That which she had seen "ten years before" had been shown her in November and
December of 1848. Here is a brief overview of those revelations:
On Sabbath, November 18, she was shown in vision that the message of the Third
Angel needed to be published and widely circulated.
(It is of interest that, as you read the story of her life, you will find that
these specific-information visions which she received came more frequently when
they would, as a result, be printed and circulated. That is significant! God
wanted that information printed, circulated, and read! All of her writings
should be kept in print and distributed today; none are unimportant, for all
are from Heaven.)
On Saturday night, December 16, at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, another vision was
given. At the time, many were suggesting that the massive turmoil occurring just
then in Europe was the signal for the end of time. But in this vision, Ellen
White was shown that a far greater upheaval was yet in the future.
In that vision, she was also shown that Jesus would return to earth through
that region of the sky we call the Orion constellation.
"December 16, 1848, the Lord gave me a view of the shaking of the powers of the
heavens. I saw that when the Lord said 'heaven: in giving the signs recorded by
Matthew, Mark, and Luke, He meant heaven, and when He said 'earth' He meant
earth. The powers of the heavens are the sun, moon, and stars. They rule in the
heavens. The powers of the earth are those that rule on the earth. The powers of
heaven will be shaken at the voice of God. The sun, moon, and stars will be
moved out of their places. They will not pass away, but be shaken by the voice
of God.
"Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The atmosphere
parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion,
whence came the voice of God. The Holy City will come down through that open
space.
"I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken and that events come in
order. War, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence are first to shake
the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the sun, moon, and stars,
and this earth also. I saw that the shaking of the powers in Europe is not, as
some teach, the shaking of the powers of heaven, but it is the shaking of the
angry nations." —Letter 2, 1848, addressed to The Scattered Remnant (see also
Early Writings, p. 41).
Shortly after that, on Friday evening January 5, 1849, the ministry of Christ in
the heavenly sanctuary, the sealing time, the death decree, the seven last
plagues, and Jacob's trouble were partially explained to her:
"At the commencement of the holy Sabbath, January 5, 1849, we engaged in prayer
with Brother Belden's family at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and the Holy Ghost
fell upon us. I was taken off in vision to the most holy place, where I saw
Jesus still interceding for Israel. . Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the
most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or
destruction."—Early Writings, p. 36.
As Daniel sought for a further explanation of a vision in Daniel 8, and received
it later in Daniel 9, so Ellen White asked for further information and later
received it.
'I asked my attending angel for an explanation of what I saw. He told me that I
could see no more then, but he would shortly show me what those things that I
then saw meant." —Early Writings, p. 37.
The next afternoon (January 6), additional light was given in regard to the
intercessory ministry of Christ in the sanctuary in heaven, and how this related
to the sealing of God's people.
"I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to
accomplish it. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the
remnant, then raised His hands, and with a voice of deep pity cried, 'My blood,
Father, My blood, My blood, My blood"
"Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God, who sat upon the great
white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. Then I saw an angel with a
commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on
the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud
voice, 'Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their
foreheads.' "—Early Writings, p. 38.
Still uncertain as to the full significance of this, she asked for additional
information, and it was then given.
"I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I heard, and what the
four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the
powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on earth; that the four
angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and they were about to let
them go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to
blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and
He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His
blood for them. "Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four
angels and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of
the living God in their foreheads." —Early Writings, p. 38.
These two visions of January 5 and 6 are discussed in Early Writings, pages
36-38.
In an undated vision received soon after, she was shown God's care over His
people, and also the glorious inheritance in heaven awaiting each one of them.
It is described in Early Writings, pages 39-40. In this vision, she was also
taken to other worlds.
It is thus clear that ten years prior to Ellen White's very important "Great
Controversy vision," she had received several introductory views of many of the
closing-scenes events described in that book. Ellen had just turned 21 when she
received them.
These 1848-1849 visions of final events were written out and later included in
her first three books: Christian Experience and Views of Mrs. E.G. White,
(which was printed in 1851; today available in Early Writings, pages 11-83); A
Supplement to Experience and Views (printed in 1854; today in Early Writings,
pages 85-127); and Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1; now in Early Writings, pages
133-295).
But it was not until her 1858 vision that she was explicitly told that the
closing-scenes visions must be published in far greater detail. She was also
told at that time that —above all else —Satan did not want that information made
available to the people!
