Men of faith rise up and sing
00:00:28.22\00:00:32.26
Of the great and glorious King
00:00:32.29\00:00:36.30
You are strong
when you feel weak
00:00:36.33\00:00:40.27
In your brokenness complete
00:00:40.30\00:00:46.78
Shout to the north and the south
00:00:46.81\00:00:50.85
Sing to the east and the west
00:00:50.88\00:00:54.82
Jesus is Savior to all
00:00:54.85\00:00:58.69
Lord of heaven and earth
00:00:58.72\00:01:02.56
All right. Women.
00:01:02.59\00:01:03.96
Rise up women of the truth
00:01:03.99\00:01:08.26
Stand and sing to broken hearts
00:01:08.30\00:01:12.23
Who can know the healing power
00:01:12.27\00:01:16.24
Of our awesome King of love
00:01:16.27\00:01:22.84
Shout to the north and the south
00:01:22.88\00:01:26.92
Sing to the east and the west
00:01:26.95\00:01:30.85
Jesus is Savior to all
00:01:30.89\00:01:35.06
Lord of heaven and earth
00:01:35.09\00:01:38.69
All right.
Everyone, rise up church.
00:01:38.73\00:01:40.40
Rise up church with broken wings
00:01:40.43\00:01:44.53
Fill this place with songs again
00:01:44.57\00:01:48.47
Of our God who reigns on high
00:01:48.50\00:01:52.47
By His grace again we'll fly
00:01:52.51\00:01:58.85
Shout to the north and the south
00:01:58.88\00:02:02.88
Sing to the east and the west
00:02:02.92\00:02:07.12
Jesus is Savior to all
00:02:07.16\00:02:10.89
Lord of heaven and earth
00:02:10.93\00:02:13.40
Lord of heaven and
earth, let's sing that.
00:02:13.43\00:02:15.33
Lord of heaven and earth
00:02:15.36\00:02:17.43
One more time, Lord of heaven.
00:02:17.47\00:02:19.07
Lord of heaven and earth
00:02:19.10\00:02:22.57
Father, we are here
00:02:33.92\00:02:39.72
We feel Your Spirit
00:02:39.75\00:02:45.26
Bringing us nearer
00:02:45.29\00:02:48.86
Your face is suddenly clearer
00:02:48.90\00:02:55.90
Than all the world surrounding
00:02:55.94\00:03:03.58
Father, we are here
00:03:03.61\00:03:09.12
As You increase, Lord
00:03:09.15\00:03:14.69
We become less
00:03:14.72\00:03:17.76
Your creation
living to bless You
00:03:17.79\00:03:25.27
Oh, Father, we are here
00:03:25.30\00:03:30.81
My lips will praise You
00:03:41.22\00:03:46.22
For You are holy
00:03:46.25\00:03:51.03
My voice will ever
00:03:51.06\00:03:54.96
Rise before Your throne
00:03:55.00\00:04:00.27
My heart will love You
00:04:00.30\00:04:04.94
For You are lovely
00:04:04.97\00:04:09.61
And You have called me
00:04:09.64\00:04:12.41
To become Your own
00:04:12.45\00:04:18.45
My lips will praise You
00:04:25.39\00:04:29.90
For You are holy
00:04:29.93\00:04:34.40
My voice will ever
00:04:34.44\00:04:38.41
Rise before Your throne
00:04:38.44\00:04:43.38
My heart will love You
00:04:43.41\00:04:47.88
For You are lovely
00:04:47.92\00:04:52.39
And You have called me
00:04:52.42\00:04:55.26
To become Your own
00:04:55.29\00:05:01.50
I am Your own I am Your own
00:05:01.53\00:05:06.17
And I will worship You alone
00:05:06.20\00:05:10.97
I am Your own I am Your own
00:05:11.01\00:05:14.98
I am Your child I am Your child
00:05:15.01\00:05:19.65
I am Your own
00:05:19.68\00:05:23.85
And I will
worship at Your throne
00:05:23.89\00:05:30.76
I am Your own I am Your own
00:05:30.79\00:05:35.40
And I will love You
00:05:35.43\00:05:41.94
My lips will praise You
00:05:45.01\00:05:49.84
For You are holy
00:05:49.88\00:05:54.78
My voice will ever
00:05:54.82\00:05:59.05
Rise before Your throne
00:05:59.09\00:06:04.49
My heart will love You
00:06:04.53\00:06:09.16
For You are lovely
00:06:09.20\00:06:14.04
And You have called me
00:06:18.74\00:06:21.68
To become Your own
00:06:21.71\00:06:28.28
And You have called me
00:06:31.69\00:06:35.49
To become Your own
00:06:35.52\00:06:43.30
My lips will praise You
00:06:43.33\00:06:48.14
My lips will praise You
00:06:53.64\00:07:00.95
I received a letter this summer
00:07:06.96\00:07:08.29
from one of our
Andrews University students.
00:07:08.32\00:07:10.79
She graduated last spring,
00:07:10.83\00:07:12.99
writes me in the summer.
00:07:13.03\00:07:15.06
I'm going to read it
to you, just a few lines.
00:07:15.10\00:07:17.40
"Dear Pastor Dwight,"
then a couple of paragraphs,
00:07:17.43\00:07:20.10
chit-chat.
00:07:20.14\00:07:21.50
"My other reason for writing..."
00:07:21.54\00:07:23.97
Here we go,
00:07:24.01\00:07:25.34
"My other reason for
writing is unfortunately
00:07:25.37\00:07:27.48
about a burden I have been
dealing with this last year.
00:07:27.51\00:07:31.28
Someone close to me who left
the church several years ago
00:07:31.31\00:07:33.92
has become increasingly
negative about our church.
00:07:33.95\00:07:37.45
At first it was the
general anger and frustration
00:07:37.49\00:07:39.29
over wrongs
inflicted, I don't know what.
00:07:39.32\00:07:42.02
I felt that patience
and love and encouragement
00:07:42.06\00:07:44.23
were the best response.
00:07:44.26\00:07:45.69
However, in the
last year conversations
00:07:45.73\00:07:49.16
regarding our church have
become increasingly more bitter
00:07:49.20\00:07:54.37
and hateful especially
involving Ellen White.
00:07:54.40\00:08:00.08
My burden and heart-ache
are not for the shaking
00:08:00.11\00:08:02.48
of my own faith,
my trust is in Jesus.
00:08:02.51\00:08:05.78
But I am so worried
about this person's hate
00:08:05.81\00:08:07.92
and their
potential to discourage
00:08:07.95\00:08:09.72
and hurt those around them,
00:08:09.75\00:08:11.52
many who are also close
to me and young in faith.
00:08:11.55\00:08:15.16
I feel so drained and helpless
after these conversations.
00:08:15.19\00:08:18.53
Are there any books, any sermons
00:08:18.56\00:08:20.26
that address these
kinds of accusations?
00:08:20.30\00:08:22.36
Should I spend my time
seeking out explanations
00:08:22.40\00:08:25.40
or is it a waste of energies?
00:08:25.43\00:08:27.47
Should I just let it go
and trust that God will work
00:08:27.50\00:08:29.84
everything to good?
00:08:29.87\00:08:31.47
Any thoughts you have
would be greatly appreciated.
00:08:31.51\00:08:33.91
I hope this email finds
you and your family well."
00:08:33.94\00:08:36.75
Welcome to today's teaching,
00:08:39.95\00:08:42.98
"Ellen White- But
What About The Critics?"
00:08:43.02\00:08:46.96
It was Abraham
Heschel, the great rabbi
00:08:49.96\00:08:52.36
and scholar of the 20th century
00:08:52.39\00:08:53.83
who makes the
provocative observation
00:08:53.86\00:08:56.97
in his two-volume
set, "The Prophets."
00:08:57.00\00:09:01.17
I want you to read these words,
00:09:01.20\00:09:02.54
I put them on the screen
for you, Abraham Heschel.
00:09:02.57\00:09:04.87
"Over the life of a prophet
00:09:04.91\00:09:10.25
words are invisibly inscribed:
00:09:10.28\00:09:12.71
All flattery
abandon, ye who enter here."
00:09:12.75\00:09:17.15
Hit the pause
button for a moment.
00:09:17.19\00:09:18.92
You know why?
00:09:18.95\00:09:21.12
Because you'd have to be a fool
00:09:21.16\00:09:23.32
to ever wish to be
a prophet, that's why.
00:09:23.36\00:09:28.93
They ridicule you
while you're alive,
00:09:28.96\00:09:30.70
they will excoriate
you once you're dead.
00:09:30.73\00:09:33.84
What prophet in her right mind
00:09:33.87\00:09:37.24
would ever
choose to be a prophet?
00:09:37.27\00:09:40.58
Heschel goes on,
00:09:40.61\00:09:42.41
"To be a prophet
00:09:42.44\00:09:44.25
is both a
distinction and an affliction.
00:09:44.28\00:09:46.82
The mission he
performs is distasteful to him
00:09:46.85\00:09:49.65
and repugnant to others.
00:09:49.68\00:09:51.12
No reward is promised him
and no reward could temper
00:09:51.15\00:09:54.26
its bitterness.
00:09:54.29\00:09:55.62
The prophet bears
scorn and reproach.
00:09:55.66\00:09:57.63
He is stigmatized as a
madman by his contemporaries,
00:09:57.66\00:10:01.06
and by some modern
scholars, as abnormal."
00:10:01.10\00:10:04.70
Crazy.
00:10:04.73\00:10:07.54
Welcome to the
world of Ellen White,
00:10:07.57\00:10:11.97
who in 1883, in a letter
to the editor Uriah Smith,
00:10:12.01\00:10:15.61
with striking and
vulnerable candor,
00:10:15.64\00:10:20.02
writes these words.
00:10:20.05\00:10:21.62
You see them on the screen.
00:10:21.65\00:10:24.55
"Why do you remain
as silent as the dead?"
00:10:24.59\00:10:29.59
She's obviously under attack.
00:10:29.62\00:10:31.06
Why isn't he saying something?
00:10:31.09\00:10:32.96
"Why do you remain
as silent as the dead?
00:10:32.99\00:10:35.10
Is this the way
you defend the truth?
00:10:35.13\00:10:37.20
Truth will triumph.
00:10:37.23\00:10:38.87
I expect that the
raid, the attack will be made
00:10:38.90\00:10:41.27
against me till Christ comes.
00:10:41.30\00:10:43.51
Every opposer to our
faith makes Mrs. White his text.
00:10:43.54\00:10:47.58
They begin to oppose the truth
00:10:47.61\00:10:48.94
and then they
make a raid against me.
00:10:48.98\00:10:50.55
Why, I ask, is all
this zeal against me?
00:10:50.58\00:10:53.52
I'm watched, every
word I write is criticized,
00:10:53.55\00:10:55.98
every move I make
is commented upon.
00:10:56.02\00:10:59.32
I leave my work and
its results until we gather
00:10:59.35\00:11:02.22
about the great white throne."
00:11:02.26\00:11:05.76
I'll let God be the judge.
00:11:05.79\00:11:08.76
What did Heschel write?
