Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Various Writers Cited

In the light of these reasons it is easy to see how different writers among us might appear to be expressing divergent views, or how even the same writer might appear to express contradictory views regarding Babylon. If the discussion dealt with the broad question of what constitutes Babylon, a Seventh-day Adventist writer would certainly speak of Rome as prominent. But if the writer had in his mind the historic controversy that had been carried on for decades, both with Protestants in general and other Adventist bodies in particular, as to the meaning of Babylon and its fall, he would almost certainly declare that the revelator, in chapter 14:8, is not only not speaking particularly of Rome, but rather is speaking solely of Protestantism. EGWC 327.6

It is this fact that explains the wording, not only of Mrs. White’s statement in The Great Controversy, but that of other of our denominational writers through the years. The apparent contradictions prove to be merely illustrations of how misunderstanding can arise when a special emphasis is placed on one aspect of a truth. Take this statement by J. N. Andrews in 1851. After quoting Revelation 14:8, he says: EGWC 328.1

“This angel follows or comes after the judgment hour cry. That such a message has been given, all are aware who have in any manner heeded the mighty work of God through the land.... EGWC 328.2

“That a work worthy of being noted as the fulfillment of prophecy, could ever be accomplished by calling the people of God out of Rome, no one can seriously pretend.”—The Review and Herald, May 19, 1851, p. 81. EGWC 328.3

Note how emphatically he excludes Rome from his thinking as he comments on Revelation 14:8. But listen to his words in the immediately following paragraph: EGWC 328.4

“We regard Babylon as the professed church united with the kingdoms of the world. In other words, ‘Babylon is the apostate churches.’—We cannot restrict the term to the Papal church, for it evidently includes all those religious bodies which have become corrupt like the ‘mother of harlots.’” EGWC 328.5