Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Mrs. White Sets Forth No New Doctrine

It is in the setting of all these scriptures that we can rightly evaluate the statements made by Mrs. White that certain people sinned away their day of grace in 1844. She is setting forth no new doctrine. True, she is making an application of the doctrine to a particular time and situation. She does it on the strength of Scriptural analogy and of the application to that particular time of certain passages of Scripture. Why should it seem incredible that at a particular moment in the Christian Era some should sin away their day of grace, when the Bible record is clear that on numerous occasions in ancient times men did so? EGWC 210.3

The critics will probably agree to this statement of the matter, but will add immediately that Mrs. White taught that all men had sinned away their day of grace, and that this cannot be true because probation does not close for all the world until the final fiat of Revelation 22:11, 12 goes forth. Thus the issue is clearly drawn. The charge is that she taught that probation closed for all the world in 1844. She says she did not. Of course if the critics were dealing with a Bible prophet, they would readily accept his interpretation of his visions, even though the apparent meaning of his visions might seem to be different. But in dealing with Mrs. White, they insist that they know better what she meant than she did herself. To them, this seems entirely consistent! At least it is the only way by which they can build a case against her. EGWC 210.4