Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Particular Kind of Revivals and Reformations

She goes on to show the kind of revivals and reformations that were being carried on by such ministers who were given over “to strong delusions.” She declares that their converts, who saw and felt such strange stirrings in their revival meetings, “thought it was the Holy Ghost.” Repeatedly in this vision Mrs. White uses the word “deceive” or “deception.” Those who had come under the control of Satan, very specifically as an outgrowth of the “mysterious rapping,” and those who were using “mesmerism to gain adherents,” are described not only as deceiving these adherents but as seeking to deceive “the saints.” EGWC 224.4

Now, says Mrs. White, in further warning: EGWC 225.1

“I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders, and false reformations would increase, and spread. The reformations that were shown me, were not reformations from error to truth; but from bad to worse; for those who professed a change of heart, had only wrapt about them a religious garb, which covered up the iniquity of a wicked heart. Some appeared to have been really converted, so as to deceive God’s people; but if their hearts could be seen, they would appear as black as ever.” EGWC 225.2

Surely the context makes clear the true meaning of this key phrase of Mrs. White’s critics: “Some appeared to have been really converted, so as to deceive God’s people.” This vision is not discussing reformations or revivals in the abstract. She is not talking about Finney or any other man whom God has used in greater or less degree. She speaks of certain “reformations that were shown me.” These words convey a vastly different thought than Mrs. White’s critics imply. They would have her say that she saw that all reformations, all revivals, anywhere in the land, no matter who conducted them, “were not reformations from error to truth; but from bad to worse.” EGWC 225.3

But Mrs. White did not say this. What she did say was in a certain context. We have given the whole of that context. The conclusion is clear that she was talking about certain kinds of reformations that were definitely of Satan. Obviously, if “God’s people” concluded that the converts of such reformations were true converts, they would most surely be deceived into thinking that the power of Satan was the great power of God, and would be led into the snare of Spiritism. EGWC 225.4

This vision is clearly a warning against Spiritism, a warning, furthermore, “that the mysterious signs and wonders, and false reformations would increase, and spread.” In other words, there was great need for God’s people to be on their guard increasingly in the days that lay ahead. EGWC 225.5