The reader may be inclined to ask: “What about Mrs. White’s prophecies? Does she make any, and do they come true?” We answer: No. A few of her misstatements of the future are as follows:
1. Time almost finished.—“Some are looking too far off for the coming of the Lord. Time has continued a few years longer than they expected; therefore they think it may continue a few years more.” (“Early Writings,” Revised, page 58.)
This was published in 1851. She was mistaken regarding the shortness of time in this instance or, rather, the longness of time.
2. Time almost finished.—“Time can last but a very little longer.” (“Early Writings,” Revised, page 58.)
3. Time almost finished.—“In a view given June 27, 1850, my accompanying angel said:‘Time is almost finished.’” (“Early Writings,” Revised, page 64.) Something was wrong with that angel!
4. Christ soon coming.—“Christ is soon coming.” (“Early Writings,” Revised, page 11.) “His speedy coming.” (Page 113.) “The shortness of time.” (Page 120.) “Time is almost finished.” (Page 67) “A few short months.” (“Testimonies,” Volume I., page 186.)
5. A conference.—“I was shown the company represented at the conference. Said the angel: ‘Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Christ.” (“Testimonies,” Volume I., page 131.)
That was in 1856. The youngest one at that conference who is still living is about eighty years of age. Something must happen right away if this prophecy is to come true.
6. The Civil War.—“Thousands have been induced to enlist with the understanding that this was to exterminate slavery; but now that they are fixed, they find that they have been deceived.” (“Testimonies,” Volume 1., page 254.)
But they had not been deceived. Mrs. White was mistaken. This was written during the Civil War.
7. The Civil War.-“If we succeed in quelling this rebellion, what has been gained? They can only answer discouragingly: ‘Nothing.’ That which caused the rebellion is not removed. The system of slavery which has ruined our nation is left to live and stir up another rebellion.” (“Testimonies,” Volume I., page 255.)
Was slavery “removed?” Was slavery “left to live?” Had the soldiers been “deceived?”
8. The Civil War.—“When England does declare war, all nations will have an interest of their own to serve, and there will be general war, general confusion.” (“Testimonies,” Volume I., page 259.)
England built the “Alabama” for the Confederacy. This led many to conclude that England was preparing to take sides with the South. This is what Mrs. White is alluding to. She was of that opinion also.
9. The Civil War.—“Had our nation remained united, it would have had strength; but, divided, it must fall.” (“Testimonies,” Volume I., page 260.)
“Our nation” has evidently fallen uphill!
10. The San Francisco earthquake.—“While in Loma Linda, Cal., April 16, 1906, there passed before me a most wonderful representation. During the vision of the night I stood on an eminence, from which I could see houses shaken like a reed in the wind. Buildings, great and small; were falling to the ground. Pleasure resorts, theaters, hotels, and the homes of the wealthy were shaken and shattered.…The following day I pondered the scenes that had passed before me and the instruction that had been given.…On April 18, two days after the scene of falling buildings had passed before me, I went to fill an appointment in the Car Street Church, Los Angeles. As we neared the church, we heard the newsboys crying: ‘San Francisco destroyed in an earthquake!’”—(“Testimonies,” Volume IX., pages 92-94.)
She here claims that she saw all this in a dream during the night of April 16. The next day, instead of telling it, she states positively that she “pondered” it. Then on April 18 she went to Los Angeles, yet up to this time never having spoken a word to a single soul of the “most wonderful representation” which had passed before her two days previously. About the first of June the foregoing quotation was published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. Thus six weeks after the event happened she wrote about it. Why did she not write about it six weeks or one week or one day before it happened?
11. Battle Creek burned.—When the Advent headquarters at Battle Creek, a few years ago, burned down, the next day Mrs. White sent a telegram to the authorities there, and later published the same in her “Testimonies,” that for months she had seen an angel with a flaming sword standing over Battle Creek, threatening it with destruction by fire. Yet not once during all these weeks did she ever write a line or speak a sentence of this awful omen thus presenting itself.
- X. Her Prophecies. - October 29, 2026
- God’s Covenants Changed the Food Laws - October 22, 2026
- IX. The Source of Mrs. White’s Inspiration. - October 22, 2026