Editions of Great Controversy--

THE WRITING OF THE BOOK

'THE GREAT CONTROVERSY'

 Vance Ferrell

PREFACE

 There have been four editions of the book, Great Controversy, six later “1911” issues, plus three other Great Controversys in the 1870s. Six of these editions involved changes in the text or appendix. These six are as follows:

1858 — First writing of the text

1884 — Text revision and first appendix

1888 — Text and appendix revision

1911 — Text and appendix revision

1957 — 1956 appendix revision

1980 — 1979 appendix revision

We will discuss the changes in the above six editions elsewhere in this present volume. Keep in mind that Ellen White did not write any of the appendixes.

Other editions also appeared which involved no changes in the text or appendix (1926, 1927, 1950, 1954, and 1958). Because they only had cover and illustration changes, they will not be analyzed in this present volume. In addition, in the 1870s, three other Great Controversys were also printed. Here is a complete listing of all the editions and issues of Great Controversy and the year each was printed ("Text" in the following discussion means all the chapters in the book.):

1858 — Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1, also titled The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels. This book contained 219 pages, and was published by James White, Steam Press, Battle Creek, Michigan. (All the editions, prior to 1911, were printed at Battle Creek.) Although some preliminary information was given in earlier publications (see Early Writings, 1882), the 1858 book was newly written and included no appendix.

1870 — This Great Controversy bore the title, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 1, and The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels. It deals with the fall of Lucifer, on down to the fall of Solomon, plus a chapter on Christ. This 414-page book, published at Battle Creek, was later amplified into Patriarchs and Prophets. In this present volume, we will not classify this as one of the editions of Great Controversy.

1877 — A second Great Controversy which we will not deal with was published in 1877 under the title, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 2 or The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan: Life, Teachings, and Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This 396—page book covers the life of Christ, from His birth to His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

1878 — A third Great Controversy, which we also will omit from our discussions, bore the title, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 3 or The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan: The Death, Resurrec­tion, and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This 392—page book (442 pages in subsequent printings) dealt with the closing scenes in Christ's life on earth.

1884 — Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4 or The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan: From the Destruction of Jerusalem to the End of the Controversy This 506-page book is the one we today refer to as the 1884 Great Controversy. Soon after the issuance of this volume, a subscription (colporteur) edition was printed, which included illustrations. Ten printings of this 1884 edition were made between 1884 and 1887. Some of them were numbered as such on the copyright page ("Fifth Edition," etc.), along with the date of printing. The text was entirely rewritten for this edition, and an appendix was for the first time added. It had no indexes. It was printed both by the Review and Pacific Press.

1888 — The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan During the Christian Dispensation. This 704-page book included her text and Author's Preface. It also had two appendixes—one general and the other historical. We will closely analyze both the text and the general appendix in the book you now have in hand. We will also reprint the historical appendix. The paging of this book conforms both to the 1911 Great Controversy and to the 3-volume Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White. First begun in Europe during her visit there, this book was a complete enlarged rewriting of the 1884 edition. This was the last edition to contain no indexes. It was printed both by the Review (1890) and Pacific Press (1889). It was the first of her projected five Conflict of the Ages Series. Elsewhere in this present volume we will explain why the 1888 edition was not printed in 1888.

1911 — The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan. This 719-page book included the body of text of the 42 chapters, plus her preface, now titled Introduction. The appendix was revised. The changes in the text almost totally consisted of different quotations from historians, when those quoted in the 1888 edition could not be located. These changes were necessitated by a decision to provide quotation references. This edition was the first to include indexes: a general index and scripture index. (With the exception of the 1926, all subsequent editions had both indexes.) It was printed by the Re­view, Pacific Press, and, for the first time, by Southern Publishing Association.

1926 — This issue of the 1911 edition had reset type and new illustrations. Neither text nor appendix was changed. The paging of the 1888 and 1911 texts are identical. It was a special edition for colporteurs to sell, but had no scripture index. It was printed only by the Review.

1927 — Same as the 1926 edition, but with the addition of the scripture index, and it was printed only by Pacific Press.

1950 — This issue of the 1911 edition was a still newer colporteur (subscription) edition. The type was reset and new illustrations were used. Neither the text nor appendix were changed. For this particular edition, the Author's Introduction was shortened.

