1. Adventism believes Ellen White exercised the divine gift of prophecy and that she was raised up by God to guide the development of the SDA Movement. "...the church leaders from the first have accepted this heavenly light that God has caused to shine upon their pathway. One reason we have prospered is that we have had this divine guidance, which we have tried to follow faithfully. ... Seventh-day Adventists believe that Mrs. Ellen G. White exercised the true prophetic gift. They believe that God graciously spoke to her in divine revelations, and that through her He sent inspired messages to His church" (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, p. 2).

2. Adventism believes Ellen White received inspired revelation from God. "Is it not a solemn thought that the Spirit of Prophecy books on the shelves of your home contain the revelations of God?" (Prophetic Guidance, Test Questions Sheet for Lesson 4). "The divine inspiration [of the Bible and of the writings of White] is the same in both cases. But the product given by inspiration in each case is to serve its distinct purpose or function. ... The Holy Spirit that inspired Moses, Paul, and John, also inspired Sister White. The inspiration of the prophets is one thing" (The Spirit of Prophecy Treasure Chest, p. 30). "In the providence of God, Ellen G. White was given the role of prophetic messenger to the Advent people. The visions given to her at night were prophetic dreams, divinely inspired and of similar nature to those that came to the prophets of old" (Ibid., p. 29).

3. Adventism believes Ellen White was an inspired commentator. "Ellen White, as an inspired commentator, was instructed to say ... In her published writings are to be found thousands of such comments on the Holy Scriptures. Her writings are regarded by thousands as an inspired commentary. While Ellen Harmon was called to her work as a mere youth in her teens, she was commanded by her Saviour: ‘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.’ There is an inexhaustible treasure of exhibits to illustrate the function of God’s modern messenger as an inspired commentator on the Bible (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, pp. 37-39).

4. Adventism believes Ellen White’s writings are immortal and invincible. "She wrote in 1906 ... He instructed me ... 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..." (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 13, p. 50).

5. Adventism believes Ellen White’s writings are for universal and timeless application. "Through the last half of Mrs. White’s life, as she delineated the great controversy story in detail in the five volumes of the Conflict of the Ages series, she was ever mindful that she was writing for the world as well as for the church" (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 13, p. 50). "‘We recognize that the principles set forth in the Spirit of Prophecy writings do not change with the passage of the years, that time and trial have not made void the instruction given,’ and ‘the instruction that was given in the early days of the message is to be held as safe instruction to follow in these its closing days’" (Treasure Chest, p. 125).

6. Adventism believes Ellen White is the lesser light witnessing to the greater light. "Ellen White declared, ‘Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light’ (Colporteur Ministry, p. 125). ...So it is with the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy" (The Spirit of Prophecy Treasure Chest, p. 30).

7. Adventism believes Ellen White’s writings were "a telescope which enlarges the vision of God’s plan." "The Ellen G. White books have been likened also to a telescope which greatly enlarges the vision of God’s plans as revealed in His word. A telescope does not put more stars in the sky, but merely helps us see more clearly those that are already there" (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, p. 34).

8. Adventism believes all who truly trust and obey the Bible will accept Mrs. White’s visions as from the Lord. "G.I. Butler, president of the General Conference for twelve years while Mrs. White was living, correctly expressed the faith of Adventists: ‘Instead of our setting up these visions above and outside of the Scriptures as another rule of authority ... we claim that none can really take the Bible and fairly apply its teachings without accepting these visions as from God. ... Those who stand on the Bible and the Bible alone, are bound to receive the Bible teaching on spiritual gifts, including the gift of prophecy in the remnant church’" (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, pp. 34-35).

9. Adventism instructs all Seventh-day Adventists to study, revere and obey Ellen White’s writings. "These messages, we believe, should be faithfully followed by every believer. Next to the Bible, and in connection with it, they should be read and studied. They throw a floodlight upon the Sacred record" (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 16, p. 60).

10. Adventism believes God’s blessing follows the proportion of one’s loyalty to Ellen White’s writings, and His judgment in proportion to disloyalty. "God’s blessing upon you will be in proportion to your belief in and loyalty to the instruction He has sent to guide and guard His people. How abundantly the Lord can and does bless those who wholeheartedly accept the counsels given..." (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 18, p. 17). "To all who have stood in the way of the Testimonies, I would say, God has given a message to His people and His voice will be heard, whether you hear or forbear. Your opposition has not injured me; but you must give an account to the God of heaven, who has sent these warnings and instruction to keep His people in the right way..." (Ellen White, Ibid., p. 71).

