"Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with sympathy and love upon those who had with sweet expectation longed to see Him whom their souls loved. Angels were hovering around them, to sustain them in the hour of their trial. Those who had neglected to receive the heavenly message were left in darkness, and God's anger was kindled against them, because they would not receive the light which He had sent them from heaven." (Early Writings, page 236, paragraph 1)
Beginning with this statement, let me attempt to lay out the argument regarding Ellen G. White and the situation of her inspiration.
1. In this statement, EGW often uses the phrase "I was shown" (or words to that effect). This would indicate that God was revealing to her what she is writing to the people.
2. The statement seems to say that those who do not look for their Lord's return on this date are not true followers of God, and God's wrath is directed against them. (ie: they are the "unsaved")
("Those who had neglected to receive the heavenly message were left in darkness, and God's anger was kindled against them, because they would not receive the light which He had sent them from heaven.")
3. Scripture, however, says that we are not to go out looking for the Son of Man, and that we do not know the "day or hour" when he will come. (See texts below)
Luke 21:8
"And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."
Matthew 24:25-27
"Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Matthew 25:13
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
Argument: Some people at the time of the Great Disappointment did not believe God was coming back at this time, and did not join the "little flock" in looking for their Lord. Their stance was based on their reading of Scripture. However, these people were in fact lost, since in this case God required them to NOT believe Scripture, which says "ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.", but to believe man (William Miller, etc.) who said God was returning on this date.
Question: When are we to base our faith on man, and believe what they say rather than on Scripture and what it says?
Conclusion: EGW is not divinely inspired, since she requires trust in Scripture to be replaced by trust in man.
This is the general trend of the argument. Of course we have not defined terms, ect. We may yet have to do that.
[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: Durk ]
[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: Durk ]