Early
Articles by Ellen White
March
thru November 1850
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My Dear
Brethren and Sisters, {RH March 1, 1850, par. 1}
This is a very important
hour with us. Satan has come down with great power, and we must strive hard,
and press our way to the kingdom. We have a mighty foe to contend with; but an
Almighty Friend to protect and strengthen us in the conflict. If we are firmly
fixed upon the present truth, and have our hope, like an anchor of the soul,
cast within the second vail, the various winds of
false doctrine and error cannot move us. The excitements and false reformations
of this day do not move us, for we know that the Master of the house rose up in
1844, and shut the door of the first apartment of the heavenly tabernacle; and
now we certainly expect that they will “go with their flocks,” “to seek the
Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself (within the second
vail) from them.” The Lord has shown me that the
power which is with them is a mere human influence, and not the power of God. {RH
March 1, 1850, par. 2}
Those who have
published the “Watchman” have removed the land-marks. I saw, two months ago,
that their time would pass by; and then some honest souls, who have been
deceived by this time, will have a chance to receive the truth. I saw that most
of those who preach this new time do not believe it themselves. I saw that our
message was not to the shepherds who have led the flock astray, but to the poor
hungry, scattered sheep. {RH March 1, 1850, par. 3}
In hope, {RH
March 1, 1850, par. 4}
E. G. White
April 1, 1850
To the “Little
Flock”
Dear Brethren, {RH
April 1, 1850, par. 1}
The Lord gave
me a view, January 26, which I will relate. I saw that some of the people of God were stupid and dormant; and were but half
awake, and did not realize the time we were now living in; and that the “man”
with the “dirt-brush” had entered, and that some were in danger of being swept
away.
I begged of Jesus to save them, to spare them a little longer, and let them see
their awful danger, that they might get ready before it should be for ever too late. The angel said, “Destruction is
coming like a mighty whirlwind.” I begged of the angel to pity and to save
those who loved this world, and were attached to their possessions, and were
not willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice them to speed the
messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep, who were perishing for want
of spiritual food. {RH April 1, 1850, par. 2}
As I viewed
poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to
believe the truth were letting them die, by withholding the necessary means to
carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the
angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for some of their
property, like the young man who came to Jesus, [Matthew 19:16-22.] they went
away sorrowful; and that soon the overflowing scourge would pass over and sweep
their possessions all away, and then it would be too late to sacrifice earthly
goods, and lay up a treasure in heaven. {RH April 1, 1850, par. 3}
I then saw the
glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely, that he left the realms of glory, and
came to this dark and lonely world, to give his precious life and die, the just
for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and scourging, and wore the platted
crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of blood in the garden; while the burden
of the sins of the whole world were upon him. The angel asked, “What for?” O, I
saw and knew that it was for us; for our sins he suffered all this, that by his
precious blood he might redeem us unto God. {RH April 1, 1850, par. 4}
Then again was
held up before me those who were not willing to dispose of this world’s goods
to save perishing souls, by sending them the truth, while Jesus stands before
the Father, pleading his blood, his sufferings and his death for them; and
while God’s messengers were waiting, ready to carry them the saving truth that
they might be sealed with the seal of the living God. It was hard for
some who professed to believe the present truth, to even do so little as to
hand the messengers God’s own money, that he had lent them to be stewards over. {RH April 1,
1850, par. 5}
Then the
suffering Jesus, his sacrifice and love so deep, as to give his life for them,
was again held up before me; and then the lives of those who professed to be
his followers, who had this world’s goods, and considered it so great a thing
to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, “Can such enter heaven?” Another angel answered, “No, never, never,
never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth, can never sing the song of redeeming love above.” {RH April 1,
1850, par. 6}
I saw that the
quick work that God was doing on earth would soon be cut short in
righteousness, and that the swift messengers must speed on their way to search
out the scattered flock. An angel said,
“Are all messengers? No, no, God’s messengers have a message.” {RH April 1,
1850, par. 7}
I saw that the
cause of God had been hindered, and dishonored by some travelling who had no
message from God. Such will have to give an account to God for every dollar they
have used in travelling where it was not their duty to go; for that money might
have helped on the cause of God, and for the lack of it, souls have starved and
died for the want of spiritual food, that might have been given them by God’s
called and chosen messengers if they had had the means. {RH April 1, 1850, par.
8}
The mighty
shaking has commenced, and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not
willing to take a hold and unyielding stand for the truth, and sacrifice for God and his cause. The angel said,
“Think ye that any will be compelled to sacrifice. No. no. It must be a free-will offering. It will take all to buy the field.”—I cried to
God to spare his people, some of whom were fainting and dying. {RH April 1,
1850, par. 9}
I saw that
those who have strength to labor with their hands, and help sustain the cause,
were as accountable for that strength, as others were for their property. {RH April 1,
1850, par. 10}
The
I saw that the judgments of Almighty God were speedily coming. I
begged of the angel to speak in his language to the people. Said he, “All the
thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai would not move those who will not be
moved by the plain truths of the word of God; neither would an angel’s message
awake them.” {RH April 1, 1850, par. 11}
I then beheld
the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. His robe was whiter than the whitest white.
