Centennial Ellen White symposium at Andrews University

I just want to say that I am very relieved tonight. The week is over, and the Sabbath has begun. Last weekend I travelled to Andrews University to hear a symposium on Ellen White and her gift of inspiration. We heard many lectures and questions/answer times, all of which thrilled me because so much was revealed about Mrs. White that agreed with the biblical prophets. Even one professor from the seminary spoke about how he had many questions relating to Ellen White.

 

Though he was a pure Adventist, as a theologian who exegetes from the Bible only, for many years he had to keep Ellen White at a distance it seems. He couldn’t base his biblical interpretation on a “Thus saith Ellen White”. And he was glad to know that she never wanted anyone to do that. Still, he saw differences of meanings from the plain biblical text and Mrs. White’s messages.

 

But, over the years—he was happy to declare to us—he has seen more and more proof of Ellen White’s inspiration. After exegeting every word in a text, through the original languages, looking at how each word was used in other biblical texts, and extra-biblical manuscripts, etc. he began to see that the deeper study arrived at the same messages as what Ellen White had given. She had understood the deep message of the texts, which could only be done by experts in the original languages; but, she had only a 3^rd grade education.

 

All that that doctor of theology could say was that God had been her teacher. Now he is a full convert to the Spirit of prophecy. He looks forward to continued exegeting to see and prove her inspiration.

 

I must confess how surprised I was to hear all of this. For many years I’ve been listening to so many sermons that were contrary to the Spirit of prophecy, either in words or in spirit. I kept asking why we were hearing all that and kept getting the answer that that is what the seminary was teaching. But, that isn’t what I saw at the symposium. Every one of those professors were fully dedicated to Mrs. White’s gift of prophecy.

 

Along with all the wonderful lectures, Elder Ted Wilson was at the whole 4 day symposium.  Sabbath morning he gave the sermon and included quotations from Ellen White. He gave his family history starting from his great grandfather who was converted at a campmeeting after hearing Ellen White give the message. He was such a surprised skeptic that so much goodness could come out of the Bible and out of the mouth of the speaker, that he became an ardent follower of Jesus from that day onward. Thus, he raised his children by the books from Ellen White. And Elder Wilson’s grandfather raised Elder Wilson’s father by those books, who raised Elder Wilson by those books. So, our GC president has been surrounded by the Spirit of prophecy all of his life, and, he said, so has his wife. Halleluia! What a relief for me!

 

“I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (Hab. 3:18, 19).