Ellen White

A True Prophet Says –

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“that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”

 
I have applied the tests of a prophet many times to Mrs. White. A true prophet must pass all the tests, not failing even a single one. Mrs. White passed all the tests of a prophet, so I believe that she is a true prophet of God.

Confusion

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit.” 1 John 4:1, first part

The Greek text could also be translated “Beloved, stop believing every spirit.”

The language John uses indicates that people are being deceived because of who they listen to.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Obviously, when you look at the context, John is addressing a problem occurring in the church at that time.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They [people teaching these false doctrines] are of the world. Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” Verses 2–5

A tremendous amount of confusion exists among Adventists concerning the meaning of this test, expressed not just in their sermons, but in their books and published materials.

Pleasing God

“So then, those that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. Did Jesus please God or not?

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” Matthew 3:16, 17

Matthew 3 chronicles the beginning of Christ’s ministry. Matthew 17 is near the end of His ministry and His life.

“While he [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ ” Matthew 17:5

The Bible tells us that both at the beginning and at the end of Jesus’ ministry, God was pleased with His Son. So, how was He able to please God?

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:29

Jesus always did what pleased His Father and as His children, this should also be our goal, our spiritual condition in this life. Only then can our guardian angels, our recording angels, write on our pages in the book of life, that we always sought to do and did do those things that please Jesus.

In the Flesh

The Father was well pleased with His Son. Jesus knew it. Jesus came to this world in human flesh, but not in the flesh Paul refers to in Romans 8:8.

In this context, Paul means that being in the flesh is having a carnal mind.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:7, 8

“Flesh” and “carnal mind” are used interchangeably in the Bible, meaning our natural, sinful nature. Those who have a carnal mind—those who are governed by their natural, sinful nature—cannot keep God’s law and therefore, cannot please Him.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Verse 9

Did Jesus keep God’s law? Yes, He did. And by keeping the law, Jesus pleased God. Man, however, because of his sinful nature and inherent selfishness, cannot by himself keep the law, and so he cannot please God.

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10

Two Meanings: Carnal Mind or Mortal Body

The expression in the flesh can mean two different things. Romans 8 says that if you have a carnal mind, you are at enmity against God; you cannot keep the law of God, and therefore, do not please God. But the expression in the flesh can be used in a different way and Paul uses it in this way, too.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.” Philippians 1:21, 22

“For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.” Verses 23, 24

In this context, Paul’s living in the flesh is his human body, not a carnal mind; he is living in a physical, mortal body.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14

In order for Christ to die as our Saviour, He had to have a mortal body, but what He did not have—what He never had—was a carnal mind. He came in a mortal body of flesh, but He did not have the mind of flesh (sinfulness) which is ours by heredity.

A Problem in the Church

A heresy arose in apostolic times, becoming a major problem in the early Christian church—Docetism and Gnosticism.

Docetism’s basic idea is that Christ only appeared to have a body. He was an illusion, a phantom, not a man at all. He was a purely spiritual being and therefore, could not have experienced human suffering nor could He die.

Gnosticism held that Jesus was only the literal son of Joseph, but that He was selected by God at His baptism to be the Messiah because of His piety and obedience to the law. Some gnostics believed He was just a mystical, spiritual figure, neither human nor divine, downplaying or outright denying His death and resurrection.

During his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul cautioned the believers in Colossi against docetic doctrine in Colossians 2:4, 8, 9, and 18.

Peter voiced an even stronger warning about it.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” 2 Peter 2:1–3

Jude 4 refers to the docetic heresy and the Nicolaitans of Revelation 2 were gnostics.

“When Jesus took human nature, and became in fashion as a man, He possessed all the human organism. His necessities were the necessities of a man. He had bodily wants to be supplied, bodily weariness to be relieved. By prayer to the Father He was braced for duty and for trial.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1130

“In contemplating the incarnation of Christ in humanity, we stand baffled before an unfathomable mystery that the human mind cannot comprehend. The more we reflect upon it, the more amazing does it appear. How wide is the contrast between the divinity of Christ and the helpless infant in Bethlehem’s manger! How can we span the distance between the mighty God and a helpless child? And yet the Creator of worlds, He in whom was the fullness of the Godhead bodily, was manifest in the helpless babe in the manger. Far higher than any of the angels, equal with the Father in dignity and glory, and yet wearing the garb of humanity! Divinity and humanity were mysteriously combined, and man and God became one. It is in this union that we find the hope of our fallen race.” Ibid., Vol. 7A, 443, 444

Clearly, Mrs. White confesses that Jesus did come in the flesh, is a true prophet, and not a deceiver (see 2 John 1).

“There is no one who can explain the mystery of the incarnation of Christ. Yet we know that He came to this earth and lived as a man among men. The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty, yet Christ and the Father are one. The Deity did not sink under the agonizing torture of Calvary, yet it is nonetheless true that ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ ” Ibid., Vol. 5, 1129, 1130

Be Warned

We have been warned not to set Christ before the people as a person who had the propensities of sin.

“Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience [we are born with inherent propensities of disobedience]. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.” Ibid., Vol. 7A, 447

Never at any moment was there in Jesus Christ an evil propensity. “He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden.” Ibid.

Two Directions

There are two directions that theologians go and both end up in extremes.

Conservative Adventists tend to contradict what Mrs. White said. They say that Christ was born with sinful flesh, the propensity to sin, but He overcame anyway. That position is directly contrary to the previous Spirit of Prophecy quotations. These people however do believe that it’s necessary to overcome sin.

The other extreme is to say Christ wasn’t really like us and so we cannot be expected to be really like Him and so you’re saved by justification alone.

People tend to go from one extreme to the other and both extremes are directly contrary to what Mrs. White wrote. We need to have some clarity about this and Mrs. White has tried to give us clarity if we will study what she wrote very carefully.

“Avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His humanity as combined with divinity. His birth was a miracle of God; for, said the angel, ‘Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’ Luke 1:31–35.” Ibid., Vol. 5, 1128

That Holy Thing

“These words do not refer to any human being, except to the Son of the infinite God. Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to, corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called ‘that holy thing.’ ” Ibid.

Mary gave birth to that “holy thing.” Jesus was born holy [in nature and character] and in human flesh [a mortal body]. That cannot be said of any other human being.

“It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be.” Ibid., 1128, 1129

There are conservative Adventist preachers who want to make Christ just like us. This is dangerous rhetoric. Christ cannot be just like us and be that holy thing, too. It was necessary that He be that holy thing and it was necessary that Jesus had holy flesh. If He did not have holy flesh, He could not be our Saviour.

“In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: ‘Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,” says the Lord; “and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,” says the Lord, “and work; for I am with you,” says the Lord of hosts: ‘according to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear.’ ” Haggai 2:1–5

“ ‘For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the Lord of hosts. “The silver is Mine, and the gold in Mine,” says the Lord of hosts. “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts. “And in this place I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts.’ … Verses 6–9

“ ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, ‘If one carries holy meat [holy flesh] in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?’ ” ’ Then the priests answered and said, ‘No.’

“And Haggai said, ‘If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?’ So the priests answered and said, ‘It shall be unclean.’ Then Haggai answered and said, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’ ” Verses 11–14

Mrs. White writes concerning these verses, “This is a parable. The sacrifice spoken of as holy flesh, was a representation of Christ, who was the foundation of the Jewish economy, and who is ever to be regarded as the One who makes possible the purification of man from sin.” Seventh-day Adventist Commentary, Vol. 4, 1176

Christ’s life was offered on Calvary as a holy, unblemished sacrifice. Being holy and unblemished is what made it possible for Him to be our Saviour. However, the devil tried to prevent Jesus from developing this perfected holiness that fit Him to be our sufficient sacrifice. Be mindful of the fact that every sacrifice in the typical service had to be perfect and unblemished. Had not Christ been holy and unblemished, His sacrifice could not have been sufficient to pay the debt for our sins.

“In every possible way Satan sought to prevent Jesus from developing a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood, a holy ministry, and an unblemished sacrifice. But he was defeated.” Ibid., Vol. 5, 1130

Christ’s Humiliation

“Think of Christ’s humiliation. He took upon Himself fallen, suffering human nature, degraded, and defiled by sin. He took our sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He united humanity with divinity: a divine spirit dwelt in a temple of flesh.” Ibid., Vol. 4, 1147

For the people who believe that Jesus had sinful flesh [sinful nature], the following is the most powerful statement found in the Spirit of Prophecy that they believe absolutely proves their case.

“He took upon Him fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin.”

But the context for this statement is found in the first part of the paragraph. It says, “Think of Christ’s humiliation.” So, let’s look at Christ’s humiliation.

“Throughout His life on earth He had walked in the light of God’s presence. When in conflict with men who were inspired by the very spirit of Satan, He could say, ‘He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.’ John 8:29. But now He seemed to be shut out from the light of God’s sustaining presence. Now He was numbered with transgressors. The guilt of fallen humanity He must bear. Upon Him who knew no sin must be laid the iniquity of us all.” The Desire of Ages, 685

“Christ was now standing in a different attitude from that in which He had ever stood before.” Ibid., 686

Praying the third time in Gethsemane, “Jesus sought again His retreat, and fell prostrate, overcome by the horror of a great darkness. The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour. He prayed not now for His disciples that their faith might not fail, but for His own tempted, agonized soul. The awful moment had come—that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world. The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man. It was not yet too late. He might wipe the bloody sweat from His brow, and leave man to perish in his iniquity.” Ibid., 690

Christ could have wiped the bloody sweat from His brow, stood, and returned to His Father. He had holy flesh. Had He had sinful flesh, He would have been unable to return to heaven. But because He was holy and undefiled, He could have gone back to heaven right then.

“He might say, Let the transgressor receive the penalty of his sin, and I will go back to My Father. Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony?” Ibid.

Had Jesus turned His back on the world and returned to heaven, we would have been lost.

The Bitter Cup

Christ had no sin, no guilt of His own, but in order to save this world, it was necessary for Him to bear our sins. The sins of every man, woman, and child were laid upon Him like a dark, heavy coat. This is the bitter cup.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4–6

“Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony? Will the innocent suffer the consequences of the curse of sin, to save the guilty? The words fall tremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus, ‘O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’

“Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: ‘If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’

“Having made the decision, He fell dying to the ground … .” The Desire of Ages, 693

Christ’s acceptance of my sin, your sin, the sins of the whole world was His humiliation, the bitter cup He must drink to the very dregs.

Power Given

“The worlds unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the conflict drew to its close. Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption. The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ’s thrice-repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of God. In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant. He pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings. He assured Him that His Father is greater and more powerful than Satan, that His death would result in the utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world would be given to the saints of the Most High. He told Him that He would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied, for He would see a multitude of the human race saved, eternally saved. …

“A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear; for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man.” Ibid., 694

We Are Responsible

Christ accepted the humiliation of mankind’s degraded, sinful nature and it killed Him. Yes, they drove nails into His hands and feet, pressed a crown of thorns deep into His brow, pierced His side with a spear; and as He hung on the cross, it became more difficult to breathe by the hour. All these things would have killed a mortal man, but they did not kill Christ. We did that. Our sin and guilt separated Him, just as it does us, from His Father and He died of a broken heart. He was slain by the sin of the world.

The devil claimed the human race as his own, saying that even God Himself could not take it back. But Jesus Christ came and did what the devil said could not be done. Mrs. White says that Christ’s incarnation in human flesh, a man, but still God, His ability to die and redeem all of mankind back from Satan was, is, and always will remain a mystery. A mystery that even the angels cannot understand or explain. A mystery that the righteous will study throughout eternity, but never fully understand, though its meaning will be opened to us more and more. (See The Signs of the Times, July 30, 1896.)

Jesus Christ came to this world in the flesh, in a human body, to be our Saviour, to live the life of humanity and to pay the price for our sins. Fallen, degraded, hopeless as we are, Jesus has provided the only way out of this world. He is able to save to the uttermost everyone who comes to God through Him.

A true prophet teaches that Christ came in the flesh to be our Saviour. Mrs. White tells us that even Satan will one day know that he is, and has been all along, powerless to destroy those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. Whatever the situation, go to Jesus. Confess that you cannot trust yourself, that you are powerless to overcome your selfishness and sinfulness alone. Place your complete trust in the One who saves “to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.” Choose to obey Him and to always do those things that please Him. Paul said that Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He came to save you and me.