1954 — This was a special "Missionary Book of the Year" edi­tion, and was the first small paperback edition of the book ever published. The type was reset and everything was in it (text, appendix, and both indexes). In addition, it had the Index paging—which made it a thicker book. It was printed only by Southern Publishing.

1957 — The type was reset to provide a book which could sell both to members (trade edition) and outsiders (subscription edition). The edition for colporteurs had entirely new illustrations, and was part of the "Treasures of Life" series. This 1958 issue had a revised appendix (dated November 19,1956), which we will discuss later.

1980 — This issue of the 1911 edition included another appendix revision (dated December 6, 1979), which we will discuss in chapter 40. It was printed by the Review and Pacific Press.

Let us now begin the fascinating story of the Editions of Great Controversy.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ­

The book you now have in hand was prepared over a year ago, but many difficulties have been encountered in the process of trying to get it printed.

We finally got it onto the press, but then, as the project neared completion, part of the printing equipment burned, along with one of the signatures. The same fire also destroyed an outstanding new Spirit of Prophecy missionary book, which also contained sections from Great Controversy.

Many months later, we tried to get back to completing this present book, Editions of Great Controversy,—and then discovered that several boxes of printed signatures (each one containing 16 pages) were gone. We have no idea where they went.

So we had to redo those signatures. Yet that was not be an easy task since the typesetting computer program, which contained those Great Controversy materials had, in the meantime, crashed,­ and it had been replaced with an entirely different one. So in order to recover the missing signatures we had to go into DOS, strip out codes, and use special processes to restore the lost material.

The pages which it was necessary to reconstruct were these: Pages 1-16, 193-208, 273-288, and 481-496.

You will find they are somewhat different in type fonts and certain other aspects, and, occasionally, there is extra space at the end of a restructured signature.

Because, the second time around, we placed the table of contents in a smaller type face, there was room on pages 12 to 16 for an extra inserted chapter. (The complete references are given later in the book.)

We need not be surprised that there are problems when we try to defend the best and most important book for these last days, or try to distribute it. Great Controversy is the book, which Satan wants to destroy. He wants to destroy the book, destroy its influence, destroy our interest in distributing it, destroy the credibility of its historical statements, destroy confidence in its prophetic sections, or de­stroy the reputation of its author. He wants us to underrate it, ignore it, reject it, or proscribe its distribution.

Of all the books printed we ourselves have printed, Great Controversy is the only one which has gradually been lost as, over the years, we sent layouts for it to an outside printing house for publication. Within four years after beginning to print Great Controversy in 1985, forty percent of the layouts had been lost in the mails! Every other book we have printed—Desire of Ages, Ministry of Healing, Bible Readings, Christ's Object Lessons, Patriarchs and Prophets, etc., has had no pages lost in transit. But, over a period of several years, layout pages from Great Controversy kept disappearing, so typographic corrections must be made directly onto the negatives.

Satan has great wrath, as he thinks of the clear truths delineated in that powerful volume. He wants everyone to share his disgust for it. Those who in any way do so are aiding him in his work.

Do you have friends who tell you not to distribute Great Controversy? Do they tell you that some other book should be distributed first? Do they tell you there is something wrong with the book or one of its editions? Be not surprised; Satan is using every means possible to thwart the distribution of that vital book.

"As soon as Great Controversy came from the press, it should have been pushed above every other book. I have been shown this."—1899.

”When the Great Controversy should have been circulated everywhere, it was lying dead."—1899.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

"I have been aroused at one, two, or three o'clock in the morning, with some point forcibly impressed upon my mind as if spoken by the voice of God. "—1890.

"I have spread before them the light given me of heaven in that book."—1889.

"I was shown that I must write it out; that I should have to contend with the powers of darkness, for Satan would make strong effort to hinder me, but angels of God would not leave me in the conflict. "—1860.

"The keeping of Great Controversy from the field has done a work that men will have to answer for in the judgment." —1894.

"The results of the circulation of this book are not to be judged by what now appears. "—1890.