No language can describe his glory and exalted loveliness. All, all who
keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the City,
and have right to the tree of life, and ever be in the presence of the lovely
Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noonday. {RH April 1,
1850, par. 12}
Then I was
pointed to Adam and Eve in Eden. They partook of the forbidden tree, and then
the flaming sword was placed around the tree of life, and they were driven from
the Garden, lest they should partake of the tree of life, and be immortal
sinners. The tree of life was to perpetuate immortality. I heard an angel ask,
“Who of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword, and have partaken of
the tree of life?” I heard another angel answer, “Not one of the family of Adam
have passed that flaming sword, and partaken of that tree; therefore there is
not an immortal sinner. The soul that sinneth it shall die an
everlasting death; a death that will last for ever,
where there will be no hope of a resurrection; and then the wrath of God will
be appeased.” {RH April 1, 1850, par. 13}
I saw that the
saints will rest in the Holy City, and reign as kings
and priests one thousand years; then Jesus will descend with the saints upon
the mount of Olives, and the mount will part asunder, and become a mighty plain
for the Paradise of God to rest upon. The rest of the earth will not be cleansed
until the wicked dead are raised (at the end of the one thousand years) and
gather up around the city; for the feet of the wicked will never desecrate the earth made
new.
Then fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them; burn them up
root and branch. Satan is the root, and his children are the branches. The same fire
that will devour the wicked, will purify the earth. {RH April 1,
1850, par. 14}
In hope of
immortality at the appearing of Jesus, {RH April 1, 1850, par. 15}
E. G. White
May 1, 1850
Eli Curtis
Eli Curtis.—It is well known by many of the brethren, that Eli Curtis
has published many of my visions. He has pursued such an inconsistent course
for some time past; and his influence on the cause of truth is such at this
time that I feel it my duty to say to the brethren that I have no faith in his
course; and that he has published my visions contrary to my wishes, even after I
had requested him not to publish them. {RH May 1, 1850, par. 1}
E. G. White
November 1,
1850
Dear Brethren
and Sisters
Dear Brethren
and Sisters, {RH November 1, 1850, par. 1}
I wish to give
you a short sketch of what the Lord has recently shown to me in vision. I was
shown the loveliness of Jesus, and the love that the angels have for one
another. Said the angel—Can ye not behold their love?—follow it. Just so God’s
people must love one another. Rather let blame fall on thyself than on a brother. I saw that the
message “sell that ye have and give alms” had not been given, by some, in its
clear light; that the true object of the words of our Saviour had not been
clearly presented. I saw that the object of selling was not to give to those
who are able to labor and support themselves; but to spread the truth. It is a sin to
support and indulge those who are able to labor, in idleness. Some have been
zealous to attend all the meetings; not to glorify God, but for the “loaves and
fishes.” Such had much better been at home laboring with their hands, “the
thing that is good,” to supply the wants of their families, and to have
something to give to sustain the precious cause of present truth. {RH November
1, 1850, par. 2}
Some, I saw,
had erred in praying for the sick to be healed before unbelievers. If any among
us are sick, and call for the elders of the church to pray over them, according
to James 5:14, 15, we should follow the example of Jesus. He put unbelievers out of the room, then
healed the sick; so we should seek to be separated from the unbelief of
those who have not faith, when we pray for the sick among us. {RH November 1,
1850, par. 3}
Then I was
pointed back to the time that Jesus took his disciples away alone, into an
upper room, and first washed their feet, and then gave them to eat of the
broken bread, to represent his broken body, and juice of the vine to represent
his spilled blood. I saw that all should move understandingly, and follow the
example of Jesus in these things, and
when attending to these ordinances, should be as separate from unbelievers as
possible. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 4}
Then I was
shown that the seven last plagues will be poured out, after Jesus leaves the
Sanctuary. Said the angel—It is the wrath of God
and the Lamb that causes the destruction or death of the wicked. At the voice
of God the saints will be mighty and terrible as an army with banners; but they
will not then execute the judgment written. The execution of the judgment will
be at the close of the 1000 years. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 5}
After the
saints are changed to immortality, and are caught up together, and receive
their harps, crowns, &c., and enter the Holy City, Jesus and the saints set
in judgment. The books are opened, the book of life and the book of death; the
book of life contains the good deeds of the saints, and the book of death
contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books were compared with the
Statute book, the Bible, and according to that they were judged. The saints in
unison with Jesus pass their judgment upon the wicked dead. Behold ye! said the angel, the saints sit
in judgment, in unison with Jesus, and mete out to each of the wicked,
according to the deeds done in the body, and it is set off against their names
what they must receive, at the execution of the judgment. This, I saw,
