Ellen G. White and the Shut Door Question

Introduction

The Experience of the Disciples

The Similar Experience of the Early Adventists

Now, A Close Look at the “Shut Door”

The Changing Meaning of the Term “Shut Door”

Ellen G. White Looks Back

The E. G. White Statements In Their Historical Context

Ellen Harmon’s First Vision—December, 1844 

Related Orally, but not Written Out for a Full Year

The Earliest Published References to the Vision

How Firmly Was the Door Closed?

The Vision of the Heavenly Sanctuary—February, 1845

The Experience of Paris, Maine, in 1845

Significance of the Time of Publication of the Early Visions

The Changing Meaning of the “Shut Door” in 1848

The Vision of Streams of Light Around the World

The Vision of “The Open and Shut Door,” March 24, 1849 

Labor for Sinners 1845-1851

The 1851 Developments

The First Vision as Published in Mrs. White’s First Book

A Closer Look at the Deleted Words

Ellen G. White’s Explanation

The “Shut Door” Defined

Ellen White Looks Back to Soul-Winning Work from 1845 On

In Summation

Exhibit 1—Ellen Harmon’s First Vision

Exhibit 2—Otis Nichols’ Letter to William Miller, April 20, 1846

Exhibit 3—Ellen G. White Letter to Joseph Bates

Exhibit 4—The Open and the Shut Door

Exhibit 5—Letter Concerning The Publication Of “Experience And Views”

Exhibit 6—The Shut Door Position of Leaders in the Millerite Movement

Exhibit 7—James White’s Answer To A Man Seeking Light In April 1851

Reply From James White

Having observed Ellen White&rsquo;s own testimony and explanation as she looked back, as to what she saw and what she taught, we now turn to the mid and late 1840s to examine the contemporary evidence available in documents, published and unpublished, taken in their historical context as provided by her and somewhat by her contemporaries.

We repeat the question before us. It is: <em>What did God show Ellen White in vision and how did she write, and at the time, interpret this?</em> Also, what did the visions at the time say to her fellow Adventists? What interpretation did they put upon what she reported as having been shown in vision?

Loading…

The E. G. White Statements In Their Historical Context