This coming Sabbath is Spirit of Prophecy/Adventist Heritage Day. It is a special day to commemorate how Adventism began and how God has been leading the church.
In The General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p. 24, Ellen White wrote: "In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, 'Praise God!' As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as Leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history. We are now a strong people if we will put our trust in the Lord, for we are handling the mighty truths of the word of God. We have everything to be thankful for."
Indeed, it is good to remember how God has led us in the past and how He has taught us His mighty truths in the Bible. For this reason, we commemorate the Adventist heritage and value the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy.
In Revelation 12:17, we read: "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Now, what is the testimony of Jesus? Revelation 19:10 says it is "the spirit of prophecy."
What a timely and important gift!
Yet, Ellen White warns us in Selected Messages Book 2, p. 78: "The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God…Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony. He will bring in spurious visions to mislead and will mingle the false with the true, and so disgust people that they will regard everything that bears the name of visions as a species of fanaticism; but honest souls, by contrasting false and true, will be enabled to distinguish between them..."
Meanwhile, the Spirit of Prophecy is not the Bible, nor is it equal to it. But, as White says, it leads us to the Bible. And it is inspired by the testimony of Jesus.
According to the Selected Messages Book 1, p. 41, "Through His Holy Spirit, the voice of God has come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith of the believers in the Spirit of prophecy. Repeatedly the word has come, 'Write the things that I have given you to confirm the faith of My people in the position they have taken.' Time and trial have not made void the instruction given, but through years of suffering and self-sacrifice have established the truth of the testimony given. The instruction that was given in the early days of the message is to be held as safe instruction to follow in these closing days."
Now, the testimony of Jesus is part of the Advent movement. It is a gift from God, centered in Christ and all that represents – salvation, grace, and ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.
As we near the end of time, we need to stay close to God by studying His Word and following His counsels in the Spirit of Prophecy. This testimony serves as the lesser light that leads to the greater light of God's Word.
With this, may God bless you as you discover the wonderful gift He has given you through the Spirit of Prophecy.