Throughout history, God has spoken to His people through prophets. As we draw closer to the end of time, it should come as no surprise that individuals arise claiming to be a prophet of God. However, nearly all of these fail to meet the scriptural requirements for a true prophet. Rene Noorbergen, has studied a number of psychics and acclaimed prophets including Jeane Dixon, and Nostradamus (Jeane Dixon, My Life and Prophecies and Nostradamus: Invitation to a Holocaust). In his book Ellen White: Prophet of Destiny he lists ten biblical requirements for a true prophet. These are:
1) A true prophet does not lie. His predictions will be fulfilled. (Jer. 28:9, "But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.")
2) A true prophet prophesies in the name of the Lord, not in his own name. (2 Pet. 1:21, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.")
3) A true prophet does not give his own private interpretation of prophecy. (2 Pet. 1:20, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.")
4) A true prophet points out the sins and transgressions of the people against God. (Isa. 58:1, "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.)
5) A true prophet is to warn the people of God's coming judgment. (Examples of judgment such as portrayed in Isa. 24:20, "The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls --never to rise again." and Rev. 14:6, 7, "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth --to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.'").
6) A true prophet edifies the church, counsels and advises it in religious matters. (1 Cor. 14:3, 4, "But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.")
7) A true prophet's words will be in absolute harmony with the words of the prophets that have preceded him. (Isa. 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.")
8) A true prophet recognizes the incarnation of Jesus Christ. (1 John 4:1-3, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.")
9) A true prophet can be recognized by the results of his work. (Matt. 7:16-20, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.")
10) A true prophet acts in accordance with the will and approval of God. (Deut. 18:19, "If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.")
Let's expand two of the more significant passages above:
Deut. 18:15-22. [Moses said to his people] "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. . . . The LORD said to me: 'What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.' You may say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?' If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
Isaiah 8:19-22, "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness."
"Based on these texts, it becomes obvious that not everyone who prophecies is a prophet of God-for a true prophet is not a psychic who performs with the aid of a mental or "spiritual" crutch, but is someone who has no degree of freedom either in tuning in or controlling the prophetic impulses or prophetic recall. These impulses are superimposed over the prophet's conscious mind by a supernatural personal being, having absolute knowledge of both past and future, making no allowance for error or human miscalculation." (Noorbergen, Ellen White: Prophet of Destiny, pp. 21, 22).
Of all the professed prophets to have arisen during the last two hundred years, only one well known "prophet" meets the above criteria. Ellen Gould Harmon, later known as Ellen G. White, a simple girl was chosen by God to bring a series of messages to the world, messages most specifically addressing the end of time. The timing of the visions and revelations shown to her coincided with a great spiritual awakening and then a great disappointment as people around the world anticipated the return of Jesus Christ to this world around 1844. In reality, while their understanding of the timing was correct, the event they were looking for was incorrect. God reached out to a number of believers and showed them what significant event had begun (You will discover what this was as you read through this booklet).
Mrs. White, through inspiration, became probably the most prolific woman author of all time, hand writing ten of thousands of pages of text and authoring a large number of books. Her books, and compilations from her writings, have sold in the tens, perhaps hundreds of millions of copies. Writings covering subjects as diverse as health, child care, the coming judgments, history, and science. News commentator Paul Harvey has used her occasionally for his "Rest of the Story" programs. If you hear him say, "Well it looks like the little old lady was right again," you will know whom he is talking about.
In my study of the Word and Scripture, and as I have studied a number of Mrs. White's writings as a supplement for deceiphering the Bible. I have been very impressed with what God has shown her. It would seem unfortunate if this series on "What does the Bible (the Word of God) say . . . " did not include at least some of the words of God as given through her. And especially, as the fulfillment of these tremendous prophecies that God gave her draws closer.
It is my desire that you prayerfully study the words of God as brought to you through Ellen G. White's earliest writings.
The online version of the book deletes the page numbering system found in the earlier editions of the Early Writings so any references to such numbering in the standard official introductions should be mentally deleted. We'll try to include any footnotes and appendices as hotlinked to the originating reference point.
An FTP MS Word version will maintain those page numbers. These numbers look like and indicate the beginning of the page. The Table of Contents, footnotes and Appendix all utilize this numbering which is harmonized with the Comprehensive Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White.
This section of the web site is composed of three sections. First is EXPERIENCES AND VIEWS, preceded by a rather lengthy Preface from various authors providing some historical background. The second part is called the SUPPLEMENT in which Mrs. White responds to questions that were raised from the initial printing of the EXPERIENCES AND VIEWS. The third section, also preceded by an Introduction, is called, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, Vol. 1 containing a concise account of what became known as the Great Controversy Vision. The subtitle for this section is: The Great Controversy between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels. This tremendous vision lasted over 2 hours and took place in September of 1858. For more information on this, see the Preface .
The Christian Church that Mrs. White helped form and lead was the Seventh-day Adventist church, recognized worldwide for its fundamentalist back-to-the-Bible theology, its extensive educational and medical network (second only to the Roman Catholic Church in extent) and its strong emphasis on evangelizing the world.
We trust that you too will find these writings an incredible eye-opening experience and blessing. May God bless you as you study.
Experience & Views - First Visions
Supplement - Additional Comments on the Above Visions
The Great Controversy Vision - from the Origin of Evil to the End of Evil