Ellen G. White (1827-1915) was a pioneering figure in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She is considered by Adventists to have exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during the 70 years of her public ministry.
Early Life and Conversion
Ellen Harmon was born on November 26, 1827 in Gorham, Maine to Robert and Eunice Harmon. At age 9, she suffered a serious injury when a classmate threw a rock at her face, nearly killing her. The recovery was slow and she struggled with health issues for the rest of her life.
In 1840, at age 12, Ellen attended an evangelistic meeting held by William Miller, a Baptist preacher who predicted Christ’s return between March 1843 and March 1844. She accepted Miller’s message of the imminent Second Coming of Jesus, and along with her family, attended his meetings and await the Advent. When Christ did not return in 1844 as expected, in what became known as the “Great Disappointment,” Ellen continued her study of the Bible to understand what happened.
In 1842, at age 14, Ellen accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized. She later wrote, “My peace was like a river, and righteousness was my clothing. My soul was daily drinking rich draughts of salvation. I thought that those who loved Jesus would love His coming, so went to the class meeting and told them what Jesus had done for me and what a fullness I enjoyed through believing that the Lord was coming. The class leader interrupted me saying, ‘Through Methodism’; but I could not give the glory to Methodism when it was Christ and the hope of His soon coming that had made me free” (Life Sketches, pp. 22-23).
Visions and Prophetic Calling
In December 1844, Ellen (then age 17) received a vision from God while praying with four other women. In the vision, she saw the Advent believers traveling a high and dangerous path towards the heavenly city. Later visions gave guidance and encouragement to the disappointed Millerites.
Ellen accepted these visions as being from God, though she struggled over becoming a prophetess. Over time, she came to see the visions as God’s calling for her to share messages of warning and comfort, as biblical prophets did. She began traveling and preaching, with her first public speech in 1845.
Ellen claimed to have received over 2,000 visions in her lifetime. Her visions ranged from views of the great controversy between Christ and Satan to practical advice on health, relationships, education, evangelism, church organization, and more. Seventh-day Adventists believe her prophetic ministry was biblically inspired, as the apostle Paul stated that the gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, would remain in the church till Jesus’ return (1 Cor 1:7).
Some key visions include:
– An 1847 vision affirming the seventh-day Sabbath
– An 1849 vision about the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary
– An 1850 vision about the unity of believers in Jesus’ soon coming
– An 1863 vision of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, later written in the book The Great Controversy
– Visions about health and temperance, such as an 1863 vision on tobacco’s harmful effects
Ministry and Teachings
Ellen White traveled extensively and spoke to large crowds during her 70 years of public ministry. She was a powerful preacher and evangelist. She also wrote prolifically, authoring 40 books and 5000 periodical articles on doctrinal, devotional, educational and health topics. Her best known works include Steps to Christ, The Desire of Ages, and The Great Controversy. She is considered the most translated female author in history and the most translated American author of either gender.
Key aspects of Ellen White’s ministry and teachings include:
– Upholding the Bible as the ultimate authority and standard for doctrine, reproof, and instruction (2 Tim 3:16). Her writings point people to study Scripture for themselves.
– Affirming Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and loving friend. She highlights His sacrifice, ministry, character and love. Books like Steps to Christ and The Desire of Ages eloquently portray Christ.
– Emphasizing the Seventh-day Sabbath. She played a key role in early Adventists adopting Sabbatarianism, based on the 4th commandment (Ex 20:8-11) and prophecies of end-time Sabbath keeping (Rev 14:12).
– Calling for holistic health reform and temperance. She received many visions on health and healthy living that were ahead of her time. She inspired Adventists to establish sanitariums, clinics and hospitals.
– Promoting education, with a holistic philosophy to develop the whole person – physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. She was instrumental in the formation of the Adventist school system.
– Providing guidance on church organization as membership grew. Her counsel led to forming local conferences, executive committees, and the General Conference to coordinate unity in mission.
– Warning against last-day deceptions of Satan. She pointed to Rome and apostate Protestantism as playing end-time roles foretold in prophecy.
– Proclaiming the “everlasting gospel” to prepare people for Christ’s soon coming (Rev 14:6-7). She called Adventists to spread their message to the world as quickly as possible. Her writings continue to inspire mission and evangelism.
Later Years and Death
The Whites made their home in the Battle Creek, Michigan area from 1855 to 1881, where the church’s first publishing house and sanitarium were established. They then moved to Healdsburg, California and helped start Pacific Union College. In 1900, they settled in Elmshaven, California.
After James White’s death in 1881, Ellen traveled in Europe for two years, preaching, establishing churches, and developing contacts. She continued writing prolifically. She also provided leadership as the Adventist church grew rapidly at the turn of the century.
Ellen White died July 16, 1915 at her home in Elmshaven at age 87. She was admired for her godly, selfless life and her tireless ministry spanning seven decades. Adventists viewed her as having fulfilled the biblical role of prophet, bringing timely messages from God to His end-time church.
Legacy
Ellen White made an enormous impact on the Seventh-day Adventist Church over its formative years that continues today. Key legacies of her life and ministry include:
– Her prolific writings which Adventists view as inspired counsel from God. Her books are published in over 160 languages and she has more titles in print than any other female author.
– Her role in helping establish the Seventh-day Adventist identity through doctrines like the Sabbath, Second Coming, and Sanctuary. Adventists see her as a prophet who guided the church.
– Her promotion of health reform and care for the whole person. She helped pioneer the church’s health work through sanitariums, hospitals, and teaching of preventative care.
– Her support for global mission and witnessing. Adventists have grown to a worldwide movement of over 20 million members today, in a large part due to her motivation and vision for spreading the gospel.
– Her exemplary life of devotion to Christ and self-sacrifice in service. She spent her long ministry pointing people to the Bible and Jesus.
Ellen White’s writings and legacy continue to inspire Adventists in their mission and spiritual life today. She is admired as a pioneering Christian leader who emphasized a relationship with Jesus Christ, loving service, Bible truth, and balanced healthy living at an early stage of Adventism’s development.
