Dear Brother Fagel:
I would like to apologize for not responding back to you as you did but I am working on two books on of a religious nature and the other base on my family. Thank you for responding back to me so quickly, and I do agree with you because we have the full CD of EGW works and it has help me tremendously in my work of spreading the Gospel. However, I do understand and have a lot of her books as well and the Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 1-4 group is one of them. I also bought the 7A Commentary that most people even pastors did not even know that they are in the back of the Commentaries. I am a true defender and supporter of EGW, but I accept as she requested to be called a messenger from God. These are words from EGW herself and we should I feel abide by her statements, even though she stated if some wanted to call her a prophe tess she would not start a controversy over the issue. But, it is clear once again that she stated the Lord gave her the title He wanted her to be. Should we not follow God's Word given to her?
You know how the Lord has manifested Himself through the Spirit of prophecy. Past, present, and future have passed before me. I have been shown faces that I had never seen, and years afterward I knew them when I saw them. I have been aroused from my sleep with a vivid sense of subjects previously presented to my mind and I have written, at midnight, letters that have gone across the continent, and arriving at a crisis, have saved great disaster to the cause of God. This has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work of the last thirty-six years from above or from beneath? ... {1SM 27.1}
Some have stumbled over the fact that I said I did not claim to be a prophet; and they have asked, why is this? {1SM 31.5} I have had no claims to make, only that I am instructed that I am the Lord's messenger; that He called me in my youth to be His messenger, to receive His word, and to give a clear and decided message in the name of the Lord Jesus. {1SM 32.1}
Early in my youth I was asked several times, Are you a prophet? I have ever responded, I am the Lord's messenger. I know that many have called me a prophet, but I have made no claim to this title. My Saviour declared me to be His messenger. "Your work," He I have had no claims to make, only that I am instructed that I am the Lord's messenger; that He called me in my youth to be His messenger, to receive His word, and to give a clear and decided message in the name of the Lord Jesus. {1SM 32.1}
Early in my youth I was asked several times, Are you a prophet? I have ever responded, I am the Lord's messenger. I know that many have called me a prophet, but I have made no claim to this title. My Saviour declared me to be His messenger. "Your work," He instructed me, "is to bear My word. Strange things will arise, and in your youth I set you apart to bear the message to the erring ones, to carry the word before unbelievers, and with pen and voice to reprove from the Word actions that are not right. Exhort from the Word. I will make My Word open to you. It shall not be as a strange language. In the true eloquence of simplicity, with voice and pen, the messages that I give shall be heard from one who has never learned in the sc hools. My Spirit and My power shall be with you. {1SM 32.2}Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?--Because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of Christ; and because my work includes much more than the word "prophet" signifies. {1SM 32.4}To claim to be a prophetess is something that I have never done. If others call me by that name, I have no controversy with them. But my work has covered so many lines that I cannot call myself other than a messenger, sent to bear a message from the Lord to His people, and to take up work in any line that He points out. {1SM 34.5}
When I was last in Battle Creek, I said before a large congregation that I did not claim to be a prophetess. Twice I referred to this matter, intending each time to make the statement, "I do not claim to be a prophetess." If I spoke otherwise than this, let all now understand that what I had in mind to say was that I do not claim the title of prophet or prophetess. {1SM 35.1}
Rev 19:10 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look! Don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Yeshua. Worship God, for the testimony of Yeshua is the Spirit of Prophecy."
Now I do understand that the Holy Spirit is the one who works in all of us. However, His work is also to point us back to Yashua who holds the Testimony of the Father, this is how the three in ONE work together. It is important to abide by this and to teach others the truth as it is written. Again, I want to point out that many books since her death have be written with the same concepts only the Titles has been change, I do not understand this and we need to be careful of this as I indicated earlier, I know that the Conference has used tithe money along with other sources used them in the stock market and to do other things which I am totally against and I feel if EGW was here she would give reproof to the church on this matter as well. She made statements even during her time to Uriah Smith and others from Review and Herald about the work that they were doi ng which was not approved by God. Isn't it true that we were suppose to have three presidents, instead of one and I notice that you did not state anything on the split that took place in 1888 between Kellogg and his group, the mainstream SDA, and finally the split with her , her son and the General conference. This should be brought out in complete clarity so we all can understand and show clearly what she and her son stated.
