3. Ellen White and the Bible: Do They Agree?

Books, Ellen G. White, Feature, White Washed

 “Brethren, cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your criticisms in regard to its validity, and obey the Word, and not one of you will be lost.”  —Ellen White in Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 18

Have you ever stopped to compare what Ellen White wrote with the Bible? Many Seventh-day Adventists commonly believe Ellen G. White never contradicted the Bible. If that is also your belief, gather her books around you, open your Bible and let’s evaluate the evidence.

But first, if there was a disagreement between your Bible and something Ellen White wrote, which would you accept as the higher authority? Before you decide, carefully read the following counsel from the pen of Ellen White:

“The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of (God’s) will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience.” — Great Controversy, p. vii, written in 1888. “If the Testimonies (common term for all of Ellen White’s writings) speak not according to the Word of God, reject them.”  —Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 691, written in 1889.

“Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible.”  —Evangelism, p. 256, written in 1890.

“The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word…Let all prove their positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God.”  —Evangelism, p. 256, written in 1890.

No Seventh-day Adventist can misunderstand these very clear words from the “Spirit of Prophecy.” Ellen White is specific: if any contradiction is found between her writings and the Bible, the Bible must be accepted as truth, and what she wrote must be rejected as error. Remember, those are her words.

But why is this distinction so important for Seventh-day Adventists? Because the Church, its unique beliefs, its style of organization, and its mission are all based largely upon Ellen White’s writings. What if she is in error? In view of that possibility, consider the serious challenge Ellen White presents to you in the following quotations:

“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.” — Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 230, written in 1876.

“These books, giving the instruction that the Lord has given me during the past sixty years, contain light from heaven, and will bear the test of investigation.” —Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 35, written in 1906.

Notice these two statements were written thirty years apart — they are what Ellen White believed and taught during her entire ministry. They are her direct claim to divine inspiration and her challenge to investigate the source of Ellen White’s writings for yourself. Remember it was Ellen White herself who said: “There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.”

So I invite you to begin your evaluation of Ellen White’s writings by asking a number of simple questions which will help you compare what she and the Bible writers said about the details of several well-known Biblical accounts. Quotations from Ellen White will appear first (“EGW” in the left margin), then Bible texts will follow (“BIBLE” will be in the left margin). The reference has been included at the end of each quotation so you can compare it with the original source in her hardcover books. Remember the paperback editions of her writings use different page numbers, so you’ll want to use the hardcover editions when you verify these statements. We’ll begin now at the Garden of Eden and conclude with Christ’s second coming. 

1. Was Adam with Eve when she was tempted at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

EGW

  • “I saw that the holy angels often visited the garden (of Eden), and gave instruction to Adam and Eve concerning their employment, and also taught them concerning the rebellion of Satan and his fall. The angels warned them of Satan, and cautioned them not to separate from each other in their employment. … Satan commenced his work with Eve, to cause her to disobey. She first erred in wandering from her husband, next in lingering around the forbidden tree.” — Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, p. 20, written in 1858.
  • “The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband …. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she unconsciously wandered from his side. On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger. … She soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 53, 54, written in 1890.
  • “Without a fear she plucked and ate. And now, having herself transgressed, she became the agent of Satan in working the ruin of her husband. In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence. … He (Adam) mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 56, written in 1890.

BIBLE

  • “The woman said to the serpent ‘We may eat. …’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” — Genesis 3:4, 6.

Ellen White claimed Eve wandered away from Adam and was alone when she was tempted at the tree. But God’s Word states Adam was physically “with her,” and when Eve spoke to the serpent she used the plural pronoun “we.” Can both Ellen White and the Bible be right? No, here they contradict each other. Let’s look carefully at what the Bible means when it uses the Hebrew word that is translated “with her.”

In Genesis 3:6, the Hebrew word ‘im is translated “with her.” Notice how this same Hebrew word is used in other Old Testament texts to clearly indicate two people or two things are together in one place at the same time:

  • “Rachel came with her father’s sheep.” — Genesis 29:9.
  • Samuel’s mother “took the boy with her” to Shiloh — 1 Samuel 1:24.
  • Anything Esther “wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace” — Esther 2:13.

All these Old Testament examples use the same Hebrew word. There can be no doubt that Adam was by Eve’s side when she was tempted. Contrary to what Ellen White wrote, Genesis 3:6 specifically states Adam was physically “with her” at the tree!

