The audio (recorded conference call from April 30, 2014) can be found by copying and pasting the following URL into your address bar:
http://www.freeconferencing.com/playback.html?n=/storage/sgetFC/a2L7/aIOKCM
The subject of the use of Ellen White's writings and what she has to say about accepting some parts and disregarding others. She warns that this approach is not to be used. Many quotes included in this slideshow that went along with a verbal presentation. Contact uploader for more information or to get the Keynote (Apple) version of the slideshow. Visit Ellen-White.com as well.
3. “Thou That Killest
The Prophets”
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto
thee” - Jesus (Matt. 23:37)
4. “Thou That Killest
The Prophets”
“...who both killed the Lord Jesus Christ and their
own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they
please not God” - 1 Thess. 2:13, 14
16. The ONE Question
“Could you please give me one example in the Bible
where God allowed a true prophet to insert errors
and pass them off as truth?”
17. Not One Example
in All Scripture
•133 named prophets
•plus at least 626 unnamed prophets
•equals a total of at least 759 prophets in the Bible.
-Richard Baily, October, 2011
18. God Changes Not
“For I am the Lord, I change not”
-Malachi 3:6
Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
and to day, and for ever.
-Hebrews 13:8
19. “It was a great cross for me to relate to the
erring what had been shown me concerning
them. It caused me great distress to see others
troubled or grieved. And when obliged to
declare the messages, I would often soften them
down, and make them appear as favorable for
the individual as I could, and then would go by
myself and weep in agony of spirit.” -1T, p. 73
Ellen White Unfaithful?
• Avoided Conflict
• Watered it down at first
20. “It was a great cross for me to relate to the
erring what had been shown me concerning
them. It caused me great distress to see others
troubled or grieved. And when obliged to
declare the messages, I would often soften them
down, and make them appear as favorable for
the individual as I could, and then would go by
myself and weep in agony of spirit.” -1T, p. 73
Ellen White Unfaithful?
• Avoided Conflict
• Watered it down at first
21. Even the “Softer” Version
Resisted
“It was hard to relate the plain, cutting testimonies given me of God.
I anxiously watched the result, and if the persons reproved rose up
against the reproof, and afterward opposed the truth, these
queries would arise in my mind: Did I deliver the message just as I
should? Could there not have been some way to save them? And
then such distress pressed upon my soul that I often felt that death
would be a welcome messenger, and the grave a sweet resting
place.” -Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 73, 74
22. God’s Response
I did not realize the danger and sin of such a
course, until in vision I was taken into the presence
of Jesus. He looked upon me with a frown, and
turned His face from me. It is not possible to
describe the terror and agony I then felt. -
Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 74
23. What the Bible Says
About Prophets
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by
his Son” (Heb. 1:1, 2).
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn,
and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21).
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim. 3:16)
24. What the Bible Says
About Prophets
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received
the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you
that believe. (1 Thess. 2:13)
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you
may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
(Deut 4:2)
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)
25. What EGW Says
About Herself
"I speak that which I have seen, and which I know to be true." (Letter 4,
1896)
She claimed that she was told "In all your communications, speak as one to
whom the Lord has spoken. He is your authority." (Letter 186, 1902)
"Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the
instruction that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain
the precious, comforting light, that God has graciously given His servant to
be given to the world." (CM 125)
26. What EGW Says
About Herself
"I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas.
They are what God has opened before me in vision--the precious rays of
light shining from the throne." (5T 67)
"Weak and trembling, I arose at three o'clock in the morning to write to you.
God was speaking through clay. You might say that this communication was
only a letter. Yes, it was a letter, but prompted by the Spirit of God, to bring
before your minds things that had been shown me. In these letters which I
write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has
presented to me." (ST 67)
27. What EGW Says About
The Missing Column
"God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs and
strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not.
