Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862 (vol. 1)

The Vision Answered Many Pressing Questions

What a glorious and comprehensive revelation! 1BIO 59.1

As the five women were praying that December morning in South Portland, one question was uppermost in their minds: Was the experience through which they had just passed in 1844 one in which God led? Was prophecy fulfilled on October 22, or was their experience a delusion without sound scriptural support and without the leadings of the Spirit of God? In their hearts they cried out, “Why, oh, why were we disappointed?” 1BIO 59.2

The vision answered the first question. God had led them in their past experience. The Midnight Cry was in the providence of God. It was pictured as “light”—light behind them that shone all about the path. Also she was shown that they were at the beginning of a path, rather than at the end of it, as they had supposed. The vision gave assurance that if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus they would safely enter upon the heavenly reward. And they were given inklings of what the reward was like. 1BIO 59.3

As to the second question, “Why were they disappointed?”—this could and would be answered from Bible study. How gracious of the Lord to give light in that dark and discouraging hour! 1BIO 59.4