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Ellen G. White and Her Critics

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Unfolding Picture From 1849 Onward

The Good Book declares that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18. All light and understanding do not come immediately. Let us now look at the unfolding picture from 1849 onward for a few years, as the light increased and the slowly crystallizing Seventh-day Adventist movement began to envision its task of preaching a message to all men everywhere. We quote, first, from a long article on the shut door by David Arnold in the The Present Truth, December, 1849. After he gives the history of the Advent movement, in relation to the fulfillment of certain prophecies, he declares: EGWC 599.2

“Therefore, we are brought, by the force of circumstances, and the fulfilment of events, to the irresistible conclusion that, on the tenth day of the seventh month, (Jewish time,) in the autumn of 1844, Christ did close his daily, or continual ministration or mediation in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and shut the door, which no man can open; and opened a door, in the second apartment, or Holiest of all, which no man can shut, (see Revelation 3:7, 8,) and passed within the second vail, bearing before the Father, on the breast-plate of judgment, all for whom he is now acting as intersessor [intercessor]. If this is the position that Christ now occupies, then there is no intercessor in the first apartment; and in vain do misguided souls knock at that door, saying ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us.’ The words of the prophet apply to the fulfilment of this point in the parable. EGWC 599.3

“They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but THEY SHALL NOT FIND HIM—HE HATH WITHDRAWN HIMSELF FROM THEM. EGWC 599.4

“They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children; now shall a month devour them with their portions.—Hosea 5:6, 7. EGWC 599.5

“But, says the objector, does not this leave the present generation, who have passed the line of accountability, since that time without an intercessor or mediator, and leave them destitute of the means of salvation? In reply to this objection, I would remark, that as they were then in a state of INNOCENCY, they were entitled to a record upon the breast-plate of judgment as much as those who had sinned and received pardon; and are therefore subjects of the present intercession of our great high priest. EGWC 600.1

“The professed conversions, through the instrumentality of the different sects, are also urged as positive proof that the door is not shut. I cannot give up the clear fulfilment of prophecy, in our experience, which shows the shut door in the past, for the opinions, fancies and feelings of men, based upon human sympathy and a superstitious reverence for early imbibed views. God’s word is true, though it prove all men liars. As a stream is of the same character as the fountain that sends it forth, (see James 3:11,) and does not rise higher than the fountain, so these professed converts will not rise to a better state than the low standard of the fallen sects; therefore, they are converted to the religion of the various sects, but not to God, and the high and holy standard of the Bible. The Prophet Hosea saw this time; and for ‘our learning’ and guide has written—‘They have dealt treacherously against the Lord; for they have begotten strange children.’“—Volume 1, no. 6, pp. 45, 46. (Emphasis his.) EGWC 600.2