The Great Visions of Ellen G. White

Chapter 5—The Great Controversy Vision “The Theme” March 14, 1858

Are you sufficiently familiar with the writings of Ellen White that if asked which is your favorite book you would have a ready answer? For many Seventh-day Adventists, the number one favorite would probably be Steps to Christ, followed closely perhaps by The Desire of Ages. GVEGW 62.1

Which of all her writings would Mrs. White herself choose? She never gave a direct answer, but concerning The Great Controversy she did make two revealing statements. In a 1911 letter to Francis M. Wilcox, several months after he assumed the editorship of the Review and Herald, Ellen wrote, “The book The Great Controversy I appreciate above silver or gold, and I greatly desire that it shall come before the people.” ¹ GVEGW 62.2

In 1905, six years earlier, she had declared to Drs. Daniel and Lauretta Kress, then serving in Australia and New Zealand, “I am more anxious to see a wide circulation for this book than for any others I have written.” ² GVEGW 62.3

One instinctively wonders, Why this book? GVEGW 62.4

In various statements penned between 1890 and 1911 she mentioned various reasons for her preference: GVEGW 62.5

• “While writing the manuscript ... I was often conscious of the presence of the angels of God” ³; and those same “angels of God would prepare the way for these books in the hearts of the people.” ⁴ GVEGW 62.6

• “In The Great Controversy, the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books,” ⁵ and “these books contain God’s direct appeal to the people.... They are the voice of God speaking to His people and they will have an influence upon minds that other books do not have.” ⁶ GVEGW 62.7

• She deemed this book “especially adapted to those who have newly come to the faith, that they may be established in the truth.” ⁷ GVEGW 63.1

• “The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God, upon the tables of stone, which are now in the ark.” ⁸ GVEGW 63.2

• “The Lord has declared that these books are to be scattered throughout the world.” ⁹ GVEGW 63.3

One looks in vain among her writings, however, to find another deeply emotional reason, perhaps withheld because of self-consciousness: Because this book very nearly cost her her life—literally! The story of the background circumstances of this vision is almost as exciting as the far-reaching content of the vision itself. GVEGW 63.4