About book

Messenger of the Lord

Preface

Acknowledgments

An Overview by the Author

Certainty, Authority, and Trust

God’s Communication System

How the Book Is Organized

The Great Controversy Theme

How Ellen White Measures Up

Section I—God’s Communication System

Chapter 1—The Revealer and the Revealed

The Gift of Prophecy

Telling the Truth About God

Both Sacrifice and High Priest

Ellen G. White’s Devotion to Jesus

Study Questions

Chapter 2—God Speaks Through Prophets

Communication Before Sin

How God Bridged the Gap of Sin

Prophets—the Most Recognized Form of Divine Disclosure

The Prophet’s Work

Long Line of Splendor

Low Success Rate

Names Applied to the Prophetic Messages

How God and Prophets Interact

How Prophets Delivered Their Messages

Letters Carry Authority

Literary Assistants

Paul’s Several Assistants

Obvious Difference Between 1 and 2 Peter

How Luke Was Written

Verbal Inspiration or Thought Inspiration

Prophets, Not Words, Are Inspired

Some Prophetic Messages Not Preserved

God Is Gender Impartial

Deborah More Than a Judge

Dreary Gap Between Malachi and John the Baptist

The First Century, A.D. 

The Prophet Jesus

Since Apostolic Times

Teaching Replaced Prophecy

Chapter 3—Characteristics of the Prophets

Prophets Share Common Characteristics

Tests of a Genuine Prophet

1. The Test of Fulfilled Predictions 

2. Agreement With the Bible

3. The Orchard Test

4. Unequivocal Witness to the Divine-human Nature of Jesus Christ

Physical Manifestations

Timeliness of the Prophet’s Messages

Heroic and Unequivocal Witnessing

Practical Counsel, Not Abstractions, Characterize Their Ministry

Weight of Evidence

Can All Be Prophets?

Prophets Not Always Aware of the Full Meaning

A Contrast Between the True and False

Physical Phenomena Often Provide Coercive Evidence

The 1840s a Turbulent Period for Prophetic Claims

William Foy and Hazen Foss

God Reveals Himself Through Prophets in Times of Crisis

Ellen White Appeared at the Time of Greatest Distress

Note

Section II—The Real Ellen White

Chapter 4—The Person and Her Times

Geographical Environment

Political Environment

Social Environment

Religious Environment

Family Tree

Early Life Prior to 1845 

New Picture of God

Chapter 5—Messenger, Wife, and Mother

Ellen White’s Fiftieth Birthday

Messenger Mother

Counsel Given Through a Vision

Chapter 6—Physical Health

No Form of Mental Incompetence

Rheumatism in Both Ankles

Chapter 7—Personal Characteristics

Spiritual Awareness

Camp Meeting Appeals

Last Vision

Mental Capabilities

Emotional Experiences

Knew Discouragement

Responding to Discouragement

A Lonely Path

Chapter 8—As Others Knew Her

Frugality

Generosity

Commitment to Duty

Strenuous Schedules

Back-to-Back Camp Meetings

Mindful of Personal Example

Courage and Perseverance

Courage When Standing Alone

Tact

Kindness

One of Her Kindest Letters

Humor

Common-Sense Interpreter of Truth

Whatever Is Best

Practical Counselor

Healing of Herbert Lacey

Chapter 9—Humor, Common Sense, and a Practical Counselor

At Ease With Horses

Familiar With Hardships

Skillful at Sewing

A Typical Day

Keen Purchaser

Enthusiastic Gardener

Intrepid Traveler

The Victorian Lady

Chapter 10—The American Pioneer and the Victorian Woman

Editorial Assistants

A 19th Century Accent

Wide Reading Habits

Writing for the General Public

Personal Experiences Enriched Her Writing

Variety of Personal Letters

How Categories of Literary Production Were Developed

Marian Davis “My Bookmaker”

Why Revisions Were Necessary

Opposition to Revisions

Revision Experience Teaches Lessons

Chapter 11—The Prolific Writer

Speaking Style

“Stomach Voice”

Eye Language

General Topics

Non-Adventist Audiences

One of the Ablest Platform Speakers

Chapter 12—The Sought-for Speaker

Purpose of the Visions

Vision Phenomena

Messages Received in Different Ways

Messages Were Diverse and Broad

Manner of Delivering Messages Varied

Chapter 13—Delivering God’s Message

Open Visions Often Changed Skeptics Into Believers

Not An Astronomy Lesson

Heavy Family Bible

How Visions Were Remembered

Not All Visions Written Out

Chapter 14—Confirming the Confidence

Timeliness of Delivering Visions Often Crucial

Salamanca Vision

Foreign Language Tensions

Shortest Testimony

Visions, at Times, Changed Mrs. White’s Habits and Opinions

Vision Changes Prophet’s Counsel

Visions, at Times, Modified Ellen White’s Theological Opinions

Corrected By a Vision

Lessons Learned

Delivering Reproof—a “Cross”

Some Visions Contained Predictions

Food for Worms

Civil War

Contrary to Contemporary Optimism

Modern Spiritualism

Rise of Papal Influence

Union of Catholics and Protestants

Health and Medicine

Worldwide Expansion of Adventists

Some Visions Directed to Secret Problems

Chapter 15—Timely Instruction and Predictions 

Clarifying Biblical Truth

Visions Defined Truth and Created Unity After Bible Study

Tragic Consequences

Twin Roles

Extrinsic Sources in Relating Visions

Two Ways to Understand

Visions Not a Substitute for Bible Study

Ellen White’s Writings Primarily for the Church

Chapter 16—Ellen White’s Self-awareness as a Messenger

Section III—The Listening Messenger

Organization and Unity

Centralization of Power

“Get Out of Battle Creek!”

Warnings Against Consolidation of Institutions

Danger in Muting the Adventist Identification

Establishing Educational and Medical Institutions

Chapter 17—Organization, Unity, and Institutional Development

Counterfeits in the 1840s and 1850s

Salvation by Faith—1888

Light Was Resisted

Holy Flesh Movement

Pantheism Crisis

Not Clear on the Personality of God

“Meet It!”

Two Definite Camps

The Ballenger/Sanctuary Crisis, 1905

Misunderstanding the Role of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 18—Theological Crises

Dynamic Advocate of Public Evangelism

Setting the Tone on Race Relations

Chapter 19—Evangelism, Local and Global, and Race Relations

The Church’s Changed Policy Towards Government Aid

Steamy Crisis

Six Basic Principles Reflected in Letter From Ellen White

Chapter 20—Stewardship, Government Relations, and Humanitarian Involvement

Section IV—The Voice of a Movement

A comprehensive study of Ellen White's life and her gift of prophecy will give you a complete look at her ministry and the time in which she worked.

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Messenger of the Lord