"And hath made of one bleed all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth. Acts 17:26.Which shall we believe, Paul or E. G. White? I beg leave to believe the Apostle. I must believe that the colored man is a creature of God. If he is not, why preach to him and try to save him. Oh shame on such visions! Is not the poor Negro debased low enough with chains and shackles, without depriving him of the honor of being a creature of God, a human being? She Teaches Contrary To The Bible On The Subject Of Immortality That Even The Endless Life In The Eternal State May Cease Or Waste Away. She says,
"In order for man to possess an endless life, he must continue to eat of the fruit of the tree of life. Deprived of that tree, his life would gradually wear out. "—Sp. Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 64.
Questions.—
Her Visions On Slavery In the United States Have Been Proven False By Recent Facts.
"Then commenced the jubilee when the land should rest. I saw the pious slave rise in triumph and victory and shake off the chains that bound him, while his wicked master was in confusion and knew not what to do, for the wicked could not understand the voice of God. Soon appeared the great white cloud." —Ex. View, p. 18.
Again she says, "It looked to me like an impossibility now for slavery to be done away."—Test. No. 7. p. 19, 1862. But slavery is now abolished by the United States, and there is not a slave holder in our government according to the Constitution. These visions therefore have failed and these prophesying are false, such as we are admonished to beware of.
She Teaches That The Sabbath Was Not A Test Prior to 1844, which is contrary to the Bible. She says,
"The time for the commandments of God to shine out with all their importance, and for God's people (not sinners, Snook) to be tried on the Sabbath truth, was when the door was opened in the most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. This door was not opened until the mediation of Jesus was finished in the Holy Place of the sanctuary in 1844. I saw that the present test on the Sabbath could not come until the mediation of Jesus in the Holy Place was finished."
Christians who fell asleep before the door was opened in the Most Holy—and had not kept the Sabbath, now rest in the hope, for they had not the light and the test on the Sabbath, which we now have, since that door was opened.— Ex. Views. p. 24-25.
Questions.—
Her Visions Are Contradictory And, Opposed to The Bible On The Subject Of Meats For Food. That we may make their changes and inconsistencies here appear in their true character, we will, 1st. show the position of Eld. White, who leads out on all these matters. He says,
"Some of our good brethren have added swine's flesh to the catalogue of things forbidden by the Holy Ghost, when the Apostles and Elders assembled at Jerusalem. But we feel called upon to protest against such a course, as being contrary to the plain teaching of the holy scriptures. Shall we lay a greater burden on the disciples than seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ? God forbid. Their decision being right, settled the question with them, and was a cause of rejoicing among the churches, and it should forever settle the question with us."—Review, Vol. 5, No. 18.Mrs. White, during the same time, believed and taught to the same effect, "Some have gone too far in the eating question. They have taken a rigid course and lived so very plain, that their health has suffered. I was referred back to Rochester. I saw that when we lived there we did not eat nourishing food as we should, and disease nearly carried us to the grave. * * All this is outside of the word of God. ... If God requires his people to abstain from swine's flesh he will convict them of the matter. If this is a duty of the church to abstain from swine's flesh, God will discover it to more than two or three. He will teach his church their duty."—Test No. 5, p. 27-29, now suppressed. 1859.
What does she mean by nourishing food, above? Answer. She says,
"We could not eat meat or butter and were obliged to abstain from all greasy food. Take these from a poor man's table and it leaves a very spare diet. Our labors were so great that we needed nourishing food."—Vol. 2, p. 144.Again, when writing to a sister who was fanatical on the pork question, she said,
"Dear sister I felt sorry for you, as I read your letter. The Lord has shown me two or three years since, that the use of swine's flesh was no test, that it was not sinning against God to use it. Now dear sister if it is your husband's wish to use Swine's flesh, you should be perfectly clear to use it." We will hear her again in 1864 she says, "God gave man no permission to eat animal food until after the flood. Everything had been destroyed upon which man could subsist, and therefore the Lord in their necessity, gave Noah permission to eat of the clean animals which he had taken with him into the Ark. But Animal food was not the most healthy article of food for man. After the flood the people ate largely of animal food. And he permitted that long-lived race to eat animal food to shorten their sinful lives. But God never designed the swine to be eaten under any circumstances."—Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 4 p. 121.
Notes:
Her Visions Are Contradictory In Regard To The 144,000. She first taught that they were composed of the Saints that will live till Jesus comes.
"Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus coming. ... The living Saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice. Then Jesus silver trumpet sounded as he descended. He gazed on the grave of the sleeping Saints and cried, awake, awake, awake. The graves opened and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144-000 shouted halleluia as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them."—Ex. Views. p. 11-13.She now teaches that those who die under what they call the third angel's message will be resurrected before Christ comes, and will take their places among the 144,000.
