WHAT IS THE “SPIRIT OF PROPHECY”?

Seventh-day Adventists believe in the gift of prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.—Fundamental Beliefs,17

E. G. White portrait, seated writing, c. 1864. (Ellen White Estate)

The gift of prophecy was active in the ministry of Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist

Church. She has given inspired instruction for God’s people living during the time of the end. The world of the early nineteenth century, when Ellen White began to deliver God’s messages, was a man’s world. Her prophetic call put her under critical scrutiny. Passing the Biblical tests, she went on to minister through her spiritual gift for 70 years. From 1844, when she was 17, until 1915—the year of her death—she had more than 2, 000 visions. During that time she lived and worked in America, Europe, and Australia, counseling, establishing new work, preaching, and writing.

Ellen White never assumed the title of prophetess, but she did not object when others called her by that title. She explained, “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. . . . 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. . . . 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 can not call myself other than a messenger.”

The Application of Prophetic Tests

How does Ellen White’s ministry measure against the Biblical tests of a prophet?

1. Agreement with the Bible.

Her abundant literary production includes tens of thousands of Bible texts, coupled often with detailed expositions. Careful study has shown that her writings are consistent, accurate, and in full agreement with the Scriptures.

White family portrait, c. 1864: The picture was taken about the time when the vision on health reform was given. James Edson (right) learned printing from his father James White, when he was only 15. He became an expert at the trade, and the first Adventist to learn to set both words and music for hymnbooks. Willie, father of Arthur L. White, stayed with his mother after James White’s death, served as her assistant until she died in 1915, and then continued to care for her estate. (Ellen White Estate)

2. The accuracy of predictions.

Ellen White’s writings contain a relatively small number of predictions. Some are in the process of being fulfilled, while others still await fulfillment. But those that can be tested have been fulfilled with an amazing accuracy. Two instances that demonstrate her prophetic insights follow:

The rise of modern spiritualism. In 1850, when spiritualism—the movement that touts communication with the spirit world and the dead—had but just arisen, Ellen White identified it as a last-day deception and predicted its growth. Although at that time the movement was decidedly anti-Christian, she foresaw that this hostility would change, and that it would become respectable among Christians. Since that time spiritualism has spread worldwide, gaining millions of adherents. Its anti-Christian stance has changed; indeed, many call themselves Christian spiritualists, claiming that they have the true Christian faith and that “Spiritualists are the only religionists who have used the promised gifts of Christ, by which gifts they heal the sick, and demonstrate a future conscious and progressive existence.” They even assert that spiritualism “gives you the knowledge of all the great systems of religion, and still more, it gives you more knowledge of the Christian Bible than all the Commentaries combined. The Bible is a book of Spiritualism.”
A close cooperation between Protestants and Roman Catholics. During Ellen White’s life a gulf existed between Protestants and Roman Catholics that seemed to preclude any cooperation between the two. Anti-Catholicism raged among Protestants. She prophesied that major changes within Protestantism would bring about a departure from the faith of the Reformation. Consequently, differences between Protestants and Catholics would diminish, leading to a bridging of the gulf separating the two. The years since her death have seen the rise of the ecumenical movement, the establishment of the World Council of Churches, the Catholic Church’s Vatican II, and Protestant ignorance and even out-right rejection of the Reformation views of prophetic interpretation. These major changes have broken down barriers between Protestants and Catholics, leading to growing cooperation.

3. The acknowledgement of Christ’s incarnation.

Ellen White wrote extensively on the life of Christ. His role as Lord and Saviour, His atoning sacrifice at the cross, and His present intercessory ministry dominate her literary works. Her book Desire of Ages has been acclaimed as one of the most spiritual treatises ever written on the life of Christ, while Steps to Christ, her most widely distributed book, has led millions to a deep relationship with Him.

Her works clearly portray Christ as fully God and fully man. Her balanced expositions fully agree with the Biblical view, carefully avoiding the overemphasizing of one nature or the other—a problem that has caused so much controversy throughout the history of Christianity.

Her overall treatment of Christ’s ministry is practical. No matter what aspect she deals with, her overriding concern is to bring the reader into a more intimate relationship with the Saviour.

4. The influence of her ministry.

Arthur White standing by the tower of Ellen G. White books, 70 in all, stacked on the floor of the White Estate vault in Washington D. C. Included are the regular current volumes (52); SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7a, Ellen G. White Comments (1 volume); Photo by J. Byron Logan

More than a century has passed since Ellen White received the prophetic gift. Her church and the lives of those who have heeded her counsels reveal the impact of her life and messages.

“Although she never held an official position, was not an ordained minister, and never received a salary from the church until after the death of her husband, her influence shaped the Seventh-day Adventist Church more than any other factor except the Holy Bible.” She was the moving force behind the establishment of the church’s publishing work, schools, medical-missionary work, and the worldwide missionary outreach that has made the Seventh-day Adventist Church one of the largest and fastest growing Protestant missionary organizations.

The material that she wrote fills more than 80 books, 200 tracts and pamphlets, and 4, 600 periodical articles. Sermons, diaries, special testimonies, and letters comprise another 60, 000 pages of manuscript materials.

The scope of this material is astounding. Ellen White’s expertise was not limited to a few narrow fields. The Lord gave her counsel in matters of health, education, family life, temperance, evangelism, the publishing ministry, proper diet, medical work, and many other areas. Perhaps her writing in the field of health is the most amazing because of the way her insights, some given more than a century ago, have been verified by modern science.

Her writings focus on Jesus Christ and uphold the high moral and ethical values of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Although many of her writings are directed to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, large portions have been appreciated by wider audiences. Her popular book Steps to Christ has been translated into more than 100 languages and has sold more than 15 million copies. Her greatest work is the well-received five-volume Conflict of the Ages Series, which details the great controversy between Christ and Satan from the origin of sin till its eradication from the universe.

The impact of her writings on individuals is profound. Recently the Institute of Church Ministry of Andrews University did a study comparing the Christian attitude and behavior of Adventists who regularly read her books and those who do not. Their research strongly underscores the impact her writings have on those who read them. The study reached these conclusions: “Readers have a closer relationship with Christ, more certainty of their standing with God, and are more likely to have identified their spiritual gifts. They are more in favor of spending for public evangelism and contribute more heavily to local missionary projects. They feel more prepared for witnessing and actually engage in more witnessing and outreach programs. They are more likely to study the Bible daily, to pray for specific people, to meet in fellowship groups, and to have daily family worship. They see their church more positively. They are responsible for winning more converts.”

–Seventh-Day Adventists Believe