A Vision Misconstrued
An effort has been made to construe a vision given to Mrs. White, at Topsham, Maine, March 24, 1849, as teaching this erroneous doctrine—no more mercy for sinners. This view was given just as the “Rochester knockings” (Spiritualism) was being introduced. Mrs. White saw that the mysterious signs and wonders and false reformations would increase and spread. These reformations were not reformations from error to truth (she did not say there would never be such reformations, but that the kind shown her where they were using human influence were such), but from bad to worse; for those who professed a change of heart had only wrapped about them a religious garb which covered up the iniquity of a wicked heart. Some appeared to be really converted, thus being enabled to deceive God’s people; but if their hearts could have been seen, they would have appeared as black as ever.
GSAM 227.2
She then said: “My accompanying angel bade me look for the travail of soul for sinners as used to be. I looked, but could not see it; for the time of their salvation is past.”
GSAM 227.3
The claim has been made that this vision taught that there was no more mercy for sinners, but we ask, How could that be when she had opposed that doctrine from the very time Joseph Turner first taught it in the spring of 1845, and had all the way along been laboring earnestly for the conversion and salvation of sinners?
GSAM 228.1
In Supplement to Experience and Views, published in 1853, Mrs. White says, “The ‘false reformations’ referred to are yet to be more fully seen. This view relates more particularly to those who have heard and rejected the light of the advent doctrine. They are given over to strong delusions. Such will not have the ‘travail of soul for sinners’ as formerly.”
GSAM 228.2
Opponents claim to know more about what Mrs. White was viewing in this vision than she herself did. Let us examine it a moment in connection with their version of it; viz., that she was viewing the condition of sinners instead of the revivalists. So she looked at the sinners to find a “travail of soul for sinners, but could not see it.” Who ever found a travail of soul for sinners by simply looking at the sinner? But, we inquire, what about the persons mentioned in the above testimony who were simply using human influence and mesmerism to gain converts, and calling it the work of the Spirit of God? Are these opponents, who were so anxious to show that Mrs. White taught the extreme “shut door” theory, ready to admit that these revivalists were holy people, and gaining genuine converts?
GSAM 228.3
It is evident to every candid mind that the class of persons addressed in this connection were those who professed to have this travail of soul, while they had rejected light and truth, and were using mesmerism to gain converts. Such could not have a genuine travail of soul for sinners when they themselves were subjects of damnation; for “the time of their [their own] salvation is passed.”
GSAM 228.4
From Mrs. White’s vision of March 24, 1849, some persons have tried to draw the conclusion that it taught that there was no more mercy for sinners; but we have already shown that in 1845, in Paris, Maine, she taught that there was mercy for all who had not knowingly and understandingly rejected light and truth. In a vision given in the same place in 1846, it was shown that the Lord had a “people in the churches who had not rejected the truth.” To those individuals who thought differently, a reproof was given, saying that angels of God would yet work for such, and when they did work, those who were denouncing them would be left outside.
GSAM 229.1
Again, in April, 1848, Elder White and his wife were laboring at Rocky Hill, Conn., for the conversion of sinners. All of which goes to prove that the vision of March 24, 1849, harmonizes with the one given in Paris, Maine, in 1846, and with the course pursued by these servants of God in April, 1848.
GSAM 229.2
1140
GSAM
The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress
[{"para_id":"1140.19","title":"Preface","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0003_eng_m_preface_1140_19.mp3#duration=291&size=1838724"},{"para_id":"1140.29","title":"Preface to the 1992 Edition","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0004_eng_m_preface_to_the_1992_edition_1140_29.mp3#duration=1245&size=7563605"},{"para_id":"1140.88","title":"Chapter 1 \u2014 Introductory","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0017_eng_m_chapter_1_introductory_1140_88.mp3#duration=2607&size=11446422"},{"para_id":"1140.210","title":"Chapter 2 \u2014 The Plan of Salvation Unfolded","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0043_eng_m_chapter_2_the_plan_of_salvation_unfolded_1140_210.mp3#duration=2997&size=13128865"},{"para_id":"1140.321","title":"Chapter 3 \u2014 The Coming of the Promised Seed","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0069_eng_m_chapter_3_the_coming_of_the_promised_seed_1140_321.mp3#duration=3026&size=13361638"},{"para_id":"1140.445","title":"Chapter 4 \u2014 The Time of the End","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0097_eng_m_chapter_4_the_time_of_the_end_1140_445.mp3#duration=2704&size=11830750"},{"para_id":"1140.547","title":"Chapter 5 \u2014 The Second Advent Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0120_eng_m_chapter_5_the_second_advent_message_1140_547.mp3#duration=2324&size=9979862"},{"para_id":"1140.655","title":"Chapter 6 \u2014 The Message and the Messengers","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0142_eng_m_chapter_6_the_message_and_the_messengers_1140_655.mp3#duration=2773&size=11824393"},{"para_id":"1140.768","title":"Chapter 7 \u2014 The Rapid Advancement of the Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0160_eng_m_chapter_7_the_rapid_advancement_of_the_message_1140_768.mp3#duration=1220&size=5258521"},{"para_id":"1140.815","title":"Chapter 8 \u2014 The Marriage Supper of the