Ellen Chat Conversation

The concept of dreams and prophetic messages in the experience of God's people often involves a distinction between divine revelation and the deceptive influence of false expectations. In the time of Jeremiah, the prophet was instructed to distinguish between the true word of the Lord and the dreams of those who sought to mislead the people. The counsel given was that if a prophet had a dream, they should tell it, but the focus remained on the necessity of the people repenting and turning from their evil ways to avoid the predicted desolations (T13 45.2), (1T 602.2), (T27 41.2). The history of Israel shows that when leaders or parents neglect their duty to restrain wickedness, they effectively allow God's cause to be dishonored. This lack of firm authority can lead to a state where the people are "snared" and "taken" because they do not heed the clear "precept upon precept" instructions provided by God (1SP 401.2), (20MR 110.5). In such contexts, the "refreshing" and "rest" intended for the weary are rejected in favor of following paths that lead to spiritual ruin (20MR 110.5).

In contrast to false dreams or "lying and corrupt words" prepared by those seeking to appease earthly rulers, true divine revelation serves to make known the "thoughts of the heart" and the future purposes of God (SS 255.5), (YI September 1, 1903, par. 11). Whether through the "former rain" at the opening of the gospel or the "latter rain" at its close, God uses His Spirit to ripen the harvest and fulfill the prophecies of refreshing for those who follow on to know Him (GC88 611.1). Ultimately, the faithful are encouraged to remain steadfast even when facing persecution or the disappointment of their earthly hopes. These trials are described as agents used by God to refine the character and wean the affections from the world, ensuring that the believer's focus remains on the heavenly reward rather than the temporary favor of men (2SP 211.2).

You might also want to explore:What did Ellen White teach about the difference between true and false prophets?How does the "latter rain" relate to the preparation of character for the final crisis?What practical counsel did she give regarding the responsibility of parents to restrain their children?

📚 thousands of passages found containing these search terms — Explore in Full-Text Search