Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP111310
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00:28 Men of faith rise up and sing
00:32 Of the great and glorious King 00:36 You are strong when you feel weak 00:40 In your brokenness complete 00:46 Shout to the north and the south 00:50 Sing to the east and the west 00:54 Jesus is Savior to all 00:58 Lord of heaven and earth 01:02 All right. Women. 01:03 Rise up women of the truth 01:08 Stand and sing to broken hearts 01:12 Who can know the healing power 01:16 Of our awesome King of love 01:22 Shout to the north and the south 01:26 Sing to the east and the west 01:30 Jesus is Savior to all 01:35 Lord of heaven and earth 01:38 All right. Everyone, rise up church. 01:40 Rise up church with broken wings 01:44 Fill this place with songs again 01:48 Of our God who reigns on high 01:52 By His grace again we'll fly 01:58 Shout to the north and the south 02:02 Sing to the east and the west 02:07 Jesus is Savior to all 02:10 Lord of heaven and earth 02:13 Lord of heaven and earth, let's sing that. 02:15 Lord of heaven and earth 02:17 One more time, Lord of heaven. 02:19 Lord of heaven and earth 02:33 Father, we are here 02:39 We feel Your Spirit 02:45 Bringing us nearer 02:48 Your face is suddenly clearer 02:55 Than all the world surrounding 03:03 Father, we are here 03:09 As You increase, Lord 03:14 We become less 03:17 Your creation living to bless You 03:25 Oh, Father, we are here 03:41 My lips will praise You 03:46 For You are holy 03:51 My voice will ever 03:55 Rise before Your throne 04:00 My heart will love You 04:04 For You are lovely 04:09 And You have called me 04:12 To become Your own 04:25 My lips will praise You 04:29 For You are holy 04:34 My voice will ever 04:38 Rise before Your throne 04:43 My heart will love You 04:47 For You are lovely 04:52 And You have called me 04:55 To become Your own 05:01 I am Your own I am Your own 05:06 And I will worship You alone 05:11 I am Your own I am Your own 05:15 I am Your child I am Your child 05:19 I am Your own 05:23 And I will worship at Your throne 05:30 I am Your own I am Your own 05:35 And I will love You 05:45 My lips will praise You 05:49 For You are holy 05:54 My voice will ever 05:59 Rise before Your throne 06:04 My heart will love You 06:09 For You are lovely 06:18 And You have called me 06:21 To become Your own 06:31 And You have called me 06:35 To become Your own 06:43 My lips will praise You 06:53 My lips will praise You 07:06 I received a letter this summer 07:08 from one of our Andrews University students. 07:10 She graduated last spring, 07:13 writes me in the summer. 07:15 I'm going to read it to you, just a few lines. 07:17 "Dear Pastor Dwight," then a couple of paragraphs, 07:20 chit-chat. 07:21 "My other reason for writing..." 07:24 Here we go, 07:25 "My other reason for writing is unfortunately 07:27 about a burden I have been dealing with this last year. 07:31 Someone close to me who left the church several years ago 07:33 has become increasingly negative about our church. 07:37 At first it was the general anger and frustration 07:39 over wrongs inflicted, I don't know what. 07:42 I felt that patience and love and encouragement 07:44 were the best response. 07:45 However, in the last year conversations 07:49 regarding our church have become increasingly more bitter 07:54 and hateful especially involving Ellen White. 08:00 My burden and heart-ache are not for the shaking 08:02 of my own faith, my trust is in Jesus. 08:05 But I am so worried about this person's hate 08:07 and their potential to discourage 08:09 and hurt those around them, 08:11 many who are also close to me and young in faith. 08:15 I feel so drained and helpless after these conversations. 08:18 Are there any books, any sermons 08:20 that address these kinds of accusations? 08:22 Should I spend my time seeking out explanations 08:25 or is it a waste of energies? 08:27 Should I just let it go and trust that God will work 08:29 everything to good? 08:31 Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. 08:33 I hope this email finds you and your family well." 08:39 Welcome to today's teaching, 08:43 "Ellen White- But What About The Critics?" 08:49 It was Abraham Heschel, the great rabbi 08:52 and scholar of the 20th century 08:53 who makes the provocative observation 08:57 in his two-volume set, "The Prophets." 09:01 I want you to read these words, 09:02 I put them on the screen for you, Abraham Heschel. 09:04 "Over the life of a prophet 09:10 words are invisibly inscribed: 09:12 All flattery abandon, ye who enter here." 09:17 Hit the pause button for a moment. 09:18 You know why? 09:21 Because you'd have to be a fool 09:23 to ever wish to be a prophet, that's why. 09:28 They ridicule you while you're alive, 09:30 they will excoriate you once you're dead. 09:33 What prophet in her right mind 09:37 would ever choose to be a prophet? 09:40 Heschel goes on, 09:42 "To be a prophet 09:44 is both a distinction and an affliction. 09:46 The mission he performs is distasteful to him 09:49 and repugnant to others. 09:51 No reward is promised him and no reward could temper 09:54 its bitterness. 09:55 The prophet bears scorn and reproach. 09:57 He is stigmatized as a madman by his contemporaries, 10:01 and by some modern scholars, as abnormal." 10:04 Crazy. 10:07 Welcome to the world of Ellen White, 10:12 who in 1883, in a letter to the editor Uriah Smith, 10:15 with striking and vulnerable candor, 10:20 writes these words. 10:21 You see them on the screen. 10:24 "Why do you remain as silent as the dead?" 10:29 She's obviously under attack. 10:31 Why isn't he saying something? 10:32 "Why do you remain as silent as the dead? 10:35 Is this the way you defend the truth? 10:37 Truth will triumph. 10:38 I expect that the raid, the attack will be made 10:41 against me till Christ comes. 10:43 Every opposer to our faith makes Mrs. White his text. 10:47 They begin to oppose the truth 10:48 and then they make a raid against me. 10:50 Why, I ask, is all this zeal against me? 10:53 I'm watched, every word I write is criticized, 10:56 every move I make is commented upon. 10:59 I leave my work and its results until we gather 11:02 about the great white throne." 