Daily Devotional, Year 4 – September 17 (Noble Bereans, Part 20: “Re-thinking Ellen White Regarding Her Old Testament Statements”)
By admin On July 11th, 2023.
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Daily Devotional, Year 4 – September 17
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Noble Bereans,
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Part 20:
“Re-thinking Ellen White Regarding Her Old Testament Statements”
To read part 1, click here…“September 2nd (Noble Bereans?)”
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AN OPEN-MINDED SPIRIT IN BEREA
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Okay, so those in Berea (Acts, Chapter 17:10-12) were more noble, because they:
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1. “Received the Word with all readiness of mind.”
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2. “And searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
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And so, the Bereans were ready to receive new teachings, which no doubt, conflicted with the supposed, “orthodox” teachings of that day.
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Thus, there was an open-mindedness which permeated their hearts, and a willingness to search the Scriptures daily, in hopes that these seemingly new teachings were indeed true!
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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License
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CRITICISMS OF ELLEN G. WHITE
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One of the most common criticisms of Ellen G. White, divinely appointed messenger to the 7th-Day Adventist Church, was that she was wanting to put her followers under the Old Covenant.
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And it’s true! So much of her writings seem to be Old Testament in nature. In one or more instances, she encouraged those who committed sin to make a trespass offering. And in many other places she made similar type Old Covenant flavored statements.
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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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SO, WHAT’S WITH ELLEN WHITE?
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So how are we to understand all this? How can such a glaring error be explained? Does this confirm that she was indeed a false prophet, as so many of her detractors claim she was?
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Actually, this can very easily be explained!
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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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PROCLAIMED BOTH TESTAMENTS
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What must be understood is the office which God gave to Ellen G. White.
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Listen…“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give glory to Him;
for the hour of his judgment is come:
and worship Him that made Heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'”
Revelation 14:6, 7
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This above passage from Revelation 14 is the key to understanding Ellen White’s ministry. And while she wasn’t an angel flying in the midst of Heaven, that angel, rather, symbolized the message she was chosen to give to the world.
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You see, her writings encompassed the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Thus, many of her statements have an Old Testament flavor to them, while many other statements have a New Testament flavor.
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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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VEILED PARAPHRASES OF BOTH TESTAMENTS
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Yes, if one would only take the time to thoroughly examine her statements, it would be discovered that much of her writings are paraphrases of Bible verses.
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And just as the Lord divided up the Bible with both Old and New Covenant statements, so too, Ellen White’s writings do the very same thing, yet to a somewhat lessor degree.
In other words, her Old Covenant statements are not so pronounced, often blended and balanced with New Covenant.
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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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JESUS VEILED IN OLD TESTAMENT SOUNDING STATEMENTS
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And so, just how is a truth-seeker to understand how to read her writings? Simple, the same way we are to understand the Bible!
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Yes, just as Jesus shines through every Old Testament law and precept, so too, He shines through every seemingly Old Testament statement in Ellen White’s writings.
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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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NEVER CLAIMED INFALLIBILITY
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Now of course, this is NOT TO SAY that Ellen White’s writings are inspired to the degree that the Bible is inspired.
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As a matter of fact, Ellen White confessed a number of times…“I have never claimed that my writings are infallible! God alone is infallible!”
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In another place, she said…“If there is an error in my writings, it should be prayerfully studied out, and if necessary, changes should be made.”
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And once again, she wrote…
“We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn.
God and Heaven alone are infallible.
Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view,
never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed.
As long as we hold to our own ideas and opinions with determined persistency,
we cannot have the unity for which Christ prayed.”
(Christian Experience & Teaching, Page 203)
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Now this does, by no means, discount the value of her writings! Ellen White had a wonderful message. And all those Noble Bereans who still have an ear to hear, will want to listen to her writings on audio. But time is short, and all this should be done somewhat in haste.
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THE NOBLE BEREAN IS INVITED TO LISTEN TO THE 24-MINUTE AUDIO NARRATION OF THE 1ST CHAPTER (“GOD WITH US”) FROM ELLEN WHITE’S BOOK ABOUT THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS, “DESIRE OF AGES”
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(THIS ENTIRE AUDIO BOOK CAN BE HEARD AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH DAY’S DEVOTIONAL BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 14TH IN THE YEAR 4 DEVOTIONALS)…
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1858 version The Great Controversy by E.G. White – Public Domain
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TO READ PART 21, CLICK HERE...
October 16 (Noble Bereans, Part 21: “Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding Proper Bible Interpretation”)
US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Help me to be an open-minded seeker of truth, even if it means giving up a very highly regarded Church opinion! Let me be willing to investigate any seemingly new teaching if it appears to have some biblical validity…
Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ” FEBRUARY 10 (The Deserted Island Theologian!)”, or you can also read…JUNE 13 (Why The World Didn’t End on May 21, 2011)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
Matthew 5:16
And so God has symbolized these Three Angels, flying in the midst of Heaven, the star, Arcturus (1st Angel), the Fall Constellations (2nd Angel), and by the Revelation 12 Woman (3rd Angel).
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As the reader studies this website, it will become more and more evident that the messages presented by these three angels is what Signs Of Heaven is all about.
The reader is encouraged to study, to download, and to share this wonderful message with anyone willing to listen. This is our “fleeing to the mountains” message.
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Nevertheless, to study these promised signs (see Luke 21:25) makes a wonderful and richly rewarding hobby. It is an inexpensive one, which can complement any camping trip. And you 
don’t need any equipment. Just a starry night and perhaps a camping chair. And once you really get to know these, your faith will become much stronger as you realize that there is nothing placed in Heaven haphazardly.
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But by all means, share these things, if possible! Then, by so-doing, we can be co-laborers with God and with each other, as we spread these three wonderful messages abroad.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license
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READ MORE…
Today’s Devotional – January 2nd (How Do I See These Signs of Heaven?)
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TOMORROW:
September 18 (Noble Bereans? Part 56: “Ellen White’s Views On The Two Beasts of Revelation 13” CONTINUED)
ABOVE ENGRAVING: Whore – Babylon –
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Maranatha!: “External Parade of Heathen Power”– By Ellen G. White
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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 5-MINUTE DEVOTIONAL – – Maranatha!: “External Parade of Heathen Power”– By Ellen G. White (youtube.com)
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