The Heaviest Price
Speaking of the price of spiritual leadership, the very fact that Mrs. White declared that God had given to her visions was perhaps the heaviest price she had to pay. At the beginning of this book we referred briefly to the spiritual uncertainty through which even loyal members of the Advent Movement passed as they considered accepting Mrs. White’s claim that God had given to her visions. Their very questioning was inevitably a source of spiritual distress to Mrs. White. But it was as nothing compared to the questioning, yes, and the ridicule, that came from critical onlookers. To them the very idea that she claimed to have the gift of the Spirit of prophecy was enough to brand her either as a fraudulent, crafty deceiver, or a weak-minded, deluded fanatic. In other words, the claim in itself was a condemnation.
WBEGW 116.2
The reasoning of the critical onlookers might be summed up thus: The world has ever been troubled with false prophets, people who for one reason or another have said strange things and led men astray. Various patently false movements have claimed to have a prophet as a leader. Therefore the Seventh-day Adventist Church that Mrs. White helped to create is simply one more exhibit of a false religious movement, and she, of a false prophet.
WBEGW 117.1
But such reasoning, though plausible, has the fatal defect of failing to take note of certain scriptural facts. First: Through the long ages of Biblical times, the distinguishing mark of God’s true movement in the world was the presence of prophets who spoke for God and led His people. Second: The gift of prophecy is one of the gifts of the Spirit for the church in post-Biblical days. (See 1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 4:11-13.) Third: The Bible specifically declares that the gift of the Spirit of prophecy is to be a distinguishing mark of the “remnant” people of God when Satan, the “dragon,” is making his last attempts to overthrow God’s truth in the earth. (See Revelation 12:17; 19:10.)
WBEGW 117.2
We did not have to wait for the critical-minded to tell us that the world has ever been troubled with false prophets. Bible writers have related this sorry fact many times and have warned against the danger of listening to such prophets. But do they hasten on to declare that all who claim the prophetic gift are frauds? No. How could they without branding themselves frauds? On the contrary, the apostle John declared, “Try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). And the mighty evangelist Paul, who more than once raised his voice against impostors, emphatically admonished the church, “Despise not prophesyings” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).
WBEGW 117.3
From these and many other passages of Scripture we rightly conclude that the prophetic gift belongs in the true church of God, even to the end of time. And we believe that when we “try the spirits” we may rightly conclude that Mrs. White proves to be, not a fraud, but someone who is in the true prophetic succession.
WBEGW 118.1
657
WBEGW
Why I Believe in Mrs. E. G. White
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White","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0000_eng_f_by_francis_d_nichol_657_2.mp3#duration=14&size=287603"},{"para_id":"657.9","title":"Chapter One\u2014An Unusual People","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0001_eng_f_chapter_one_an_unusual_people_657_9.mp3#duration=165&size=1190074"},{"para_id":"657.17","title":"The Prime Question","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0002_eng_f_the_prime_question_657_17.mp3#duration=359&size=2355943"},{"para_id":"657.31","title":"Background of Seventh-day Adventists","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0003_eng_f_background_of_seventh_day_adventists_657_31.mp3#duration=199&size=1397710"},{"para_id":"657.41","title":"Chapter Two\u2014Truth, Stranger Than Fiction","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0004_eng_f_chapter_two_truth_stranger_than_fiction_657_41.mp3#duration=216&size=1497086"},{"para_id":"657.50","title":"Testimony of Captain Bates","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0005_eng_f_testimony_of_captain_bates_657_50.mp3#duration=240&size=1641938"},{"para_id":"657.60","title":"No Mass Movement Toward Mrs. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0006_eng_f_no_mass_movement_toward_mrs_white_657_60.mp3#duration=143&size=1055940"},{"para_id":"657.65","title":"A Significant Bible Prophecy","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0007_eng_f_a_significant_bible_prophecy_657_65.mp3#duration=174&size=1245669"},{"para_id":"657.72","title":"A Frank Admission","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0008_eng_f_a_frank_admission_657_72.mp3#duration=203&size=1421873"},{"para_id":"657.83","title":"Chapter Three\u2014Saved, From the Folly of Time Setting","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0009_eng_f_chapter_three_saved_from_the_folly_of_time_setting_657_83.mp3#duration=169&size=1213095"},{"para_id":"657.90","title":"A Pertinent Question","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0010_eng_f_a_pertinent_question_657_90.mp3#duration=569&size=3613088"},{"para_id":"657.115","title":"Chapter Four\u2014Streams of Light Around the World","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0011_eng_f_chapter_four_streams_of_light_around_the_world_657_115.mp3#duration=110&size=861190"},{"para_id":"657.121","title":"A Hard Question","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0012_eng_f_a_hard_question_657_121.mp3#duration=92&size=750611"},{"para_id":"657.124","title":"First Journal Published","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0013_eng_f_first_journal_published_657_124.mp3#duration=190&size=1342434"},{"para_id":"657.132","title":"Only One Answer","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0014_eng_f_only_one_answer_657_132.mp3#duration=82&size=690426"},{"para_id":"657.138","title":"Chapter Five\u2014Saved From the Danger of Disintegration","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0015_eng_f_chapter_five_saved_from_the_danger_of_disintegration_657_138.mp3#duration=171&size=1228895"},{"para_id":"657.144","title":"Life of Church Threatened","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0016_eng_f_life_of_church_threatened_657_144.mp3#duration=184&size=1304772"},{"para_id":"657.153","title":"Looking Back on a Great Event","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0017_eng_f_looking_back_on_a_great_event_657_153.mp3#duration=224&size=1545394"},{"para_id":"657.166","title":"A Reasonable Conclusion","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0018_eng_f_a_reasonable_conclusion_657_166.mp3#duration=94&size=762689"},{"para_id":"657.170","title":"Chapter Six\u2014Visions on Healthful Living","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0019_eng_f_chapter_six_visions_on_healthful_living_657_170.mp3#duration=103&size=818504"},{"para_id":"657.175","title":"Reformers Arise","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0020_eng_f_reformers_arise_657_175.mp3#duration=192&size=1355434"},{"para_id":"657.183","title":"A Distinctive Position","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0021_eng_f_a_distinctive_position_657_183.mp3#duration=169&size=1215053"},{"para_id":"657.194","title":"Her Selection No Accident","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0022_eng_f_her_selection_no_accident_657_194.mp3#duration=76&size=658885"},{"para_id":"657.197","title":"Chapter Seven\u2014Visions on Healthful Living-Continued","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0023_eng_f_chapter_seven_visions_on_healthful_living_continued_657_197.mp3#duration=123&size=941285"},{"para_id":"657.203","title":"The Poor \u201cGrass Eaters\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0024_eng_f_the_poor_grass_eaters_657_203.mp3#duration=273&size=1838879"},{"para_id":"657.211","title":"Value of Physical Exercise","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0025_eng_f_value_of_physical_exercise_657_211.mp3#duration=100&size=803653"},{"para_id":"657.217","title":"Comments on Cancer","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0026_eng_f_comments_on_cancer_657_217.mp3#duration=159&size=1157592"},{"para_id":"657.224","title":"Tobacco is a Poison","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0027_eng_f_tobacco_is_a_poison_657_224.mp3#duration=236&size=1616113"},{"para_id":"657.239","title":"Chapter Eight\u2014Eminent Testimony on Mrs. White\u2019s Health Teachings","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0028_eng_f_chapter_eight_eminent_testimony_on_mrs_white_s_health_teachings_657_239.mp3#duration=320&size=2123878"},{"para_id":"657.255","title":"A University Professor Speaks","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0029_eng_f_a_university_professor_speaks_657_255.mp3#duration=147&size=1084831"},{"para_id":"657.260","title":"Summary by Dr. McCay","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0030_eng_f_summary_by_dr_mccay_657_260.mp3#duration=164&size=1186150"},{"para_id":"657.272","title":"Chapter