11:05 I'll let God be the judge. 11:08 What did Heschel write? 11:11 "All flattery abandon ye who enter here." 11:15 Does that mean we can't investigate 11:16 and we can't challenge the writings of the prophet? 11:18 Hardly. 11:20 In 1897, Ellen White wrote, 11:22 "Every charge should be carefully investigated. 11:25 It should not be left in any uncertain way, 11:28 the people should not be left to think 11:30 that it may be or it may not be. 11:33 The people must not be left to believe a lie. 11:36 They must be undeceived." 11:40 Hence today's teaching. 11:43 "Ellen White- But What About The Critics?" 11:48 Open your Bible with me, please, 11:49 to a passage you haven't read, perhaps ever in your life. 11:54 Came across at this last week, I've been brooding on this. 11:57 I want you to take a look at this. 11:58 The Book of Ecclesiastes. 11:59 We go back to the Old Testament. 12:01 The Book of Ecclesiastes. 12:02 You didn't bring a Bible? Grab the pew Bible in front of you. 12:04 You need to see this, it's in the Bible, 12:06 you need to see it. 12:07 Ecclesiastes Chapter 12. 12:10 If you have the pew Bible, that would be page 454. 12:14 I'm in the New King James Version 12:15 which is what the pew Bible is as well. 12:17 Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, 12:19 right near the end of this pensive, 12:23 brooding reflection by the wise King Solomon 12:27 who has turned melancholy 12:32 near the end of his life. 12:34 He writes these words, Ecclesiastics 12:9, 12:38 he's talking about himself. 12:39 In this translation he calls himself the preacher. 12:41 If you have the NIV, he calls himself the teacher, 12:43 he's talking about himself. 12:45 Watch this, verse 9, Ecclesiastics 12, 12:47 "And moreover, 12:49 because the Preacher was wise," all right, 12:52 "he still taught the people knowledge. 12:55 Yes, he pondered and sought out 12:59 and set in order many proverbs." 13:02 Verse 10, "The Preacher sought to find acceptable words 13:05 and what was written was upright- words of truth." 13:12 Unbeknown to the reader, 13:14 Solomon has just described for us 13:17 how under divine inspiration, 13:19 he put the Book of Proverbs together. 13:22 You say, "Well, big deal, Dwight." 13:23 I'll tell you why this is huge. 13:26 Because as it turns out, the most common charge 13:30 of the critics against Ellen White 13:32 has everything to do with inspiration. 13:36 How did God inspire the prophet? 13:40 I want you to see this, I want you to see it 13:41 a little more clearly than you've already seen it. 13:44 Take out your study guide. 13:45 Let's do that first. Get out your study guide. 13:47 I want to write the steps down that Solomon is noting here. 13:50 Take out your study guide, please, 13:52 and we'll jot these steps down. 13:53 This is a key piece. 13:55 What about the critics? All right. 13:58 We'll let them come front and center in just a moment, 14:00 but first a little Bible teaching 14:02 that I need you to see. 14:04 Take out your study guide. Come on, ushers, let's go. 14:06 Ushers. All right, let's go. 14:09 Hold your hand up. This is a study guide 14:11 that you'll want to have. 14:12 It has information on the front and the back side. 14:15 You want this one. 14:16 Hold your hand up all the way into the balcony. 14:18 If you're watching over in the overflow right now 14:20 make sure you get the study guide, I want you to have it. 14:22 This is for you to keep, you take it home, 14:24 you reflect on it, see what you think. 14:26 And by the way those of you 14:27 who are watching on television, we're glad to have you. 14:29 You might be watching on a screen right now, 14:30 you might be watching on our campus ministry's website. 14:33 If you are, you can get the same study guide, 14:36 go to our website. 14:37 Let me put it on the screen for you. 14:39 Our website, there you see it now, 14:40 www.pmchurch.tv. 14:44 That's our website. 14:46 You're looking for a series, 14:47 the series is entitled "The Gift." 14:49 We're moving near to the end of the series. 14:52 Today happens to be part 8 of "The Gift." 14:56 And for-- Since 2 weeks ago, 15:00 we have moved in to an examination, 15:02 a prayerful examination 15:03 of the life ministry of Ellen White. 15:05 Today's teaching, 15:06 "Ellen White- But What About The Critics?" 15:08 I've already mentioned it several times. 15:09 But you want to look for that title 15:11 because underneath it says study guide. 15:12 Click on the study guide, you'll have front and back, 15:14 the identical study guide we have here. 15:16 You're gonna want the study guide, trust me. 15:18 Go to the website and get it. 15:20 All right, let's fill that study guide in. 15:22 But I want to read this one more time 15:23 so that it syncs in what we're reading. 15:25 Ecclesiastics 12, let's pick it up again, verse 9, 15:29 "And moreover, because the Preacher--" 15:30 Solomon says "because--" 15:32 Look, I don't want to say, I am wise, 15:34 but he says, so he puts it in the third person. 15:36 "But because the Preacher was wise, 15:38 he still taught the people knowledge." 15:40 My point is I've got to get God's knowledge to the people. 15:43 So how do you do that? 15:44 "He pondered and sought out and set in order--" 15:46 The NIV reads, "And arranged many proverbs." 15:50 He's gathering proverbs from all over the place. 15:53 And then what did he do with the proverbs? 15:55 Verse 10, "And then the Preacher sought 15:56 to find acceptable words." 15:58 So now he has to bring his vocabulary to bear, 16:00 what shall I say about these proverbs. 16:03 And then, what's the end product? 16:04 "And what was written was upright- words of truth." 16:10 Amazing. 16:11 So jot it down, will you, please? 16:13 Here's one of the ways divine inspiration works. 16:15 Number one, in an effort to teach the people, 16:18 that's step number one, get that down. 16:19 In an effort to teach the people divine instruction, 16:23 in an effort to teach the people. 16:25 Number two, the inspired one gathers together his sources. 16:29 That's what Solomon is doing. 