00:11:08.80\00:11:11.20
"All flattery
abandon ye who enter here."
00:11:11.23\00:11:15.40
Does that mean
we can't investigate
00:11:15.44\00:11:16.77
and we can't challenge
the writings of the prophet?
00:11:16.81\00:11:18.77
Hardly.
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.64
In 1897, Ellen White wrote,
00:11:20.68\00:11:22.51
"Every charge should
be carefully investigated.
00:11:22.54\00:11:25.35
It should not be
left in any uncertain way,
00:11:25.38\00:11:28.62
the people should
not be left to think
00:11:28.65\00:11:30.75
that it may be or it may not be.
00:11:30.79\00:11:33.39
The people must not
be left to believe a lie.
00:11:33.42\00:11:36.69
They must be undeceived."
00:11:36.73\00:11:40.73
Hence today's teaching.
00:11:40.76\00:11:43.16
"Ellen White- But
What About The Critics?"
00:11:43.20\00:11:48.10
Open your Bible with me, please,
00:11:48.14\00:11:49.67
to a passage you haven't
read, perhaps ever in your life.
00:11:49.70\00:11:54.81
Came across at this last week,
I've been brooding on this.
00:11:54.84\00:11:57.15
I want you to
take a look at this.
00:11:57.18\00:11:58.51
The Book of Ecclesiastes.
00:11:58.55\00:11:59.88
We go back to the Old Testament.
00:11:59.91\00:12:01.52
The Book of Ecclesiastes.
00:12:01.55\00:12:02.88
You didn't bring a Bible? Grab
the pew Bible in front of you.
00:12:02.92\00:12:04.49
You need to see
this, it's in the Bible,
00:12:04.52\00:12:06.52
you need to see it.
00:12:06.55\00:12:07.89
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12.
00:12:07.92\00:12:10.43
If you have the pew
Bible, that would be page 454.
00:12:10.46\00:12:14.10
I'm in the New
King James Version
00:12:14.13\00:12:15.50
which is what the
pew Bible is as well.
00:12:15.53\00:12:17.93
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12,
00:12:17.97\00:12:19.90
right near the
end of this pensive,
00:12:19.93\00:12:23.91
brooding reflection
by the wise King Solomon
00:12:23.94\00:12:27.28
who has turned melancholy
00:12:27.31\00:12:32.05
near the end of his life.
00:12:32.08\00:12:34.45
He writes these
words, Ecclesiastics 12:9,
00:12:34.48\00:12:38.05
he's talking about himself.
00:12:38.09\00:12:39.79
In this translation he
calls himself the preacher.
00:12:39.82\00:12:41.76
If you have the NIV, he
calls himself the teacher,
00:12:41.79\00:12:43.86
he's talking about himself.
00:12:43.89\00:12:45.33
Watch this, verse
9, Ecclesiastics 12,
00:12:45.36\00:12:47.60
"And moreover,
00:12:47.63\00:12:49.10
because the Preacher
was wise," all right,
00:12:49.13\00:12:52.80
"he still taught
the people knowledge.
00:12:52.83\00:12:55.87
Yes, he pondered and sought out
00:12:55.90\00:12:59.31
and set in order many proverbs."
00:12:59.34\00:13:02.18
Verse 10, "The Preacher
sought to find acceptable words
00:13:02.21\00:13:05.95
and what was written was
upright- words of truth."
00:13:05.98\00:13:12.65
Unbeknown to the reader,
00:13:12.69\00:13:14.32
Solomon has
just described for us
00:13:14.36\00:13:17.56
how under divine inspiration,
00:13:17.59\00:13:19.13
he put the Book
of Proverbs together.
00:13:19.16\00:13:22.43
You say, "Well,
big deal, Dwight."
00:13:22.46\00:13:23.80
I'll tell you why this is huge.
00:13:23.83\00:13:26.87
Because as it turns
out, the most common charge
00:13:26.90\00:13:30.71
of the critics
against Ellen White
00:13:30.74\00:13:32.57
has everything to
do with inspiration.
00:13:32.61\00:13:35.98
How did God inspire the prophet?
00:13:36.01\00:13:40.45
I want you to see
this, I want you to see it
00:13:40.48\00:13:41.82
a little more clearly
than you've already seen it.
00:13:41.85\00:13:44.39
Take out your study guide.
00:13:44.42\00:13:45.75
Let's do that first.
Get out your study guide.
00:13:45.79\00:13:47.12
I want to write the steps down
that Solomon is noting here.
00:13:47.16\00:13:50.16
Take out your
study guide, please,
00:13:50.19\00:13:52.03
and we'll jot these steps down.
00:13:52.06\00:13:53.40
This is a key piece.
00:13:53.43\00:13:55.53
What about the
critics? All right.
00:13:55.56\00:13:58.03
We'll let them come front
and center in just a moment,
00:13:58.07\00:14:00.24
but first a
little Bible teaching
00:14:00.27\00:14:02.20
that I need you to see.
00:14:02.24\00:14:04.07
Take out your study guide.
Come on, ushers, let's go.
00:14:04.11\00:14:06.44
Ushers. All right, let's go.
00:14:06.47\00:14:09.74
Hold your hand up.
This is a study guide
00:14:09.78\00:14:11.55
that you'll want to have.
00:14:11.58\00:14:12.91
It has information on
the front and the back side.
00:14:12.95\00:14:15.18
You want this one.
00:14:15.22\00:14:16.55
Hold your hand up all
the way into the balcony.
00:14:16.58\00:14:17.99
If you're watching over
in the overflow right now
00:14:18.02\00:14:20.72
make sure you get the study
guide, I want you to have it.
00:14:20.76\00:14:22.79
This is for you to
keep, you take it home,
00:14:22.82\00:14:24.29
you reflect on it,
see what you think.
00:14:24.33\00:14:26.36
And by the way those of you
00:14:26.39\00:14:27.73
who are watching on television,
we're glad to have you.
00:14:27.76\00:14:29.16
You might be watching
on a screen right now,
00:14:29.20\00:14:30.90
you might be watching on
our campus ministry's website.
00:14:30.93\00:14:33.84
If you are, you can
get the same study guide,
00:14:33.87\00:14:36.07
go to our website.
00:14:36.10\00:14:37.44
Let me put it on
the screen for you.
00:14:37.47\00:14:38.97
Our website,
there you see it now,
00:14:39.01\00:14:40.84
www.pmchurch.tv.
00:14:40.88\00:14:44.81
That's our website.
00:14:44.85\00:14:46.18
You're looking for a series,
00:14:46.21\00:14:47.55
the series is
entitled "The Gift."
00:14:47.58\00:14:49.22
We're moving near to
the end of the series.
00:14:49.25\00:14:52.12
Today happens to be
part 8 of "The Gift."
00:14:52.15\00:14:56.52
And for-- Since 2 weeks ago,
00:14:56.56\00:15:00.46
we have moved in
to an examination,
00:15:00.50\00:15:02.50
a prayerful examination
00:15:02.53\00:15:03.87
of the life
ministry of Ellen White.
00:15:03.90\00:15:05.53
Today's teaching,
00:15:05.57\00:15:06.90
"Ellen White- But
What About The Critics?"
00:15:06.94\00:15:08.27
I've already
mentioned it several times.
00:15:08.30\00:15:09.70
But you want to
look for that title
00:15:09.74\00:15:11.07
because underneath
it says study guide.
00:15:11.11\00:15:12.44
Click on the study guide,
you'll have front and back,
00:15:12.47\00:15:14.84
the identical
study guide we have here.
00:15:14.88\00:15:16.91
You're gonna want the
study guide, trust me.
00:15:16.95\00:15:18.88
Go to the website and get it.
00:15:18.91\00:15:20.62
All right, let's
fill that study guide in.
00:15:20.65\00:15:21.98
But I want to
read this one more time
00:15:22.02\00:15:23.75
so that it syncs
in what we're reading.
00:15:23.79\00:15:25.82
Ecclesiastics 12, let's
pick it up again, verse 9,
00:15:25.85\00:15:29.06
"And moreover,
because the Preacher--"
00:15:29.09\00:15:30.79
Solomon says "because--"
00:15:30.83\00:15:32.19
Look, I don't
want to say, I am wise,
00:15:32.23\00:15:34.30
but he says, so he
puts it in the third person.
00:15:34.33\00:15:36.63
"But because the
Preacher was wise,
00:15:36.67\00:15:38.60
he still taught
the people knowledge."
00:15:38.63\00:15:40.40
My point is I've got to get
God's knowledge to the people.
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.27
So how do you do that?
00:15:43.30\00:15:44.64
"He pondered and
sought out and set in order--"
00:15:44.67\00:15:46.91
The NIV reads, "And
arranged many proverbs."
00:15:46.94\00:15:50.45
He's gathering proverbs
from all over the place.
00:15:50.48\00:15:53.88
And then what did he
do with the proverbs?
00:15:53.92\00:15:55.25
Verse 10, "And
then the Preacher sought
00:15:55.28\00:15:56.62
to find acceptable words."
00:15:56.65\00:15:57.99
So now he has to bring
his vocabulary to bear,
00:15:58.02\00:16:00.82
what shall I say
about these proverbs.
00:16:00.86\00:16:03.09
And then,
what's the end product?
00:16:03.12\00:16:04.56
"And what was written
was upright- words of truth."
00:16:04.59\00:16:10.13
Amazing.
00:16:10.17\00:16:11.73
So jot it down,
will you, please?
00:16:11.77\00:16:13.10
Here's one of the ways
divine inspiration works.
00:16:13.13\00:16:15.34
Number one, in an
effort to teach the people,
00:16:15.37\00:16:18.41
that's step number
one, get that down.
00:16:18.44\00:16:19.77
In an effort to teach the
people divine instruction,
00:16:19.81\00:16:23.58
in an effort to
teach the people.
00:16:23.61\00:16:25.41
Number two, the inspired one
gathers together his sources.
00:16:25.45\00:16:29.55
That's what Solomon is doing.
00:16:29.58\00:16:31.25
He looks, he
researches, he reads,
00:16:31.29\00:16:33.05
it's human
research, it's human reading.
00:16:33.09\00:16:34.86
He gathers his
resources together,
00:16:34.89\00:16:36.29
so that number
three, he's able to grapple
00:16:36.32\00:16:39.13
to find acceptable words.
00:16:39.16\00:16:41.20
Now human
vocabulary is being introduced
00:16:41.23\00:16:43.77
into this divine
inspiration process,
00:16:43.80\00:16:46.23
until finally he communicates
what will be words of truth.
00:16:46.27\00:16:52.91
Isn't that
amazing, words of truth?
00:16:52.94\00:16:55.08
A very human process,
divine human, it's together.
00:16:55.11\00:16:59.55
God lays a human instrument
who searches, studies,
00:16:59.58\00:17:02.05
researches, brings
the sources together,
00:17:02.08\00:17:03.69
turns it into his language,
00:17:03.72\00:17:05.05
but that language
then becomes the word,
00:17:05.09\00:17:06.65
the word of truth,
00:17:06.69\00:17:08.62
which by the way is exactly how
00:17:08.66\00:17:10.26
Solomon wrote
the Book of Proverbs.
