Participants: Dr. Allan Lindsay (Host)
Series Code: KOTF
Program Code: KOTF000008
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01:11 On the Sabbath, July 24 in the year 1915,
01:15 some four and one half thousand citizens of Battle Creek 01:18 came to the Dime Tabernacle that once stood on this site 01:22 to say their final farewells to a little 87-year old lady. 01:32 Just what was it that made Ellen White so special? 01:36 This is a biographical information blank 01:39 that she completed in March 1909. 01:41 She was 81 years of age at the time 01:44 and described herself as being 5' 2" or 158 centimeters tall, 01:49 140 pounds or 63½ kilograms in weight, 01:54 with a rather dark complexion, gray hair and gray eyes. 01:59 She records her birthplace as Gorham, Maine 02:01 on November 26, 1827 and the date of her conversion 02:07 as probably in March 1840. 02:14 Late in August 1846 at the age of 18, 02:17 she married James White. 02:19 Four sons were later born to them: 02:22 Henry Nichols in August 1847, 02:25 James Edson, two years later, 02:27 William Clarence in August 1854, 02:30 and John Herbert in September 1860. 02:34 While such information is interesting, 02:37 it doesn't give us any real insight 02:39 into how she related to others 02:40 or how she handled 02:42 the disappointments and frustrations of her life. 02:45 As God's Messenger, did she have to experience sorrow 02:48 and ill health or battle with appetite in the same way 02:52 as most of us do? 03:07 In the same way, this record fails to tell us of her love 03:10 for animals and flowers- especially pansies. 03:13 Or how much she enjoyed attending auction sales 03:16 and eating tomatoes. 03:22 It does not tell us of the countless days 03:24 spent mothering other people's children 03:26 or of her cheerful visits to her neighbors 03:28 with products from her garden, 03:30 and practical advice for the sick. 03:36 In fact, such information tells us very little at all 03:38 about Ellen White as a wife and mother. 03:41 If you had lived in Topsham, Battle Creek, St. Helena 03:44 or here in Cooranbong, 03:45 or known her as a neighbor or friend, 03:48 how would she have impressed you? 03:53 Topsham, in the state of Maine in the U.S.A., 03:55 is a town some 40-minutes drive to the northeast of Gorham 03:59 where Ellen White was born. 04:01 Here stands the home that once belonged 04:04 to Stockbridge Howland, a successful engineer 04:07 and a prominent early Seventh-day Adventist. 04:16 In October 1847, the Howlands offered a part of their home 04:20 on the middle floor for the young James and Ellen White 04:22 and their two-month old son, Henry. 04:24 They commenced housekeeping with borrowed furniture. 04:28 Though poor, they resolved to become independent. 04:38 James White worked hauling stone on the railroad, 04:41 and chopped cord wood in the forest, 04:43 for which he was paid the handsome sum of 50 cents a day. 04:51 In spite of their poverty and hardship, 04:53 the young mother was able to write... 04:55 Ellen White: "Sufferings and trials 04:56 bring us near to Jesus. " 04:59 In vision, she was shown that God had been trying 05:01 them for their good, and preparing them 05:04 to work for others by preventing them 05:06 from settling down at ease. 05:12 Convicted that they must work for the salvation of others 05:14 and knowing the rigors of travel in the 1840s, 05:17 the Whites were forced into a difficult decision. 05:21 Ellen wrote... Ellen: "Alone before the Lord 05:23 with most painful feelings and many tears, 05:26 I made the sacrifice and gave up my only child 05:31 for another to have a mother's care and feelings. " 05:36 They left young Henry in the loving care of the Howlands. 05:39 Frequent visits helped to maintain the bond 05:41 between the parents and their firstborn son. 05:44 And how happy they were when they were able to take him 05:47 back into their home five years later 05:49 as a well-trained, praying boy. 05:54 As fortune would have it, 10 years later 05:56 in December 1863, that same Henry, now 16 years old 06:01 fell ill with pneumonia while visiting the Howlands. 06:06 Sensing that he would not survive, he made his mother 06:09 promise that he would be taken back to Battle Creek 06:11 and laid beside his little brother, John Herbert, 06:14 who had died three years earlier 06:16 at the age of three months. 