Understanding Ellen White

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Ellen White’s passion for the love of God in Christ

Ellen White’s orientation toward Scripture

Chapter One - The Gift of Prophecy in Scripture

The Old Testament evidence

The New Testament evidence

Successors of the Old Testament prophets

The apostle word group

Prophets and prophesying

The New Testament prophet

Key passages

1 Corinthians 12-14

The book of Revelation

The New Testament prophet and current Adventist issues

Chapter Two - Revelation and Inspiration: Ellen White’s Understanding

Definition of important terms

General revelation

Special revelation

Prophetic revelation

Inspiration

Illumination

Common views on inspiration

Verbal inspiration view

Illumination or encounter view

Thought inspiration view

Ellen White and thought inspiration

Some problematic paradigms

Ellen White’s incarnational view of inspiration

Visionary experiences and pictorial depictions

Words and instructions

Chapter Three - Ellen White and Scripture

Ellen White’s relation to Scripture

Ellen White and her contemporaries

Chapter Four - The Authority of Ellen White’s Writings

Canonical and noncanonical prophets

Not “degrees of revelation”

Prophetic authority does not mature

Prophetic authority and the Advent movement

Prophetic authority in today’s changing world

Chapter Five - How to Read Ellen White’s Writings

1. Begin with a healthy outlook

2. Study Ellen White’s writings in the light of Scripture

3. Focus on central issues

4. Account for problems in communication

5. Study all available information on a topic

6. Avoid extreme interpretations

7. Study each statement in its historical and literary context

8. Recognize Ellen White’s understanding of the ideal and the real

9. Use sanctified common sense

Chapter Six - Ellen White as God’s Spokesperson

How the visions happened

What the visions accomplished

Understanding the dynamics of receiving and communicating her visions

When and where she received visions

What she remembered from her visions and when

Visions revealing the past, present, and future

Understanding what she was shown

Temporary misinterpretation of some aspect of a vision

Divine correction for incorrect counsel

Dramatic predictions of world events

Chapter Seven - Humanity of the Prophets

Human feelings

Personal growth

Cultural dialogue

Unfolding message

Chapter Eight — Ellen White and the Development of Seventh-day Adventist Doctrines

Ellen White’s role in the development of Seventh-day Adventist doctrines

Second advent of Christ

Observance of the seventh-day Sabbath

Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary

Three angels’ messages of Revelation 14

Conditional immortality and annihilation of the wicked

Ellen White and distinctive Seventh-day Adventist doctrines

Theological themes in Ellen White’s writings

The great controversy

Salvation and atonement

Chapter Nine - How Ellen White Did Her Writing

The writing process

Compilations

Regular books

Topical collections

Reference collections

Devotional readings

Contextualized compilations

How the White Estate makes compilations

Translations, adaptations, and paraphrases

Chapter Ten - Ellen White Criticisms and D. M. Canright

Historical overview of D. M. Canright

Canright and contemporary Ellen White criticisms

Chapter Eleven - Ellen White and Sources: The Plagiarism Debate

Historical summary

1887-1907

1907-1933

1933-1970

1970-2012

Retrospective summary and present understandings

The definitional and legal issues

Ellen White’s use of literary sources

The inspiration issue

The ethical/moral issue

Millerite disappointment view (October 1844 to about January 1845)

Ellen White’s experience

The Bridegroom view (January 1845 to about January 1847)

Ellen White’s contribution

The sanctuary view: January 1847 to fall 1848

The sealing message and the open door: 1849 through 1852

Theological integration

Misconception and growing understanding

Chapter Twelve - Understanding Ellen White and the “Shut Door”

Sound advice at the time, but less obviously useful today

Statement 1: Dangerous wigs

Statement 2: Toxic cosmetics

Statement 3: Wasp-waist corsets

Statement 4: Dangers of eating cheese

Explanations fully or partially supported by current science

Statement 5: Dangers of disease from miasma

Statement 6: Leprosy from eating pork

Statement 7: Great difference in age of marriage partners

Statements that remain obscure or unconfirmed

Statement 8: Causes of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

Statement 9: Height of antediluvians and giant fossils

Statement 10: Amalgamation of man and beast

Statement 11: Choosing a wet nurse

Statement 12: “Solitary vice”

Statement 13: The planets vision

Chapter Thirteen - Ellen White and Science

A “great meat eater”: The years leading up to the 1863 health vision

A promoter of vegetarianism: 1863 to 1893

Becoming a strict vegetarian: 1894-1915

Ellen White and a vegan diet

Major perspectives on Ellen White and vegetarianism

Chapter Fourteen - Ellen White and Vegetarianism

The four Ellen G. White wills

Estate debt resolution

Responsibilities of the White Estate

History of access to unpublished materials

Expanding mission of the White Estate

Chapter Fifteen - The History and Work of the Ellen G. White Estate

The perpetuity of the prophetic gift

Sources of prophetic revelation

Satan

The human person

Testing the prophets

Pentecostalism and the prophetic gift

New Testament versus Old Testament prophets

“To prophesy” in Corinth

Sitting in judgment on God’s messages

The meaning of diakrino

Chapter Sixteen - The Gift of Prophecy and Contemporary Ideas

Renew interest in the Bible

Provide a comprehensive biblical worldview

Restore enthusiasm for the Second Coming

Demonstrate practical Christian living

Show involvement in contemporary issues

Give principles for improving our quality of life

Provide practical advice for relationships

Give guidance for the church as a whole

Chapter Seventeen - Why Should I Read Ellen White?

Basic to any understanding of Ellen White is her own walk with God. Everything she did must be understood and interpreted within this context. To open a window of understanding to Ellen White’s heart, readers need to know and even experience her passions. There are two braided golden threads that weave through her entire life and experience that are central to who she was and what she accomplished—the love of God in Christ and a focus on Scripture. Her orientation toward the love of God and the Bible were integrally interwoven with her prophetic ministry. Her writings, which were guided by prophetic revelation through visions and prophetic dreams, must be read and understood with this perspective. 

Whether or not my life is spared, my writings will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time shall last. My writings are kept on file in the office, and even though I should not live, these words that have been given to me by the Lord will still have life and will speak to the people.<a class="chapterendnote">1Ellen G. White [EGW], Letter 371, 1907; printed in Selected Messages (Washington, DC: Review and Herald®, 1958), 1:55.</a>

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Chapter Fifteen - The History and Work of the Ellen G. White Estate