BIBLE:
Isaiah 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge...”
WHERE DOES
KNOWLEDGE COME FROM?
Prov. 2:6 –
“For the Lord giveth
wisdom; out of His mouth cometh
KNOWLEDGE and understanding.”
Matt 4:4 –
“Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out
of the mouth of God.”
WHAT ABOUT THE TESTIMONY OF
JESUS? Is it the
Word of Ellen White or the Word of God?
“…THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF
PROPHECY.” (Revelation 19:10)
IN THE BIBLE WE ARE TOLD:
IN THE BIBLE WE ARE TOLD:
“And
there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1)
WHAT IS THIS MOON THAT IS DIRECTING THE PATH OF THE WOMAN (GOD'S CHURCH)?
Genesis 1:16 – And GOD MADE TWO GREAT LIGHTS; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night...
Note: The Bible refers to the moon as the “lesser light.” What else is referred to as the “lesser light?”
SOP:
“Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.” (2SM 30.4)
“Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.” (2SM 30.4)
“THE LORD REVEALETH HIS SECRETS UNTO HIS SERVANTS
THE PROPHETS” (Amos 3:7)
Note: Many suppose that because Sister White refers to herself/her writings as the “lesser light” that they are not equivalent to the Word of God. Is this true? NO!!!
“The Holy Ghost is the author of the scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy...” {3SM 30.3}
Note: Many suppose that because Sister White refers to herself/her writings as the “lesser light” that they are not equivalent to the Word of God. Is this true? NO!!!
“The Holy Ghost is the author of the scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy...” {3SM 30.3}
SISTER WHITE IS NOT THE ORIGINATOR OF
THESE BOOKS:
“Sister White is not the originator of these
books. They contain the instruction that during
her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the precious, comforting light that God has
graciously given His servant to be given to the world…” (CM 125.1)
“...This work is of God, or it is not…My
work for the past thirty years bears the stamp of God or the stamp of the enemy…The
Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil…” (4T
229.2-230 (top of page)
***REMEMBER:
The Holy Spirit leads into all truth.
Note: Even
though the SOP is referred to as the lesser light, it is not less needed than
the Bible and is not, by God, considered to be on a lower level than the Bible. In
fact, it illuminates that which is already in the Bible, just as the moon
illuminates the light of the sun. The moon is just as much needed as
the sun is. It shines brightest in the darkness as does the SOP.
SOP:
“Besides the instruction in His Word, the Lord has given special testimonies to His people, not as a new revelation, but that He may set before us the PLAIN lessons of His Word, that errors may be corrected, that the right way may be pointed out, that every soul may be without excuse.” -- Letter 63, 1893. (5T 665.) {3SM 31.3}
SOP:
“Besides the instruction in His Word, the Lord has given special testimonies to His people, not as a new revelation, but that He may set before us the PLAIN lessons of His Word, that errors may be corrected, that the right way may be pointed out, that every soul may be without excuse.” -- Letter 63, 1893. (5T 665.) {3SM 31.3}
“The Lord designs to warn you, to reprove, to
counsel, through the testimonies given, and to impress your
minds with the importance of the truth of His word. THE WRITTEN TESTIMONIES ARE NOT TO GIVE
NEW LIGHT, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration
already revealed. Man's duty to God and to his fellow man has
been distinctly specified in God's word; yet but few of you are obedient
to the light given. 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.” {2T 605.2)
WHERE DOES SISTER WHITE SAY HER
KNOWLEDGE ON THE HEALTH MESSAGE CAME FROM?
Doctors and Books, or from God Himself?
“Question on the Vision. -- Did you receive your views upon health reform before
visiting the Health Institute at Dansville, New York, [THE MOST PROMINENT OF MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE
UNITED STATES FEATURING REFORMS IN DIET AND IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SICK WAS AT
THIS TIME OPERATED BY DR. JAMES C. JACKSON AT DANSVILLE, NEW YORK,
--COMPILERS.] or before you had read works on the subject?” {3SM
276.1}
Answer. -- It was at
the house of Bro. A. Hilliard, at Otsego, Mich., June 6, 1863, that the great
subject of Health Reform was opened before me in vision. {3SM
276.2}
“I did not visit Dansville till August, 1864,
fourteen months after I had the view. I did
not read any works upon health until I had written Spiritual Gifts, volumes 3
and 4, Appeal to Mothers, and had sketched out most of my six articles in the
six numbers of How to Live.”
{3SM
276.3}
“I did not know that such a paper existed as The
Laws of Life, published at Dansville, N.Y. I had not heard
of the several works upon health, written by Dr. J. C. Jackson, and other
publications at Dansville, at the
time I had the view named above. I did not know that such works existed until September,
1863, when in Boston, Mass., my husband saw them advertised in a
periodical called the Voice of the Prophets, published by Eld. J. V. Himes.
