West of the city
of Portland, Maine,
00:01:06.73\00:01:09.23
about a quarter
hour's drive by car,
00:01:09.26\00:01:11.06
lies the village of Gorham.
00:01:11.07\00:01:12.75
Just north of the
village, is Fort Hill.
00:01:12.78\00:01:15.54
And it was here
on November 26, 1827,
00:01:15.57\00:01:19.36
that twin girls, Ellen
and Elizabeth were born to
00:01:19.39\00:01:22.85
Robert and Eunice Harmon.
00:01:22.88\00:01:24.26
The Harmon's were devout
Methodists with eight children
00:01:27.43\00:01:30.25
to care for.
00:01:30.28\00:01:31.47
Though their home
no longer stands today,
00:01:33.59\00:01:35.45
this marker indicates
its approximate location.
00:01:35.48\00:01:38.88
Seagulls cawing.
00:01:41.62\00:01:43.59
Later, the family moved to
the seaside city of Portland,
00:01:49.62\00:01:52.80
where Robert Harmon
continued his hat making trade,
00:01:52.83\00:01:56.04
and young Ellen attended
the Brackett Street School.
00:01:56.07\00:01:59.12
Sounds of children playing.
00:01:59.15\00:02:02.11
But at the age of nine, her
life was to take a dramatic turn
00:02:04.70\00:02:08.12
at the hands of a
jealous schoolgirl.
00:02:08.15\00:02:10.24
Schoolgirl:
You're a cheat, Ellen!
00:02:11.88\00:02:13.41
Schoolgirl: I'll get you!
00:02:16.67\00:02:18.21
Elizabeth: Ellen!
00:02:22.45\00:02:23.42
Ellen was carried to
her home in Clark Street,
00:02:31.11\00:02:33.64
where it was soon discovered
that her nose was broken
00:02:33.67\00:02:36.40
and every feature of
her face had changed.
00:02:36.43\00:02:39.17
She lay in a
coma for three weeks.
00:02:39.20\00:02:41.83
On recovering a
little, she soon discovered
00:02:41.86\00:02:45.06
the difference
her appearance made
00:02:45.09\00:02:46.54
to the way others treated her.
00:02:46.55\00:02:48.66
Ellen Harmon made
several attempts to resume
00:02:54.61\00:02:56.82
her schooling.
00:02:56.85\00:02:58.05
But the results of
the accident made it
00:02:58.08\00:02:59.67
almost impossible to study
and retain what she learned.
00:02:59.70\00:03:03.08
Her hand trembled so much,
00:03:03.11\00:03:05.26
she could make no
progress in writing,
00:03:05.29\00:03:07.42
and with great reluctance,
00:03:07.45\00:03:08.97
she eventually
gave up all attempts
00:03:09.00\00:03:12.19
to gain a formal education.
00:03:12.22\00:03:13.19
During this lonely
and discouraging period,
00:03:14.80\00:03:16.74
she spent many pleasant
hours, here in the woods
00:03:16.77\00:03:19.83
of Deering Oaks Park.
00:03:19.86\00:03:21.74
In March 1840, William
Miller came to Portland
00:03:26.81\00:03:29.65
and presented a
series of lectures
00:03:29.68\00:03:31.34
on the Second Coming of Christ
00:03:31.37\00:03:32.80
at the church that once stood
00:03:32.83\00:03:34.65
on this site in Casco Street.
00:03:34.68\00:03:37.14
The Harmon Family
attended these meetings,
00:03:38.06\00:03:39.99
and Ellen later
wrote of Miller...
00:03:40.02\00:03:42.20
Ellen Harmon: "He
traced down the prophecies
00:03:42.23\00:03:44.56
with an exactness
that brought convictions,
00:03:44.59\00:03:46.49
and held the
crowds as if spellbound. "
00:03:46.52\00:03:49.96
Organ music playing.
00:03:50.40\00:03:54.80
In June 1842, Ellen
Harmon and 11 others
00:04:01.34\00:04:04.89
were baptized and
received into the fellowship
00:04:04.92\00:04:07.36
of the Methodist Church,
00:04:07.39\00:04:08.44
that once stood near by
this present Methodist Church
00:04:08.47\00:04:11.77
in Chestnut Street.
00:04:11.80\00:04:12.93
But her joyful
Christian experience
00:04:12.96\00:04:15.53
was interspersed
with times of despondency.
00:04:15.56\00:04:18.34
Nevertheless, Miller's
second visit to Portland
00:04:18.37\00:04:21.60
confirmed her confidence
in the soon coming of Jesus.
00:04:21.63\00:04:24.98
A confidence that she
enthusiastically shared.
00:04:24.99\00:04:28.09
However, the Harmon's'
acceptance of Miller's teachings
00:04:30.65\00:04:33.71
did not meet with the
approval of their church.
00:04:33.74\00:04:36.57
Here is the record of the
quarterly business meeting
00:04:36.60\00:04:39.98
that was
conducted in September 1843.
00:04:40.01\00:04:43.99
The pastor arose and
stated that Robert Harmon
00:04:44.02\00:04:47.20
and his family, including
Ellen Harmon had entered
00:04:47.23\00:04:49.98
an appeal from the decision
of the committee by which
00:04:50.01\00:04:52.73
they had been
expelled from the church.