06:18 As he said, "So that we may come up together 06:21 in the morning of the resurrection. " 06:26 Ellen White: "When our noble Henry died, 06:28 when our sweet singer was born to the grave, 06:32 and we no more heard his early song, 06:36 ours was a lonely home. 06:38 But God comforted us in our bereavements 06:40 and with faith and courage, we pressed forward 06:43 in bright hope of meeting our children 06:46 who had been torn from us by death 06:48 in that world where sickness and death 06:50 will never come. " 06:53 Birds singing and leaves crunching. 06:56 In 1856, the Whites moved into this two-story cottage 07:00 in Wood Street, Battle Creek. 07:01 It was the first home they had ever owned 07:04 and the original building contained six rooms 07:07 before two lean-to additions were added. 07:13 Birds singing. 07:25 The front room on the ground floor 07:26 served as a parlor and sitting room. 07:29 Today a museum, it served then as the room 07:32 where the family assembled for morning and evening worship. 07:36 In 1859, Ellen White began to keep a daily journal. 07:41 It provides many glimpses of life in the White home 07:43 here in Wood Street. 07:45 It mentions making a pair of pants and a coat 07:48 for her son, Edson, age nine. 07:50 Sunday March 6th records her making a dress. 07:54 After cutting it out and beginning to sew, 07:56 things went wrong and she took it all to pieces 07:59 and made it over. 08:09 Ellen humming a tune. 08:23 Ellen White was an enthusiastic gardener. 08:25 Her diary tells of planting out current and raspberry bushes 08:29 and strawberry plants. 08:31 Her entry from Monday April 11th tells us she spent 08:34 most of the day making a garden for her children 08:37 because she wanted home to be the pleasantest place 08:40 of any to them. 08:52 The White home was always open to visitors 08:55 and, at times, it seemed to the family 08:57 that they operated a free hotel. 09:00 A diary entry in June, tells of 35 eating at their table. 09:04 The day after, Ellen wrote one brief sentence... 09:08 Ellen yawns. 09:09 Ellen White: "We are all much worn out. " 09:23 Birds singing. 09:33 Traveling to visit the churches occupied a large amount 09:36 of the Whites' time. 09:37 During extended travel, Ellen did not forget her children 09:41 and kept in close touch with them by frequent letters. 09:56 In 1859 to her five year old son, Willie, 09:59 she described her activities and experiences in language 10:03 he could understand. 10:04 With one letter, she sent a small box of candy 10:07 with the admonition, "You must eat it only 10:10 when Jenny thinks it is best. 10:11 Eat a very little at a time. " 10:17 And to her 18 year old son, Edson, she wrote in 1868, 10:20 "I was disheartened and so was your father 10:23 to see you so ready to put on a coat which cost $26 10:27 merely to walk down to the office. 10:29 Edson, I am sorry that you do not manifest more care 10:33 in regard to your clothing. " 10:41 When she was not traveling, some hours each morning, 10:44 were usually devoted to her writing. 10:46 In the afternoons, sewing, mending, knitting 10:49 or occasional shopping trips to town 10:51 or visits with sick neighbors, occupied her time. 10:56 After receiving a vision concerning health in 1863, 10:59 the Whites returned to their home 11:01 determined to put into practice what she had been shown. 11:05 Little did she realize how hard the battle 11:07 with appetite would be. 11:10 Frying pan sizzling. 11:14 Up to this time, meat had been 11:16 the principal article in her diet. 11:18 She relished eating it and did not enjoy 11:20 simple, unrefined food. 11:23 What is more, she believed that she needed meat for strength 11:26 because her health was poor and she often fainted 11:30 several times a week. 11:32 In a vision however, she was shown the advantages 11:35 of a simple diet, free from such stimulating food. 11:43 She instructed her cook not to serve meat anymore. 11:47 Clock ticking. 12:29 Rooster crowing. 12:38 Ellen White: I will eat simple food 12:39 or I will not eat at all. 12:41 Stomach, you may wait until you eat bread. 12:52 Her success in this battle brought immediate benefits. 12:55 It was not long before she was able to enjoy 12:57 simple and wholesome food. 12:59 Six months later, she wrote that her health 13:01 had never been better 13:02 and that the faint and dizzy spells had left her. 13:10 In 1867, the Whites moved to Greenville in northern Michigan. 13:15 For two years, James had been very ill from stress, 13:18 overwork and the affects of a stroke. 