"Thus Says the Lord"
What did the prophets often designate as the source of their messages? Jer. 1:4, Ezek. 7:1, Hos. 1:1. Why is this so important to what they have to say?
The prophets repeatedly pointed out that their messages came from God. Their position can be compared to that of earthly ambassadors who are sent out by an earthly ruler and who are commissioned to represent their sovereign. In that capacity they must adhere closely to the instructions they have received. The expression “the Word of the Lord came unto . . .” means that (a) their messages carry Divine authority; (b) they received them by direct communication from the Lord; and (c) these messages are in their minds, ready to be presented.
The expression “thus says the Lord” appears more than four hundred times in the Old Testament—a powerful testimony to the fact that in Scripture God is speaking directly to the reader. The prophet’s responsibility was to bring these messages before the people and apply them to the audience’s situation.
Ellen White strongly emphasized the inspiration of the Scriptures. “I take the Bible just as it is, as the Inspired Word,” she said.—Selected Messages, book 1, p. 17. At the same time she also claimed Divine inspiration for her writings: “In these letters which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. . . . It is true concerning the articles in our papers and in the many volumes of my books.”—p. 29.
Ellen White called her writings the lesser light leading men and women to the greater light—the Bible. (See Colporteur Ministry, p. 125.) While both are light, their functions are different: 1. The Bible is God’s message for all time and for all people. The writings of Ellen G. White are God’s message for a particular time, the end time, and for a particular people, the remnant church. 2. Her writings are not a new or additional standard of doctrine, but a help for the church in the time of the end. Her writings focus the reader’s attention on Scripture. They do not replace Scripture.
| How can we avoid the trap of putting Ellen White’s writings on par with the Bible? Why is that so easy to do and such a big mistake? |
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