12. Caution! Handle With Care!

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“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” — Acts 17:11

“Don’t worry, be happy!” So sang the singer in a popular song from the early 1990’s. The same thought is echoed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church after more than a century of mounting evidence indicating that Ellen White was not prophetically inspired by God.

A recent editorial by Eugene F. Durand in the Church’s Adventist Review listed a number of things Durand said he had originally believed but later discovered to be myths: Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock, Teddy Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill, Columbus discovering the world is round, and so on. After addressing these “myths” of American history, he concluded by writing:

“Unlike American history, the more our (SDA) fundamental beliefs are examined, the brighter they shine, the more sure they become, and the more reasons we find to believe. You need not fear waking up some morning and finding out that the Adventist faith you have been taught through the years is not true. This is no hit–or–myth proposition.” — Eugene F. Durand, “Hit or Myth?” in Adventist Review, November 12, 1992, p. 5.

To paraphrase an old tobacco commercial, when it comes to giving up cherished myths, most Seventh-day Adventists would rather fight than switch. Thus this word of caution to you. Do not naively think facts will change the minds of Seventh-day Adventists about Ellen White. Remember their life, identity, and religion requires Ellen White.

If you share the facts you have discovered about her with her supporters in the Church, you will be viewed as an apostate. More than this, your apostasy will be seen as definite fulfillment of her prediction that “bright lights will go out.” Take heart in this, because at least they consider you to be one of those “bright lights!” Strangely, Seventh-day Adventists don’t stop to think that if the “bright lights” go out of the Church, only “dim” lights will remain.

As a result of your “apostasy,” and in spite of all the facts to the contrary, they will believe even more strongly in Ellen White’s divine inspiration. You can be certain that her supporters will bolster their faith in Ellen White by presenting several of the following statements:

1. Ellen White predicted she would be called a false prophet.

EGW

  • “I have been told that many who give heed to the false science of the enemy would denounce my work as that of a false prophet.” — Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 52, written in 1906.

Notice that Ellen White claimed divine inspiration for her idea that those, including you, who denounce her work are under the influence of Satan. Be aware that frequently this is the attitude her believers have towards even their loved ones who leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her supporters go on to reason that since you have concluded Ellen White is a false prophet, then she really is a true prophet because she predicted that some would call her a false prophet.

When you stop to think about it, their circular reasoning is very easy to answer. You see, like weather forecasters, false prophets are at times right half the time. It is their false prophecies and false teachings that mark them as false prophets. You determine which “prophet” is true and which is false by comparing them with the Bible.

Did Ellen White contradict the Bible? Yes, therefore God’s Word tells you she cannot be a true prophet. Did all of her unconditional prophecies come to pass? No, therefore God’s Word tells you she cannot be a true prophet. Was she honest about the source of her writings? No, therefore even her Church’s own Veltman study tells you she was untruthful. The fact Ellen White predicted she would someday be called a false prophet simply indicates that, like all charlatans, she knew her myths would eventually be exposed to the light of truth.

2. Ellen White predicted Satan’s last deception will be to make of none effect her testimonies.

EGW

  • “The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God.” — Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 48, written in 1890.

Many Seventh-day Adventists believe anyone who points out errors in Ellen White’s writings is doing the work of Satan and opposing God. But is that belief valid? No, God’s people are encouraged to analyze what is presented as truth to see if it agrees with God’s Word:

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” — Acts 17:11.

Under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration Paul did not accuse people of doing the work of Satan simply because they went to their Bibles to authenticate his teaching. Instead, Paul said they were “of more noble character” than those who blindly accepted what they had been taught. However Ellen White charged modern Christians who follow the example of the Bereans with doing the work of Satan.

You see, blind acceptance is a crucial necessity for every supporter of Ellen White. In the past did you blindly accept what you were taught you about Ellen White? Probably. But now you have had the opportunity to evaluate her teachings by the Word of God. If you carefully compared them to the Bible, then you are commended by God’s Word. You are not doing Satan’s work, as Ellen White claimed, you are doing exactly what your Savior Jesus Christ counseled you to do:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” — 1 John 4:1.

3. The evidence presented in this book has all been refuted years ago by the Seventh–day Adventist Church.

From its very inception the Seventh-day Adventist Church has waged an all out war against the facts. Ellen White’s supporters have used every means possible over the years to uphold her image in the face of overwhelming evidence that she is a false prophet. Perhaps the most comprehensive book ever written in her defense is Ellen G. White and Her Critics, by Francis D. Nichol (available at Adventist Book Centers). Be aware that Nichol’s book was written in 1951. That was twenty-five years before the minutes of the 1919 Bible Conference were discovered. The testimony in those minutes that made it crystal clear Church leaders are well aware of Ellen White’s defects (see pages 13-20 of White- Washed). Nichol’s book was written thirty years before the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s own Veltman study proved conclusively that Ellen White was a plagiarist who had denied her copying (see pages 8-9 of White-Washed). Nichol’s book was written three decades before the evidence of Israel Dammon’s trial was discovered proving Ellen White’s portrayal of history was unreliable (see pages 118-121 of White-Washed). And Nichol’s book was written four decades before the evidence in M. L. Shew’s book Water Cure for Ladies was discovered proving Ellen White’s health message was far behind her times (see pages 92-103 of White-Washed). Nichol’s rationales were debatable back in 1951, but they simply don’t stand up under the evidence accumulated over the past forty years.

