The Standing of Elder Uriah Smith

Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation

I come now to another phase of this question, and that is Ellen White’s attitude toward the book, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. There have been those among us who have endeavored to maintain that the book was inspired. They have based their statement on the words which were penned by one of our early workers. The facts in the case, however, do not sustain the idea that there is inspiration in the work of Elder Smith in the sense in which we think of the inspiration of a prophet. Undoubtedly the angel stood by his side as he penned the important truths for the two books which were later combined into one. Be that as it may, Ellen White ever held the book, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, in the highest esteem. This is seen from the quotations which follow: SUS 6.2

“The light given was that Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, The Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and Prophets would make their way. They contain the very message the people must have, the special light God had given his people. The angels of God would prepare the way for these books in the hearts of the people.”—E. G. White Letter 43, 1899. (Published in The Colporteur Evangelist, 21) SUS 6.3

“I consider that that book (Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation) should go everywhere. It has its place and will do a grand, good work.”—E. G. White Letter 25a, 1889. SUS 6.4

“Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan’s apostasy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now; for through them the truth will reach many minds. Patriarchs and Prophets, Daniel and the Revelation, and The Great Controversy, are now needed as never before. They should be widely circulated because the truths they emphasize will open many blind eyes.”—The Review and Herald, February 16, 1905. (Republished in The Colporteur Evangelist, 21) SUS 6.5

You will observe that these statements were penned from the years 1889 to the year 1905. Ellen White had occasion to write at length in 1899 devoting an entire manuscript to the book, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. This was written from Sunnyside in Australia. We are sending these commendable words to you with this. It was her statement, as it appears in this document, that Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation would do its work as long as probationary time should last that led to a revival of the book and to its current use today. Ellen White places, as you have observed, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, with her books, Patriarchs and Prophets and Great Controversy, as a book which contains the truths for these times. SUS 6.6

Now, we do not understand this to mean that in every minor point presented in Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation Elder Uriah Smith held the only true and correct view. He dealt with the great basic truths in which we all agree and see clearly, and when he took up a verse-by-verse exposition he had to deal with a lot of prophecies on which the denomination had never taken any position, especially as they relate to predicted prophecies. He studied faithfully, he prayed earnestly, he sought counsel of his brethren, and did the best he could in dealing with these points, and the result was a book which has been a great service to this denomination and has led many hundreds of people to the light of the truth. SUS 6.7

I trust that this information will answer the questions which have been raised concerning Elder Smith. SUS 7.1

Ellen G White Estate, Inc.
Washington, D. C.
March, 1962