00:04:52.76\00:04:54.81
It was unanimously
voted to sustain the decision
00:04:56.48\00:04:59.02
of the committee
in his expulsion.
00:04:59.05\00:05:01.37
Ellen Harmon often
claimed that the year 1844
00:05:04.76\00:05:07.46
was the happiest of her life.
00:05:07.49\00:05:09.55
Yet with tens of
thousands of others,
00:05:09.58\00:05:12.42
the Harmon family
suffered bitter disappointment
00:05:12.45\00:05:15.12
when Jesus did not
come on October 22.
00:05:15.15\00:05:18.56
By December 1844,
most Advent believers
00:05:25.64\00:05:28.48
had given up their confidence
in the validity of October 22.
00:05:28.51\00:05:31.70
Ellen Harmon and
her friends had accepted
00:05:31.73\00:05:34.70
that the fulfillment
of the 2,300 year prophecy
00:05:34.73\00:05:37.55
must still be in the future.
00:05:37.58\00:05:40.52
It was in that same
month that Ellen received
00:05:47.90\00:05:49.95
the first of some 2,000
visions and prophetic dreams
00:05:49.96\00:05:53.34
that God would give
her over the next 70 years.
00:05:53.37\00:05:56.52
During these visions,
she was totally unconscious
00:06:03.14\00:06:05.56
of her surroundings and, like
the prophet Daniel in vision,
00:06:05.59\00:06:08.71
she did not breathe throughout
the time of the revelation.
00:06:08.74\00:06:12.03
The visions varied in length
from the very short duration
00:06:12.04\00:06:16.06
to nearly four hours.
00:06:16.09\00:06:18.21
Some were given in
public, before a few
00:06:20.68\00:06:22.96
or up to
hundreds of eyewitnesses.
00:06:22.99\00:06:25.10
These were generally accompanied
by marked physical phenomena
00:06:25.13\00:06:28.90
during the first 30
years of her ministry
00:06:28.93\00:06:31.28
that provided strong evidence
to those that witnessed them
00:06:31.31\00:06:34.66
that the work was of God.
00:06:34.69\00:06:36.63
Others were given during
prayer, writing or speaking
00:06:39.58\00:06:43.69
and were unaccompanied
by physical phenomena.
00:06:43.72\00:06:46.43
However, during the last
40 years of her ministry,
00:06:48.60\00:06:51.51
the visions were
usually prophetic dreams
00:06:51.54\00:06:54.23
given during the night.
00:06:54.26\00:06:56.40
J. N.
Loughborough, a church pioneer,
00:07:06.80\00:07:08.52
saw her in public
vision on some 50 occasions.
00:07:08.55\00:07:12.11
He wrote that at the beginning
of the vision, the word "glory"
00:07:12.14\00:07:16.11
was repeated three times,
but each time, more faintly.
00:07:16.14\00:07:20.14
Initially, she lost
strength and consciousness,
00:07:27.56\00:07:30.38
but was then able
to walk about the room.
00:07:30.41\00:07:32.78
She would sometimes
make gestures with her
00:07:41.83\00:07:43.68
arms and hands, but those
present would not able to move
00:07:43.71\00:07:47.37
them in any way.
00:07:47.40\00:07:48.64
Her eyes were open
while she looked upward,
00:07:55.52\00:07:57.71
appearing to be gazing intently
at some far away object.
00:07:57.74\00:08:01.61
Though she did not
breathe, her pulse was regular
00:08:01.64\00:08:05.37
and the color of her
face remained normal.
00:08:05.40\00:08:08.06
At the end of the vision,
her surroundings appeared
00:08:08.09\00:08:11.13
to be in total darkness.
00:08:11.16\00:08:12.66
Her power to see even the
brightest objects returned
00:08:12.69\00:08:16.24
only gradually.
00:08:16.27\00:08:17.88
Hello? Hi, Ellen.
00:08:19.39\00:08:21.81
Just prior to her first
vision in December 1844,
00:08:21.84\00:08:26.04
Ellen's health rapidly worsened.
00:08:26.07\00:08:28.72
Tuberculosis, it
seemed, would take her life.
00:08:28.73\00:08:31.35
In this condition, she
responded to an invitation
00:08:32.01\00:08:34.63
from a close friend,
Mrs. Elizabeth Haines,
00:08:34.66\00:08:37.84
to visit in her home
just across the bridge
00:08:37.87\00:08:40.47
in South Portland.
00:08:40.50\00:08:42.88
Coughing.
00:08:45.78\00:08:47.73
O give thanks unto the
Lord, call upon His name.
00:08:48.99\00:08:52.64
Make known His
needs among the people.
00:08:52.67\00:08:55.50
Sing unto Him.
Sing songs unto Him.
00:08:55.53\00:08:58.59
Talk ye about
His wondrous works.
00:08:58.62\00:09:00.99
Glory ye in His Holy Name.
00:09:01.02\00:09:03.41
Let the heart of them
rejoice that seek the Lord.
00:09:03.44\00:09:07.07
Shall we kneel in prayer?
00:09:07.10\00:09:08.79
One morning, three
other young women joined Ellen
00:09:17.96\00:09:20.63
and Mrs. Haines for worship.