was the work of the saints with Jesus, in the Holy City before it descends to
the earth, through the 1000 years. Then at the close of the 1000 years, Jesus,
and the angels, and all the saints with him, leaves the Holy City, and while he is
descending to the earth with them, the wicked dead are raised, and then the
very men that “pierced him,” being raised, will see him afar off in all his
glory, the angels and saints with him, and will wail because of him. They will see
the prints of the nails in his hands, and in his feet, and where they thrust
the spear into his side. The prints of the nails and the spear will then be his
glory. It is at the close of the 1000 years that Jesus stands upon the
Mount of Olives, and the Mount parts asunder, and it
becomes a mighty plain, and those who flee at that time are the wicked, that
have just been raised. Then the Holy City comes down and settles on the plain. {RH November
1, 1850, par. 6}
Then Satan
imbues the wicked, that have been raised, with his
spirit. He flatters them that the army in the City is small, and that his army
is large, and that they can overcome the saints and take the City. While Satan
was rallying his army, the saints were in the City, beholding the beauty and
glory of the Paradise of God. Jesus was at their head, leading them. All at
once the lovely Saviour was gone from our company; but soon we heard his lovely
voice, saying, “Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world.” We gathered about Jesus, and just as he
closed the gates of the City, the curse was pronounced upon the wicked. The
gates were shut. Then the saints used their wings and mounted to the top of the
wall of the City. Jesus was also with them; his crown looked brilliant and
glorious. It was a crown within a crown, seven in number. The crowns of the
saints were of the most pure gold, decked with stars. Their faces shone with
glory, for they were in the express image of Jesus; and as they arose, and
moved all together to the top of the City, I was enraptured with the sight. {RH
November 1, 1850, par. 7}
Then the wicked
saw what they had lost; and fire was breathed from God upon them, and consumed them. This was the
Execution of the Judgment. The wicked then received according as the saints in
unison with Jesus had meted out to them during the 1000 years. The same fire
from God that consumed the wicked, purified the whole
earth. The broken ragged mountains melted with fervent heat, the atmosphere,
also, and all the stubble was consumed. Then our inheritance opened before us,
glorious and beautiful, and we inherited the whole earth made new. We all
shouted with a loud voice, Glory, Alleluia. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 8}
I also saw that
the shepherds should consult those in whom they have reason to have confidence,
those who have been in all the messages, and are firm in all the present truth,
before they advocate any new point of importance, which they may think the
Bible sustains. Then the shepherds will
be perfectly united, and the union of the shepherds will be felt by the church.
Such a course I saw would prevent unhappy divisions, and then there would be no
danger of the precious flock being divided, and the sheep scattered, without a
shepherd. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 9}
September 23d,
the Lord showed me that he had stretched out his hand the second time to
recover the remnant of his people, and that efforts must be redoubled in this
gathering time. In the scattering time Israel was smitten and torn; but now in the
gathering time God will heal and bind up his
people. In the scattering, efforts made to spread the
truth had but little effect, accomplished but little or nothing; but in the
gathering when God has set his hand to gather his people, efforts to spread the
truth will have their designed effect. All should be united and zealous in the
work. I saw that it was a shame for any to refer to the scattering for examples
to govern us now in the gathering; for if God does no more for us now than he
did then, Israel would never be gathered. It is as necessary that the truth should be
published in a paper, as preached. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 10}
The Lord showed
me that the 1843 chart was directed by his hand, and that no part of it should
be altered; that the figures were as he wanted them. That his hand was over and
hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until his hand
was removed. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 11}
Then I saw in
relation to the “Daily,” that the word “sacrifice” was supplied by man’s
wisdom, and does not belong to the text; and that the Lord gave the correct
view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before
1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the “Daily;” but since
1844, in the confusion, other views have been embraced, and darkness and
confusion has followed. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 12}
The Lord showed
me that Time had not been a test since 1844, and that time will never again be
a test. {RH November 1, 1850, par. 13}
Then I was
pointed to some who are in the great error, that the saints are yet to go to
Old Jerusalem, &c., before the Lord comes. Such a view is calculated to take the mind
and interest from the present work of God, under the message of the third
angel; for if we are to go to Jerusalem, then our minds will naturally be
there, and our means will be withheld from other uses, to get the saints to
Jerusalem. I saw that the reason why they were left to go into this great error, is because they have not confessed and forsaken their
errors, that they have been in for a number of years past. {RH November
1, 1850, par. 14}
E. G. White
RH November 1,
1850, par. 13