Charismatic Experiences In Early Seventh-day Adventist History

Why This Reprint

In her message to General Conference leaders, read at the session of 1893, Ellen G. White pointed up the importance of sacred history. “We have nothing to fear for the future,” she said, “except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”—Life Sketches, p. 196. CEESDAH 2.1

The 12 articles that appear in this reprint were written as the result of a deep conviction on the part of church leaders and the author that current events in the religious world—particularly the neopentecostal or charismatic movement—can be evaluated properly only in the light of God’s Word and the lessons of ancient and modern sacred history. The articles were written originally for the Review and Herald, the general church paper of Seventh-day Adventists, and were published in three groupings during 1972 and 1973. CEESDAH 2.2

First to appear was a series of three articles entitled “The Ralph Mackin Story.” These articles provide interesting and helpful guidelines by which to evaluate the glossolalia feature of the contemporary charismatic movement, for speaking in tongues was a feature of the 1908 Mackin experience. Much may be learned from observing the way in which Ellen White related to this situation. She listened carefully as the Mackins told their story, then analyzed the various phases of their experience. The vision given to her a few days after her conversations with the Mackins and the counsel she wrote to this couple and sent out to the churches are included in these articles. CEESDAH 2.3

Next was a seven-article series on ecstatic experiences in early Seventh-day Adventist history. Four tongues experiences were reviewed, and careful attention was given to the warnings and guiding counsels of 1850 that set the course in relationship to what Ellen White referred to as “spiritual exercises.” The series concluded with counsels that clearly establish the criteria by which to judge all such experiences. CEESDAH 2.4

The third group was a two-article series presenting two notable experiences in which there were deep movings of the Spirit of the Lord, but not altogether fully understood or accepted, and labeled by some as fanaticism. This series included cautions against turning away lightly from sound evidence of the work of the Spirit of God. CEESDAH 2.5

Church leaders felt that all Seventh-day Adventists should have the 12 articles readily available, so that in the light of denominational history they could judge the validity of various types of contemporary religious exercises. This reprint offers these materials in convenient and inexpensive form for wide distribution. CEESDAH 2.6

Kenneth H. Wood
Editor, Review And Herald
Washington, D.C.