The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

I. Evidence of the Gift Found in the Writings

The ultimate proof of the genuineness of this spiritual gift lies in the writings themselves. Their source can be known by their spirit and their fruits. And these, the Adventists came to see, have ever been good and wholesome. Here profound spiritual principles appear in simple form. They always tend to the highest morality. They discountenance every vice and extol every virtue. They set forth Christ as man’s only hope and Saviour. They lead to the Bible, exalting it as the unalterable Word of the Lord, which is extolled as the all-sufficient guide to God, the source of all needed counsel, the sole rule of Christian faith and practice. ¹ PFF4 989.2

These writings, the Sabbatarian Adventists held, expose the devices and denounce the pitfalls of Satan. They safeguard against the perils besetting the Christian pathway and warn against extremism and fanaticism. They never counsel evil or lower the standard of morality. They never lead in the paths of transgression and sin. They do not cause men to serve God less faithfully or to love Him less fervently; rather, they bare hidden sins and inspire to holiness of life. ² That was their appraisal. PFF4 990.1

Ellen White’s counsels were given sometimes to individuals, sometimes to congregations, sometimes to denominational leaders. They might deal with specific problems, with future plans, or constitute spiritual counsel for personal Christian living or church leadership. Many of these writings, containing principles applicable to others besides those to whom they were originally addressed, were published over the years for the church members in general, in such books as Testimonies for the Church. PFF4 990.2

Other works, not written for specific persons or occasions, called in more general terms to greater consecration, explained the meaning of the Christian life or the teachings of Christ, or outlined God’s leading of His people through past ages. Her books of this latter type have circulated far beyond the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists. Many readers of many faiths and various languages, who know or care nothing about the question of the author’s prophetic gift, have found personal inspiration and spiritual help in these books, ranging from the pocket-sized Steps to Christ to the large volume The Desire of Ages (a life of Christ). ³ PFF4 990.3

Mrs. White’s exposition of Bible prophecy, though often secondary to the main theme of her writings, is sound and historical. Stressing essentials and ignoring minor, unprofitable, and divisive points, her expositions sustained the fundamental Protestant positions, and were a unifying, steadying force, to hold Biblical exposition along solid, substantial lines in the Adventist faith. Here again they were designed to confirm already established prophetic truth, hewn out of the quarry of the prophetic Word by venerable students of Scripture, past and present, rather than to introduce new teachings. These expositions will be considered in chapter 52, “The Larger Aspects of Prophecy.” PFF4 990.4

But in the beginning of Ellen White’s work-when it was too early to judge by the character and content of her later published writings, or by the subsequent fulfillment of predictions, and the results of following the counsels given—the manner of receiving these messages first served to arrest the attention of immediate personal observers. It was apparent that here was a manifestation of some supernatural or supernormal power. Whether this was of God or from Satan would, they realized, have to be determined by the character of the messages themselves, as well as that of the messenger. Satan, they were aware, might simulate physical manifestations of similar character in persons under his control. PFF4 991.1

The messages must therefore be judged, according to Scripture, by their fruits. (Matthew 7:16, 20.) The phenomena of the visions, ⁴ it was emphasized, were not an integral part of the message itself, but simply served to arrest attention and to create initial confidence in the supernatural or supernormal character of the manifestation. They were chiefly for those early days, as one evidence among other evidences, before there was sufficient time for the results to be seen by which they were finally to be judged, Mrs. White invited the investigation of her writings, which she said were prepared under the instruction of God. Such were some of the determining—factors in weighing the evidence. Later she declared: PFF4 991.2

“Of myself, I could not have brought out the truths in these books, but the Lord has given me the help of His Holy Spirit. These books, giving instruction that the Lord has given me during the past sixty years, contain light from heaven, and will bear the test of investigation.” ⁵ PFF4 992.1

But just how were they to be judged? PFF4 992.2