By Mark Shipowick
Sabbath, September 17, 2016 I came across this statement below by Ellen White which was released for the first time by the Ellen G. White Estate in July of 2015. This prediction has never been publicly published and is nestled in among the 50,000 pages released by the Ellen G. White Estate so it’s hard to say how many Adventists are aware of it now but probably still few. Her statement struck me with full force. Here Ellen White is writing to G.I. Butler who had recently resigned from the presidency of the General Conference (he would resume that position in 1877) and was at this time in denial of her testimony:
I am now of the opinion that the Testimonies will not live among God’s people. They will be removed. I have some light on this point but cannot now give it. Said Christ, “I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now.” (Letter 16, 1875 par. 13).
In her later writings she makes statements warning that this is entirely possible but few of her subsequent statements are so direct as to plainly say that it will happen. This statement, of course, doesn’t mean it is inevitable, but only that God, knowing the future sees the choice that the church will make.
Notice above that in 1875 she had “more light on this point but cannot now give it?” Did she give more light on it later? She did. We’ll look at some of it below. But first you might ask, doesn’t Ellen White also say that the church will go through, that God’s denominated people will remain faithful to the end? She does. So how can both statements be true?
Many Adventist pastors and leaders unfortunately do not understand what she means by “denominated people” or “the church”. The scripture, the statements of Christ and those of Ellen White agree that the church, God’s denominated people, are those who maintain a vital connection with Him, whose names are written in the book of life.
God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” [Matthew 18:20.] Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the high and holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. (Letter 108, 1886 par.17).
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Gal 3:6, 7.
“And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.” [Revelation 22:3, 4.] Who are these?—God’s denominated people; those who on this earth have witnessed to their loyalty. Who are they?—those who have kept the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ; those who have owned the crucified One as their Saviour. (Manuscript 132, 1903 par. 25).
The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths. We must be divested of our self-righteousness and arrayed in the righteousness of Christ. (Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 380 par.2).
So what about this last statement above, what does it mean? The church that appears as though it is about to fall but does not and goes through are the faithful who under intense persecution appear to be on the verge of letting go of all hope and capitulating in despair. It is these that finally press through the darkness by faith and overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony because they loved not their lives unto the death. Nominal Adventists who have never been converted are in for a hard time. Some of them may at the eleventh hour consent to have their blinders removed and join those who make a covenant with God by sacrifice.
Those who press through the darkness described in inspiration (See Early Writings p. 279) are anything but anarchists. By overcoming the threatenings of persecution they heed the call to come into line under the generalship of Christ. Their victory renders them fearless and there is perfect organization among them. Many of our current pastors and leaders seem to think that this order will be the structure of the General Conference Corporation. That there will be perfect order and discipline in the ranks of the remnant is clear, but in the same way that the Jewish leaders of Christ’s day rejected the call of God and violently opposed His messenger, John the Baptist, we’ve been told that the Seventh-day Adventist Church will also reject the Testimonies – “they will no longer live among God’s people. They will be removed.” How will they be removed? Consider carefully some of the poignant warnings that explain their removal below.
Before quoting these, first an observation and then some background: The Testimonies explain and recommend themselves so I will keep my own commentary on the topic to a minimum. Instead, here are excerpts from later testimonies that shed more light on the one above. The first one below was written to the church at Battle Creek, many of whom like Elder Butler, were in denial at this point regarding the full inspiration of the Testimonies. Written in June, 1882, originally this Testimony was numbered “31” and was titled “The Testimonies Rejected”. It was renamed “The Testimonies Slighted” when it was republished in Testimonies Vol. 5. As you read the following quote, notice not only the process of removal but also the hopeful outcome she describes as she concludes.
I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God’s peculiar people. You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with unbelievers has provoked the Lord’s displeasure. You know not the things that belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe. . . .
I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies has been steadily increasing as the people backslide from God. It is all through our ranks, all over the field. But few know what our churches are to experience. I saw that at present we are under divine forbearance; but no one can say how long this will continue. . . .
The patience of God has an object, but you are defeating it. He is allowing a state of things to come that you would fain see counteracted by and by, but it will be too late. God commanded Elijah to anoint the cruel and deceitful Hazael king over Syria, that he might be a scourge to idolatrous Israel. Who knows whether God will not give you up to the deceptions you love? Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm, and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training under the hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry, Peace, peace, when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom weep, but now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my paper as I write. It may be that ere long all prophesying among us will be at an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer disturb their carnal slumbers. . . .
