[Excerpt from Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . : A Biblical
Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines (Washington, D.C.: Ministerial
Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1988), pp. 227, 228.]
The Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible. The writings of Ellen
White are not a substitute for Scripture. They cannot be placed on the same
level. The Holy Scriptures stand alone, the unique standard by which her and all
other writings must be judged and to which they must be subject.
1. The Bible the supreme standard. Seventh-day Adventists
fully support the Reformation principle of sola scriptura, the Bible as
its own interpreter and the Bible alone as the basis of all doctrines. The
founders of the church developed fundamental beliefs through study of the Bible;
they did not receive these doctrines through the visions of Ellen White. Her
major role during the development of their doctrines was to guide in the
understanding of the Bible and to confirm conclusions reached through Bible
study.[1]
Ellen White herself believed and taught that the Bible was the ultimate norm
for the church. In her first book, published in 1851, she said, "I
recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and
practice. By that Word we are to be judged."[2]
She never changed this view. Many years later she wrote, "In His Word, God
has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures
are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They
are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of
experience."[3] In 1909,
during her last address to a general session of the church, she opened the
Bible, held it up before the congregation, and said, "Brethren and sisters,
I commend to you this Book."[4]
In response to believers who considered her writings an addition to the
Bible, she wrote, saying, "I took the precious Bible and surrounded it with
the several Testimonies for the Church, given for the people of God. . .
. You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God's Word your
study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian
perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you
have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God's inspired Book that He has
sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the
words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion
your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings."[5]
2. A guide to the Bible. She saw her work [p. 228] as that
of leading people back to the Bible. "Little heed is given to the Bible,"
she said, therefore "the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and
women to the greater light."[6]
"The Word of God," she wrote, "is sufficient to enlighten the
most beclouded mind and may be understood by those who have any desire to
understand it. But notwithstanding all this, some who profess to make the Word
of God their study are found living in direct opposition to its plainest
teachings. Then, to leave men and women without excuse, God gives plain and
pointed testimonies, bringing them back to the Word that they have neglected to
follow."[7]
3. A guide in understanding the Bible. Ellen White
considered her writings a guide to a clearer understanding of the Bible. "Additional
truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplified
the great truths already given and in His own chosen way brought them before the
people to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without
excuse." "The written testimonies are not given to give new light, but
to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed."[8]
4. A guide to apply Bible principles. Much of her writings
apply the Biblical counsels to everyday life. Ellen White said that she was "directed
to bring out general principles, in speaking and in writing, and at the same
time specify the dangers, errors, and sins of some individuals, that all might
be warned, reproved, and counseled."[9]
Christ had promised such prophetic guidance to His church. As Ellen White noted,
"The fact that God has revealed His will to men through His Word, has not
rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the
contrary, the Spirit was promised by our Saviour, to open the Word to His
servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings."[10]
The Challenge to the Believer. Revelation's prophecy that the "testimony
of Jesus" would manifest itself through the "spirit of prophecy"
in the last days of earth's history challenges everyone not to take an attitude
of indifference or disbelief, but to "test everything" and "hold
on to the good." There is much to gain--or lose--depending on whether we
carry out this Biblically mandated investigation. Jehoshaphat said, "Believe
in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and
you shall prosper" (2 Chron. 20:20). His words ring true today, as well.
[1] Jemison, A Prophet
Among You, pp. 208-210; Froom, Movement of Destiny (Washington,
D.C.: Review and Herald, 1971), pp. 91-132; Damsteegt, Foundations of the
Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, pp. 103-293.
[2] White, Early
Writings, p. 78.
[3] White, The Great
Controversy, p. vii.
[4] William A. Spicer, The
Spirit of Prophecy in the Advent Movement (Washington, D.C.: Review and
Herald, 1937), p. 30.
[5] White, Testimonies,
vol. 5, pp. 664,665.
[6] White, "An Open
Letter," Review and Herald, Jan. 20,1903, p. 15, in White, Colporteur
Ministry (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press, 1953), p. 125.
[7] White, Testimonies,
vol. 5, p. 663.
[8] Ibid., p. 665.
[9] Ibid., p. 660.
[10] White, The Great
Controversy, p. vii.