"I was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to write that book, and while working upon it I felt a great burden upon my soul. I knew that time was short, that the scenes which are soon to crowd upon us would at the last come very suddenly and swiftly." —1890.

"Had it been circulated at the time it was lying idle, there would have been a different order of things among our workers. The impressions made would have brought decided changes. "­1899.

"The book, Great Controversy, I appreciate above silver or gold, and I greatly desire that It shall come before the people."—1911.

"As I write upon my book, I feel intensely moved. I want to get it out as soon as possible." —1884.

"As soon as Great Controversy came from the press It should have been pushed above every other book. I have been shown this."—1899.

 "A much larger number of those who read it will not take their position until they see the very events taking place that are foretold in it."—1890.

"When the Great Controversy should have been circulated everywhere, It was lying dead." —1899.

"The lord has set before me matters which are of urgent importance for the present time, and which reach into the future."—1890.

 "I am more anxious to see a wide circulation for this book than for any others I have written."—1905. "I was shown that I should devote myself to writing out the  important matters for Volume 4 [The 1888 edition was the fourth volume of a series], and that the warning must go where the living messenger could not go, and that it would call the attention of many to the important events to occur in the closing scenes of this world's history. "—1890.

"No one feels the necessity or the importance of bringing it before the people. Brethren, how long am I to wait for you to get the burden?"—1890.

"Why do not our people appreciate and circulate more widely the books bearing the divine credentials?"—1907.

"My mind is stirred so deeply I cannot rest. Write, write, write, I must, and not delay. Great things are before us, and we must call the people from their indifference to get ready."­1884.

"These words have been spoken in a charge to me, 'Write in a book the things which thou hast seen and heard, and let it go to all the people, for the time is at hand when past history will be repeated.' "—1890.

"Do you know what it contains? Have you any apprecia­tion of the subject matter? Do you not see that the people need the light therein given?"—1890.

"When the earth is lightened with the glory of the Lord in the closing work, many souls will take their position on the commandments of God as the result of this agency. "—1890.

"Why do we not give greater effort to circulating the books that point out Satan's plans to counterwork the work of God, that uncover his plans and point out his deceptions?"­1907.

"Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of the long continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the writer of these pages. From time to time I have been permitted to behold the workings, in different ages of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. "—1888.

"Now Volume 1, or Patriarchs and Prophets, is ready for circulation, but even for this book I would not allow Volume 4 [Great Controversy] to remain longer as a light under a bushel. I am in sore distress of mind, but who of my brethren cares for this?"—1890.

"These books [Patriarchs and Prophets and Great Contro­versy] contain God's direct appeal to the people. Thus He is speaking to the people in stirring words, urging them to make ready for His coming. The light God has given in these books should not be concealed. "—1890.

"As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of the Word, and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make known to others that which had thus been revealed, to trace the history of the controversy in past ages and especially so to present it as to shed light on the fast-approaching struggle of the future. "—1888.

"But Instead of this, the book was suppressed, . . The book that should have gone did not go; and the men who should have worked to carry it forward, discouraged the canvassers from handling it. Thus saith the Lord, 'I will judge for this false, dishonest work.' "—1899.

"By reading it some souls will be aroused and will have courage to unite themselves at once with those who keep the commandments of God. "—1905.

"Great Controversy should be very widely circulated. It contains the story of the past, the present, and the future. In Its outline of the closing scenes of this earth's history, it bears a powerful testimony in behalf of the truth."—1905.

"This book has to a great degree been misplaced by another book, which has kept from the world the light God has given."—1891.

"In the Great Controversy, the last message of warning for the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books." —1905.

"It [Bible Readings] can never take the place the Lord designed that Volume 4 [Great Controversy] should have in the world and among our people. I have spread before them the light given me of heaven in that book."—1889.

"Has the Lord moved upon my mind to prepare this work to be sent everywhere, and is He moving upon my brethren to devise plans which shall bar the way so that the light which He has given me shall be hid?"—1890.

"The statement made that these books [Great Controversy and Patriarchs and Prophets] cannot be sold, is not true. I know; for the Lord has instructed me that this is said because human devising has blocked the way for their sale. It cannot be denied that these books were not the product of any human mind, they are the voice of God speaking to the people, and they will have an influence upon minds that other books do not have. "—1890.