Lamb","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0172_eng_m_chapter_8_the_marriage_supper_of_the_lamb_1140_815.mp3#duration=1950&size=8398445"},{"para_id":"1140.909","title":"Chapter 9 \u2014 The Tarrying Time","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0192_eng_m_chapter_9_the_tarrying_time_1140_909.mp3#duration=1724&size=7452349"},{"para_id":"1140.979","title":"Chapter 10 \u2014 The Midnight Cry","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0207_eng_m_chapter_10_the_midnight_cry_1140_979.mp3#duration=1552&size=6754433"},{"para_id":"1140.1042","title":"Chapter 11 \u2014 The Second Angel\u2019s Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0220_eng_m_chapter_11_the_second_angel_s_message_1140_1042.mp3#duration=1898&size=8206110"},{"para_id":"1140.1127","title":"Chapter 12 \u2014 The Disappointment\u2014The Bitter Book","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0241_eng_m_chapter_12_the_disappointment_the_bitter_book_1140_1127.mp3#duration=2008&size=8711552"},{"para_id":"1140.1213","title":"Chapter 13 \u2014 Tokens of Divine Guidance","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0261_eng_m_chapter_13_tokens_of_divine_guidance_1140_1213.mp3#duration=2503&size=10802474"},{"para_id":"1140.1315","title":"Chapter 14 \u2014 The Shut Door","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0285_eng_m_chapter_14_the_shut_door_1140_1315.mp3#duration=3206&size=13865105"},{"para_id":"1140.1453","title":"Chapter 15 \u2014 Increasing Light and Greater Wonders","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0313_eng_m_chapter_15_increasing_light_and_greater_wonders_1140_1453.mp3#duration=5047&size=20280460"},{"para_id":"1140.1526","title":"Chapter 16 \u2014 The Third Angel\u2019s Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0327_eng_m_chapter_16_the_third_angel_s_message_1140_1526.mp3#duration=7496&size=30079943"},{"para_id":"1140.1644","title":"Chapter 17 \u2014 The Truth Advanced Under Difficulties","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0354_eng_m_chapter_17_the_truth_advanced_under_difficulties_1140_1644.mp3#duration=1998&size=8658557"},{"para_id":"1140.1758","title":"Chapter 18 \u2014 Providence of God in the Publishing Work","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0379_eng_m_chapter_18_providence_of_god_in_the_publishing_work_1140_1758.mp3#duration=2506&size=10920210"},{"para_id":"1140.1897","title":"Chapter 19 \u2014 \u201cBy Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0418_eng_m_chapter_19_by_their_fruits_ye_shall_know_them_1140_1897.mp3#duration=1750&size=7618767"},{"para_id":"1140.1967","title":"Chapter 20 \u2014 Sacrifices in the Early Work","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0428_eng_m_chapter_20_sacrifices_in_the_early_work_1140_1967.mp3#duration=1550&size=6767450"},{"para_id":"1140.2047","title":"Chapter 21 \u2014 The Guiding Hand in the Work","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0448_eng_m_chapter_21_the_guiding_hand_in_the_work_1140_2047.mp3#duration=3123&size=13454398"},{"para_id":"1140.2185","title":"Chapter 22 \u2014 Organization","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0482_eng_m_chapter_22_organization_1140_2185.mp3#duration=1944&size=8469692"},{"para_id":"1140.2305","title":"Chapter 23 \u2014 Health Institutions","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0519_eng_m_chapter_23_health_institutions_1140_2305.mp3#duration=2482&size=10767173"},{"para_id":"1140.2450","title":"Chapter 24 \u2014 Other Predictions Fulfilled","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0557_eng_m_chapter_24_other_predictions_fulfilled_1140_2450.mp3#duration=1926&size=8368038"},{"para_id":"1140.2559","title":"Chapter 25 \u2014 Educational Institutions","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0588_eng_m_chapter_25_educational_institutions_1140_2559.mp3#duration=1618&size=7076341"},{"para_id":"1140.2647","title":"Chapter 26 \u2014 Our Foreign Missions","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0613_eng_m_chapter_26_our_foreign_missions_1140_2647.mp3#duration=5541&size=23900837"},{"para_id":"1140.2957","title":"Chapter 27 \u2014 Other Testimonies Confirmed","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0707_eng_m_chapter_27_other_testimonies_confirmed_1140_2957.mp3#duration=2725&size=11814726"},{"para_id":"1140.3100","title":"Chapter 28 \u2014 A Door That No Man Can Shut","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0739_eng_m_chapter_28_a_door_that_no_man_can_shut_1140_3100.mp3#duration=1714&size=7442135"},{"para_id":"1140.3182","title":"Appendix A \u2014 Some Individual Experience","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0755_eng_m_appendix_a_some_individual_experience_1140_3182.mp3#duration=5133&size=22148556"},{"para_id":"1140.3188","title":"PREFACE TO APPENDIX A","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0756_eng_m_preface_to_appendix_a_1140_3188.mp3#duration=281&size=1775136"},{"para_id":"1140.3202","title":"PART ONE","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0757_eng_m_part_one_1140_3202.mp3#duration=4832&size=29086712"},{"para_id":"1140.3383","title":"PART TWO","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0780_eng_m_part_two_1140_3383.mp3#duration=5338&size=23077243"},{"para_id":"1140.3584","title":"Apostolic and Advent Experience","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0808_eng_m_apostolic_and_advent_experience_1140_3584.mp3#duration=2053&size=8904729"},{"para_id":"1140.3650","title":"Appendix B \u2014 Summary of Key Dates in Loughborough\u2019s Life Extracted from The Great Second Advent Movement","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0817_eng_m_appendix_b_summary_of_key_dates_in_loughborough_s_life_extracted_from_th_1140_3650.mp3#duration=5338&size=23071916"},{"para_id":"1140.3675","title":"Appendix C \u2014 Some 1992 Observations on the Book\u2014The Great Second Advent Movement","mp3":"\/mp3\/1140\/0818_eng_m_appendix_c_some_1992_observations_on_the_book_the_great_second_adven_1140_3675.mp3#duration=2053&size=8904455"}]