Before
concluding this section, it would be well to note that, in 1848, Ellen White was
also used of God in formulating another major area of Adventism:
several of our basic doctrines.
“A much larger number of those who read it will not take their position
until they see the very events taking place that are foretold in it."1890.
“As soon as Great Controversy came from the press it should have been pushed
above every other book. I have been shown this. "—1899.
Three powerful blessings were given to the remnant just following the passage of
Jesus from the first to the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844:
(1)The Spirit of Prophecy was again in the church, after an absence of about
1750 years.
(2) The Sabbath truth was discovered by the Advent people, after being almost
wholly extinguished by the apostasy of the Dark Ages.
(3) The truth about Jesus' ministry in the sanctuary opened up before His
people.
Yes, those were indeed blessings. But it was not until 1848 that the first major
outline of basic Seventh-day Adventist beliefs was produced during what was
called the "Sabbath Conferences." These were meetings held in several locations
in New England, some of them in barns. Men, holding to a wide variety of
beliefs, attended those gatherings. Because most held to a variety of peculiar
theories, and because most believed their own to be correct, theological
pandemonium appeared certain. Yet each meeting concluded with a single, unified
clear-cut set of teachings! How could that possibly happen?
Our kind Father worked it out in a very definite way: Throughout the time that
the meetings were held, the mind of Ellen White was locked so that she could
understand neither the reasoning nor the conclusions of the brethren. The men
were clearly on their own, but they could go nowhere; too many differences and
varied views divided them.
A topic would be selected for prayerful study; it would be investigated; the
brethren would then arrive at that point where they knew not how to proceed.
Before them lay several doctrinal paths, and they were not clear regarding
which one to pursue.
Then Ellen White would be taken off in vision and, while they prayerfully
waited, would be given the correct answer. Coming out of vision, she would
relate what she had been shown to the assembled group. They would accept the
light given, noting that, again, her mind was locked to an understanding of the
conversation and issues involved.
Since the great controversy vision was so very important, why did the Lord wait until 1858 to give it to His messenger in detail? If you will scan through early Advent history, you will note that our publishing work hardly got started until the mid-1850s. Volume One of the Testimonies was not printed until 1855. Prior to that time, only three small books had been released. Each of those three (named earlier, which were in 1882 reprinted in Early Writings) contained data related to the 1848 great controversy visions.
Although James White began the publishing work in July 1849, for several years it only consisted of the mailing out of small papers. In November 1850, as a result of overwork, James had a partial nervous breakdown. By early 1852 he was coughing constantly. That summer, their first printing press equipment was purchased, but about all it was used for was the printing of small papers. The great controversy vision needed to go to the people, and the time was drawing near when this would happen. Satan was angry.
On May 23, James and Ellen boarded a train in Michigan, but
Ellen was convicted they must move to a rear car. After two such moves, she was
satisfied. Shortly thereafter, a terrible train wreck occurred. The lead cars
had left the tracks, but the railroad inspectors were amazed to find that the
car carrying Ellen and James had been unhooked from the forward cars. As a
result, it, and the few cars behind it, were perfectly preserved.
A large bolt normally went through the coupling, and in this way connected cars.
Their lives were saved by the interworking of several miracles:
(1) This bolt had been taken out just before the crash.
(2) Ellen and James' car had been held back somewhat to separate it, and the
cars behind it, from the forward momentum of the lead cars.
(3) Then the bolt had been reinserted into their car.
(4) When the crash came, their car and the ones behind it were mysteriously and
immediately slowed and brought to a quiet stop, so they did not crash into the
forward cars. The accident is mentioned in Life Sketches, pages 153154 (1
Testimonies, pp. 94—95).
"The Lord has set before me matters which are of urgent importance for the
present time, and which reach into the future. "—1890.
"When the Great Controversy should have been circulated everywhere, it was
lying dead.” —1899
In 1855 James was in better health, but much of his and Ellen's time continued
to be filled with visits to churches and campmeetings. However, by June 1856 the
publishing house debts were paid, it was operating on a much firmer footing, and
a board of several men were now managing it.
At last Ellen White could write a major book, her first larger book. Of course,
we can know what it was about: the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
The Lovett's Grove vision was given at exactly the right time. That initial
larger book would be the first edition of Great Controversy.