“Our Redeemer made the greatest possible sacrifice for the human race. Thus, He has shown the estimate He places on us. Do you desire to work so as best to please him?” The Review and Herald, July 11, 1899

Pastor John J. Grosboll is the Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be reached by email at historic@stepstolife.org or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

The Editing of the Testimonies

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Were the Testimonies Altered Without the Knowledge of Ellen White?

Accusations are made by some in Adventism that, in the process of editing and republishing the early editions of the Testimonies of Ellen G. White, undue liberties were taken and alterations made without the knowledge of the author. Many of these accusations are attributed solely to Uriah Smith. The accusations appear to focus on the year 1884 when a committee of five at the Review offices in Battle Creek were preparing the first four Testimonies for republication.

Because of illness as a child, Ellen White had obtained only a third grade education, and as a result ”Ellen G. White Desired Language Correctly Used,” so states a sub-title about the editing of the Testimonies. (Selected Messages, Book. 3, 97.) This appropriate subtitle was inserted by the compilers preceding the following statement:

Make It Correct

“Where the language used is not the best, I want it made correct and grammatical,” Ellen White commented, “as I believe it should be in every case where it can be without destroying the sense.” Ibid.

As a result, Ellen White often sought professional assistance in editing. In 1884 she submitted some of her Testimonies to Battle Creek, the center of the publishing work, and to the Review offices, for editing in grammar and construction before republication.

Ellen White wrote: “Dear Brother Smith: I have today mailed you a letter, but information has been received from Battle Creek that the work upon Testimonies is not accepted.” Ibid., 96.

It was not the editing committee or Ellen White who did not accept the work upon the Testimonies. As we shall see, it was the brethren in the church at Battle Creek who did not accept the editing work! Immediately following the first sentence in her letter to Uriah Smith, as recorded in Selected Messages, Book 3, 96, is a Compiler’s Note which states:

  • Reference is to the work being done in response to the General Conference Session action of November 16, which reads: 32. Whereas, some of the bound volumes of the Testimonies to the Church, are out of print, so that full sets cannot be obtained at the office; and, Whereas, there is a constant and urgent call for the reprinting of these volumes; therefore, Resolved, that we recommend their republication in such a form as to make four volumes of seven or eight hundred pages each.
  • Whereas, Many of these testimonies were written under the most unfavorable circumstances, the writer being too heavily pressed with anxiety and labor to devote critical thought to the grammatical perfection of the writings, and they were printed in such haste as to allow these imperfections to pass uncorrected; and, Whereas, We believe the light given by God to His servants is by the enlightenment of the mind, thus imparting the thoughts, and not (except in rare cases) the very words in which the ideas should be expressed; Therefore, Resolved, that in the republication of these volumes, such verbal changes be made as to remove the above-named imperfections as far as possible, without in any measure changing the thought; and further,
  • Resolved, that this body appoint a committee of five to take charge of the republication of these volumes according to the above preambles and resolutions.’ —Review and Herald, Nov. 27, 1883.

‘The committee of five to take charge of the republication of the Testimonies provided for in the thirty-fourth resolution was announced as follows, the Chair having been empowered to select four persons besides himself for this purpose: W. C. White, Uriah Smith, J. H. Waggoner, S. N. Haskell, George I. Butler.’ Ibid. The work was submitted to Ellen White and was approved by her. The letter to Elder Smith intimates that she was more ready to accept the improvements than some in Battle Creek. The product was our present Testimonies, vols. 1–4, [published in 1885.—Compilers.] Selected Messages, Book 3, 96. [Emphasis supplied.]

Cognizance must here be taken that there were five members of the revision and editing committee. Uriah Smith cannot be singled out as the only one responsible for any changes that were made in the Testimonies revision in 1884.

The next page of Selected Messages, vol. 3 records how Ellen White addressed the objection of the brethren at Battle Creek. She stated that, although the brethren at Battle Creek did not accept the revisions, she did accept the changes herself after “more critically” examining the edited Testimonies.

“My mind has been exercised upon the question of the Testimonies that have been revised. We have looked them over more critically. I cannot see the matter as my brethren see it. I think the changes will improve the book. If our enemies handle it, let them do so. . . .” [Emphasis supplied.]

What did she mean by that statement, “If our enemies handle it, let them do so. . . “? The answer to this question was published in the Review and Herald that very year, as follows:

“The adversary of souls is constantly seeking to divert our minds by bringing in side-issues. Let us not be deceived. Let enemies handle your name and mine as they please. Let them distort, misrepresent our words and deeds. Let them fabricate falsehoods as best pleases them. We cannot afford to allow our minds to be diverted from Jesus and the preparation of soul which we must have in order to meet him in peace.” Review and Herald, August 28, 1883. [Emphasis supplied.]

Those who question the editing of Ellen White’s Testimonies are being diverted from their calling and mission by becoming involved in side-issues.

The Editing of Earlier Testimonies

“Soon after the republication in 1882 of the three earliest E. G. White books, A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, A Supplement to Experience and Views, and Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, all three of which today comprise Early Writings, certain questions were raised concerning the completeness of some of the articles and the significance of certain statements appearing here or in still earlier published articles. Mrs. White answered these questions in 1883 in the following statement. Reference is made to the teachings on the shut door, [See The Great Controversy, pages 429-432.—Compilers.]” Selected Messages, Book1, 59. [Emphasis supplied.]

“Some of these sheets may still be in existence, and may be brought forward as coming from me, but I am not responsible for them. The articles given in Early Writings did pass under my eye; and as the edition of Experience and Views published in 1851 was the earliest which we possessed, and as we had no knowledge of anything additional in papers or pamphlets of earlier date, I am not responsible for the omissions which are said to exist.” Ibid. [Emphasis supplied.]

For further study, see “An Explanation of Early Statements,” Selected Messages, Book. 1, 59–76.

The Question of Editing the Writings of a Living Messenger

Suppose some had edited the writings of the apostle Paul while he was alive. “Preposterous! Inconceivable! Impossible” you reply. Would he not have examined the edited copy? Ellen White was alive and well at the time of editing these Testimonies. Are we saying that she would not have examined the edited copy? No, indeed! Always remember, dear reader, angels of the Lord often appeared to guide and counsel Ellen White in her work. We are not alone at this critical time in history! The Scriptures state that “There are invisible agencies observing every word and deed of human beings.” Christ’s Object Lessons. 176.

If we believe that there are heavenly watchers and that the Lord does indeed know all, then would He not send an angel to Ellen White to point out to her that editors were perverting the sacred Testimonies He had given her for His people? In this letter to Uriah Smith and the revising committee, Ellen White herself stated, “Where the language used is not the best, I want it made correct and grammatical, as I believe it should be in every case where it can be without destroying the sense.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 97.

Delaying the Work

“Now, Brother Smith, I have been making a careful, critical examination of the work that has been done on the Testimonies, and I see a few things that I think should be corrected in the matter brought before you and others at the General Conference [November, 1883],” Ellen White wrote. “But as I examine the matter more carefully I see less and less that is objectionable.” Ibid. {Emphasis supplied.]

If it was not the editing of the text of the manuscripts, what was it that was upsetting Ellen White about the editing and publishing of the manuscripts?

“This work is delayed, which does not please me. . . .” Ibid.

Ah! There is our answer. “This work is delayed, which does not please me.” Ellen White was concerned about the length of time it was taking to get the project finished, and the time it was taking to get the Testimonies before the people. She then encouraged the editing committee to go forward with the work, counseling that: AI think that anything that shall go forth will be criticized, twisted, turned, and boggled, but we are to go forward with a clear conscience, doing what we can and leaving the result with God. We must not be long in delaying the work.” Ibid.

Do Something Now!

So you see, dear reader, that Ellen White’s greatest concern was with the delay in publishing. She trusted the committee in their editing, to a certain point and examined “critically and carefully” the edited manuscripts. She approved of the changes and urged them onward with the republication of these Testimonies.

“Now, my brethren, what do you propose to do?” Ellen White urged. AI do not want this work dragging along any longer. I want something done, and done now.” Ibid., 98.

She could not relay her feelings on the matter any stronger! Ellen White had already examined the edited manuscripts. Did she approve of the editing that had been done by the five– man committee? “We have looked them over more critically,” Ellen White replies. “I think the changes will improve the book.” Ibid. 97. [Emphasis supplied].

This time Ellen White states that they had examined the manuscripts Amore” critically. And what was her opinion of the editing? “I think the changes will improve the book.”

Oh dear reader, why make mountains out of mole-hills at this critical hour? By pursuing the premise that Ellen White’s writings were tampered with by certain devious Adventists 100 years ago, without her permission, is to bring reproach, not only upon Ellen White, but also upon faithful pioneer Adventists. But even more devastating is to bring doubt as to the integrity and accuracy of the Testimonies of Jesus.

Stones to Remember, Part II

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Last month we learned that when Joshua led the children of Israel into the land of Canaan, God instructed that one man from each of the 12 tribes carry a stone from the midst of the Jordan River to the shore of Canaan. There an altar was to be built as a reminder of the Lord’s leading. (See Joshua 4:1–9.)

Every one of us should know that the Lord has been leading us. We should also know that the Lord has been leading in the second advent movement and in the revival and reformation movement in Adventism. If God is leading us, He will always, without fail, be leading us in harmony with His law.

After Ellen White died, in 1915, did the Lord continue to lead the advent movement? Yes! Is He going to lead us until the end? Yes! So, we need to study and to remember—just as the children of Israel put up a memorial when they went across the Jordan River—how the Lord has led us, not just up until 1915 but up to today.

In the development, in the understanding, and in the proclamation of the three angels’ messages, the Lord has been leading. We should know how the Lord has led, and we need to recognize how the devil has attacked and what the Lord has done in return. Our faith, as Adventists, must be grounded in the Bible.

Dropping the Bombshell!

In 1979 I was invited to teach health science, food and nutrition at Southwestern Adventist College in Keene, Texas. Prior to that time I had been a pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and had worked in public evangelism. My family and I arrived in Keene during the summer of 1979 for the beginning of the 1979–1980 school year. At the beginning of the school year a bombshell dropped on Adventism that has had repercussions around the world, and we are still affected by it.

In California at Pacific Union College at that time was a visiting professor from Australia by the name of Dr. Desmond Ford. He gave a lecture at an Adventist Forum, the essence of which was that, as a church, we were mistaken in regard to what happened in 1844. He also espoused that we were mistaken in regard to our concept of the investigative judgment.

Although I was not on the Theology Department staff, I obviously was mingling with people from all of the departments. As we mingled, we talked about these things, and I found out something shocking.

I learned that the faculty was divided. Some of the faculty thought that Desmond Ford was right! Some of them thought that he was dead wrong. A flurry of publications began to be issued. Some people, whom I had always thought were pillars in the Adventist Church, our theologians, were writing things like, “We cannot find anything about the investigative judgment in the Bible.”

Our Doctrines Still Stand

I was amazed! I can find things about the investigative judgment in the Bible! For example: “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of days was seated; his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. A thousand thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. [That is a hundred million.] The court was seated [or the judgment was set in place] and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9, 10.

These verses are talking about a court, or a judgment. Notice that in the last sentence it says, “and the books were opened.” I do not know how much more plain you could write it. If you have a judgment and books are being opened, some kind of investigation is occurring.

If you look at the context of these verses, they take place while the little horn power, the antichrist, is still in existence. This is not talking about after the millenium, or after Jesus comes, because when Jesus comes, the antichrist power is going to be destroyed. (See 11 Thessalonians 2.) This takes place before the antichrist power is destroyed—check the context in your Bible. This is talking about a judgment which includes an investigation. You do not have to be a scholar to understand this. It is in plain language.

Revelation 14:6, 7 talk about a judgment that takes place while the gospel is still being preached. Is the gospel going to be preached after Jesus comes? No, the gospel is all finished being preached before Jesus comes.

If you study Revelation 14:6, 7 carefully, you will see, from the context of the verses, that your conduct is going to make a difference in regard to the decision made in this judgment. It says, “The hour of his judgment is come” and for that reason you need to “fear God and to glorify him.” The Bible is very clear—there is a judgment that takes place in heaven before Jesus comes, while the antichrist power is still in the world and the gospel is still being preached.

But in 1979–1980, we started to have all of these things dropped on us. In fact, it was such a bombshell that it was decided that all the leaders in the Adventist Church would gather the next year at Glacier View Camp in Colorado to study out this topic. After this gathering, many more than before of the scholars in the Seventh-day Adventist Church were even more convinced that Desmond Ford was right. But they decided not to say anything about it, because they were afraid they would lose their jobs. Many of those people are still teaching our ministers.