16:31 He looks, he researches, he reads, 16:33 it's human research, it's human reading. 16:34 He gathers his resources together, 16:36 so that number three, he's able to grapple 16:39 to find acceptable words. 16:41 Now human vocabulary is being introduced 16:43 into this divine inspiration process, 16:46 until finally he communicates what will be words of truth. 16:52 Isn't that amazing, words of truth? 16:55 A very human process, divine human, it's together. 16:59 God lays a human instrument who searches, studies, 17:02 researches, brings the sources together, 17:03 turns it into his language, 17:05 but that language then becomes the word, 17:06 the word of truth, 17:08 which by the way is exactly how 17:10 Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs. 17:12 Because as it turns out he's not the only one 17:14 who wrote the Proverbs. 17:15 We read it and it says the Proverbs of Solomon. 17:17 Hallelujah. This is from Solomon. 17:19 No, his name is on it, but it's not all his. 17:22 He has gone to other sources and brought other sources 17:26 into his writing, never giving them credit, 17:28 he just-- he gives credit in a couple of places 17:31 as I'll show you in just a moment. 17:33 But he draws the sources together 17:35 and then the book comes out and we say it's the Proverbs-- 17:37 these are the Proverbs of Solomon. 17:38 Notice the different sources, 17:40 you have this in your study guide. 17:41 Number one, of course, they are the words of Solomon, 17:43 Chapters 1 to 22, Chapters 25 to 29, 17:46 that's all King Solomon. 17:47 But now in chapter 22, interesting, 17:50 we come upon the words of what is called "the wise one." 17:54 Who is it? 17:55 Scholars now have discovered that, 17:58 that material has striking parallels, 18:00 would you jot this down, please, 18:01 with the Egyptian book, "The Wisdom of Amenemope." 18:07 All right? 18:09 Scholars now see, he went to a pagan source actually, 18:13 pulled in what was valid and embraced it 18:17 in his inspired document, the Proverbs. 18:19 Then there's some words of unnamed wise man, a circle, 18:22 that's the shortest little section within Proverbs. 18:24 Then are the words of Agur 18:26 and he does identify this source, 18:27 Chapter 30, and then King Lemuel. 18:29 We have no idea who these people are, 18:32 but he has brought-- 18:33 they have brought the collection, 18:35 the sources together. 18:36 Now here's a point. Isn't that amazing? 18:40 Isn't that amazing? 18:41 God uses a pagan source for some of the material 18:44 in Solomon's inspired book of the Bible, the Proverbs. 18:47 Now how does this work? 18:49 Look at this, we read this last week. 18:51 2 Timothy 3:16, would you jot it down, please? 18:54 "All scripture." 18:57 The New Testament is clear and it's talking about 18:59 only the Old Testament at the time. 19:01 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." 19:06 What's going on here? 19:07 Ladies and gentlemen, keep your pen moving. 19:08 "Apparently divine inspiration allows for the inspired writer 19:12 or prophet to consult and quote non-inspired sources 19:17 for his divine revelation 19:19 without giving credit to his sources." 19:23 Apparently that works 19:25 in the divine process of inspiration. 19:27 Isn't that amazing? 19:30 The reason I bring this up at all 19:32 is because that is precisely the most repeated charge 19:35 the critics have leveled against Ellen White, 19:37 charging her with blatant plagiarism 19:39 and the use of other sources with the intent 19:41 to deceive her readers by not giving credit 19:44 to those sources just like Solomon did. 19:48 By the way, just like John did. 19:50 Did you know that, John the Revelator? 19:54 Jot this down, will you? 19:55 John the Revelator actually borrowed multiple lines 19:58 from a non-inspired source and quoted them 20:00 as if they were his own words. 20:04 Did you know that? Keep your pen moving. 20:07 What is more, he borrowed the non-inspired 20:09 author's words for some of his "I saw" declarations. 20:14 In other words, he's in vision. 20:16 What he saw in vision, 20:17 he uses the words of a non-inspired author 20:19 to describe what he saw. 20:22 Isn't that amazing? 20:25 The Book of Revelation, John repeatedly borrows, 20:28 you know what, from what book? 20:29 The Book of Enoch, or 1 Enoch. 20:32 A hundred years before John wrote, 20:34 Enoch was written. 20:36 It's part of what's called the pseudepigrapha, 20:37 the false writings. 20:39 He quotes from the false writings in Revelation. 20:44 Here's some examples, they're in your study guide. 20:46 But put them on the screen for those of you watching. 20:49 This is 1 Enoch 40:1, 20:51 notice the similarity of language, 20:54 this is Enoch. 20:55 "After that I saw a multitude beyond number 21:00 and reckoning who stood before the Lord of the Spirits." 21:04 Now see if the language is familiar, 21:06 a hundred years later, Revelation 7: 9, 21:08 "After these things I looked and behold, 21:11 a great multitude which no one could number 21:14 standing before the throne." 21:16 Of course, they're parallel. 21:18 Take a look at this one, 1 Enoch 86:1, 21:22 "And I saw and behold, a star fell from heaven." 21:27 Now does this sound familiar with the Revelation 9:1? 21:29 "And I saw a star fallen from heaven." 21:35 One list I have, 21:37 would you jot this down, please? 21:39 "It shows 22 lines from the Book of Enoch 21:41 that John borrowed in order to write Revelation, 21:45 all without credit." 21:47 So shall we declare John to be a plagiarist 21:49 and an uninspired prophet? 21:51 Would we dare? 21:53 But, of course not. 21:54 And yet when Ellen White-- Isn't this amazing, 21:58 when Ellen White does the same, 22:01 the critics rise up with a howl of foul. 22:07 When like Solomon, 22:09 she borrows from non-inspired literary sources 22:11 and sometimes like John uses those sources 22:15 to describe her "I saw" statements. 22:20 Isn't that something? 