Page 123 - Cults and Marginal Groups - Textbook w videos short

RON GRAYBILL (Associate Secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate): "The quality of inspiration of Ellen

White is equal to that of the Bible writers…” (Ronald Graybill, Ph.D., in a talk given at Southern
Missionary College, Sep. 27, 1980.)
KENNETH WOOD (Editor of Review): "Ellen G. White was inspired in the same sense as were the Bible
prophets.”( Kenneth H. Wood, Review, Sep. 4, 1980, p. 15.)

DON NEUFELD (Associate editor of Review): “She was inspired by God as were the Biblical writers…”
(Don Neufeld, What Ellen White Has Meant to Me, p. 157.)
ROBERT OLSON (Secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate): "I believe that both Ellen G White and the
Apostle Paul were true prophets who wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit. My reason for
believing in the inspiration of one is identical with my reason for believing in the inspiration of the
other." Robert Olson, What Ellen White Has Meant to Me, p. 165)
(
MINISTRY MAGAZINE: "We believe the revelation and inspiration of both the Bible and Ellen White’s
writings to be of equal quality. The superintendence of the Holy Spirit was just as careful and
thorough in one case as in the other.” (Ministry, October 1981.)

Mrs. White referred to her own writings as the "Spirit of Prophecy" and taught that they were inspired:
“The Holy Ghost is the Author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy.” (Ellen G.

White, Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 30.)

The Problem

1. Having two sources of inspiration has proven to be a great challenge for the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. While it is claimed that Mrs. White's writings bring unity to the church, quite the opposite is
true. There has been an endless debate within the SDA Church about just how inspired Ellen White's
writings are. Some claim the quality of inspiration is the same as for the Bible, while others take the
opposite view that her writings are uninspired. In between the two extremes there are plenty of
differing viewpoints, even among church leaders, so much so that it becomes confusing to understand
exactly how inspired Mrs. White's writings are. There are continual battles over which of her teachings
should be obeyed, and which of her testimonies it is safe to ignore.

More difficulties arise because some of Mrs. White's statements contradict the Bible, contradict known
science, and even contradict each other. Wars are constantly raging behind the scenes regarding these
statements, and many people have left the church because these contradictions could not be resolved
in a meaningful way.

The Truth about Ellen White

The Bible commands us to "test" the prophets to determine whether or not they are
sent by God (see 1 John 4:1). Mrs. White left us over 100,000 pages of writings, so
there is plenty to test. The Bible provides us with seven specific tests of a prophet
and much research has been undertaken to determine whether or not Mrs. White
passed those Biblical tests.

Those tests include 1) ALL prophecies must be fulfilled (100%) (Deut. 18:22), 2) No
falsehoods in the prophecy or vision (Jer. 23:32), 3) Cannot steal their writings from
others (Jer. 23:25,30), 4) cannot contradict the Word of God (Is. 8:20), 5) must bear
good fruit (Matt 7: 15,16), 6) must encourage and build up others (I cor. 14:3), 7)

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