Checking it Out

The people said, “Well you just do not know. You cannot tell from the Greek text in Hebrews that Jesus went into the holy place instead of the most holy place in 31 a.d.”

I decided to check this out further. I thought I already knew what was truth—I had been teaching it for many years. I thought all Adventists knew. But some of the leading scholars in our church said that we were wrong and that we had been wrong since the beginning of the church. It was time to do some very diligent study.

It was said that if you looked in the Greek text at Hebrews or if you looked in the Hebrew text at Daniel, you would find out that we were wrong. In the providence of God, I had studied Greek at Walla Walla College (College Place, Washington) and at the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan. At the Berrien Springs Seminary I had also studied Hebrew. In fact, I often preach from my Hebrew Bible.

I bought a new Hebrew Bible and secured some new Greek Bibles, and I determined to check out this teaching. If we had been wrong in Adventism for almost 150 years, it was high time that we found out what the Bible really said. If you have studied the history of Adventism and know where we come from, you know that Seventh-day Adventists are Protestants. A Protestant is a person whose faith is anchored in the word of God. So if the word of God should prove us wrong, we would have to just accept that we were wrong.

I determined to check every word. I was going to check the declension of every single noun. I was going to check the conjugation of every single verb in these disputed passages and I was going to find out if we were wrong. And, of course, if we were wrong, we would have to change; we would have to acknowledge that we were wrong. I spent a number of years checking all of those things out very, very carefully.

Our Anchor Holds!

Since I was working at a college, I had access to the Baptist Seminary Library in Forth Worth, Texas, which provided me access to historical and lexical aids. I checked out everything, and I want to tell you, the Adventist message that our pioneers taught is solidly anchored in the Bible. There is no mistake in it!

I am not saying that we know everything. I am not claiming that we can explain every verse of Scripture, but the message that Adventists have proclaimed about 1844 and about the investigative judgment and about the sanctuary is anchored in the Bible. The more deeply we study into it, the more solid we will find it to be.

When I started to study in 1980, I spent so many hours in my Hebrew Bible that I got a magnifying glass so I could enlarge the words and make it easier to read. I went down Daniel 8 word-by-word-by-word, over and over again, because that was one of the most disputed passages. There were people saying that they did not think that this passage even applies to the papacy; they thought that it applies to Antiochus Epiphanies. That is what other Protestant churches teach! Now church leaders claimed that what we had been saying for over 100 years was wrong.

Even a Child Can Understand

Let me point out some things.

  1. In the first part of Daniel 8 is the description concerning the ram. It says, in the Hebrew language, that the ram became great.
  2. It also talks about a he-goat with a horn between the eyes and about the ways that the he-goat became very great. The ram became great; the he-goat became very great. Daniel 8 tells us as well that the ram represents the kings of Medo-Persia; the he-goat represents Greece, and the great horn represents the first king.
  3. It then talks about the little horn becoming exceedingly great. That is more than very great! In the Hebrew language, it is very explicit and very clear. You cannot make a mistake. The ram became great; the he-goat became very great, and the little horn became exceedingly great, greater than Alexander the Great. Was Antiochus Epiphanes greater than Alexander the Great? No! That would be like saying that your state governor is greater than the President of the United States. It makes no sense at all. The little horn in Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 is exactly what the Adventist pioneers said—the papacy!

The 2,300 days are exactly what our pioneers said also. You can follow word-by-word-by-word in the Hebrew text, and you do not have to take anything out of context. When I was challenged about this, and when I saw theologians in our church saying that we did not know what we were talking about, I realized that what they were saying would not only make Ellen White wrong, but it would make us all wrong in our beliefs. If they were right, we would have to change.

People did change as a result of this theology. One of them, the associate pastor of the church that I had attended in Loma Linda, California, became the pastor of a Sunday-keeping church. That is where this theology led him.

God has led in the second-advent movement! There is not one Adventist in a hundred who knows how deeply this message is laid. The foundation goes deep; it is on the Rock. You cannot overthrow it unless you overthrow the Bible.

We have nothing of which to be ashamed when we talk to any person of any religious persuasion concerning what we believe about the prophecies in Daniel 7, 8 and 9. If we have studied it carefully, we can go through the verses word-by-word-by-word, in context, and they all fit together.

I did the same type of study in the book of Hebrews. I looked at the conjugation of every verb, the declension of every noun, and looked at every single word. They say that you cannot determine that Jesus went into the holy place in 31 a.d., but you most certainly can! You do not have to look at the writings of Ellen White to prove it, either. You can find it right in the Bible.

The Bible Alone—Our Foundation Stone

Our faith is based in the Bible. We should be able to teach every doctrine of belief that we have right from that Book. Now, please do not misunderstand me. I believe that Ellen White is a prophet. I do not have any question about that. But you and I should be able to prove everything that we believe from the Bible alone.

Ellen White told us that we should be able to do that. (See Manuscricpt Releases, vol. 2, 96.) The Adventist message came out of the Bible. That is why you do not need to take anything out of context. You do not need to twist anything. You just need to look and see what it says and what is the weight of the evidence.

What was the bottom line in all those new teachings that came to be called the New Theology? It all led to denial of 1844, to denial of the investigative judgment, and to denial of the sanctuary message. The people who accepted those new teachings, have been led from one heresy to another. A theology student came to me one day when I was teaching at Southwestern Adventist College. He said, “I have a theology teacher who told us in class that we are going to sin until Jesus comes.” That is the end result of this theology. The fact of the matter is, friend, that many, many Seventh-day Adventists as well as other people are going to sin until Jesus comes, but then they are going to get burned up.

The reason there has been so much opposition against what Adventists teach about the sanctuary is because of the devil’s hatred of that doctrine. That doctrine will lead you to understand that you and I must be purified to be ready for Jesus to come. Oh, friends, you and I cannot go to the kingdom of heaven the way we are right now. We have to be purified. We have to be cleansed. Our sins have to be blotted out.

Purified and Cleansed

Are you praying about this every day? Do you want to be purified and cleansed? Do not try to find some new message. The Bible teaches the Adventist message. Maybe I should say it the other way around—the Adventist message comes out of the Bible. The sanctuary message comes out of the Bible. The fact that we must be purified comes out of the Bible.

John said, “Everyone who has this hope in him [Jesus] purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3. Do not look for a different message. We have the truth! I am not boasting. We have the truth because God gave it to us. Our spiritual forefathers searched the Bible through, and the Lord, through the Spirit of Prophecy led them to understand what these words mean.

You can go to those original texts in Hebrew and Greek, and you will find that they teach Adventism. God has led us. The big question is, are you and I going to come into harmony with what God wants to do for us individually and for us as a movement?

Before the end of time, one of two things is going to happen to every single person in Adventism, and eventually to every single person in the world, because this is the way that God is leading. We know it is going to happen because prophecy says so. There is going to be one group of people, a smaller group, who will come into harmony with everything in the word of God, every word!

Living by Every Word

Jesus said we should live by every word (see Matthew 4:4); that means that every word is important. I want to be among that group. That is the whole aim of my life. Those people are going to be purified; the Lord is going to blot out their sins. He is going to clothe them with the righteousness of Jesus Christ and take them to heaven.

But there is going to be a much larger group of people in Adventism, as well as in the world, who are not going to become purified. If you believe the New Theology, then you believe that you are going to sin until Jesus comes. Ellen White says, “Success in any line demands a definite aim.” Education, 262. If you are not aiming to overcome sin, you are not going to do it.

Have you ever seen an alcoholic who just quit drinking without even trying? Have you ever seen a chain smoker suddenly quit, and it just happened? You see, those things do not just happen. They do not happen unless a person decides they are not going to do those things any more. They decide to change.

A person does not quit sinning unless they decide, either, but you are not going to decide to stop sinning if you do not think that it is possible to stop. That is what is wrong with so much religious teaching today. People are not taught that it is possible. Even some Seventh-day Adventist preachers are telling their congregations to just do the best they can.

Not Good Enough!

I believe that it is good to do the best you can in all your activities all the time. But if you are talking about sin, you had better not just talk about doing the best you can, because God requires that we come up to a standard which He has set.

God is leading a people into a path of purification and holiness. The evidence for it is strong. The evidence is overwhelming that this is true. We know that He is leading because the deeper we study the Bible, the more evidence we find that this is what it teaches.

When it is all over, there will be only two groups. In which of those two groups are you going to be? The devil is attacking; he is trying to trip you up with any kind of heresy or false teaching that he can foist on you. The Lord is leading a people, and if you are willing for Him to lead you, He said, I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. (See Hebrews 13:5.)

If you depart from the truths of our church pioneers, it is because you choose to believe error. It is not because God or His message have changed. We see the evidence from history that He has led us up to this point and He is going to lead us into the kingdom.

Ellen G. White and Racism, Part I

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[Editor’s Note: This sermon was presented at the Steps to Life Camp Meeting, July 2003. The conversational style of the speaker has been preserved.]

On March 21, 1891, Ellen G. White, 64 years of age, slowly walked to the podium of the Battle Creek, Michigan, Tabernacle Church. From the pulpit, she observed the delegates of the General Conference session and thought about the sermon she was about to deliver. Her sermon, entitled “Our Duty to the Colored People,” focused on an issue that she felt would win her no friends. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, in her opinion, must grapple with an issue they had been skirting for too long. Convinced that the leaders of the church could no longer look the other way, pretending that the problem was not there, she contemplated the task before her. She was not at ease, uncomfortable with the issues that she was about to unleash on her brethren. Knowing that many would not be happy with her words, she struggled through the presentation with carefully measured words. On one side, she did not want to hurt any sensitivities; however, she felt the need to push the leaders of the church into action, to shake them from what she considered to be a sad indifference towards Negroes in the United States.

Color Line

Feeling that Negroes in the South had been abandoned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for too long and that it was time to launch reforms and change the policies of the church, she opened her presentation declaring, “There has been much perplexity as to how our laborers in the South shall deal with the ‘color line.’ ” The Southern Work, 9. With this sentence, she projected onto the leaders of the church an issue that made them uncomfortable. In the sermon, she clearly stated her position on the nature of racism in America and the stance that the church should take.

Over 100 years have passed since Ellen White expressed her concern in regard to the “color line.” Although non-Adventist scholars have written thousands of books on race and racism, the literature produced by Seventh-day Adventist writers and scholars, with the exception of the writings of Ellen White, displays a pronounced silence on the topic. Adventist historians have, by and large, looked the other way. As a community, Seventh-day Adventists feel uneasy with the issue. However, the “color line” continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing the church today.

When Ellen White spoke of the “color line” in 1891, she was referring to a unique American phenomenon. Although the ideas have been exported to all of the corners of the earth, its roots are deeply imbedded in the history of the United States. The term “color line” refers to the fact that, in the United States, the quality of a person’s character is judged by the color of his/her skin. People with light-colored skin, or “whites,” as they are generally termed, are deemed to be of a pure and better stock. People of color, and especially Negroes, because of their dark skin, are considered to be of inferior stock.

Evidently it not only appears to be a thought accommodated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but a living reality in our experience, that the white brothers and sisters are superior to the black brothers and sisters in the church and that the churches should be led only by “whites.” So, the church does not display much difference in attitude and behavior from the American society and the world at large.

Control and Power

In order for us to understand the uniqueness of the American racial attitude, the concern of Ellen White, and how it affects us as Seventh-day Adventists, we need to define the words slavery and racism. According to Webster’s Dictionary, slavery is defined as “the condition of a slave, bondage, the keeping of slaves as a practice or institution. Slavery emphasizes the idea of complete ownership and control by a master.” Racism is defined as “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievements, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.”

In both definitions, we see no mention of color. What we do see is a desire to rule and control for selfish purposes. In the experience of the Israelites in Egypt, we clearly see that their situation had nothing to do with color: “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and [so] get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.” Exodus 1:6–11.

What we see in these texts is a position of control and power—not color, but control and power. So the American form of slavery and/or racism, which Ellen White called “color line,” is indeed a unique American phenomenon that has affected the nations of earth. It is this, friends, because it says that a person is not judged by his/her character but by the color of his/her skin, and that will determine the person’s character. But most specifically, this determination is aimed at the black race as the inferior race and the white race as the superior race.