00:09:20.66\00:09:22.10
As they knelt in
prayer, the Power of God
00:09:22.11\00:09:25.16
came upon Ellen,
and she was wrapped
00:09:25.19\00:09:27.36
in a vision of God's Glory.
00:09:27.39\00:09:29.73
She experienced the sense
of rising higher and higher
00:09:31.87\00:09:35.63
above the earth.
00:09:35.66\00:09:36.82
She says she turned to
look for the Advent people
00:09:36.85\00:09:40.04
in the world,
00:09:40.05\00:09:41.17
but could not find them.
00:09:41.20\00:09:42.60
Directed to look up, she
saw a straight and narrow path
00:09:42.63\00:09:46.69
on which they were
traveling to the Holy City.
00:09:46.72\00:09:48.76
Behind them was a bright light
00:09:48.79\00:09:51.17
which an angel
told her represented
00:09:51.20\00:09:53.15
The Midnight Cry
00:09:53.19\00:09:54.24
of the Millerite movement.
00:09:54.27\00:09:55.44
This light shone all along
the path and prevented them
00:09:55.48\00:09:59.48
from stumbling.
00:09:59.51\00:10:00.48
Ahead, they saw Jesus
leading them to the City.
00:10:00.49\00:10:04.00
And like Peter on the water,
so long as they kept their eyes
00:10:04.03\00:10:07.57
on Him, they were safe.
00:10:07.60\00:10:09.15
As the vision continued,
she viewed the Second Coming
00:10:11.24\00:10:13.92
of Jesus along with the
resurrection of God's People.
00:10:13.93\00:10:16.43
She also witnessed the
ascent to the New Jerusalem,
00:10:16.46\00:10:19.49
and saw some of its beauties.
00:10:19.52\00:10:21.74
When Ellen
shared this revelation
00:10:25.09\00:10:26.29
with her four
friends, it seemed to answer
00:10:26.32\00:10:28.73
some of the questions
that were troubling them.
00:10:28.76\00:10:30.82
Was the experience
of the disappointment
00:10:30.85\00:10:33.46
one in which God had lead?
00:10:33.49\00:10:34.74
Was October 22, a
fulfillment of prophecy
00:10:34.77\00:10:38.84
or a grand delusion?
00:10:38.87\00:10:40.75
...a narrow path, cast
up high above the world.
00:10:42.91\00:10:46.19
On this path, the Advent people
were traveling to the City...
00:10:46.22\00:10:51.11
The vision
affirmed that the message
00:10:51.14\00:10:53.44
fixed on the time, October 22,
was in the providence of God.
00:10:53.47\00:10:57.69
It was described
as light behind them
00:10:57.72\00:10:59.88
that shone all
the way to the City.
00:10:59.91\00:11:02.18
Significantly this light was set
at the beginning of the path.
00:11:02.21\00:11:05.58
They had hoped that it
marked the end of the road.
00:11:05.61\00:11:08.86
It was good news,
however, to know that Jesus knew
00:11:08.89\00:11:12.09
all about their experience,
and would continue to guide
00:11:12.12\00:11:15.05
all who kept their eyes on Him.
00:11:15.08\00:11:17.28
Ellen: ... they were safe.
00:11:17.29\00:11:18.99
About a week later, she
was given a second vision
00:11:20.18\00:11:23.26
in which God formally called
her to work as His messenger.
00:11:23.27\00:11:26.39
She was also shown the trials
00:11:26.42\00:11:28.71
and oppositions she would bear.
00:11:28.74\00:11:30.30
This vision troubled her,
for she was all too conscious
00:11:30.33\00:11:34.24
of her youthfulness, timidity
and constant ill health.
00:11:34.27\00:11:37.75
She also feared her own pride.
00:11:37.78\00:11:40.57
Nevertheless, she accepted God's
reassurance and began to share
00:11:40.60\00:11:45.14
what He had shown her.
00:11:45.17\00:11:46.50
At this, I raised my eyes and
saw a straight and narrow path
00:11:46.53\00:11:52.77
cast up high above...
00:11:52.80\00:11:54.64
Among those who heard her,
early in 1845 was William Foy.
00:11:54.67\00:11:58.66
...Adventists were
traveling to the City
00:11:58.69\00:12:00.68
which was on the
further end of the path...
00:12:00.71\00:12:04.03
The Lord showed me
that same exact vision!
00:12:05.39\00:12:07.60
That's just what I saw!
00:12:07.63\00:12:10.14
Throughout Ellen's
two-hour description,
00:12:16.73\00:12:19.04
William Foy repeatedly confirmed
the account of her vision.
00:12:19.07\00:12:22.53
Early in 1845, Ellen
Harmon traveled throughout
00:12:39.26\00:12:42.58
eastern Maine to meet with
the Advent believers there.
00:12:42.61\00:12:45.59
In February, while
visiting Exeter, she was given
00:12:45.62\00:12:49.10
a significant vision.
00:12:49.13\00:12:50.51
It was a view of the
Heavenly Sanctuary in which
00:12:52.71\00:12:54.78
she saw the Father rise
from His Throne and enter
00:12:54.81\00:12:57.96
the Most Holy Place.