22:24 The problem with the critics and I must say this 22:28 as gently as I can and if they were sitting right here, 22:31 I would say this. 22:32 The problem with the critics-- And by the way, 22:35 I went to one of their websites this last week. 22:38 I don't hang around those sites, 22:39 but I thought I'd check it out. 22:41 I went to that website 22:43 and, oh my, with such righteous indignation 22:45 and fervor this particular critic 22:47 went after Ellen White for doing precisely 22:49 what Solomon and John did in their books. 22:52 Here's the problem with the critics, 22:55 they have an uninformed and unbiblical understanding 23:01 of divine inspiration. That's the problem 23:04 and that's why they are caught in their conundrum. 23:09 What's a biblical concept of inspiration look like? 23:12 Let me share this with you. 23:14 Jud Lake, I like the way he does this. 23:17 He's professor in the School of Religion 23:19 at Southern Adventist University. 23:20 He describes the Bible model of inspiration 23:23 and he calls it-- and by the way 23:24 this is in his new book, 23:26 "Ellen White Under Fire: 23:27 Identifying The Mistakes Of Her Critics." 23:30 Okay. 23:31 So he calls it the whole person inspiration. 23:35 In fact, you have to write it down, 23:36 I'll put it on the screen for you, fill it in, please. 23:38 "The whole person model," fill that it. 23:41 "The whole person model of inspiration 23:46 recognizes numerous modes through which the Spirit of God 23:49 worked with human beings to produce Scripture." 23:51 He talks about the mode of theophany. 23:54 You know what a theophany is? It's when God shows up. 23:56 That would be the burning bush, 23:57 Moses with the burning bush. 23:59 God doesn't use-- There's nothing between, 24:00 I'm here and I'm talking to you. 24:02 So that's the appearance of God. 24:04 He talks about the prophetic mode 24:06 which is like Daniel and John, 24:08 shown a vision and then they write it down, 24:10 just what they've been shown. 24:12 There's what he calls the verbal method. 24:15 God meets Moses on top of the mountain, and boom, 24:18 He personally speaks the Ten Commandments 24:21 and then with his own finger He carves it. 24:23 That is direct. 24:26 There's the poetic, that would be the Psalms, 24:28 there's the wisdom model, which we just looked at 24:30 with Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and so on. 24:33 But now, here's what Jud Lake is describing, 24:37 keep reading here, "One of these modes 24:39 relevant to the issue of literary borrowing," 24:42 because that's what we're examining, 24:43 that's the critics charge. 24:45 "One of these modes is that of historical research. 24:47 In this mode, the biblical author produced 24:50 inspired writings independent of dreams and visions. 24:54 He received information through research- 24:56 reading, studying, compiling, editing material 24:59 from various documents, 25:00 that will be literary borrowing, 25:01 generated by both inspired and uninspired authors. 25:05 Nevertheless," key point, 25:06 "God was providentially present 25:08 and he was supervising the entire process." 25:12 Ladies and gentlemen, that's what happened 25:13 with the gospel of Luke, 25:15 Luke tells us right at the beginning, 25:16 "Hey, by the way, I've studied all the histories 25:18 and now I'm writing a story." 25:19 That's how he did it in the Book of Acts. 25:20 That's what Solomon did, that's what John did, 25:23 that's what Paul did in quoting non-inspired sources, 25:26 weaving them in without giving any credit at all, 25:29 just weaving them in. 25:32 By the way, that's how Matthew and Luke wrote their gospels, 25:34 they borrowed heavily from Mark's Gospel 25:36 and never said a word. 25:40 That's how the whole person model of inspiration worked 25:42 with the Bible writers and I believe, 25:45 we as Seventh-day Adventist believe that, 25:48 that is indeed how it worked with Ellen White. 25:50 We believe she experienced divine inspiration 25:53 in the same manner and to the same degree 25:56 as the biblical writers did. 25:58 Does that mean we grant to her 26:00 the same authority as the Bible? 26:01 No, it does not. 26:02 I'll get to that in just a moment, 26:04 let's get back to the critics. 26:05 So how did the critics respond to this? 26:08 Well, while they might grudgingly 26:10 accept the obvious fact, you just-- it's just obvious. 26:15 Scholarship has shown, the obvious fact 26:17 that the Bible prophets and writers utilize 26:19 extra biblical non-inspired literary sources 26:21 for some of their writings, the critics are still quick 26:24 to assert that Ellen White used 26:26 way more than they did, so she's a plagiarist. 26:31 Let's check that argument out. 26:34 I'm going to go to Tim Poirier, 26:37 from the Ellen White Estate. 26:42 Put his words on the screen, Tim Poirier. 26:45 "The rebuttal from Ellen White's opponents 26:47 to this comparison is that the quantity of copying 26:51 is higher in her writings than among the Bible writers. 26:54 But the amount of borrowing is irrelevant 26:57 to the question of whether inspired writers 26:59 may legitimately use the language of other authors- 27:01 including extra-Biblical sources. 27:03 Once it is recognized that inspiration is not negated 27:07 by the use of pre-existing human sources, 27:10 who is to say what percentage 27:11 of an inspired messenger's language 27:13 must be free from such dependency." 27:16 Logically, he makes the point, we've already seen 27:20 from Ecclesiastes that's how it operates 27:23 in some occasions. 27:26 So here's the question, how much-- 27:29 come on, let's put the hard question, 27:31 how much of Ellen White's writings were borrowed? 27:36 It's a good question. It's a fair question. 27:38 Researcher Fred Veltman spent eight years 27:42 examining her writings to ascertain 27:43 the level of literary borrowing 27:45 and he wrote the following conclusion, 27:47 I'll put it on the screen for you. 27:48 "A fair assessment of the evidence should not deny 27:51 or underplay the degree of her dependence, 27:55 but neither should it overlook 27:56 or depreciate her independence." 27:59 I like this line, "The sources were her slaves, 28:04 never her master." 28:06 You get the point? 28:08 The sources don't dictate to her what to write, 28:12 they were her slaves, she worked the sources. 