Ellen G. White and Her Critics

James White and Time Setting

And now what of James White and the theory? What is the evidence submitted to prove that he thus believed? None! EGWC 263.5

As already stated in this chapter, the one main publication of the early Sabbathkeeping Adventists, The Present Truth—renamed shortly The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald—contained no article from Bates or anyone else advocating the seven-year theory prior to the printing of Bates’s tract in 1850. Attention was called to this fact because it provided strong presumptive evidence that the theory was not invented before 1850. Now we wish to add that no issue of the Review and Herald, after the publication of Bates’s 1850 tract, contains any article advocating the theory. Yet James White, who is alleged to have believed the theory, was the editor! And the theory dealt with the most momentous theme imaginable! Not only did he not write a line in support of it; he did not admit to the columns of the paper any article supporting it. And remember, these Sabbathkeeping Adventists had only this one journal that could rightly be described as the exponent of whatever collective views the group held. A tract published by an individual among them might, or might not, represent the views of others. EGWC 263.6

James White made one definite statement on the theory, in the The Review and Herald, August 19, 1851. His editorial, entitled “Our Present Work,” is long, and is devoted particularly to a discussion of “The Time,” as the editor says in a subhead introduction. This phrase, “The Time,” has a distinctive quality in early Adventist literature, and means, “The time element in relation to the doctrine of the second advent of Christ.” Here is how he opens his discussion under that subhead: EGWC 264.1

“It is well known that some of the brethren have been teaching that the great work of salvation for the remnant, through the intercession of our Great High Priest, would close in seven years from the termination of the 2300 days, in the autumn of 1844. Some who have thus taught we esteem very highly, and love ‘fervently’ as brethren, and we feel that it becomes us to be slow to say anything to hurt their feelings; yet we cannot refrain from giving some reasons why we do not receive the time.”—Page 13. EGWC 264.2