Remember sir that she stated that whole conference will be lost, the reason is the ministers consider themselves above the people like the Pharisees and Sadducees during the time of Yashua and the politicking that is presence in our church. She spoke boldly against the ministers and the work they were doing and she stated that we should be studying Daniel and Revelation. You know I keep the Feast Days and I wrote a book concerning them. I lived in Israel and return home and begin to speak on them. I went not the people but to the Conference officials and tried to present the evidence. I do not believe in the Passover but the Feast of Unleaven Bread according to Scriptures in Ex. Chapter 12 and It has taken me over twenty years to write this book and I am still learning. It was EGW writing that su pported the truth concerning the Feast Days even though she did not understand them. In the book Life and Sketches look what happen:
As we had before us the emblems of our dying Lord, and were about to commemorate His sufferings, this brother arose and said that he had no faith in what we were about to do; that the Lord's supper was a continuation of the Passover, and should be partaken of but once a year. {LS 111.1}
These strange differences of opinion rolled a heavy weight upon me. I saw that many errors were being presented as truth. It seemed to me that God was dishonored. Great grief pressed upon my spirits, and I fainted under the burden. Some feared that I was dying. Brethren Bates, Chamberlain, Gurney, Edson, and my husband prayed for me. The Lord heard the prayers of His servants, and I revived. {LS 111.2}
The light of heaven then rested upon me, and I was soon lost to earthly things. My accompanying angel presented before me some of the errors of those present, and also the truth in contrast with their errors. These discordant views, which they claimed were in harmony with the Scriptures, were only according to their opinion of Bible teaching; and I was bidden to tell them that they should yield their errors, and unite upon the truths of the third angel's message. {LS 111.3}
Our meeting closed triumphantly. Truth gained the victory. Our brethren renounced their errors and united upon the third angel's message, and God greatly blessed them and added many to their numbers. {LS 111.4}
Did this mean that God told EGW to not keep the Feast of Unleaven Bread? No this was not stated the man stated clearly that we should keep the passover once a year and this is not correct, however EGW stated that the angel presented some of the errors and she never stated what these errors were but she made it clear that the small company should unite with the Three Angels Message, they were babes on milk and not ready to for the meat. The Feast of the Lord is the meat of God' Word and Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Did she contradict this message, once again I stand boldly and say emphatically NO she did not. Read from her own words:
I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the Word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the Word of God plain and simple in declaring the way of life, but the Holy Spirit is given as a guide in understanding the way to life therein revealed. {EW 220.2}
3. Ancient Instruction to Be Studied.--The instructions given to Moses for ancient Israel, with their sharp, rigid outlines, are to be studied and obeyed by the people of God today (Letter 259, 1903). {1BC 1103.4}
Moses and God in Secret Council.--Moses, the visible leader of the Israelites, was admitted into the secret councils of the Most High. The people were given evidence that Moses did indeed talk with God, receiving from Him the instruction given them (Ibid.). {1BC 1103.5}
Precepts Given to Guard Decalogue.--In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon men in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law (Ibid., April 15, 1875). {1BC 1104.6}
1, 2. Become Familiar With Levitical Law.--We are to become familiar with the Levitical law in all its bearings; for it contains rules that must be obeyed; it contains the instruction that if studied will enable us to understand better the rule of faith and practice that we are to follow in our dealings with one another. No soul has any excuse for being in darkness. Those who receive Christ by faith will receive also power to become the sons of God (Letter 3, 1905). {1BC 1110.4}
Moses called their attention to the "day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb." And he challenged the Hebrew host: "What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" Today the challenge to Israel might be repeated. The laws which God gave His ancient people were wiser, better, and more humane than those of the most civilized nations of the earth. The laws of the nations bear marks of the infirmities and passions of the unrenewed heart; but God's law bears the stamp of the divine. {PP 465.1}
After the public rehearsal of the law, Moses completed the work of writing all the laws, the statutes, and the judgments which God had given him, and all the regulations concerning the sacrificial system.
