Ellen White: Woman of Vision

“The Spirit Of Prophecy”—Volume 4

The first three volumes in the series had been published before James White's death in 1881. It was some time after his death before Ellen recovered sufficiently to settle down to a consistent program of book publication. WV 267.8

Weighing heavily on her mind was Volume 4 of The Spirit of Prophecy series—The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels—dealing with the post-Christian Era from the destruction of Jerusalem to the new earth. WV 268.1

James and Ellen had hoped that the closing book in the series would be in the field without too much delay, but during the last two years of his life she could do little with it. WV 268.2

In an endeavor to keep the volumes close to the 400-page mark, volume 3 was held to 392 pages. This cut the story off in the midst of Paul's ministry, leaving him in Thessalonica. It was her plan to begin volume 4 at this point, and she continued writing five more chapters on this basis. But God had other plans; she was instructed through vision to adopt the format now seen in The Great Controversy. The fourth volume was to begin with the account of the destruction of Jerusalem. She followed this instruction. The five unused chapters on New Testament history were included in the second printing of volume 3, even though it made a book of 442 pages. WV 268.3