"When the voice of God came, the graves were shaken open, and those who died in faith under the third angel's message, came forth from their dusty beds glorified to hear the covenant of peace." Following this is the general resurrection. She says, "The earth mightily shook as the voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping saints. They responded to the call and came forth clothed with glorious immortality crying victory, victory, over death and the grave."—Sp. Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 205-8.There are too many resurrections here to accord with the Bible, and besides, the vision is opposed to itself.
"In the time of trouble we all fled from the cities and villages, but were pursued by the wicked, who entered the houses of the saints with the sword. They raised the sword to kill us, but it broke and fell as powerless as a straw."—Ex. Views, p. 17.This is understood to be the condition of the saints at the coming of Christ. Jesus teaches a different doctrine, He says,"I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating in companies together, and living in the most solitary places."—Vol. 1. p. 201.
"I tell you that in the night there shall be two men in one bed, the one shall be taken and the other left: two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken and the other left."— Luke 17, 31-35.
"The Northern army was moving on with triumph, not doubting but that they would be victorious. They rushed into battle and fought bravely, desperately. The Southern men felt the battle, and in a little would have been driven back still further." Contradiction.—"And in this battle had the Northern army pushed the battle still further in their fainting exhausted condition, a far greater struggle and destruction awaited them which would have caused great triumph in the South." Who can reconcile such a positive contradiction? I am very certain that it cannot be done. This may be the reason why Elder James White left this vision out when he republished Test. No. 7, in Sp. Gifts, vol. 4."
Editor's Note: According to Rev. 13:18 the number 666 is associated with the Beast, not the Image to the Beast. The following point was added by W.H. Brinkerhoff in 1866:
Here she "saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up." Now it so happens that the Image Beast has no number, and, per consequence, the view here given could not have come from the Lord. The management of this "vision" next claims our attention. What has become of it? and where can it be found? Is it in Volumes 1 to 4? No. Is it in the testimonies to the Church? No. Do the brethren at large have an understanding of it? They do not. Yet all of said Vision but that which we have quoted, can easily be found. Why leave this out? Why take away from the words of this book? |
Her teaching in regard to her husband is the same as that of fanatics, enthusiasts and false prophets. She claims great honors and favors from God for herself and husband. Dr. Alexander says:
"The sober christian can appeal to the word of God as containing all the ideas by which his mind is affected in its highest elevations of joy and love, but the enthusiast departs from the written word and trusts to impulses, impressions on the imagination, immediate suggestions, dreams or supposed visions. ... And accordingly most fanatics believe themselves inspired.—Evidences p. 223-4.Mahomet says,
"We have sent thee an Apostle, unto man and God is a sufficient witness thereof. Whosoever obeyeth the Apostle obeyeth God."—Koran, p. 110.Sweedenborg said,
"The Lord has called me to a holy office, who most graciously manifested himself to me in person, his servant, when he opened my sight to the view of the spiritual world and granted me the privilege of conversing with spirits and angels.—Sweedenborg, Doctrine, p. 20.Mrs. White, in the same egotistic channel, says
"I saw that God had made my husband a burden bearer since 1844, that he might obtain an experience to fill the place in the work he designed him to occupy. ... I saw that some do not realize that selfishness is at the bottom of their murmuring. God's humble instrument moves too fast for their faith, and his venturing out as he has done, has reproved their slow and unbelieving pace. And there has been satisfaction taken in watching and finding fault. Hints have been thrown out, doubts expressed which have had their influence."—Sp. Gifts, Vol. 2, p. 231.Notes. 1. To say nothing of the correctness of the above, it would at least have looked better for some one else to have had that vision. 2.The heads of this work at Battle Creek (not the New Jerusalem) are so high in authority that man must not interfere with their wrongs, they must be left in the hands of God for correction. They are above all revealed law, they must have special revelations for their case. God has given his Bible to us as our rule of life, and it is the duty of the leaders in this work to submit to it and if they do not, they must suffer the consequences. But as it has been with all fanatics, so it is with them, thy must not be corrected by man. No, no, they are too holy for that. They must be let alone and their cases referred to God.Again "God has committed his work at Battle Creek to chosen servants. He has laid the burden of the work upon them. Angels of God are commissioned to have the oversight of the work, and if it does not move right, those who are at the head of the work will be corrected and things will move in God's order without the interference of this individual or that."—Test. No. 5, p.26.
19. S. D. Adventists claim to be those who will be translated at the second coming of Christ. If this claim is true, her visions are false, and if the visions are true, this claim is false. Our Lord, speaking of the class they profess to be says,
"These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth. ... And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God." Rev. 14, 4-5.Do they answer this description? If not they cannot be the people in question. We will hear a description of them given by their prophetess, and let the reader be his own judge. She says,
"I was shown that the spirit of the Lord has been dying away from the church.—Vol. 3, p. 1.These testimonies were republished in 1864, and purport to give a true statement in regard to these things. She says of them. "It has been thought best to reprint them ... omitting local and personal matters and giving these portions only which are of practical and general interest and importance."—Preface in Vol. 4. The vision of John and the above cannot apply to the same people. A people growing every month in such great sins as she say the S. D. Adventists are, cannot be God's people. And if they are not God's people her visions are a deception for she teaches that they are God's people and will be translated. Hence the visions are false, let the question turn either way."Then I was pointed back to the years 1843-4. There was a spirit of consecration then that there is not now. ... What has come over the professed peculiar people of God."—id. p. 15.