Now consider what eminent linguists say about the Hebrew word ‘im, which all of these texts have translated as “with her.” The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament defines ‘im as:

  • “with, beside, by, among, accompanying. … It expresses the concept of inclusiveness, togetherness, company. … The basic conception conveyed is that of fellowship, companionship, common experiences.” — pp. 676, 677.

The Hebrew-English Lexicon defines ‘im as in the “society” of, or in the “company” of someone. — p. 196

The conservative Keil-Delitzsch commentary states:

  • “she took of its fruit and ate, and gave to her husband by her (who was present), and he did eat.” — vol. 1, p. 95.

That’s what the Hebrew word ‘im means.

About 300 years before Christ the Rabbis translated the Old Testament into Greek and called it the “Septuagint.” The Septuagint uses slightly different verse numbers, so Genesis 3:6 in our Bible is Genesis 3:7 in the Septuagint. The Septuagint translates the Hebrew into Greek by saying:

  • “and having taken of its fruit she ate, and she gave to her husband also with her, and they ate.” — Genesis 3:7 (Septuagint).

Here the Greek words translated “with her” are αυτησ μετ αυτησ (in the genitive case). This is what the classic Bauer, Arndt, and Gingrich Greek Lexicon has to say about the genitive case in Greek grammar:

  • “μετ with genitive: with — in company with someone, in company with whom something happens.” — pp. 509-510.

The same Greek words and genitive linguistic constructions are used in the following New Testament Greek texts to clearly show two or more people were together in the same place at the same time:

  • “They were in a boat with their father.” — Matthew 4:21.
  • “The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels.” — Matthew 16:27.
  • “The mother…came to Jesus with her sons.” — Matthew 20:20.
  • “And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.” — John 18:5.

Linguistic evidence in Hebrew, Greek and English plainly shows Ellen White specifically contradicted Genesis 3:6. But where did she get the idea Eve was alone at the tree? Second Enoch 31:6 and Jubilees 3:20-22 contain that idea. However, Enoch and Jubilees are apocryphal books which Christians have excluded from the Bible for 2,000 years. Are you comfortable with Ellen White’s teaching when it contradicts the Bible and originated in apocryphal books?

2. Was Adam deceived by Satan?

EGW

  • “Satan, who is the father of lies, deceived Adam in a similar way, telling him that he need not obey God, that he would not die if he transgressed the law.” — Evangelism, p. 598, written in 1900.

BIBLE

  • “And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” — 1 Timothy 2:14.

Which will you believe? Do you believe Ellen White’s statement that “Satan deceived Adam?” Or do you believe the Word of God when it says “Adam was not the one deceived?” Can Ellen White be just as “inspired” as the Bible when she contradicts God’s Word?

3. Who spoke to Cain?

EGW

  • “The Lord said unto Cain, ‘Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?’ Through an angel messenger the divine warning was conveyed: ‘If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?’“ — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 74, written in 1890.

BIBLE

  • “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?’…So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence.” (Genesis 4:6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16).

Ellen White claimed the Lord and/or an angel spoke to Cain. The Bible says only the Lord spoke. Which is right? Didn’t Ellen White state if her writings “speak not according to the Word of God, reject them” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 691)? Perhaps Ellen White was more Biblical when she wrote about scientific matters. Let’s consider her teachings about the science of human reproduction and the origin of new species both before and after the Flood. Did you know Ellen White believed new species were created through “amalgamation”? How does her teaching regarding the science of reproduction compare with the inspired statements of the Bible? 

4. Did pre-Flood humans mate with animals and give birth to sub-human species and races?

EGW

  • “But if there was one sin above another which called for the destruction of the race by the flood, it was the base crime of amalgamation of man and beast which defaced the image of God, and caused confusion everywhere.” — Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 64, written in 1864.
  • “Every species of animal which God had created were preserved in the ark. The confused species which God did not create, which were the result of amalgamation, were destroyed by the flood. Since the flood there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men.” — Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 75, written in 1864.

What does “amalgamation” mean? The dictionary defines amalgamation as the action or process of uniting. The only “amalgamation of man and beast” which could be called “sin” and which would “deface the image of God” would be bestiality: sexual relations between a human being and an animal (Leviticus 18:23; 20:15-16).