00:12:57.99\00:12:59.37
Jesus followed Him
there and appeared before Him
00:12:59.40\00:13:02.96
as a Great High Priest
to receive His Kingdom.
00:13:02.97\00:13:05.79
This vision was not published
00:13:15.79\00:13:16.97
until the March
14, 1846 issue of
00:13:17.00\00:13:20.54
The Daystar
00:13:20.57\00:13:21.54
which was some five
weeks after the issue
00:13:21.55\00:13:24.10
in which Edson,
Crosier and Hahn had published
00:13:24.14\00:13:27.35
the results of their
Bible study on the sanctuary.
00:13:27.38\00:13:29.90
In a startling way, this
vision confirmed the explanation
00:13:31.49\00:13:35.22
they had found
during the months following
00:13:35.25\00:13:37.49
October 22, 1844.
00:13:37.50\00:13:40.75
Here is the
significant illustration
00:13:42.97\00:13:45.41
of the relationship that existed
between the prophetic gift
00:13:45.44\00:13:48.44
and the study of the Scriptures.
00:13:48.47\00:13:50.48
The gift was not given
00:13:50.49\00:13:52.04
as a substitute for Bible study,
00:13:52.07\00:13:54.33
nor were the
teachings of the church
00:13:54.36\00:13:56.78
obtained from the visions.
00:13:56.81\00:13:58.42
Rather the visions confirmed
the results of the Bible study.
00:13:58.45\00:14:03.01
Organ music playing.
00:14:04.02\00:14:06.75
A further illustration of
this can be seen in connection
00:14:06.78\00:14:09.92
with the keeping of
the seventh-day Sabbath.
00:14:09.95\00:14:11.62
Early in 1846, Ellen
Harmon had met Joseph Bates.
00:14:12.64\00:14:16.85
Bates had just begun to
keep seventh-day Sabbath
00:14:16.88\00:14:20.02
and was enthusiastically
sharing it with all
00:14:20.05\00:14:22.87
who would listen.
00:14:22.88\00:14:23.85
Yet, Ellen wrote of him...
00:14:23.86\00:14:25.90
Ellen: "I find him to be a true
00:14:25.93\00:14:27.74
Christian
gentleman, courteous and kind,
00:14:27.77\00:14:30.76
but I feel that he
errs in dwelling upon the
00:14:30.79\00:14:33.53
Fourth Commandment
more than the other nine. "
00:14:33.56\00:14:36.05
In August 1846, Bates
published his 48 page tract,
00:14:37.51\00:14:41.76
The Seventh-day
Sabbath, A Perpetual Sign,
00:14:41.79\00:14:44.43
in which he outlined the Bible
reasons for its observance.
00:14:44.44\00:14:48.36
Father, we pray now that
Your Spirit would abide with us
00:14:49.67\00:14:52.44
as we study Thy Holy Word.
00:14:52.47\00:14:53.96
We ask that we might be drawn
closer to truth and wisdom...
00:14:53.99\00:14:58.32
On August 30, 1846,
Ellen Harmon married
00:14:58.35\00:15:01.84
a young Millerite
preacher, James White.
00:15:01.87\00:15:04.66
Not long after this,
James and Ellen White studied
00:15:04.69\00:15:07.89
Bates' tract.
00:15:07.92\00:15:09.15
They compared its
contents with Scripture
00:15:09.18\00:15:11.49
and began to observe
the seventh-day Sabbath
00:15:11.52\00:15:14.33
and to teach it to others.
00:15:14.36\00:15:16.38
At that time, they were
about 50 Sabbath keepers
00:15:18.69\00:15:21.44
in New England and in
the state of New York.
00:15:21.47\00:15:23.66
Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it Holy.
00:15:25.19\00:15:27.76
Some months later, they
were visiting in the home
00:15:28.47\00:15:30.92
of fellow Adventist and
successful civil engineer,
00:15:30.95\00:15:33.86
Stockbridge
Howland in Topsham, Maine.
00:15:33.89\00:15:37.07
It was here,
early in April 1847,
00:15:40.05\00:15:42.49
that Ellen was
given another vision
00:15:42.52\00:15:44.34
of the Heavenly Sanctuary.
00:15:44.37\00:15:45.82
After viewing the Holy Place,
she passed into the Sanctuary's
00:15:48.07\00:15:51.11
second apartment.
00:15:51.14\00:15:52.28
There, she saw
the Ten Commandments
00:15:52.31\00:15:54.42
with a halo of light focused
upon the fourth commandment.
00:15:54.45\00:15:58.12
James and Ellen White had
already accepted the Sabbath,
00:16:01.93\00:16:04.76
solely on Biblical evidence.
00:16:04.79\00:16:06.71
However, the vision of
April 3, 1847, given some months
00:16:06.74\00:16:11.20
after they had
begun to observe it,
00:16:11.23\00:16:13.05
confirmed their decision
00:16:13.08\00:16:15.01
and impressed upon
them its importance.
00:16:15.04\00:16:18.04
While living in
Topsham, the Whites accepted
00:16:29.04\00:16:31.23
an invitation to
attend a conference
00:16:31.26\00:16:33.02
at Rocky Hill, Connecticut
in the Albert Belden home.
