101 Questions on the Sanctuary and on Ellen White

61. Time to Begin the Sabbath

Here is Uriah Smith’s explanation of what happened: QSEW 54.6

“Mrs. white has in two visions been shown something in regard to the time of the commencement of the Sabbath. The first was as early as 1847, at Topsham, Maine. In that vision she was shown that to commence the Sabbath at sunrise was wrong. She then heard an angel repeat these words, ‘From even unto even shall you celebrate your Sabbaths.’ Brother Bates was present, and succeeded in satisfying all present that ‘even’ was six o’clock. Mark this: The vision at Topsham did not teach the six o’clock time. It only corrected sunrise time.” QSEW 54.7

“In the autumn of 1855 Elder J. N. Andrews called on me at Battle Creek, on his way to Iowa, and set before me the Scriptural reasons for commencing the Sabbath at sunset. He had written a clear article upon the subject which he left with me, and which appeared in the Review for December 4, 1855. This article, however, before it appeared in the Review, was read at the Conference at Battle Creek about that time. At the close of the conference ... Mrs. White had a vision, one item of which was that sunset time was correct. This settled the matter with Brother Bates and others, and general harmony has since prevailed among us upon this point.”—The Review and Herald, February 25, 1868, Page 168. QSEW 55.1

Ellen White followed the example of Joseph Bates between 1847 and 1855 in keeping the Sabbath from six to six. After concerted Bible study and her 1855 vision she kept the Sabbath from sunset to sunset. It can readily be seen that she grew in her understanding of the true meaning of Scripture. It can also be seen that her two visions relating to the beginning of the Sabbath were in perfect harmony with each other. (See Testimonies for the Church 1:116.) QSEW 55.2