The Gift of Prophecy

Chapter 14 — The Foundational Orientation of Ellen White’s Prophetic Ministry

Merlin D. Burt

Even though Ellen White passed away 100 years ago, millions are still blessed by her writings, and they continue to be translated into many new languages. People continue to know Jesus better and read their Bible more after reading her writings. Why is this so? Because Ellen White’s writings and ministry were and still are focused on bringing people to Jesus and the Bible. It is vital that Seventh-day Adventists and others who are interested in Ellen White orient their understanding of her life and writings in terms of this focus. GOP 270.1

From the age of 17 until the end of her life, more than 70 years later (1844-1915), she received what she and many others believed were supernatural prophetic dreams and visions. These helped and encouraged people in their walk with Jesus; provided a picture of the character of God and the cosmic conflict between good and evil; and guided in the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. There are many ways of evaluating Ellen White and her prophetic ministry. The purpose of this chapter is to establish that for Ellen White there were two foundational hermeneutical principles that anchored her entire Christian experience and her prophetic ministry. These were her passion for Jesus and the love of God and her understanding of the relationship of her writings to the Bible. A correct understanding and emphasis on these two foundational aspects of Ellen White’s writings and ministry are essential to a correct interpretation. Every other interpretative principle connects to these, and without them it is not possible to understand her ministry and writings correctly. GOP 270.2

Seventh-day Adventists consider Ellen White’s writings to be a manifestation of the Spirit of Prophecy. This has sometimes been challenged, but it is essentially accurate if understood correctly as the work of the Holy Spirit and not exclusively limited to Ellen White’s ministry or writings. Revelation 19:10 describes the prophetic gift or “Spirit of Prophecy” as the “testimony of Jesus.” There is something profound in the words “testimony of Jesus.” ¹ The entire process is intrinsically Christ-centered. In Revelation John is given the testimony from Jesus for the seven churches. The words literally convey the meaning that Jesus Himself is communicating with His people through the prophetic messenger. Jesus’ prophetic testimony through John in the book of Revelation became a part of the Bible. The message of Jesus comes through the prophetic revelation that is found in the Bible. Thus the entire prophetic process is also centered in Scripture. GOP 270.3

Ellen White also understood her prophetic visions as a testimony from Jesus and also intrinsically Christ-centered. Her writings, while not Scripture, were intentionally written in a way to directly bring the reader to the Bible and its message. GOP 271.1

Recognizing Ellen White’s prophetic message suggests a process that brings a person from uncertainty to confidence. Ellen White herself understood the need to evaluate and consider before accepting that God was indeed speaking. She wrote sympathetically of those who were uncertain. GOP 271.2

I have been shown that some, especially in Iowa, make the visions a rule by which to measure all, and have taken a course which my husband and myself have never pursued. Some are unacquainted with me and my labors, and they are very skeptical of anything bearing the name of visions. This is all natural, and can be overcome only by experience. If persons are not settled in regard to the visions, they should not be crowded off. . . . Those who were, comparatively, strangers to the visions have been dealt with in the same manner as those who have had much light and experience in the visions. Some have been required to endorse the visions when they could not conscientiously do so, and in this way some honest souls have been driven to take positions against the visions and against the body which they never would have taken had their cases been managed with discretion and mercy. Some of our brethren have had long experience in the truth and have for years been acquainted with me and with the influence of the visions. They have tested the truthfulness of these testimonies and asserted their belief in them. They have felt the powerful influence of the Spirit of God resting upon them to witness to the truthfulness of the visions. If such, when reproved through vision, rise up against them, and work secretly to injure our influence, they should be faithfully dealt with, for their influence is endangering those who lack experience. ² GOP 271.3

The key word in this statement is “experience.” Divine illumination must attend a reasoned consideration of Ellen White’s writings and ministry. It is the Spirit of God that brings assurance as we read the Bible. The same Spirit uses Ellen White’s writings to connect us to Jesus and to the message of the Bible. This brings recognition of the veracity of prophetic special revelation. GOP 271.4

To gain this “experience,” readers of Ellen White’s writings must understand her foundational orientation—the love of God in Christ and an orientation toward the Bible. GOP 271.5

Too often Ellen White has been presented as having two other passions—rebuking sinners and giving rules. While she did find herself obligated to do the latter, this was not her personal life emphasis or even the focus of her ministry. Seventh-day Adventists and others who have a hard view of Ellen White need to reframe their understanding in terms of who she really was, what she truly thought, and what she actually said. GOP 271.6

This chapter is an overview and reflective look, rather that a detailed study. ³ In the first section we will examine Ellen White’s understanding of the love of God in Christ in terms of her childhood conversion and early visions; her writings up to 1888; and finally the last decades of her life as a widow. In the second section we will exam her writings in terms of her focus on Scripture as the only foundation for faith and practice. This will include an examination of the earliest understanding of Adventists regarding the relationship between Ellen White’s writings and the Bible; her own statements in relation to Scripture; the Adventist understanding of canonical and noncanonical writings; and Ellen White’s role in Seventh-day Adventist doctrinal development. GOP 272.1