00:16:33.05\00:16:36.41
This conference was
later identified by James White
00:16:36.44\00:16:39.78
as the first General meeting
held by Seventh-day Adventists,
00:16:39.81\00:16:43.37
though they had not
yet to adopted that name.
00:16:43.40\00:16:45.95
It was also the first to some
20 weekend Bible conferences
00:16:45.96\00:16:49.80
conducted between
April 1848 and December 1850.
00:16:49.81\00:16:54.51
It was during these meetings
that the major teachings
00:16:59.90\00:17:02.37
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:17:02.40\00:17:04.13
were forged, using the
same methods Luther did
00:17:04.16\00:17:07.17
at the Diet of Worms: scripture,
reason and conscience.
00:17:07.20\00:17:11.84
James and Ellen White, Joseph
Bates, Hiram Edson and others
00:17:13.51\00:17:16.89
led out in the Bible
studies and prayer seasons
00:17:16.92\00:17:19.57
that often continued
through the entire night.
00:17:19.58\00:17:22.58
It is important to
consider Ellen White's role
00:17:24.59\00:17:26.67
during these conferences.
00:17:26.70\00:17:28.00
When the group came to a point
00:17:28.03\00:17:30.04
in their study when they
could progress no further,
00:17:30.07\00:17:32.35
she would be given a vision
in which a clear explanation
00:17:32.38\00:17:36.21
of the passages being
studied was presented.
00:17:36.24\00:17:38.63
Her contributions were
particularly impressive,
00:17:38.66\00:17:41.71
because all knew
that, when not in vision,
00:17:41.74\00:17:44.16
she could not
understand their reasoning.
00:17:44.19\00:17:46.62
Throughout Ellen White's life,
it is evident that the visions
00:17:46.65\00:17:49.71
were not given to her
to replace Bible study.
00:17:49.74\00:17:52.34
Late in 1888, she wrote...
00:17:52.37\00:17:55.04
"God wants us to go
to the Bible and get
00:17:55.07\00:17:58.35
the Scripture evidence. "
00:17:58.38\00:17:59.51
As the church's pioneers became
more and more unified on the
00:18:01.05\00:18:04.49
great themes they were studying,
they began to see the need
00:18:04.52\00:18:07.64
for publishing them.
00:18:07.67\00:18:08.71
During the
conference held in Dorchester,
00:18:08.74\00:18:10.85
just south of
Boston, Massachusetts,
00:18:10.88\00:18:12.96
in November of 1848,
00:18:12.99\00:18:15.13
Ellen received the vision
that was to launch the church
00:18:15.16\00:18:18.13
into an ambitious program.
00:18:18.14\00:18:19.70
After the vision, she
told her husband to publish
00:18:19.73\00:18:23.54
a little paper and
send it out to the people.
00:18:23.57\00:18:26.05
From this small beginning,
she said, she saw that it would
00:18:26.88\00:18:30.02
be like streams of
light that would go clear
00:18:30.05\00:18:32.70
around the world.
00:18:32.73\00:18:34.04
It was an impressive challenge
to present to a handful
00:18:34.07\00:18:37.99
of poverty-stricken
young believers.
00:18:38.02\00:18:39.92
In the following year,
1849, this little paper,
00:18:42.10\00:18:45.09
The Present Truth
00:18:45.13\00:18:46.39
was published in Connecticut.
00:18:46.42\00:18:49.36
James White brought a thousand
copies to Albert Belden's home
00:18:51.88\00:18:55.12
where a small group
prayed for God's blessing.
00:18:55.15\00:18:58.35
The following year, the
periodical was replaced by
00:18:58.38\00:19:01.25
The Second Advent Review
00:19:01.29\00:19:02.62
and
00:19:02.66\00:19:03.63
Sabbath Herald.
00:19:03.64\00:19:04.61
Known today as
00:19:04.62\00:19:05.59
Adventist Review,
00:19:05.60\00:19:06.57
its message is
read around the world.
00:19:06.58\00:19:09.78
In 1875, the Whites were
here in Battle Creek, Michigan
00:19:26.09\00:19:30.55
to attend a Biblical
institute and the dedication
00:19:30.58\00:19:33.48
of the church's first college.
00:19:33.51\00:19:35.23
Shortly before the
dedication, Ellen fell very ill
00:19:35.26\00:19:39.48
with influenza.
00:19:39.51\00:19:40.56
Fearing for her life, some
of the church's leaders met
00:19:40.59\00:19:44.24
for prayer, during
which she was not only healed,
00:19:44.27\00:19:47.23
but also given a
ten minute vision.
00:19:47.26\00:19:50.05
In this vision, she saw
the world enshroud in darkness.
00:19:50.08\00:19:54.51
Then, through the gloom,
she saw glimmering lights
00:19:54.54\00:19:58.01
which burned brighter and
brighter, lighting other lights
00:19:58.04\00:20:01.05
until the whole
world was lit up.
00:20:01.08\00:20:03.56
In a later
account of this vision,
00:20:10.09\00:20:11.58
she spoke of seeing
printing presses operating
00:20:11.59\00:20:14.29
all over the world.
00:20:14.32\00:20:15.52
At that time, the
church was operating
00:20:15.55\00:20:18.27
only one publishing
house -in Battle Creek.