Remember Ellen White’s statements were written in 1864. In those days a commonly held belief was that some so-called “sub-human” races such as the Hottentots, the African Bushmen, and the Digger Indians were the offspring of both pre- and post-Flood inter-breeding between humans and animals.

As indicated in the Spectrum article, “Amalgamation of Man and Beast: What Did Ellen White Mean?” (June, 1982), neither Ellen White’s secretary, nor her son Willie White ever doubted that she specifically meant the inter-breeding of humans with animals. It was not until 1947, 83 years after Ellen White wrote about “amalgamation,” that the Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership finally agreed with both the Bible and science that humans cannot inter-breed with animals and produce offspring. And that is exactly what the Bible tells us:

BIBLE

  • “And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” — Genesis 1:24, 25

The Bible is very specific that the sin of bestiality cannot create sub-species, for both animals and humans can only reproduce within their “own kind.” Not even the most modern laboratories can produce sub-species. Thus the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church knows beyond question Ellen White not only contradicted the Bible, but she also caused the Church 83 years of embarrassment within the scientific community. Instead of admitting the facts of her errors, the Church sweeps them under the rug, hoping in time people will forget.

5. Who shut the door of Noah’s ark?

EGW

  • “Everything was now ready for the closing of the ark, which could not have been done by Noah from within. An angel is seen by the scoffing multitude descending from Heaven, clothed with brightness like the lightning. He closes that massive outer door, and then takes his course upward to Heaven again.” — Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 68, written in 1864.

Twenty-six years later, in 1890 Ellen White changed her mind about an “angel” shutting the door, and rewrote the incident:

  • “Noah and his household were within the ark, ‘and the Lord shut him in.’ A flash of dazzling light was seen, and a cloud of glory more vivid than the lightning descended from heaven and hovered before the entrance of the ark. The massive door, which it was impossible for those within to close, was slowly swung to its place by unseen hands. … God had shut it, and God alone could open it.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 98 written in 1890.

BIBLE

  • “The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.” — Genesis 7:16.

If Ellen White was truly inspired by God in her first account, why did she feel the need to revise her story twenty-six years later?

6. Was Moses’ wife, Zipporah, a “Cushite?”

Originally Ellen White agreed with the Bible when she wrote:

EGW

  • “(Miriam) complained of Moses because he married an Ethiopian woman. …” — Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, p. 19, written in 1864.

But twenty-six years later she rewrote the story and in the process contradicted both herself and the Bible:

  • “Though called a ‘Cushite woman’ (Numbers 12:1, R.V.), the wife of Moses was a Midianite, and thus a descendant of Abraham.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 383, written in 1890.

BIBLE

  • “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” — Numbers 12:1.

Why did Ellen White begin by agreeing with the Bible that Moses’ wife was a “Cushite?” Why did she even go so far as to directly quote the Scripture, even include its correct reference in her book, but then change her mind and refute God’s Word by claiming Moses’ wife was a Midianite? Do you think Ellen White thought she had to correct God and Moses? If so, wouldn’t that be the highest level of arrogance?

The Midianites lived in what is now Saudi Arabia, while the Cushites lived south of Egypt in Ethiopia. It is equivalent to confusing Canadians with Mexicans! So who is right — the Bible or Ellen White? Did God inspire Ellen White to refute what the Bible clearly stated? If so, then why did she later contradict herself? Which of her statements was really inspired? Or did she simply get her information from a source other than God?

7. Did God destroy the Israelites with a plague, or did they die because of their gluttony?

EGW

  • “When the God of Israel brought His people out of Egypt, He withheld flesh meats from them in a great measure, … With this they were not satisfied. … They preferred to endure slavery, and even death, rather than be deprived of flesh. God granted their desire, giving them flesh, and leaving them to eat till their gluttony produced a plague, from which many of them died.” — Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 148, written in 1890.

BIBLE

  • “But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.” — Numbers 11:33.

Ellen White said that the Israelites died because they ate too much; she claimed the plague was the result of their gluttony. The Bible says No, God struck them down the moment they tasted the meat, and before they could even swallow it. Which statement is Divinely inspired — the Bible’s, or Ellen White’s? Which is your highest authority?

8. Who fed Elijah at the brook ‘Cherith?’

EGW

  • “God directed his course from Jezebel’s power to a place of safety in the mountains, by the brook Cherith. There He honored Elijah by sending food to him morning and evening by an angel of heaven.” — Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 288, written in 1873.

