His Messenger

Chapter 7—Ellen Bears His Message

About a week after the angel of the Lord first spoke to Ellen Harmon in a vision, he appeared to her a second time. He told her that she must make known to others what had been shown her. She was shown the trials she must pass through in her work, and was told that some people would not believe her, but would try to keep her from giving the messages of God. But the angel added, “The grace of God is sufficient for you; He will sustain you.” HMes 35.1

She was much troubled when she realized what God wanted her to do. She was only seventeen years old, small, frail, and timid, and so retiring that she always avoided meeting strangers if possible. How could she, a young girl, travel from place to place, telling what God had shown her? HMes 35.2

For several days she prayed that the responsibility might be taken from her and laid on someone else more capable of bearing it. But the words of the angel, “Make known to others what I have revealed to you,” kept ringing in her ears. HMes 35.3

“Father,” said Ellen one day, “if only you could go with me, I would not fear to go, but I cannot go alone. You have your business to attend to, and what shall I do?” HMes 35.4

“Do not worry, my child,” he gently answered, “if God has called you to labor in other places He will not fail to open the way for you.” Not long after this a meeting was called at the Harmon home. Ellen was there, and her father told these faithful friends of the struggle she was having. They all united in praying for the young girl, while she herself prayed. Again Ellen felt willing to make every sacrifice necessary to do the work God had for her. HMes 35.5

While she was praying, the troubled feeling left, and her heart was filled with praise to God. Suddenly it appeared to Ellen that a bright light like a ball of fire fell upon her. She seemed to be in the presence of the angels. Again the angel spoke and said, “Make known to others what has been revealed to you.” HMes 36.1

An elderly man, whom the believers called Father Pearson, met with the little company, but he did not have full confidence in the message that had been given to Ellen during her first vision. HMes 36.2

Because he had rheumatism he could not kneel during the prayer and sat facing the kneeling group. When the prayer was finished and the company were seated, the old man said, “I have seen a sight such as I never expected to see. A ball of fire came down from heaven and struck Sister Ellen Harmon right on the heart. I saw it! I saw it! I can never forget it. It has changed my whole being. Sister Ellen, have courage in the Lord. After this night I will never doubt again. We will help you henceforth, and not discourage you.” HMes 36.3

Ellen was willing to bear the messages of God, but she was afraid that she might become proud because of the gift that God had given her. She pleaded with the angel that she might be kept from being exalted. HMes 36.4

“Your prayers are heard, and shall be answered,” the angel told her. “Deliver the message faithfully; endure unto the end, and you shall eat the fruit of the tree of life and drink of the water of life.” What a beautiful promise this was! Ellen gave herself to the Lord, ready to do His will, whatever that might be. HMes 36.5

She had an opportunity to obey God within only a few days. Unexpectedly, her brother-in-law came from Poland, Maine, thirty miles away, and offered to take her home with him in his sleigh. It was winter, and Ellen was frail, but she decided that this was the way the Lord was calling her to go. With buffalo robes and furs wrapped around her, she started on the cold journey. HMes 37.1

From her sister’s home she went to a nearby meetinghouse, where the little company of Adventists asked her to tell what God had shown her. HMes 37.2

She stood up in meeting and began to speak in a whisper. Because of the throat trouble with which she had been ill, she had not spoken aloud for several months. The people leaned forward to catch each whispered word as she spoke, but in a few minutes her voice came clear and strong. The soreness and obstruction in her throat had left. HMes 37.3

She spoke to this discouraged, disappointed little group of people for two hours, and how their hearts must have thrilled as she unfolded before them the glories of heaven as they had been shown to her. When Ellen’s message was ended she sat down, and when she turned to speak to someone sitting near, she could speak only in the low, husky tones she had been using for three months. The next time she had opportunity to speak to a group of believers, her voice was restored again. Ellen felt a constant assurance that she was doing the will of God, and great peace filled her heart as she saw the courage that her message brought to the faithful ones who had suffered such disappointment. HMes 37.4

As Ellen Harmon spoke in the meetinghouse, a young man named Hazen Foss waited at the door to listen. He would not come in, but he plainly heard her clear, strong voice as she told of what God had shown her of the journeys of the Advent believers. HMes 37.5

The man at the door listened closely to her message. He was greatly disturbed. Turning to one of those who stood beside him, he said, “The vision Ellen is relating is as near like what was shown to me as two persons could relate the same thing.” HMes 38.1

When Ellen finished speaking, Hazen Foss turned away from the steps of the meetinghouse with a heavy heart. He had rejected God, and the message was not for him. A few months before, while the people were waiting for the Lord to come, God had shown him the same vision. Hazen Foss was a young minister. He was an eloquent speaker, and was well liked by all who knew him. The message “Make known to others what I have revealed to you” was also given to him, but he did not understand the vision, and being of a proud spirit, he refused to tell others what had been shown him. He would not humble himself before the people by telling them the message of God, when he could not explain the meaning. The young minister feared they would not believe him, and this would hurt his influence. HMes 38.2

The vision was shown to him a second time, and he was told that if he refused to give the message, the burden would be taken from him and given to one of the weakest of God’s children, one who would faithfully relate what God would reveal. But still he stubbornly refused to relate what he did not understand. Soon after this, the angel appeared to him a third time. This time the angel only told him that he was released and that the responsibility would be laid upon the weakest of the weak, one who would do God’s bidding. HMes 38.3

This startled the young man. At once he decided to obey God’s will. He called the people together and told them that he had a message for them from heaven. The people crowded together to hear. But when Mr. Foss tried to relate the vision he could not speak a word. It was too late! He stood before the people dumb. HMes 38.4

The morning after Hazen Foss heard Ellen Harmon repeat the same vision that had been taken from him, he met her unexpectedly in the hallway of the house. He spoke to her and said, “Ellen Harmon, I heard you talk last night. I believe the visions are taken from me and given to you. Be faithful in bearing the burden and in relating the testimonies of the Lord, and you will not be forsaken of God. I am a lost man. You are chosen of God. Be faithful in doing your work, and the crown I might have had you will receive.” HMes 39.1

It was immediately after his decision that he would not deliver the message that the first vision was given to Ellen Harmon. Now Mr. Foss had lost his hope in God and was in despair. Never again did he meet with the believers. HMes 39.2