In the spring of 1858, Ellen was 30 years old. Accompanied by her husband, she
was visiting conference meetings in several locations in Ohio. They had already
visited Green Springs and Gilboa.
"It is our design to be at the conference at Green Springs the twenty-sixth, and
to meet in conference with the brethren in Gilboa, March 6 and 7. We may spend
three or four weeks in Ohio." —Review, February 18, 1858. Arriving the next
weekend at Lovett's Grove (a small town near Bowling Green), they spoke during
Sabbath and Sunday, March 13 and 14. The meetings were held in a public
schoolhouse. On Sunday, the 14th, a funeral service was held in the building
where the meetings were being held. The house was packed and not everyone could
get in. Asked to speak, James White conducted the funeral service. As he ended,
Ellen rose to express a few words of comfort to the mourners.
"When he had closed his remarks, I felt urged by the Spirit of the Lord to bear
my testimony. As I was led to speak upon the coming of Christ, and the
resurrection, and the cheering hope of the Christian, my soul triumphed in God;
I drank in rich draughts of salvation. Heaven, sweet heaven, was the magnet to
draw my soul upward, and I was wrapped in a vision of God's glory. Many
important matters were there revealed to me for the church."—Life Sketches, pp.
161-162.
“ A broad, panoramic view of the entire great controversy between Christ and
Satan —covering more than 7,000 years from the fall of Lucifer to the close of
the millennium —was given to Ellen White during those two hours while she lay in
vision in that small, one-room schoolhouse in Lovett's Grove, Ohio.
"I am more anxious to see a wide circulation for this book than for any
others I have written. "—1905.
As the years passed, additional information was given as she needed it for her
writing work, and slowly the books Patriarchs and Prophets, Prophets and Kings,
Desire of Ages, Acts of the Apostles, and Great Controversy were written, and
then enlarged upon.
The gathered assembly watched with deep interest throughout that vision, and,
when it was ended, the relatives of the deceased bore the casket to the
cemetery. But many of the people remained behind to hear Ellen relate what she
had been shown in vision. Commenting later on their reaction to what she told
them, she said: "a great solemnity rested upon those who remained" (2 Spiritual
Gifts, p. 270).
Equally concerned with personal problems of the believers in tiny Wood County
as with the history of the intergalactic feud of Satan with Christ, God alotted
part of that vision to matters relative to the spiritual welfare of these new
converts living in northwest Ohio. So, after Ellen discussed those matters, she
then proceeded to tell them portions of the great controversy vision.
And it was that part of this vision, which was of crucial importance to all of
us!
(1) It provided the people of God living in these last days with a comprehensive
view of trans-world history in its true reality. Instead of the history written
by men, with its preoccupation with the actions and interplay of influential
men, Ellen White was shown the history of the warfare between Christ and Satan
in heaven and on earth—from the beginning of sin all the way down to its end,
plus a glimpse beyond!
(2) This view of history is not only true; it fills the remnant with hope. Not
only does it draw back the curtain so that we may behold the controversy fought
over every soul, but it points us to the final victory of the armies of Heaven
over the forces of the evil one.
(3) This vision was accompanied by the command to write it all out—so that the
people could have it! It was not enough that the prophet personally know these
things; the rest of us must be told also! The great controversy story must be
printed and widely circulated!
"In this vision at Lovett’s Grove, most of the matter of the great controversy
which I had seen ten years before was repeated, and I was shown that I must
write it out."2 Spiritual Gifts, p. 270.
“No one feels the necessity or the importance of bringing it before the
people. Brethren, how long am I to wait for you to get the burden?"1890.
But there was more: a most solemn warning was also given:
"I was instructed to write it out. I was shown that while I should have to
contend with the powers of darkness, for Satan would make strong efforts to
hinder me, yet I must put my trust in God, and angels would not leave me in the
conflict."—Life Sketches, p. 162.
On Monday morning, the 15th, the Tillotsons drove the Whites in their carriage
to the railroad station at Freemont, and the next day they boarded a train for
Jackson, Michigan, in route to Battle Creek. As they journeyed, Ellen and James
earnestly discussed details of the forthcoming writing work. Much must be done,
and she was determined to immediately set to work. Arriving at Jackson, they
went to the home of Brother Daniel R. Palmer and his wife.
