Many were the prophets God sent to His ancient people. There was a long line of faithful messengers and watchmen who kept alive the knowledge of God and who sought to lead God’s children out of bondage into liberty, away from the sordid things of earth to the bright contemplation of things divine.BSPC 84.1

The prophetic ministry was rather wide in its scope. We see Moses and Joshua primarily as statesmen, and yet they were prophets of the Lord. We see Gad and Heman, who might be called prophets of the court, for one was “David’s seer” (2 Samuel 24:11) and the other was “the king’s seer” (1 Chronicles 25:5). There were others like Samuel who in the main were teachers of the people.BSPC 84.2

One of the vital aspects of the work of the prophet of the Most High was that of communicating to men the message received by inspiration from God. Note the following from the Spirit of prophecy:BSPC 84.3

“From the earliest times, prophets had been recognized as teachers divinely appointed. In the highest sense the prophet was one who spoke by direct inspiration, communicating to the people the messages he had received from God. But the name was given also to those who, though not so directly inspired, were divinely called to instruct the people in the works and ways of God.”—Education, 46.BSPC 84.4

The work of the prophet must at times have been very discouraging. Members of the church, and sometimes those called to bear responsibilities, either misunderstood the message that was given or, because of some secret sin or unholy desire, neglected or rejected the solemn warning. God’s long-suffering and patience with His people is seen in page after page in the Old Testament writings. In the history of the kings and in Jeremiah’s prophecy we read:BSPC 84.5

“And 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.BSPC 84.6

“I spoke unto you, rising up early and speaking, but you heard not; and I called you, but you answered not.” Jeremiah 7:13.BSPC 84.7

“Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.” Verse 25.BSPC 84.8

And so the story goes on. Over and over again we read such words. Entreaties like the above can be found in other parts of the prophetic word. (See Jeremiah 11:7; 25:3, 4; 26:5; 9:19; 32:33; 35:14, 15; 44:4.)BSPC 84.9

We feel grieved as we read of the selfishness, the avarice, and the wickedness of men’s hearts. It pains us to see their base ingratitude toward God, how they despised His message and even persecuted His messengers. Yet Israel in the days of the Savior did the same thing. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11.BSPC 85.1

The attitude of the Jewish leaders, the religious prejudice, and the bitterness they manifested toward the Son of God led Jesus, near the close of His ministry, to say:BSPC 85.2

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Luke 13:34, 35.BSPC 85.3

This is history. There is a danger that we merely read it, and express the sadness we feel at the attitude of people of bygone days. But what is our attitude toward the counsel that comes to us today through the Spirit of prophecy?BSPC 85.4

In the Days of the Patriarchs

In the Apostolic Church