00:17:10.29\00:17:12.06
Because as it turns
out he's not the only one
00:17:12.09\00:17:14.46
who wrote the Proverbs.
00:17:14.50\00:17:15.83
We read it and it says
the Proverbs of Solomon.
00:17:15.86\00:17:17.37
Hallelujah.
This is from Solomon.
00:17:17.40\00:17:19.40
No, his name is on
it, but it's not all his.
00:17:19.43\00:17:22.87
He has gone to other sources
and brought other sources
00:17:22.90\00:17:26.07
into his writing,
never giving them credit,
00:17:26.11\00:17:28.81
he just-- he gives
credit in a couple of places
00:17:28.84\00:17:31.55
as I'll show you
in just a moment.
00:17:31.58\00:17:33.01
But he draws
the sources together
00:17:33.05\00:17:35.32
and then the book comes out
and we say it's the Proverbs--
00:17:35.35\00:17:37.39
these are the
Proverbs of Solomon.
00:17:37.42\00:17:38.89
Notice the different sources,
00:17:38.92\00:17:40.46
you have this in
your study guide.
00:17:40.49\00:17:41.82
Number one, of course,
they are the words of Solomon,
00:17:41.86\00:17:43.49
Chapters 1 to 22,
Chapters 25 to 29,
00:17:43.53\00:17:46.33
that's all King Solomon.
00:17:46.36\00:17:47.70
But now in
chapter 22, interesting,
00:17:47.73\00:17:50.67
we come upon the words of
what is called "the wise one."
00:17:50.70\00:17:54.44
Who is it?
00:17:54.47\00:17:55.80
Scholars now
have discovered that,
00:17:55.84\00:17:58.17
that material has
striking parallels,
00:17:58.21\00:18:00.31
would you jot this down, please,
00:18:00.34\00:18:01.68
with the Egyptian book,
"The Wisdom of Amenemope."
00:18:01.71\00:18:07.08
All right?
00:18:07.12\00:18:09.08
Scholars now see, he went
to a pagan source actually,
00:18:09.12\00:18:13.52
pulled in what was
valid and embraced it
00:18:13.56\00:18:17.49
in his inspired
document, the Proverbs.
00:18:17.53\00:18:19.76
Then there's some words of
unnamed wise man, a circle,
00:18:19.79\00:18:22.46
that's the shortest
little section within Proverbs.
00:18:22.50\00:18:24.33
Then are the words of Agur
00:18:24.37\00:18:25.97
and he does
identify this source,
00:18:26.00\00:18:27.40
Chapter 30, and
then King Lemuel.
00:18:27.44\00:18:29.10
We have no idea
who these people are,
00:18:29.14\00:18:32.44
but he has brought--
00:18:32.47\00:18:33.81
they have
brought the collection,
00:18:33.84\00:18:35.34
the sources together.
00:18:35.38\00:18:36.71
Now here's a
point. Isn't that amazing?
00:18:36.75\00:18:40.58
Isn't that amazing?
00:18:40.62\00:18:41.95
God uses a pagan source
for some of the material
00:18:41.98\00:18:44.35
in Solomon's inspired book
of the Bible, the Proverbs.
00:18:44.39\00:18:47.72
Now how does this work?
00:18:47.76\00:18:49.09
Look at this, we
read this last week.
00:18:49.12\00:18:51.49
2 Timothy 3:16, would
you jot it down, please?
00:18:51.53\00:18:54.53
"All scripture."
00:18:54.56\00:18:57.27
The New Testament is
clear and it's talking about
00:18:57.30\00:18:59.43
only the Old
Testament at the time.
00:18:59.47\00:19:01.60
"All scripture is
given by inspiration of God."
00:19:01.64\00:19:06.01
What's going on here?
00:19:06.04\00:19:07.38
Ladies and
gentlemen, keep your pen moving.
00:19:07.41\00:19:08.78
"Apparently divine inspiration
allows for the inspired writer
00:19:08.81\00:19:12.55
or prophet to consult and
quote non-inspired sources
00:19:12.58\00:19:17.65
for his divine revelation
00:19:17.69\00:19:19.12
without giving
credit to his sources."
00:19:19.15\00:19:23.19
Apparently that works
00:19:23.22\00:19:25.36
in the divine
process of inspiration.
00:19:25.39\00:19:27.86
Isn't that amazing?
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.10
The reason I
bring this up at all
00:19:30.13\00:19:32.23
is because that is precisely
the most repeated charge
00:19:32.27\00:19:35.07
the critics have
leveled against Ellen White,
00:19:35.10\00:19:36.97
charging her with
blatant plagiarism
00:19:37.01\00:19:39.27
and the use of other
sources with the intent
00:19:39.31\00:19:41.51
to deceive her
readers by not giving credit
00:19:41.54\00:19:44.01
to those sources
just like Solomon did.
00:19:44.05\00:19:48.38
By the way, just like John did.
00:19:48.42\00:19:50.92
Did you know that,
John the Revelator?
00:19:50.95\00:19:54.12
Jot this down, will you?
00:19:54.16\00:19:55.49
John the Revelator
actually borrowed multiple lines
00:19:55.52\00:19:58.03
from a non-inspired
source and quoted them
00:19:58.06\00:20:00.66
as if they were his own words.
00:20:00.70\00:20:04.00
Did you know that?
Keep your pen moving.
00:20:04.03\00:20:07.17
What is more, he
borrowed the non-inspired
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.30
author's words for some
of his "I saw" declarations.
00:20:09.34\00:20:14.28
In other words, he's in vision.
00:20:14.31\00:20:16.08
What he saw in vision,
00:20:16.11\00:20:17.68
he uses the words of
a non-inspired author
00:20:17.71\00:20:19.88
to describe what he saw.
00:20:19.91\00:20:22.22
Isn't that amazing?
00:20:22.25\00:20:24.99
The Book of Revelation,
John repeatedly borrows,
00:20:25.02\00:20:28.49
you know what, from what book?
00:20:28.52\00:20:29.86
The Book of Enoch, or 1 Enoch.
00:20:29.89\00:20:32.03
A hundred years
before John wrote,
00:20:32.06\00:20:34.30
Enoch was written.
00:20:34.33\00:20:35.96
It's part of what's
called the pseudepigrapha,
00:20:36.00\00:20:37.93
the false writings.
00:20:37.97\00:20:39.30
He quotes from the
false writings in Revelation.
00:20:39.33\00:20:44.54
Here's some examples,
they're in your study guide.
00:20:44.57\00:20:46.31
But put them on the screen
for those of you watching.
00:20:46.34\00:20:49.74
This is 1 Enoch 40:1,
00:20:49.78\00:20:51.85
notice the
similarity of language,
00:20:51.88\00:20:54.52
this is Enoch.
00:20:54.55\00:20:55.88
"After that I saw a
multitude beyond number
00:20:55.92\00:21:00.49
and reckoning who stood
before the Lord of the Spirits."
00:21:00.52\00:21:04.39
Now see if the
language is familiar,
00:21:04.43\00:21:06.03
a hundred years
later, Revelation 7: 9,
00:21:06.06\00:21:08.33
"After these things
I looked and behold,
00:21:08.36\00:21:11.23
a great multitude
which no one could number
00:21:11.27\00:21:13.97
standing before the throne."
00:21:14.00\00:21:16.50
Of course, they're parallel.
00:21:16.54\00:21:18.87
Take a look at
this one, 1 Enoch 86:1,
00:21:18.91\00:21:22.41
"And I saw and behold,
a star fell from heaven."
00:21:22.44\00:21:26.98
Now does this sound familiar
with the Revelation 9:1?
00:21:27.02\00:21:29.95
"And I saw a star
fallen from heaven."
00:21:29.98\00:21:35.19
One list I have,
00:21:35.22\00:21:37.63
would you jot this down, please?
00:21:37.66\00:21:39.09
"It shows 22 lines
from the Book of Enoch
00:21:39.13\00:21:41.86
that John borrowed in
order to write Revelation,
00:21:41.90\00:21:45.20
all without credit."
00:21:45.23\00:21:47.50
So shall we declare
John to be a plagiarist
00:21:47.54\00:21:49.57
and an uninspired prophet?
00:21:49.60\00:21:51.87
Would we dare?
00:21:51.91\00:21:53.58
But, of course not.
00:21:53.61\00:21:54.94
And yet when Ellen
White-- Isn't this amazing,
00:21:54.98\00:21:58.11
when Ellen White does the same,
00:21:58.15\00:22:01.42
the critics rise up
with a howl of foul.
00:22:01.45\00:22:07.89
When like Solomon,
00:22:07.92\00:22:09.49
she borrows from
non-inspired literary sources
00:22:09.52\00:22:11.79
and sometimes like
John uses those sources
00:22:11.83\00:22:15.46
to describe her
"I saw" statements.
00:22:15.50\00:22:20.74
Isn't that something?
00:22:20.77\00:22:24.67
The problem with the
critics and I must say this
00:22:24.71\00:22:28.11
as gently as I can and if
they were sitting right here,
00:22:28.14\00:22:31.38
I would say this.
00:22:31.41\00:22:32.91
The problem with the
critics-- And by the way,
00:22:32.95\00:22:35.72
I went to one of their
websites this last week.
00:22:35.75\00:22:38.22
I don't hang around those sites,
00:22:38.25\00:22:39.59
but I thought I'd check it out.
00:22:39.62\00:22:41.69
I went to that website
00:22:41.72\00:22:43.32
and, oh my, with
such righteous indignation
00:22:43.36\00:22:45.66
and fervor this
particular critic
00:22:45.69\00:22:47.53
went after Ellen
White for doing precisely
00:22:47.56\00:22:49.86
what Solomon and
John did in their books.
00:22:49.90\00:22:52.83
Here's the
problem with the critics,
00:22:52.87\00:22:55.60
they have an uninformed
and unbiblical understanding
00:22:55.64\00:23:01.54
of divine
inspiration. That's the problem
00:23:01.58\00:23:04.88
and that's why they are
caught in their conundrum.
00:23:04.91\00:23:09.32
What's a biblical concept
of inspiration look like?
00:23:09.35\00:23:12.59
Let me share this with you.
00:23:12.62\00:23:14.92
Jud Lake, I like
the way he does this.
00:23:14.96\00:23:17.19
He's professor in
the School of Religion
00:23:17.23\00:23:19.09
at Southern
Adventist University.
00:23:19.13\00:23:20.60
He describes the
Bible model of inspiration
00:23:20.63\00:23:23.06
and he calls it-- and by the way
00:23:23.10\00:23:24.73
this is in his new book,
00:23:24.77\00:23:26.10
"Ellen White Under Fire:
00:23:26.13\00:23:27.47
Identifying The
Mistakes Of Her Critics."
00:23:27.50\00:23:30.14
Okay.
00:23:30.17\00:23:31.51
So he calls it the
whole person inspiration.
00:23:31.54\00:23:35.58
In fact, you
have to write it down,
00:23:35.61\00:23:36.95
I'll put it on the screen
for you, fill it in, please.