00:20:18.30\00:20:21.16
Intrigued, James
White interrupted her
00:20:22.07\00:20:24.44
and asked if she remembered
the names of any countries
00:20:24.47\00:20:26.99
where she had seen
these presses in operation?
00:20:27.02\00:20:29.79
Ellen White: "No, I
do not know the names,
00:20:29.82\00:20:32.51
but, if I should ever see
them, I would recognize them. "
00:20:32.54\00:20:35.64
"Oh, I do remember one,
the angel said, Australia. "
00:20:35.65\00:20:41.07
Late in 1891, Ellen White
herself came to Australia.
00:20:47.38\00:20:51.04
Soon after her
arrival, she visited
00:20:51.07\00:20:53.59
the printing establishment
that had been set up
00:20:53.62\00:20:55.50
in Best Street, Melbourne.
00:20:55.53\00:20:57.14
She recognized the
people working the presses
00:20:57.65\00:20:59.74
and spoke of the relationships
between them, based upon
00:20:59.77\00:21:03.27
the revelation
given 17 years before.
00:21:03.30\00:21:05.83
The Gift of Prophecy
was not given, however,
00:21:12.46\00:21:14.75
only to guide the
work of the church
00:21:14.76\00:21:16.87
and enlarge its vision.
00:21:16.90\00:21:18.23
In Ephesians chapter
6, the apostle Paul warned
00:21:18.26\00:21:21.48
the church that it
was engaged in a struggle
00:21:21.51\00:21:23.47
against the devil's schemes,
and against the spiritual
00:21:23.50\00:21:26.52
forces of evil in
the Heavenly realms.
00:21:26.53\00:21:28.84
Another important
function therefore
00:21:28.87\00:21:31.40
of a prophetic gift
is to protect the church
00:21:31.43\00:21:34.19
from the deceptions
and attacks of its enemy.
00:21:34.22\00:21:36.64
Ten minutes drive
from Hiram Edson's home
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.16
is the birthplace
in Hydesville, New York
00:21:43.19\00:21:46.19
of modern spiritualism.
00:21:46.22\00:21:47.98
It was here on March 31,
1848, that the Fox family
00:21:53.89\00:21:57.97
first heard
mysterious rapping sounds.
00:21:58.01\00:22:01.01
Communication
was soon established
00:22:01.04\00:22:03.16
with the intelligence
behind the rappings.
00:22:03.19\00:22:05.56
It was supposedly
the spirit of the peddler
00:22:08.73\00:22:10.97
who had been murdered
here many years before.
00:22:11.00\00:22:13.86
Later in 1848, the first public
demonstrations of the rappings
00:22:15.06\00:22:19.18
were given in
Rochester, New York.
00:22:19.21\00:22:20.97
Within a decade,
newspapers estimated the number
00:22:21.00\00:22:24.36
of believers in the
spirit manifestations
00:22:24.39\00:22:26.43
to be more than a million
00:22:26.46\00:22:27.90
with the number of
mediums to be 40,000
00:22:27.94\00:22:30.89
in the United States alone.
00:22:30.92\00:22:32.49
Ellen White was warned against
these "Rochester Rappings,"
00:22:33.75\00:22:36.79
in a vision, she had in 1849.
00:22:36.82\00:22:39.70
Ellen White: "I
saw that the mysterious
00:22:39.73\00:22:41.96
knocking in New York and other
places is the power of Satan,
00:22:41.99\00:22:46.20
and that such things will
become more and more common
00:22:46.23\00:22:49.52
being clothed in
a religious garb. "
00:22:49.55\00:22:52.56
Some 18 months later,
she was given another vision
00:22:52.59\00:22:56.41
concerning the same phenomenon.
00:22:56.44\00:22:58.17
Ellen White: "Soon
it will be considered
00:22:58.20\00:23:00.46
blasphemy to speak against
the rapping, for it will spread
00:23:00.49\00:23:03.86
more and more, and even
the miracles performed by
00:23:03.89\00:23:07.54
Christ Himself will
be attributed to such
00:23:07.57\00:23:10.07
spiritualistic phenomena. "
00:23:10.10\00:23:12.16
The remarkable
fulfillment of these predictions
00:23:12.19\00:23:14.70
is seen in this volume,
00:23:14.74\00:23:16.55
100th Anniversary
of Modern Spiritualism,
00:23:16.58\00:23:19.39
published by the National
Spiritualists Association
00:23:19.43\00:23:22.41
of the United States in 1948.
00:23:22.45\00:23:26.75
Here on page 68, it states...
"A medium foretold the birth
00:23:27.26\00:23:31.32
of Jesus, whose brief
life on earth was filled
00:23:31.35\00:23:34.23
with the performance of
many 'so-called miracles',
00:23:34.26\00:23:36.98
which in reality,
were spiritual phenomena. "
00:23:37.01\00:23:40.59
And what about blasphemy
to speak against the rappings?
00:23:40.60\00:23:43.83
Page 34, "Neither priest,
nor press should uncharitably
00:23:43.86\00:23:49.27
speak of or touch this
Holy Word, Spiritualism,
00:23:49.30\00:23:52.20
only with clean
hands and pure hearts. "
00:23:52.23\00:23:55.44
Has it become
clothed in a religious garb?