13:21 His sickness persuaded his wife to take some 13:24 unusual measures in an attempt to help him regain his health. 13:31 Although the physicians at the water cure institution 13:34 in Dansville had warned James that physical activity 13:37 could lead to another stroke. 13:39 His wife had been shown in vision 13:41 that without physical and mental activity, 13:43 he could not hope to recover. 13:46 Cow mooing and rooster crowing. 13:48 In the mid-summer of 1867, she saw an opportunity 13:51 to involve her husband in some physical exercise. 13:54 While the hay was drying in the fields, 13:57 she visited their neighbors and persuaded them to say 14:00 that they were too busy with their own harvesting 14:02 to help her husband when he asked for their assistance. 14:06 Reluctantly, they agreed to cooperate. 14:09 According to plan, when the request was made, 14:13 James White was very disappointed at the response. 14:16 His wife however spoke up... 14:18 Ellen White: "Let us show our neighbors 14:19 we can work ourselves. " 14:22 As they passed by, the locals were surprised 14:25 to see the lady, who had been recently 14:27 conducting public meetings, pitching hay on the wagon, 14:30 treading it down and building the stack that she worked 14:34 with her husband and son, Willie. 14:35 But more importantly, her innovative strategy 14:39 helped restore her husband's health and strength. 14:43 Rooster crowing. 14:46 Due to the primitive state of photography at the time, 14:49 no photograph exists of Ellen White smiling 14:53 although, one artist has drawn this picture 14:55 based on an early photo. 14:56 In actual fact, Mrs. White was anything but morose. 15:00 She was known to enjoy a hearty laugh 15:02 at an amusing situation or a nice turn of words. 15:07 Like many of us, she gained weight with age. 15:10 When a friend in Japan sent her a knitted vest-like garment 15:14 called a hug-me-tight, she found it much too small. 15:18 She wrote expressing her great appreciation for the gift, 15:21 and added wryly... 15:23 "But there's a great deal more to Sister White 15:26 than most people think. " 15:28 James and Ellen White lived in Battle Creek much of the time 15:31 until 1881. 15:33 Their marriage was a happy one, and they shared a very 15:37 tender relationship 15:38 in spite of the strength of their personalities, 15:41 and some occasional differences of opinion. 15:45 For like the Biblical prophets, 15:46 Ellen White was not without her faults. 15:49 In 1876, she had occasion to write to her husband... 15:55 Ellen White: "I am not free from mistakes 15:57 and errors in my life. 15:58 Had I followed my Savior more closely, 16:01 I should not have to mourn so much my unlikeness 16:04 to His dear image. 16:06 Again I say, "Forgive me 16:09 every word or act that has grieved you. " 16:18 Like most marriages, Ellen's was not 16:21 all sweetness and light. 16:32 When James died prematurely in Battle Creek in 1881 16:35 at the age of 60, Ellen White felt the loss deeply. 16:38 Yet, at the funeral, 16:39 she spoke of her resignation to God's will, 16:42 of the Christian's hope and of Jesus, who she said 16:46 was more precious to her than He ever had been 16:49 in any previous hour in her life. 16:53 James White was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, 16:56 near his two sons. 17:15 Boat whistle blowing. 17:23 Ten years later in 1891, 17:26 Ellen White sailed for Australia. 17:28 Unfortunately, she soon fell ill with malarial fever 17:32 and inflammatory rheumatism. 17:34 For the next 11 months, she experienced 17:36 the most terrible suffering of her whole life 17:39 and became an almost helpless invalid. 17:45 Yet, in the following year, she was able to write... 17:48 Ellen White: "These months of suffering 17:50 have been the happiest years of my life 17:52 because of the companionship of my Savior. 17:55 I'm so thankful I have had this experience, 17:59 because I'm better acquainted with my precious Lord. 18:02 All through my sickness, His love, His tender compassion 18:06 was my comfort, 18:07 my continual consolation. " 18:14 One reason why she had to come to Australia 18:16 was to help in setting up of a school. 18:19 In 1894, she inspected the property of 1,450 acres 18:23 in Cooranbong, New South Wales, 18:26 and was impressed that this site 18:28 should be the school location. 18:30 The land was subsequently purchased and a portion cleared 18:34 of its huge eucalypt trees. 