I know that many think far too favorably of the present time. These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin. Yet we do not despair. We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers, there can be no true Christians; but this is not the case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true he will take charge of the flock himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that his fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor. . ..
The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. . . But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day-time we look toward heaven, but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster … Then will the church of Christ appear “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” . . .
The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, she will be found wanting. (Ellen White, Testimonies Vol. 5, The Testimonies Slighted, Pages 62 – 84).
Six years later she warned again:
There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded. (Letter 40, 1890; 1SM 48.4).
The Testimonies are not to be re-interpreted or wrested. They are to interpret themselves like the Bible is to be its own interpreter. So there should be no committees, no official statements from the Ellen G. White Estate, and no dissection by the scholars of her statement. We’ve seen the results of these in the ineffective course the church has taken on women’s ordination. As a courtesy to the leadership, they should be informed of this statement in case they are not already aware of this particular warning.
As Adventists our mutual obligation to one another is to be good stewards of our finds of truth. This find is like when the priests under Joash found the scroll of the law and realized that Israel was under God’s judgment and would be rejected and dispossessed as God had said through Moses unless they repented. What if the priests had been unfaithful and not shared the warning? Aren’t we under obligation to share this? Look at what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 32 and how he riveted his warning in Israel’s memory by a song that apostasy would indeed occur. This was as much his parting legacy as the blessings he pronounced on the twelve tribes that same day. The record says that his warning was fully accepted by Israel at that time and they mourned the death of Moses for a full month. Similarly, shouldn’t this warning and this promise of a remnant from our prophet be made as public as possible to all the citizens of spiritual Israel?
I would be so glad to be wrong about these things and go along with those in the church who claim that Ellen White teaches the triumph of the Seventh-day Adventist Corporation. I’m persuaded however that those who teach such things are like the Jews who, denying the prophecies of Moses said “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord”. So, while I believe that we should remain connected to the church through membership wherever possible, we should not be surprised if we find ourselves on the outside, our testimony silenced within Adventism, despite our best efforts to maintain the bond of love and unity among us.
In closing, here is a wonderful promise of the care of God over His people:
“God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” [Matthew 18:20.] Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the high and holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. Where two or three are present who love and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides; let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city enclosed in prison walls. The glory of God has penetrated the prison walls, flooding with glorious beams of heavenly light the darkest dungeon. His saints may suffer, but their sufferings will, like the apostles of old, spread their faith and win souls to Christ and glorify His holy name. The bitterest opposition expressed by those who hate God’s great moral standard of righteousness should not and will not shake the steadfast soul who trusts fully in God. All things shall work together for good to those who love God. “This is the love of God, that ye keep His commandments.” [1 John 5:3.] They that will be doers of the Word are building securely, and the tempest and storm of persecution will not shake their foundation, because their souls are rooted to the eternal rock.” (Letter 108, 1886 par. 17).
Mark Shipowick
mark.shipowick@gmail.com
(304) 445-5281
Post Script: Letter to Elder Dan Jackson of September 28, 2016
Greetings Elder Jackson.
I hope you and your family are well.
I came across this statement 9 days ago that was like finding a needle in the haystack of 50,000 pages that were released by the Ellen G. White Estate July before last. I think you’ll agree it’s very sobering. Writing to Elder G I Butler in 1875, Ellen White states:
I am now of the opinion that the Testimonies will not live among God’s people. They will be removed. I have some light on this point but cannot now give it. Said Christ, “I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now.” (Letter 16, 1875 par. 13).
I’d be grateful if you would share this among the NAD and GC leadership and have it confirmed as authentic and accurate by the White Estate. To leave no room for conspiracy theories of cover up or tampering it would be good to get a certified image of the original manuscript.
The very existence of such a statement presents a challenge especially to leadership but not much less daunting to laymen. It means that each officer of the church ought to be closely examining where his loyalties lie and be taking steps to ensure they are with Christ and not with a confederacy of men. God knows and loves His own, and He will be faithful though every man proves false. The hearts of all those who love the truth will be united in it, especially bound together by the ties of the Sabbath. It will be the best of times and the worst of times.
I’m attaching a brief document on this topic FYI in which I urge getting the word out to the body and to personally take this statement on advisement. I’d be interested in your thoughts.
Prayers and blessings on your ministry.
In respect and love, your brother,
Mark Shipowick
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