Three years later, in 1876 Ellen White revised her previous statement by writing that it really wasn’t an “angel” who fed Elijah, instead God used a “raven” to feed Elijah:

  • “He who fed Elijah by the brook, making a raven His messenger, will not suffer His faithful ones to want for food.” — Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 253, written in 1876.

In 1916, one year after Ellen White’s death, the book Prophets and Kings was gleaned from her manuscripts and published by the EGW Estate. The new book avoided any reference whatsoever to either an “angel” or “raven:”

  • “For a time Elijah remained hidden in the mountains by the brook Cherith. There for many months he was miraculously provided with food.” — Prophets and Kings, p. 129, 1916.

BIBLE

  • “I have ordered the ravens to feed you …. The ravens brought him bread and meat.” — 1 Kings 17:4, 6.

Some Adventists try to justify Ellen White’s mistake by claiming there is only one Hebrew word for “Arab,” “angel,” “raven,” and “black” or “night.” They say there is no way to know which English word was intended in 1 Kings 17:4, 6. However, that idea is incorrect for Hebrew, like English, has different words for “Arab” (“arabi”), “angel” (“ma’lak”), “raven” (“oreb”), “black” (“shahar”) and “night” (“ereb”). This SDA defense simply demonstrates willful ignorance.

No Seventh-day Adventist would ever think of contradicting Genesis 8:7 when it uses the very same Hebrew word (“oreb,” raven) to tell us Noah sent a raven—not an “arab” or an “angel” or a “black night” out the window of the ark! It is only because of Ellen White’s myths that Seventh-day Adventists stumble over the Biblical account of Elijah being fed by a raven. Her lack of divine inspiration has caused many Seventh-day Adventists to be so confused they don’t even trust their own Bibles! And that is just one of the bitter fruits the writings of Ellen White produce in the lives of her readers. Surely God would not do this!

9. Was Samson untrue to God when he married a Philistine?

EGW

  • “A young woman dwelling in the Philistine town of Timnath engaged Samson’s affections, and he determined to make her his wife. … The parents at last yielded to his wishes, and the marriage took place. … The time when he must execute his divine mission — the time above all others when he should have been true to God — Samson connected himself with the enemies of Israel. … He was placing himself in a position where he could not fulfill the purpose to be accomplished by his life. … The wife, to obtain whom Samson had transgressed the command of God, proved treacherous to her husband.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 562, 563, written in 1890.

BIBLE

  • “Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.’ (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines.) . . .” — Judges 14:3, 4.

Ellen White wrote that Samson sinned by transgressing the command of God, but God’s Word tells us his actions were from the Lord. Which is right — Ellen White, or the Bible?

10. While tempting Jesus, did Satan claim to be the angel who had saved Isaac from certain death?

EGW

  • “As soon as the long fast of Christ commenced in the wilderness, Satan was at hand with his temptations. He … tried to make Christ believe that God did not require Him to pass through self-denial and the sufferings He anticipated. … He (Satan) also stated that he was the angel that stayed the hand of Abraham as the knife was raised to slay Isaac.” — Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 273, written in 1874.

You may read the Bible from cover to cover and you will not find any evidence to validate this supposed conversation between Christ and Satan. Ellen White simply went beyond Scripture with this myth.

11. Who chose Judas to be one of Jesus’ twelve disciples?

EGW

First, Ellen White said that Judas was chosen by Christ:

  • “When Judas was chosen by our Lord, his case was not hopeless.” — Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 41, written in 1876.

Twelve years later Ellen White changed her mind and wrote it was really Jesus’ disciples who wanted Judas to be one of their number and so they pushed him forward:

  • “The disciples were anxious that Judas should become one of their number. … They commended him to Jesus.” — The Desire of Ages, p. 294, written in 1898.

Then, a few pages later in the same book, Ellen White said Judas connected himself with Christ’s disciples:

  • “While Jesus was preparing the disciples for their ordination, one who had not been summoned urged his presence among them. It was Judas Iscariot, a man who professed to be a follower of Christ. He now came forward, soliciting a place in this inner circle of disciples. … He felt a desire to be changed in character and life, and he hoped to experience this through connecting himself with Jesus.” — The Desire of Ages, pp. 293, 717, written in 1898.