Adam and Eve, at their creation, had a knowledge of the law of God; they were acquainted with its claims upon them; its precepts were written upon their hearts. When man fell by transgression the law was not changed, but a remedial system was established to bring him back to obedience. The promise of a Saviour was given, and sacrificial offerings pointing forward to the death of Christ as the great sin offering were established. But had the law of God never been transgressed, there would have been no death, and no need of a Saviour; consequently there would have been no need of sacrifices. {PP 363.1}
Adam taught his descendants the law of God, and it was handed down from father to son through successive generations. But notwithstanding the gracious provision for man's redemption, there were few who accepted it and rendered obedience. By transgression the world became so vile that it was necessary to cleanse it by the Flood from its corruption. The law was preserved by Noah and his family, and Noah taught his descendants the Ten Commandments. As men again departed from God, the Lord chose Abraham, of whom He declared, "Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." Genesis 26:5. {PP 363.2}
He did not even then trust His precepts to the memory of a people who were prone to forget His requirements, but wrote them upon tables of stone. He would remove from Israel all possibility of mingling heathen traditions with His holy precepts, or of confounding His requirements with human ordinances or customs. But He did not stop with giving them the precepts of the Decalogue. The people had shown themselves so easily led astray that He would leave no door of temptation unguarded. Moses was commanded to write, as God should bid him, judgments and laws giving minute instruction as to what was required. These directions relating to the duty of the people to God, to one another, and to the stranger were only the principles of the Ten Commandments amplified and given in a specific manner, that none need err. They were designed to guard the sacredness of the ten precepts engraved on the tables of stone. {PP 364.1}
The sacrificial system, committed to Adam, was also perverted by his descendants. Superstition, idolatry, cruelty, and licentiousness corrupted the simple and significant service that God had appointed. Through long intercourse with idolaters the people of Israel had mingled many heathen customs with their worship; therefore the Lord gave them at Sinai definite instruction concerning the sacrificial service. After the completion of the tabernacle He communicated with Moses from the cloud of glory above the mercy seat, and gave him full directions concerning the system of offerings and the forms of worship to be maintained in the sanctuary. The ceremonial law was thus given to Moses, and by him written in a book. But the law of Ten Commandments spoken from Sinai had been written by God Himself on the tables of stone, and was sacredly preserved in the ark. {PP 364.3}
There are many who try to blend these two systems, using the texts that speak of the ceremonial law to prove that the moral law has been abolished; but this is a perversion of the Scriptures. The distinction between the two systems is broad and clear. The ceremonial system was made up of symbols pointing to Christ, to His sacrifice and His priesthood. This ritual law, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be performed by the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings were to cease. It is this law that Christ "took . . . out of the way, nailing it to His cross." Colossians 2:14. But concerning the law of Ten Commandments the psalmist declares, "Forever, O Lord , Thy word is settled in heaven." Psalm 119:89. And Christ Himself says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law. . . . Verily I say unto you"--making the assertion as emphatic as possible--"Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matthew 5:17, 18. Here He teaches, not merely what the claims of God's law had been, and were then, but that these claims should hold as long as the heavens and the earth remain. The law of God is as immutable as His throne. It will maintain its claims upon mankind in all ages. {PP 365.1}
Again the people were reminded of the sacred obligation of the Sabbath. Yearly feasts were appointed, at which all the men of the nation were to assemble before the Lord, bringing to Him their offerings of gratitude and the first fruits of His bounties. The object of all these regulations was stated: they proceeded from no exercise of mere arbitrary sovereignty; all were given for the good of Israel. The Lord said, "Ye shall be holy men unto Me"--worthy to be acknowledged by a holy God. {PP 311.2}
The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the "former rain" was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the up springing of the precious seed, so the "latter rain" will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest.--GC 611 (1-1). {LDE 186.3}
Ex. 12:14 This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. (HNV)
Ex. 12:21 Then Moshe called for all the elders of Yisra'el, and said to them, "Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Pesach. Ex. 12:22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. Ex. 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door, and wil l not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. Ex. 12:24 You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. HNV