"The Lord would have this work carried into the highways and byways where there are souls to be warned of the dangers so soon to come."—1890.

"While writing the manuscript of Great Controversy I was often conscious of the presence of the angels of God. And many times the scenes about which I was writing were presented to me anew in visions of the night, so that they were fresh and new."­1911.

"In the sudden attack at Jackson [Michigan], Satan designed to take my life to hinder the work I was about to write; but angels of God were sent to raise me above the effects of Satan's attack."—1880.

"Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan's apostasy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now; for through them the truth will reach many minds. . Many of our people have been blind to the importance of the very books that were most needed. Had tact and skill then been shown. . the Sunday—law movement would not be where it is today. "—1905.

"Light was in that book which came from heaven; but what account will those men have to give to God for the little faith and confidence manifested in that book that the warnings should not come to the people when they should have had them."—1894.

"It is a duty we owe to our people and to God, to send every ray of light given me of God, demanded at this time for every tongue and nation."—1889.

 "[In a divinely-given dream] Elder Haskel was presenting strong reasons why the books which contain the knowledge that has been communicated to Sister White —the books containing the special message to come to the world at this time [especially Great Controversy!] —should be more freely circulated.

" 'Why,' he inquired, 'do not our people appreciate and circulate more widely the books bearing the divine credentials? Why is not a specialty made of the books containing the warnings regarding Satan's work? Why do we not give greater effort to circulating the books that point out Satan's plans to counterwork the work of God, that uncover his plans and point out his deceptlons?"—9 Testimonies, 66-67.

"[In the same dream] But dissatisfaction was expressed by some of our own people. One said: 'A stop must be put to this work, or our business will be spoiled.' . . Then I heard a voice of our Counselor saying: 'Forbid them not. This is a work that should be done. The end is near. Already much time has been lost, when these books should have been in circulation. Sell them far and near. Scatter them like the leaves of autumn. This work is to continue without the forblddings of anyone.'—9 Testimonies, 72-73 [italics ours; read the entire chapter].  

— PART ONE ­

THE WRITING OF THE BOOK

1 — INTRODUCTION

It had been a crushing disappointment. Between 50,000 and 100,000 Advent believers had been expecting the coming of their Lord in the clouds of heaven. But to their knowledge nothing unusual had occurred.

Writing years later of the experience, Hiram Edson said this:

"Our fondest hopes and expectations were blasted, and such a spirit of weeping came over us as I never exper­ienced before. It seemed that the loss of all earthly friends could have been no comparison. We wept and wept, till the day dawn.

"I mused in my own heart, saying, 'My Advent experience has been the richest and brightest of all my Christian experience. If this had proved a failure, what was the rest of my Christian experience worth? Has the Bible proved a failure? Is there no God, no heaven, no golden home city, no Paradise? Is all this but a cunningly devised fable? Is there no reality to our fondest hope and expectation of these things?' And thus we had something to grieve and weep over, if all our fondest hopes were lost. And as I said, we wept, till the day dawn. "—Document File. 588. Hiram Edson manuscript (see also Review, June 23, 1921).

Another believer, Washington Morse in Vermont, later wrote this:

 "That day came and passed, and the darkness of another night closed in upon the world. But with that darkness came a pang of disappointment to the Advent believers that can find a parallel only in the sorrow of the disciples after the crucifixion of their Lord.

 "The passing of the time was a bitter disappointment. True believers had given up all for Christ, and had shared His presence as never before. The love of Jesus filled every soul; and with inexpressible desire they prayed, 'Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly;' but He did not come.

"And now, to turn again to the cares, perplexities, and dangers of life, in full view of jeering and reviling unbelievers who scoffed as never before, was a terrible trial of faith and patience. When Elder Himes visited Waterbury, Vermont, a short time after the passing of the time, and stated that the brethren should prepare for another cold winter, my feelings were almost uncontrollable. I left the place of meeting and wept like a child." —Review, May 7, 1901.

The call to prepare for the soon coming of Christ culminated in the summer and early fall of 1844. This call swelled into a powerful Midnight Cry, and began at Exeter, New Hampshire, on August 12, 1844—only 71 days before October 22, the predicted date of the completion of the 2300-year prophecy. But then came the Great Disappointment.