Satan was determined that this work be stopped.
"Two days afterward, while journeying on the cars to Jackson, Michigan, we
arranged our plans for writing and publishing, immediately on our return home,
the book entitled, The Great Controversy between Christ and His Angels, and
Satan and His Angels, commonly known as Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1. I was then as
well as usual.
"On the arrival of the train at Jackson, we went to Brother Palmer's. We had
been in the house but a short time, when, as I was conversing with Sister
Palmer, my tongue refused to utter what I wished to say. and seemed large and
numb. A strange, cold sensation struck my heart, passed over my head, and down
my right side. For a time I was insensible, but was aroused by the voice of
earnest prayer.
"I tried to use my left limbs (left arm and limb, 2 Spiritual Gifts, p. 271),
but they were perfectly useless. For a short time I did not expect to live. It
was my third shock of paralysis; and although within fifty miles of home, I did
not expect to see my children again. I called to mind the triumphant season I
had enjoyed at Lovett’s Grove, and thought it was my last testimony, and felt
reconciled to die."—Life Sketches, pp. 162-163.
Her friends pled with God to spare her life, and, by God's grace, the healing
process began.
"The earnest prayer of my friends were ascending to heaven for me, and soon a
prickling sensation was felt in my limbs, and I praised the lord that I could
use them a little. The lord heard and answered the faithful prayers of His
children, and the power of Satan was broken. That night I suffered much, but the
next day I was sufficiently strengthened to return home."—Life Sketches, p. 163.
The pain was especially intense throughout the first night after the stroke
occurred. But she felt sufficiently well the next day to continue by train on to
Battle Creek. Arriving there, she was taken by carriage to their Wood Street
home, where she was carried up the stairs to the front bedroom on the second
floor.
One reason God chose Ellen White to be His messenger is because she was
determined to stand loyal to Him. No matter how hard Satan might press the
battle against her, she would obey, serve, and work for God! Whether it might
result in life or death, she would write that book!
"For several weeks I could not feel the pressure of the hand or the coldest
water poured upon my head. In rising to walk, I often staggered, and sometimes
fell to the floor. In this afflicted condition I began to write on the great
controversy. At first I could write but one page a day, and then rest three
days; but as I progressed, my strength increased. The numbness in my head did
not seem to becloud my mind, and before I closed that work the effect of the
shock had entirely left me. "—Life Sketches, p. 163 (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1).
Three months later, in a vision given to her in Battle Creek, Ellen was shown
that the information in that vision was of such overarching importance that
Satan would use every means possible to keep it from the people.
"At the time of the conference at Battle Creek, in June, 1858, I was shown in vision that, in the sudden attack at Jackson, Satan intended to take my life, in order to hinder the work I was about to write; but angels of God were sent to my rescue. I also saw, among other things, that I should be blessed with better health than before the attack."Life Sketches, p. 163. (This section is also found, with slight variation, in 2 Spiritual Gifts, pp. 270—272.)
"I was shown that I should devote myself to writing out the important
matters for Volume 4 [The 1858 edition was volume one of a series, the 1884
and 1888 editions were volume four, and our present Great Controversy is
volume five of a series], and that the warning must go where the living
messenger could not go, and that it would call the attention of many to the
important events to occur in the closing scenes of this world's history.
"—1890.
"Why do not our people appreciate and circulate more widely the books
bearing the divine credentials?" —1907.
This experience has profound implications.
(1) To our knowledge, there has been only one divinely inspired prophet in the
last eighteen centuries, and only one message was given to that prophet which
resulted in a direct attack by Satan on the life of that prophet. The attack was
made to keep very important information from going to the people.
(2) That message must be very, very important. It must be of utmost importance,
not only for her to write it out but for us to share it today!
(3) Ellen White, herself, surely thought so. Pain or no pain, she immediately
set to work, putting it down on paper.
(4) Satan actually tried to kill her, just as she had been warned he would.
An intriguing question is why God permitted this attack to occur. It was clearly
permitted in His providence. Satan could go so far, but no further. For a split
second he was permitted to put forth his hand, but then, almost as instantly,
the hand was barred from further access. Why? The answer is very obvious. God
was not only trying to show Ellen White the importance of getting those
messages to the people; He was trying to tell us also!
