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“By a Prophet”

“By a Prophet”. How God Used Ellen White to Guide our Church. Bleak Prospects. Few believers Little money No doctrinal unity Hiram Edson and friends studying sanctuary Joseph Bates promoting Sabbath Whites accepted it on Bible evidence EGW vision confirmed, seven months later.

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“By a Prophet”

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  1. “By a Prophet” How God Used Ellen White to Guide our Church

  2. Bleak Prospects • Few believers • Little money • No doctrinal unity • Hiram Edson and friends studying sanctuary • Joseph Bates promoting Sabbath • Whites accepted it on Bible evidence • EGW vision confirmed, seven months later

  3. 1840s: God’s First Priority–Doctrine • Hiram Edson and friends—Sanctuary • Whites and Joseph Bates—Sabbath • Needed unity, further light • Studied together, sometimes all night • EGW’s mind “locked” • When they could go no further, vision • Solution evident; they could unite

  4. 1840s: God’s First Priority–Doctrine • How give messages to others? • Sabbath and Sanctuary Confs, 1848-1850 • Leaders went out: James and Ellen White, Joseph Bates, Hiram Edson, others • Met with little groups: 20, 30, 50 • Presented truths, dealt with questions • Studied and prayed • By 1850, unity on clear set of doctrines

  5. 1840s: God’s First Priority—Doctrine • How spread message further? • 1848 vision: start paper • 1849, JW started Present Truth • Reached new people, strengthened believers

  6. 1850s: God’s Second Priority—Organization • Dec. 13, 1850, EGW: “We know that we have the truth” • Eleven days later, Dec. 24, first vision on “gospel order”—organization

  7. 1850s: God’s Second Priority—Organization • Why need organization? • Own property • Define doctrine officially • Have criteria for membership, apply them • Discipline church members when needed • Provide financial support for workers • Establish institutions • Enter new fields

  8. 1850s: God’s Second Priority—Organization • Believers resisted organization: “Babylon” • Visions urged “gospel order,” organizing • 1850: Heaven is orderly • 1851: Disfellowship unruly members • 1854: Gospel order “feared, neglected” (Early Writings, pp. 97-107)

  9. 1850s: God’s Second Priority—Organization • May 13, 1860, first steps in organization: first legal org. of a local church • Oct. 1, 1860: adopted name SDA; also organized first legal body: SDA Pub. Assn. • Oct. 5, 6, 1861: first conference: Michigan • May 21, 1863: General Conf. organized

  10. 1860s: God’s Third Priority—Health • June 6, 1863: First major vision on health • Some earlier instruction: • 1848: Tobacco, tea, coffee • 1851: Tobacco again • 1854: Cleanliness; eat simple food

  11. 1860s: God’s Third Priority—Health • 1863 vision repeated earlier instruction, added more; health a religious duty (1 Cor. 6:20) • Disease from violating laws of health • Temperance: items to avoid • Diet: no pig; vegetarianism; not overeat • Cleanliness: body, clothing, living quarters • Avoid dangerous drugs; use simple treatments

  12. 1860s: God’s Third Priority—Health • Basis for reform: relationship to God • Dec. 25, 1865: vision that we should have health-care institution of our own • Nine months, built Western Health Reform Institute; became Battle Creek Sanitarium • 1860s, EGW warned against alcohol • Visions have blessed us

  13. 1870s and on: Education emphasis • Many visions touching on education, not one comprehensive vision • See 3T 131-160 (1872); 3T 468 (1875), FCE 310-327 (1894) • Establish school to train workers • Not impractical education, classics • Center on Bible and train for practical living • Whole man: head, hand, heart

  14. 1870s and on: Education emphasis • In response, Battle Creek College, 1874 • Bought 14 acres, not 40, and in town • Sold 6 acres for houses! • Taught classics; no required Bible classes • EGW went to Australia, 1891 • Called for large tract of land, away from city • Had vision of land ill spoken of; saw furrow • Found it, 1894: Avondale College today

  15. 1870s and on: Education emphasis • Reform of Battle Creek College • Too cramped; unsuitable program • E. A. Sutherland, president, saw site in Berrien Springs, Mich., 1899 • 1901, college moved there • Followed EGW’s plan: agriculture and other work, and Bible the center of the education

  16. 1870s and on: Education emphasis • We had a few elementary schools and one small high school early • In response to visions, Battle Creek College was established (1874), then other elementary and high schools • Our young people belong in our schools

  17. 1870s and on: Mission Outreach • “Go into all the world” Mark 16:15 • Early believers thought fulfilled in America • Also sent literature to far-away places • Appeals started coming to GC for workers • Europe first field we thought we could help • Mrs. White encouraged it • 1874, sent J. N. Andrews as first official missionary

  18. 1870s and on: Mission Outreach • Other missionaries followed, with EGW’s encouragement and urging • 1875, vision of work in many places • Remembered that Australia was one of them • Went to Europe herself, 1885-1887 • Recognized places in Europe she had seen in the vision • Missionaries went to Africa and other places • EGW went as missionary to Australia

  19. 1880s, 1890s: Revival of Christ-centered Message • Pioneers knew saved by faith, not works • But “present truth” included law, Sabbath • Gradually became focus of preaching • Law not savior; Jesus is! • We keep law because He has saved us; He enables us to keep it

  20. 1880s, 1890s: Revival of Christ-centered Message • EGW urged reform: trust merits of Jesus • Early 1880s, she emphasized Jesus as Savior and Redeemer • E. J. Waggoner, A. T. Jones did, too • Came to focus at 1888 General Conference • EGW: “Matchless charms of Jesus” • 1892, EGW released Steps to Christ

  21. 1890s, 1900s: Reorganization • Early organization simple: churches, conferences, General Conference • Work grew, structure didn’t • Authority concentrated in BC, a few men • “Kingly power” • Needed better, coordinated structure

  22. 1890s, 1900s: Reorganization • EGW called for reorganization, conversion • Leaders set aside regular agenda; results: • Established Union Conferences • Organized departments • Expanded GC Committee to 25 • EGW thrilled with developments • Later we established Divisions • EGW pointed way; leaders developed plans

  23. Other EGW Contributions • Opened way for understanding of Trinity • Saved church from pantheism, 1900s • Major literary output, 1890s, 1900s • PP, GW, SC, MB, DA, in 1890s • COL, Ed, MH, AA, GC rev., GW rev., CT, PK in 1900s and 19-teens • Testimonies for the Church, 1855-1909 • “Nothing to fear for the future” LS 196

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  25. Origin: Millerite Movement • After 1844 disappointment, movment in ruins • Ellen Harmon had given it up as error • Dec. 1844, first vision: high path • Millerite message was light for whole path • Jesus is still leading; city is ahead • Stay on path, don’t deny light behind • Jesus will take you all the way to the city

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