Did Ellen G. White predict that England would declare war against the
United States? Here is the context of her comment:
"England is studying whether it is best to take advantage of the present
weak condition of our nation, and venture to make war upon her. She is weighing
the matter, and trying to sound other nations. She fears, if she should
commence war abroad, that she would be weak at home, and that other nations
would take advantage of her weakness. Other nations are making quiet yet active
preparations for war, and are hoping that England will make war with our
nation, for then they would improve the opportunity to be revenged on her for
the advantage she has taken of them in the past, and the injustice done them. A
portion of the Queen's subjects are waiting a favorable opportunity to break
their yoke; but if England thinks it will pay, she will not hesitate a moment
to improve her opportunities to exercise her power, and humble our nation. When
England does declare war, all nations will have an interest of their own to
serve, and there will be general war, general confusion" (Testimonies for
the Church, vol. 1, p. 259).
Note the conditional character of these statements: "She fears,
if she should commence war abroad, that she would be weak at home." "But
if England thinks it will pay." Then follows the sentence: "When England
does declare war. . . ." It is evident that Mrs. White is here using the word
"when" as a synonym for "if," which is good English. In fact, if we do not thus
understand the word "when" in this connection, we have an unusual situation--a
series of problematical "ifs" is followed by a simple statement that England is
going to declare war. Thus Mrs. White's last sentence would make pointless her
preceding sentences.
A similar use of the word "when" is found on the preceding page in her
work: "When our nation observes the fast which God has chosen, then will He
accept their prayers as far as the war is concerned." No one will argue that
the word "when" in this connection introduces a simple statement concerning a
future fact that will undebatably happen.
An inspired parallel to this "if" and "when" construction is found in
Jeremiah 42:10-19. The prophet speaks to Israel about abiding in Palestine
rather than going down into Egypt:
"If ye will still abide in this land. . . ." Verse 10.
"But if ye
say, We will not dwell in this land. . . ." Verse 13.
"If ye wholly set
your faces to enter into Egypt. . . ." Verse 15.
"When ye shall enter into
Egypt . . . ." Verse 18.
It is evident that the phrase "when ye shall enter into Egypt" is
synonymous with "if ye shall enter into Egypt."
With the clause "when England does declare war," understood as
synonymous with "if England does declare war," the statement changes from a
prediction to a statement of mere possibility, but a possibility, however,
whose full potentialities many might not realize.
[Adapted from Francis D. Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics,
pp. 122, 123.]