28:14 I tell you what, as I have reviewed 28:17 Ellen White's life ministry, 28:19 what is amazing to me is not what she borrowed, 28:24 it's what she left out and that's the key. 28:30 John borrowed but it's what he left out. 28:34 Somebody is coaching Solomon 28:36 what to take in and what to leave out. 28:38 How did Ellen White know? 28:39 From the same somebody, 28:41 the mighty third person of the God 28:42 had the Holy Spirit himself. 28:44 That's how the process works, 28:46 it's a whole person model of inspiration. 28:51 You read the critics, I tell you what, 28:53 you hear that, I saw this, 28:55 80% to 90% of her material was borrowed. 28:58 80% to 90%, are you serious? 29:01 Oh, they are. 29:04 Listen to this, Tim Poirier found these numbers 29:08 grossly inflated and all. 29:09 I'll just share some of the numbers with you. 29:11 Great Controversy, all right. 29:12 I'll say more about Great Controversy 29:13 before this series ends in just a few weeks. 29:15 Great Controversy contains 29:16 15.1% source indicated quotations 29:19 and another 5.1% of uncredited quotations, 29:22 total 20.5%. 29:24 All right, one-fifth from historians 29:25 as we'll know in just a moment. 29:27 Sketches from the Life of Paul, 29:28 12.23% borrowed material, 29:32 Steps to Christ, 6.2%. 29:34 All other books, excluding Desire of Ages, 29:36 all other books were 3% or less of borrowed material. 29:42 In fact let's let Ellen White tell us about her borrowing 29:44 because she does. 29:47 This is in her introduction to the apocalyptic classic, 29:50 The Great Controversy. 29:51 She describes her literary borrowing, 29:53 put the words on the screen for you. 29:54 "The great events," 29:55 talking about the history of the protestants, 29:57 I mean, the history of Christianity. 29:58 "The great events which have marked the progress of reform 30:01 in past ages are matters of history, 30:04 well-known universally, 30:05 acknowledged by the protestant world. 30:07 They are facts which none can gainsay. 30:10 In some cases now 30:12 where a historian has so grouped together events 30:15 as to afford, in brief, 30:16 a comprehensive view of the subject 30:18 or has summarized details in a convenient matter, 30:21 his words have been quoted. 30:24 But in some instances 30:26 no specific credit has been given 30:28 since the quotations are not given 30:30 for the purpose of citing that author as an authority 30:33 but because his statement affords a ready 30:34 and forcible presentation of the subject. 30:36 Now in narrating the experience and views of those 30:39 carrying forward the work of reform in our own time, 30:41 similar use has been made of their published works." 30:45 Now, ladies and gentlemen, let's just be honest 30:47 and right upfront here. 30:50 Today, using material from any author 30:53 without crediting the source 30:55 or without inserting quotation marks 30:58 would get you thrown out of 30:59 any university class on this campus. 31:02 Presto, pronto. Isn't that right? 31:05 It is clear today that when you use 31:08 someone else's material in your writing 31:10 you ought to give credit to whom credit is due 31:14 but it was not so in the 19th century. 31:18 In fact let me share this, Mark Twain, 31:21 you remember Mark Twain, the American humorist. 31:23 Mark Twain exclaimed, wondering out loud 31:27 if there was "Anything in any human utterance 31:30 oral or written except plagiarism." 31:34 It's all borrowed, he said. 31:36 This tells you maybe about 31:37 where he got some of his stories. 31:41 Denis Fortin, Dean of our theological seminary 31:43 here on the campus of Andrews University 31:44 and Jerry Moon, professor of Church History 31:48 have written a piece on plagiarism 31:49 and literary borrowing 31:50 for the upcoming Ellen G. White Encyclopedia. 31:54 It's supposed to come out this-- 31:55 by the end of the year. 31:56 Let me put their words on the screen, 31:58 "The practice of borrowing from other authors 32:00 without giving explicit or detailed credit 32:03 was widespread among writers of the 18th and 19th centuries. 32:07 Although by today's literary standards 32:09 this practice is unacceptable." 32:10 We are all agreeing on that. 32:11 "It forms the historical context 32:14 in Ellen White's own practice." 32:16 Now notice, "Such a practice was followed by example-- 32:19 for example, by John Wesley," the founder of the Church, 32:22 the Methodist Church that she grew up in. 32:24 "Such a practice was followed by John Wesley 32:26 in writing his book Explanatory Notes 32:28 upon the New Testament." 32:29 Now listen, this is Wesley, now we're quoting Wesley. 32:33 "'It was a doubt with me for some time,' 32:35 he wrote in the preface, 'whether I should not subjoin 32:39 to every note I received from them the name of the author 32:43 from whom it was taken. 32:44 But upon further consideration I resolved to name none.'" 32:47 I am not going to give one source. 32:49 ""That nothing might divert the mind of the reader 32:51 from keeping close to the point of view 32:53 and receiving what was spoken 32:55 only for its own intrinsic value.'" 33:01 Now Denis and Jerry, they put their finger 33:06 right on the note, they touch it right here. 33:09 Their words on the screen again, 33:10 "The real issue, however, is not whether she borrowed 33:14 without giving proper credit 33:15 but whether she borrowed in such a way 33:17 as to deceive the reader. 33:20 She has been accused of being a thief, a liar, 33:22 and an exploiter of church members 33:24 who constituted a captive market for her books." 33:29 So we got-- we have to ask the question, 33:30 did she intend to deceive her readers? 33:35 Fair question. 33:37 In the Great Controversy, for example, 33:40 Ellen White borrowed extensively 33:42 from D'Aubigne's History of The Reformation, 33:45 Wylie's History of The Waldenses, 33:48 Jane Anders' History of The Sabbath, 33:50 Uriah Smith's The Sanctuary and Its Cleansing, 33:53 even her own husband, James White's book, 33:55 The Life of William Miller. 33:57 These works were known, 33:58 familiar to her Adventist readers. 