As a result, many gave up their hope in the soon coming of Christ, yet there were some who did not. Among that number was a young girl who, with her family, lived in Portland, Maine, and clung to the blessed hope. Her name was Ellen Harmon:

"It was hard to take up the vexing cares of life that we thought had been laid down forever. It was a bitter disappointment that fell upon the little flock whose faith had been so strong and whose hope had been so high. But we were surprised that we felt so free in the Lord, and were so strongly sustained by His strength and grace.

"We were disappointed but not disheartened. We resolved to refrain from murmuring at the trying ordeal by which the Lord was purging us from the dross and refining us like gold in the furnace; to submit patiently to the process of purifying that God deemed needful for us; and to wait with patient hope for the Saviour to redeem His tried and faithful ones."—Life Sketches, pp. 61—62. 

 The date was October 22, 1844. By December of that year, young Ellen (only 17) was clearly nearing the end of her life. Her weakened condition was rapidly worsening; she had a serious lung disease. It was only with great effort that she could speak in a broken voice, generally in a whisper. Frequently at night, she would awaken from sleep coughing blood from her lungs. Her family understood why she hardly spoke, slept a lot, and remained in bed most of the rest of the time. They prayed with and for her, and awaited the day when she would die.

Then one day, several godly women who knew the family well decided to gather for special prayer for the soon return of Jesus—and for little Ellen.

They knelt in prayer at the Portland home of Mrs. Elizabeth Haines, a young married woman. Three other women were present.

And then God gave a great blessing to the people living in these last days: He gave us the Spirit of Prophecy. "While I was praying, the power of God came upon me as I had never felt it before. I was wrapped in a vision of God's glory, and seemed to be rising higher and higher from the earth, and was shown something of the travels of the Advent people to the Holy City."—Early Writings, p. 13 (see also Experience and Views, p. 5).

Here is that first vision, as published in the Day-Star of January 24, 1846.

"While [I was] praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, 'look again, and look a little higher.'

"At this, I raised my eyes and saw a straight and nar­row path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. "But soon some grew weary, and said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, 'Hallelujah"

"Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, which left their feet in perfect dark­ness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spake the time, He poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God as Moses' did when he came down from Mount Sinai.

"By this time the 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. "At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us in prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the lord, and the wicked would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.

"Soon our eyes were drawn to the east. for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man's hand. which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, [and became] lighter, and brighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire, a rainbow was over it, around the cloud were ten thousand angels singing a most lovely song.

"And on it sat the Son of man, on His head were crowns. His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders. His feet had the appearance of fire, in His right hand was a sharp sickle, in His left a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through.

"Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, 'Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?' Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke, 'Those who have clean hands and a pure heart shall be able to stand; my grace is sufficient for you.' At this, our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sung again while the cloud drew still nearer the earth.

"Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven and cried, 'Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.' Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, 'Hallelujah!' as they recognized their friends who had been tom from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.

"We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass."—The Day-Star, January 24, 1846 (see also Early Writings, pp. 14-16).

Where did Great Controversy start? It began with that first vision, given in December 1844. This vision contained basic facts later amplified several times in larger and still larger studies of the great controversy warfare and last day events, until the final revision of Great Controversy came from the press.

As you read this first vision, you will note that it does not deal with the subject matter of Christ's Object Lessons, Steps to Christ, or the Testimonies. We do not find here material for Education, Ministry of Healing, Desire of Ages, or Patriarchs and Prophets. The single topic is final events in the great controversy.

The book, Great Controversy, is both the touchstone and capstone to her ministry. It both began it and climaxed it. Today, as we open the pages of that hallowed volume, we find the broad panorama of events from Christ's day to our own and beyond. That book explains the past, the present, and the future. It is as a great light shining upon our pathway, illuminating our steps all the way to the city of God.

This is the story of the writing of that book.

"As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of His Word, in the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make known to others that which has thus been revealed, to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so to present it as to shed a light on the fast approaching struggle of the future."—Great Controversy.—Letter 281, 1905 (Colporteur Ministry, p. 127:1; Great Controversy, p. xii [1888]).

