Thanks for the cool idea of posting a search to a BB. I am also having trouble with finding a quote.

As quoted to me, EGW says something about those who did not believe the Lord was coming in October 1844 were not true believers. Those who were the true church looked for his coming at this time. I need to find this quote, but so far have come up wanting.

If anyone could help out I would be eternally grateful.

[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: Durk ]

Hello Durk

I am replying to you, because I always appreciate a constructive challenge.

Also, you have gotten my curiosity up a bit, and I was hoping that if I found you the quote; you might let us know a bit about why you are asking...

I think the second paragraph of the enclosed quotes would be what you are looking for; but I thought that for more context, you might also appreciate the first paragraph too.

Let us know if this was what you are looking for. I have more stuff I can search through yet, and would be glad to help.

EW.236.001
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. Those faithful, disappointed ones, who could not understand why their Lord did not come, were not left in darkness. Again they were led to their Bibles to search the prophetic periods. The hand of the Lord was removed from the figures, and the mistake was explained. They saw that the prophetic periods reached to 1844, and that the same evidence which they had presented to show that the prophetic periods closed in 1843, proved that they would terminate in 1844. Light from the Word of God shone upon their position, and they discovered a tarrying time--"Though it [the vision] tarry, wait for it." In their love for Christ's immediate coming, they had overlooked the tarrying of the vision, which was calculated to manifest the true waiting ones. Again they had a point of time. Yet I saw that many of them could not rise above their severe disappointment to possess that degree of zeal and energy which had marked their faith in 1843.
EW.236.002
Satan and his angels triumphed over them, and those who would not receive the message congratulated themselves upon their farseeing judgment and wisdom in not receiving the delusion, as they called it. They did not realize that they were rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, and were working in union with Satan and his angels to perplex God's people, who were living out the heaven-sent message.

David
Thanks for the quote. This certainly does indicate that those who did not accept the Oct. 22 event were going against God. (Or thoughts to that effect.)

Thank you also for the context. Context is always good. I will, of course, look up the passage and read the entire segment.

As for the reasons I am asking, well, give me a little time to understand and formulate the argument as it has been presented to me, and I will respond. Hopefully it will be in a day or two, but I don't always have the time to devote to a forum that I would like to have.

"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 ]

I don't read that into this.
she said that the people that had rejected the message ( turned their backs when the expected return didn't happen) had God's wrath kindled against them.
they were involved in the first stage [most likely out of fear of His return], but, had no faith.
When He didn't come as they expected, they prided themselves that they had not been 'caught up in the delusion' of those that were faithful.
Instead of getting on their knees and asking for more light, they rejected even the light they already had.
They were not in trouble because they refused to believe in William Miller, they were in trouble [with God] because they refused to believe the message He had sent through William Miller.

This has been a problem down through the ages, look at how the messengers af old were treated, stoned, inprisoned, chased out of their homes.
We, humans, have an awful habit of doing this.

Hi Durk

I appreciate your response here. I only just saw it now, so bear with me for a few days; as I am very interested in replying.

Interesting, belief in a false message can be a test of faith!

Is the message taught in that lesson, be true to your convictions until you are convinced that it is not the Lord that brought you the convictions, because to do less is sin?