Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

The Place of History

That the reader may understand the principles of the conflict between good and evil, and clearly understand the “fast-approaching struggle of the future,” certain portions of The Great Controversy are mainly historical in nature; yet Mrs. White did not write as a historian. Moreover, in all her writings, the details of history were always subordinated to the great theme of the conflict. EGWMR 57.11

This is true not only of the original 219-page edition of The Great Controversy issued in 1858, but in the same theme as it was greatly expanded in the later books. Even where the facts of the Bible or secular history are introduced, there is always a characteristic background of the invisible, contending forces of good and evil, such as no other writer has ever attempted. Her view of the place of history as exemplified in her own writings, is well expressed in the following words: EGWMR 57.12

“In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside. and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.”—Prophets and Kings, 499, 500. EGWMR 58.1

“We are to see in history the fulfillment of prophecy, to study the workings of Providence in the great reformatory movements, and to understand the progress of events in the marshaling of the nations for the final conflict in the great controversy.”—Ministry of Healing, 449. EGWMR 58.2

Having received by revelation the great scenes of the conflict from its inception to its close, it was but natural that Mrs. White should be stirred to a deep interest in the study of historical writings covering the eras of the past that had been presented to her in vision. EGWMR 58.3

When W. C. White was a mere boy, he heard Mrs. White read D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation to his father. She read to him on Sabbath afternoons, and sometimes in the evening. She also read from other histories of the Reformation. Her reading helped her to locate and identify many of the events and movements presented to her in vision. EGWMR 58.4

In connection with the writing out of these views of the events of ancient and modern history, and especially the history of the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, she sometimes made use of good and clear historical statements to help make plain to the reader the things which she was endeavoring to present. ^* Also, by thus corroborating with indisputable historical evidence that which had been revealed to her, she would win the confidence of the general reader in the truths she was presenting. EGWMR 58.5