11. Adventism believes all of Ellen White’s writings must be accepted as authoritative revelation. "Consistency calls for acceptance of the Spirit of Prophecy writings as a whole. We cannot justify accepting part and rejecting part. For example, to accept one of Mrs. White’s books of a devotional character while questioning what she has written on doctrine, morals, or health standards, is really accepting one part and rejecting another" (Prophetic Guidance, Lesson 18, p. 70).

12. Adventism accepted only Ellen White as a modern prophet. "...in the providence of God, Ellen G. White was given the role of prophetic messenger to the Advent people. ... Several other persons in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have claimed prophetic inspiration, but none has given satisfactory evidence that he has received instruction from God" (The Spirit of Prophecy Treasure Chest, p. 29).

"The church leaders from the first have accepted this heavenly light that God has caused to shine upon their pathway. One reason we have prospered is that we have had this divine guidance, which we have tried to follow faithfully. Mrs. White’s preeminent mission was to build the dynamics of a Biblical faith into a Christian movement. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is indebted to her as a spiritual leader and a pioneer builder and guide. In most of the soul-winning activities of the church, from its very beginnings, the leaders received guidance from what they believed were the prophetic insights of this servant of God" (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, pp. 2,10-11).

ELLEN WHITE’S ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVENTIST DOCTRINE.

Last Days Remnant Church. "I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world, to keep the commandments of God as the apple of the eye, and that in response to this warning many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord" (Messenger to the Remnant, p. 34).

Soul-sleep and Annihilation. An entire chapter of Ellen White’s The Great Controversy is devoted to the doctrines of soul-sleep and the annihilation of the wicked: "How utterly revolting is the belief that as soon as the breath leaves the body the soul of the impenitent is consigned to the flames of hell! ... Upon the fundamental error of natural immortality rests the doctrine of consciousness in death—a doctrine, like eternal torment, opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures, to the dictates of reason, and to our feelings of humanity" (White, The Great Controversy, pp. 477-478).

Sabbath-keeping. "...seven months after the Whites commenced keeping and teaching the Sabbath, the Lord gave a vision stressing its importance ... in this vision Mrs. White seemed to be transported to heaven and conducted through the heavenly sanctuary. In the most holy place she saw the ark that contains the law, and was amazed to note that ‘the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious—a halo of glory was all around it.’ ... There was also shown her the change of the Sabbath, the significance of Sabbath observance, the work before them in proclaiming the Sabbath truth, the relationship of Sabbath observance to the troublous times before the loyal people of God, climaxing in the second coming of Christ bringing final deliverance. The relationship of the Sabbath to the third angel’s message was also revealed: ‘I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel’s message’" (Messenger to the Remnant, p. 34).

Investigative Judgment. "Another striking illustration of the influence of the Spirit of prophecy in the development of Seventh-day Adventists doctrine, is found in the way in which the sanctuary truth came to us. This vitally important doctrine was also developed from earnest Bible study, and confirmed by revelation ... ‘About the middle of February, 1845’ (Ellen G. White Letter, July 13, 1847, Record Book I, p. 2), Ellen Harmon in Exeter, Maine, was given a ‘view of Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going to the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom.’ ... The March 14 issue carried a second Ellen Harmon communication, dated February 15, which presented her view, relating to Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as given ‘one year ago this month. I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and did sit ... I saw a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire. Angels were all about the chariot as it came where Jesus was; He stepped into it and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. Then I beheld Jesus, as He was before the Father a great high priest’" (Messenger to the Remnant, pp. 36-37).

Health Reform Movement and Vegetarianism. "On June 6, 1863, a memorable vision was given to Ellen White at Otsego, Michigan. Mrs. White wrote of this vision as follows: ‘I saw that it was a sacred duty to attend to our health and arouse others to their duty ... This light she communicated to church leaders...’" (Ellen G. White, p. 17).

Church Going Through the Tribulation. "In the autumn of 1845 Mrs. White was given a vision which showed that before Christ would come the second time, ‘the saints must pass through the ‘time of Jacob’s trouble, which was future. ‘This,’ said James White, ‘was entirely new to us, as well as herself’" (Prophetic Guidance Correspondence Course, Lesson X, p. 39).

Included in Mrs. White’s biography, Messenger to the Remnant, are six pages of testimonies from various witnesses to Mrs. White’s visions. These are expressly included in the biography to establish confidence in the divine origin of the visions through presentation of the strange phenomena surrounding the visions. Some of these testimonies are descriptions of medical examinations that were conducted during Mrs. White’s vision experiences. Such testimonies place a large emphasis upon the alleged fact that Mrs. White did not breathe during her vision experiences.