34:03 In fact in the Christmas season, 34:05 1882, she wrote a piece for the church Journal, 34:08 The Review and Herald in which, get this, 34:10 she urges her readers to purchase 34:13 D'Aubigne's History of The Reformation 34:15 for its inspiration and she went on, 34:17 so that it might provide "Something to be read 34:21 during these long winter evenings." 34:24 Now, ladies and gentlemen, let's just get this straight, 34:27 if you're a plagiarist, the last book you want 34:31 your readers to read is the book you are plagiarizing. 34:35 Would that not be true? Of course. 34:40 But she urges them to go out, buy the book, 34:42 "You'd be blessed by it," she says. 34:44 Here's another one, 1883, 34:47 six months before she comes out with her book, 34:48 Sketches From the Life of Paul, 34:51 an advertisement for Conybeare and Howson's book 34:54 The Life of Saint Paul. 34:57 And by the way, a book Denis Fortin and Jerry Moon 34:59 tell us significantly influenced her own book 35:01 with 12% of her book estimated to be borrowed 35:04 from Conybeare and Howson's. 35:05 And that appears six months before her book comes out 35:08 on The Life of Paul and that appears 35:09 in Signs of the Times Magazine 35:11 with her endorsement of their book. 35:12 These are her words now in the ad, 35:15 "I regard this book as a book of great merit 35:18 and one of rare usefulness to the earnest student 35:20 of the New Testament history." 35:23 I repeat, if you are a plagiarist, 35:29 the last book you want your readers to be reading 35:32 is the book you are plagiarizing. 35:38 But they did not consider it plagiarizing back then. 35:44 The Roman Catholic attorney was assigned the case 35:50 to examine, 35:54 was Ellen White faithful to the prevailing law 35:59 in 19th century regarding plagiarizing 36:01 and copyright infringement, patents infringement and so on. 36:05 1981, here we go now, the legal aspect of this charge 36:08 that she plagarized, was examined by 36:09 Roman Catholic attorney Vincent Ramik, 36:12 a specialist rather in patent, trademark and copyright law 36:16 in the Washington, D.C., 36:17 Law firm Diller, Ramik and Wight. 36:19 He released his 27-page legal opinion in August of that year 36:22 after spending over 300 hours 36:24 researching about a 1,000 relevant cases 36:26 in American legal history. 36:28 Now here comes the attorney's conclusions, 27-page brief. 36:31 We'll put it on the screen. 36:33 Here are some of the conclusions, 36:34 "Based upon our review," attorney Ramik. 36:37 "Based upon our review of the facts and legal precedents, 36:39 Ellen White was not a plagiarist 36:41 and her works did not constitute 36:43 copyright infringement or piracy." 36:46 Here's another conclusion, "It is impossible to imagine 36:50 that the intention of Ellen G. White 36:51 as reflected in her writings 36:53 and the unquestionably prodigious effort 36:55 involved therein was anything other 36:58 than a sincerely motivated and unselfish effort 37:01 to place the understanding of Biblical truth 37:03 in a coherent form for all to see and comprehend." 37:07 One more, "Considering all factors necessary 37:10 in reaching a just conclusion on this issue, 37:13 it is submitted that the writings of Ellen G. White 37:16 were conclusively unplagiaristic." 37:25 All right, all right. 37:28 So she wasn't a plagiarist, 37:30 but the problem with you Adventists 37:31 is you have elevated her writings to be right there, 37:34 equal with the Holy Scripture. 37:37 Oh, really? Says who? 37:40 I'll tell you who says, 37:43 you can't find that anywhere, anywhere at all. 37:44 It is one of the trumped-up charges 37:47 that the critics cannot substantiate. 37:50 I tell you what, the church I grew up in 37:54 and the church I now serve, 37:58 there is absolutely no question 38:03 on the superlative authority, 38:07 prime authority of Holy Scripture 38:10 for the life of this church 38:13 and the revelation of God's truth. 38:15 In fact our Fundamental Belief 18, 38:16 we'll put this on the screen for you, 38:17 Fundamental Belief 18, "The Bible is the standard 38:20 by which all teaching 38:22 and experience must be tested." 38:26 Ellen White herself constantly reiterated this point, 38:29 jot it down, will you, please. 38:30 This is from that-- a beautiful book 38:33 on the parables of Jesus, Christ's Object Lessons. 38:36 Jot this down. 38:37 "He, Christ taught that the word of God 38:39 was to be understood by all. 38:41 He pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority 38:45 and we should do the same. 38:48 The Bible is to be presented as the word of the infinite God," 38:51 jot this down, "as the end of all controversy." 38:54 Do you know what that means, the end of all controversy? 38:56 That means, the last word, any debate, last word, 38:59 the Holy Scripture. 39:00 "It is to be presented as the end of all controversy 39:03 and the foundation of all faith. 39:06 Do you know that means? 39:07 Bottom line, bottom line, 39:09 Holy Scripture, bottom line, last word. 39:15 Wow. 39:16 Oh, then, Dwight, that must indicate 39:19 she has no authority in your church? 39:21 Oh, my friend, you are wrong there as well, 39:24 she has plenty of authority, trust me. 39:27 Let's illustrate it this way, 39:29 when David committed adultery with Bathsheba. 39:33 You remember that, the familiar Bible story? 39:35 All right. 39:36 When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, 39:38 what was the Bible in existence at that time? 39:41 It was five books long, it was appended to 39:44 the writings of Moses. 39:45 Okay? 39:47 So when the Prophet Nathan 39:49 came striding into that throne room 39:51 and pointed his bony finger at the King and cried out, 39:54 "You are the man." 39:58 Trust me, not for one split-second 40:01 did David question the prophet's authority, 40:03 David did not retort... 40:05 'Listen Nathan, you don't have any books in the Bible 40:06 so I don't need to acknowledge your authority.' 40:09 Are you kidding? 40:10 On the spot, he breaks down in tears 40:14 before the prophet of God and confesses, 40:17 "You are absolutely right." 40:23 Jot it down, will you? 40:24 "Nathan was a non-canonical prophet, 40:27 but he had plenty of spiritual authority." 