00:23:36.98\00:23:38.71
"The whole person
model," fill that it.
00:23:38.75\00:23:41.45
"The whole person
model of inspiration
00:23:41.48\00:23:46.12
recognizes numerous modes
through which the Spirit of God
00:23:46.15\00:23:49.19
worked with human
beings to produce Scripture."
00:23:49.22\00:23:51.56
He talks about
the mode of theophany.
00:23:51.59\00:23:54.00
You know what a theophany
is? It's when God shows up.
00:23:54.03\00:23:56.03
That would be the burning bush,
00:23:56.06\00:23:57.57
Moses with the burning bush.
00:23:57.60\00:23:58.97
God doesn't use--
There's nothing between,
00:23:59.00\00:24:00.67
I'm here and I'm talking to you.
00:24:00.70\00:24:02.17
So that's the appearance of God.
00:24:02.20\00:24:04.41
He talks about
the prophetic mode
00:24:04.44\00:24:06.24
which is like Daniel and John,
00:24:06.27\00:24:08.48
shown a vision and
then they write it down,
00:24:08.51\00:24:10.65
just what they've been shown.
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.25
There's what he
calls the verbal method.
00:24:12.28\00:24:15.55
God meets Moses on top
of the mountain, and boom,
00:24:15.58\00:24:18.29
He personally
speaks the Ten Commandments
00:24:18.32\00:24:21.49
and then with his
own finger He carves it.
00:24:21.52\00:24:23.83
That is direct.
00:24:23.86\00:24:26.56
There's the poetic,
that would be the Psalms,
00:24:26.59\00:24:28.23
there's the wisdom
model, which we just looked at
00:24:28.26\00:24:30.37
with Proverbs and
Ecclesiastes and so on.
00:24:30.40\00:24:33.47
But now, here's what
Jud Lake is describing,
00:24:33.50\00:24:37.14
keep reading here,
"One of these modes
00:24:37.17\00:24:39.77
relevant to the issue
of literary borrowing,"
00:24:39.81\00:24:42.41
because that's
what we're examining,
00:24:42.44\00:24:43.78
that's the critics charge.
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.18
"One of these modes is
that of historical research.
00:24:45.21\00:24:47.78
In this mode, the
biblical author produced
00:24:47.82\00:24:50.49
inspired writings independent
of dreams and visions.
00:24:50.52\00:24:54.69
He received
information through research-
00:24:54.72\00:24:56.76
reading, studying,
compiling, editing material
00:24:56.79\00:24:59.03
from various documents,
00:24:59.06\00:25:00.40
that will be literary borrowing,
00:25:00.43\00:25:01.76
generated by both
inspired and uninspired authors.
00:25:01.80\00:25:05.10
Nevertheless," key point,
00:25:05.13\00:25:06.94
"God was providentially present
00:25:06.97\00:25:08.77
and he was
supervising the entire process."
00:25:08.80\00:25:12.51
Ladies and
gentlemen, that's what happened
00:25:12.54\00:25:13.88
with the gospel of Luke,
00:25:13.91\00:25:15.24
Luke tells us
right at the beginning,
00:25:15.28\00:25:16.61
"Hey, by the way, I've
studied all the histories
00:25:16.64\00:25:17.98
and now I'm writing a story."
00:25:18.01\00:25:19.35
That's how he did
it in the Book of Acts.
00:25:19.38\00:25:20.72
That's what Solomon
did, that's what John did,
00:25:20.75\00:25:23.18
that's what Paul did in
quoting non-inspired sources,
00:25:23.22\00:25:26.96
weaving them in without
giving any credit at all,
00:25:26.99\00:25:29.02
just weaving them in.
00:25:29.06\00:25:32.26
By the way, that's how Matthew
and Luke wrote their gospels,
00:25:32.29\00:25:34.33
they borrowed
heavily from Mark's Gospel
00:25:34.36\00:25:36.26
and never said a word.
00:25:36.30\00:25:40.74
That's how the whole person
model of inspiration worked
00:25:40.77\00:25:42.94
with the Bible
writers and I believe,
00:25:42.97\00:25:45.51
we as Seventh-day
Adventist believe that,
00:25:45.54\00:25:48.28
that is indeed how it
worked with Ellen White.
00:25:48.31\00:25:50.71
We believe she
experienced divine inspiration
00:25:50.75\00:25:53.65
in the same manner
and to the same degree
00:25:53.68\00:25:56.55
as the biblical writers did.
00:25:56.58\00:25:58.85
Does that mean we grant to her
00:25:58.89\00:26:00.22
the same authority as the Bible?
00:26:00.26\00:26:01.59
No, it does not.
00:26:01.62\00:26:02.96
I'll get to that
in just a moment,
00:26:02.99\00:26:04.33
let's get back to the critics.
00:26:04.36\00:26:05.69
So how did the
critics respond to this?
00:26:05.73\00:26:08.40
Well, while
they might grudgingly
00:26:08.43\00:26:10.63
accept the obvious fact,
you just-- it's just obvious.
00:26:10.67\00:26:15.14
Scholarship has
shown, the obvious fact
00:26:15.17\00:26:17.07
that the Bible
prophets and writers utilize
00:26:17.11\00:26:19.11
extra biblical
non-inspired literary sources
00:26:19.14\00:26:21.88
for some of their writings,
the critics are still quick
00:26:21.91\00:26:24.35
to assert that Ellen White used
00:26:24.38\00:26:26.31
way more than they
did, so she's a plagiarist.
00:26:26.35\00:26:31.29
Let's check that argument out.
00:26:31.32\00:26:34.06
I'm going to go to Tim Poirier,
00:26:34.09\00:26:37.53
from the Ellen White Estate.
00:26:37.56\00:26:42.36
Put his words on
the screen, Tim Poirier.
00:26:42.40\00:26:45.53
"The rebuttal from
Ellen White's opponents
00:26:45.57\00:26:47.44
to this comparison is
that the quantity of copying
00:26:47.47\00:26:51.34
is higher in her writings
than among the Bible writers.
00:26:51.37\00:26:54.21
But the amount of
borrowing is irrelevant
00:26:54.24\00:26:57.08
to the question of
whether inspired writers
00:26:57.11\00:26:59.08
may legitimately use the
language of other authors-
00:26:59.11\00:27:01.68
including
extra-Biblical sources.
00:27:01.72\00:27:03.72
Once it is recognized
that inspiration is not negated
00:27:03.75\00:27:07.12
by the use of
pre-existing human sources,
00:27:07.16\00:27:10.13
who is to say what percentage
00:27:10.16\00:27:11.66
of an inspired
messenger's language
00:27:11.69\00:27:13.50
must be free
from such dependency."
00:27:13.53\00:27:16.93
Logically, he makes the
point, we've already seen
00:27:16.97\00:27:20.34
from Ecclesiastes
that's how it operates
00:27:20.37\00:27:23.27
in some occasions.
00:27:23.30\00:27:26.57
So here's the
question, how much--
00:27:26.61\00:27:29.41
come on, let's
put the hard question,
00:27:29.44\00:27:31.08
how much of Ellen
White's writings were borrowed?
00:27:31.11\00:27:36.18
It's a good
question. It's a fair question.
00:27:36.22\00:27:38.95
Researcher Fred
Veltman spent eight years
00:27:38.99\00:27:42.19
examining her
writings to ascertain
00:27:42.22\00:27:43.86
the level of literary borrowing
00:27:43.89\00:27:45.46
and he wrote the
following conclusion,
00:27:45.49\00:27:47.13
I'll put it on
the screen for you.
00:27:47.16\00:27:48.56
"A fair assessment of
the evidence should not deny
00:27:48.60\00:27:51.23
or underplay the
degree of her dependence,
00:27:51.27\00:27:55.24
but neither should it overlook
00:27:55.27\00:27:56.67
or depreciate her independence."
00:27:56.71\00:27:59.74
I like this line, "The
sources were her slaves,
00:27:59.77\00:28:04.18
never her master."
00:28:04.21\00:28:06.88
You get the point?
00:28:06.92\00:28:08.25
The sources don't
dictate to her what to write,
00:28:08.28\00:28:12.32
they were her slaves,
she worked the sources.
00:28:12.35\00:28:14.62
I tell you what,
as I have reviewed
00:28:14.66\00:28:17.53
Ellen White's life ministry,
00:28:17.56\00:28:19.69
what is amazing to me
is not what she borrowed,
00:28:19.73\00:28:24.30
it's what she left
out and that's the key.
00:28:24.33\00:28:30.31
John borrowed but
it's what he left out.
00:28:30.34\00:28:34.01
Somebody is coaching Solomon
00:28:34.04\00:28:36.11
what to take in
and what to leave out.
00:28:36.14\00:28:38.51
How did Ellen White know?
00:28:38.55\00:28:39.88
From the same somebody,
00:28:39.91\00:28:41.25
the mighty third
person of the God
00:28:41.28\00:28:42.62
had the Holy Spirit himself.
00:28:42.65\00:28:44.65
That's how the process works,
00:28:44.69\00:28:46.12
it's a whole person
model of inspiration.
00:28:46.15\00:28:51.76
You read the
critics, I tell you what,
00:28:51.79\00:28:53.19
you hear that, I saw this,
00:28:53.23\00:28:55.50
80% to 90% of her
material was borrowed.
00:28:55.53\00:28:58.80
80% to 90%, are you serious?
00:28:58.83\00:29:01.40
Oh, they are.
00:29:01.44\00:29:04.07
Listen to this, Tim
Poirier found these numbers
00:29:04.11\00:29:08.28
grossly inflated and all.
00:29:08.31\00:29:09.64
I'll just share some
of the numbers with you.
00:29:09.68\00:29:11.01
Great Controversy, all right.
00:29:11.05\00:29:12.38
I'll say more
about Great Controversy
00:29:12.41\00:29:13.75
before this series
ends in just a few weeks.
00:29:13.78\00:29:15.45
Great Controversy contains
00:29:15.48\00:29:16.82
15.1% source
indicated quotations
00:29:16.85\00:29:19.12
and another 5.1% of
uncredited quotations,
00:29:19.15\00:29:22.09
total 20.5%.
00:29:22.12\00:29:24.06
All right,
one-fifth from historians
00:29:24.09\00:29:25.83
as we'll know in just a moment.
00:29:25.86\00:29:27.20
Sketches from the Life of Paul,
00:29:27.23\00:29:28.56
12.23% borrowed material,
00:29:28.60\00:29:32.03
Steps to Christ, 6.2%.
00:29:32.07\00:29:34.37
All other books,
excluding Desire of Ages,
00:29:34.40\00:29:36.87
all other books were 3%
or less of borrowed material.
00:29:36.91\00:29:41.98
In fact let's let Ellen White
tell us about her borrowing
00:29:42.01\00:29:44.25
because she does.
00:29:44.28\00:29:47.05
This is in her introduction
to the apocalyptic classic,
00:29:47.08\00:29:49.98
The Great Controversy.
00:29:50.02\00:29:51.35
She describes her
literary borrowing,
00:29:51.39\00:29:53.05
put the words on
the screen for you.