Then, writing four years later, she said Christ didn’t choose Judas, he only permitted Judas to become one of his disciples:

  • “Christ knew, when He permitted Judas to connect with Him as one of the twelve, that Judas was possessed of the demon of selfishness.” — Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 12, 1903 (quoted in Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1102).

Finally, Ellen White stated Christ did not choose Judas as he had the others, he just accepted Judas:

  • “Jesus knew that Judas was defective in character, but notwithstanding this, He accepted him as one of the disciples, and gave him the same opportunities and privileges that He gave to the others whom He had chosen.” — Testimonies to Ministers, pages 46, 47, written in 1893.

BIBLE

  • “When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them … Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. … Then Jesus replied, ‘Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!’ … You did not choose me, but I chose you.” — Luke 6:13-16; John 6:70; 15:16.

12. Did Paul learn the Gospel from the church or as the result of a direct revelation from Jesus Christ?

EGW

  • “Paul must receive instruction in the … faith … Christ sends him to the very disciples whom he had been so bitterly persecuting, to learn of them. … Paul was in a condition to learn of those whom God had ordained to teach the truth. Christ directs Paul to His chosen servants, thus placing him in connection with His church. The very men whom Paul was purposing to destroy were to be his instructors in the very religion that he had despised and persecuted.” — Testimonies, volume 3, page 430, written in 1875.

BIBLE

  • “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. … I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter … I saw none of the other apostles — only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.” — Galatians 1:11,12, 16-20.

13. Could the slaves of Paul’s day and the African-American slaves of Ellen White’s day be assured of a place in heaven?

EGW

  • “God cannot take to heaven the slave who has been kept in ignorance and degradation, knowing nothing of God or the Bible, fearing nothing but his master’s lash, and holding a lower position than the brutes. But He does the best thing for him that a compassionate God can do. He permits him to be as if he had not been. …” — Early Writings, p. 276, written in 1882.

Ellen White wrote this shortly after the slaves had been freed in America. Do you think modern descendants of slaves will think kindly of their Church when they learn its prophetess taught that many former slaves will be lost through no fault — no choice — of their own? Will Ellen White’s denigration of non-white races play well in third-world nations? I think not.

Consider, rather, what the Bible has to say about racial equality in God’s kingdom:

BIBLE

  • “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” — Galatians 3:28, 29.
  • “The true light (Jesus) that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” — John 1:9.
  • “When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts ….” — Romans 2:14-15.
  • “Sin is not taken into account when there is no law.” — Romans 5:13.
  • “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 1:13, 14.

Ellen White taught the non-Biblical racial concept that God would make a black slave “as if he had not been.” The Bible teaches that we are either saved or lost—we are never as if we had not been! Those who have had no opportunity to know the Gospel are extended mercy and judged on what they do know. In God’s court, honest ignorance is granted saving grace—regardless of race.

14. Does the Bible require us to kneel every time we pray?

EGW

  • “Where have our brethren obtained the idea that they should stand upon their feet praying to God? One who had been educated about five years in Battle Creek was asked to lead in prayer before Sister White should speak to the people. But as I beheld him standing upright upon his feet while his lips were about to open in prayer to God, my soul was stirred within me to give him an open rebuke. Calling him by name, I said, ‘Get down on your knees! This is the proper position always. … Both in public and private worship, it is our duty to bow down before God when we offer our petitions to Him. This act shows our dependence upon God. …” — Manuscript 84b, written August 1, 1897.

In Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 312, you will find a portion of this statement, however Ellen White’s outcry has been omitted.

BIBLE

  • “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said (prayed) ‘O Lord, God of Israel, …” — 1 Kings 8:22, 23
  • “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him.” — Mark 11:25.

In the book Selected Messages, vol. 3, p. 266, you will find this footnote: “Elder D. E. Robinson, one of Ellen White’s secretaries from 1902 to 1915 reported: ‘I have been present repeatedly at camp meetings and General Conference sessions in which Sister White herself has offered prayer with the congregation standing, and she herself standing.’“

Even dyed-in-the-wool Seventh-day Adventists knew Ellen White was wrong about always requiring worshippers to kneel when praying. They included that footnote along with numerous other quotations to demonstrate Ellen White had later reversed herself and stated it was permissible after all to stand while praying.