40:30 Trust me. 40:32 But let's let the illustration keep going. 40:35 So let's say that tomorrow, 40:37 tomorrow archaeologists find the book of Nathan. 40:41 Yeah, 1 Chronicles 29:29, Nathan actually wrote a book, 40:44 it never ended up in the Bible. 40:46 But tomorrow they find it, hallelujah. 40:48 Question, would that newly discovered and inspired book 40:51 become a part of our Bible canon? 40:55 No way. 40:58 Look at the words of Gerhard Pfandl. 41:00 "No, no, no, it would remain--" 41:03 If they find the Book of Nathan tomorrow, 41:05 "it would remain an inspired book 41:07 outside of the canon and if a theological statement 41:09 were found in the book it would remain an inspired 41:12 and authoritative statement outside the canon." 41:16 Outside the canon, 41:18 so it is with the writings of Ellen White. 41:20 Inspired like the ancient prophets? 41:21 Absolutely. 41:23 Canonical like the ancient prophets? 41:24 Not at all. 41:26 Authoritative like the ancient prophets? 41:28 But of course. 41:30 I love the way Merlin Burt puts it, 41:32 director of the center for Advance Research 41:34 here on campus at Andrews University. 41:36 Put it on the screen, you need to fill it in, 41:37 "The quality," I like this distinction. 41:39 "The quality of inspiration in her writings 41:43 is the same as that of Bible prophets, 41:47 but the purpose is different." 41:51 What was her purpose? 41:53 Her purpose, he goes on, 41:55 "She expressed that her messages were for the purpose 41:57 of leading people to the Bible, to testify 42:00 to the centrality and primacy of the Bible. 42:02 She wrote," these are her words now, 42:04 "I have a work of great responsibility to do, 42:06 to impart by pen and voice the instruction given me, 42:09 not alone to Seventh-day Adventists, but to the world. 42:13 I have published many books, large and small, 42:16 and some of these have been translated 42:17 into several languages. 42:18 This is my work, to open the Scripture to others 42:21 as God has opened them to me." 42:24 Ladies and gentlemen, it is the critics' inability 42:27 to differentiate between inspiration and authority 42:30 that causes their utter confusion 42:32 and their baseless charges that Seventh-day Adventist 42:35 uphold the writings of Ellen White 42:38 on an equal par with Holy Scripture. 42:40 We do not. 42:44 In fact in 1982, a document titled, 42:46 "The Seventh-day Adventist Church's understanding of 42:48 Ellen White's authority" was published. 42:50 Included in this document are 10 affirmations 42:53 and 10 denials. 42:54 I'd like to close by reading those with you. 42:56 They are there on your study guide. 42:57 Well, then I'll show you a video clip, all right? 43:00 Ten and ten, get your-- 43:01 if you didn't have your study guide in front of you 43:03 just pull it out, I want to read these with you. 43:06 All right. 43:08 Those of you who are now watching on the television, 43:12 you get this study guide, it's all there. 43:14 Check it out for yourself. Okay. 43:17 This is the Seventh-day Adventist church's 43:18 understanding of Ellen White's authority, 43:19 here are the affirmations: 43:21 Number one, we believe that scripture is 43:23 the divinely revealed word of God 43:25 and is inspired by the Holy Spirit. 43:27 Number two, we believe that the canon of Scripture 43:29 is composed only of the 66 books 43:32 of the Old and New Testaments. 43:34 Number three, we believe that Scripture 43:35 is the foundation of faith and the final authority 43:38 in all matters of doctrine and practice. 43:40 Number four, we believe that scripture is the word of God 43:42 in human language. 43:44 Number five, we believe that Scripture teaches 43:46 that the gift of prophecy will be manifest 43:48 in the Christian church after New Testament times. 43:51 Number six, we believe that the ministry 43:53 and writings of Ellen White were a manifestation 43:55 of the gift of prophecy. 43:56 Number seven, we believe that Ellen White 43:58 was inspired by the Holy Spirit 44:00 and that her writings, the product of that inspiration, 44:03 are applicable and authoritative, 44:05 especially to Seventh-day Adventists. 44:07 Number eight, we believe that the purposes 44:09 of the Ellen White writings include guidance 44:12 in understanding the teaching of Scripture 44:13 and application of these teachings 44:15 with prophetic urgency to the spiritual and moral life. 44:18 Number nine, we believe that the acceptance 44:20 of the prophetic gift of Ellen White 44:22 is important to the nurture and unity 44:24 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 44:26 And finally, number ten, we believe 44:28 that Ellen White's use of literary sources 44:30 and assistance finds parallels 44:33 in some of the writings of the Bible. 44:35 Now quick on the heels, come to these 10 denials: 44:39 Number one, we do not believe that the quality 44:42 or degree of inspiration in the writings of Ellen White 44:45 is different from that of Scripture. 44:46 Number two, we do not believe 44:48 that the writings of Ellen White 44:50 are an addition to the canon of Sacred Scripture. 44:52 Number three, we do not believe 44:54 that the writings of Ellen White 44:56 function as the foundation and final authority 44:57 of Christian faith as the Scripture. 44:59 Number four, we do not believe 45:01 that the writings of Ellen White 45:02 may be used as the basis of doctrine. 45:04 Number five, we do not believe that the study of the writings 45:07 of Ellen White may be used to replace 45:09 the study of Scripture. 45:10 Number six, we do not believe that the Scripture 45:13 can be understood only through the writings of Ellen White. 45:16 Number seven, we do not believe 45:17 that the writings of Ellen White 45:18 exhaust the meaning of Scripture. 45:20 Number eight, we do not believe 45:22 that the writings of Ellen White are essential 45:24 for the proclamation of the truths 45:26 of Scripture to society at large. 45:28 Number nine, we do not believe 45:30 that the writings of Ellen White 45:31 are the product of mere Christian piety. 