18:36 In vision, an angel told Ellen White that though the soil 18:39 appeared to be poor, rightly worked, 18:42 it would produce abundant crops. 18:46 As an expression of her faith, 18:47 she purchased 40 acres from the estate 18:50 and began to plan for her own home 18:52 and the laying out of an orchard. 18:57 On just two acres, over 500 fruit trees 19:01 of a dozen different varieties were planted 19:03 using the method the angel had explained to her. 19:07 It was said, that if Ellen White heard of any fruit 19:10 tree, vegetable or flower that would not grow 19:13 in the area, she would plant it 19:15 because she believed false witness 19:18 had been given about the land. 19:20 Ellen humming a tune. 19:21 Despite the adverse agricultural reports, 19:24 within 18 months of planting, 19:26 she was able to describe the fruit from her peach trees 19:29 in a letter to a friend in South Africa. 19:32 Ellen White: "These are the most beautiful in appearance! 19:34 I have never seen them larger. 19:36 Two of them weighed one pound. 19:39 We are seeing the exact fulfillment 19:41 of the light the Lord has given me- 19:43 that, if the land is worked thoroughly, 19:45 it will yield its treasures. " 19:52 In December 1895, Ellen White and her helpers moved into 19:56 this 11 room cottage which she later named, "Sunnyside. " 20:00 It was situated in Avondale Road, Cooranbong, 20:03 not far from the school, and it was to be her home 20:06 until her return to the United States in 1900. 20:36 It was here that she received many prophetic dreams 20:39 that helped guide the Seventh-day Adventist Church- 20:41 not only in Australia, but also in America 20:44 and in other countries. 21:01 The Avondale School was to be a pattern school 21:03 for the educational work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 21:07 Here, she met with the school principal and teachers, 21:10 who were anxious that its operation should be in harmony 21:13 with the instruction God had given to her. 21:22 Here at Sunnyside in 1898, she completed her book 21:25 on the life of Christ- 21:27 The Desire of Ages 21:29 She also cared for her grandchildren here, 21:32 as well as for other children needing a home. 21:40 Boy: Thank you. 21:43 Her kind and happy disposition meant the children 21:46 never felt tense, nervous, or ill at ease in her company. 21:50 mmmmmmm! 21:51 And one for me, too. 21:54 mmmmmmm! 21:57 Ellen White: Good morning, brother. 21:58 Man: Good morning, Sister White. 22:00 It was here too that she cared for the needs 22:02 of the sick in the surrounding district. 22:04 She often gave food from her own garden and orchard, 22:07 along with clothing and money 22:09 to those in need. 22:20 On one occasion, a group of local fishermen, 22:22 grateful for her help, sent Avondale School 22:25 a crate of fish. 22:26 The cook, accustomed to serving vegetarian meals, 22:30 wondered whether she should throw them out. 22:32 Ellen White responded, "Of course not! 22:35 Aren't there people in the community who would be 22:37 thankful for them? 22:38 Send them the fish with our compliments. " 22:40 She then wrote a letter of thanks to the fishermen 22:43 for their kindness, expressing her appreciation of the thought 22:47 behind the gift. 22:51 Before she left Sunnyside and Australia 22:53 in late August 1900, a beautiful velvet bound 22:56 autographed album was presented to her 22:58 in the Cooranbong Church. 23:03 The handwritten messages came from churches 23:05 and individuals expressing appreciation, friendship 23:09 and love. 23:10 It also included pictures of churches 23:12 portraits of friends 23:13 and scenes from her Sunnyside home. 23:16 Dog barking. 23:17 One page was even reserved for shots of her watchdog, 23:20 Tiglath Pileser. 23:29 Ellen White was 72 years old when she left Australia. 23:33 On the journey to America, she was concerned 23:35 about where she would find a home. 23:37 But two days before the ship docked in San Francisco, 23:41 God assured her in vision that He had a refuge 23:44 prepared for her where she would have quiet and rest. 23:54 Within a week of her arrival, 23:56 she was directed to this furnished seven room home. 24:01 It was set at the foot of the hill 24:02 below the St. Helena Sanitarium in California. 24:06 To her delight, she found she could buy it 24:08 for less than she had received for the sale of Sunnyside. 