God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work... bears the stamp
of God or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the
matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil." (4T
230)
TRUE Both FALSE
28. What EGW Says About
The Missing Column
"Many times in my experience I have been called upon to meet the attitude
of a certain class, who acknowledged that the testimonies were from God,
but took the position that this matter and that matter were Sister White's
opinion and judgment. This suits those who do not love reproof and
correction, and who, if their ideas were crossed, have occasion to explain
the difference between the human and the divine. If the preconceived
opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by
testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to
discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White's
human judgment, and what is the word of the Lord. Everything that
sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct
their errors are human--Sister White's opinions." (Ms. 16, 1889)
29. What EGW Says About
The Missing Column
"Do not by your criticisms take out all the force, all the point and power,
from the Testimonies. Do not feel that you can dissect them to suit your
own ideas, claiming that God has given you ability to discern what is light
from heaven and what is the expression of mere human wisdom. If the
Testimonies speak not according to the Word of God, reject them. Christ
and Belial cannot be united." (5T 691)
TRUE Both FALSE
30. What EGW Says About
The Missing Column
"In the testimonies sent to __________ I have given you the light God has
given to me. In no case have I given my own judgment or opinion. I have
enough to write of what has been shown me, without falling back on my
own opinions." (Testimonies to Battle Creek Church, 1882, p.58)
"Permit me to express my mind, and yet not my mind, but the word of the
Lord." (CW 112)
TRUE Both FALSE
31. What EGW Says About
Withholding Opinion
"I have no light on the subject [who would constitute the 144,000]. .
Please tell my brethren that I have nothing presented before me regarding
the circumstances concerning which they write, and I can set before them
only that which has been presented to me." (Quoted in a letter by C. C.
Crisler to E. E. Andross, Dec. 8, 1914)
"I am not at liberty to write to our brethren concerning your future work. . I
have received no instruction regarding the place where you should locate... If
the Lord gives me definite instruction concerning you, I will give it you; but I
cannot take upon myself responsibilities that the Lord does not give me to
bear." (Letter 96, 1909)
32. What EGW Says About
Withholding Opinion
"This morning I attended a meeting where a select few were called
together to consider some questions that were presented to them by a
letter soliciting consideration and advice on these subjects. Of some of
these subjects I could speak, because at sundry times and in diverse
places many things have been presented to me... As my brethren read the
selections from letters, I knew what to say to them; for this matter has
been presented to me again and again... I have not felt at liberty to write
out the matter until now." (Southern Work-pp. 97,98)
34. WHY They Slay
(or attempt to)
Noah: He predicted judgment for sins
Joseph: Message creates jealousy
Moses: Expected victory from God through them
Elijah: He opposed the apostate power
Ahab’s prophet (Micaiah): Never says what I want
to hear (1 Kings 22:8)
Daniel: Fidelity to God
Jeremiah: Predicted bad news they needed to hear
35. WHY They Slay
(or attempt to)
Jesus: Contrasted God’s way with theirs
John the Baptist: Pointed out sin
Stephen: Accepted Jesus
Peter: Preached Jesus
Paul: Preached Jesus
John: Preached Jesus
144,000: Keep the Commandments of God and
the Faith of Jesus
36. D.M. Canright and EGW
He confessed freely that for years he had harbored in his heart bitter feelings toward Mrs.
White because of the testimonies he had received from her. Then in the company of a select
few he confessed this all to her and begged her forgiveness.
"You then humbled your heart," wrote Ellen White to Canright of this experience, "and upon your
knees asked me to forgive you for the things you had said about me and my work." And she reports,
"I freely forgave you, for it was not against me. None of these things were against me: I was
only a servant bearing the message God gave me."—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 623.
In the Review and Herald he published an explanation. His problem, he stated, went back some
eleven years to the time he and Lucretia had received a testimony from Sister White, and they had
thought it too severe. This was in connection with their Colorado visit in 1873. Then, in 1879, he
had received another testimony. Again, he had been in Colorado with Elder White. Again he had
rejected the rebuke. -I Was Canright’s Secretary, p. 66 (Carrie Johnson)
Canright confessed to a hasty, harsh spirit in his work and went on to say:
I think that my disbelief of the testimonies and other truths has come by opening my heart to
doubts, cherishing them and magnifying them. . . .
