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The Great Visions of Ellen G. White

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The Second Interview

On Sunday evening, August 15, Davis met again with the prophetess at her home at Cooranbong. After she retired that night Davis’s case was opened more fully to her, and at 3:00 a.m. she started a long letter to him that was not completed until several days later. GVEGW 112.6

Three main problems were raised in this letter: GVEGW 112.7

1. Demon Possession: Before they parted Sunday evening, Mrs. White prayed that Davis “might be delivered from the power of satanic agencies that were determined to hold control over you until they should bring you down to their own lowest depths. I advised you to open everything to Elder [A. G.] Daniells and our leading brethren, and solicit their prayers in your behalf, that Satan might be rebuked. GVEGW 112.8

“You answered me that you had not been troubled with the temptations you had when canvassing, that since you had been circulating the petitions you had been free from these horrible temptations. But when we were bowed before God I could see you surrounded with demons, all ready to take you under their control and lead you wherever they chose.... GVEGW 113.1

“You cannot break this spell. You have not yet broken it.” 18 GVEGW 113.2

The next night she had another dream, and added to her letter: “You are not free from Satan’s power to do even the things you purpose to do.” 19 GVEGW 113.3

Finally she concluded the letter by stating, “You are under the control of an unclean spirit.” “There is only one hope for you.... If you determine to break the power of satanic agencies that is upon you, present your case before the servants of God, humble your heart before God, and ask them to pray for you that God will have mercy upon you.” 20 GVEGW 113.4

2. Debts: Generous soul that she was, Mrs. White stated in her letter that she was about to enclose some money to help Davis ease his debt situation, whereupon the Holy Spirit immediately and emphatically rejected this large-hearted response: GVEGW 113.5

“The Spirit of the Lord teaches me that as you now are, this would be using the Lord’s money to hurt yourself and other souls.... To trust you with money [at this time] would be to put it into a bag with holes [Haggai 1:6], and you would be no more relieved than before you received it.” 21 GVEGW 113.6

She concluded this section with practical advice on how he might extricate himself from this large burden of debt. GVEGW 113.7

3. Immorality: There is just the hint of reference to marital infidelity on Davis’ part in this interesting letter. She wrote, somewhat obliquely: “You have vile thoughts, and have corrupted your ways before God.... Your course is immoral. You are bringing disgrace upon the cause of truth. Whatever may have been your past course of action, you have not been converted to the mind and character of purity and cleanness and truthfulness before God.... You have brought moral corruption upon souls. You are a dangerous man to be left to yourself anywhere.” 22 GVEGW 113.8