Ellen G. White and the Shut Door Question

Exhibit 6—The Shut Door Position of Leaders in the Millerite Movement

by G. I. Butler

Mr. Miller and others believed that the door would be shut a short time before Christ came. In a letter to Elder J. V. Himes, October 6, 1844, he said: “I am strong in the opinion that the next will be the last Lord’s day sinners will ever have in probation. And within ten or fifteen days from that time they will see Him whom they hated and despised to their shame and everlasting contempt.” This was very natural in view of such texts as Revelation 22:11, 12: “He that is unjust let him be unjust still; he which is filthy let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous let him be righteous still; and he that is holy let him be holy still. And behold I come quickly.” No doubt probation will close some little time previous to the appearing of Jesus. EGWSDQ 66.1

When the midnight cry ended and the time passed, they felt that the last great test was reached. This was the universal feeling at the time. Their intense burden for souls had ceased. The satanic spirit around them made the matter still more clear to their minds. After the time passed, Mr. Miller in another letter addressed to Elder Himes says: “We have done our work in warning sinners and in trying to awaken a formal church. God in His providence has shut the door. We can only stir one another up to be patient and to be diligent to make our calling and election sure. We are now living in the time specified in Malachi 3:18 (also Daniel 12:10; Revelation 22:10-12). In this passage we cannot help but see that a little while before Christ should come, there would be a separation between the just and the unjust, between the righteous and the wicked, between those who love His appearing and those who hate it. And never since the days of the apostles has there been such a division line drawn as was drawn about the time of the seventh Jewish month. Since that time they say they have no confidence in us. We have need of patience after we have done the will of God, that we may receive the promise.” EGWSDQ 66.2

In another letter published in the Advent Herald, he says: “I did believe, and must confess that I do now, that I have done my work in warning sinners, and that in the seventh month.” George Needham, another prominent Adventist minister, says in the Voice of Truth, March 19, 1845: “I am and have been convinced since the tenth day of the seventh month that our work for the world and the foolish virgins is done. I must deny that glorious movement as being the work of God, or I can come to no other conclusion. That I can never do. The foolish virgins have gone to the old establishments where they sell oil, and are crying to us to come after them, and the world are with them to buy a little oil, and shall we go to them with the hope of doing them any good? Not lest we die.” EGWSDQ 66.3

J. B. Cook, another prominent Adventist, says in “Advent Testimony“: “If the Advent cause and people be worthy of divine interposition, or this the era to expect the Lord, then we are down through the shut door in that representation of Advent history. My language to many has been, I believe in the shut door just as you have experienced it.” EGWSDQ 67.1

We have given these extracts from prominent Adventists, none of whom were in what we call the Third Angel’s Message. We could quote many others who taught similar sentiments, and who acted a leading part in the ‘44 movement. ¹ There can be no question that for months after the time it was the general sentiment that their work of warning the world was over. They felt so because, 1. They believed the proclamation in the past was a fulfillment of prophecy, a solemn announcement that “the hour of God’s Judgment is come;” the Lord having signally blessed the movement and those who were connected with it. They could not question the truthfulness of this without denying their faith. 2. The attitude assumed by those who rejected the message was bitter and wicked, like those who rejected Christ; which was clear evidence to them that they had rejected the important light and truth. They felt therefore that God had rejected them. 3. Their own position and feelings made the matter still more clear. They had an intense burden of soul before for all classes, and labored incessantly to warn them and save them, pouring out their means lavishly and willing to make any sacrifice to do so. They felt in their souls that it was the Spirit of God that impelled them to do this. Now they felt entirely different. Their burden was gone, and they thought their work was done. Besides, there were none who desired their labor. Under these circumstances, was it strange that they should feel that “the door was shut” as God’s Word said it would be at a certain point? How could they have felt otherwise unless they threw away all their wonderful experience?—The Review and Herald, March 3, 1885. EGWSDQ 67.2