The Great Visions of Ellen G. White

Vision of 1850

Seventeen months to the day after her first vision on modern spiritualism (March 24, 1849), Ellen White received a second, on August 24, 1850. It reiterated the three points of the earlier vision on spiritualism (satanic origin, a quick-spreading phenomenon, and metamorphosis to a religion), and added four new elements: GVEGW 54.4

1. No criticism would be brooked by the new religion: “I saw that soon it would be considered blasphemy to speak against the rapping.” ³⁶ In 1948 the Centennial Book of Modern Spiritualism in America declared: GVEGW 54.5

“Neither priest nor press should uncharitably speak of, or touch this holy word Spiritualism, only with clean hands and pure hearts; and Spiritualists themselves should honor their blessed gospel of immortality.” ³⁷ GVEGW 54.6

2. Increase of satanic miracles: “I saw ... that Satan’s power would increase and some of his devoted followers would have power to work miracles, and even to bring down fire from heaven in the sight of men.” ³⁸ GVEGW 54.7

Even the staid, conservative Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church is impressed: GVEGW 54.8

“After ruling out conscious or unconscious fraud, of which almost all famous mediums have been convicted, and phenomena susceptible of a natural explanation, e.g., by the abnormal qualities of the medium, there remains a certain number of striking cases such as the foreseeing of free actions and otherwise incalculable events.” ³⁹ GVEGW 54.9

In the Encyclopedia Americana the late Dr. Joseph B. Rhine (1895-1980), founder/director of Duke University’s respected Institute for Parapsychology, responded also in serious tone: “The question raised by Spiritualism must be faced as one of science’s greatest problems.” ⁴⁰ GVEGW 55.1

3. Jesus’ miracles credited to spiritualism: Said Ellen further: GVEGW 55.2

“I was shown that by the rapping and mesmerism these modern magicians would yet account for all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that many would believe that all the mighty works of the Son of God when on earth were accomplished by this same power.” ⁴¹ GVEGW 55.3

Again, hear from the Centennial Book of Modern Spiritualism in America: GVEGW 55.4

“A medium foretold the birth of Jesus, whose brief life on earth was filled with the performance of many so-called miracles which in reality were spiritual phenomena.” ⁴² GVEGW 55.5

4. Finally, Ellen White made a prediction that, if not already fulfilled, will undoubtedly come to fruition in the comparatively near future: GVEGW 55.6

“I was pointed back to the time of Moses and saw the signs and wonders which God wrought through him before Pharaoh, most of which were imitated by the magicians of Egypt; and that just before the final deliverance of the saints, God would work powerfully for His people, and these modern magicians would be permitted to imitate the work of God.” ⁴³ GVEGW 55.7