Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

Development of Sanctuary Truth

Another striking illustration of the influence of the Spirit of prophecy in the development of Seventh-day Adventist doctrine, is found in the way in which the sanctuary truth came to us. This vitally important doctrine was also developed from earnest Bible study, and confirmed by revelation. Here is the story drawn from the documents of the times: EGWMR 36.10

1. Light First Perceived By Hiram Edson.—The morning after the disappointment, in western New York, Hiram Edson said: EGWMR 36.11

“I saw distinctly and clearly that instead of our High Priest coming out of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the end of the 2300 days, He, for the first time, entered on that day into the second apartment of that sanctuary, and that He had a work to perform in the most holy place before coming to the earth; that He came to the marriage, or, in other words, to the Ancient of days, to receive a kingdom, dominion, and glory; and that we must wait for His return from the wedding.”—Review and Herald, June 23, 1921, p. 5, col. 1. (Hiram Edson autograph statement, in Advent Source Collection.) EGWMR 36.12

2. Joint Investigation Of Scripture by Hiram Edson, Doctor Hahn, and O. R. L. Crosier followed. The group were led to the conclusion that the two phases of ministry in the earthly sanctuary service were a type of Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. EGWMR 36.13

Therefore, events which were to come to pass, beginning October 22, 1844, were events taking place in heaven. This investigation extended over a period of months. EGWMR 36.14

3. Publication Of Conclusions From Bible Study.—Feeling that they had light helpful to the disappointed Adventists, Edson, Crosier, and Hahn published their conclusions in the Day-Dawn (Canandaigua, New York) in the winter of 1845-46. Arrangements were also made for printing a more comprehensive article in the Day-Star (Cincinnati, Ohio), which appeared as an “Extra,” dated February 7, 1846, under the title, “The Law of Moses.” This conclusively written article, which set forth the sanctuary truth from the Scriptural evidence, reached many Adventists. EGWMR 36.15

4. Confirmed By Revelation EGWMR 37.1

a. “About the middle of February, 1845” (E. G. White Letter, July 13, 1847, Record Book I, p. 2), Ellen Harmon, in Exeter, Maine, was given “a view of Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going to the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom.”—Id., p. 2a. The full significance of Christ’s ministry, and its transfer in 1844 to the most holy place, was not at the time comprehended by her. “Previous to this I had no light on the coming of the Bridegroom.”—Ibid. “I did not hear a lecture or a word in any way relating to the Bridegroom’s going to the holiest.”—Ibid. (See Early Writings, 54-56.) EGWMR 37.2

b. The January 24, 1846, issue of the Day-Star contained the first vision of Ellen Harmon, bringing to the attention of the Adventist readers the fact that God was communicating to the people of earth through visions. EGWMR 37.3

c. The February 7 issue of the Day-Star Extra presented the Crosier article on the sanctuary in heaven. EGWMR 37.4

d. The March 14 issue carried a second Ellen Harmon communication, dated February 15, which presented her view, relating to Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as given “one year ago this month.” EGWMR 37.5

“I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and did sit... I saw a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire. Angels were all about the chariot as it came where Jesus was; He stepped into it and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. Then I beheld Jesus, as He was before the Father a great high priest.”—The Day-Star, March 14, 1846. (Early Writings, 55.) EGWMR 37.6

Thus was ratified by vision this essential high point of the sanctuary truth which had been set forth on the basis of Scriptural evidence by Bible students, entirely unknown to Ellen Harmon. Official checking of mail schedules of the times indicates that her communication was penned and mailed before she could have seen the Crosier article in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. Soon there was still further specific confirmation by revelation. We quote from a letter to Eli Curtis, April 24, 1847: EGWMR 37.7

“The Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light on the cleansing of the sanctuary, etc., and that it was His will that Brother C. should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord to recommend that Extra to every saint.”—E. G. White, A Word to the Little Flock, 12. EGWMR 37.8

Thus in this indisputable manner the important sanctuary truth came to us just as did the Sabbath truth, first as the result of diligent Bible study, then attested by revelation. There could be no question in the minds of our pioneers with respect to the validity of this pivotal doctrine. It is of interest to note that the essential parts of the Crosier article were republished a number of times by the Sabbathkeeping Adventists as the best presentation available on the sanctuary question, even after Crosier had left the Sabbatarians and repudiated the sanctuary and the Sabbath truths. EGWMR 37.9