"As I saw the dreadful fact that the people of God were conformed to the world, with no distinction only in name between many of the professed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus and unbelievers my soul felt deep anguish."—id. p. 19.
"O the pride that was shown me of God's professed people. It has increased every year until it is now impossible to designate professed Advent Sabbath-keepers from all the world around them. Much I saw was expended for ribbons, and laces for the bonnets, collars, and other needless articles." (The note I omit because when this was first published there was no such explanation given) ... "They advance every month in (holiness, virtue, benevolences and righteousness? No.— writer) pride, covetousness, selfishness and love of the world. When truth affects the heart it will cause a death to the world, and the ribbons, laces and collars will be laid aside, and if dead, the laugh, the jeer and scorn of unbelievers will not move them."—id. p. 22.
20. Her visions are inconsistent and not in accordance with truth on the state and object of the late rebellion.
"I was shown if the object of this war was to exterminate slavery:—then England would have helped the North if desired. But England fully understands the existing feelings in the government and that the war is not to do away with slavery but merely to preserve the Union. It is not for her interest to have it preserved."—Test. No. 7. p. 9-10.The above purports to be the view that God gave of the condition of the rebellion.
1st. What are the facts in the case. Has the war done away slavery. Read the Constitution as amended and the statute books of the rebellious states.
2nd. Why would England not aid us? Vision says, "because the war was not to do away slavery." According to this England hates slavery so very much she cannot help us. But what about her character on this point? She did aid the south in various ways, as piratical crafts evince that were built ( if not by her orders, yet under her acquiescence) to prey upon our commerce. Let the bonded and burning vessels tell England's love of slavery. What was the corner stone of the Confederacy: Slavery. Thus England was willing to aid where slavery was not intended to be done away.
Her vision says, "it is not for the interest of England to have the Union preserved, and as the object of the war was only to preserve the Union she would not help us." Therefore according to this inspiration: to do away slavery would destroy the Union. Slavery is Constitutionally abolished and instead of the Union being destroyed the Southern States are very anxious to get a representation in the Halls of Congress again.
Reader, where did the above vision come from, and by what inspiration. The above vision literally destroys itself.
21. Visions relative to the conduct of some during the war.
"In Iowa they carried things to quite a length and ran into fanaticism. They mistook zeal and fanaticism for conscientiousness. ... Instead of making their petitions to, and relying solely upon the power of the God of heaven, they petitioned to the legislature and were refused. They showed their weakness and exposed their lack of faith."—Test. No. 9, p. 2.
1st. What was done in Iowa? A petition was sent to the legislature for an exemption in the case any Sabbath keepers were drafted. This was fanaticism and exposed their lack of faith. Now mark what was done at the place where the author of these visions resides.
1st. Petitions were sent to the Governor asking to be permitted to come under the exemption clause, in the law regulating drafting, and state conferences were directed to do the same, and a little pamphlet containing sixteen pages nearly half of which was the virgin paper, unsoiled by type, was published, and twenty-five cents drafted out of the pockets of those who obtained said work. But this was not fanaticism and did not expose their lack of faith. Again not satisfied with this they went to Washington City and consulted the authorities there relative to the same thing, came home and issued two small books, charging three dollars and fifty cents if sent in any part of Michigan, and four dollars if sent out of the State.
(Note.—Since nobody is in danger of being drafted, these books can be had for one dollar. Somebody's necessities must have been taken advantage of.) They have done much more than in Iowa and if one was fanaticism, the other must be fanaticism intensified.
22. Our duty during the war.—Many believed that God would direct his people, through vision, relative to their duty during the late war, and not being satisfied with what was in the Bible on that subject, manifested much anxiety to know what to do. Did any thing definite and clear emanate from this source of light? No. Why not? Simply because she did not understand the matter herself and could only reflect what she had received. But we had visions during this period of anxiety and doubt that were plain and concise, and how important, we leave the reader to judge.
She says in vision relative to dress,
"The dress should reach somewhat below the top of the boot: but should be short enough to clear the filth of the sidewalk and street without being raised by the hand. A still shorter dress than this would be proper, convenient and healthful for females, &c."—How to Live, No. 6, p. 63.
Sisters, this dress matter was so important that you had specific directions about your apparel in this time of war, while we were compelled to guess at our duty unless we were willing to take the Bible as our guide on this question. And yet we are taught 'tis death, eternal ruin, not to recognize the hand of God in these visions. Can our judgment, aided and directed by the word of God, charge such things as these to the all wise Creator.