Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Bible Provides Parallel to Adventist Experience

We think it is not unreasonable to see in all this a parallel to the experience of Mrs. White and her associates. We believe that a wise providence overruled in the matter of their preaching. There was literally only a small handful of them. They were poor and scattered and recovering from a bewildering disappointment. If God had suddenly and immediately opened before their eyes the full blazing light of a world task, it might not only have blinded them but discouraged them completely. They had more than they could do traveling to their own lost sheep of the house of Israel, their fellow Adventists with whom they had much in common in prophetic beliefs. EGWC 236.3

Furthermore, they needed to have their eyes more fully opened, and their minds established on the distinctive doctrines that they at first saw dimly in outline, before they could carry on a strong evangelistic program in the world. God had to open their eyes even as he opened the eyes of the disciples. Then, too, who would have listened either to Mrs. White or her associates immediately after 1844? You cannot make much headway with people who ridicule you. The evidence is too clear for debate that both Sabbathkeeping and first-day Adventists rather uniformly met with bitter ridicule. EGWC 236.4

We are aware that Himes and Miller and others said, early in 1845, that there were openings on every side, and that they should press in and preach to all. The record of the years can speak for itself. Those openings must not have been very productive, for the membership of the main body of Adventist people did not grow; it dwindled sadly with the years. What else could it do but dwindle, when those who were preaching kept setting new dates all the while, with resultant disillusionment and doubt in the minds of most hearers? How much better it would have been if they had waited until they had had a sure message. EGWC 236.5