Ex. 34:4 So Moses cut two flat stones like the first ones, and early the next morning he carried them to the top of Mount Sinai, just as the LORD had commanded. Ex. 34:18 Don't fail to observe the Festival of Thin Bread in the month of Abib. Obey me and eat bread without yeast for seven days during Abib, because that is the month you left Egypt. Ex. 34:21 Do your work in six days and rest on the seventh day, even during the seasons for plowing and harvesting. Ex. 34:22 Celebrate the Harvest Festival each spring when you start harvesting your wheat, and celebrate the Festival of Shelters each autumn when you pick your fruit. Ex 34:23 Your men must come to worship me three times a year, because I am the LORD God of Israel. Ex 34:25 When you sacrifice an animal on the altar, don't offer bread made with yeast. And don't save any part of the Passover meal for the next day. CEV
Ex. 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Write thou these words, for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.' JPS
Ex 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. Ex 34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Ex 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. Ex 34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. KJV
Lev 23:2 "Speak to the children of Yisra'el, and tell them, 'The set feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts. Lev 23:3 "'Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a Shabbat of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of work. It is a Shabbat to the LORD in all your dwellings. Lev 23:4 "'These are the set feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season. Lev 23:24 "Speak to the children of Yisra'el, saying, 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest to you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
Lev 23:25 You shall do no regular work; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.'" Lev 23:26 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying, Lev 23:27 "However on the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. Lev 23:28 You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. Lev 23:31 You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Lev 23:32 It shall be a Shabbat of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Shabbat." Lev 23:37 "'These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own day; Lev 23:38 besides the Shabbatot of the LORD, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD. HNV
Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD.
Jer 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Jehovah. Jer 8:8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely. ASV
Ps 81:3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. Ps 81:4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. Ps 81:5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over th e land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: ESV
Zech 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. KJV
Finally, here are proof what was nailed to the Lord's cross:
Dan 9:27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out on the desolate.
Finally, here are proof what was nailed to the Lord's cross:
Dan 9:27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out on the desolate.
Mat 26:17, 26-29 Now on the first [day] of the [Feast of] Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus saying to Him, "Where do You desire [that] we will prepare for You to eat the Passover?" Now while _they_ were eating, Jesus having taken the bread and having bestowed a blessing upon [it], broke [it] and began giving [it] to the disciples. And He said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And having taken the cup and having given thanks, He gave [it] to them, saying, "Drink from it, all [of you], for this is My blood, the [blood] of the New Covenant, the [blood] poured out on behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. "But I say to you*, from now on by no means shall I drink of this fruit of the grapevine until that day when I shall be drinking it with you* new in the kingdom of My Father."
Luke 22:1,7, 11, 17-20 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the one being called Passover, was approaching. Then the day of the [Feast of] Unleavened Bread came, in which it was necessary [for] the Passover [or, Paschal Lamb] to be sacrificed. "And you will say to the master [or, owner] of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples? For I say to you, no longer by any means shall I eat of it until which [time] it shall be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And having taken a cup, having given thanks, He said, "Take this and divide [it] among yourselves. For I say to you, by no means shall I drink of the fruit of the grapevine until which [time] the kingdom of Go d comes." And having taken bread, having given thanks, He broke [it] and gave [it] to them, saying, "This is My body, the [one] being given on your* behalf ; be doing this in remembrance of Me." And in the same manner [He took] the cup after [they] ate, saying, "This cup [is] the New Covenant in My blood, the [blood] being poured out on your* behalf. ALT
Act 2:1 And in the fulfilling of the day of Pentecost, they were all with one mind in the same place.
Act 20:6, 16 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. KJV
1Cor. 5:7, 8, Christ our Passover [or, Paschal Lamb] was sacrificed on our behalf. So then we should be keeping the feast, not with old leaven [or, yeast], nor with leaven of evil and wickedness, _but_ with unleavened [bread] of integrity and truth.
1Co 11:25, 26 After the meal, Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and said, "This is my blood, and with it God makes his new agreement with you. Drink this and remember me." The Lord meant that when you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about his death until he comes. CEV
1Co 11:25 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me."