My husband ordered the works from Dansville and received them at Topsham,
Maine. His business gave him no time to peruse them, and as I determined not to read them until I
had written out my views, the books remained in their wrappers.” {3SM
276.4}
“As I introduced the subject of health to
friends where I labored in Michigan, New England, and in the State of New York,
and spoke against drugs and flesh meats, and in
favor of water, pure air, and a proper diet, the reply was often made, “You
speak very nearly the opinions taught in the Laws of Life, and other
publications, by Drs. Trall, Jackson, and others. Have you read that paper and
those works?” {3SM 277.1}
“My reply was that I had not,
neither should I read them till I had fully written out my views, lest it
should be said that I have received my light upon the subject of health from
physicians, and not from the Lord.”
{3SM
277.2}
“And after I had
written my six articles for How to Live, I then searched the various works on
hygiene and was surprised to find them so nearly in harmony with what
the Lord had revealed to me. And to show this harmony, and to set before my
brethren and sisters the subject as brought out by able writers, I determined
to publish How to Live, in which I largely
extracted from the works referred to.” {3SM 277.3}
“Brother J would confuse the mind
by seeking to make it appear that the light God has given through the
Testimonies is an addition to the Word of God, but
in this he presents the matter in a
false light. God has seen fit in this manner to bring the minds of His people to His
Word, to give them a clearer understanding of it.” {3SM 30.6}
“Precious instruction has been given to our
people in the books I have been charged to write. How many read and study these
books? The light that God has given may be regarded with indifference and
unbelief, but this light will condemn
all who have not chosen to accept and obey it.” --1907.
{3SM 358.1
SHE WROTE WHAT WAS SHOWN
TO HER:
“…You might say that this
communication was only a letter. Yes, it was a
letter, but prompted by the Spirit of God, to bring before your minds things
that had been shown me. In these letters which
I write, in the testimonies I bear, 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.” (5T 67.2)
“I SPEAK THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN…” {3SM 49.4}
“In the line of my work I speak the things the Lord gives me…” {3SM 49.5}
“I write all that the Lord gives me
to write.” {3SM
49.6} 1906
“…I do not write one article…expressing merely my own
ideas. They are
what God has opened before me in vision…” (5T 67.2)
“…In
these letters which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me…” (5T 67.2)
“…IN NO CASE HAVE I GIVEN MY OWN
JUDGMENT OR OPINION. I HAVE ENOUGH TO WRITE OF WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN ME, WITHOUT
FALLING BACK ON MY OWN OPINIONS …” {3SM 70.1}
PERMIT ME TO EXPRESS MY MIND, AND YET
NOT MY MIND, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD.” {3SM
70.1-.2}
“…MY WORK…BEARS THE STAMP OF
GOD…THE TESTIMONIES ARE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD…” {4T 229.2}
“...Will you heed what THE LORD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH SISTER WHITE, or will
you cast THE WORD OF THE LORD behind you?” {2SM 82.1} REMEMBER:
The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.
A CERTAIN CLASS WILL SAY
SOME OF SISTER WHITE’SWRITINGS ARE INSPIRED AND SOME ARE NOT:
“Many times
in my experience I have been called
upon to meet the attitude of a certain class, who acknowledged that the
testimonies were from God, but took the position that this matter and that matter
were Sister White's opinion and judgment. This
suits those who do not love reproof and correction, and who, if their ideas are
crossed, have occasion to explain the difference between the human and the
divine.” {3SM 68.1}
If the preconceived
opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by
testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to
discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White's human
judgment, and what is the word of the Lord. Everything
that sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct
their errors are human--Sister
White's opinions. They make of none effect the counsel of God by their
tradition…” {3SM 68.2} (see
3SM 68.3 -69 (top of page)
DO NOT DO THIS!!!
BY DOING THE ABOVE, WE
PUT A SNARE AND STUMBLING BLOCK IN THE PATH OF OTHERS:
“…I entreat you not to interpose
between me and the people, and turn away the light which God would have come to
them. Do not by your criticisms take out all the force, all the point and
power, from the Testimonies.
Do not
feel that you can dissect them to suit your own ideas, claiming that God has
given you ability to discern what is light from heaven and what is the expression
of mere human wisdom. If
the Testimonies speak not according to the word of God, reject them. Christ and
Belial cannot be united. For Christ's sake do not confuse the minds of the
people with human sophistry and skepticism, and make of none effect the work
that the Lord would do. Do not, by your lack of spiritual discernment, make of
this agency of God a rock of offense whereby many shall be caused to stumble
and fall, “and be snared, and be taken.” {5T 691.2}
BY DOING THIS, MEN ARE
DOING THE WORK OF SATAN AND THEY WILL BE LED BY SATANIC AGENCIES:
“I have my work to do, to meet the
misconceptions of those who suppose themselves able to say what is testimony
from God and what is human production. If those who have done this work continue in this course,
satanic agencies will choose for them. .
