The Lord has illustrated the activities and relationships of His church by many symbols or figures. She is an army on the march, with Christ as the captain of her salvation (2 Timothy 2:3; 1 Timothy 1:18; Hebrews 2:10). She is a temple, the stones of which are the members, with Christ as the chief cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5, 6); she is a flock, the members of which are the “sheep of his pasture,” with Christ as the good shepherd (Luke 12:32; John 10:11). Again we have the figure of the vine, the branches of which represent the members of the body of Christ, Christ Himself being the vine stock. (John 15:1-5.) There is also the figure of the human body, which beautifully illustrates the relationship of one member to the other. None can be independent of the other; each member is needed in order that the human body might function to the highest point of efficiency.BSPC 87.6

Christ “is the head of the body, the church.” Colossians 1:18. God “gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body.” Ephesians 1:22, 23. This body of Christ, like the human body, has many members. “For as the body is one, and bath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12.BSPC 88.1

As there are hands in the human body, so are there hands in the church. The same is true of other members, such as the ear, the eye, the foot, etcetera. Each has its place in the church of God, and each gift is dependent the one on the other.BSPC 88.2

Commenting on 1 Corinthians 12:14-22, the Spirit of prophecy remarks:BSPC 88.3

“In this body there are various members, and one member cannot perform exactly the same office as another. The eyes are made for seeing, and in no case can they perform the work of the ears, which is that of hearing; neither can the cars take the place of the mouth, nor the mouth perform the office of the nose. Yet all these organs are necessary to the perfect whole and work in beautiful harmony with one another.”—Testimonies for the Church 4:128.BSPC 88.4

In ancient days, as we have already seen, the term “seer” was used for a prophet of God. The Hebrew word rendered “seer” means “to see,” and suggests a man who sees in vision. It would indicate that the prophet was one whose gaze pierces the veil that hides the whole world of the future from our eyes. In vision the prophet obtains from the Most High an inner knowledge of the realities of things present and things to come. The seer then is a “see-er,” one who sees. That after all is what the eyes are to the body. If, then, in the church the hands of the body represent the workers. The feet, those who carry the gospel message both at home and in distant lands; the mouth. Those who minister the word and bear witness for Christ Jesus the Lord; the ears, those who listen to the sacred truth of God, is it not reasonable to conclude that the eyes represent the seers, or the prophets?BSPC 88.5

Hence we conclude that spiritual gifts will play a large part in the purpose of God in the development of His people. Furthermore, these divine bestowments will continue to be given, and will continue to function in the church until Christ’s ideal for His children is reached. This means the grand culmination, the time when the Savior shall return to gather those in whose hearts the likeness of Christ is seen. Indeed, the Scripture evidence presented would so indicate.BSPC 88.6

“When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: ... and he will show you things to come.” John 16:13.BSPC 89.1

“Scripture plainly teaches that these promises, so far from being limited to apostolic days, extend to the church of Christ in all ages.”—The Great Controversy, Introduction, P. viii.BSPC 89.2

In the Apostolic Church

In the Days of the Remnant