2 — THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK OF OUR TIME

The broad, sweeping coverage and the tremendous importance of this book is indicated in the following statement:

"The Great Controversy should be very widely circulated. It contains the story of the past, the present, and the future. In its outline of the closing scenes of this earth's history, it bears a powerful testimony in behalf of the truth. I am more anxious to see a wide circulation of this book than for any others I have written; for in the Great Controversy, the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books."—Letter 281, 1905 (Colporteur Ministry, p. 127:1).

In this book are to be found most crucial messages which are needed by the people living in these last days. It is of the utmost importance that we share it as widely as possible.

"The book, The Great Controversy, I appreciate above silver or gold, and I greatly desire that it shall come before the people. While writing the manuscript of The Great Controversy I was often conscious of the presence of the angels of God. Many times the scenes about which I was writing were presented to me anew in visions of the night, so that they were fresh and vivid in my mind." —Letter 56, 1911 (Colporteur Ministry, p. 128:3).

"It is not so much the object of this book to present new truths concerning the struggles of former times, as to bring out facts and principles which have a bearing on coming events. Yet viewed as a part of the controversy between the forces of light and darkness, all these records of the past are seen to have a new significance; and through them a light is cast upon the future, illuminating the pathway of those who, like the reformers of past ages, will be called, even at the peril of all earthly good, to witness 'for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.' "—Great Controversy xiv (1888). 

 In that first vision, she wrote:

"Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, which left their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path.”—Day-Star, January 24, 1846 (Early Writings, p. 15).

The Midnight Cry was that light. But could it be that that "light behind them" also included the Spirit of Prophecy? That pure light, which began shortly after the Midnight Cry closed, provided the remnant with light to guide their feet all along the pathway, throughout their journey to the City of God. But, if that be true, then beware of the warning regarding those who—having rejected the light—stumble and fall off that heaven-bound trail!

How did this book come to be? What is the background of its writing? The better we understand the circumstances under which it was written, the more we shall value this special heritage.

We are well-aware of the many attacks leveled against Great Controversy in our own day. But in this study we will learn that, even in the 19th century, it repeatedly received more opposition than any other Spirit of Prophecy book. In addition, its author suffered more in the process of bringing it to us than she did in bringing us any of her other writings.

That first vision was given in December 1844. Over the next several years, Ellen and her husband James White traveled and spoke in many places. Living conditions were difficult and she wrote relatively little.

Later, in 1858, Ellen White made this comment about the basic great controversy vision: "In this vision at Lovett's Grove, much of the material of the Great Controversy which I had seen ten years before was repeated, and I was shown that I must write it out. "­2 Spiritual Gifts, p. 270 (Life Sketches, p. 162 is almost identical)

  3 — THE 1848—1849 VISIONS

That which she had seen "ten years before" had been shown her in November and December of 1848. Here is a brief overview of those revelations:

On Sabbath, November 18, she was shown in vision that the message of the Third Angel needed to be published and widely circulated.

(It is of interest that, as you read the story of her life, you will find that these specific information visions which she received came more frequently when they would, as a result, be printed and circulated. That is significant! God wanted that information printed, circulated, and read! All of her writings should be kept in print and distributed to­day; none are unimportant, for all are from Heaven.)

On Saturday night, December 16, at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, another vision was given. At the time, many were suggesting that the massive turmoil occurring just then in Europe was the signal for the end of time. But in this vision, Ellen White was shown that a far greater uphea­val was yet in the future.

In that vision, she was also shown that Jesus would return to earth through that region of the sky we call the Orion constellation.

"December 16, 1848, the Lord gave me a view of the shaking of the powers of the heavens. I saw that when the Lord said 'heaven: in giving the signs recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, He meant heaven, and when He said 'earth' He meant earth. The powers of the heavens are the sun, moon, and stars. They rule in the heavens. The powers of the earth are those that rule on the earth. The powers of heaven will be shaken at the voice of God. The sun, moon, and stars will be moved out of their places. They will not pass away, but be shaken by the voice of God.

"Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God. The Holy City will come down through that open space.