Nine\u2014Schools and Foreign Missions Begin","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0031_eng_f_chapter_nine_schools_and_foreign_missions_begin_657_272.mp3#duration=143&size=1059036"},{"para_id":"657.279","title":"Testimony of Dr. Stratemeyer","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0032_eng_f_testimony_of_dr_stratemeyer_657_279.mp3#duration=215&size=1492528"},{"para_id":"657.290","title":"Adventist Mission Program","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0033_eng_f_adventist_mission_program_657_290.mp3#duration=90&size=740167"},{"para_id":"657.296","title":"The Inspired Challenger","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0034_eng_f_the_inspired_challenger_657_296.mp3#duration=173&size=1238266"},{"para_id":"657.305","title":"Chapter Ten\u2014Reading the Thoughts of Men\u2019s Hearts","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0035_eng_f_chapter_ten_reading_the_thoughts_of_men_s_hearts_657_305.mp3#duration=167&size=1201558"},{"para_id":"657.312","title":"Testimony of Mrs. White\u2019s Translator","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0036_eng_f_testimony_of_mrs_white_s_translator_657_312.mp3#duration=243&size=1659928"},{"para_id":"657.324","title":"Confession of R. S. Donnell","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0037_eng_f_confession_of_r_s_donnell_657_324.mp3#duration=171&size=1225182"},{"para_id":"657.331","title":"W. H. Saxby\u2019s Testimony","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0038_eng_f_w_h_saxby_s_testimony_657_331.mp3#duration=264&size=1784974"},{"para_id":"657.344","title":"Chapter Eleven\u2014Mrs. White\u2019s Personal Life","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0039_eng_f_chapter_eleven_mrs_white_s_personal_life_657_344.mp3#duration=174&size=1242145"},{"para_id":"657.352","title":"Firmly Believed She Had Visions","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0040_eng_f_firmly_believed_she_had_visions_657_352.mp3#duration=181&size=1287004"},{"para_id":"657.362","title":"The Move to Battle Creek","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0041_eng_f_the_move_to_battle_creek_657_362.mp3#duration=246&size=1678253"},{"para_id":"657.374","title":"Her Husband\u2019s Death","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0042_eng_f_her_husband_s_death_657_374.mp3#duration=204&size=1426064"},{"para_id":"657.384","title":"She Visits Australia","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0043_eng_f_she_visits_australia_657_384.mp3#duration=114&size=887854"},{"para_id":"657.392","title":"Chapter Twelve\u2014Mrs. White in Vision","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0044_eng_f_chapter_twelve_mrs_white_in_vision_657_392.mp3#duration=335&size=2209677"},{"para_id":"657.405","title":"Descriptions of Mrs. White in Vision","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0045_eng_f_descriptions_of_mrs_white_in_vision_657_405.mp3#duration=152&size=1114069"},{"para_id":"657.416","title":"Physical Effects","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0046_eng_f_physical_effects_657_416.mp3#duration=94&size=767885"},{"para_id":"657.425","title":"An Eyewitness Speaks","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0047_eng_f_an_eyewitness_speaks_657_425.mp3#duration=303&size=2017220"},{"para_id":"657.436","title":"Significance of Physical Manifestations","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0048_eng_f_significance_of_physical_manifestations_657_436.mp3#duration=63&size=579591"},{"para_id":"657.440","title":"\u201cIn the Night Seasons\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0049_eng_f_in_the_night_seasons_657_440.mp3#duration=164&size=1186486"},{"para_id":"657.448","title":"An Inadequate Cause","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0050_eng_f_an_inadequate_cause_657_448.mp3#duration=175&size=1249705"},{"para_id":"657.455","title":"Chapter Thirteen\u2014Mrs. White Looks Into the Future","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0051_eng_f_chapter_thirteen_mrs_white_looks_into_the_future_657_455.mp3#duration=187&size=1325534"},{"para_id":"657.463","title":"Time-setting Rebukes","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0052_eng_f_time_setting_rebukes_657_463.mp3#duration=82&size=694506"},{"para_id":"657.468","title":"Rise of Spiritism","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0053_eng_f_rise_of_spiritism_657_468.mp3#duration=203&size=1416453"},{"para_id":"657.479","title":"A Critic