. .” {3SM 70.3}
Those who have helped souls to feel at
liberty to specify what is of God in the Testimonies and what are the
uninspired words of Sister White, will find that they were helping the devil in
his work of deception…” {3SM 70.4}
PAY HEED TO IN ORDER TO
KEEP FROM STRONG DELUSION:
“Men may get up scheme after scheme,
and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but ALL WHO BELIEVE THAT THE LORD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH SISTER
WHITE, AND HAS GIVEN HER A MESSAGE, WILL BE SAFE FROM THE MANY DELUSIONS
THAT WILL COME IN THESE LAST DAYS…” {3SM 83.5}
“The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must
put on the whole armor of God. WE
MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. We must love and obey the truth for this
time. This will save us from accepting strong
delusions. God has spoken to us
through His word. HE HAS SPOKEN TO US THROUGH
THE TESTIMONIES TO THE CHURCH AND THROUGH THE BOOKS THAT HAVE HELPED
MAKE PLAN OUR PRESENT DUTY AND THE POSITION THAT WE SHOULD NOW OCCUPY. THE WARNINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN, LINE UPON LINE,
PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, SHOULD BE HEEDED. If we disregard them, what
excuse can we offer?”
{8T 298.1} written in 1904
“Satan is a cunning worker, and
he will bring in subtle fallacies to darken and confuse the mind and root
out the doctrines of salvation.
Those who do not accept the Word of
God just as it reads, will be snared in his trap. Today we need to speak the truth with holy boldness...” {7MR 357) written in
1907
“In ancient times God spoke to men
by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In
these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed
His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and
the course that He would have them pursue.”
--
Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 661. {3SM 30.2} written in 1900
“Many are going
directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they
do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge
in cautions, reproofs, and warnings...” (5T 681.1) written in 1880
“Light so precious,
coming from the throne of God, is hid under a bushel. God will make His people responsible for this neglect. An
account must be rendered to Him for every ray of light He has let shine upon
our pathway, whether it has been improved to our advancement in divine things or rejected because it was more agreeable to follow inclination.” {5T
681.1}
“The volumes of
Spirit of Prophecy, and also the Testimonies, should be introduced into every Sabbath keeping family, and the brethren should know their value and BE URGED TO READ
THEM…They should be in the library of every family and read again and
again. Let them be kept where they can be read
by many, and let them be worn out in being read by all the neighbors.” {4T 390.3)
“There should be
evening readings, in which one should read aloud to those assembled at the
winter fireside. There is but little
interest manifested to make the most of the light given of God…God has caused precious light to be brought out in publications, and
these should be owned and read by every family.” (4T
391)
“Brother J would confuse the mind by
seeking to make it appear that the light God has given through the Testimonies
is an addition to the Word of God, but in this he presents the matter in a false
light. God has seen
fit in this manner to bring the minds of His people to His Word, to give them a
clearer understanding of it.” (3SM 30.6)
“…In no case have I given my own
judgment or opinion. I have enough to write of what
has been shown me, without falling back on my own opinions…Instead of
repenting before God, you reject His words, and attribute all the warnings and
reproof to the messenger whom the Lord sends…Permit me to express my mind, and
yet not my mind, but the word of the Lord.” {3SM 70.1-.2}
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO SAY
THE BIBLE, AND THE BIBLE ONLY?
“The enemy has made his
masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies, and when these errors come in they claim to prove all the
positions by the Bible, but they
misinterpret the Scriptures. They make bold assertions, as did Elder
Canright, and misapply the prophecies and the
Scriptures to prove falsehood. And, after men have done their work in weakening the confidence
of our churches in the Testimonies, they have torn away the barrier, that
unbelief in the truth shall become widespread, and
there is no voice to be lifted up to stay the force of error. This is just as Satan designed it should be, and
those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the
warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life. They will claim Scripture as their evidence, and deceptions
of Satan in every form will prevail.” {3SM 83.3-.4}
“The Word of God 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…” (5T
663-664) {3SM 31.1-.2}
“…This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My
work…bears the stamp of God…The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God…” {4T 229.2}
MORE QUOTES:
“It does not become anyone to drop
a word of doubt here and there that shall work like poison in other minds,
shaking their confidence in the messages which God has given, which have aided
in laying the foundation of this work…To all
who have stood in the way of the Testimonies, I would say, God has given a
message to His people, and His voice will be heard, whether you hear or forbear. Your opposition has not injured me; but you
must give an account to the God of heaven, who
has sent these warnings and instructions to keep His people in the right way. You
will have to answer to Him for your blindness, for being a stumbling block in
the way of sinners.” {1SM 43.1}
“And now, brethren, I entreat you
not to interpose between me and the people, and turn away the light which God
would have come to them. Do not by your criticisms take out all the force, all
the point and power, from the Testimonies. Do not feel that you can dissect them to suit your own
ideas, claiming that God has given you ability to discern what is light from
heaven and what is the expression of mere human wisdom. If the Testimonies speak not according
to the word of God, reject them. Christ and Belial cannot be united. For
Christ's sake do not confuse the minds of the people with human sophistry and
skepticism, and make of none effect the work that the Lord would do. Do not, by
your lack of spiritual discernment, make of this agency of God a rock of
offense whereby many shall be caused to stumble and fall, “and be snared, and
be taken.”
