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Commentary on "The Message of the Prophets"
Day 1: Sabbath afternoon, February 28, 2009
Today’s study begins the week by establishing two premises. First, it asserts that SDA doctrines are “based solely on the Bible,” and that Ellen White’s visions were not to replace Bible study. Secondly, Ellen White’s visions are given to last-day believers for “affirming” and “clarifying” the doctrines of scripture. Five doctrines are laid out as foundational for the church: Righteousness by Faith, the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary, the Sabbath, the State of the Dead as Soul Sleep, and the Second Coming of Christ. Recommended reading from the Bible lists passages from Exodus 20, Leviticus 16, Matthew 24, Romans 3, and Hebrews 8 and 9.
To illustrate how the Adventist pioneers created their doctrinal framework for the church, the story is told that their small, dedicated group spent late nights of “praying for light and studying the Word.” When the group reached moments where they “could go no further,” answers sometimes came through Ellen White’s visions. These visions were not to replace prayer, faith, and Bible study, it is emphasized; the doctrines stand on the Bible alone. Mrs. White did not initiate doctrinal formulation. The visions were helpful only in clarifying doctrine.
Problems
The premises that SDA doctrines are based solely on the Bible, and that Ellen White’s visions were needed to “clarify” the Bible’s doctrines, are incompatible. If the doctrines can be found in the Bible independent from additional revelation, why were the visions needed then? Is the Bible not clear? When the pioneers reached those moments where they could “go no further,” those answers were awaiting them in God’s holy word, just as they always had for all believers since Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit 1800 years before. The Lesson Guide, however, is unable to explain (or give scriptural support for) how new revelations from Ellen White’s writings are needed, when “in these last days he has spoken to us by his son.”
When the pioneers were engaged in their intense studies, they already had accepted Mrs. White’s authenticity as God’s messenger. When she spoke from her visions, all varying points of view were squelched by her overpowering presence.
“I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision, the precious rays of light shining from the throne” (Testimonies 5 p. 67).
"In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a ‘Thus saith the Lord.' The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God upon the tables of stone." Letter 90, 1906.
Even though she did not initiate doctrinal ideas, she settled them as an unquestionable (if not infallible) court of final appeal. Her authority invalidates any other test. Instead of the less inspired members testing her visions, she effectively tested everyone else.
When Ellen White’s affirmations are required at any point to understand scripture, then we have abandoned a central principle that Adventists claim to hold, sola scriptura. This is a central pillar of the Reformation, that the Bible is the believer’s only source of divine, special inspiration. The Holy Spirit’s gift of spiritual vision is given to all believers, and scripture is sufficient to explain itself. This stood in opposition to the claims of the Roman Church, which held that special revelation was contained both by the Bible, and the traditions of the Church. Jesus told his disciples, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things.” (John 14:26) This was a promise for individual believers, and he made no mention of prophets to come after him. “All things” leaves no exceptions for traditions or additional interpreters. His word is founded on his revelation in Jesus Christ (John 1, Hebrews 1, Revelation 1), upon the testimony of the apostles, and stands forever.
Summary
- The dual claim is made that the foundational doctrines of the SDA church are based solely on the Bible, but that Ellen White’s “clarifications” are needed for the remnant church. These two claims are contradictory, and violate the sufficiency of scripture. From the beginning of the SDA movement, acceptance of Ellen White’s gift has never been optional within the SDA church. The doctrines, therefore, cannot be separated from this fleshly embodiment of the “Spirit of Prophecy.” For Christians, the Bible as the testimony of Jesus Christ is the only special revelation that believers need in any age.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised February 28, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 10
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 10
Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 10
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