Page 599 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

books, and shall stand immortalized...” (Prophetic instruction He has sent to guide and guard His people.
Guidance, Lesson 13, p. 50). How abundantly the Lord can and does bless those who
5. Ellen White’s writings have universal and timeless wholeheartedly accept the counsels given...” (Prophetic
application. “Through the last half of Mrs. White’s life, Guidance, Lesson 18, p. 17). “To all who have stood in
as she delineated the great controversy story in detail in the way of the Testimonies, I would say, God has given a
the five volumes of the Conflict of the Ages series, she message to His people and His voice will be heard,
was ever mindful that she was writing for the world as whether you hear or forbear. Your opposition has not
well as for the church” (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 13, injured me; but you must give an account to the God of
p. 50). “‘We recognize that the principles set forth in the heaven, who has sent these warnings and instruction to
Spirit of Prophecy writings do not change with the keep His people in the right way...” (Ellen G. White and
passage of the years, that time and trial have not made the S.D.A. Church, p. 71).
void the instruction given,’ and ‘the instruction that was 11. All of Ellen White’s writings must be accepted as
given in the early days of the message is to be held as authoritative revelation. “Consistency calls for
safe instruction to follow in these its closing acceptance of the Spirit of Prophecy writings as a whole.
days’” (Treasure Chest, p. 125). We cannot justify accepting part and rejecting part. For
6. Ellen White is the lesser light witnessing to the example, to accept one of Mrs. White’s books of a
greater light. “Ellen White declared, ‘Little heed is given devotional character while questioning what she has
to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead written on doctrine, morals, or health standards, is
men and women to the greater light’ (Colporteur r e a l l y a c c e p t i n g o n e p a r t a n d r e j e c t i n g
Ministry, p. 125). ...So it is with the Bible and the Spirit another” (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 18, p. 70).
of Prophecy” (The Spirit of Prophecy Treasure Chest, p. 12. Ellen White alone is a modern prophet. “...in the
30). providence of God, Ellen G. White was given the role of
7. Ellen White’s writings were “a telescope which prophetic messenger to the Advent people. ... Several
enlarges the vision of God’s plan.” “The Ellen G. White other persons in the history of the Seventh-day
books have been likened also to a telescope which Adventist Church have claimed prophetic inspiration,
greatly enlarges the vision of God’s plans as revealed in but none has given satisfactory evidence that he has
His word. A telescope does not put more stars in the sky, received instruction from God” (The Spirit of Prophecy
but merely helps us see more clearly those that are Treasure Chest, p. 29).
already there” (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, p. 13. Ellen White’s prophecies and the Adventist Church
34). stand or fall together. “Our position on the Testimonies is
8. All who truly trust and obey the Bible will accept like the keystone of the arch. Take that out, and there is
Mrs. White’s visions as from the Lord. “G.I. Butler, no logical stopping place till all the special truths of the
president of the General Conference for twelve years message are gone. ... Nothing is surer that this, that this
while Mrs. White was living, correctly expressed the message and the visions belong together and stand and
faith of Adventists: ‘Instead of our setting up these fall together” (Review and Herald, Aug. 14, 1883).
visions above and outside of the Scriptures as another 14. Ellen White’s prophecies are either of God or the
rule of authority ... we claim that none can really take devil. “There is no halfway work in the matter. The
the Bible and fairly apply its teachings without testimonies are of the Spirit of God or of the
accepting these visions as from God. ... Those who stand devil” (Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p.
on the Bible and the Bible alone, are bound to receive 230).
the Bible teaching on spiritual gifts, including the gift of What Were the Methods by which Ellen White Received
prophecy in the remnant church’” (Ellen G. White and Messages?
the S.D.A. Church, pp. 34-35). Included in Mrs. White’s biography, Messenger to the
9. All believers should study, revere and obey Ellen Remnant, are six pages of testimonies from various
White’s writings. “These messages, we believe, should be people who allegedly witnessed her visions. These are
faithfully followed by every believer. Next to the Bible, included in the biography to establish confidence in
and in connection with it, they should be read and their supposed divine origin. Some of these testimonies
studied. They throw a floodlight upon the Sacred are descriptions of medical examinations that were
record” (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 16, p. 60). allegedly conducted during Mrs. White’s visionary
10. God’s blessing follows the proportion of one’s experiences. Such testimonies place a large emphasis
loyalty to Ellen White’s writings, and His judgment in upon the supposed fact that Mrs. White did not breathe
proportion to disloyalty. “God’s blessing upon you will be during her visionary experiences.
in proportion to your belief in and loyalty to the

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 599