24:11 The residence was given the name, "Elmshaven," 24:14 and it was to be her home for the last 15 years 24:18 of her life. 24:30 Ellen White's granddaughter, Mrs. Grace Jacques recalls 24:33 those happy times with her grandmother at Elmshaven. 24:37 Now, we often had a hot drink for breakfast. 24:41 Postum, sometimes cocoa, which is really just 24:46 chocolate-flavored milk. We had a lot of milk. 24:50 A hot cereal, well-cooked, served with cream. 24:55 Fresh fruit. Usually a dish of stewed fruit 24:59 if it wasn't summertime when we could have fresh fruit. 25:03 But usually, if it was at all possible, 25:06 we had fresh fruit from the garden. 25:09 There was an orchard with peaches, apples, pears 25:14 and even persimmons. 25:16 So that we had fruit through very much of the year. 25:19 Fruit was one of the main dishes of breakfast. 25:23 Now once in a while, 25:24 we would have an egg for breakfast. 25:27 So, Ellen White, herself 25:28 never gave up the use of milk and eggs. 25:30 She needed the eggs and milk for protein. 25:33 Cottage cheese, we made. 25:35 She could not use dried legumes. 25:37 She was allergic to even lentils 25:39 And my mother made the most delicious lentil roast 25:42 with olives in it, 25:43 but grandmother couldn't eat it. 25:45 She just had to watch us enjoy it. 25:47 She herself could not eat dried legumes 25:50 of any type, it seemed. 25:52 So she would need, you can see, 25:54 to use, as long as possible, eggs and milk. 25:58 But she made sure to see that the milk was scalded 26:02 so there was no danger from germs in the milk 26:05 and also to see that the eggs were from hens 26:08 that were grain-fed. 26:13 And everyone was happy. 26:15 Nothing ever unpleasant at the table. 26:18 And often some rather amusing things happened 26:21 at the table. 26:22 Sometimes amusing to some people and not for others. 26:25 I remember one man and his wife were here, 26:27 and she was pregnant. 26:30 And she wanted some white bread. 26:32 Her husband wouldn't let her touch white bread. 26:34 It had to be this dark, grain bread, which is alright, 26:37 but she wanted some white bread. 26:39 He said, "No, you mustn't eat any white bread. " 26:42 So here they were at the table - 26:44 sitting at the table - and then Ellen White 26:48 looked around after the blessing 26:50 and she said to the lady... 26:53 She was looking at the bread on the table, 26:56 and it was dark bread. 26:57 And she said, "Mrs. so-and-so, 26:59 would you enjoy a little white bread?" 27:02 That's what she'd just been wanting. 27:04 But her husband said, "No, you mustn't. 27:06 You must always have dark bread for the nourishment. 27:09 You must have nourishment. " 27:11 But once in a while, it's nice to have something 27:13 you just want. 27:14 And Ellen White seemed to know that without asking anything. 27:17 She said, "May I get you some white bread?" 27:20 And she did. 27:21 I imagine the husband felt rather embarrassed. 27:24 I don't know. 27:27 And she wasn't straitlaced. 27:29 I mean, what should I say? 27:35 She didn't want us to take her writings as a straitjacket. 27:40 It was there for... Her writings were to assist 27:44 in different activities in life. 27:48 She was well-liked. 27:50 She used to stop her carriage. 27:53 They'd go by the vineyards, 27:55 and men were working there. 27:57 She'd stop and talk to them about different things 28:01 and about their work. 28:05 And if she heard there was a new baby some place, 28:08 whether they were Adventist or not- 28:09 that didn't make any difference- 28:11 well, she'd, in the carriage, go in the afternoon, 28:15 take some present to them, 28:17 to the new baby. 28:18 You know, recognize that something had happened 28:21 that means something to them, 28:23 the people. And she enjoyed it too. 28:26 She was a very outgoing person. 28:36 Many times the angels came to this room 28:40 and stood by her side and instructed her. 28:42 Wouldn't that be interesting- 28:43 to talk to angels? 28:44 Some day we'll be able to talk to our angels 28:47 and that'll be wonderful. 28:50 But the most interesting time was when Jesus 28:52 Himself was here, and I can't forget that. 28:56 How interested He was in the little lady 29:00 who was trying to carry out the instruction 29:04 that was given to her-and writing and writing and writing. 29:22 Elmshaven, today is much the same as it was 29:24 when Grace used to visit her grandmother here. 29:28 This is the living room, where visitors were greeted, 29:31 and the family met morning and evening for worship. 