1Co 11:26 This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. GNB
Mat 26:22, 26-29 Now on the first [day] of the [Feast of] Unleavened Bread, the disciples approachedJesus saying to Him, "Where do You desire [that] we will prepare for You to eat the Passover?" Now while _they_ were eating, Jesus having taken the bread and having bestowed a blessing upon [it], broke [it] and began giving [it] to the disciples. And He said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And having taken the cup and having given thanks, He gave [it] to them, saying, "Drink from it, all [of you],for this is My blood, the [blood] of the New Covenant, the [blood] poured out on behalf of many for forgiveness of sins, But I say to you, from now on by no means shall I drink of this fruit of the grapevine until that day when I shall be drinking it with you* new in the kingdom of My Father."
Luke 22:1, 7, 11-20 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the one being called Passover, was approaching. Then the day of the [Feast of] Unleavened Bread came, in which it was necessary [for] the Passover [or, Paschal Lamb] to be sacrificed "And you* will say to the master [or, owner] of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples? For I say to you*, no longer by any means shall I ea t of it until which [time] it shall be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And having taken a cup, having given thanks, He said, "Take this and divide [it] among yourselves. For I say to you*, by no means shall I dri nk of the fruit of the grapevine until which [time] the kingdom of Go d comes." And having taken bread, having given thanks, He broke [it] and gave [it] to them, sa ying, "This is My body, the [one] being given on your* behalf *; be doing this in remembrance of Me." And in the same manner [He took] the cup after [they] ate, saying, "This cup [is] the New Covenant in My blood, the [blood] being poured out on your behalf. ALT
Act 2:1,6, 16 And in the fulfilling of the day of Pentecost, they were all with one mind in the same place. And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. KJV
1Cor. 5:7, 8 Christ our Passover [or, Paschal Lamb] was sacrificed on our behalf. So then we should be keeping the feast, not with old leaven [or, yeast], nor with leaven of evil and wickedness,_but_ with unleavened [bread] of integrity and truth.
1Co 11:25, 26 After the meal, Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and said, "This is my blood, and with it God makes his new agreement with you. Drink this and remember me." The Lord meant that when you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about his death until he comes. CEV
1Co 11:25, 26 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me." This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. GNB
Brother Fagel, if we truly understood the writings of EGW we would do as she stated:
"Where do we find the people who are thus addressed? Who is it that shall build the old waste places, and raise up the foundation of many generations? Where are the people who have had light from heaven to see that a breach has been made in the law of God?" "In the Revelation, John says, 'The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.' Rev. 11:19. John saw in vision the Lord's people looking for His coming and searching for truth. As the temple of Go d was opened unto His people, the light of the law of God, which was in the ark, shone forth. Those who receive this light are brought to view in the proclamation of the third angel's message."
"This angel is seen living flying in the midst of heaven, 'saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb . . . Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'" MANUSCRIPT 48
"As the end approaches, the testimonies of God's servants will become more decided and more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the SYSTEMS of ERROR and oppression that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has a message for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all who believe PRESENT TRUTH must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God's; and raise up the foundation of many generations. These will be registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in. We are to maintain the truth because IT IS TRUTH, in the face of the bitterest opposition. God is at work upon human minds; it is not man alone that is working. The great illuminating power is from Christ; the brightness of His example is to be kept before the people in every discourse." ELLEN G. WHITE LETTER 1F
Psalm 104:19 states; "[The Lord] appointed the moon for the seasons; the sun knows the exact time of its setting." Jeremiah 8:7 also states;"[Even the migratory birds are punctual to their seasons.] Yes, the stork [excelling in the great height of her flight] in the heavens knows her appointed times [of migration], and the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time of their return. But My people do not know the LAW of the Lord [which the lower animals instinctively recognize in so far as it applies to them]." THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE
I prayerful urge you to keep the truth of EGW alive and be able to stand for God in these last days
Sister ___________,
Thank you for contacting the Ellen G. White Estate and sharing your views with us. You may be interested to read some of the introductory material about Ellen G. White that we have made available on our web site, www.WhiteEstate.org. From the main menu at the left of the home page, click on "Issues & Answers," and then on the first option: "Basic Principles Regarding the Messages of Ellen G. White." The articles in that section deal with some of the issues that you have spoken of in your message below. We do not hold Mrs. White to be infallible, in keeping with her own comments on the matter. We do believe that she was a prophet of God, a true messenger of the Lord, but this does not make her writings an addition to the Bible or the equal of it. She taught that the Bible mus t be our guide; her writings were to point us to the Bible.
