Heavenly Visions

BE IN HEALTH

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

JOHN, the beloved apostle, wrote to Gaius these words, “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2. This wish inculcates the same principle that the apostle Paul taught in his letter to the Romans, when he said: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1. This thought is also expressed in his prayer for the people of God, even down to this time: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body [life, mind, and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24. HEVI 47.7

The Scriptures speak of that sanctification as being of a very doubtful kind that does not lead its possessor to have the glory of God in view in all that he does; for “whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. Especially is this true when the Lord is about to come. “For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 66:15-17; see also Isaiah 65:3-5. HEVI 47.8

Instead of this spurious sanctification, the Lord delights in a truly sanctified people; but to perfect them and to accomplish his work in them, he hews them by the prophets. Hosea 6:5. This fact understood leads to inquiry concerning what the Lord is now doing through the gift of prophecy in teaching a sanctification that corrects those wrong habits of eating and drinking which tend to build up the carnal nature, instead of mortifying our members. Colossians 3:5. HEVI 47.9

June 6, 1863, at Otswego, Mich., Sister White had the great and wonderful vision on healthful living, disease and its causes, drugs and their evil effects, etc. Regarding the nature of the principles there taught, and the proofs in the vision itself of its divine inspiration, I will quote from the words of Dr. J. H. Kellogg, in the preface in the book called “Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene,” published in 1890. He says:— HEVI 47.10

1. At the time the writings referred to first appeared, the subject of health was almost wholly ignored, not only by the people to whom they were addressed, but by the world at large. HEVI 48.1

2. The few advocating the necessity of a reform in physical habits, propagated in connection with the advocacy of genuine reformatory principles the most patent, and in some instances disgusting, errors. HEVI 48.2

3. Nowhere, and by no one, was there presented a systematic and harmonious body of hygienic truths, free from patent errors and consistent with the Bible and the principles of the Christian religion. HEVI 48.3

Under these circumstances, the writings referred to made their appearance. The principles taught were not enforced by scientific authority, but were presented in a simple, straightforward manner by one who makes no pretense to scientific knowledge, but claims to write by the aid and authority of divine enlightenment. HEVI 48.4

How have the principles presented under such peculiar circumstances and with such remarkable claims stood the test of time and experience? is a question which may very properly be asked. Its answer is to be found in facts which are capable of the amplest verification.... The principles which a quarter of a century ago [written in 1890, now more than thirty-five years ago] were either entirely ignored or made the butt of ridicule, have quietly won their way into public confidence and esteem, until the world has quite forgotten that they have not always been thus accepted.... Every one of the principles advocated more than a quarter of a century ago is fortified in the strongest possible manner by scientific evidence.... HEVI 48.5

It certainly must be regarded as a thing remarkable and evincing unmistakable evidence of divine insight and direction, that in the midst of confused and conflicting teachings, claiming the authority of science.... a person making no claims to scientific knowledge or erudition should have been able to organize ... a body of hygienic principles so harmonious, so consistent, and so genuine that the discussions, the researches, the discoveries, and the experience of a quarter of a century have not resulted in the overthrow of a single principle, but have only served to establish the doctrines taught. HEVI 48.6

Since 1863, the time when the diet question and healthful living was unfolded to Sister White, the subject of health reform has been classed with the preparatory work for fitting a people to meet the events before us. The Lord is leading his people “back, step by step, to his original design,-that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth.” “The people who are seeking to become holy, pure, refined, that they may be introduced into the society of heavenly angels [will not] continue to take the life of God’s creatures, and enjoy their flesh as a luxury.” HEVI 48.7

She has further said that from what has been revealed to her, the animals whose flesh was used for food would become more and more diseased, until finally it would be unsafe to eat their flesh. The Lord, she said, was in mercy introducing these principles to his people that by practicing them they might be better fitted to meet and resist the increase of disease upon the human family, and stand unharmed amid the seven last plagues. The present increase of disease in the domestic animals is startling the nations of earth. The Lord’s people see in this fact the fulfilling of the predictions made thirty-five years ago concerning this very thing. These predictions made through Sister White, as well as many other predictions that might be mentioned, according to rule five show her to be a true prophet of the Lord. The Review and Herald, November 28, 1899. HEVI 48.8