00:23:55.47\00:23:58.25
On page 69, we read...
"Spiritualism is the coming
00:23:58.28\00:24:03.43
universal religion.
00:24:03.46\00:24:05.07
It is the
lifeblood of Christianity.
00:24:05.08\00:24:07.56
In fact, it is
Christianity plus. "
00:24:07.59\00:24:10.82
Ellen White also spoke
about the power Satan has
00:24:13.62\00:24:16.49
to bring before us
the appearance of forms
00:24:16.52\00:24:19.65
purporting to be
friends and relatives
00:24:19.68\00:24:21.75
whom we know to be dead.
00:24:21.78\00:24:23.41
In J.B. Phillips' book,
00:24:24.70\00:24:25.67
Ring of Truth: A
Translator's Testimony,
00:24:25.68\00:24:28.25
the well-known
translator of the New Testament
00:24:28.28\00:24:30.72
tells of his meeting with
the famous Christian writer,
00:24:30.76\00:24:33.18
C.S. Lewis.
00:24:33.21\00:24:34.76
The notable fact about
this meeting, is it occurred
00:24:34.94\00:24:38.58
a few days after Lewis' death!
00:24:38.61\00:24:40.79
When Phillips shared this
experience with a church bishop,
00:24:42.90\00:24:45.54
he was told that it
happens all the time.
00:24:45.57\00:24:48.59
Military music playing.
00:24:48.62\00:24:52.09
In 1861, the United States
stood on the brink of a crisis.
00:24:54.02\00:24:58.06
Prior to Saturday January 12,
00:24:58.09\00:25:00.69
four southern states
had seceded from the union
00:25:00.72\00:25:03.67
but no one expected war.
00:25:03.70\00:25:05.72
It was not until
three months later
00:25:05.75\00:25:07.71
that President
Lincoln called for an army.
00:25:07.74\00:25:10.96
But God knew the
future and warned His people
00:25:14.56\00:25:17.26
of what was coming.
00:25:17.29\00:25:18.54
Sabbath January 12,
1861 was a happy occasion
00:25:18.57\00:25:22.55
for the Parkville Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Michigan.
00:25:22.58\00:25:25.87
Their new church
building was to be dedicated
00:25:25.88\00:25:28.45
and several of the
denomination's leaders
00:25:28.46\00:25:30.94
including James and
Ellen White were present.
00:25:30.97\00:25:33.55
In the afternoon, near
the end of her address,
00:25:33.58\00:25:36.26
Ellen White was given a vision
which lasted some 20 minutes.
00:25:36.29\00:25:39.74
Bugle sounds.
00:25:39.77\00:25:42.80
Invited to tell
what she had seen,
00:25:44.29\00:25:45.89
she solemnly warned
that other states would join
00:25:45.92\00:25:48.65
in the secession
and a terrible war
00:25:48.69\00:25:50.92
would be the result.
00:25:50.96\00:25:52.67
She described the
sounds and sights of battle
00:25:52.68\00:25:54.84
and the sufferings of the
sick and wounded prisoners
00:25:54.88\00:25:57.65
in hospitals.
00:25:57.68\00:25:58.96
She saw homes in distress,
because of the loss of husbands,
00:25:58.99\00:26:02.31
sons and brothers.
00:26:02.34\00:26:04.11
Then as she looked into
the faces of her congregation,
00:26:04.14\00:26:07.88
she paused...
00:26:07.89\00:26:09.46
Ellen White: "There
are those here today
00:26:09.49\00:26:11.75
who will lose
sons in that war. "
00:26:11.78\00:26:15.53
Three months after
the vision of Parkville,
00:26:15.56\00:26:18.36
the first shots were
fired that launched America
00:26:18.39\00:26:21.57
into the agony of the Civil War.
00:26:21.60\00:26:23.34
More American lives were
lost than in all other American
00:26:23.35\00:26:27.28
wars combined.
00:26:27.31\00:26:28.60
At least five families
present that afternoon in 1861
00:26:28.63\00:26:33.07
lost sons in the war.
00:26:33.10\00:26:35.46
Revelation 12:17 identifies
the testimony of Jesus as being
00:26:44.11\00:26:48.84
one of two
distinguishing characteristics
00:26:48.87\00:26:51.48
possessed by God's people
00:26:51.51\00:26:53.36
just prior to the
Second Coming of Christ.
00:26:53.39\00:26:56.58
What is the testimony of Jesus?
00:26:56.61\00:26:59.34
In Revelation 19,
John quotes an angel saying
00:27:01.88\00:27:05.46
that the Testimony of
Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:27:05.49\00:27:08.74
And in Revelation 1, John
explains that what he writes
00:27:08.77\00:27:13.59
as a prophet is a
message that comes from God
00:27:13.62\00:27:17.16
through Jesus
Christ by His angel.
00:27:17.17\00:27:19.83
And so a prophet's words
are called Jesus' testimony,
00:27:20.47\00:27:23.48
for they come from
Jesus, and not from the prophet.