General Phenomena. "For about four or five seconds she seems to drop down like a person in a swoon, or one having lost his strength; she then seems to be instantly filled with super-human strength, sometimes rising at once to her feet and walking about the room. There are frequent movements of the hands and arms, pointing to the right or left as her head turns. All these movements are made in a most graceful manner. In whatever position the hand or arm may be placed, it is impossible for anyone to move it. Her eyes are always open, but she does not wink; her head is raised, and she is looking upward, not with a vacant stare, but with a pleasant expression, only differing from the normal in that she appears to be looking intently at some distant object" (Messenger to the Remnant, p. 22).

No Breathing. "M. G. Kellogg, M.D. ... I am quite certain that she did not breathe at that time while in vision, nor in any of several others which she has had when I was present. ... A lighted candle was held close to her eyes, which were wide open; not a muscle of the eye moved. He then examined her in regard to her pulse, and also in regard to her breathing, and there was no respiration" (Messenger to the Remnant, pp. 22-23).

Holding Heavy Bibles. "As they closed this part of the examination, she arose to her feet, still in vision, holding a Bible high up, turning from passage to passage, quoting correctly, although her eyes were looking upward and away from the book ... while in vision, Ellen Harmon stepped over to a bureau upon which rested the large volume (18 1/2 pound family Bible), picked it up, placed it on her left hand, and then, extending it at arm’s length, held the closed book with ease for half an hour ... Under ordinary circumstances she was unable to pick up this book, for she was in frail health and at that time weighed only eighty pounds. She was in no way fatigued by the experience (Messenger to the Remnant, p. 23).

D.M. Canright, who was one of the top leaders in the Adventist denomination in its early years, later became a Baptist pastor. In his book Seventh-day Adventism Renounced (1898), he exposed the duplicity and error of Ellen White’s prophetic ministry. We have reprinted Canright’s testimony in the chapter of this book entitled "Mrs. White and Her Revelations."

The following are nine reasons why we do not accept Ellen White’s prophetic ministry:

1. Mrs. White taught doctrines which deviate from New Testament Revelation (Ro. 16:17,18; Is. 8:20). The fact that a group holds many true doctrines does not mean we are to overlook its heresy. False imitations of Christianity have always been characterized by a mixture of truth and error. The Galatian heretics were orthodox in most of their doctrines. As believers in the Old Testament, they held sound doctrines about the Trinity, the Resurrection, and the Inspiration of Scriptures; but the fact that they added to the gospel of the grace of Christ brought upon them a divine curse. The Galatian heretics were all the more dangerous because of their orthodoxy in most areas.

Likewise, it is true that Ellen White contended for the Trinity and the deity of Christ and the inspiration of the Scriptures and for other sound doctrines. Yet, her deviation in many points from New Testament revelation identifies her and her followers as heretics that Paul warned of in Romans 16. He taught that such "serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly." No matter how good and sincere they might seem, revelation warns us of their true inward condition before God. Doctrine tells the tale, and we must accept the Apostle’s warning by faith.

Romans 16:17 warns us to mark and avoid those who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine that we have learned. Seventh-day Adventism causes division contrary to many of the teachings given by the Apostles. They cause divisions contrary to the apostolic doctrine of death, the apostolic doctrine of Sabbath-keeping, the apostolic doctrine of Hell, the apostolic doctrine of the ministry of Christ during this present age, the apostolic doctrine of the Mosaic law, the apostolic doctrine of the woman’s place in the church, and the apostolic doctrine of the last days.

2. The true prophetic gift guaranteed infallible revelation. Even though, as we have seen, Adventism has a very high regard for Mrs. White’s visions and writings, it does not claim that her prophetic utterances are infallible and without error. To teach this would be folly in face of the fact that Ellen White’s writings and recorded visions contained human error. In fact, portions of her writings were plagiarized. Adventists defend Mrs. White’s visions and writings as revelation, but not as infallible.

This is a distinction the Bible does not allow. Being from God, the prophecies received would have to be infallible. No middle ground is allowed. Prophetical writings cannot be only partially inspired. They are either wholly inspired, or they are not inspired at all. Any deviation from truth, any failure in prediction, marks the prophet as false (De. 18:21,22).

3. Mrs. White’s visions encouraged twisted views of Scripture to suit SDA doctrine. The verses offered by Adventist teachers as proof texts for doctrines such as Investigative Judgment or Sabbath-keeping in the church age in no way do so. No one studying these verses alone would come to the strange ideas that the Adventists find in them. How, then, do they come to these conclusions? The peculiar doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination were encouraged and developed by Ellen White’s visions and interpretations. The following quote of Ellen White confirms this suspicion:

Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word.

Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, ‘We can do nothing more,’ the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively.

Thus light was given that helped us to understand the Scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me.

During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the word of God. The brethren knew that when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from heaven the revelations given (Messenger to the Remnant, pp. 38-39, quoting Ellen G. White Special Testimony, Series B, No. 2, pp. 56-57).