Latest in the Seventh-day Adventist attempt to salvage Ellen White is Herbert Douglass’ 600-page book, Messenger of the Lord, where he presents the Church’s standard propaganda. A brief perusal quickly leads readers to conclude many of the Church’s “defenses” stretch the limits of credulity way beyond the breaking point.

In Spectrum’s review of the book, Alden Thompson challenged Douglass’ work by saying: “the general approach in Messenger is clear: filter out virtually all voices deemed to be ‘critical’ of Ellen White.” Thompson went on write about Douglass’ manipulation of evidence:

“From George Knight’s ‘Meeting Ellen White’ (p. 110), I discovered that the words ‘God is love’ are the great pillars on which the Conflict series is hung, the first three words in Patriarchs and Prophets and the last three in The Great Controversy. Intrigued, I picked up Spiritual Gifts, volume 1 (1858) and carefully read through Ellen White’s 200-page portrayal of the controversy in that early publication (pages 17-219). ‘God is love’ is not there. Check the EGW disc. It’s amazing.”

What is truly “amazing” is that the Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to defend Ellen White, and continues to manipulate her writings — to the extent of adding words to fit their current philosophy. Perhaps in this we discover the true attitude of Church leaders towards Ellen White: she continues to be useful to them as a “divine authority” for all manner of political and “religious” designs.

Has the Church satisfactorily answered all the evidence against Ellen White? Two million former SDAs in North America apparently do not think so.

4. You will be lost if you leave the remnant Church.

EGW

  • “All who desire to draw away from God’s remnant people (SDAs) in order to follow their own corrupt hearts would throw themselves willingly into Satan’s hands, and should have the privilege.” — Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 439, written in 1864.

Was Ellen White right that those who leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church are “throw(ing) themselves willingly into Satan’s hands”?

Again, the answer is No, not according to the Bible.

Churches which do not clearly understand the Gospel tend to set themselves up as mediators between their members and Jesus Christ. They tend to claim a unique role which gives them identity and enables them to enforce church decrees. Consider how the following churches proclaim their identities and thus their roles in the lives of their members:

  • Roman Catholic: “The one True Church,”
  • Southern Baptist: “The Bride of Christ,”
  • Mormon: “The Church of Jesus Christ,”
  • Seventh-day Adventist: “The Remnant Church,”
  • World Wide (Armstrong): “The Church of God,”
  • Jehovah’s Witness: “The True Religion,” et cetera.

These churches have been mediatorial in the sense that church organization stands between the member and Jesus Christ. They have been exclusive in the sense that salvation and God’s special blessings are generally reserved for only their own members. Membership in their church is considered synonymous with membership in God’s Kingdom.

Churches claiming a unique identity usually require homage to their particular prophet, apostle, or spiritual leader who, in a practical sense, has been given final authority in spiritual matters. These individuals generally do not hesitate to claim they receive messages directly from God apart from the Bible, and generally claim to speak for God. These claims qualify them to rigorously impose their personal will upon their membership.

An examination of the facts indicates that the Seventh-day Adventist claim to being “The Remnant Church” is no more Biblical than the many similar claims of other churches. This claim is interesting because it requires extra-Biblical assumptions to correctly interpret a key phrase in Adventism: “The Spirit of Prophecy.” That phrase underlies their claim to being “The Remnant Church.” Two texts used by Seventh- day Adventists to support their claim follow:

“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest (KJV has “remnant”) of her offspring— those who obey God’s commandments and hold on to the testimony of Jesus.” — Revelation 12:17 (NIV).

According to Seventh-day Adventists, this text contains the two identifying “marks” of The Remnant Church: (1) it obeys all of God’s commandments; (2) it holds on to the testimony of Jesus. Under the first premise, Seventh-day Adventists incorrectly believe they only obey all of God’s Ten Commandments — they assume everyone else worships on Sunday. This narrow view overlooks the fact that more than 300

Sabbath-keeping organizations currently exist in North America totally independent of any denomination, and at least 5 denominations exist.

To interpret the second phrase, “testimony of Jesus” (i.e. “Spirit of Prophecy”), Seventh-day Adventists direct you to Revelation 19:10:

“At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” — Revelation 19:10.

At this point Seventh-day Adventists close their Bibles, and state: “Ellen White is ‘The Spirit of Prophecy,’ and she wrote ‘The Testimonies.’ Since we keep all ten Commandments and have Ellen White as our prophet, we Seventh-day Adventists are The Remnant Church!”

However, did you notice neither the word “church” nor the name “Ellen White” was mentioned in any of those texts? Those words were added by Seventh-day Adventists to support their extra-Biblical assumption: that Ellen G. White is “The Spirit of Prophecy,” and therefore the Seventh-day Adventist Church is “The Remnant Church! — That is a logic that is not justified by Scripture, and could just as easily have been applied to Branch Dravidian cult leader David Koresh!