In His providential mercy, that attack was permitted because God foresaw what
was coming: a seemingly endless variety of ways by which Satan would try to
keep that book from reaching those who most needed it. Repeatedly, Ellen was to
witness the efforts of fellow believers to slander her and the book, and try to
forbid its widespread publication.
Even the very location where the attack occurred was significant. The attack
came while Ellen was speaking with Sister Palmer in their home. Her husband,
Daniel R. Palmer, was one of the three-man publishing committee of the Advent
Review and Sabbath Herald, our church paper. Thus, he would be able to carry
back an urgent report to the Battle Creek publishing house about the importance
of that vision and the books she would be writing about it.
Repeatedly, over the years since 1858, Satan has worked to eliminate that book.
At Jackson, he tried a physical attack, but since then he has worked through
men to accomplish the same effect:
√' There would be so many meetings to attend that she would not have time to write the book (1860-1870s).
√' Scorn, insults, and false accusations would be poured upon her, to force her
to give up trying to write the 1884 edition or later enlarge it into the 1888
edition (1880s).
√' "The book is too long, we want shorter books at the Review; make it
shorter," she was told (1885-1887).
√' Because she would not return royalties to the Review, that was used as an
excuse for not circulating the book (1888 -1890).
√' "There are other books which would sell better, so we'll leave that one on
the publishing house shelves," was the policy decided on (1888—1890, and later).
√' "Some other people probably wrote the later editions, so have nothing to do
with the 1888 or 1911 editions" (1970s onward).
√‘ "The earlier editions are not officially approved today, so do not circulate
them; and we'll keep the current edition so highly priced you cannot afford it"
(1950s onward).
√' "Everything in that book was copied from someone else, so the book is
worthless" (1970s onward).
√' "The book could get us in trouble with the Sunday keeping churches, so do not
distribute it" (1950s onward).
√' "That book should never be distributed first; always later, much later"
(19505 onward).
√' "It's too hard a book to sell; the children's books are better" (1950s
onward).
√' "Yes, I have the book at home on my bookshelf. No, I am so busy with other
things, that I haven't read in it for years. But, yes, I do think it is very
important."
Seeing the onslaught which would face that book over the next century and more,
God permitted Satan to attack its author, so that we might KNOW of a certainty
that THAT volume contained the most important messages for people living in the
end-time.
Do not underrate the importance of this book in your own life or in the lives of
those around you. Along with the Bible, it is the most important book in our
world today. Determine that you will read in it frequently, and that you will
give it the widest possible circulation.
"Now Volume 1, or Patriarchs and Prophets, is ready for circulation, but
even for this book I would not allow Volume 4 [Great Controversy] to remain
longer as a light under a bushel. I am in sore distress of mind, but who of
my brethren cares for this?”—1890.
"As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of the Word,
and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make known
to others that which had thus been revealed, to trace the history of the
controversy in past ages and especially so to present it as to shed light on
the fast—approaching struggle of the future. "—1888.
As result of having received the sweeping vision of 1858 at Lovett's Grove,
Ellen immediately began work on Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1, containing the basic
view she had been given of the great controversy of the ages between Christ and
Satan.
As mentioned above, when she had nearly completed the writing of the manuscript
for that book, she received a vision confirming Satan's intense hatred of the
entire project. In later reference to the Lovett's Grove vision, she said this:
"I was taken off in vision. In that vision I was shown that in the sudden attack
at Jackson, Satan designed to take my life to hinder the work I was about to
write; but angels of God were sent to my rescue, to raise me above the effects
of Satan's attack. I saw, among other things, that I should be blest with better
health than before the attack at Jackson."—2 Spiritual Gifts, p. 272 (Life
Sketches, p. 163).
A month prior to writing the above statement, in May 1858, she told about 400
believers (assembled in the Battle Creek Dime Tabernacle for a General
Conference Session) about the vision and the book she was writing. The session
itself met from May 21 to 24, and she spoke to them on Sunday, May 23:
"During the forenoon, Sister White related a portion of the views she has had
concerning the fall of Satan, the plan of salvation, and the great controversy
between Christ and His angels, and Satan and his. It abounded in startling
facts and vivid descriptions. And when the course of the narration had brought
us down to the days of the first advent, the humiliation, the suffering, and
finally the crucifixion of the Saviour, especially then did the silent tear and
the audible sobs of many in the congregation announce that their hearts were
touched by the sufferings of the Son of God for rebellious man.