You seem to think that her books serve as a means of making money. Actually, the church publishing houses do not consider them to be a profit source. They keep the books in print as a service to the church. The royalty income from the books goes into the General Conference treasury. In turn, the General Conference provides an operating budget each year to the White Estate to carry on our work. The amount of the budget greatly exceeds the royalty income. In other words, the church spends more on this than it takes in from her writings. But it considers the investment well worth it, for these writings have served to guide the church in right paths through the years.
Though many people in the church use the term "Spirit of Prophecy" to mean Ellen G. White, I do not do so myself. The term "spirit of prophecy" comes from the Bible, where it refers, I believe, to the Holy Spirit as the one who brings prophetic messages to the prophets (Rev. 12:17, 19:10, 22:8, 9, 2 Pet. 1:21). Ellen G. White was a genuine example of the Holy Spirit's work as the Spirit of Prophecy, but she was not the Spirit of Prophecy herself. I believe she understood this well and expected that others understood it, too. In the 1870s and 80s, she gave the name "Spirit of Prophecy" to a four-volume series of books that are an earlier version of the five volumes we call the "Conflict of the Ages Series" today. But I think she used that title in the sense that I have described it, not as an effort to claim the designation "Spirit of Prophecy" as applying to herself.
That "Spirit of Prophecy" series was actually an enlargement of her earlier presentation of these themes in Spiritual Gifts, vols. 1, 3, and 4. In those little volumes, she often used the expressions "I saw" or "I was shown." But as her writings on these themes went more and more to non-Adventist readers, she deliberately dropped the use of these expressions, because the general reading public had little or no acquaintance with her work. So she revised the books in such a way as to let the material stand on its own as being clearly true, without such expressions as "I was shown." This is especially so in the "Conflict of the Ages Series" that we know and love today. Yet here is what Mrs. White said about these books, such as The Desire of Ages, and The Great Controversy:
The Spirit of Prophecy Books.--I thank my heavenly Father for the interest that my brethren and sisters have taken in the circulation of Christ's Object Lessons. By the sale of this book great good has been accomplished, and the work should be continued. But the efforts of our people should not be confined to this one book. The work of the Lord includes more than one line of service. Christ's Object Lessons is to live and do its appointed work, but not all the thought and effort of God's people are to be given to its circulation. The larger books, Patriarchs and Prophets, The Great Controversy, and The Desire of Ages, should be sold everywhere. These b ooks contain truth for this time,--truth that is to be proclaimed in all parts of the world. Nothing is to hinder their sale. . . .
Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the instruction that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the precious, comforting light that God has graciously given His servant to be given to the world. From their pages this light is to shine into the hearts of men and women, leading them to the Saviour. The Lord has declared that these books are to be scattered throughout the world. There is in them truth which to the receiver is a savor of life unto life. They are silent witnesses for God. In the past they have been the means in His hands of convicting and converting many souls. Many have read them with eager expectation, and, by reading them, have been led to see the efficacy of Christ's atonement, and to trust in its power. They have been led to commit the keeping of their souls to their Creator, waiting and hoping for the coming of the Saviour to take His loved ones to their eternal home. In the future, these books are to make the gospel plain to many others, revealing to them the way of salvation.--Review and Herald, Jan. 20, 1903. {Colporteur Ministry, pp. 124, 125}
In light of her own comments here, I think we cannot so easily say that we can take "I was shown" statements as the ones giving information from the Lord, but statements missing this designation are of her own devising.
I hope these things will be helpful to you. Thank you for writing and sharing your concerns. Let me know if I may be of further service to you. God bless!
William Fagal
Associate Director
Ellen G. White Estate
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.
Phone: 301 680-6550
FAX: 301 680-6559
E-mail: mail@WhiteEstate.org
Web: www.WhiteEstate.org