00:29:53.09\00:29:54.42
"The great events,"
00:29:54.46\00:29:55.79
talking about the
history of the protestants,
00:29:55.82\00:29:57.16
I mean, the
history of Christianity.
00:29:57.19\00:29:58.63
"The great events which have
marked the progress of reform
00:29:58.66\00:30:01.40
in past ages are
matters of history,
00:30:01.43\00:30:04.20
well-known universally,
00:30:04.23\00:30:05.67
acknowledged by
the protestant world.
00:30:05.70\00:30:07.60
They are facts
which none can gainsay.
00:30:07.64\00:30:10.44
In some cases now
00:30:10.47\00:30:12.24
where a historian has
so grouped together events
00:30:12.27\00:30:15.11
as to afford, in brief,
00:30:15.14\00:30:16.54
a comprehensive
view of the subject
00:30:16.58\00:30:18.61
or has summarized
details in a convenient matter,
00:30:18.65\00:30:21.38
his words have been quoted.
00:30:21.42\00:30:24.22
But in some instances
00:30:24.25\00:30:26.29
no specific
credit has been given
00:30:26.32\00:30:28.89
since the
quotations are not given
00:30:28.92\00:30:30.29
for the purpose of citing
that author as an authority
00:30:30.33\00:30:33.09
but because his
statement affords a ready
00:30:33.13\00:30:34.90
and forcible
presentation of the subject.
00:30:34.93\00:30:36.77
Now in narrating the
experience and views of those
00:30:36.80\00:30:39.33
carrying forward the work
of reform in our own time,
00:30:39.37\00:30:41.74
similar use has been made
of their published works."
00:30:41.77\00:30:45.94
Now, ladies and
gentlemen, let's just be honest
00:30:45.97\00:30:47.48
and right upfront here.
00:30:47.51\00:30:50.45
Today, using
material from any author
00:30:50.48\00:30:53.68
without crediting the source
00:30:53.72\00:30:55.45
or without
inserting quotation marks
00:30:55.48\00:30:58.29
would get you thrown out of
00:30:58.32\00:30:59.65
any university
class on this campus.
00:30:59.69\00:31:02.59
Presto, pronto.
Isn't that right?
00:31:02.62\00:31:05.96
It is clear
today that when you use
00:31:05.99\00:31:08.43
someone else's
material in your writing
00:31:08.46\00:31:10.83
you ought to give
credit to whom credit is due
00:31:10.87\00:31:14.30
but it was not so
in the 19th century.
00:31:14.34\00:31:18.57
In fact let me
share this, Mark Twain,
00:31:18.61\00:31:21.21
you remember Mark
Twain, the American humorist.
00:31:21.24\00:31:23.68
Mark Twain
exclaimed, wondering out loud
00:31:23.71\00:31:27.32
if there was
"Anything in any human utterance
00:31:27.35\00:31:30.85
oral or written
except plagiarism."
00:31:30.89\00:31:34.36
It's all borrowed, he said.
00:31:34.39\00:31:36.12
This tells you maybe about
00:31:36.16\00:31:37.49
where he got
some of his stories.
00:31:37.53\00:31:41.03
Denis Fortin, Dean of
our theological seminary
00:31:41.06\00:31:43.06
here on the campus
of Andrews University
00:31:43.10\00:31:44.73
and Jerry Moon,
professor of Church History
00:31:44.77\00:31:48.04
have written a
piece on plagiarism
00:31:48.07\00:31:49.40
and literary borrowing
00:31:49.44\00:31:50.77
for the upcoming
Ellen G. White Encyclopedia.
00:31:50.81\00:31:54.18
It's supposed to come out this--
00:31:54.21\00:31:55.54
by the end of the year.
00:31:55.58\00:31:56.91
Let me put their
words on the screen,
00:31:56.95\00:31:58.31
"The practice of
borrowing from other authors
00:31:58.35\00:32:00.95
without giving
explicit or detailed credit
00:32:00.98\00:32:03.39
was widespread among writers
of the 18th and 19th centuries.
00:32:03.42\00:32:07.02
Although by
today's literary standards
00:32:07.06\00:32:09.09
this practice is unacceptable."
00:32:09.12\00:32:10.46
We are all agreeing on that.
00:32:10.49\00:32:11.89
"It forms the historical context
00:32:11.93\00:32:14.16
in Ellen White's own practice."
00:32:14.20\00:32:16.77
Now notice, "Such a practice
was followed by example--
00:32:16.80\00:32:19.33
for example, by John Wesley,"
the founder of the Church,
00:32:19.37\00:32:22.44
the Methodist
Church that she grew up in.
00:32:22.47\00:32:24.54
"Such a practice was
followed by John Wesley
00:32:24.57\00:32:26.47
in writing his
book Explanatory Notes
00:32:26.51\00:32:28.31
upon the New Testament."
00:32:28.34\00:32:29.68
Now listen, this is Wesley,
now we're quoting Wesley.
00:32:29.71\00:32:33.01
"'It was a doubt
with me for some time,'
00:32:33.05\00:32:35.65
he wrote in the preface,
'whether I should not subjoin
00:32:35.68\00:32:39.09
to every note I received
from them the name of the author
00:32:39.12\00:32:43.12
from whom it was taken.
00:32:43.16\00:32:44.63
But upon further consideration
I resolved to name none.'"
00:32:44.66\00:32:47.83
I am not going
to give one source.
00:32:47.86\00:32:49.83
""That nothing might
divert the mind of the reader
00:32:49.86\00:32:51.73
from keeping close
to the point of view
00:32:51.77\00:32:53.70
and receiving what was spoken
00:32:53.74\00:32:55.77
only for its own
intrinsic value.'"
00:32:55.80\00:33:01.84
Now Denis and Jerry,
they put their finger
00:33:01.88\00:33:06.78
right on the note,
they touch it right here.
00:33:06.82\00:33:09.38
Their words on the screen again,
00:33:09.42\00:33:10.75
"The real issue, however,
is not whether she borrowed
00:33:10.79\00:33:14.02
without giving proper credit
00:33:14.06\00:33:15.46
but whether she
borrowed in such a way
00:33:15.49\00:33:17.63
as to deceive the reader.
00:33:17.66\00:33:20.06
She has been accused
of being a thief, a liar,
00:33:20.10\00:33:22.93
and an exploiter
of church members
00:33:22.96\00:33:24.57
who constituted a
captive market for her books."
00:33:24.60\00:33:28.97
So we got-- we have
to ask the question,
00:33:29.00\00:33:30.94
did she intend to
deceive her readers?
00:33:30.97\00:33:35.44
Fair question.
00:33:35.48\00:33:37.65
In the Great
Controversy, for example,
00:33:37.68\00:33:40.58
Ellen White borrowed extensively
00:33:40.62\00:33:42.78
from D'Aubigne's
History of The Reformation,
00:33:42.82\00:33:45.25
Wylie's History
of The Waldenses,
00:33:45.29\00:33:48.29
Jane Anders'
History of The Sabbath,
00:33:48.32\00:33:50.29
Uriah Smith's The
Sanctuary and Its Cleansing,
00:33:50.33\00:33:53.13
even her own
husband, James White's book,
00:33:53.16\00:33:55.36
The Life of William Miller.
00:33:55.40\00:33:57.00
These works were known,
00:33:57.03\00:33:58.77
familiar to her
Adventist readers.
00:33:58.80\00:34:03.14
In fact in the Christmas season,
00:34:03.17\00:34:05.87
1882, she wrote a
piece for the church Journal,
00:34:05.91\00:34:08.44
The Review and
Herald in which, get this,
00:34:08.48\00:34:10.68
she urges her
readers to purchase
00:34:10.71\00:34:13.05
D'Aubigne's
History of The Reformation
00:34:13.08\00:34:15.48
for its
inspiration and she went on,
00:34:15.52\00:34:17.92
so that it might
provide "Something to be read
00:34:17.95\00:34:21.49
during these
long winter evenings."
00:34:21.52\00:34:24.79
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
let's just get this straight,
00:34:24.83\00:34:27.63
if you're a plagiarist,
the last book you want
00:34:27.66\00:34:31.83
your readers to read is
the book you are plagiarizing.
00:34:31.87\00:34:35.50
Would that not
be true? Of course.
00:34:35.54\00:34:40.54
But she urges them
to go out, buy the book,
00:34:40.58\00:34:42.01
"You'd be
blessed by it," she says.
00:34:42.04\00:34:44.45
Here's another one, 1883,
00:34:44.48\00:34:47.25
six months before she
comes out with her book,
00:34:47.28\00:34:48.85
Sketches From the Life of Paul,
00:34:48.88\00:34:51.82
an advertisement for
Conybeare and Howson's book
00:34:51.85\00:34:54.26
The Life of Saint Paul.
00:34:54.29\00:34:57.03
And by the way, a book
Denis Fortin and Jerry Moon
00:34:57.06\00:34:59.59
tell us significantly
influenced her own book
00:34:59.63\00:35:01.86
with 12% of her book
estimated to be borrowed
00:35:01.90\00:35:03.97
from Conybeare and Howson's.
00:35:04.00\00:35:05.93
And that appears six
months before her book comes out
00:35:05.97\00:35:08.20
on The Life of
Paul and that appears
00:35:08.24\00:35:09.74
in Signs of the Times Magazine
00:35:09.77\00:35:11.11
with her
endorsement of their book.
00:35:11.14\00:35:12.77
These are her
words now in the ad,
00:35:12.81\00:35:14.98
"I regard this book
as a book of great merit
00:35:15.01\00:35:18.05
and one of rare usefulness
to the earnest student
00:35:18.08\00:35:20.78
of the New Testament history."
00:35:20.82\00:35:23.72
I repeat, if you
are a plagiarist,
00:35:23.75\00:35:29.59
the last book you want
your readers to be reading
00:35:29.62\00:35:32.86
is the book you
are plagiarizing.
00:35:32.89\00:35:38.37
But they did not consider
it plagiarizing back then.
00:35:38.40\00:35:44.07
The Roman Catholic
attorney was assigned the case
00:35:44.11\00:35:50.91
to examine,
00:35:50.95\00:35:54.32
was Ellen White
faithful to the prevailing law
00:35:54.35\00:35:59.52
in 19th century
regarding plagiarizing
00:35:59.55\00:36:01.29
and copyright infringement,
patents infringement and so on.
00:36:01.32\00:36:05.29
1981, here we go now, the
legal aspect of this charge
00:36:05.33\00:36:07.96
that she
plagarized, was examined by
00:36:08.00\00:36:09.73
Roman Catholic
attorney Vincent Ramik,
00:36:09.76\00:36:12.57
a specialist rather in patent,
trademark and copyright law
00:36:12.60\00:36:16.04
in the Washington, D.C.,
00:36:16.07\00:36:17.41
Law firm
Diller, Ramik and Wight.
00:36:17.44\00:36:19.24
He released his 27-page legal
opinion in August of that year
00:36:19.27\00:36:22.58
after spending over 300 hours
00:36:22.61\00:36:24.31
researching about a
1,000 relevant cases
00:36:24.35\00:36:26.72
in American legal history.
