An overall view of Ellen White’s claims of her prophetic ministry
Desire of Ages
Her calling:
Ellen White wrote: “One stood by my side and said: God has raised you up and has given you words to speak to the people…as He has given to no other one…God has impressed this upon you by opening it before your vision as He has to no other one now living” (2T, pp. 607, 608, 1877).
Note: Interestingly, the author of the book of Enoch (book of Apocrypha), had made a similar claim: “And I, Enoch, alone saw the vision, the ends of all things: and no man shall see as I have seen” (Book of Enoch XIX: 3).
Her work, in harmony with the Bible:
“The words spoken to me of God are as if imbedded in the rock forever…Every word spoken is in harmony with the living Oracles” (13MR, p. 238, 239, 1890).
“Whatever contradicts God’s word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan” (PP, p.55). That is to say her writings never contradict the Scriptures!
“If the Testimonies speak not according to this word of God, reject them. Christ and Belial cannot be united” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 691).
Her work is of God:
“This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work for the past thirty years 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” (4T, p. 230, 1881).
Her stand here is strikingly similar to what the Catholic Church claims for herself:
“The Catholic Church is either the masterpiece of Satan or the kingdom of the Son of God.” Rome herself admits, that if she is not the very kingdom of Christ, she is that of antichrist. She herself propounds and urges this solemn alternative”. – H. Grattan Guiness (1835-1910): Romanism and the Reformation, p. 259, 1887.
“The question lies, be it observed, between these two alternatives, either the Church of Rome is the house of God or the house of Satan; there is no medium”. – The British Critic, and Quarterly Theological Review, Volume XXVIII, p. 393, 1840.
Note: According to Ellen White’s statement, one is forced to attribute her writings either to God or to the Devil, with no middle ground. In contrast, consider John Bunyan’s (1628-1688) honest and humble appeal to his readers:
“Read and think; read, and compare what thou readest with the Word of God. If thou findest any benefit by that thou readest, give the Father, and his Son the glory; and also pray for me. If thou findest me short in this, or to exceed in that, impute all such things to my weakness, of which I am always full” (Work of Christ as an Advocate, p. 3, 1689).
Holy Ghost is the author of Spirit of prophecy:
“I write all that the Lord gives me to write” (8 MR, p. 33, 1990; Letter 52, p. 9, 1906).
“The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of prophecy [Ellen White’s writings]” (3SM, p. 30, 1900).
Testimonies never contradict the Bible:
“The Bible must be your counselor. Study it and the testimonies God has given; for they never contradict His Word” (Letter 106, 1907; 3SM, p. 32).
Her writings are equal to the Bible:
Bible: “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11, KJV.
“I am instructed to say to our churches, Study the Testimonies. They are written for our admonition and encouragement upon whom the ends of the world are come. If God’s people will not study these messages that are sent to them from time to time, they are guilty of rejecting light. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, God is sending instruction to His people. Heed the instruction; follow the light” (2MR, 191; Letter 292, 1907).
Definer of truth and error:
“The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable… and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and what is error… All these truths are immortalized in my writings” (8MR, pp. 319, 320, 1990).
She was shown the shown the events in the life of Jesus:
“Thus it was in the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus—all this had passed before me point by point” (Letter 14, 1889; MR 728, p. 22).
She recommended the Desire of Ages:
Ellen White: “The Desire of Ages” in every home. In this book is contained the light he has given on his work. To our canvassers I would say, Go forth with your hearts softened and subdued by reading of the life of Christ. Drink deeply of the water of salvation, that it may be in your hearts as a living spring, flowing forth to refresh souls ready to perish” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 3, 1900).
Her counsel:
“Our brethren should be willing to investigate in a candid way every point of controversy….we should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is the truth, we need it ….if the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time that we knew it…We must study the truth for ourselves. No living man [Including Ellen White?] should be relied upon to think for us…” (Counsels to Writers and Editors, pp. 43-45, 1946).
Ted Wilson’s promotion of Ellen White: “Accept the Spirit of Prophecy as one of the greatest gifts given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church not just for the past but even more importantly for the future,” he said. “While the Bible is paramount in our estimation as the ultimate authority and final arbiter of truth, the Spirit of Prophecy provides clear, inspired council to aid our application of Bible truth. It is a heaven-sent guide to instruct the church in how to carry out its mission. It is a reliable theological expositor of the Scriptures.” The Spirit of Prophecy is to be read, believed, applied and promoted”. – Ted N. C. Wilson’s July 3, 2010 sermon, Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
The following is a selection of most familiar statements, thoughts, insights, and extra-biblical information from The Desire of Ages, followed by the corresponding parallels from earlier writers. As you read this paper, carefully evaluate and apply her lofty claims (cited above) to her writings and see whether she would square up to her claims and also apply the bible recommended test (Isaiah 8:20) to find out whether they are in harmony with the Scriptures. By her own testimony, she will be condemned or justified. She said: “Whatever contradicts God’s word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan.” – PP, p. 55. She goes on, “If the Testimonies speak not according to the word of God, reject them. Christ and Belial cannot be.” – 3SM, p. 32. “We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth [of the Bible]? – 1SM, p. 205. “Before accepting any doctrine or precept, [or interpretation of the Bible] we should demand a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord’ in its support” (GC, p. 595, 1911). Emphasis added.
The parallels from the Desire of Ages have been broken down into 15 parts:
