The Testimony of Jesus

“An Unreasonable Conjecture

“In another passage from the book A Word to the Little Flock, I speak of scenes upon the new earth, and state that I there saw holy men of old, ‘Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Daniel and many like them.’ Because I speak of having seen these men, our opponents conjecture that I then believed in the immortality of the soul and that having since changed my views upon this point, I found it necessary to suppress that passage. They are as near the truth here as in other conjectures. TOJ 96.5

“In the year 1844 I accepted the doctrine we now hold, concerning the nonimmortality of the soul, as may be seen by reference to Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 170, 171 [1880 ed. See also 1915 ed. p. 49; Testimonies for the Church 1:39, 40], and I have never, by voice or pen, advocated any other. Had we suppressed this passage on account of its teaching the immortality of the soul, we would have found it necessary to suppress other passages. TOJ 97.1

“In relating my first vision, page 13 of Early Writings [1882 ed., present edition, 17], I speak of having seen brethren who had but a short time previous fallen asleep in Jesus, and on page 14 [present ed., pp. 18, 19] I state that I was shown a great company who had suffered martyrdom for their faith. TOJ 97.2

“The immortality of the soul is no more taught in the ‘suppressed’ passage than in the two last cited. TOJ 97.3

“The fact in the case is, that in these visions I was carried forward to the time when the resurrected saints shall be gathered into the kingdom of God. In the same manner the judgment, the second coming of Christ, the establishment of the saints upon the new earth have been presented before me. Does any one suppose that these scenes have yet transpired? My adversaries show the spirit by which they are actuated in thus accusing me of deception on the strength of a mere ‘conjecture.’ TOJ 97.4