The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

A Fulfillment of the Promise

We have noted heretofore how the Lord began to manifest the gift of prophecy during the proclamation of the first and second angels’ messages. This gift has been more fully developed since the close of the twenty-three hundred days. The Lord chose his own instrument for this purpose, selecting as his agent one who had not only surrendered all for him, but whose life trembled in the balance, “the weakest of the weak.” ¹⁰ Within two months after the passing of the time, Miss Ellen G. Harmon, of Portland, Maine, then only about seventeen years of age, began to receive revelations from the Lord. GSAM 201.4

As I have had opportunity to converse with those living at Portland at the time of the first vision, and was also acquainted with Mrs. Haines, at whose house Miss Harmon had her first vision, I will relate the facts as they were given me by those persons. GSAM 202.1

Miss Harmon was at that time in a very critical condition of health. For a number of weeks she had scarcely been able to speak above a whisper. One physician had decided that her trouble was dropsical consumption. He said her right lung was decayed, and the left one considerably diseased, and that her heart was affected. He said he did not think she could live but a very short time at most, and was liable to drop away at any time. It was with great difficulty that she could breathe when lying down. At night she obtained rest only by being bolstered up in bed in an almost sitting posture. Frequent spells of coughing and hemorrhages from the lungs had greatly reduced her physical strength. GSAM 202.2