3. White, God, and Miller

Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventism, Dale Ratzlaff, Feature, Investigative Judgment

The foundation for Adventism is Ellen White’s comprehensive endorsement of William Miller’s methods and message. 

William Miller was a farmer who, using his King James Bible and a concordance came to the conclusion that Christ was going to come in 1843. Ellen White’s endorsement of Miller is seen in her earliest writings.1 Not only does Ellen White endorse Miller’s 1843 message, she, professing the prophetic authority of a messenger of God,2 unequivocally states—as we will soon see—that God chose, enlightened, guided, and empowered Miller in his methods of study and his conclusions. 

Therefore, at the very outset, the SDA church is faced with the dilemma. If Miller was right, so was Ellen G. White. If Miller was wrong, so was EGW. There are no other conclusions. It should be noted here that EGW’s endorsement of Miller’s conclusions came after 1844 when it should have been obvious that Miller was wrong. If all of the quotations from EGW cited in this chapter were written after her first “vision” in December of 1844 why did she support known error?3 In the citations to follow, it should be observed that EGW not only endorsed Miller’s interpretation of October 22, 1844, as the fulfillment of Daniel 8:14,4 she also endorsed many of the methods and other teachings of Miller. 

We will now carefully examine what Ellen White said about William Miller, and then in the next chapter, we will investigate and evaluate Miller’s methods and message. 

Ellen White said God chose William Miller, guided his mind, his methods of Bible study, his conclusions, his charts, his mission, and more. 

To help the reader grasp the significance of EGW’s endorsement of Miller and be better able to summarize the impact, numbers will be placed in brackets within the quotes which will correspond to the numbered summary at the end of this chapter. These numbers identify different aspects of her endorsement. For example, [1] has reference to her frequent mention of angels coming to assist Miller. 

I saw that God [1] sent his angel to move upon the heart of a farmer who had not believed the Bible, and led him to search the prophecies. [1] Angels of God repeatedly visited that [2] chosen one, and [3] guided his mind, and [4] opened his understanding to prophecies which had ever been dark to God’s people. The commencement of [5] the chain of truth was given him, and he was led on to search for link after link, until he looked with wonder and admiration upon the word of God. He saw there [5] a perfect chain of truth. That Word which he had regarded as uninspired, now opened before his vision with beauty and glory. [5] He saw that one portion of scripture explained another, and when one portion was closed to his understanding, he found in another portion of the Word that which explained it.5 

God [2] called him to leave his farm, [6] as Elisha was called to leave his oxen and the field of his labor to follow Elijah. With trembling, William Miller began to unfold the [7] mysteries of the kingdom of God to the people. He gained strength with every effort. He carried the people down through the prophecies to the second advent of Christ. [6] As John the Baptist heralded the first advent of Jesus, and prepared the way for his coming, so also, Wm. Miller and those who joined him, proclaimed the second advent of the Son of God.6 

God [3] led the mind of Wm. Miller into the prophecies, and gave him [4] great light upon the book of Revelation.7 

God [5] moved upon his chosen servant, who with clearness and in the [8] power of the Holy Spirit, opened the prophecies, and [4] showed the harmony of the visions of Daniel and John, and other portions of the Bible, and pressed home upon the hearts of the people the sacred, fearful warnings of the Word, to prepare for the coming of the Son of man.8 

Mr. Miller traced down the prophecies with an exactness that struck conviction to the hearts of his hearers. He dwelt upon the [9] prophetic periods, and brought many proofs to strengthen his position.9 

[1] Angels of God accompanied William Miller in his mission. He was firm and undaunted, fearlessly proclaiming the [4] message [2] committed to his trust. A world lying in wickedness and a cold, worldly church were enough to call into action all his energies and lead him willingly to endure toil, privation, and suffering. Although opposed by professed Christians and the world, and buffeted by Satan and his angels, he ceased not to preach [7] the everlasting gospel to crowds wherever he was invited, sounding far and near the cry, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.”10 

I saw that [10] God was in the proclamation of the time in 1843. It was His design to arouse the people and bring them to a testing point, where they should decide for or against the truth.11 

Ministers who would not accept this [7] saving message themselves hindered those who would have received it.12 

[1] Angels of God were sent to protect him.13 

The opposition manifested by church members toward his message emboldened the baser classes to go to greater lengths; and enemies plotted to take his life as he should leave the place of meeting. But [1] holy angels were in the throng, and one of these, in the form of a man, took the arm of this servant of the Lord and led him in safety from the angry mob. His work was not yet done, and Satan and his emissaries were disappointed in their purpose.14 