Ellen White, in the above testimony, admits that the peculiar doctrines of Adventism were evolved through interpretations forced upon Scripture by authority of her visions.

4. Women are not to teach nor usurp authority over men. God calls men, not women, to lead the churches. "Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Ti. 2:11-12). See also 1 Co. 14:34-35. Ellen white lived in direct opposition to these commands. Not only did she guide in the development of SDA doctrine, but she was also a leading voice in the development of all SDA organization and practices. She maintained a diligent public speaking ministry, addressing large mixed crowds of men and women, frequently even addressing, teaching, and guiding groups composed mostly men. Surely the Lord would not operate contrary to His revealed will.

5. The true prophetic gift was to cease when its purposes for this age were fulfilled. "Charity never faileth: but WHETHER THERE BE PROPHECIES, THEY SHALL FAIL; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away" (1 Co. 13:8-10).

The context of 1 Corinthians 13 concerns spiritual gifts. The entire section from chapter 12 to 14 deals with this subject. 1 Co. 13:8-10 refers to the revelation gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and tongues, through which God spoke to the early churches. These gifts were to pass away upon completion of their divine purpose, just as many other elements of God’s program for the ages have passed away upon expiration of their intended usages.

1 Corinthians 13:8 promises that "prophecies ... shall fail." Now, we know that the sure Word of Prophecy contained in the Bible will never fail. It was the gift of prophecy that would fail, or pass away. Again, verse eight says "knowledge ... shall vanish away." Surely, it is obvious that knowledge in general shall never cease. It is the gift of knowledge that is transitory. The gift of knowledge shall and has vanished away with the completion of the New Testament Scriptures.

Similarly, 1 Corinthians 13:8 states that "tongues ... shall cease." Will tongues as such ever cease? Of course not. It is the gift of tongues that will cease. The question asked at this point is, "It seems clear that at some point prophecy will cease to be given, but at what point in history?" The answer is found in Ephesians 3:20. This verse classes the prophets together with the Apostles and says they were foundation gifts to the church. They laid the foundation. They established the first churches, spread the gospel across the civilized world, and wrote the New Testament Scriptures. Their job was then complete. The foundation was firmly laid, and they were no longer needed. Just as there are no Apostles today, in the early church sense, there are also no prophets today in the sense of those who possess gifts of receiving and imparting revelation. "Prophecy" has, in this sense, "failed."

Ellen White did not receive the New Testament gift of prophecy, not only because her supposed gift operated contrary to revelation, but because that gift ceased with the passing of the Apostles and the early prophets who laid the church’s foundation. There exists no further need of such gift, since revelation for this age is complete in the Bible. The completed Bible is able to make the man of God "perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

6. Revelation for this present age is complete and not to be added to. "...ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was ONCE DELIVERED unto the saints" (Jude 3). "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Re. 22:18- 19).

The faith has been delivered once for all to the saints. It is contained in the Bible. It is not to be added to or tampered with; it is to be contended for. The Holy Spirit has given everything needed to make the "man of God perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Ti. 3:16,17). This refers to the completed Scriptures, and a seal has been placed in the last chapter of the Book, warning all men against claiming to have some new or fresh word from God (Re. 22:18-19).

Did Mrs. White add to the things contained in the Bible? Adventist publications claim that she did not, but we will let the reader be the judge of this. Consider some excerpts from just one of her visions:

While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. ... Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. ... His hair was white and curly and lay on his shoulders; and upon His head were many crowns. ... Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. ... The 144,000 shouted, ‘Alleluia!" as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. ... Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges ... On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver. ... Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most glorious houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars set with pearls most glorious to behold. These were to be inhabited by the saints. In each was a golden shelf. I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth; not as we have to do with the earth here; no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually shouting and offering praises to God. ... I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, ‘They will never fade.’ Next I saw a field of grass, most glorious to behold; it was living green and had a reflection of silver and gold, as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. ... And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly, to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading flowers. ... I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. ... And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it (Ellen White, Early Writings, pp. 14-20).

There is no doubt that Ellen White’s visions added to the prophecies contained in the Bible. As such, they fly in the face of God’s warning in Revelation 22. The idea that the apostolic gift of prophecy has remained operative after the completion of the Scriptures has wrought error in every group that has promoted it. To teach that there is still a purpose for the divine gift of prophecy and that the Scriptures are not sufficient for life, practice, and doctrine is to open the door to Satanic deception. It seems that those who refuse to accept the Scriptures as the final Word of God for this age, as the "faith once delivered unto the saints," find themselves receiving yet another word through erroneous visions and prophecies. Seventh-day Adventism is the product of this error.