His Messenger

Chapter 24—The Little Lights of God

It was a solemn time in the White home. Many of the workers had been invited to come together at Battle Creek for some important meetings. Now when the time had come for these special meetings, and the ministers and church leaders were all gathered there for the meetings, Mrs. White was ill. HMes 133.1

There was an epidemic of influenza sweeping through the country in December, 1874, and one member after another of the White family had become sick. Mrs. White tenderly nursed each one back to health, but now, worn out with her work, she herself lay gravely ill. HMes 133.2

Mr. White felt that he could not endure to have all these workers be disappointed and not hear the messages of God delivered to them by His messenger, Mrs. White. He decided to call in some of the elders of the church and have special prayer for her recovery. HMes 133.3

What a solemn occasion that was! The sick woman was dressed and brought down from her room into the parlor. She was seated in a large armchair and warmly wrapped in blankets. HMes 133.4

Mr. Waggoner prayed, and then Mr. Smith offered an earnest petition to God. When Mr. White had finished praying, Mrs. White, in a hoarse voice, began to whisper a prayer. Suddenly her voice became clear and musical, and her ringing cry, “Glory to God!” was heard through the whole house. HMes 133.5

The others looked up and saw that she was in vision. Her hands were folded across her breast as she looked earnestly upward. Her mouth was closed, and she did not breathe. HMes 134.1

As she looked upward, a troubled look came over her face. She threw aside her blankets and walked back and forth in the room, wringing her hands. “Dark! Dark! All dark! So dark!” she moaned. She was silent for a few moments and then her face grew bright. “A light! A little light!” she exclaimed. “More light! Much light!” HMes 134.2

In a few minutes Mrs. White went back and took her seat. She drew a long, deep breath, in a moment another, and then another. Then her breathing became natural. She looked at those about her in the room. Mr. White stepped forward and knelt by her chair, for he knew that after a vision everything looked strange to her. HMes 134.3

“Ellen,” he said softly to her, “Ellen, you have been in vision.” HMes 134.4

“Yes,” she answered, and her voice sounded far away, as though she were speaking to someone in another room. HMes 134.5

“Were you shown many things?” her husband asked. HMes 134.6

“Yes,” she said. HMes 134.7

“Would you like to tell us about them now?” he asked. HMes 134.8

“Not now.” HMes 134.9

Those who gathered to pray for her were dismissed and left the house, and Mrs. White went back to her room. HMes 134.10

Mr. White went down to the Review office on business, and was delayed until sundown; then he came hurrying home through the fast-falling snow. He went to the room where Mrs. White was resting. HMes 134.11

“Ellen,” he said, after greeting her, “there is to be an important meeting this evening. Do you wish to go?” “Certainly,” she answered. When she was ready for the meeting she walked with her husband down through the snow to the meetinghouse. There she spoke to the company of people. They were so glad to have her with them, for they had given up all hope of hearing her there. HMes 134.12

Mrs. White had been fully healed in answer to prayer. Her hoarseness was gone, and her voice was strong and clear. HMes 135.1

In the meeting the next evening she told the people of the great work Seventh-day Adventists must do. She told of the vision given to her at the time she was healed, and spoke of the work to be done in foreign fields. She said that she had seen in different parts of the world little companies studying the Bible, finding the promises there of Christ’s return. She had seen little companies beginning to keep the Sabbath without knowing that there were any other Sabbathkeepers in the world. HMes 135.2

She told the workers that Seventh-day Adventists would be sending ministers to these places, and that the work of publishing the truth would be carried on. HMes 135.3

“In vision I saw many printing presses running in many foreign lands, printing periodicals, tracts, and books containing truths regarding the sacredness of the Sabbath and the soon coming of Jesus,” she said. HMes 135.4

“Ellen,” said Mr. White, “can you tell us the names of the countries?” HMes 135.5

Mrs. White hesitated for a moment. “No,” she said, thoughtfully, “I do not know the names. The picture of the places and of the presses is very clear, and if I should ever see them I would recognize them. But I did not hear the names.” Then she added, “Oh, yes, I remember one; the angel said, ‘Australia.’” HMes 135.6

Thus the vision she had had the day before was explained. At first the world was dark, so dark to her, but then she saw the little lights beginning to shine, dimly and few at first, and then brighter and brighter until the whole world was lighted up. The little companies of Sabbathkeepers, the ministers working, the presses printing the word of God—these were the lights. HMes 135.7

A few years later Mrs. White did see some of these very presses printing the message of Jesus’ soon coming. HMes 136.1