Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, “The Question of Influence,” pp. 62-67 in Selected Messages, book 3.
“Ellen White made claims about her ministry that leave no room for compromise or ambivalence about those claims. She claimed to have seen things that could have come only from supernatural inspiration. Either her claims are true or she was a lunatic and/or a powerful liar who promulgated her insane ravings or amazing deceptions from the middle of the nineteenth into the second decade of the twentieth century.
“What rational options are there for someone who claimed to have seen, in vision, what she claimed to have seen? She claimed to have seen Jesus bring the redeemed into the Holy City. She claimed to have seen people living on other planets and angels protecting God's people. She claimed to have seen, in vision, Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary or what Satan looked like in heaven before he sinned. She claimed to have seen angels visiting Adam and Eve in Eden. She said that she saw the look on Adam's face when he realized that Eve had sinned. She claimed to have seen Jesus, in vision, and what His face was like after the wilderness fast. She claimed to have seen the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb, as well as an angel release Paul and Silas from prison. She claimed to have seen Satan lead lost multitudes into the final rebellion against God after the second resurrection. She claimed to have seen, in vision, life in the new earth, and on and on.
“What does one do with these claims? Those who place her ministry on the level, for instance, of Martin Luther, are living in a logical fantasy world. Either we take her for what she has claimed for herself (which, of course, leaves open a whole group of questions that we, as a church, haven't always answered in the most fortuitous manner), or we have to reject her as liar, a lunatic, or someone inspired by the devil. These are the only logical options.”—Clifford Goldstein, Graffiti in the Holy of Holies (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press®, 2003), pp. 172, 173.
Discussion Questions: 
Read over the argument above. The point’s simple: Ellen White, by her claims, doesn’t leave us many logical options regarding her ministry. From what we know of her life, her teachings, and the legacy of writings that she has left, what’s really the best and most logical explanation for her life and ministry? Defend your answer.
As with the Bible, some questions remain regarding Ellen White’s ministry. The issue is: Do we focus on these few questions, and miss the big picture of her work, or do we focus on the big picture, knowing that as with anything, some questions will remain?
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| Redeemed, Healed, and Joyful by SUNG JA KOH I live in Korea. I grew up believing in God, but Jesus wasn't my Savior. I married a Christian man, but I didn't know how to have a close relationship with Christ. I prayed that God would show Himself to me and show me that He is in control of my life. My husband and I visited different churches, hoping to find a relationship with God. We prayed for hours, hoping that this would draw us closer to God. But we found no spiritual breakthrough. We stopped attending this church, but we didn't stop searching. Then my husband met a pastor who offered to study the Bible with us. At last we experienced God's love. We moved back to my husband's hometown, where we lived with my in-laws. They still worshiped their ancestors, and the situation caused me great stress. I became sick. In spite of the doctors' advice, I grew worse. My husband urged me to have faith, and I begged God to heal me. Then I learned about a health recovery program called NEWSTART that was being held in a nearby church. I went, hoping something there would help me. The program nourished my body and my soul. A change to a more natural diet eased my symptoms. The daily devotionals at the program fed my soul, and I asked the leader for Bible studies. I found answers to Bible questions that had troubled me for years, and I became convinced of the truth. My husband wanted me to wait to visit the Adventist church until he could go, but his busy schedule left no time for Bible studies, so I went alone. I knew I had found what I was searching for and was baptized. I shared cassettes, books, and pamphlets with my husband, and eventually he agreed to go to church with me. In spite of Satan's attempts to divert his attention from the truth, my husband also joined the church. God has shown us the truth, and we want to share it with others. Please pray with us for family members who have not yet given their hearts to God. And thank you for your mission offerings, which help sponsor programs such as the one that brought me to God's church.
SUNG JA Ken shares her faith in Kwangju City, Korea. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
I prayed for my grown children, and one by one they opened their hearts to God's message. Some have been baptized, and others are on the way. My brother also found this beautiful faith. My mother was growing old and weak. She told me that she did not have the peace she wanted, and there was little time left. Praise God, she surrendered her heart to God and asked to be baptized just two months before she passed away. My mother-in-law turned from ancestor worship and gave her life to Jesus too. 
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