Answer to
an attack on EGW
1- For one thing- EGW is NOT the 'lesser light' and the Bible the
'Greater light'- this is the mistake they all start with- The Bible
and all the prophets is the 'lesser light' and Jesus Christ is the
Greater light!
Study it through and it is clear- The greater light- the sun-
shines with it's own inherent power- the lesser light- the moon only
reflects the sun- So it is with prophetic writings whether ancient or
modern- they reflect the truth of Christ. Even the Bible only shines
with reflected light, a 'lesser light' pointing to the Light of the
World.
Jesus is the Light which lightens the earth - notice what John says
about John Baptist in relation to Jesus:
John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,
that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that
Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world.
So you see that John Baptist was the 'Lesser light' pointing to the
true light.
2- When the writings of Moses comprised all the available written
Word, as each new prophet came along, he added to the available Word.
If he did not have something to say that wasn't already in the
available Word- there would be no point in his coming and writing at
all! The test of a prophet is not to make sure they don't add detail
or additional facts to the available Word - the test is merely to make
sure that what they are adding is in harmony with the available Word.
So the Word progressed until the OT cannon was completed.
The New Testament Cannon had to deal with the same kind of
criticism as this person is spouting forth so proud of his ignorance.
But what the New Testament writers had to show - was not that they had
nothing additional to add or information to contribute to the
available Word the OT- BUT that what they were adding did not
CONTRADICT the OT. If they had nothing new and additional to add,
there would have been no point in there writing at all!!
So it is with the Bereans he so boldly claims to be imitating. Was
Paul adding to the OT scriptures? Yes, he most certainly was! It is
interesting that this person carefully chooses only the parts of the
verse that suit his aim of discrediting one of the most valuable Gifts
God ever gave to mankind. He says 1 Thessalonians 5:21 the Bible tells
us to "Prove all things" But the previous verse also says- ‘Despise
NOT prophesyings!’
If there were to be no more prophetic input from God to man, it
would have been easy for the apostles to simply say- ‘Don’t bother
with prophesying because after the last apostle dies, there won’t be
any more!’
What were the Bereans checking for? Was it to see if Paul was only
saying exactly what was already in the OT? No! Why would they need to
check that if he was and they were such good Bible scholars? They
would recognize the texts.
They were checking to see if the additional information was IN
HARMONY with what they already had.
So it is with the SOP writings of EGW- if she was not given any
additional information to amplify the existing Word- why would she
write at all? What we are to ascertain is NOT if more information is
given to us by this Gift- but rather if it contributes to the existing
available Word OR if it is contrary.
Rightly understood there in not a passage in the writings of EGW
that has been shown to contradict the available Word.
There are some passages that contradict other peoples IDEAS of what
the Word is saying - but so did the teachings of Jesus contradict the
ideas of the church leaders of His day!
3- We were warned that attackers like this would arise and that
they would arise at the very end- just prior to the close of
Probation. Everything points to that event as being very close-
especially for professed Sabbath keepers, whose probation will end
first. It is not the time to be found fighting against God in the
person of His prophets. Just as the Jewish leaders fulfilled the very
words of the prophets as they attacked and later killed the Saviour,
so these attacks today are fulfilling the very words of the Spirit of
Prophecy as they level their attacks.
It is a sad thing to be ‘smarter than God’. To reason away the very
help He has sent to take us through the most terrible time this poor
sick world has ever seen, and it has seen some terrible times! In each
generation, once the people had rejected the prophet sent to them,
there was no other recourse open to God, but to let the wrath fall.
Over and over we see the pattern in scripture- the prophet is sent-
the warnings go out; those who heed are blessed and helped; those who
despise them fall sooner or later into destruction.
4- In regard to the physical phenomenon that our loving heavenly
Father saw fit to give us with the visions of His chosen messenger;
although if her writings were contrary to the Spirit of the available
Word, it would not be accepted as evidence; these evidences are not to
be despised either. We have the written affidavits of many people of
repute including doctors who examined Ellen in these visions. She did
not breath- sometimes for hours-
and this was attested to by Medical Doctors! Or does this person think
that in the 1800s Medical Doctors were so stupid that they could not
ascertain whether or not a person was breathing??
We are brought to remember the words of Thomas, the doubter, who
refused to take the word of his brethren. Jesus rebuked Him for his
unbelief. If we were like Thomas, we would all be lost - for we have
to take the Word that was written and preserved and brought down to us
today.
We don’t even have affidavits on that except the written accounts
of the apostles. We actually have more evidence available to us that
Ellen White was a Messenger of God, than we have that the Bible
Prophets were Messengers of God!
5- Why is it that people who attack the SOP and Ellen White, put
forth the idea that the Bible prophets were of an entirely different
class? What does the Bible say? ‘Holy men of old spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost.’ 2Pe 1:21
What did Paul say of himself? Was he some different kind of
creature?
Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should
turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Remember that the church leaders despised Jesus, and at the same
time they exalted Moses as if he were a god. The real God was before
them and they said to Him, ‘How dare you compare yourself to Moses?’
6- So many attackers also seek to find some error or weakness in
the human life of Ellen White— and then say she was not a prophet! I
tell you, if most of us had our lives as searchingly examined with a
critical eye as hers has been; we would not come up smelling as rosy
as she has- I am sure of that!
Look at David - he sinned big time, but we don’t see many people so
foolish as to say that he was not a prophet and we should reject his
writings. In fact the Bible NT is clear he was a prophet! Ac 1:16 "Men
and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the
Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which
was guide to them that took Jesus"
The weakness of the human instrument is no evidence of fallacy of
the writings.
Then some say, "Well she probably didn’t understand everything."
What prophet did? Notice that Peter said that the very prophets
studied their own writings to learn. Even the prophets knew the
difference between the human and the Holy Spirit.
1Pe 1:10, 11 Of "which salvation the prophets have enquired and
searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto
you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which
was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings
of Christ, and the glory that should follow."
When Jesus came, He didn’t suit the ideas of most of the people; so
they rejected Him and are lost forever. There is not one of the
prophets that was not despised and rejected in his lifetime, at least
by many. But those who despised the prophets suffered the
consequences, even if it were only in lost blessings and loss of
eternal life.
We don’t get to pick and choose how we are to be saved; we accept
it on God’s terms or we are lost, no matter how smart we think we are.
We don’t get to pick and choose who God chooses to communicate with
us. But if we are smart, we will not despise what He sees are
essential guidelines and information that we must have to stand in the
final crisis.
It is not smart to try and dissect the Gifts of God, we can end up
so smart that God has not way to reach us, no resource left to save
us! What a terrible account many of this day will have to settle with
God, 1st for despising council that clearly bears the
Divine stamp; and 2nd for influencing others to cast away
their God-given life-ropes and lifejackets only to perish miserably in
the overwhelming flood!
Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which
believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
2Ch 20:20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be
established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Attacking EGW
for her letters to her children:
"So how do you excuse her writing--to her own children--that God
doesn't love bad children?"
Lu 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.
Lu 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.