00:36:26.75\00:36:28.28
Now here comes the attorney's
conclusions, 27-page brief.
00:36:28.32\00:36:31.75
We'll put it on the screen.
00:36:31.79\00:36:33.22
Here are some
of the conclusions,
00:36:33.25\00:36:34.59
"Based upon our
review," attorney Ramik.
00:36:34.62\00:36:37.23
"Based upon our review of
the facts and legal precedents,
00:36:37.26\00:36:39.89
Ellen White was not a plagiarist
00:36:39.93\00:36:41.83
and her works did not constitute
00:36:41.86\00:36:43.87
copyright
infringement or piracy."
00:36:43.90\00:36:46.84
Here's another conclusion,
"It is impossible to imagine
00:36:46.87\00:36:50.11
that the
intention of Ellen G. White
00:36:50.14\00:36:51.74
as reflected in her writings
00:36:51.77\00:36:53.41
and the
unquestionably prodigious effort
00:36:53.44\00:36:55.81
involved therein
was anything other
00:36:55.84\00:36:58.31
than a sincerely
motivated and unselfish effort
00:36:58.35\00:37:01.28
to place the
understanding of Biblical truth
00:37:01.32\00:37:03.45
in a coherent form for
all to see and comprehend."
00:37:03.49\00:37:07.19
One more, "Considering
all factors necessary
00:37:07.22\00:37:10.36
in reaching a just
conclusion on this issue,
00:37:10.39\00:37:13.19
it is submitted that the
writings of Ellen G. White
00:37:13.23\00:37:16.10
were
conclusively unplagiaristic."
00:37:16.13\00:37:20.34
All right, all right.
00:37:25.34\00:37:27.98
So she wasn't a plagiarist,
00:37:28.01\00:37:30.01
but the problem
with you Adventists
00:37:30.05\00:37:31.68
is you have elevated her
writings to be right there,
00:37:31.71\00:37:34.72
equal with the Holy Scripture.
00:37:34.75\00:37:37.75
Oh, really? Says who?
00:37:37.79\00:37:40.76
I'll tell you who says,
00:37:40.79\00:37:43.02
you can't find that
anywhere, anywhere at all.
00:37:43.06\00:37:44.89
It is one of the
trumped-up charges
00:37:44.93\00:37:47.13
that the critics
cannot substantiate.
00:37:47.16\00:37:50.07
I tell you what,
the church I grew up in
00:37:50.10\00:37:54.27
and the church I now serve,
00:37:54.30\00:37:58.14
there is absolutely no question
00:37:58.17\00:38:03.55
on the superlative authority,
00:38:03.58\00:38:07.18
prime authority
of Holy Scripture
00:38:07.22\00:38:10.65
for the life of this church
00:38:10.69\00:38:13.52
and the
revelation of God's truth.
00:38:13.56\00:38:15.02
In fact our
Fundamental Belief 18,
00:38:15.06\00:38:16.52
we'll put this on
the screen for you,
00:38:16.56\00:38:17.89
Fundamental Belief 18,
"The Bible is the standard
00:38:17.93\00:38:20.60
by which all teaching
00:38:20.63\00:38:22.83
and experience must be tested."
00:38:22.86\00:38:26.17
Ellen White herself constantly
reiterated this point,
00:38:26.20\00:38:29.00
jot it down, will you, please.
00:38:29.04\00:38:30.37
This is from
that-- a beautiful book
00:38:30.41\00:38:33.41
on the parables of
Jesus, Christ's Object Lessons.
00:38:33.44\00:38:35.98
Jot this down.
00:38:36.01\00:38:37.35
"He, Christ taught
that the word of God
00:38:37.38\00:38:39.25
was to be understood by all.
00:38:39.28\00:38:41.75
He pointed to the Scriptures
as of unquestionable authority
00:38:41.78\00:38:45.49
and we should do the same.
00:38:45.52\00:38:48.66
The Bible is to be presented as
the word of the infinite God,"
00:38:48.69\00:38:51.59
jot this down, "as the
end of all controversy."
00:38:51.63\00:38:54.93
Do you know what that means,
the end of all controversy?
00:38:54.96\00:38:56.87
That means, the last
word, any debate, last word,
00:38:56.90\00:38:59.30
the Holy Scripture.
00:38:59.33\00:39:00.67
"It is to be presented as
the end of all controversy
00:39:00.70\00:39:03.47
and the foundation of all faith.
00:39:03.51\00:39:06.07
Do you know that means?
00:39:06.11\00:39:07.44
Bottom line, bottom line,
00:39:07.48\00:39:09.24
Holy Scripture,
bottom line, last word.
00:39:09.28\00:39:15.02
Wow.
00:39:15.05\00:39:16.92
Oh, then, Dwight,
that must indicate
00:39:16.95\00:39:19.49
she has no
authority in your church?
00:39:19.52\00:39:21.29
Oh, my friend, you
are wrong there as well,
00:39:21.32\00:39:24.29
she has plenty of
authority, trust me.
00:39:24.33\00:39:27.60
Let's illustrate it this way,
00:39:27.63\00:39:29.76
when David committed
adultery with Bathsheba.
00:39:29.80\00:39:33.84
You remember that,
the familiar Bible story?
00:39:33.87\00:39:35.24
All right.
00:39:35.27\00:39:36.60
When David committed
adultery with Bathsheba,
00:39:36.64\00:39:38.44
what was the Bible in
existence at that time?
00:39:38.47\00:39:41.58
It was five books
long, it was appended to
00:39:41.61\00:39:44.18
the writings of Moses.
00:39:44.21\00:39:45.55
Okay?
00:39:45.58\00:39:46.98
So when the Prophet Nathan
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.62
came striding
into that throne room
00:39:49.65\00:39:51.35
and pointed his bony finger
at the King and cried out,
00:39:51.39\00:39:54.86
"You are the man."
00:39:54.89\00:39:58.66
Trust me, not
for one split-second
00:39:58.69\00:40:01.80
did David question
the prophet's authority,
00:40:01.83\00:40:03.67
David did not retort...
00:40:03.70\00:40:05.03
'Listen Nathan, you don't
have any books in the Bible
00:40:05.07\00:40:06.84
so I don't need to
acknowledge your authority.'
00:40:06.87\00:40:09.30
Are you kidding?
00:40:09.34\00:40:10.67
On the spot, he
breaks down in tears
00:40:10.71\00:40:13.98
before the prophet
of God and confesses,
00:40:14.01\00:40:17.78
"You are absolutely right."
00:40:17.81\00:40:19.18
Jot it down, will you?
00:40:23.59\00:40:24.92
"Nathan was a
non-canonical prophet,
00:40:24.95\00:40:27.19
but he had plenty of
spiritual authority."
00:40:27.22\00:40:30.73
Trust me.
00:40:30.76\00:40:32.46
But let's let the
illustration keep going.
00:40:32.49\00:40:35.80
So let's say that tomorrow,
00:40:35.83\00:40:37.40
tomorrow archaeologists
find the book of Nathan.
00:40:37.43\00:40:41.44
Yeah, 1 Chronicles 29:29,
Nathan actually wrote a book,
00:40:41.47\00:40:44.67
it never ended up in the Bible.
00:40:44.71\00:40:46.04
But tomorrow they
find it, hallelujah.
00:40:46.07\00:40:48.68
Question, would that newly
discovered and inspired book
00:40:48.71\00:40:51.88
become a part
of our Bible canon?
00:40:51.91\00:40:55.08
No way.
00:40:55.12\00:40:58.75
Look at the words
of Gerhard Pfandl.
00:40:58.79\00:41:00.46
"No, no, no, it would remain--"
00:41:00.49\00:41:03.12
If they find the
Book of Nathan tomorrow,
00:41:03.16\00:41:05.79
"it would
remain an inspired book
00:41:05.83\00:41:07.30
outside of the canon and
if a theological statement
00:41:07.33\00:41:09.76
were found in the book
it would remain an inspired
00:41:09.80\00:41:12.43
and authoritative
statement outside the canon."
00:41:12.47\00:41:16.40
Outside the canon,
00:41:16.44\00:41:18.37
so it is with the
writings of Ellen White.
00:41:18.41\00:41:20.38
Inspired like
the ancient prophets?
00:41:20.41\00:41:21.88
Absolutely.
00:41:21.91\00:41:23.24
Canonical like
the ancient prophets?
00:41:23.28\00:41:24.61
Not at all.
00:41:24.65\00:41:26.11
Authoritative like
the ancient prophets?
00:41:26.15\00:41:28.15
But of course.
00:41:28.18\00:41:30.79
I love the way
Merlin Burt puts it,
00:41:30.82\00:41:32.75
director of the
center for Advance Research
00:41:32.79\00:41:34.62
here on campus at
Andrews University.
00:41:34.66\00:41:36.16
Put it on the screen,
you need to fill it in,
00:41:36.19\00:41:37.63
"The quality," I
like this distinction.
00:41:37.66\00:41:39.73
"The quality of
inspiration in her writings
00:41:39.76\00:41:43.06
is the same as
that of Bible prophets,
00:41:43.10\00:41:46.97
but the purpose is different."
00:41:47.00\00:41:51.07
What was her purpose?
00:41:51.11\00:41:53.17
Her purpose, he goes on,
00:41:53.21\00:41:55.51
"She expressed that her
messages were for the purpose
00:41:55.54\00:41:57.81
of leading people to
the Bible, to testify
00:41:57.85\00:42:00.15
to the centrality
and primacy of the Bible.
00:42:00.18\00:42:02.35
She wrote," these
are her words now,
00:42:02.38\00:42:04.19
"I have a work of
great responsibility to do,
00:42:04.22\00:42:06.76
to impart by pen and
voice the instruction given me,
00:42:06.79\00:42:09.82
not alone to Seventh-day
Adventists, but to the world.
00:42:09.86\00:42:13.26
I have published many
books, large and small,
00:42:13.29\00:42:16.16
and some of these
have been translated
00:42:16.20\00:42:17.53
into several languages.
00:42:17.57\00:42:18.90
This is my work, to
open the Scripture to others
00:42:18.93\00:42:21.40
as God has opened them to me."
00:42:21.44\00:42:24.77
Ladies and gentlemen, it
is the critics' inability
00:42:24.81\00:42:27.94
to differentiate between
inspiration and authority
00:42:27.98\00:42:30.85
that causes
their utter confusion
00:42:30.88\00:42:32.71
and their baseless charges
that Seventh-day Adventist
00:42:32.75\00:42:35.65
uphold the
writings of Ellen White
00:42:35.68\00:42:38.89
on an equal par
with Holy Scripture.
00:42:38.92\00:42:40.66
We do not.
00:42:40.69\00:42:44.19
In fact in 1982,
a document titled,
00:42:44.23\00:42:46.49
"The Seventh-day Adventist
Church's understanding of
00:42:46.53\00:42:48.76
Ellen White's
authority" was published.
00:42:48.80\00:42:50.67
Included in this
document are 10 affirmations
00:42:50.70\00:42:53.03
and 10 denials.