"I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken and that events come in order. War, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence are first to shake the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the sun, moon, and stars, and this earth also. I saw that the shaking of the powers in Europe is not, as some teach, the shaking of the powers of heaven, but it is the shaking of the angry nations."—Letter 2, 1848, addressed to The Scattered Remnant (see also Early Writings, p. 41).

Shortly after that, on Friday evening January 5, 1849, the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, the sealing time, the death decree, the seven last plagues, and Jacob's trouble were partially explained to her:

"At the commencement of the holy Sabbath, January 5, 1849, we engaged in prayer with Brother Belden's family at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and the Holy Ghost fell upon us. I was taken off in vision to the most holy place, where I saw Jesus still interceding for Israel. . Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction."—Early Writings, p. 36.

As Daniel sought for a further explanation of a vision in Daniel 8, and received it later in Daniel 9, so Ellen White asked for further information and later received it.

'I asked my attending angel for an explanation of what I saw. He told me that I could see no more then, but he would shortly show me what those things that I then saw meant."—Early Writings, p. 37.

The next afternoon (January 6), additional light was given in regard to the intercessory ministry of Christ in the sanctuary in heaven, and how this related to the sealing of God's people.

"I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to accomplish it. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the remnant, then raised His hands, and with a voice of deep pity cried, 'My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood"

"Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God, who sat upon the great white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, 'Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their fore­heads.' "—Early Writings, p. 38.

Still uncertain as to the full significance of this, she asked for additional information, and it was then given.

 "I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I heard, and what the four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on earth; that the four angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and they were about to let them go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them. "Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads."—Early Writings, p. 38.

These two visions of January 5 and 6 are discussed in Early Writings, pages 36-38.

In an undated vision received soon after, she was shown God's care over His people, and also the glorious inheritance in heaven awaiting each one of them. It is de­scribed in Early Writings, pages 39-40. In this vision, she was also taken to other worlds.

It is thus clear that ten years prior to Ellen White's very important "Great Controversy vision," she had received several introductory views of many of the closing-scenes events described in that book. Ellen had just turned 21 when she received them.

These 1848-1849 visions of final events were written out and later included in her first three books: Christian Experience and Views of Mrs. E.G. White, (which was printed in 1851; today available in Early Writings, pages 11-83); A Supplement to Experience and Views (printed in 1854; today in Early Writings, pages 85-127); and Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1; now in Early Writings, pages 133-295).

But it was not until her 1858 vision that she was explicitly told that the closing-scenes visions must be published in far greater detail. She was also told at that time that—above all else—Satan did not want that information made available to the people!

Before concluding this section, it would be well to note that, in 1848, Ellen White was also used of God in formulating another major area of Adventism: several of our basic doctrines.

Three powerful blessings were given to the remnant just following the passage of Jesus from the first to the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844:

(1)The Spirit of Prophecy was again in the church, after an absence of about 1750 years.

(2) The Sabbath truth was discovered by the Advent people, after being almost wholly extinguished by the apostasy of the Dark Ages.

(3) The truth about Jesus' ministry in the sanctuary opened up before His people.

Yes, those were indeed blessings. But it was not until 1848 that the first major outline of basic Seventh-day Adventist beliefs was produced during what was called the "Sabbath Conferences." These were meetings held in several locations in New England, some of them in barns. Men, holding to a wide variety of beliefs, attended those gatherings. Because most held to a variety of peculiar theories, and because most believed their own to be correct, theological pandemonium appeared certain. Yet each meeting concluded with a single, unified clear-cut set of teachings! How could that possibly happen?

Our kind Father worked it out in a very definite way: Throughout the time that the meetings were held, the mind of Ellen White was locked so that she could understand neither the reasoning nor the conclusions of the brethren. The men were clearly on their own, but they could go nowhere; too many differences and varied views divided them.

A topic would be selected for prayerful study; it would be investigated; the brethren would then arrive at that point where they knew not how to proceed. Before them lay several doctrinal paths, and they were not clear regarding which one to pursue.

Then Ellen White would be taken off in vision and, while they prayerfully waited, would be given the correct answer. Coming out of vision, she would relate what she had been shown to the assembled group. They would accept the light given, noting that, again, her mind was locked to an understanding of the conversation and issues involved.

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