Ellen White: Rewriting History (Part 2)

by Mike Colburn | Sep 2, 2024 | Adventism, Articles, Ellen G. White | 0 comments

In the November 19, 1992 issue of the Adventist Review, the current SDA Church members were notified of the legitimacy of rewriting Ellen White. On page 8, Paul A. Gordon, secretary of the White Estate, asked:

“Is it legitimate to change, abridge, or simplify Ellen White’s writing? The answer is yes. We can change, abridge, or simplify the words, but we do not have license to change the intended message. Here’s why: Seventh-day Adventists do not hold to verbal inspiration. That means we do not believe that God dictated the words for Ellen White to use.”[1]

After pointing out that Ellen White herself simplified and corrected her writings, Gordon reassured the faithful with the following:

“In the years since Mrs. White’s death in 1915, more than 50 new compilations or editions of Ellen White’s books have been prepared by the E. G. White Estate. In every case — including editions that have been abridged, condensed, or simplified — the intended message has never been lost; only the wording has been changed.”[2]

Perhaps that is the greatest proof Ellen White was not Divinely inspired. The Word of God states: “I the LORD do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Applying Gordon’s logic to the prophet Moses could yield a fascinating fourth commandment that would be at odds with Adventist theology: “Remember to keep one day holy.” But I should digress!

(I’ll share at the end of this article some examples of how her writings have been altered. Apparently, those overseeing her writings, now that she is dead, have taken on the inspired authority of correcting and altering what was supposedly ‘from God.’)

But should any of this really surprise us?

Ellen White was in the business of adjusting and rewriting history. After a decade of failed predictions, the Whites worked hard to erase Ellen’s false prophecies and recast many events as still in the future.

The time of trouble is yet future

(Here are a few quotes that state the time of trouble is in the future. The year of the quote is provided with the quotes)

1894

“We are in the very shadow of the time of trouble which is fast approaching, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.” ^[3]

1906

“The signs of the end are fast fulfilling. The time of trouble is very near us now.” ^[4]

1909

“But we must not unnecessarily arouse prejudice that would close the way against the proclamation of the third angel’s message to the white people. They need this message; for a time of trouble is before us, such as never was since there was a nation.” ^[5]

The Sealing has been delayed

(Here, Ellen states the time had been delayed. The year of the quote is provided with the quote)

1897

“The Lord’s work has been hindered, the sealing time delayed. Many have not heard the truth. But the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be converted.”^[6]

Coming out of Babylon is happening again

(Here, Ellen states that the time to get out of Babylon has started again. The year of the quote is provided with the quote)

1897

“Now is the time…we cry the message to the churches ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, … Come out of her my people’… Let those who believe the message of warning for these last days reveal to the world that they have come out, that they partake not of her sins, that they receive not of her plagues.” [7]

1906

“In the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is given the call to the churches to come out of Babylon. The time has now come when all God’s people must be gathered into a company and denominated as His special people…” [8]

Seven Last Plagues are yet future

(Here, Ellen states the plagues are in the future. The year of the quote is provided with the quote)

1894

“The world is soon to be left by the angel of mercy and the seven last plagues are to be poured out.… The bolts of God’s wrath are soon to fall, and when He shall begin to punish the transgressors there will be no period of respite until the end.” ^[9]

1895

“The seven last plagues are about to descend upon the disobedient.” ^[10]

1899

“The world is soon to be left by the angel of mercy, and the seven last plagues are to be poured out.” [11]

Shaking didn’t start until 1900

(Here, Ellen states the time for the shaking would start soon but not until 1900. The year of the quote is provided with the quote)

1860

“The shaking must soon take place to purify the church.” [12]

1887

“We are now having some little shaking, but the time of shaking will come in earnest ere long.” [13]

1889

“I have repeatedly presented before you and others that there would come a shaking time, when everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. We are now entering upon that time.” ^[14]

1900

“I see that the time has come when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. We are in the shaking time. Be assured that only those who live the prayer of Christ, working it out in the practical life, will stand the test.” ^[15]

Thus, many of Ellen White’s false statements, which were based on her visions, were either removed from later versions of her writings or reinterpreted to mean something else.

1856 False Prophecy

One of Mrs. White’s most remarkable failed prophecies was made during an 1856 conference attended by 67 believers. This statement was later published in the book Testimonies and gained widespread attention within the SDA Church. Mrs. White claimed she had seen in vision and saw that some of those present at the 1856 conference would be translated:

“I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: “Some food for worms, [Sister Clarissa M. Bonfoey, who fell asleep in Jesus only three days after this vision was given, was present in usual health, and was deeply impressed that she was one who would go into the grave, and stated her convictions to others.] some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus.”” ^[16]

Mrs. White specifically stated that some of those attending the 1856 SDA conference would experience the seven last plagues before the return of Christ (Revelation 15:1-8) and that some would be alive when Jesus returned. The Whites were so confident in this “vision” that it was published in Mrs. White’s Testimonies to the Church and widely distributed. However, by 1943, all those who attended the conference had passed away, leaving the SDA Church with the challenge of explaining this prophetic failure.

The Bible clearly states that when a prophet’s prediction does not come to pass, that prophet is not speaking for the Lord:

“When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” (Dt 18:22)

Of course, those who still believe in Ellen G. White’s prophetic and inspired writings will reinterpret this statement so that she isn’t saying what is very clear in the written words.

Do God’s Angels Lie?

To accept Ellen White’s statement, one must believe that angels can lie. Why? Consider what Jesus said about His return:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Mt 24:36)

Jesus made it clear that only the Father knows the day of His return; the angels do not. This statement was intended to warn believers against anyone, human or angelic, who claimed to know the date of Christ’s return.

If the angels do not know the day of Christ’s return, how could they tell Ellen White that some at the 1856 conference would be translated?

Did God contradict Christ’s words and reveal the secret to the angels?

Consider this:

God is omniscient. He knows everything, including the exact day and hour of His return (Matthew 24:36). He has known that precise moment since before the world was created.

God “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Therefore, it would be impossible for God to tell His angels He was returning within the lifetimes of those at the 1856 conference while knowing all along that it would happen far in the future. If He did, He would be lying.

So why would God—knowing the exact time of His return—allow His angel to tell His prophet something He knew would not happen?

One thing is sure: If an angel had told Ellen White that Christ would return while some at that conference were still alive, it would not have been one of God’s angels!

It seems Mrs. White later reconsidered the imminent return of Christ, as in the Spring of 1857, she wrote that Adventists needed more time to “develop character”:

“I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It was designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they might be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel.” ^[17]

This vision directly contradicted her earlier statement in 1850 that new converts would need to learn doctrines quickly because time was so short.

While these examples are only some of the failed predictions related to Ellen G. White’s fixation on the soon return of Jesus Christ, the next article will explore failed predictions related to her inability to exegete and interpret scripture honestly!