What these good people actually demonstrated was that Ellen White frequently spoke out of both sides of her mouth! Her original statement contradicted the Bible, and her subsequent statements contradicted what she had previously written. So it is that frequent acrimonious debates occur among Ellen White’s supporters, because both sides, no matter how opposite their assertions, can always find a quotation somewhere in her writings to support their positions.

15. Could Jesus see through the portals of the tomb?

EGW

  • “The Savior could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to him his coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice.” — The Desire of Ages, p. 753, written in 1888.

BIBLE

  • “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’“ — John 2:9.
  • “Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again?’“ —Luke 24:6-7.
  • “I lay down my life — only to take it up again. … I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” —John 10:17-18.

To defend Ellen White’s error, SDAs often quote Mark 15:34, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” But notice, Jesus’ cry referred to the separation he felt from God as a result of bearing our sins — it was not an expression of doubt in the certainty of his resurrection!

16. Did Jesus’ humanity and Divinity die on the cross?

EGW

  • “Men need to understand that Deity suffered and sank under the agonies of Calvary.” — Manuscript 44, written in 1898, quoted in SDABC, vol. 7, p. 907.
  • “The Deity did not sink under the agonizing torture of Calvary.” — Letter 32, written in 1899, quoted in SDABC, vol. 5, page 1129.

Ellen White contradicted herself here because she believed the old Arian heresy that Jesus was not divine. Though vigorously denied by the Church, she held to Arian beliefs all her life through 1903 (see SDABC, vol. 5, pages 1129-1130). Thus when writing about Christ’s Incarnate nature she contradicted herself, the Bible, and the central doctrine of Christianity.

17. What is the “seal of God?”

EGW

  • “Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God.” — Great Controversy, p. 640, written in 1888.
  • “The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. … The mark of the beast is the opposite of this — the observance of the first day of the week.” — Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 117, written in 1904.
  • “John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast or his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day (first day of the week, Sunday) is the mark of the beast.” — Testimonies to Ministers, p. 133, 1898.

BIBLE

  • “You were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” — Ephesians 1:13.
  • “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” — Ephesians 4:30.

For many generations Sabbath-keeping churches (including Seventh-day Adventists, World Wide Church of God, and Church of God Seventh Day) have taught that the Bible Sabbath is the “seal of God” and that worshiping on Sunday is the “mark of the Beast.” Those teachings indicate the very high regard those churches have for the seventh day of the week – so high that one is saved or lost on the basis of one’s day of worship rather than on the grace of Jesus Christ! At the very least this concept is shameful, divisive, and contrary to the Gospel.

Nowhere in all the Bible is there a single text telling us that Saturday, the Bible Sabbath day, is the “seal of God.” According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit is the “Seal of God.” Ellen White simply contradicted the Word of God. She was wrong about Saturday being the “Seal of God,” and she was wrong about Sunday being the “Mark of the Beast.”

According to the Bible, Sunday is no different from any other day of the week. The Temple in Jerusalem was open and sacrifices were offered seven days a week for worshipers, including Sunday (see Acts 2:46). And at least one of God’s annual holy days, the Day of Pentecost, required worshipers to go to the Temple on Sunday (see Leviticus 23:15-16). According to these Biblical facts, only a false prophet would treat the divinely-instituted practices of Judaism and Christianity so scurrilously as to proclaim Sunday as the “Mark of the Beast.”

18. Who bears our sins?

EGW

  • “It was seen, also, that while the sin offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator, the scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed. … Christ will place all these sins upon Satan, … so Satan, … will at last suffer the full penalty of sin.” — Great Controversy, p. 422, 485, 486 written in 1888.

BIBLE

  • “Look, the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ), who takes away the sin of the world.” — John 1:29.
  • “He himself (Jesus Christ) bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” — 1 Peter 2:24.

The Bible is plain that Jesus is our Sin Offering. And He is our High Priest, our Judge and our Defense Attorney. Jesus is also our Substitute who died our death on the cross, represented by the Lord’s Goat in Leviticus 16:8-10. And Jesus is also represented by the Scapegoat who bore our sins, taking them away so we could go free! According to Biblical symbolism, every aspect of our salvation centers on and revolves around Jesus Christ.