Secular Perspectives

In the book Uprooting Racism: How White People can Work for Racial Justice (Kivel, Paul, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada, May 2002), it is stated that the American society has been built upon a foundation of racism for so long that it has become part of the landscape—always there but seldom acknowledged. The author, a Caucasian, also notes that racism is pervasive, its effect devastating, and the need to fight against it urgent, that people of color are being blamed for social problems and attacked on all fronts. Recent immigrants, African American women on welfare, youth of color, and affirmative action programs are just some of the current targets of white anger. It seems like gains made in Civil Rights and Social Justice during the 1960s and the 1970s are being rolled back in the 1980s, the 1990s, and 2000s.

Mr. Kivel also wrote that white people do many things to survive the heat. They move to the suburbs, put bars on their windows, put locks on their hearts, and teach their children mistrust, for their own protection. They believe the enemy is “out there” and they can be safe “in here.” They have never thought about what it means to be “in here” with other white people and why they are so afraid of people with darker skin color “out there.” Since they do not talk about their fears, they are precluded from doing anything effective to put out the fire.

Racism is often described as a problem of prejudice. Prejudice is certainly one result of racism, and it fuels further acts of violence towards people of color. The assumption of Kivel’s book is that racism is the institutionalization of social injustice based on skin color, other physical characteristics, and cultural and religious differences. White racism is the uneven and unfair distribution of power, privilege, land, and material goods, favoring white people. Another way to state this is that white racism is a system in which people of color, as a group, are exploited and oppressed by white people, as a group.

During a recent seminar entitled Vision Beyond the Dream presented by Dr. Claud Anderson (author of Black Labor, White Wealth: The Search for Power and Economic Justice, PowerNomics Corporation of America, Bethesda, Maryland, August 1994), racism was defined as a power relationship or struggle between groups of people who are competing for resources and political power. It is one group’s use of wealth, power, and resources to deprive, hurt, injure, and exploit another group to benefit itself. He said that the root word of racism is race, which means to be in competition, in a contest, or in a match for a prize or other group benefits.

Church Perspective

In a Review and Herald article dated January 21, 1896, under the title “Am I my Brother’s Keeper?” Ellen White made a very serious statement: “The law of God contained in the ten commandments reveals to man his duty to love God supremely and his neighbor as himself. The American nation owes a debt of love to the colored race, and God has ordained that they should make restitution for the wrong they have done them in the past. Those who have taken no active part in enforcing slavery upon the colored people are not relieved from the responsibility of making special efforts to remove, as far as possible, the sure result of their enslavement.”

Could it be that, as a church, we have adopted this American phenomenon philosophy from a religious perspective and have sought to justify it by misquoting the testimonies of the Spirit of Prophecy to suit our unregenerated hearts? Are black people within the Seventh-day Adventist Church contemplated and tolerated on the basis of economics?

In the book Against the Odds (Bowser, Benjamin, Editor, et. al., University of Massachusetts Press, November 2002), a native South African shares his experiences of racism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Africa. He accounts that racial discrimination in the church raised its ugly head the first time for him personally in 1930. W. H. Branson, then President of the African Division of Seventh-day Adventists with headquarters at Clairmont, South Africa, separated the white members from the colored members in the Windberg church and instructed the former to attend the Clairmont church. The excuse was that colored people would have greater opportunities for leadership and that evangelism would be more effective among their group. The separation, in which colored members had no say, caused great bitterness among them. They felt rejected by their white brethren. Only a child at the time, this South African experienced the events on that fateful Sabbath in 1930 and listened to the feelings expressed by his family and other church members. The segregated colored church at Windberg remained a part of the Cape Conference until 1933. Ironically, Elder Branson, the man who set the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the road of racial segregation in South Africa, went on to become President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists!

Thus it was Americans who introduced apartheid into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Africa. Unfortunately, white South Africans built on this episode and proceeded to institutionalize separation on the grounds of race in all spheres of Adventist life in that country. It is a sad fact that apartheid in the Seventh-day Adventist Church preceded apartheid in South Africa.

Misapplication of Quotes

Elder Branson, like many other white believers, evidently used Ellen White’s writings to justify segregation of whites and blacks, more specifically, worshiping separately. I suppose he used quotations such as those shown here:

“Let as little as possible be said about the color line, and let the colored people work chiefly for those of their own race.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 206.

“The colored people should not urge that they be placed on an equality with white people. The relation of the two races has been a matter hard to deal with, and I fear that it will ever remain a most perplexing problem.” Ibid., 214.

“In regard to white and colored people worshiping in the same building, this cannot be followed as a general custom with profit to either party—especially in the South. The best thing will be to provide the colored people who accept the truth, with places of worship of their own, in which they can carry on their services by themselves.” Ibid., 206.

The reasons for those statements made by Ellen White must be made clear. It is one thing to make statements, but it is another thing to make the statements clear. Why did Mrs. White make these statements? Did she support segregation? As a servant and messenger for God, who regards all men as equal, did she support racism? We know from her testimonies that she did not. There are justifiable reasons for her statements. We are given some very positive explanations in the same book; I will give six of them that she listed. These appear immediately following those statements given above.

She states, in regard to black and white worshiping together/separately that: “This is particularly necessary in the South in order that the work for the white people may be carried on without serious hindrance.” Ibid., 206.

“Let them [colored believers] be shown that this is done not to exclude them from worshiping with white people, because they are black, but in order that the progress of the truth may be advanced. Let them understand that this plan is to be followed until the Lord shows us a better way.” Ibid., 206, 207.

“Let us follow the course of wisdom. Let us do nothing that will unnecessarily arouse opposition—nothing that will hinder the proclamation of the gospel message. Where demanded by custom or where greater efficiency is to be gained, let the white believers and the colored believers assemble in separate places of worship.” Ibid., 208.

“Let the work be done in a way that will not arouse prejudice which would close doors now open for the entrance of the truth.” Ibid., 209.

“While men are trying to settle the question of the color line, time rolls on, and souls go down into the grave, unwarned and unsaved. Let this condition of things continue no longer.” Ibid., 210.

“The time has not come for us to work as if there were no prejudice. Christ said: ‘Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.’ Matthew 10:16. If you see that by doing certain things which you have a perfect right to do, you hinder the advancement of God’s work, refrain from doing those things. Do nothing that will close the minds of others against the truth. There is a world to save, and we shall gain nothing by cutting loose from those we are trying to help. All things may be lawful, but all things are not expedient.” Ibid., 215.

Mrs. White is here expressing concern about something, as God has expressed it to her, which shall be brought up shortly.

Intermarriage

Then there are those who are against intermarrying of whites and blacks on the grounds that Ellen White says so, without again addressing the reasons for her statements. Quotations such as the following ones are used.

“But there is an objection to the marriage of the white race with the black. All should consider that they have no right to entail upon their offspring that which will place them at a disadvantage; they have no right to give them as a birthright a condition which would subject them to a life of humiliation. The children of these mixed marriages have a feeling of bitterness toward the parents who have given them this lifelong inheritance. For this reason, if there were no other, there should be no intermarriage between the white and the colored race.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 343, 344.

Notice, she did not say between whites and other races; she said between white and colored races. There is a reason. She further wrote:

“In reply to inquiries regarding the advisability of intermarriage between Christian young people of the white and black races, I will say that in my earlier experience this question was brought before me, and the light given me of the Lord was that this step should not be taken; for it is sure to create controversy and confusion. I have always had the same counsel to give. No encouragement to marriages of this character should be given among our people. Let the colored brother enter into marriage with a colored sister who is worthy, one who loves God, and keeps His commandments. Let the white sister who contemplates uniting in marriage with the colored brother refuse to take this step, for the Lord is not leading in this direction.” Ibid., 344.

But why did Mrs. White give this counsel? Was she against interracial marriages? She further states in the same book, “Time is too precious to be lost in controversy that will arise over this matter. Let not questions of this kind be permitted to call our ministers from their work. The taking of such a step will create confusion and hindrance. It will not be for the advancement of the work or for the glory of God.” Ibid.

So we see that the thing God was concerned about, and thus shared with Mrs. White, was that these controversial matters not obstruct His work. If we were to accept the interpretation of some brethren concerning Ellen White’s instruction as fact that God is against races intermarrying, then we would need to address ourselves to the Holy Scriptures, where we read of Moses’ experiences with his sister Miriam and his brother Aaron.

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” Numbers 12:1.

Backbiting, criticizing behind Moses’ back, Miriam spoke against his wife, who was of a different race. In the book Patriarchs and Prophets, 383, we understand that: “Yielding to the spirit of dissatisfaction, Miriam found cause of complaint in events that God had especially overruled. The marriage of Moses had been displeasing to her. That he should choose a woman of another nation, instead of taking a wife from among the Hebrews, was an offense to her family and national pride. Zipporah was treated with ill-disguised contempt.

“Though called a ‘Cushite woman’ (Numbers 12:1, R.V.), the wife of Moses was a Midianite, and thus a descendant of Abraham. In personal appearance she differed from the Hebrews in being of a somewhat darker complexion. Though not an Israelite, Zipporah was a worshiper of the true God.”

Some believers will still maintain that Mrs. White is only supporting what the Bible teaches, and they will quote Scriptural references such as Deuteronomy 7:3, 4; Judges 3:6, 7; Ezra 9:1–3,12.

“Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.” Deuteronomy 7:3, 4.

As you read the other scriptural references, you will see that the matter of concern arising out of these texts is that of intermarrying with heathen or unbelievers. The counsel had nothing to do with marrying people of color. Why should they not have married these heathen or unbelievers? Because the influence of these unbelievers would have turned the hearts of the children of Israel from following Jehovah. That was the concern of God.

To be concluded . . .

Ellen G. White and Racism, Part II

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It is important that the counsel of Ellen White regarding segregation of the black and the white races be understood within the context of the time and the situation. Slavery had not too long been abolished when she wrote her counsel. See, we must go retrospectively to Mrs. White’s time, and consider the fact that this was a very unpleasant situation for both black people and white people. When she made certain statements under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were for that time. They were not for all time. Slavery was still deeply rooted in the hearts of the greater number of white people, unrestrained by civil laws that are in effect today.

It was God’s intent that, with the passing of time, the misunderstandings and the negative attitudes and behaviors would be dissolved, and both blacks and whites would live, work, worship, and play together in love, unity, and peace. It was God’s intention that the church, and I am most specifically referring to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, would be the entity that would be the paradigm for such a revival and reformation. Dr. Ciro Sepulveda, in his book Ellen White on the Color Line: Race in a Christian Community (Biblos Press, Leominster, MA, November 1997), highlights that in the 1870s several Adventists were actively advocating putting an end to segregation by starting a model colony where black and white Adventists would live together.

No Visible Color Line

It was reported in the February 1877 issue of the Review and Herald that a white lady in Missouri had a school for Negro children. The students, most of whom were orphans, ranged from 6–24 years of age. Ten of her pupils could read and write. John Harvey Kellogg raised several orphans in his home—African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and others. A young Negro man accepted the Seventh-day Adventist message in Reno, Nevada, where Ellen White spoke. He went on to attend what is now known as Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, and became the first black pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. All of this would seem to indicate that the color line was certainly not as visible in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 1870s and the 1880s as it was in the larger society where white and black students were unable to mingle.

Segregation Came Into the SDA Church

With the passage of time, however, the color line, which Ellen White referred to in her sermon in 1891, had clearly entered the Seventh-day Adventist community. After the death of Mrs. White in 1915, the Seventh-day Adventist Church slowly put on the trappings of a segregated institution. As early as the 1920s, blacks were not permitted to intermingle with whites in many of the institutions run by the church. Black young people from New York City could not go to the Greater New York Conference campgrounds for recreation because of their skin color. At the Review and Herald cafeteria in the General Conference, the skin color of black ministers barred them from walking in the front door. In 1943, the Washington Sanitarium admitted a light-skinned African-American woman as a patient, but when they discovered her identity, she was wheeled out of the hospital—shortly afterward she died of pneumonia.

Not only had the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States become segregated, but also, Ellen White’s counsel was now being used to justify segregation. In his book, Dr. Sepulveda quoted a contemporary of Ellen White, Lewis H. Christian, author of The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts (Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, DC, 1947), as saying that Ellen White did not teach the ideas so common today in what is sometimes called “Race Equality.” He said she taught that there should be opportunity for all to advance, but she did not teach that there should be a mingling of the races. He said that she stated very clearly that the colored people should have their own church organization (that has not yet happened) and church buildings. (That also has not yet happened. The buildings in which the black people worship belong to the organization.) Mr. Lewis further stated that some, at first, were opposed to the idea, but experiments have proven that the Spirit of Prophecy was from the Lord. He added that she condemned the idea that there should be mixed marriages between the colored and the whites.

