The Pocket Ellen G. White Dictionary

G

Gage, William Claggett — gruel

Gage, William Claggett (1842—1907)

Adventist minister, printer, and civic leader. Converted in 1864 through meetings held by *M. E. Cornell, he left his print shop to become Cornell’s tent master and song leader. His family relocated to Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1867, and he worked as a foreman at the Review and Herald Publishing Association. Ellen G. White sent him numerous warnings that led to his drifting away from the *church. In 1878, he returned to denominational employment, was ordained in 1881, and the next year (1882) was elected mayor of Battle Creek.

garret

A small, habitable attic or a small and often dismal, or cramped, living space. Ellen G. White described how at the end of time God’s people will “come from garrets, from hovels, from dungeons” (GC 650; cf. GC 252).

gat

In the King James Version, the past tense of get is “gat.” Ellen G. White noted how some people “gat them away” or “gat them” (PP 671, 745).

gay

Nineteenth-century term for happiness and joy (cf.

General Conference Session of 1888

Ellen G. White saw the need for a more Christ-centered focus within Adventism. At that time, she recognized that the *church required a spiritual *revival. She mediated a conflict between two young ministers, *A. T. Jones and *E. J. Waggoner, and *G. I. Butler and *Uriah Smith. Jones and Waggoner challenged what were perceived as established positions about the law in Galatians and the identity of one of the ten kingdoms in Daniel 7. At the actual General Conference session, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which began with a series of ministerial meetings, there was a much more Christ-centered message that she felt the denomination needed. Despite initial opposition, Ellen G. White traveled with Jones and Waggoner, who became the most visible preachers in the denomination during the 1890s. Tragically, Jones and Waggoner later left the denomination; but she noted prior to this that should this happen, it would not diminish the importance of their message for the denomination. See also righteousness by faith.

general revelation

A theological term used to describe how God relates to humans through creation. While Ellen G. White didn’t use this technical term, she did write extensively about God speaking through *nature. Thus, in a broad sense, this *revelation, though marred by sin, is available to everyone and reveals the power of God. General revelation is different from God’s *special revelation as revealed through the *Bible. General revelation is not sufficient to obtain a saving knowledge of the plan of redemption. The full self-disclosure of God is found in Scripture and culminates in the person and *work of Jesus Christ.

genial climate

A pleasant climate (DA 252).

gift of prophecy

See prophecy, gift of.

glorification

A theological term that describes the moment when, at the *Second Advent, human beings put aside their mortal bodies and through glorification are transformed into their perfect forms; also to represent something as worthy of praise. Ellen G. White generally used the word glorificatio in conjunction with an admonition not to live for “glorification of sel ” (Ms 82, 1903).

glory, glory, glory

A common phrase from the Second Great Awakening that was used during *revival meetings. Ellen G. White was known to use this phrase on a number of occasions when she received a vision (1BIO 275).

Godhead

A term derived from Colossians 2:9 to describe the essence of the Deity; commonly used as a collective expression for the Father, the Son, and the *Holy Spirit. Many early Sabbatarian Adventists held Arian or Semi-Arian views of the Godhead. Such anti-Trinitarian views were particularly common within the Christian Connection and similar restorationist groups. Many of these groups rejected the full Trinity of the Godhead because it was simply equated with Roman Catholic teaching and therefore tantamount to heresy. Early Seventh-day Adventists, most notably H. Camden Lacey (1871—1950), brought awareness of this topic and contributed to a new appreciation for the role of the Holy Spirit and the full divinity of Jesus Christ. Ellen G. White strongly affirm the eternal preexistence of Jesus Christ and the full personhood of the Holy Spirit. In and after 1897, she made some of her clearest statements about Christ’s divinity—“in Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived”—and in 1896, she also

God is love

Based on 1 John 4:8, God’s *love, or the phrase “God is love,” is one of the most prevalent phrases and theological themes of Ellen G. White’s writings. This phrase is the opening line of Patriarchs and Prophets (the first book in the *Conflict of the Ages series) as well as the last line of The Great Controversy (the final book in the same series)

go forward.

This phrase was the watchword of the United States in the nineteenth century as Americans migrated west-ward. Ellen G. White used and adapted this popular phrase in connection with the children of Israel when describing the need of Adventists to recognize that they were on a similar journey, except they were headed to the heavenly Canaan land (4T 26).

good works

See works, human.

gospel whip

When biblical teaching is used in a negative way to whip someone into shape. Ellen White applied this term to those who exhibit a *faultfinding spirit toward others (3T 108).

grace

The free, unmerited favor of God. Ellen G. White insisted that grace was through *faith alone (sola gratia) and that salvation could not be obtained on the basis of *human works or merit. “We ourselves owe everything to God’s free grace,” she stated. “Grace in the covenant ordained our adoption. Grace in the Saviour effected our redemption, our regeneration, and our exaltation to heirship with Christ. Let this grace be revealed to others” (COL 250).

Grant, Miles (1819—1911)

Advent Christian leader and editor of the World’s Crisis. In 1868, he first met James and Ellen G. White on a train ride. Their initial encounter led to optimistic hope on the part of *James White of a friendship, but their attendance at an Advent Christian *camp meeting the next summer disavowed them of such hopes. Grant later became a fie ce critic of Seventh-day Adventists and especially of Ellen G. White’s prophetic ministry.

grease

The fat drippings from meat. It should not be confused with vegetable oil. “A plain diet, free from spices and fles meats and grease of all kinds, would prove a blessing” (2T 45).

great controversy

The spiritual conflict between Christ and Satan over the character of God. It is the dominant motif of Ellen G. White’s writings that advances the idea that throughout history the world has been the field on which the great battle between Christ and His *angels and Satan and his angels have fought. While this battle has cosmic implications, it also affects every human being who ever lived on planet Earth. In March 1858, Ellen G. White received a far-reaching vision that unmasked the schemes of Satan and that emphasized the plan of salvation to restore fallen humanity. A key aspect of this great controversy narrative is the perspective of God in terms of the *moral government of God. The death of Jesus Christ exposed to the universe the terrible results of sin. “The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God” (Ed 263). As part of God’s plan of government, He does not use force (COL 77). Instead, Satan is the deceiver.

Great Disappointment

A term used to describe the after-math when Jesus Christ did not return as anticipated on October 22, 1844. It is sometimes described as the “bitter disappointment” (GC 374). Ellen G. White often referred to this experience as the *“passing of the time” (LS 64).

Griggs, Frederick (1867—1952)

Adventist educator who served as the principal of the preparatory school of *Battle Creek College from 1890 to 1899. From 1899 to 1907, he was the principal of the South Lancaster Academy and from 1910 to 1914, he was the president of Union College. He later resumed his educational leadership as the president of Emmanuel Missionary College (1918—1925) and served in a variety of other administrative posts.

groggery

A slightly disreputable establishment for the serving of alcohol (Ed 218).

groove

A term used by Ellen G. White to describe how people who are narrow-minded have such tunnel vision that they can only see things their way, or in a certain groove (4T 129).

gruel

A light food made by boiling flou , oatmeal, and/or other grains together in water or milk to create a thin *porridge. This was a common staple in the White household throughout her lifetime (4T 299). In nineteenth-century British work houses, an onion was also added to the gruel to give vitamins.