Ellen G. White and the Shut Door Question

In Summation

1. We see from the history of the New Testament church and from the experience of the Adventists in 1844 and onward, that God can lead the minds of His people only as fast as they can grasp truth. And the factors which bring about change are: (a) A clearer understanding of God’s Word; (b) His teachings through inspired messages, given at the time of need; and (c) Experiences and circumstances which have a bearing on the situations. EGWSDQ 46.6

2. That following the disappointment of October 22, 1844, the view was widespread among the Adventists generally, under the leadership of William Miller, that on October 22, 1844, the door was shut, that is, that their work for the world was closed. EGWSDQ 46.7

3. That Ellen White for a short time held the extreme view of the “shut door,” that probation had closed for all the world on October 22. EGWSDQ 47.1

4. That her first vision confirming confidence in the October 22 fulfillment of prophecy was taken by most as support for a close of probation on October 22. To Ellen White, it was God’s rejection of those who had rejected the Advent preaching. At that juncture any message sustaining confidence in the October 22 date would seem to support “shut door” views held. The view of the 144,000 held seeds of a great soul-winning work yet ahead. EGWSDQ 47.2

5. In the summer of 1845, even before the first vision was written out and sent to Enoch Jacobs, Ellen White at Paris, Maine, had made it clear that God had never shown her that salvation was past for those who had not heard and rejected light. EGWSDQ 47.3

6. In the vision at Exeter, Maine, in February, 1845, as reported in Ellen White’s letter to Joseph Bates in July, 1847, she was shown Christ beginning His ministry in the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary, and He would not come until He finished that work and returned from the wedding. This vision convinced some who had given up confidence in the integrity of the fulfillment of prophecy in 1844 that a work did take place at that time, and so just naturally confirmed them in the “shut door.” EGWSDQ 47.4

7. James White in his 1847 “A Word to the little Flock” equates the holding to the “shut door” with the understanding that the “7th month experience” was “the work of God.” Thus there emerges a broadening concept of the term as used by our pioneers. EGWSDQ 47.5

8. In the vision at Dorchester, Massachusetts, November 18, 1848, Ellen White was shown a work before them in publishing that would be like streams of light that “went clear round the world.” There was a great soul-winning work before them. EGWSDQ 48.1

9. In the vision of March 24, 1849, Ellen White was shown that “the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ relating to the shut door could not be separated.” And Brother Stowell of Paris, Maine, who had given up the shut door was established in it by the visions. EGWSDQ 48.2

10. The records of the early days indicate that souls were won from the world during the crucial “shut door era,” 1847-1851, as the result of active evangelistic labors of James and Ellen White and others. EGWSDQ 48.3

11. While James and Ellen White were in advance of most of the Sabbath keeping Adventist pioneer group in an understanding of the work before them, the others moved more slowly, but move they did in response to a better understanding of God’s Word, the influence of the visions given to Ellen White and the developing providence of God. EGWSDQ 48.4

12. Ellen White herself in two statements explains her position on the “shut door,” recognizing that there was a close of probation for those who knowingly rejected light and that she had never indicated that she had been shown in vision or stated orally or in print that probation for all the world closed on October 22, 1844. EGWSDQ 48.5

Washington, D. C. EGWSDQ 48.6

November 10, 1971 EGWSDQ 48.7

Revised May 9, 1982. EGWSDQ 48.8