"When we view the great controversy as now going forward—its field the world,
its subject man—we see not how anyone can long hesitate upon which side to
enroll himself. And at least the justice of that sentence is very apparent,
which condemns those who will persist to the end on the side of the power of
darkness, to the same ruin which overwhelms the first rebel and his worthy
sympathizers. "—Review, May 27, 1858.
The above description clearly reveals the immense breadth of what she had been
shown in the Lovett's Grove vision: from the fall of Lucifer to the earth made
new. After speaking all morning to the congregation, she then returned to the
lectern early that evening and spoke till 10 p.m. Deeply stirred by this
panoramic view, the people rose one by one and gave testimonies of praise and
dedication.
"But instead of this, the book was suppressed, . . The book that should have
gone did not go; and the men who should have worked to carry it forward,
discouraged the canvassers from handling it. Thus saith the Lord, 'I will
judge for this false, dishonest work.' "—1899.
"Great Controversy should be very widely circulated. It contains the story
of the past, the present, and the future. In its outline of the closing
scenes of this earth's history, it bears a powerful testimony in behalf of
the truth.” —1905.
In June, the Review reported that it was beginning to typeset copy for the
initial chapters of this new book. In mid—August, she completed the writing of
the book, and printing began. In September, it was ready for circulation. The
book had a lengthy title: Spiritual Gifts: The Great Controversy between Christ
and His Angels and Satan and His Angels. We today call it Spiritual Gifts,
Volume I, or the first (1858) edition of Great Controversy.
The following notice of publication appeared in a June 1858 Review:
“The Great Controversy, — This is the title of a work now in the press, written
by Mrs. White. It is a sketch of her views of the great controversy between
Christ and His angels, and the devil and his angels, from the fall of Satan
until the controversy shall close at the end of the one thousand years of
Revelation xx, by the destruction of sin and sinners out of the universe of God.
It will contain between two and three hundred pages. Price, neatly bound in
muslin, 50 cents."—Review, June 24, 1858.
After a 12-page introduction, written by Roswell F. Cottrell, the text by Ellen
White begins. Here is the first paragraph of what she wrote:
"The Lord has shown me that Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to
Jesus Christ. His countenance was mild, expressive of happiness like the other
angels. His forehead was high and broad, and showed great intelligence. His form
was perfect. He had a noble, majestic bearing."—1 Spiritual Gifts, p. 17.
This small book of 41 chapters and 224 pages was the first edition of Great
Controversy. Some will want to know how they can obtain a copy for themselves.
It is reprinted in full in the third section of Early Writings (pages 145295).
Never underrate Early Writings; it is a most marvelous little book! Read it all—and frequently! It contains many very important truths that we need to keep in
mind. This 1858 edition is also available in reprint from your local ABC. It is
Volume 1 of the four-volume, two-book set of Spiritual Gifts.
(Volume 2 of Spiritual Gifts was later enlarged to become Life Sketches. Volume
3 and the first half of Volume 4 was eventually expanded into Patriarchs and
Prophets. The last half of Volume 4 is now found in Testimonies, Volume I,
pages 113-455.)
Throughout our study, it should be kept in mind that information from that
Lovett's Grove vision is to be found not only in Great Controversy but also in
Patriarchs and Prophets, Prophets and Kings, Desire of Ages, and Acts of the
Apostles. In 1864, Volumes 3 and 4 of Spiritual Gifts came off the press, and
provided the remnant with a more comprehensive understanding of the fall of
Lucifer, the Creation, the fall of man, the lives of the patriarchs, and the
experience of Israel. Those two volumes bore the subtitle, Important Facts of
Faith in Connection with the History of Holy Men of Old.
Throughout the 1858 edition of Great Controversy, the words, "I was shown" and
"I saw," are to be found as many times, in fact, as there are pages in the book!
From Creation, the story takes us down through the Old Testament, into the life
of Christ and the apostles, and then to the apostasy of later ages, the
Reformation, and the Final Crisis.
Before concluding this section on the 1858 edition of Great Controversy, we
might mention that it was not written to bring earthly wealth to its author.