However, rather than jumping out of the Bible to artificially apply the title “The Spirit of Prophecy” to Ellen White, what if the founders of Seventh-day Adventism had continued on in the Scripture? What would they have discovered concerning how the Bible itself applies the term “The Spirit of Prophecy?” Who does God’s Word indicate is the one authentic, and only “Spirit of Prophecy?”

The Spirit of Prophecy

In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 the Bible says the Holy Spirit is the one who gives spiritual gifts to God’s church. One of those spiritual gifts is the gift of prophecy (12:10). Therefore it is logical to conclude that the phrase “The Spirit of Prophecy” applies to the Holy Spirit as the one who gives the spiritual gift of prophecy. This is even more apparent if you analyze the various names the Bible clearly gives to the Holy Spirit. Each name on the following list describes a special characteristic of the Holy Spirit. As you read these names of the Holy Spirit, remember, none of them can ever be applied to any human being without committing the sin of blasphemy.

Names the Bible Gives to the Holy Spirit

  • The Spirit of Wisdom — Isaiah 11:2
  • The Spirit of Understanding — Isaiah 11:2
  • The Spirit of Counsel — Isaiah 11:2
  • The Spirit of Power — Isaiah 11:2
  • The Spirit of Knowledge — Isaiah 11:2
  • The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord — Isaiah 11:2
  • The Spirit of the Lord — Micah 2:7
  • The Spirit of God — Matthew 3:16
  • The Spirit of Your Father — Matthew 10:20
  • The Spirit of Truth — John 14:17
  • The Spirit of Jesus — Acts 16:7
  • The Spirit of Holiness — Romans 1:4
  • The Spirit of Life — Romans 8:2
  • The Spirit of Christ — Romans 8:9
  • The Spirit of Sonship — Romans 8:15
  • The Spirit of the Living God — 2 Corinthians 3:3
  • The Spirit of His Son — Galatians 4:6
  • The Spirit of Wisdom — Ephesians 1:17
  • The Spirit of Revelation — Ephesians 1:17
  • The Spirit of Jesus Christ — Philippians 1:19
  • The Spirit of Grace — Hebrews 10:29
  • The Spirit of Glory — 1 Peter 4:14
  • The Spirit of Prophecy — Revelation 19:10

Using only the Bible, and allowing the Bible to interpret itself, it is evident when Revelation 19:10 states the “Testimony of Jesus is The Spirit of Prophecy,” it means the Holy Spirit. Jesus stated in John 15:26 one work of the Holy Spirit is to “testify about me.” Thus it is clear the Holy Spirit is “The Testimony of Jesus” because he accurately testifies about Christ. And the Holy Spirit is also “The Spirit of Prophecy” because he gives the genuine gift of prophecy and inspires true prophets to give a consistently accurate portrayal of God’s will.

While it may be said that a person who has received the genuine spiritual gift of prophecy is inspired by the Spirit of God, it is blasphemy to say the recipient is The Spirit of Prophecy. For a century Adventists blasted the Pope for using titles belonging to God — but they do the same thing by calling Ellen White “The Spirit of Prophecy!”

Let’s make a personal application of Revelation 12:17. Read Revelation 12:17 as an isolated text apart from Adventist bias and ask yourself: “Have I been so empowered by the indwelling grace of Jesus Christ, that God sees me as (1) obeying his commandments and (2) fully possessing the Holy Spirit?” If your answer is Yes, then you are one of those people the Bible calls the “remnant” or “offspring” of God’s church (Revelation 12:17), and you are a “fellow servant” of God (Revelation 19:10). By simply allowing the Bible to interpret itself, you have the assurance of God’s Word that Ellen White is not the Spirit of Prophecy and has nothing to do with your place in the true church: the Body of Christ!

The Remnant Church

But what does the Bible say about “The Remnant Church?”

Interestingly, the Bible never uses the phrase “the remnant church.” The Bible never speaks about The Remnant Church as an earthly organization. Never does the Bible say that people must join a particular “remnant” church or “remnant” organization in order to have salvation, or to work for God, or to be counted as God’s people. Instead, while the Bible uses the words “remnant,” “offspring,” and “of God” some 826 times, it is speaking about people, some of whom were at times in opposition to God, punished by God, members of nations other than Israel, and/or reconverted survivors. But it never speaks about any earthly church, denomination, or organization as being “The Remnant Church.”

The Bible is clear that the Kingdom of God — or Christ’s Church, or even “the people of God” — is not the Jewish nation, and not any other particular group of people other than Christianity at large. Being a part of God’s Church does not depend upon having your name on the books of any earthly church.

According to the Bible, your salvation depends upon your relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus was not a Seventh-day Adventist, neither were any of God’s people from the time of creation until the Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized in 1863. The overwhelming majority of God’s people today do not have membership in the Seventh–day Adventist Church! By accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and living each day through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit your salvation is secure right now no matter where your church membership!

“Now dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” — 1 John 2:28.

“Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.” — 1 John 3:18-19.

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” — 1 John 5:20.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” — 1 John 5:11-12.

 

 

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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