Like Peter, I did not know myself till God left me to be tried. I feel greatly humbled under the
shameful failure I have made. . . .
-ibid, p. 67
38. Walter Martin’s Faulty
Conclusion
"After reading the publications of the Seventh-day
Adventist denomination and almost all the writings
of Ellen G. White, including her Testimonies, the
writer believes that Mrs. White was truly a regenerate
Christian woman who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and
dedicated herself unstintingly to the task of bearing
witness for Him as she felt led....
39. Walter Martin’s Faulty
Conclusion
“We must disagree with Mrs. White's interpretation of
the sanctuary, the investigative judgment, and the
scapegoat; we challenge her stress upon the Sabbath,
health reform, the unconscious state of the dead, and
the final destruction of the wicked, etc. But no one
can dispute the fact that her writings conform to
the basic principles of the historic Gospel, for they
most certainly do....”
-The Truth About Seventh-day Adventism, p. 112
40. Walter Martin’s Faulty
Conclusion
“I am not saying
we are
categorizing
Ellen White in
the biblical
context of a
false prophet.”
True
Prophet
?
Good
Person
False
Prophet
41. Walter Martin’s Faulty
Conclusion
“I am not saying
we are categorizing
Ellen White in the
biblical context of
a false prophet.”
True
Prophet
?
Good
Person
False
Prophet
“Mrs. White, in my
opinion, made false
statements. She
misused what she
claimed was the
prophetic gift she
had.”
42. Walter Martin’s Faulty
Conclusion
“I am not saying
we are categorizing
Ellen White in the
biblical context of
a false prophet.”
True
Prophet
?
Good
Person
False
Prophet
“Mrs. White, in my
opinion, made false
statements. She
misused what she
claimed was the
prophetic gift she
had.”
“I thought some of Mrs. White's material was prophetic. I
felt some of her insights were extremely helpful and I
regarded her as a sister in the Lord.”
46. The Results of Casting
Seeds of Doubt
"It does not become anyone to drop a word of doubt here and there that
shall work like poison in other minds, shaking their confidence in the
messages which God has given, which have aided in laying the foundation
of this work, and have attended it to the present day, in reproofs,
warnings, corrections, and encouragements. 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 hindered me; but you must give an account to the God
of heaven, who has sent these warnings and instructions to keep His
people in the right way. You will have to answer to Him for your blindness,
for being a stumbling block in the way of sinners." (1 SM 43)
47. The Results of Casting
Seeds of Doubt
"I saw the state of some who stood on present truth, but disregarded the
visions,--the way God had chosen to teach in some cases, those who
erred from Bible truth. I saw that in striking against the visions they did
not strike against the worm--the feeble instrument that God spake
through--but against the Holy Ghost. I saw it was a small thing to speak
against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God. I
saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors
through visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through
visions, they would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of
error, and think they were right, until they would find it out too late." (1
SM 40)
48. The “Very Last
Deception of Satan”
"The very last deception of Satan will be to make of
none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where
there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18).
Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and
through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence
of God's remnant people in the true
testimony." (Maranatha, p. 158 [LDE 77])
49. To “Make of None
Effect” is Not to Reject
"...a certain class, who acknowledged that the
testimonies were from God, but took the position that
this matter and that matter were Sister White's opinion
and judgment... Everything that sustains their cherished
ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct their errors
are human--Sister White's opinions. They make of none
effect the counsel of God by their tradition"
--Manuscript 16, 1889
50. Helping the Devil’s Deception
“Those who have helped souls to feel at liberty to specify
what is of God in the Testimonies and what are the uninspired
words of Sister White, will find that they were helping the devil
in his work of deception.”
--Letter 28, 1906. (3SM, p. 70)
TRUE Both FALSE
51. Demons Choosing for Us
"I have my work to do, to meet the misconceptions
of those who suppose themselves able to say what
is testimony from God and what is human
production. If those who have done this work
continue in this course, satanic agencies will
choose for them.” --Letter 28, 1906. (3SM, p. 70)
TRUE Both FALSE