29:43 Ellen especially loved this fireplace, 29:46 with its brown tiles depicting 29:48 the legend of King Arthur and his knights. 29:55 As she neared the end of her life, 29:57 Ellen White enjoyed a triumphant experience 30:00 of faith. 30:01 She knew Jesus as her Savior and Friend, 30:04 and looked forward to the home in the New Earth, 30:06 that she had seen many times in vision. 30:09 Often as she moved around her home, 30:12 she could be heard singing the words composed in 1845 30:15 by William Hyde. 30:17 He had written them after hearing her account 30:20 of her first vision of Heaven given in December 1844. 30:24 The last part of the song she especially loved... 30:28 Ellen White singing: We'll be there, we'll be there 30:33 in a little while, 30:37 We'll join the pure and the blest; 30:43 We'll have the palm, the robe, the crown 30:51 And forever be at rest. 31:00 It was while entering her writing room 31:01 on a Sabbath morning in February 1915, 31:04 that she tripped and fell- 31:06 her hip broken. 31:10 Ellen groaning in pain. 31:18 Grace Jacques: When it came time, we could see 31:20 that she was not going to live very long. 31:22 We sent for my sister Mabel, who was Dean of Women 31:26 at Loma Linda, to come and be here at the time. 31:29 So they put the head of the bed by the fireplace 31:34 and we all gathered around. 31:38 And she breathed... less and less deeply, 31:43 and just finally stopped breathing. 31:46 There was no struggle. 31:47 We wondered if she would say something. 31:49 You always wonder will people say something at last. 31:52 But she didn't. 31:53 She'd already said what she wanted to say. 31:56 She said, "I know in whom I believed. " 31:59 There was no panic. 32:00 So she just quietly stopped breathing... 32:05 in July at... what time is it by that clock? 32:11 Quarter to four. 32:31 On Sabbath July 24, her funeral service was 32:34 conducted in the Dime Tabernacle, Battle Creek. 32:37 Some three and a half thousand people crowded 32:40 into the church, and a thousand more 32:42 stood on the lawns outside. 32:51 Ellen White lies buried in the family plot 32:53 in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek 32:55 beside her husband and other members of her family. 32:58 Together, they wait for the resurrection morning. 33:20 As with all God's messengers through the ages, 33:23 Ellen White experienced the joys and sorrows of life. 33:26 Like them, she did not lose the uniqueness 33:29 of her personality. 33:30 Nor was she suddenly endowed 33:32 with abilities that she did not previously possess. 33:36 She was no plaster saint, but was one who always 33:39 acknowledged that she was a sinner, saved by God's grace. 33:42 Like the prophets before her, she struggled with temptation, 33:46 mourned her un-Christ-like character, possessed at times 33:51 of faulty memory, had her likes, dislikes, 33:54 and her own tastes of dressing and homemaking. 33:57 She recognized her limitations of knowledge and understanding, 34:00 apart from the revelations received from the Lord. 34:04 And she lamented her inadequate writing ability. 34:08 But she was also a warm, caring and generous hearted 34:11 wife, mother and friend, who was greatly devoted to her God 34:16 and to those about her. 34:17 Chosen by God as His messenger to the Seventh-day Adventist 34:21 Church, God used her through the prophetic gift 34:24 to bring unity of faith, 34:26 to guide and strengthen the church, 34:29 to magnify the principles of His Word 34:32 and to bring to men and women a clearer of view of Jesus. 34:36 Of her writings, she declared... 34:38 Ellen White: "They will constantly speak, 34:40 and their work will go forward, so long as time shall last. " 35:02 A great and wondrous sign appeared in Heaven: 35:06 a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet 35:11 and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 35:15 She was pregnant- 35:17 Woman screaming in labor pain. 35:19 -and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 35:24 Then another sign appeared in Heaven: 35:26 an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, 35:31 and seven crowns on his head. 35:34 His tail swept the third of the stars out of the sky 35:38 and flung them to earth. 35:43 The dragon stood in front of the woman 35:45 who was about to give birth, so that he might devour 35:49 her child the moment it was born. 35:53 She gave birth to a son, a male child, 35:57 who was to rule all nations with an iron scepter. 