"What little profit there was on it was all solemnly dedicated to the Lord, and
$25 out of it had already been given to one of the Lord's needy servants (M.B. Czechowski)." —Review, November 25, 1858.
M.B. Czechowski was a converted Catholic priest who was fluent in seven
languages. In the spring of 1858, he had been sent as a missionary from Battle
Creek to upstate New York to work among French Catholics.
Are you thankful that the first edition of Great Controversy was not the last?
It was so very small! In the providence of God, it was to be enlarged two
times: first in 1884, and again in 1888.
"By reading it some souls will be aroused and will have courage to unite
themselves at once with those who keep the commandments of God."—1905.
"This book has to a great degree been misplaced by another book, which has
kept from the world the light God has given. "—1891.
Just as we can be thankful that the first edition of Great Controversy was not
the last, so we should be thankful that the second edition of that book was not
the last, either! Just as the 1858 edition was made larger in the 1884 edition,
so that edition was made larger in the publication of the 1888 edition.
Be thankful for all the editions; they are all of great benefit to you and to
others. Resist the whispered temptations of the evil one that any of those
editions should not be read or shared.
Four years after publication of that book, in July 1872, Ellen and James were
vacationing high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They spent the afternoon
outdoors reading this book with friends. What a pleasant way to spend a Sabbath
afternoon!
"We arose this beautiful morning with some sense of the goodness and mercy of
God to us.
"In the afternoon our niece, Mary Clough, Willie, and myself walked out and sat
beneath poplar trees. We read about sixty pages of Great Controversy, or
Spiritual Gifts [Volume 1 ]. Mary was deeply interested. We were happily
disappointed [that is, happily surprised) in the earnest manner in which she
listened. We see no prejudice with her. We hope she will yet see and receive the
truth. She is a pure, simple-hearted, yet intellectual girl. We closed the
Sabbath of the Lord with prayer. Mary united with us in prayer. Wrote letters
upon religious subjects to Louise Walling and Elder Loughborough." —Manuscript
4, 1872.
Due to the urgent importance of the 1858 Lovett's Grove vision, Ellen
immediately began work on writing it out; and, that same year, it was printed.
But, with the passing of years, she was instructed to produce a greatly enlarged
edition.
A letter by James reveals that, in mid-January 1879, Ellen began work on the
enlarged Great Controversy. This work was primarily done in two ways: (1) She
was shown in brief flashbacks, while writing, portions of the 1858 vision which
were not as clear in her mind and had therefore not been included in earlier
presentations. (2) She was given additional material in new visions. She was
also instructed that, as she searched other biographical accounts —especially on
the life of Christ—she would recognize worthwhile ways to express her ideas in a
fuller, pleasing variety; and, as she read through the writings of church
historians, she would locate and date scenes she had been shown in vision. This
she did.
As additional light was given regarding the great controversy, she was
instructed that she should write it out. This she faithfully did. That is how
the 1884 edition came to be. Later still, the same procedure produced the 1888
edition. Each one was an enlargement of the one before it; each one was
therefore important. Yet the publication of a new edition did not negate the
importance of the previous one. All of it is invaluable food. Remember the words
of Jesus: "gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost."
"In the Great Controversy, the last message of warning for the world is given
more distinctly than in any of my other books. "—1905.
All the Inspired writings are important! Value them all, read them all, share
them all. Throughout Inspired Scripture, there is not one later writing that is
more important than the earliest one, and vice-versa.
Some people will suggest to you that Ellen White did not write the second (1884)
or later editions of that book, but instead just sat back, content to let others
do the writing for her. That is not true. This woman was clearly willing to die
rather than not go forward with the writing of that book. Her determination to
obey God did not change in later years. As with all the other charges,
accusations, and slander against Great Controversy and its author, these attacks
on her character and authorship are instigated by the evil one. I would
urgently warn you: let no man steal your crown. Believe not the lying rumors and
vicious accusations. It is only as you remain close to God and in childlike
obedience to His Inspired Word that you will be guarded by holy angels in the
days ahead.
"It [Bible Readings] can never take the place the Lord designed that Volume
4 [Great Controversy] should have in the world and among our people. I have
spread before them the light given me of heaven in that book. "—1889.