Did Ellen White Change?

Dr. Sepulveda asks the question, “How then do we understand the transformation of Ellen White? How did she go from ardent abolitionist, who opposed the values of the leadership of the country, to a defender of the culture?” He shows that the process that transformed Ellen White did not start with L. H. Christian. In fact, many years before her death, the leaders of the church were becoming more and more unhappy with her Testimonies. Many felt uncomfortable with the pressure that Ellen White was exerting on them. Although a few leaders were willing to challenge her on her position, many were clearly irritated with her. They did not want to hear it.

He goes further to show that it was not only the liberal branch of the church that developed distaste for Ellen White but also the conservative side. So on both sides she was not accepted. She had no friends on either side anymore, because she was dealing with a delicate issue, something that no one wanted to stir up.

Light From Heaven

As early as 1868, Ellen White had written, “From what has been shown me . . . .” No one can dispute that when she says, “I have been shown.” “From what has been shown me, Sabbathkeepers are growing more selfish as they increase in riches. Their love for Christ and His people is decreasing. They do not see the wants of the needy, nor feel their suffering and sorrow. They do not realize that in neglecting the poor and the suffering they neglect Christ, and that in relieving the wants and suffering of the poor as far as possible, they minister to Jesus.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 24.

So what we are dealing with here, my brothers and my sisters, is an attitude problem. People will accept Ellen White’s counsel when it suits them. But when it goes up against their preconceived opinions, they question her credibility and reject the counsel.

Personal Judgment vs. God’s Instruction

She recognized this would happen, and in 1888, she wrote: “You have talked over matters as you viewed them, that the communications from Sister White are not all from the Lord, but a portion is her own mind, her own judgment, which is no better than anybody else’s judgment and ideas. This is one of Satan’s hooks to hang your doubts upon to deceive your soul and the souls of others who will dare to draw the line in this matter and say, this portion which pleases me is from God, but that portion which points out and condemns my course of conduct is from Sister White alone, and bears not the holy signet. You have in this way virtually rejected the whole of the messages, which God in His tender, pitying love has sent to you to save you from moral ruin. . . .

“There is One back of me which is the Lord, who has prompted the message which you now reject and disregard and dishonor. By tempting God you have unnerved yourselves, and confusion and blindness of mind has been the result.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 68, 69.

Additional Counsel

I would like to share with you several Ellen White quotations on the brotherhood of mankind. She wrote: “Whoever of the human family give themselves to Christ, whoever hear the truth and obey it, become children of one family. The ignorant and the wise, the rich and the poor, the heathen and the slave, white or black,—Jesus paid the purchase money for their souls. If they believe on Him, His cleansing blood is applied to them. The black man’s name is written in the book of life beside the white man’s. All are one in Christ. Birth, station, nationality, or color cannot elevate or degrade man. The character makes the man. If a red man [American Indian], a Chinese, or an African gives his heart to God, in obedience and faith, Jesus loves him none the less for his color. He calls him His well-beloved brother.” Ibid., Book 2, 342.

“We are one brotherhood. No matter what the gain or the loss, we must act nobly and courageously in the sight of God and our Saviour. Let us as Christians who accept the principle that all men, white and black, are free and equal, adhere to this principle, and not be cowards in the face of the world, and in the face of the heavenly intelligences. We should treat the colored man just as respectfully as we would treat the white man. And we can now, by precept and example, win others to this course.” Ibid., 343.

All Men are Equal Before God

“Christ recognized no distinction of nationality or rank or creed. . . . Christ came to break down every wall of partition. He came to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth.

“The life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God. No question of policy influenced His movements. He made no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. That which appealed to His heart was a soul thirsting for the waters of life. . . .” Ibid., 485.

“When the Holy Spirit moves upon human minds, all petty complaints and accusations between man and his fellow man will be put away. The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will shine into the chambers of the mind and heart. In our worship of God there will be no distinction between rich and poor, white and black. All prejudice will be melted away. When we approach God, it will be as one brotherhood. We are pilgrims and strangers, bound for a better country, even a heavenly. There all pride, all accusation, all self-deception, will forever have an end. Every mask will be laid aside, and we shall ‘see him as he is.’ [1 John 3:2.] There our songs will catch the inspiring theme, and praise and thanksgiving will go up to God.” Review and Herald, October 24, 1899.

Jesus says, “By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35.

The Larger Prayer

By Edna D. Cheney

At first I prayed for Light:
Could I but see the way,

How gladly, swiftly would I walk
To everlasting day!

And next I prayed for Strength:
That I might tread the road
With firm, unfaltering feet, and win
The Heaven’s serene abode.

And then I asked for Faith:
Could I but trust my God,
I’d live enfolded in His peace
Though foes were all abroad.

But now I pray for Love:
Deep love to God and man,
A living love that will not fail,
However dark His plan.

And Light and Strength and Faith
Are opening everywhere;
God only waited for me, till
I prayed the larger prayer.

http://www.angelfire.com, cited October 2, 2003.

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at 718-882-3900.

Bible Study Guides – Integrity of the Prophetic Message

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November 10, 2007 – November 16, 2007

Key Text

“[As] the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.” 11 Chronicles 18:13.

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 534-536.

Introduction

“My Instructor said to me [Ellen White], Tell these men that God has not committed to them the work of measuring, classifying, and defining the character of the testimonies. Those who attempt this are sure to err in their conclusions. The Lord would have men adhere to their appointed work. If they will keep the way of the Lord, they will be able to discern clearly that the work which He has appointed me to do is not a work of human devising.

“Those who carefully read the testimonies as they have appeared from the early days, need not be perplexed as to their origin. The many books, written by the help of the Spirit of God, bear a living witness to the character of the testimonies.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 49, 50.

1 What can be said concerning the surety of the messages of the prophets? 11 Peter 1:19.

note: “We must come to the sure word of prophecy for our authority. Unless we are intelligent in the Scriptures, may we not, when this mighty miracle-working power of Satan is manifested in our world, be deceived and call it the workings of God; for the word of God declares that, if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived. Unless we are rooted and grounded in the truth, we shall be swept away by Satan’s delusive snares. We must cling to our Bibles. If Satan can make you believe that there are things in the word of God that are not inspired, he will then be prepared to ensnare your soul. We shall have no assurance, no certainty, at the very time we need to know what is truth.” Review and Herald, December 18, 1888.

2 What did the prophets often designate to be the source of the messages they bore? Hosea 1:1; Haggai 1:3, 7, 13.

note: The Bible prophets have declared that the word they gave the people came from God. They often introduced the divine communication through them by a phrase such as “the word of the Lord came unto me, saying.” Some variants are:

“Thus saith the Lord.” 11 Samuel 7:8.

“As God hath said.” 11 Corinthians 6:16.

“And God spake.” Genesis 8:15.

“The Holy Ghost saith.” Hebrews 3:7.

“I the Lord have said.” Ezekiel 21:17.

“The Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake.” Acts 1:16.

“God has committed to his servants a message for this time; but this message does not in every particular coincide with the ideas of all the leading men, and some criticise [sic] the message and the messengers. They dare even to reject the words of reproof sent to them from God through his Holy Spirit.

“What reserve power has the Lord with which to reach those who have cast aside his warnings and reproofs, and have accredited the testimonies of the Spirit of God to no higher source than human wisdom? . . . You cannot neglect God’s messages of warning, you cannot reject them or treat them lightly, but at the peril of infinite loss.” Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 02b, 116.

3 What is the Word of the Lord said to be? Psalm 119:105.

note: “The psalmist declares, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.’ [Psalm 119:11.] And Paul wrote to Timothy, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ [11 Timothy 3:16, 17.]

“The life of God, which gives life to the world, is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons. By His word He stilled the sea and raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God as He had spoken it to all the Old Testament writers. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ. It is our only source of power.” Gospel Workers, 250. [Emphasis added.]

4 What circumstances led King Ahab of Israel to inquire of the prophet Micaiah concerning a proposed military expedition? 11 Chronicles 18:18. How did Ahab’s officer attempt to influence Micaiah in his message to the king? Verse 12. What did Micaiah resolve to do regardless of circumstances? Verses 13, 16, 17.

note: “Jehoshaphat was firm in his request that the man of God be called; and upon appearing before them and being adjured by Ahab to tell ‘nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord,’ Micaiah said: ‘I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.’ 1 Kings 22:16, 17.

“The words of the prophet should have been enough to show the kings that their project was not favored by Heaven, but neither ruler felt inclined to heed the warning. Ahab had marked out his course, and he was determined to follow it.” Prophets and Kings, 195, 196.

5 As Jeremiah delivered an important prophetic message to the leaders of Judah, of what did they accuse him? Who was said to have originated the counsel Jeremiah declared to be from the Lord? Jeremiah 43:2, 3.

note: “The poor people, after passing through many trials, were finally persuaded by their leaders to take refuge in the land of Egypt. Against this move, Jeremiah lifted his voice in protest. ‘Go ye not into Egypt,’ he pleaded. But the inspired counsel was not heeded, and ‘all the remnant of Judah, . . . even men, and women, and children,’ took flight into Egypt. ‘They obeyed not the voice of the Lord: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.’ Jeremiah 43:5-7. . . .

“The sorrow of the prophet over the utter perversity of those who would have been the spiritual light of the world, his sorrow over the fate of Zion and of the people carried captive to Babylon, is revealed in the lamentations he has left on record as a memorial of the folly of turning from the counsels of Jehovah to human wisdom.” Prophets and Kings, 460, 461.

6 What did Balak request Balaam to do, and with what results? Numbers 22:1-7; 23:5-11.

note: “Balaam was once a good man and a prophet of God; but he had apostatized, and had given himself up to covetousness; yet he still professed to be a servant of the Most High. He was not ignorant of God’s work in behalf of Israel; and when the messengers announced their errand, he well knew that it was his duty to refuse the rewards of Balak and to dismiss the ambassadors. . . . But his pride was flattered by the words of the ambassadors, ‘He whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.’ [Numbers 22:6.] The bribe of costly gifts and prospective exaltation excited his covetousness. He greedily accepted the offered treasures, and then, while professing strict obedience to the will of God, he tried to comply with the desires of Balak.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 439.

7 What did Balaam state about the source of his message? Numbers 22:38. On what was this explanation based? Verse 20.

note: “As he [Balaam] professed to be God’s prophet, . . . all he should say would be supposed to be uttered by divine authority. Hence he was not to be permitted to speak as he chose, but must deliver the message which God should give him. ‘The word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do,’ was the divine command. [Numbers 22:20.]” Patriarchs and Prophets, 441.

8 When the king remonstrated with Balaam for not cursing Israel, what was Balaam’s answer? Numbers 23:12, 25, 26; 24:10-13.

note: “The ingenuity of men has been exercised for ages to measure the Word of God by their finite minds and limited comprehension. If the Lord, the Author of the living oracles, would throw back the curtain and reveal His wisdom and His glory before them, they would shrink into nothingness and exclaim as did Isaiah, ‘I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips’ (Isaiah 6:5).” Selected Messages, Book 1, 18.

9 To whom did Ellen White give credit for the messages found in her books?

note: “Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the instruction that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the precious, comforting light that God has graciously given His servant to be given to the world.” Colporteur Ministry, 125.

10 Specifically, how did God speak through His servant, Ellen White?

note: Articles in church papers: “I [Ellen White] do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision―the precious rays of light shining from the throne.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 67.

The letter testimonies: “You might say that this communication was only a letter. Yes, it was a letter, but prompted by the Spirit of God, to bring before your minds things that had been shown me. In these letters which I [Ellen White] write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me.” Ibid.

Interviews: “This morning I [Ellen White] attended a meeting where a select few were called together to consider some questions that were presented to them by a letter soliciting consideration and advice on these subjects. Of some of these subjects I could speak, because at sundry times and in divers places many things have been presented to me.” The Southern Work, 72.

11 With what assuring words did Mrs. White answer the charge that she had been influenced in the content of her writing?

note: “Some are ready to inquire: Who told Sister White these things? They have even put the question to me: Did anyone tell you these things? I could answer them: Yes; yes, the angel of God has spoken to me.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 314.