{5T 691.2}
“THE VERY LAST
DECEPTION OF SATAN WILL BE TO MAKE OF NONE EFFECT THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT
OF GOD.” Where there is
no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)…” {1SM 48.3}
“…Satan will work ingeniously, in
different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of
God's remnant people in the true testimony.” {1SM 48.3}
THERE ARE SOME IN
PRESENT TRUTH WHO ARE AGAINST THE TESTIMONIES:
“I saw the state of some
who stood on present truth, but disregarded the visions…I
saw that in striking against the visions they did not strike against the
worm--the feeble instrument that God spake through--but against the Holy Ghost. I
saw it was a small thing to speak against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God.”
(1SM 40.1)
DID SHE AUTHORIZE
CHANGES IN HER BOOKS AT A LATER TIME?
“Satan and all his hosts are on the
battlefield. The enemy of our souls has acted the part
of a busy agent in presenting the thought that many of our books now in print
are in need of general revision. He would be glad to have our brethren receive the impression
that many changes must be made. He would delight to insinuate
questioning and doubt into the minds of many of our people.” {10MR 49.8}
“I have been instructed that the
Lord is not the author of the proposal to make many changes in books already published. If
information regarding this sort of work, even as regards the few instances
where revisions are needed, should become widespread, seeds of doubt would
spring up in many minds.
Satan would be busy at work implanting
seeds of distrust and unbelief, and it would require much labor to remedy the
evil that would be wrought.”
--Letter 70,
1910, pp. 2,4. (To A. G. Daniells, August 11, 1910.)
(10MR 50.1)
HER WRITINGS WILL LAST
UNTIL THE END:
“Abundant light has been given to our
people in these last days.
Whether or not my life is spared, my
writings will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time
shall last…” {3SM 76.4}
“…My writings
are kept on file in the office, and
even though I should not live, these words that
have been given to me by the Lord will still have life and will speak to the
people.” {3SM 76.4}
ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
“…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…” {CM
126.2} 1906
“…The
testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture…” {1SM
42.2} 1903
“…The
key to the testimonies is the testimonies themselves…” (15MR
295.1)
“Soon every possible effort will be made to discount and pervert the
truth of the testimonies of God's Spirit. We must have in
readiness the clear, straight messages that…have been coming to
god's people.” {1SM 41.2}
“Those who have treated the light that the Lord has given as a common
thing will not be benefited by the instruction presented.” {1SM
41.4}
“IF YOU LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE TESTIMONIES YOU WILL DRIFT AWAY FROM
BIBLE TRUTH.” {PM 360.2}
“ONE THING IS CERTAIN: those Seventh-Day
Adventists who take their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their
faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the testimonies of GOD'S
SPIRIT.” {PM 360.1}
1903
“THE
CHURCHES THAT HAVE CHERISHED INFLUENCES WHICH LESSEN FAITH IN THE TESTIMONIES, ARE WEAK AND TOTTERING…” {1NL
68.1}
“…Those
who have helped souls to feel at liberty to specify what is of God in the
testimonies, and what are the uninspired words of Sister White, will find that
they were helping the devil in his work of deception.” {3SM
70.4}
“The
testimonies of the Spirit of God are given to direct men to his word, which has
been neglected…if the messages are not
heeded, the Holy Spirit is shut away from the soul…” {1NL 67.6}
SOP HEALTH BOOKS:
2. Ministry of Healing
3. Christian Temperance & Bible Hygiene
4. Counsels on Diet & Foods
5. Counsels on Health
6. Healthful Living
7. Temperance
8. Medical Ministry
9. Loma Linda Messages
10. Call to
Medical Evangelism
11. Mind,
Character, and Personality, Volume I
12. Mind,
Character, and Personality, Volume II
13. Testimonies
on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
14. Health
Reformer Articles
15. Paulson
Collection
16. Manuscript
Releases (volumes 1-21)
SOP ABBREVIATIONS:
2SM = Selected Messages, Volume 2
2T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2
3SM = Selected Messages, Volume 3
4T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 4
5T = Testimonies
for the Church, Volume 5
7MR = Manuscript Releases, Volume 7
8T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8
Info taken from MM Classes in 2014
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