00:27:23.51\00:27:26.80
A striking example of
this process working through
00:27:29.41\00:27:31.98
Ellen White can be
seen in the early experience
00:27:32.01\00:27:34.51
of the Washington,
New Hampshire church.
00:27:34.54\00:27:37.21
It was here in 1844
that William Farnsworth had
00:27:39.96\00:27:43.10
declared his intention to
keep the seventh-day Sabbath
00:27:43.13\00:27:45.57
and the Sabbath
keeping congregation had been
00:27:45.60\00:27:48.11
established in the community.
00:27:48.14\00:27:49.70
But during the following
years, some in the group
00:27:51.13\00:27:53.85
began to lose their faith.
00:27:53.89\00:27:56.27
William Farnsworth, himself
had returned to using tobacco
00:27:59.47\00:28:02.44
and other senior members
had become cynical and critical.
00:28:02.47\00:28:06.05
This was discouraging many
of the youth of the church.
00:28:06.08\00:28:09.21
Something was desperately
needed to restore church
00:28:10.51\00:28:12.98
unity and faith.
00:28:12.99\00:28:15.38
Birds singing.
00:28:15.41\00:28:18.38
Just before Christmas 1867,
the Whites and J.N. Andrews
00:28:20.13\00:28:24.48
visited Washington.
00:28:24.51\00:28:25.48
They stayed in
Cyrus Farnsworth's
00:28:25.49\00:28:27.99
comfortable home
here by Millan Pond,
00:28:28.02\00:28:30.59
arriving late on
Friday afternoon.
00:28:30.63\00:28:33.17
On a Monday morning,
Ellen White gave an address
00:28:35.84\00:28:38.12
during which she began to speak
personally to those in the room.
00:28:38.15\00:28:41.10
Her words were so direct
and meaningful to each one
00:28:41.13\00:28:44.59
that it was evident
that their life experiences
00:28:44.62\00:28:47.05
had been shown to her by God.
00:28:47.08\00:28:49.02
Among the group was 19
year old Eugene Farnsworth,
00:28:50.74\00:28:53.48
one of William
Farnsworth's 22 children.
00:28:53.51\00:28:56.37
He knew what
others did not know-
00:28:56.40\00:28:58.37
that his father had
resumed using tobacco.
00:28:58.41\00:29:00.81
If she's the
messenger of the Lord,
00:29:01.92\00:29:03.26
he thought to himself,
she will know about my father.
00:29:03.29\00:29:06.38
Shortly afterward, Mrs.
White addressed William and said
00:29:07.78\00:29:10.60
she had seen in vision
that he was a slave to tobacco,
00:29:10.63\00:29:13.22
and that he had
been, and I quote,
00:29:13.25\00:29:15.28
"Trying to deceive everyone
00:29:15.32\00:29:17.01
into thinking he
had discarded it. "
00:29:17.05\00:29:19.57
Eugene Farnsworth realized
00:29:21.22\00:29:22.82
he was witnessing the
prophetic gift in action.
00:29:22.86\00:29:25.53
After she had finished speaking,
all those addressed, stood and
00:29:25.56\00:29:29.66
testified to the truth of
her revelations about them.
00:29:29.69\00:29:32.42
With repentance, they
rededicated their lives to God.
00:29:32.45\00:29:36.39
Eighteen young people also
made a commitment to Christ.
00:29:36.42\00:29:40.85
Nine of the 18 later became
full-time workers in the church,
00:29:40.88\00:29:45.65
and among them
was Eugene Farnsworth.
00:29:45.68\00:29:48.83
He served as a church
evangelist and an administrator
00:29:48.86\00:29:51.90
in the United States, Australia,
New Zealand and Britain.
00:29:51.93\00:29:55.37
Birds singing.
00:30:01.58\00:30:04.26
Why did God send His
messenger to their church?
00:30:16.15\00:30:18.57
Why has God bestowed the
testimony of Jesus or the
00:30:18.60\00:30:22.02
Spirit of Prophecy
upon His remnant people?
00:30:22.05\00:30:24.24
The answer to both
questions is the same.
00:30:24.25\00:30:27.77
The Old
Testament's answer is found in
00:30:28.35\00:30:30.21
2 Chronicles 36:15...
because, God has compassion
00:30:30.24\00:30:34.69
upon His people.
00:30:34.72\00:30:36.15
The New Testament
explains at even more fully in
00:30:37.01\00:30:39.42
Ephesians 4:12-13, God
called some to be prophets,
00:30:39.45\00:30:43.96
in order to prepare God's
people for works of service,
00:30:43.99\00:30:47.40
so that the Body of
Christ may be built up,
00:30:47.43\00:30:50.13
until we all reach
unity in the faith.
00:30:50.16\00:30:54.34
Ellen Gould White:
wife, mother, writer,
00:31:01.48\00:31:05.24
God's messenger.
00:31:05.27\00:31:06.70
Chosen while still
the "weakest of the weak,"
00:31:07.15\00:31:09.99
she became a tower of
strength to a group of people
00:31:10.02\00:31:13.79
called by God in the last
days of this world's history,
00:31:13.83\00:31:17.57
- the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:31:17.60\00:31:21.59
Captioning made
possible by 3ABN viewers
00:31:25.06\00:31:29.08
and supporters.
00:31:29.11\00:31:31.69