She was a principle founding member as well as the movements prophetess who served as the movements “stamp of approval” from God when it came to the correct interpretation of scripture. This is precisely how she functions to this day. The SDA Church not only believes her writings are divinely inspired and correct inaccurate interpretations of scripture, but that she is an infallible interpreter of scripture, given to the end times remnant church to make sense of what the Bible is actually teaching.
The SDA Church, citing SDA pioneer, Uriah Smith, in their exposition of their fundamental beliefs—reiterates this where they write:
One illustration may help to set this matter in a still clearer light. Suppose we are about to start upon a voyage. The owner of the vessel gives us a book of directions, telling us that it contains instructions sufficient for our whole journey, and that if we will heed them, we shall reach in safety our port of destination. Setting sail we open our book to learn its contents. We find that its author lays down general principles to govern us in our voyage, and instructs us as far as practicable, touching the various contingencies that may arise, till the end; but he also tells us that latter part of our journey will be especially peril; that the features of the coast are ever changing by reason of quicksands and tempests; “but for this part of the journey,” says he, “I have provided you a pilot, who will meet you, and give you such directions as the surrounding circumstances and dangers may require; and to him you must give heed.
With these directions we roach the perilous time specified, and the pilot, according to promise, appears. But some of the crew, as he offers his services, rise up against him. “We have the original book of directions,” say they, “and that is enough for us. We stand upon that, and that alone; we want nothing of you.” Who now heed that original book of directions? Those who reject the pilot, or those who receive him, as that book instructs them? Judge ye.
Seventh-day Adventists Believe, pg. 258-9
This is to say that they claim the Bible teaches that the Bible is the “book of directions” given to humanity. Upon reading it, Adventists see that God claims perilous times will come in the end times and because of this, God will send a prophet to help understand the “guidebook”book of directions” in order to safely arrive to shore. The “pilot” is allegedly Ellen G. White. They then explain that when people speak up saying things such as the Bible is enough, they are out of sync with such a profession because the Bible supposedly teaches that God would send this “pilot” and to reject them is to go against the Bible.
The glaring issue with this is the circular reasoning that is required to be utilized in such an analogy. One must appeal to the Bible to find out that in the end times God would send a prophet to help interpret the Bible and without that pilot you’ll end up doctrinally shipwrecked. Which begs the question how one can understand the Bible without the “pilot” to then learn from that same Bible that you need the “pilot.”
Speaking about the early days of the movement, the Ellen G. White Estate also explains how she functioned:
“During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God. The brethren knew that when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from heaven the revelations given.”—Selected Messages, Book 1, pg. 206-7.
Thus the doctrinal foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was laid in the faithful study of the Word of God, and when the pioneers could not make headway, Ellen White was given light that helped to explain their difficulty and opened the way for the study to continue. The visions also placed the stamp of God’s approval upon correct conclusions. Thus the prophetic gift acted as a corrector of error and a confirmer of truth.
Early Writings, pg. XXXiii (EW XXXiii.1)
When the SDA pioneers would be studying the Bible, Ellen White would be present but couldn’t understand anything being discussed. But then when they would come to a crossroads, she would allegedly be taken off into vision and shown the correct interpretation to help act as a corrector of error.
Fast forward to today with the organizations Statement of Confidence in the Writings of Ellen G. White, which is voted on quinquennially by the General Conference, where we read in part:
We reaffirm our conviction that her writings are divinely inspired, truly Christ-centered, and Bible-based. Rather than replacing the Bible, they uplift the normative character of Scripture and correct inaccurate interpretations of it derived from tradition, human reason, personal experience, and modern culture.
Statement of Confidence in the Writings of Ellen G. White, July 2015
This is to say that if one’s interpretation disagrees with Ellen White on something, one must yield their understanding to “God’s Messenger” who has been given as the interpretive guide to the Bible.
Ellen White’s Own Claims About Her Writings
Authored by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy [her writings]. These are not to be twisted and turned to mean what man may want them to mean, to carry out man’s ideas and sentiments, to carry forward man’s schemes at all hazards.