Addressing the officers of one of the denomination’s large institutions at a time of crisis, Ellen White wrote from Australia: “Even now unbelief is expressed by the words, ‘Who has written these things to Sister White?’ But I know of no one who knows them as they are, and no one who could write that which he does not suppose has an existence. Some one has told me, ―He who does not falsify, misjudge, or exaggerate any case.” Special Instruction Relating to the Review and Herald Office and the Work in Battle Creek, 16.

12 What answer did Mrs. White give to the suggestion that certain testimonies reflected her personal opinion?

note: “In the testimonies sent to Battle Creek, I [Ellen White] have given you the light God has given to me. In no case have I given my own judgment or opinion. I have enough to write of what has been shown me, without falling back on my own opinions. You are doing as the children of Israel did again and again. Instead of repenting before God, you reject His words, and attribute all the warnings and reproof to the messenger whom the Lord sends.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 70.

While discussing the editorial policy of The Signs of the Times, a church paper, Ellen White prefaced her counsels by saying, “Permit me to express my mind, and yet not my mind, but the word of the Lord.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 112.

“What reserve power has the Lord with which to reach those who have cast aside His warnings and reproofs, and have accredited the testimonies of the Spirit of God to no higher source than human wisdom? In the judgment what can you who have done this offer to God as an excuse for turning from the evidences He has given you that God was in the work? ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ [Matthew 7:20.]” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 465, 466.

Bible Study Guides – Delivering God’s Message

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October 28, 2007 – November 3, 2007

Key Text

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches.” Revelation 1:10, 11, first part.

Study Help: Selected Messages, Book 1, 49–58; Testimonies, vol. 5, 654–660.

Introduction

“The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God’s mode of thought and expression. It is that of humanity. God, as a writer, is not represented. Men will often say such an expression is not like God. But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers of the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen. Look at the different writers.

“It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 21.

Ellen White’s experience in receiving and delivering God’s messages was parallel with the prophets of God in past ages. She was another prophet through whom God gave His messages. The following passage illustrates how God spoke through the spirit of prophecy in establishing the Seventh-day Adventist doctrines upon the Bible:

“We are to be established in the faith, in the light of the truth given us in our early experience. At that time one error after another pressed in upon us; ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search the Scriptures with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds. Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures, and earnestly asking God for guidance. Companies of devoted men and women assembled for this purpose. The power of God would come upon me [Ellen White], and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and what is error.

“As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and explanations would be given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly things, and of the sanctuary, so that we were placed where light was shining on us in clear, distinct rays.” Gospel Workers, 302.

1 What command came to the youthful prophet Jeremiah regarding the message God would impart to him? Jeremiah 1:17. See also Ezekiel 11:25.

note: “For forty years Jeremiah was to stand before the nation as a witness for truth and righteousness. In a time of unparalleled apostasy he was to exemplify in life and character the worship of the only true God. During the terrible sieges of Jerusalem he was to be the mouthpiece of Jehovah. He was to predict the downfall of the house of David and the destruction of the beautiful temple built by Solomon. And when imprisoned because of his fearless utterances, he was still to speak plainly against sin in high places.” Prophets and Kings, 408.

2 What was one means by which the prophets delivered the prophetic message to the people? Jeremiah 26:2, 4, first part; Zechariah 1:3. Compare 1 Kings 11:29–40.

note: “Jeremiah was commanded by the Lord to stand in the court of the temple and speak to all the people of Judah who might pass in and out. From the messages given him he must diminish not a word, that sinners in Zion might have the fullest possible opportunity to hearken and to turn from their evil ways.” Prophets and Kings, 412, 413.

“The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were raised up to meet the crisis. In stirring testimonies these appointed messengers revealed to the people the cause of their troubles. The lack of temporal prosperity was the result of a neglect to put God’s interests first, the prophets declared.” Ibid., 573.

3 What were prophets at times bidden to do with the messages they received? Isaiah 30:8; Jeremiah 36:2; Revelation 21:1, 2, 5.

note: “The Lord commanded Jeremiah to commit to writing the messages he desired to bear to those for whose salvation his heart of pity was continually yearning.” Prophets and Kings, 432.

“Early in my public labors I [Ellen White] was bidden by the Lord, ‘Write, write the things that are revealed to you.’ At the time this message came to me, I could not hold my hand steady. My physical condition made it impossible for me to write. But again came the word, ‘Write the things that are revealed to you.’ I obeyed; and as the result it was not long before I could write page after page with comparative ease. Who told me what to write? Who steadied my right hand, and made it possible for me to use a pen?—It was the Lord.” Review and Herald, June 14, 1906.

4 How was a message often conveyed to an individual or church? Colossians 4:16; 11 Thessalonians 3:14, 17. Compare 11 Chronicles 21:12–14.

note: “As Paul’s epistle was opened and read, great joy and consolation was brought to the church by the words . . . .” The Acts of the Apostles, 258.

“Point after point Paul lingered over, in order that those who should read his epistle might fully comprehend the wonderful condescension of the Saviour in their behalf.” Ibid., 333.

“The prophet Elijah had not yet been translated, and he could not remain silent while the kingdom of Judah was pursuing the same course that had brought the northern kingdom to the verge of ruin. The prophet sent to Jehoram of Judah a written communication.” Prophets and Kings, 213.

“In these letters which I [Ellen White] write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 67.

5 At times, what help did the prophets employ? Jeremiah 36:4, 17, 18; Romans 16:22.

note: “The Lord commanded Jeremiah to commit to writing the messages he desired to bear to those for whose salvation his heart of pity was continually yearning. ‘Take thee a roll of a book,’ the Lord bade His servant, ‘and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.’ Jeremiah 36:2, 3.

“In obedience to this command, Jeremiah called to his aid a faithful friend, Baruch the scribe, and dictated ‘all the words of the Lord, which He had spoken unto him.’ Verse 4. These were carefully written out on a roll of parchment and constituted a solemn reproof for sin, a warning of the sure result of continual apostasy, and an earnest appeal for the renunciation of all evil.

“When the writing was completed, Jeremiah, who was still a prisoner, sent Baruch to read the roll to the multitudes who were assembling at the temple on the occasion of a national fast day.” Prophets and Kings, 432, 433.

“While my husband [James White] lived, he acted as a helper and counselor in the sending out of the messages that were given to me [Ellen White]. We traveled extensively. Sometimes light would be given to me in the night season, sometimes in the daytime before large congregations. The instruction I received in vision was faithfully written out by me, as I had time and strength for the work. Afterward we examined the matter together, my husband correcting grammatical errors and eliminating needless repetition. Then it was carefully copied for the persons addressed, or for the printer.

“As the work grew, others assisted me in the preparation of matter for publication. After my husband’s death, faithful helpers joined me, who labored untiringly in the work of copying the testimonies and preparing articles for publication.

“But the reports that are circulated, that any of my helpers are permitted to add matter or change the meaning of the messages I write out, are not true.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 50.

6 What instructions were given to Ezekiel in connection with his vision of the temple? Ezekiel 40:4.

note: “The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are all ‘given by inspiration of God’ (11 Timothy 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men. The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and hearts of His servants. He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed have themselves embodied the thought in human language.

“The Ten Commandments were spoken by God Himself, and were written by His own hand. They are of divine, and not of human composition. But the Bible, with its God-given truths expressed in the language of men, presents a union of the divine and the human.” The Great Controversy, v, vi.

“Although I [Ellen White] am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation.” Review and Herald, October 8, 1867.

7 Through which of his senses did the apostle John, while in vision, receive information and instruction? Revelation 1:10, 11.

note: “We have been given a message exceeding in importance any other message ever entrusted to mortals. This message Christ came in person to the Isle of Patmos to present to John. He told him to write down what he saw and heard during his vision, that the churches might know what was to come upon the earth. Do our medical workers realize the importance of the message of Revelation? . . .” Medical Ministry, 37.

“As God has shown me [Ellen White] in holy vision . . . .” The Day Star, January 24, 1846. [Emphasis added.]

“The Spirit fell upon me [Ellen White], and I was taken off in vision. I saw . . . .” The Present Truth, August 1, 1849. [Emphasis added.]

8 What prompted the apostle Paul to write his letter, known as 1 Corinthians, to the church at Corinth? 1 Corinthians 1:11.

note: “Paul was an inspired apostle, yet the Lord did not reveal to him at all times just the condition of His people. Those who were interested in the prosperity of the church, and saw evils creeping in, presented the matter before him, and from the light which he had previously received he was prepared to judge of the true character of these developments. Because the Lord had not given him a new revelation for that special time, those who were really seeking light did not cast his message aside as only a common letter. No, indeed. The Lord had shown him the difficulties and dangers which would arise in the churches, that when they should develop he might know just how to treat them. . . .

“The reproof he sent them was written just as much under the inspiration of the Spirit of God as were any of his epistles.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 66.

9 In what way was God’s message of rebuke delivered to King David? 11 Samuel 12:1–7.

note: “Since the warning and instruction given in testimony for individual cases applied with equal force to many others who had not been specially pointed out in this manner, it seemed to be my [Ellen White] duty to publish the personal testimonies for the benefit of the church. In Testimony 15, speaking of the necessity for doing this, I said: ‘I know of no better way to present my views of general dangers and errors, and the duty of all who love God and keep His commandments, than by giving these testimonies. Perhaps there is no more direct and forcible way of presenting what the Lord has shown me.’ [vol. 2, p. 9 (1868).] . . .

“In rebuking the wrongs of one, He designs to correct many.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 658, 659.

10 In what firm manner did Peter bear testimony to a deceived believer? Acts 8:18–23.

note: “In a view given me [Ellen White] about twenty years ago, ‘I was then directed to bring out general principles, in speaking and in writing, and at the same time specify the dangers, errors, and sins of some individuals, that all might be warned, reproved, and counseled. I saw that all should search their own hearts and lives closely to see if they had not made the same mistakes for which others were corrected and if the warnings given for others did not apply to their own cases. If so, they should feel that the counsel and reproofs were given especially for them and should make as practical an application of them as though they were especially addressed to themselves.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 5, 660.

11 Upon what divine power was the agent of prophecy dependent? 11 Peter 1:20, 21.

note: “After I [Ellen White] come out of vision I do not at once remember all that I have seen, and the matter is not so clear before me until I write, then the scene rises before me as was presented in vision, and I can write with freedom. Sometimes the things which I have seen are hid from me after I come out of vision, and I cannot call them to mind until I am brought before a company where that vision applies, then the things which I have seen come to my mind with force. I am just as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in relating or writing a vision, as in having the vision. It is impossible for me to call up things which have been shown me unless the Lord brings them before me at the time that he is pleased to have me relate or write them.” Spiritual Gifts (1860), vol. 2, 292, 293.

12 With what solemn words were the prophets at times enjoined to be faithful in delivering God’s messages? Jeremiah 26:2; Ezekiel 2:5–7.

note: “The Lord commanded Jeremiah to stand in the court of the Lord’s house and speak unto all the people of Judah who came there to worship, those things which He would give him to speak, diminishing not a word, that they might hearken and turn from their evil ways.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 165.

13 Whom did Israel reject when they asked Samuel for a king? 1 Samuel 8:1–10.

note: “Those who despise and reject the faithful servant of God, not merely show contempt for the man, but for the Master who sent him. It is God’s words, his reproofs and counsel, that are set at naught; his authority that is rejected.” Signs of the Times, July 13, 1882.

“I [Ellen White] saw the state of some who stood on present truth, but disregarded the visions—the way God had chosen to teach in some cases, those who erred from Bible truth. I saw that in striking against the visions they did not strike against the worm—the feeble instrument that God spake through—but against the Holy Ghost. I saw it was a small thing to speak against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God. I saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors through visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through visions, they would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of error, and think they were right, until they would find it out too late. Then in the time of trouble I heard them cry to God in agony, ‘Why didst Thou not show us our wrong, that we might have got right and been ready for this time?’ Then an angel pointed to them and said, ‘My Father taught, but you would not be taught. He spoke through visions, but you disregarded His voice, and He gave you up to your own ways, to be filled with your own doings.’ ” Selected Messages, Book 1, 40.

Bible Study Guides – A Gift That Guides and Guards

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December 9, 2007 – December 15, 2007

Key Text

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8.

Study Help: Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 24–62.

Introduction

During the 70 years of her ministry (1845–1915), Ellen White was used as God’s instrument to bring prophetic guidance to His people, often in times of crisis. A review of the guiding and guarding influences of the spirit of prophecy through the years of the church’s work gives clear, convincing ground for confidence in God’s leadership. Speaking of the early days of the movement when error and fanaticism threatened the leaders, she wrote:

“Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. Many theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures, that they led to dangerous errors. Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard, ‘Here is the truth,’ ‘I have the truth; follow me.’ But the warnings came, ‘Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they ran.’ (See Jeremiah 23:21.)