36:02 And her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 36:05 And there was war in Heaven. 36:10 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, 36:12 and the dragon fought back. 36:15 But he was not strong enough; and he lost his place in Heaven. 36:22 The great dragon was hurled down- 36:25 that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, 36:29 who leads the whole world astray. 36:31 He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 36:38 When the dragon saw that he had being hurled to the earth, 36:41 he pursued the woman who had given birth 36:44 to the male child. 36:47 The woman fled into the desert 36:48 to a place prepared for her by God, 36:52 where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. 36:57 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman 37:00 and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring- 37:04 those who obey God's commandments 37:08 and hold to the testimony of Jesus. 37:16 These dramatic words of Revelation chapter 12, 37:19 describe the most momentous war this universe 37:22 has ever witnessed- 37:23 the conflict between Christ and the forces of good 37:26 and Satan and his cohorts of evil. 37:29 The origin, progress and glorious climax 37:32 of this great controversy story were also revealed 37:35 to Ellen White in a two-hour vision given her 37:38 on Sunday March 14, 1858 in Lovett's Grove, 37:42 now known as Bowling Green, Ohio. 37:46 She was told to write out what she had seen, 37:48 but she was also warned of the consequences 37:52 for Satan would make strong efforts to prevent her. 37:56 The assurance was given her, however, that God's angels 37:59 would not leave her in the conflict. 38:06 She soon discovered what this meant. 38:08 The next day, James and Ellen White left Bowling Green 38:11 and took the train for Battle Creek, Michigan. 38:13 On the way, they made plans to write out and publish 38:17 what she had seen. 38:43 Arriving at Jackson in Michigan, 38:45 they left the train to stay with their friends, 38:48 Daniel Palmer and his wife. 38:52 The Whites had not been there long 38:54 when Ellen experienced a strange, cold sensation 38:57 over her heart. 38:59 It passed up over her head and down her right side. 39:02 Her tongue refused to utter what she wanted to say 39:05 and seemed large and numb. 39:08 As she lost consciousness, her husband and friends 39:11 dropped to their knees and began to pray. 39:15 At night, she suffered considerable pain, 39:17 but was sufficiently revived the next morning 39:20 to continue the journey to their home in Battle Creek. 39:23 Birds singing. 39:30 Ellen White was carried up these stairs to her bedroom 39:33 where, for several weeks, she could not feel the touch 39:36 of her hand or the coldest water 39:38 poured on her head. 39:39 She tried to struggle to her feet 39:41 in an attempt to walk 39:42 but, at times, fell helpless to the floor. 39:51 In this condition, she started to write on 39:53 The Great Controversy. 39:56 She wrote one page and then lay back exhausted 39:58 for three days. 39:59 Picking up her pen, she wrote another page 40:02 only to be forced to rest again. 40:09 This went on for weeks, but gradually the writing 40:12 became easier and faster. 40:20 In September 1858, this small volume came from the press. 40:24 It carries the title 40:25 Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1: 40:27 The Great Controversy between Christ and His angels 40:31 and Satan and his angels. 40:33 It contains 41 chapters, beginning with 40:37 The Fall of Satan 40:39 and concluding with 40:40 The Second Death. 40:44 During the remaining 57 years of her life, 40:46 Ellen White received other visions concerning 40:49 "The Great Controversy" story. 40:51 She also studied the writings of historians that provided her 40:54 with dates and details of minor importance, 40:58 not presented in the visions. 40:59 These together with her knowledge of the Bible 41:02 enabled her to greatly enlarge her initial account 41:06 and write out a connected history of what she had seen. 41:12 Finally, these five volumes in the 41:15 Conflict of the Ages 41:16 series, containing 3,600 pages, set forth most completely 41:21 the origin, progress and final acts in the great drama 41:26 of the ages. 41:28 In the introduction to her book, 41:29 The Great Controversy, 41:31 Ellen White explains why the scenes of the long continued 41:34 conflict between good and evil were revealed to her 41:37 and why she was instructed to make it known to others. 