Ellen White contradicted the Bible picture of salvation by claiming the scapegoat represented Satan. Satan will never suffer for your sins — Jesus already did! Ellen White’s confusion about salvation is another of the diabolical influences she has upon her followers. It is no wonder that most Seventh-day Adventists cannot confidently assert that they are fully saved in Jesus Christ.

What about Ellen White’s teaching regarding prophecy? Was she more Biblical when she wrote out her visions regarding the future?

19. As the seven last plagues fall, do the wicked try to repent?

EGW

  • “The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth. Some were denouncing God and cursing Him. Others rushed to the people of God and begged to be taught how they might escape His judgments (this is an act of repentance). … Those who had not prized God’s Word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the Word of the Lord (repentance). … What would they not give for one word of approval from God (repentance)! But no, they must hunger and thirst on.” — Early Writings, p. 281, 1882.

BIBLE

  • “They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. … And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.” — Revelation 16:9-11, 21.

20. Will we know the exact day and hour of Christ’s Second Coming?

EGW

  • “As God has shown me in holy vision … we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice ….” — A Word to the Little Flock, p. 14, written in 1847 (also in Early Writings, pages 15, 34, and 285).

BIBLE

  • “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” — Matthew 24:36.
  • “You do not know the day or the hour.” — Matthew 25:13.
  • “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” — Acts 1:7.

So which will you believe — the Bible, or Ellen White? Which is really God’s Word? Remember it was Ellen White herself who said:

EGW

  • “There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.” — Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 230, written in 1876.
  • “If the Testimonies speak not according to the Word of God, reject them!” — Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 691, written in 1889.

Ellen White’s answers to twenty questions covering Bible topics from creation to Christ’s second coming demonstrate she disagreed with the Bible or went beyond what God’s Word stated. In addition, she also contradicted herself — all while claiming to be directly inspired by God!

Attempting to Defend Ellen White’s Contradictions

How do Seventh-day Adventists attempt to defend Ellen White and her Bible contradictions? They follow a two-pronged approach. First, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons before them, SDAs now produce their own unique Bibles: The Spirit of Prophecy Study Bible, and The Clear Word Bible (see the illustrations). The Clear Word Bible, though not officially sanctioned by the SDA Church, is nevertheless sold across North America in the Church’s official ABC bookstores and the laity consider it to be authorized.

The Spirit of Prophecy Study Bible includes Ellen White’s most prominent comments as footnotes at the bottom of each page. Much worse is The Clear Word Bible. Jack Blanco rewrote the entire Bible, added Ellen White’s words and thoughts directly into the verses without any footnotes whatsoever, and called it The Clear Word Bible. The Review and Herald Publishing Association reported it was their best-selling book for 1995 – and no wonder, for it is the first “Bible” in history to agree with Ellen White!

The Clear Word Bible is such a blatant butchering of God’s Word that even some Seventh-day Adventist lay people and scholars are aghast that any of their brothers and sisters in the Church could produce such a distortion. Bill Johnsson, Review editor, warned: “Blanco injects his own interpretations into the texts: sometimes he adds, sometimes he deletes, sometimes he supplies comments based on the writings of Ellen White, … sometimes he simply slants the text to make it say what he wants it to say. … In no sense can (The Clear Word) be considered an accurate translation of Scripture.” In the same Review, SDA Greek scholar Sakae Kubo wrote: “I dread to find this version being reviewed by one of the scholarly journals. … The very obvious and serious danger is that our own people will be confused as to what the Bible really says.” — Adventist Review, April, 1995, pp. 14, 15.

The second approach Seventh-day Adventists use in trying to defend Ellen White’s contradictions is to follow her lead in assaulting the integrity of God’s Word. By repeatedly claiming to find errors in the Bible they hope to justify the errors in Ellen White’s writings. In this her defenders simply demonstrate their lack of careful, solid Bible study. I have yet to hear of even one of their Bible “errors” that has not been thoroughly refuted by numerous conservative Christian theologians. The irony is that Seventh-day Adventists were once known around the world as “People of the Book,” but are now known as “Castigators of the Book!” To their shame, Ellen G. White’s ministry has caused many Seventh-day Adventists to not even trust the Bible. In this, they are truly spiritual infants blown about by the “craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).  

 

White Washed. Copyright © 2011 by Sydney Cleveland. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2011. Revised and enlarged 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2011. All Scripture quotations—except where otherwise noted—are from Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Life Assurance Ministries, Inc.

Sydney Cleveland
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