“The leadings of the Lord were marked, and most wonderful were His revelations of what is truth. Point after point was established by the Lord God of heaven. That which was truth then, is truth today.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 103, 104.

Ellen White was not the leader of the advent movement as Moses was of the Exodus movement. She did not serve in a kingly capacity as David did over Israel. Her work was more like the work of Samuel, who was a teacher in Israel. But as the Israel of old “from Dan to Beersheba” recognized in Samuel the work of a true prophet of God, so have Seventh-day Adventists recognized in the work of Ellen White an instrumentality of God’s Holy Spirit sent to give guidance, spiritual aid, and comfort to His people. Her messages have been a guarding, preserving influence.

1 What were the prophets in olden times frequently called? I Samuel 9:9.

Note: In one of her earliest books, Spiritual Gifts, Book 1, Ellen White described the many scenes of the great controversy vision given to her at Lovett’s Grove, Ohio, in the spring of 1858. In writing out her views, she prepared a book of 219 pages. Over 200 times she wrote, “I was shown”; “I was pointed back”; “I saw”; “I was told”; “It was presented before me”; and other such phraseology. These same phrases are repeatedly used in other of her writings. Thus she described scenes past and future as an “eyewitness.”

The prophetic work of Ellen White from the earliest days of the advent movement, offered:

  • Protection against danger from within the church. (See Testimonies, vol. 1, 113–115; 311–323; 356, 357; 409–419.)
  • Protection against danger from without the church. (See Early Writings, 59, 60; 262–266.)
  • Guidance in the understanding of basic Christian truths. (See Early Writings, 145–295.)

2 How does the prophet Isaiah describe those who publish peace and salvation? Isaiah 52:7.

Note: At a conference held in the home of Otis Nichols at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in November 1848, the pioneers sought God for special guidance. Heaven seemed near, and to Ellen White was given a vision. After the vision, she said to her husband:

“I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 125. Thus Present Truth, the first periodical of the Advent movement, was begun.

3 What experience in the New Testament church demonstrated the value of church order and organization? Acts 6:1–6. Compare Acts 15:1–32.

Note: “I [Ellen White] saw that this door at which the enemy comes in to perplex and trouble the flock can be shut. I inquired of the angel how it could be closed. He said, ‘The church must flee to God’s Word and become established upon gospel order, which has been overlooked and neglected.’ This is indispensably necessary in order to bring the church into the unity of the faith. I saw that in the apostles’ day the church was in danger of being deceived and imposed upon by false teachers. Therefore the brethren chose men who had given good evidence that they were capable of ruling well their own house and preserving order in their own families, and who could enlighten those who were in darkness. Inquiry was made of God concerning these, and then, according to the mind of the church and the Holy Ghost, they were set apart by the laying on of hands. Having received their commission from God and having the approbation of the church, they went forth baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and administering the ordinances of the Lord’s house, often waiting upon the saints by presenting them the emblems of the broken body and spilt blood of the crucified Saviour, to keep fresh in the memory of God’s beloved children His sufferings and death.

“I [Ellen White] saw that we are no more secure from false teachers now than they were in the apostles’ days; and, if we do no more, we should take as special measures as they did to secure the peace, harmony, and union of the flock. We have their example, and should follow it.” Early Writings, 100, 101.

4 What experience came to the apostle Paul that led him to carry the gospel to Europe? Acts 16:9, 10.

Note: “From all countries the Macedonian cry is sounding: ‘Come over, . . . and help us.’ [Acts 16:9.] God has opened fields before us, and if human agencies would but co-operate with divine agencies, many, many souls would be won to the truth.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 46.

“The instruction the Lord has given me [Ellen White] is that a field should not be shunned because it has objectionable features. This world was seared and marred by the curse, but still Christ came to it.” Medical Ministry, 321.

5 In the days of Hezekiah, what remarkable instance of divine guidance and protection is recorded? 11 Chronicles 32:22. Compare Isaiah 37:1, 2, 6, 7, 33–37.

Note: As Hezekiah, the God-fearing king, and the prophet Isaiah sought the deliverance of Judah from threatened annihilation at the hand of the boastful king of Assyria, God “guided them on every side.” (11 Chronicles 32:22.)

God has also guided His present-day people “on every side” through the spirit of prophecy. For example:

  • Health reform. “The health work began with the establishment of a sanitarium in 1866.” Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years, vol. 5, 1900–1905, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D.C., 71. (See Testimonies, vol. 1, 485–494.)
  • Education. “Educational work was started with the opening of Battle Creek College in 1874.” Ibid.
  • Organization. “It has been a necessity to organize union conferences, that the General Conference shall not exercise dictation over all the separate conferences. The power vested in the Conference is not to be centered in one man, or two men, or six men; there is to be a council of men over the separate divisions.” Last Day Events, 55.

6 In addition to leading the nation of Israel, what other work is Moses said to have done? Hosea 12:13.

Note: God miraculously delivered Israel, by the hand of Moses, out of slavery and led them to the borders of the Promised Land. A review of God’s present-day people discloses how, by the hand of the prophetess Ellen White, they have been “preserved” by the divine instruction and protected from Satan’s many attacks.

For instance, one of the first burdens laid upon Ellen White was to erect a wall about the church and protect it from fanatics who taught extreme views such as holy flesh and instantaneous sanctification. Others attempted to set specific times for the Lord to come. (See Selected Messages, Book 2, 31–38; Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 83–89; Testimonies, vol. 1, 72.) These dangerous views were squarely met by Ellen White.

The church will face fanatics again, and the experiences of the past will be repeated. Though extreme views will be taught and practiced, Goxd’s true people will not be misled.

“The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. He will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out his deceptive designs. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perception, who will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 201.

7 What may God’s commandment-keeping church, having the “testimony of Jesus,” expect at the hand of the dragon, Satan? Revelation 12:17.

Note: “Through deceptive means and unseen channels, Satan is working to strengthen his authority and to place obstacles in the way of God’s people, that souls may not be freed from his power and gathered under the banner of Christ. By his deceptions he is seeking to allure souls from Christ, and those who are not established upon the truth will surely be taken in his snare. And those whom he cannot lead into sin he will persecute, as the Jews did Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 295.

8 For what purpose did Christ place the gifts in the church? Ephesians 4:11, 13.

Note: “I [Ellen White] have been shown that just such phases of error as I was compelled to meet among Advent believers after the passing of the time in 1844, will be repeated in these last days. In our early experience, I had to go from place to place and bear message after message to disappointed companies of believers. The evidences accompanying my messages were so great that the honest in heart received as truth the words that were spoken. The power of God was revealed in a marked manner, and men and women were freed from the baleful influence of fanaticism and disorder, and were brought into the unity of the faith.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 376.

9 What did the messages of the prophet Elisha do for Israel? 11 Kings 6:8–12.

Note: The attacks upon God’s people today may not be in the form of physical violence, yet they are no less real and perilous. One form in which the archenemy brings his attacks is from within, as misguided and overzealous souls misuse the spirit of prophecy counsels that were given to reform. Ellen White wrote:

“Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned, and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 49.

10 At a time of crisis in the experience of Israel, through what means did the Lord lead to deliverance and bring about that deliverance? 11 Chronicles 20:14–20. Compare Judges 4:1–7, 14.

Note: Just as Jahaziel and Deborah proclaimed turning points for God’s people, so Ellen White gave messages that were turning points. The prophetic message she presented on a Sabbath afternoon in 1868 in Bushnell, Michigan, was the turning point in the life of the Bushnell church. The preceding Sabbath the members had decided to disband, but the providential appearance of Ellen White and her husband, Elder James White, turned the tide.

“An appointment had been made through a notice on the back page of the Review published on Tuesday, July 16. Neither [Ellen and James White] had ever been to Bushnell [Michigan], but the elder of the Greenville church, A. W. Maynard, and the elder of the Orleans church, S. H. King, had suggested a grove meeting at Bushnell, where there was a struggling group of believers. …

“As the dwindling company of discouraged Sabbathkeepers at Bushnell had met the previous Sabbath morning, July 13, only seven were present, and they had decided to hold no more meetings (The Signs of the Times, August 29, 1878). But the notice in the Review led them to get word around for at least one more meeting. …

“All the Sabbathkeepers were on the grounds Sabbath morning. After James White had spoken, Ellen, Bible in hand, began to speak from a text of Scripture and then paused. Laying her Bible aside, she began to address those who had accepted the Sabbath in that place. She was not acquainted with them and did not know their names, but she addressed a number of persons. …

“She described each peculiar case, stating that the Lord had shown her their cases two years previous [most likely in the vision at Rochester], and that, while she was just then speaking from the Bible, that view had flashed over her mind, like sudden lightning in a dark night distinctly revealing every object. …

“Sunday morning there was a baptism, and the Bushnell church was organized and officers chosen. In the years that followed, several workers in the cause came from that church.” Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years, vol. 2, 1862–1876, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D.C., 189–191.

The Position and Work of Ellen G. White, Part I

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There came to us recently a letter from one of our brethren, an ordained minister, making inquiry regarding the position and work of Mrs. E. G. White. He inquires as to how her work stands related to the work of the prophets of old, and what relation her writings sustain to the Scriptures.

In the Review of July 26, 1906, Sister White discussed in considerable detail the work to which she had been called in connection with this movement.

We believe it will be profitable for our correspondent, and for all our brethren and sisters, to read this statement which she made fifteen years ago. We therefore reproduce it entire in this connection. Following this statement we shall consider some principles bearing upon the work of the spirit of prophecy in connection with this movement.

A Messenger

“Last night, in vision, I was standing before an assembly of our people, bearing a decided testimony regarding present truth and present duty. After the discourse, many gathered about me, asking questions. They desired so many explanations about this point, that I said, ‘One at a time, if you please, lest you confuse me.’

“And then, I appealed to them, saying: ‘For years you have had many evidences that the Lord has given me a work to do. These evidences could scarcely have been greater than they are. Will you brush away all these evidences as a cobweb, at the suggestion of a man’s unbelief? That which makes my heart ache is the fact that many who are now perplexed and tempted are those who have had abundance of evidence and opportunity to consider and pray and understand; and yet they do not discern the nature of the sophistries that are presented to influence them to reject the warnings God has given to save them from the delusions of these last days.’

“Some have stumbled over the fact that I said I did not claim to be a prophet; and they have asked, Why is this?

“I have had no claims to make, only that I am instructed that I am the Lord’s messenger; that He called me in my youth to be His messenger, to receive His word, and to give a clear and decided message in the name of the Lord Jesus. [Italics in original.]

“Early in my youth I was asked several times, Are you a prophet? I have ever responded, I am the Lord’s messenger. I know that many have called me a prophet, but I have made no claim to this title. My Saviour declared me to be His messenger. ‘Your work,’ He instructed me, ‘is to bear My word. Strange things will arise, and in your youth I set you apart to bear the message to the erring ones, to carry the word before unbelievers, and with pen and voice to reprove from the word, actions that are not right. Exhort from the word. I will make My word open to you. It shall not be as a strange language. In the true eloquence of simplicity, with voice and pen, the messages that I give shall be heard from one who has never learned in the schools. My Spirit and My power shall be with you.

“‘Be not afraid of man, for My shield shall protect you. It is not you that speaketh; it is the Lord that giveth the messages of warning and reproof. Never deviate from the truth under any circumstances. Give the light I shall give you. The messages for these last days shall be written in books, and shall stand immortalized, to testify against those who have once rejoiced in the light, but who have been led to give it up because of the seductive influences of evil.’ [Italics in original.]

“Why have I not claimed to be a prophet? Because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of Christ; and because my work includes much more than the word ‘prophet’ signifies.

“When this work was first given me, I begged the Lord to lay the burden on some one else. The work was so large and broad and deep that I feared I could not do it. But by His Holy Spirit the Lord has enabled me to perform the work which He gave me to do.

“God has made plain to me the various ways in which He would use me to carry forward a special work. Visions have been given me, with the promise, ‘If you deliver the messages faithfully and endure to the end, you shall eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the river of life.’

“The Lord gave me great light on health reform. In connection with my husband, I was to be a medical missionary worker. I was to set an example to the church by taking the sick to my home and caring for them. This I have done, giving the women and children vigorous treatment. I was also to speak on the subject of Christian temperance, as the Lord’s appointed messenger. I engaged heartily in this work, and spoke to large assemblies on temperance in its broadest and truest sense.