41:41 Clock ticking. Ellen White: "In the great 41:42 final conflict, Satan will employ the same policy, 41:46 manifest the same spirit and work for the same end 41:50 as in all proceeding ages. 41:52 That which is been will be, except that the coming struggle 41:57 will be marked with a terrible intensity such as the world 42:00 has never witnessed. " 42:03 The issues in that struggle, and the final acts 42:06 in the great controversy of the ages 42:08 are portrayed in Revelation, chapters 13 and 14. 42:12 Woman screaming in labor pain. Revelation 13 predicts 42:15 that all the earth's inhabitants will finally be brought 42:18 to a decision of submission and allegiance 42:20 to either Christ or Satan? 42:24 To prepare for this last great crisis, 42:27 God sends a threefold message of warning described in 42:30 Revelation 14. Man talks on radio. 42:32 It is to be preached to every nation, 42:35 tribe, language and people. 42:37 For every human being must be given the opportunity to make 42:40 the ultimate choice: worship the Creator 42:44 or worship the power, identified as the beast, 42:47 the ultimate counterfeit of truth 42:49 and the dragon, Satan, who gives to him, his power, his throne, 42:55 and his great authority. 43:01 According to Revelation 14, this message 43:03 is not sent, however, 43:05 until God's great final judgment commences in Heaven. 43:08 Right on time, a people arose to proclaim 43:12 that that judgment hour had come. 43:16 William Miller heralded the soon return of Christ. 43:19 Hiram Edson pointed to the beginning of Christ's final 43:22 work of judgment in the heavenly sanctuary in 1844. 43:26 Rachel Oakes shared the knowledge 43:29 of the Seventh-day Sabbath 43:30 that had been preserved down through time. 43:33 And Joseph Bates saw its prophetic significance 43:36 in preparing a people for the coming of the Lord. 43:39 To Ellen White was given the Testimony of Jesus, 43:42 the prophetic gift, to provide guidance and direction 43:45 in the proclamation of the Everlasting Gospel. 43:49 Through her visions, God directed in the founding 43:52 of a worldwide program of schools, colleges, hospitals, 43:56 health food factories, publishing houses and churches. 44:00 All these are dedicated to the sharing of the good news 44:04 of God's great love and of Christ's soon return. 44:09 From every nation under Heaven, people are responding 44:12 to God's call to worship Him as the Creator and Redeemer. 44:16 The Bible identifies them by their faithfulness to Jesus, 44:19 and their keeping God's commandments 44:21 expressed in their love to God and their fellow man. 44:26 To a world desperate for a ray of hope 44:29 in the darkness of increasing disease and despair, 44:32 violence and fear; they have a message 44:35 bringing healing, reconciliation and liberation- 44:40 Jesus died for the sins of all. 44:41 Christ writhing in pain. 44:43 He lives to grant forgiveness to those who ask Him for it, 44:46 and He is soon to return to establish a New World, 44:50 where pain and tears and death will be no more. 44:55 Chorus singing "Hallelujah Chorus". 45:01 Ellen White: "Soon there appears 45:02 in the east, a small black cloud. 45:04 It is the cloud which surrounds the Savior. " 45:08 Thunderclap. 45:11 "In solemn silence, the people of God gaze upon it 45:15 as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter 45:18 and more glorious until it is a great white cloud. 45:21 Jesus rides forth as a Mighty Conqueror!" 45:25 Thunderclap. 45:27 "Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, 45:30 the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God 45:33 calls forth His sleeping saints. " 45:36 Thunderclap. 45:38 "The living righteous are changed. 45:40 Now they are made immortal 45:44 and, with the risen saints, are caught up 45:45 to meet the Lord in the air 45:47 and, with songs of gladness, 45:49 ascend together to the City of God. " 45:52 "The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. 45:57 The entire universe is clean. From the minutest atom to 46:02 the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, 46:06 in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, 46:10 declare that God is love. " 46:13 Chorus sings to its finale: Hallelujah! 46:29 Captioning made possible by 3ABN viewers 46:32 and supporters. |
Revised 2014-12-17