00:42:53.07\00:42:54.64
I'd like to close by
reading those with you.
00:42:54.67\00:42:56.57
They are there
on your study guide.
00:42:56.60\00:42:57.94
Well, then I'll show
you a video clip, all right?
00:42:57.97\00:43:00.31
Ten and ten, get your--
00:43:00.34\00:43:01.74
if you didn't have your
study guide in front of you
00:43:01.78\00:43:03.68
just pull it out, I
want to read these with you.
00:43:03.71\00:43:06.55
All right.
00:43:06.58\00:43:08.75
Those of you who are now
watching on the television,
00:43:08.78\00:43:12.59
you get this study
guide, it's all there.
00:43:12.62\00:43:14.42
Check it out for yourself. Okay.
00:43:14.46\00:43:17.03
This is the
Seventh-day Adventist church's
00:43:17.06\00:43:18.39
understanding of
Ellen White's authority,
00:43:18.43\00:43:19.76
here are the affirmations:
00:43:19.79\00:43:21.13
Number one, we
believe that scripture is
00:43:21.16\00:43:23.43
the divinely
revealed word of God
00:43:23.47\00:43:25.27
and is inspired
by the Holy Spirit.
00:43:25.30\00:43:27.70
Number two, we believe
that the canon of Scripture
00:43:27.74\00:43:29.94
is composed only of the 66 books
00:43:29.97\00:43:32.41
of the Old and New Testaments.
00:43:32.44\00:43:33.98
Number three, we
believe that Scripture
00:43:34.01\00:43:35.61
is the foundation of
faith and the final authority
00:43:35.64\00:43:38.11
in all matters of
doctrine and practice.
00:43:38.15\00:43:40.25
Number four, we believe that
scripture is the word of God
00:43:40.28\00:43:42.88
in human language.
00:43:42.92\00:43:44.25
Number five, we
believe that Scripture teaches
00:43:44.29\00:43:46.19
that the gift of
prophecy will be manifest
00:43:46.22\00:43:48.26
in the Christian church
after New Testament times.
00:43:48.29\00:43:51.06
Number six, we
believe that the ministry
00:43:51.09\00:43:53.13
and writings of Ellen
White were a manifestation
00:43:53.16\00:43:55.26
of the gift of prophecy.
00:43:55.30\00:43:56.67
Number seven, we
believe that Ellen White
00:43:56.70\00:43:58.83
was inspired by the Holy Spirit
00:43:58.87\00:44:00.74
and that her writings, the
product of that inspiration,
00:44:00.77\00:44:03.04
are applicable
and authoritative,
00:44:03.07\00:44:05.01
especially to
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:44:05.04\00:44:07.34
Number eight, we
believe that the purposes
00:44:07.38\00:44:09.91
of the Ellen White
writings include guidance
00:44:09.94\00:44:12.05
in understanding the
teaching of Scripture
00:44:12.08\00:44:13.75
and application
of these teachings
00:44:13.78\00:44:15.72
with prophetic urgency to
the spiritual and moral life.
00:44:15.75\00:44:18.79
Number nine, we
believe that the acceptance
00:44:18.82\00:44:20.89
of the prophetic
gift of Ellen White
00:44:20.92\00:44:22.42
is important to
the nurture and unity
00:44:22.46\00:44:24.76
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:44:24.79\00:44:26.26
And finally,
number ten, we believe
00:44:26.29\00:44:28.53
that Ellen White's
use of literary sources
00:44:28.56\00:44:30.80
and assistance finds parallels
00:44:30.83\00:44:33.23
in some of the
writings of the Bible.
00:44:33.27\00:44:35.24
Now quick on the heels,
come to these 10 denials:
00:44:35.27\00:44:39.31
Number one, we do not
believe that the quality
00:44:39.34\00:44:42.91
or degree of inspiration
in the writings of Ellen White
00:44:42.94\00:44:45.41
is different from
that of Scripture.
00:44:45.45\00:44:46.78
Number two, we do not believe
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.88
that the writings of Ellen White
00:44:48.92\00:44:50.25
are an addition to the
canon of Sacred Scripture.
00:44:50.29\00:44:52.69
Number three, we do not believe
00:44:52.72\00:44:54.89
that the writings of Ellen White
00:44:54.92\00:44:56.26
function as the
foundation and final authority
00:44:56.29\00:44:57.89
of Christian
faith as the Scripture.
00:44:57.93\00:44:59.89
Number four, we do not believe
00:44:59.93\00:45:01.56
that the writings of Ellen White
00:45:01.60\00:45:02.93
may be used as
the basis of doctrine.
00:45:02.96\00:45:04.60
Number five, we do not believe
that the study of the writings
00:45:04.63\00:45:07.77
of Ellen White
may be used to replace
00:45:07.80\00:45:09.47
the study of Scripture.
00:45:09.50\00:45:10.84
Number six, we do not
believe that the Scripture
00:45:10.87\00:45:13.41
can be understood only through
the writings of Ellen White.
00:45:13.44\00:45:16.01
Number seven, we do not believe
00:45:16.04\00:45:17.45
that the writings of Ellen White
00:45:17.48\00:45:18.81
exhaust the
meaning of Scripture.
00:45:18.85\00:45:20.75
Number eight, we do not believe
00:45:20.78\00:45:22.68
that the writings of
Ellen White are essential
00:45:22.72\00:45:24.85
for the
proclamation of the truths
00:45:24.89\00:45:26.45
of Scripture to
society at large.
00:45:26.49\00:45:28.42
Number nine, we do not believe
00:45:28.46\00:45:30.43
that the writings of Ellen White
00:45:30.46\00:45:31.79
are the product of
mere Christian piety.
00:45:31.83\00:45:34.63
And finally, number
ten, we do not believe
00:45:34.66\00:45:37.67
that Ellen White's
use of literary sources
00:45:37.70\00:45:39.93
and assistance
00:45:39.97\00:45:41.30
negates the
inspiration of her writings.
00:45:41.34\00:45:44.31
"We conclude,"
now notice the words,
00:45:44.34\00:45:46.14
"we conclude, therefore,
that a correct understanding
00:45:46.17\00:45:51.31
of the inspiration and
authority of the writings
00:45:51.35\00:45:53.98
of Ellen White
will avoid two extremes:
00:45:54.02\00:45:56.65
Extreme number one,
regarding these writings
00:45:56.69\00:45:59.39
as functioning on a canonical
level identical with scripture.
00:45:59.42\00:46:02.99
Or extreme number
two, considering them
00:46:03.02\00:46:06.36
as ordinary
Christian literature."
00:46:06.39\00:46:12.77
So what's up with these critics?
00:46:12.80\00:46:15.70
What's the point?
00:46:15.74\00:46:18.24
Listen carefully now,
anybody who has the time,
00:46:18.27\00:46:23.35
anybody who has the
time and the resources
00:46:23.38\00:46:26.01
to invest in researching
00:46:26.05\00:46:28.92
can just as conclusively
00:46:28.95\00:46:32.02
answer every other charge
00:46:32.05\00:46:35.02
leveled by the critics.
00:46:35.06\00:46:39.46
This isn't rocket science.
00:46:39.49\00:46:42.10
You can do the same.
00:46:42.13\00:46:45.13
Two charges we've just
responded to and dealt with.
00:46:45.17\00:46:51.11
By the way, my friend
Judd Lake has a website,
00:46:51.14\00:46:53.54
you jot this down, will you.
00:46:53.58\00:46:55.08
I guess it's in the study guide.
00:46:55.11\00:46:56.48
As you are listening,
jot this website down.
00:46:56.51\00:46:58.75
It's a very helpful website.
00:46:58.78\00:47:00.42
Put it on the screen for you,
00:47:00.45\00:47:01.78
www.ellenwhiteanswers.org
00:47:01.82\00:47:08.12
Cogent, clear, uncluttered,
00:47:08.16\00:47:10.66
straight to the point,
you be blessed as I was.
00:47:10.69\00:47:13.63
There's another
website, our church's official
00:47:13.66\00:47:15.00
Ellen White site,
it's www.whiteestate.org.
00:47:15.03\00:47:22.04
I want to say to
my graduate friend
00:47:22.07\00:47:23.41
who wrote me the letter.
00:47:23.44\00:47:24.77
If you're listening right now,
or you're watching right now,
00:47:24.81\00:47:26.27
you go to those websites,
you take what you've heard
00:47:26.31\00:47:28.81
and learned today.
00:47:28.84\00:47:30.18
You go to that
website, you'll be fine,
00:47:30.21\00:47:31.68
you will be fine.
00:47:31.71\00:47:33.78
What did we read last
week in 1 Thessalonians 5?
00:47:33.82\00:47:39.35
Oh, my, I am so
excited we're at the end.
00:47:39.39\00:47:41.59
What did we read last
week in 1 Thessalonians 5:19?
00:47:45.69\00:47:49.73
Test all things.
00:47:49.76\00:47:52.53
"Hold to what is good
for by their fruits--"
00:47:52.57\00:47:55.30
oh, I love this,
"for by their fruits."
00:47:55.34\00:47:58.07
You'll know, trust me.
00:47:58.11\00:48:00.04
Jesus is right,
"by their fruits."
00:48:00.08\00:48:03.41
You'll know the truth,
you will know the truth.
00:48:03.45\00:48:07.12
So here's that video
clip, one of my heroes,
00:48:07.15\00:48:09.62
he was a young
minister growing up.
00:48:09.65\00:48:12.85
He was a godly
Biblical scholar and teacher
00:48:12.89\00:48:16.26
named HMS Richards
Senior, a great man.
00:48:16.29\00:48:21.06
He preached in my
ordination service.
00:48:21.10\00:48:23.73
I was so odd, I
went up to him afterwards
00:48:23.77\00:48:25.23
and I had my preaching Bible
which was the RSV back then.
00:48:25.27\00:48:28.70
And I went up to
this godly elderly man
00:48:28.74\00:48:30.94
and asked him if he would
mind signing my preaching Bible.
00:48:30.97\00:48:34.38
And so he held it
up close to his eyes,
00:48:34.41\00:48:36.28
his glasses were as thick
as the bottom of a coke bottle
00:48:36.31\00:48:39.15
and he scribbled his signature
00:48:39.18\00:48:40.98
and then
underneath his signature
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.28
he wrote a Bible
reference, 1 Corinthians 2:2.
00:48:43.32\00:48:47.12
Do you know what that reads?
00:48:47.16\00:48:49.22
"I have determined to
know nothing among you,
00:48:49.26\00:48:52.39
except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified."
00:48:52.43\00:48:55.66
In fact I took a
hot soldering iron
00:48:55.70\00:48:59.97
and right here where I stand
every Sabbath into the wood,
00:49:00.00\00:49:03.61
I wrote the very letters
HMS Richards wrote in my Bible,
00:49:03.64\00:49:07.28
1 Corinthians 2:2 at
the foot of the cross.
00:49:07.31\00:49:14.12
So imagine my surprise
just a few days ago, no kidding,
00:49:14.15\00:49:17.29
I found out HMS
Richards is on Youtube.