Selected Messages, Book 3, pg. 30 (3SM 30.3)
I am thankful that the instruction contained in my books establishes present truth for this time. These books were written under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice, and I pray that He will lead into all truth those who will be led. I praise Him that He has so wonderfully spared my life up to this time, to bear the same message upon the important points of our faith that I have borne for half a century.
Letters and Manuscripts, Vol. 21, Letter 50, 1906, par.9 (21LtMs, Lt 50, 1906, par. 9)
I have written many books, and they have been given a wide circulation. Of myself, I could not have brought out the truths in these books, but the Lord has given me the help of His Holy Spirit. These books, giving the instruction that the Lord has given me during the past sixty years, contain light from heaven and will bear the test of investigation.
Letters & Manuscripts, Vol. 20 (1905), par. 5 (20LtMs, Lt 55, 1905, par. 5)
Not One Sentence of Heresy; A Straight Chain of Truth
I have the most precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While I am able to do this work, the people must have things to revive past history, that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one heretical sentence, in that which I have written. This, I am instructed, is to be a living letter to all in regard to my faith.
Selected Messages, Book 3, pg. 52 93SM 52.2)
That which I have written is what the Lord has bidden me write. I have not been instructed to change that which I have sent out. The straight line of truth presented to me when I was but a girl is just as clearly presented now.
Review & Herald, January 26, 1905
God Has Never Spoken More Earnestly Than Through Her
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 for the Church, Vol. 5, pg. 661 (5T 661.2)
Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument (speaking of herself). It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin. Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived. But those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them. This class you will ever find in perfect harmony with the testimony of the Spirit of God.
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, pg. 257 (3T 257.1)
They Will Keep One From Strong Delusions
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 to make plain 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?
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, pg. 298 (8T 298.1)
Rejecting Her Writings (if once believed) Will Lead to Incurable Rebellion
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, pg. 211 (4T 211.1)
Rejecting Her Testimonies is Insulting the Spirit of God
Yet now when I send you a testimony of warning and reproof, many of you declare it to be merely the opinion of Sister White. You have thereby insulted the Spirit of God. You know how the Lord has manifested Himself through the spirit of prophecy. Past, present, and future have passed before me. I have been shown faces that I had never seen, and years afterward I knew them when I saw them.
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, pg. 64 (5T 64.3)
They’re Either From God or Satan
I know your danger. If you lose confidence in the testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth. I have been fearful that many would take a questioning, doubting position, and in my distress for your souls I would warn you. How many will heed the warning? As you now hold the testimonies, should one be given crossing your track, correcting your errors, would you feel at perfect liberty to accept or reject any part or the whole? That which you will be least inclined to receive is the very part most needed. God and Satan never work in copartnership. The testimonies either bear the signet of God or that of Satan.
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, pg. 98 (5T 98.2)
God Speaks Directly Through Her
When I went to Colorado I was so burdened for you that, in my weakness, I wrote many pages to be read at your camp meeting. Weak and trembling, I arose at three o’clock in the morning to write to you. God was speaking through clay [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.
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, pg. 67 (5T 67.2)
They Will Be More Powerful When She Dies
Physically, I have always been as a broken vessel; and yet in my old age the Lord continues to move upon me by His Holy Spirit to write the most important books that have ever come before the churches and the world. The Lord is evidencing what He can do through weak vessels. The life that He spares I will use to His glory. And, when He may see fit to let me rest, His messages shall be of even more vital force than when the frail instrumentality through whom they were delivered, was living.
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. 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.
Selected Messages, Book 3, pg. 76 (3SM 76.3)
And this is only a scratching of the surface.
Conclusion
Many wrongfully believe that Ellen White originated the doctrine of the movement, but this is incorrect. She was the prophetic voice of the movement who supposedly would receive visions from God confirming the doctrines they claimed to arrive at through biblical study. When there would be “confusion” God would reward them for their diligence by giving Ellen White a vision to “confirm” the correct understanding—something that was alleged to be a unification source amongst the movement. My how things have changed!
For more on this, watch our stream breaking it down in greater detail.