“I was instructed that I must ever urge upon those who profess to believe the truth, the necessity of practising [sic] the truth. This means sanctification, and sanctification means the culture and training of every capability for the Lord’s service.

“I was charged not to neglect or pass by those who were being wronged. I was specially charged to protest against any arbitrary or overbearing action toward the ministers of the gospel by those having official authority. Disagreeable though the duty may be, I am to reprove the oppressor, and plead for justice. I am to present the necessity of maintaining justice and equity in all our institutions.

“If I see those in positions of trust neglecting aged ministers, I am to present the matter to those whose duty it is to care for them. Ministers who have faithfully done their work are not to be forgotten or neglected when they have become feeble in health. Our conferences are not to disregard the needs of those who have borne the burdens of the work. It was after John had grown old in the service of the Lord that he was exiled to Patmos. And on that lonely isle he received more communications from heaven than he had received during the rest of his lifetime.

“After my marriage I was instructed that I must show a special interest in motherless and fatherless children, taking some under my own charge for a time, and then finding homes for them. Thus I would be giving others an example of what they could do.

“Although called to travel often, and having much writing to do, I have taken children of three and five years of age, and have cared for them, educated them, and trained them for responsible positions. I have taken into my home, from time to time, boys from ten to sixteen years of age, giving them motherly care, and a training for service. I have felt it my duty to bring before our people that work for which those in every church should feel a responsibility.

“While in Australia I carried on this same line of work, taking into my home orphan children, who were in danger of being exposed to temptations that might cause the loss of their souls.

“In Australia we also worked as Christian medical missionaries. At times I made my home in Cooranbong an asylum for the sick and afflicted. My secretary, who had received a training in the Battle Creek Sanitarium, stood by my side, and did the work of a missionary nurse. No charge was made for her services, and we won the confidence of the people by the interest that we manifested in the sick and suffering. After a time the Health Retreat at Cooranbong was built, and then we were relieved of this burden.

“To claim to be a prophetess is something that I have never done. If others call me by that name, I have no controversy with them. But my work has covered so many lines that I cannot call myself other than a messenger, sent to bear a message from the Lord to His people, and to take up work in any line that He points out.

“When I was last in Battle Creek, I said before a large congregation that I did not claim to be a prophetess. Twice I referred to this matter, intending each time to make the statement, ‘I do not claim to be a prophetess.’ If I spoke otherwise than this, let all now understand what I had in mind to say was that I do not claim the title of prophet or prophetess.

“I understood that some were anxious to know if Mrs. White still held the same views that she did years ago when they had heard her speak in the sanitarium grove, in the Tabernacle, and at the camp meetings held in the suburbs of Battle Creek. I assured them that the message she bears today is the same that she has borne during the sixty years of her public ministry. She has the same service to do for the Master that was laid upon her in her girlhood. She receives lessons from the same Instructor.
The directions given her are, ‘Make known to others what I have revealed to you. Write out the messages that I give you, that the people may have them.’ This is what she has endeavored to do.

“I have written many books, and they have been given a wide circulation. Of myself I could not have brought out the truth in these books, but the Lord has given me the help of His Holy Spirit. These books, giving the instruction that the Lord has given me during the past sixty years, contain light from heaven, and will bear the test of investigation.

“At the age of seventy-eight I am still toiling. We are all in the hands of the Lord. I trust in Him; for I know that He will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in Him. I have committed myself to His keeping.

“‘And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.’ “Sanitarium, California, June 29, 1906.”

The Order of Prophets

The term “prophet” as used in the Bible is a broad and comprehensive one. It is employed to designate men and women engaged in a wide range of service in connection with the work of God. Some of these never uttered a prophecy in the customary use of that term, so far as appears in the Sacred Record. Some were used only for a special occasion, others for a long series of years. Some wrote out the messages God gave them, others spoke only orally. To some, as in the case of Daniel and others, were given prophecies reaching into the distant future, portions of which are still unfulfilled. To others were given messages of local application only, suited to a particular time or occasion. Some were God’s messengers, raised up in periods of great crisis, to warn the church and the world of threatened judgments, and to call men back to allegiance to God. Such were Samuel, Elijah, John the Baptist, and others. John disclaimed the prophetic title, claiming rather that he was a voice or messenger of God, sent to prepare the way of the Lord in calling Israel to repentance. As God’s messenger he was declared by Christ to be a prophet, and “more than a prophet.” Luke 7:26.

But while acting in various capacities,—as judges, kings, prime ministers, counselors, teachers, and preachers,—these men of God all belonged to the order of prophets, and were used by Him as His chosen instruments. We cannot determine the precise position occupied by each one in the prophetic scale. Naturally we should place Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel ahead of John. We should consider their long years of service, the far-reaching import of their prophecies. But of John,—the Lord’s voice or messenger,—who so far as we have any record uttered no prophecies, the Master declared: “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” Luke 7:28.

Relation of Mrs. White’s Work to the Work of the Prophets of Old

In the statement given above, Sister White does not claim the title of prophet, nor does she disclaim it. She has “no controversy” with those who call her by that name. She declares that God called her to be His messenger; that her work included “more than the word ‘prophet’ signifies.” When we come to consider the multiplicity of her labors in the church, the various capacities in which she ministered as a teacher and leader, we can understand the distinction she makes.

What relation, then, may we conclude, does the work of Sister White bear to the work of the prophets of old? The Lord did not give to her long lines of prophecy, as He did to Daniel and to John the revelator. He did not make her a judge and lawgiver as He did Moses, nor a ruler of state as He did Joseph and David. Rather, Sister White filled the position of a great teacher in Israel, as did Samuel; of a great reformer, as did Elijah; of God’s special messenger, as did John the Baptist.

She lived in an age of fulfilling prophecy, in a time of marked spiritual declension, when multitudes are turning from the word and commandments of God to the traditions of men. She was commissioned as Heaven’s special messenger of warning and reproof to turn men back to God and to His word. In visions and dreams she was instructed in the mysteries of the word, and given the messages she was to bear.

Like the prophets and messengers of old, her work belongs to the prophetic order. The same as this movement answers to the fulfillment of prophecy, so her work meets the divine prediction that the spirit of prophecy would be connected with this movement. Revelation 12:17; 19:10. By the same spirit by which the prophets and messengers of old were guided in their work, she was directed and guided in her work as a prophet of God, as His messenger to the church in this generation. “In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 661.

The Basis of Judgment

Her work should not be judged by some detail, by the turn of a phrase or sentence, or by some apparent contradiction in her writings, but by the spirit which has characterized her work through the years, by the fruit it has borne in connection with the great religious movement with which it was associated, and in the development of which it bore a prominent part and exerted a molding influence.

And it must either be accepted for what it purports to be, or be rejected altogether. The work of Mrs. E. G. White is either from beneath or from above. It bears the credentials of Heaven or the stamp of Satan. Regarding this, she herself says:

“’God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs, and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not.God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work …bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.’

“As the Lord has manifested Himself through the spirit of prophecy, ‘past, present, and future have passed before me. I have been shown faces that I had never seen, and years afterward I knew them when I saw them. I have been aroused from my sleep with a vivid sense of subjects previously presented to my mind; and I have written, at midnight, letters that have gone across the continent, and, arriving at a crisis, have saved great disaster to the cause of God. This has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work of the last thirty-six years from above, or from beneath?’

“Christ warned His disciples: ‘Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.’ [Matthew 7:15–20.] Here is a test, and all can apply it if they will. Those who really desire to know the truth will find sufficient evidence for belief.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 671, 672.

Relation of Mrs. White’s Writings to the Bible

What relation do the writings of Sister White sustain to the Scriptures? … Some have contended that her writings constitute an addition to the Bible, and should be regarded as Scripture. This manifestly is a wrong conclusion. God in His providence selected from the writings of the prophets of the past those portions which contained that expression of His divine will best suited to constitute a great spiritual guidebook for all nations, times, and conditions. There were many prophetic writings which for some good reason He did not include in this collection. The Bible mentions “the book of Jasher” (Joshua 10:13); “the book of Samuel the seer,” “the book of Nathan the prophet,” “the book of Gad the seer” (1 Chronicles 29:29); “the story of the prophet Iddo” (11 Chronicles 13:22); “the book of Jehu” (II Chronicles 20:34); and others. Of these we know little or nothing today except the names. Nor is it to be presumed that there was included in the sacred canon even all that Jeremiah, or Isaiah, or other canonical prophets wrote. The wisdom of God made that selection which would meet the needs of the church in every period, and which in every age would prove a groundwork “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16.

From among many inspired books and documents the Sacred Canon was signalized by being set apart and safeguarded in the sifting processes of time by God’s preserving and overruling providence. It occupies, therefore, a unique position among the books of divine revelation of past periods, and constitutes the great test book, or standard, of every claim in doctrine and in revelation.

Not an Addition to the Word of God

It evidently was not the divine purpose that any instruction which His Spirit might impart to His church in the latter days should be regarded as an addition to the completed canon of Scripture. This is expressly taught by the Lord’s messenger to the remnant church. She declares that the Testimonies are not “an addition to the word of God,” and that those who teach them in this manner, present them “in a false light.” The Testimonies are given to enable the church to have “a clearer understanding” of the Scriptures.

“‘Brother R would confuse the mind by seeking to make it appear that the light God has given through the Testimonies is an addition to the word of God; but in this he presents the matter in a false light. God has seen fit in this manner to bring the minds of His people to His word, to give them a clearer understanding of it.’ ‘The word of God is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind, and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it. But notwithstanding all this, some who profess to make the word of God their study, are found living in direct opposition to its plainest teachings. Then, to leave men and women without excuse, God gives plain and pointed testimonies, bringing them back to the word that they have neglected to follow.’ ‘The word of God abounds in general principles for the formation of correct habits of living, and the Testimonies, general and personal, have been calculated to call their attention more especially to these principles.’” Testimonies, vol. 5, 663, 664.

Not New Light, but to Simplify Light Already Given

Sister White clearly states that her writings are not for the purpose of giving new light, but to simplify “the great truths already given.”

“The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed. Man’s duty to God and to his fellow man has been distinctly specified in God’s word; yet but few of you are obedient to the light given. Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given, and in His own chosen way brought them before the people, to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse. … The Testimonies are not to belittle the word of God, but to exalt it, and attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of truth may impress all.” Ibid., 665.

How faithfully this instruction was followed, and how greatly Sister White exalted and illuminated the Bible in all her teachings, her published writings amply testify.

—to be concluded…

This article was printed in the Review and Herald, March 17, 1921. At this time the writer was editor of the Review.

Question – Do the principles contained in the testimonies Ellen White wrote…

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Question:

Do the principles contained in the testimonies Ellen White wrote to specific people about specific incidences still apply to us today?

Answer:

Looking at this from a biblical standpoint, Paul said to Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15. [Emphasis added.] The Spirit of Prophecy is part of “the word of truth.”

There are testimonies and prophecies in Ellen White’s writings that may not directly apply to you or to me personally, such as the testimony where Ellen White said that ladies as well as men should learn how to harness a horse. (Education, 216, 217.) She was stating the practical truth for her time. Statements she made about bicycles and horses may well apply to automobiles and tractors today. From a practical standpoint, we can see that our religion needs to be applied in all our everyday activities.

“Great truths must be brought into little things. Practical religion is to be carried into the lowly duties of daily life. The greatest qualification for any man is to obey implicitly the word of the Lord.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 359.

We are blessed in having the instruction from the Spirit of Prophecy as a guide in our daily living. We may follow the principles given in these inspired writings in our business transactions, our health questions, our family discipline, our worship, our preparation for eternal life, and our social life. God has been very gracious to give us divine instruction on many things. These instructions are not rigid rules, but helpful guidelines to give us happiness while we are occupying this earth.

The following quotations from Ellen White’s writings are cautions we do well to heed:

“It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 211.

“When the testing time shall come, those who have made God’s word their rule of life will be revealed. In summer there is no noticeable difference between evergreens and other trees; but when the blasts of winter come, the evergreens remain unchanged, while other trees are stripped of their foliage. So the falsehearted professor may not now be distinguished from the real Christian, but the time is just upon us when the difference will be apparent. Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the halfhearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of prosperity.” The Great Controversy, 602.

Jesus is coming to take us home. May God bless you as you make your calling and election sure.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please e-mail it to: ruthgrosboll@stepstolife.org.