Comments","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0054_eng_f_a_critic_comments_657_479.mp3#duration=285&size=1911160"},{"para_id":"657.489","title":"A Spectacular Forecast","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0055_eng_f_a_spectacular_forecast_657_489.mp3#duration=265&size=1789892"},{"para_id":"657.502","title":"Chapter Fourteen\u2014Questions Some Adventists Ask","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0056_eng_f_chapter_fourteen_questions_some_adventists_ask_657_502.mp3#duration=89&size=736742"},{"para_id":"657.507","title":"Moses at the Burning Bush","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0057_eng_f_moses_at_the_burning_bush_657_507.mp3#duration=62&size=569860"},{"para_id":"657.509","title":"Why Set Extrascriptural Standards for Her?","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0058_eng_f_why_set_extrascriptural_standards_for_her_657_509.mp3#duration=140&size=1039547"},{"para_id":"657.515","title":"Who Is to Measure Agreement?","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0059_eng_f_who_is_to_measure_agreement_657_515.mp3#duration=155&size=1128919"},{"para_id":"657.523","title":"Alleged Contradictions","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0060_eng_f_alleged_contradictions_657_523.mp3#duration=93&size=757672"},{"para_id":"657.526","title":"The Obvious Moral","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0061_eng_f_the_obvious_moral_657_526.mp3#duration=22&size=334593"},{"para_id":"657.529","title":"Mrs. White and Church Membership","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0062_eng_f_mrs_white_and_church_membership_657_529.mp3#duration=97&size=779938"},{"para_id":"657.532","title":"Mrs. White and Fanatical Excesses","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0063_eng_f_mrs_white_and_fanatical_excesses_657_532.mp3#duration=169&size=1215802"},{"para_id":"657.542","title":"Was Mrs. White a Prophet?","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0064_eng_f_was_mrs_white_a_prophet_657_542.mp3#duration=64&size=582398"},{"para_id":"657.544","title":"Are Her Writings of Current Importance?","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0065_eng_f_are_her_writings_of_current_importance_657_544.mp3#duration=105&size=831354"},{"para_id":"657.549","title":"Does She Give Extrascriptural Counsels?","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0066_eng_f_does_she_give_extrascriptural_counsels_657_549.mp3#duration=104&size=822623"},{"para_id":"657.555","title":"A Specific Situation","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0067_eng_f_a_specific_situation_657_555.mp3#duration=210&size=1461549"},{"para_id":"657.565","title":"Reasons for Questions","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0068_eng_f_reasons_for_questions_657_565.mp3#duration=116&size=898419"},{"para_id":"657.571","title":"Chapter Fifteen\u2014The Price of Spiritual Leadership","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0069_eng_f_chapter_fifteen_the_price_of_spiritual_leadership_657_571.mp3#duration=85&size=710993"},{"para_id":"657.575","title":"Attacks on the Bible","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0070_eng_f_attacks_on_the_bible_657_575.mp3#duration=108&size=846584"},{"para_id":"657.579","title":"A Strange Claim","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0071_eng_f_a_strange_claim_657_579.mp3#duration=119&size=915027"},{"para_id":"657.584","title":"The Heaviest Price","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0072_eng_f_the_heaviest_price_657_584.mp3#duration=184&size=1303827"},{"para_id":"657.595","title":"Chapter Sixteen\u2014Two Typical Objections Considered","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0073_eng_f_chapter_sixteen_two_typical_objections_considered_657_595.mp3#duration=109&size=856067"},{"para_id":"657.601","title":"The Record Is Clear","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0074_eng_f_the_record_is_clear_657_601.mp3#duration=127&size=960669"},{"para_id":"657.610","title":"A Second Objection","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0075_eng_f_a_second_objection_657_610.mp3#duration=315&size=2089770"},{"para_id":"657.625","title":"Chapter Seventeen\u2014Looking Back Over the Record","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0076_eng_f_chapter_seventeen_looking_back_over_the_record_657_625.mp3#duration=413&size=2677067"},{"para_id":"657.644","title":"A Personal Testimony","mp3":"\/mp3\/657\/0077_eng_f_a_personal_testimony_657_644.mp3#duration=86&size=717326"}]