00:49:17.32\00:49:20.12
Now how did that happen?
00:49:20.16\00:49:23.63
I want to show you,
00:49:23.66\00:49:25.79
I want to show
you his recollection.
00:49:25.83\00:49:28.23
When as a 15-year-old boy
he heard Ellen White preach
00:49:28.26\00:49:33.40
and he heard her pray.
00:49:33.44\00:49:35.37
It's much later in
his life as you'll see
00:49:35.40\00:49:37.84
when you see him on the screen.
00:49:37.87\00:49:39.21
Here is HMS Richards himself.
00:49:39.24\00:49:42.24
"Yes, I knew Sister White,
00:49:42.28\00:49:44.58
in this way I
heard her preach once
00:49:44.61\00:49:47.45
and saw her of course.
00:49:47.48\00:49:49.75
It was in Boulder, Colorado
at a camp meeting in 1909,
00:49:49.78\00:49:54.72
in a building with an iron roof
00:49:54.76\00:49:56.22
right at the base
of the Red Rocks there.
00:49:56.26\00:49:58.36
It's on the campus of
the University of Colorado.
00:49:58.39\00:50:02.70
And she was there, I
suppose over 200 Adventists
00:50:02.73\00:50:06.80
and maybe the rest of a
1,000 people or 800 people,
00:50:06.84\00:50:10.81
were just the
people of the town,
00:50:10.84\00:50:13.11
people of various denominations
00:50:13.14\00:50:15.14
who wanted to see
the Adventist Prophet.
00:50:15.18\00:50:17.48
I remember when
she came on the ground
00:50:17.51\00:50:20.65
in a surrey drawn by two horses
00:50:20.68\00:50:23.15
and Willy White,
her son was with her
00:50:23.18\00:50:24.92
and Miss Mc Enterfer,
her companion and nurse.
00:50:24.95\00:50:29.89
In the meeting that
night she preached to us.
00:50:29.92\00:50:33.56
I was sitting at her left hand
about, oh, 15 feet from her,
00:50:33.60\00:50:38.13
could see her plainly
of course right there.
00:50:38.17\00:50:40.10
Platform was about a
foot, foot and half high,
00:50:40.14\00:50:43.77
and she had
this big thick Bible,
00:50:43.81\00:50:45.77
she was preaching faithfully,
getting God's message.
00:50:45.81\00:50:49.64
And I was
interested, it was interesting,
00:50:49.68\00:50:52.78
she was just a dear
sweet Christian mother
00:50:52.81\00:50:56.55
or grandma telling
us what we ought to do.
00:50:56.58\00:51:00.76
Just as she started
to talk, to finish off,
00:51:00.79\00:51:02.92
it started to
rain on that iron roof,
00:51:02.96\00:51:05.33
and you could imagine.
00:51:05.36\00:51:06.70
Now remember, no
amplifiers in those days
00:51:06.73\00:51:08.60
except you carried
your amplifier with you.
00:51:08.63\00:51:11.57
And she's had her regular
preaching boys and, you know,
00:51:11.60\00:51:14.74
from this
conversational tone or voice
00:51:14.77\00:51:17.74
that she's been using, she went
into her real preaching voice.
00:51:17.77\00:51:21.41
And you could hear her
voice just like a silver bell
00:51:21.44\00:51:24.65
right through all of that
confusion because of that rain.
00:51:24.68\00:51:29.02
She could talk right
through the rain noise.
00:51:29.05\00:51:32.49
And then she
talked just about a minute
00:51:32.52\00:51:36.76
and then she
kneeled down to pray,
00:51:36.79\00:51:38.19
she told her son,
I must pray first.
00:51:38.23\00:51:41.13
Then she came over on
my side of the platform
00:51:41.16\00:51:44.20
and kneeled down and prayed,
00:51:44.23\00:51:46.63
'I'm here now,' she said,
00:51:46.67\00:51:48.64
'not our Father'
but 'oh, my Father.'
00:51:48.67\00:51:52.14
And from that moment on,
it was a personal communion
00:51:52.17\00:51:56.04
between her and
the heavenly Father.
00:51:56.08\00:51:58.61
In just a minute or two,
00:51:58.65\00:52:01.08
there seemed to
be a mighty power
00:52:01.12\00:52:02.52
come over that meeting.
00:52:02.55\00:52:03.92
I felt it out, I was just a boy,
00:52:03.95\00:52:06.82
I was the member of the church,
00:52:06.86\00:52:08.19
I've been baptized
about a year and half before
00:52:08.22\00:52:11.99
and I could feel
that power until finally
00:52:12.03\00:52:14.00
I was afraid to
look up for the fear
00:52:14.03\00:52:15.80
I'd see God standing out there.
00:52:15.83\00:52:17.50
But she was talking with Him,
she had forgotten all about us
00:52:17.53\00:52:21.97
and she was in the
presence of the Lord.
00:52:22.00\00:52:25.04
And a minute or two more went by
00:52:25.07\00:52:28.14
and that whole
crowd, you could hear them,
00:52:28.18\00:52:30.98
weeping, crying over their sin.
00:52:31.01\00:52:34.98
A tremendous revival, really,
00:52:35.02\00:52:37.42
spiritual revival,
a mighty power of God.
00:52:37.45\00:52:40.19
When she preached, God
blessed her as a preacher,
00:52:40.22\00:52:43.46
but when she began to pray,
He honored her as His prophet
00:52:43.49\00:52:46.83
before the people,
I'll never forget it."
00:52:46.86\00:52:51.23
Isn't that beautiful?
00:52:51.27\00:52:52.60
Isn't that beautiful?
00:52:52.63\00:52:54.54
Ladies and gentlemen,
what was it that Jesus said?
00:52:54.57\00:52:57.47
"By their fruits
you'll know them."
00:52:57.51\00:53:01.94
I've made--- I've
shared this with you before,
00:53:01.98\00:53:04.31
I am honored to
testify to it again.
00:53:04.35\00:53:08.95
I have read a lot of
books in my lifetime,
00:53:08.98\00:53:12.65
many, many authors, but
I stand before you today
00:53:12.69\00:53:17.06
to tell you that I
have never in my life
00:53:17.09\00:53:20.50
read from an author
00:53:20.53\00:53:23.23
who's so moved my
own heart to long,
00:53:23.26\00:53:28.74
to go deeper and
deeper with Jesus.
00:53:28.77\00:53:33.71
"By their fruits," hey,
guys, that's how it works.
00:53:33.74\00:53:38.11
"By their fruits."
00:53:38.15\00:53:40.32
The mockery and
venom of the website
00:53:40.35\00:53:42.98
on the one hand
00:53:43.02\00:53:45.15
and the passionate devotion
to Jesus on the other hand.
00:53:45.19\00:53:48.66
"By their fruits."
00:53:48.69\00:53:50.03
I rest my case,
"by their fruits,"
00:53:50.06\00:53:55.13
you will know the truth
00:53:55.16\00:53:59.33
and the truth will set you free.
00:53:59.37\00:54:02.90
I believe that
with all my heart.
00:54:02.94\00:54:04.84
When you know the truth,
00:54:04.87\00:54:07.61
it will set you free.
00:54:07.64\00:54:13.78
I want you to stand with
me, sing it one more time
00:54:13.82\00:54:16.42
that chorus, turn
your eyes upon Jesus,
00:54:16.45\00:54:19.62
look full in His wonderful face,
00:54:19.65\00:54:22.42
and the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:54:22.46\00:54:26.03
in the light of
His glory and grace.
00:54:26.06\00:54:31.23
Turn your eyes
00:54:40.31\00:54:43.78
Upon Jesus
00:54:43.81\00:54:48.55
Look full in His wonderful face
00:54:48.58\00:54:54.86
And the things of Earth
00:54:57.99\00:55:02.36
Will grow strangely dim
00:55:02.40\00:55:09.07
In the light of His
00:55:09.10\00:55:13.11
Glory and grace
00:55:13.14\00:55:20.95
Sing it quietly as a prayer.
00:55:20.98\00:55:23.35
Turn your eyes
00:55:23.39\00:55:27.86
Upon Jesus
00:55:27.89\00:55:34.20
Look full in His wonderful face
00:55:34.23\00:55:41.47
And the things of Earth
00:55:45.27\00:55:50.25
Will grow strangely dim
00:55:50.28\00:55:56.25
In the light of His
00:55:58.75\00:56:03.32
Glory and grace
00:56:03.36\00:56:08.80
And so, Father,
that's all we ask
00:56:13.74\00:56:17.77
that You will
keep our eyes on Jesus.
00:56:17.81\00:56:21.58
This is a bitter,
00:56:25.41\00:56:28.82
bitter season
in earth's history.
00:56:28.85\00:56:31.89
We're nearing the end of time
00:56:31.92\00:56:35.39
and oh, God, now more than ever
00:56:35.42\00:56:38.69
the gift, the gift
that will point us to Jesus.
00:56:38.73\00:56:44.03
Lock our eyes on our Savior,
00:56:44.07\00:56:47.57
I pray, until He comes.
00:56:47.60\00:56:51.97
Amen.
00:56:54.11\00:56:55.44
This little classic,
it was a God send to me
00:57:12.89\00:57:14.66
when I hit rock
bottom spiritually
00:57:14.70\00:57:16.73
as a graduate student
on this campus years ago.
00:57:16.77\00:57:19.53
The title became a
self-fulfilling prophecy,
00:57:19.57\00:57:21.74
Steps to Christ,
because that's precisely
00:57:21.77\00:57:25.11
what I discovered in
this short but inspiring,
00:57:25.14\00:57:27.64
and for me, life-changing book.
00:57:27.68\00:57:29.78
And I'd love for you
to experience the same,
00:57:29.81\00:57:32.11
which is why we're setting
aside a few of these books
00:57:32.15\00:57:34.05
for our viewing friends.
00:57:34.08\00:57:35.42
If you'd like your own
copy of Steps to Christ,
00:57:35.45\00:57:37.62
call our toll-free
number 877-His-Will,
00:57:37.65\00:57:40.96
just punch those two words,
His-Will on your keyboard,
00:57:40.99\00:57:43.43
877-His-Will,
and ask for the book.
00:57:43.46\00:57:45.99
If you want it in
Spanish, ask for it.
00:57:46.03\00:57:47.86
It's one of the most
translated books in the world.
00:57:47.90\00:57:50.27
Our friendly
operators are standing by 24/7
00:57:50.30\00:57:52.67
to assist you and
we'll get the book to you
00:57:52.70\00:57:54.54
as soon as possible,
straight to your address.
00:57:54.57\00:57:56.77
So why not go to
the phone right now
00:57:56.81\00:57:58.47
and see if your walk with Jesus
00:57:58.51\00:57:59.87
isn't deepened by
this spiritual classic.
00:57:59.91\00:58:02.34
It's our gift to you.
00:58:02.38\00:58:04.15
And until I see
you again next time,
00:58:04.18\00:58:05.71
may you sense the living Christ
00:58:05.75\00:58:08.22
walking beside you
every step of the way.
00:58:08.25\00:58:11.69