[1] Angels were watching with the deepest interest the result of [7] the heavenly message, and when the churches turned from and rejected it, they in sadness consulted with Jesus.15 

William Miller possessed [11] strong mental powers, disciplined by thought and study; and he added to these [3] the wisdom of heaven by connecting himself with the Source of wisdom.16 

As God sent His servant to warn the world of the coming Flood, so He sent chosen messengers to make known the nearness of the final judgment. And as [6] Noah’s contemporaries laughed to scorn the predictions of the preacher of righteousness, so in Miller’s day many, even of the professed people of God, scoffed at the words of warning.17

William Miller had no sympathy with those influences that led to [12] fanaticism.18 

I have seen that [13] the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them.19 

Summary of EGW’s Endorsement of Miller 

  1. Angels of God were actively involved with William Miller. God initiated Miller’s interest in the prophecies by sending his angel to assist him while he was still an unbeliever. Angels of God repeatedly visited William Miller and accompanied him on his mission. They protected Miller from harm, and on one occasion an angel took the form of a man and led Miller out of a hostile crowd. Angels watched with deepest interest those who accepted and rejected Miller’s message. 
  2. God chose Miller for this work. Miller is called “that chosen one.” God called Miller to leave his farm and begin preaching, and committed to Miller’s trust a special message. 
  3. God guided Miller’s mind and led him in his study of the prophecies and connected him to the wisdom of heaven.
  4. God guided Miller’s conclusions. God opened to Miller’s understanding prophecies which had ever been dark to God’s people. Miller was given “great light upon the book of Revelation.” The Holy Spirit showed Miller the harmony of the visions of Daniel and John.
  5. God showed Miller the correct interpretation of prophecy. A perfect chain of biblical truth was given him. He saw that one portion of Scripture explained another. If he could not understand a given text in its own context, he explained it by another portion of Scripture. God moved upon His servant, William Miller, with clearness in the power of the Holy Spirit. 
  6. Miller is associated with the greats of Bible history. His call by God can be compared to that of Elisha. The importance of Miller’s message is similar to the importance of the message of John the Baptist who prepared the way for Christ’s first coming. The way people scoffed at Miller’s message was similar to the way the antediluvians scoffed at Noah. 
  7. Miller’s message is called “the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” “the everlasting gospel,” and “the heavenly message.” 
  8. Miller was moved upon by the power of the Holy Spirit as he studied the prophecies. 
  9. Miller was correct in having multiple prophecies pointing to 1843. God caused him to understand prophetic periods (plural). Miller brought many proofs to strengthen his position. 
  10. God was in the proclamation of the time in 1843. 
  11. Miller possessed strong mental powers. He was disciplined in his thought and study. 
  12. William Miller was not a fanatic.
  13. William Miller’s 1843 chart, which listed a number of prophetic periods that ended in 1843, was directed by the hand of the Lord. It should never be changed. It was just as God wanted it. 

We can see that Ellen White’s endorsement of William Miller is comprehensive. It is of great importance to our study to realize that she unequivocally states that Miller was guided by God in his methods, his conclusions, and his message. 

With this glowing, prophetic endorsement of Miller, we look forward with anticipation to the next chapter where Miller’s methods and conclusions will be examined. †

Endnotes

  1. See Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pp. 229 –231; Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, pp. 128 –132.
  2. Ellen White never claimed to be a prophet; rather, she spoke of herself as a “messenger of God.” For all practical purposes, however, the Adventist church accepts her writings as God inspired, prophetic writings. See Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists, No. 18, “The Gift of Prophecy” which endorses Ellen White’s prophetic ministry and states that “her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth.” 
  3. There is evidence that EGW had “vision-like” experiences as early as 1842 before what is said to be her first vision. “In 1842 I constantly attended the Second Advent meetings in Portland Maine, and fully believed that the Lord was coming. Inexpressible love for Jesus filled my soul. Wave after wave of glory rolled over me, until my body grew stiff…I remained in this state of body and mind a long time.” Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 11, 12.
  4. Miller did not accept the reinterpretation of his 1844 message, which moved its focus from the literal second coming of Christ, to Christ’s “coming” to the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary, as Seventh-day Adventists did. See Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, pp. 167, 168. 
  5. Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 129. 
  6. Ibid. 
  7. Ibid., p. 132. 
  8. Ibid. 
  9. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 14. 
  10. Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 232. 
  11. Ibid. 
  12. Ibid., p. 235 
  13. Ibid.
  14. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 337. 
  15. Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 235. 
  16. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 335. 
  17. Ibid., p. 339. 
  18. Ibid., p. 397. 
  19. Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 74.
Dale Ratzlaff
Latest posts by Dale Ratzlaff (see all)

Leave a Reply