need of this lamplike prophetic word (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Paul states that when we finally see Him “face to face” (verse 12), then prophecy “will be done away” with (verse 8) and lose its function. Until that day, we are dependent on prophetic guidance as provided in Scripture, as well as through a genuine prophet who may be sent by God. We are urged by the apostle Paul not “to quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:19-21). GOP 200.4