45:34 And finally, number ten, we do not believe 45:37 that Ellen White's use of literary sources 45:39 and assistance 45:41 negates the inspiration of her writings. 45:44 "We conclude," now notice the words, 45:46 "we conclude, therefore, that a correct understanding 45:51 of the inspiration and authority of the writings 45:54 of Ellen White will avoid two extremes: 45:56 Extreme number one, regarding these writings 45:59 as functioning on a canonical level identical with scripture. 46:03 Or extreme number two, considering them 46:06 as ordinary Christian literature." 46:12 So what's up with these critics? 46:15 What's the point? 46:18 Listen carefully now, anybody who has the time, 46:23 anybody who has the time and the resources 46:26 to invest in researching 46:28 can just as conclusively 46:32 answer every other charge 46:35 leveled by the critics. 46:39 This isn't rocket science. 46:42 You can do the same. 46:45 Two charges we've just responded to and dealt with. 46:51 By the way, my friend Judd Lake has a website, 46:53 you jot this down, will you. 46:55 I guess it's in the study guide. 46:56 As you are listening, jot this website down. 46:58 It's a very helpful website. 47:00 Put it on the screen for you, 47:01 www.ellenwhiteanswers.org 47:08 Cogent, clear, uncluttered, 47:10 straight to the point, you be blessed as I was. 47:13 There's another website, our church's official 47:15 Ellen White site, it's www.whiteestate.org. 47:22 I want to say to my graduate friend 47:23 who wrote me the letter. 47:24 If you're listening right now, or you're watching right now, 47:26 you go to those websites, you take what you've heard 47:28 and learned today. 47:30 You go to that website, you'll be fine, 47:31 you will be fine. 47:33 What did we read last week in 1 Thessalonians 5? 47:39 Oh, my, I am so excited we're at the end. 47:45 What did we read last week in 1 Thessalonians 5:19? 47:49 Test all things. 47:52 "Hold to what is good for by their fruits--" 47:55 oh, I love this, "for by their fruits." 47:58 You'll know, trust me. 48:00 Jesus is right, "by their fruits." 48:03 You'll know the truth, you will know the truth. 48:07 So here's that video clip, one of my heroes, 48:09 he was a young minister growing up. 48:12 He was a godly Biblical scholar and teacher 48:16 named HMS Richards Senior, a great man. 48:21 He preached in my ordination service. 48:23 I was so odd, I went up to him afterwards 48:25 and I had my preaching Bible which was the RSV back then. 48:28 And I went up to this godly elderly man 48:30 and asked him if he would mind signing my preaching Bible. 48:34 And so he held it up close to his eyes, 48:36 his glasses were as thick as the bottom of a coke bottle 48:39 and he scribbled his signature 48:41 and then underneath his signature 48:43 he wrote a Bible reference, 1 Corinthians 2:2. 48:47 Do you know what that reads? 48:49 "I have determined to know nothing among you, 48:52 except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 48:55 In fact I took a hot soldering iron 49:00 and right here where I stand every Sabbath into the wood, 49:03 I wrote the very letters HMS Richards wrote in my Bible, 49:07 1 Corinthians 2:2 at the foot of the cross. 49:14 So imagine my surprise just a few days ago, no kidding, 49:17 I found out HMS Richards is on Youtube. 49:20 Now how did that happen? 49:23 I want to show you, 49:25 I want to show you his recollection. 49:28 When as a 15-year-old boy he heard Ellen White preach 49:33 and he heard her pray. 49:35 It's much later in his life as you'll see 49:37 when you see him on the screen. 49:39 Here is HMS Richards himself. 49:42 "Yes, I knew Sister White, 49:44 in this way I heard her preach once 49:47 and saw her of course. 49:49 It was in Boulder, Colorado at a camp meeting in 1909, 49:54 in a building with an iron roof 49:56 right at the base of the Red Rocks there. 49:58 It's on the campus of the University of Colorado. 50:02 And she was there, I suppose over 200 Adventists 50:06 and maybe the rest of a 1,000 people or 800 people, 50:10 were just the people of the town, 50:13 people of various denominations 50:15 who wanted to see the Adventist Prophet. 50:17 I remember when she came on the ground 50:20 in a surrey drawn by two horses 50:23 and Willy White, her son was with her 50:24 and Miss Mc Enterfer, her companion and nurse. 50:29 In the meeting that night she preached to us. 50:33 I was sitting at her left hand about, oh, 15 feet from her, 50:38 could see her plainly of course right there. 50:40 Platform was about a foot, foot and half high, 50:43 and she had this big thick Bible, 50:45 she was preaching faithfully, getting God's message. 50:49 And I was interested, it was interesting, 50:52 she was just a dear sweet Christian mother 50:56 or grandma telling us what we ought to do. 51:00 Just as she started to talk, to finish off, 51:02 it started to rain on that iron roof, 51:05 and you could imagine. 51:06 Now remember, no amplifiers in those days 51:08 except you carried your amplifier with you. 51:11 And she's had her regular preaching boys and, you know, 51:14 from this conversational tone or voice 51:17 that she's been using, she went into her real preaching voice. 51:21 And you could hear her voice just like a silver bell 51:24 right through all of that confusion because of that rain. 51:29 She could talk right through the rain noise. 51:32 And then she talked just about a minute 51:36 and then she kneeled down to pray, 51:38 she told her son, I must pray first. 51:41 Then she came over on my side of the platform 51:44 and kneeled down and prayed, 51:46 'I'm here now,' she said, 51:48 'not our Father' but 'oh, my Father.' 51:52 And from that moment on, it was a personal communion 51:56 between her and the heavenly Father. 51:58 In just a minute or two, 52:01 there seemed to be a mighty power 52:02 come over that meeting. 52:03 I felt it out, I was just a boy, 52:06 I was the member of the church, 52:08 I've been baptized about a year and half before 52:12 and I could feel that power until finally 52:14 I was afraid to look up for the fear 52:15 I'd see God standing out there. 52:17 But she was talking with Him, she had forgotten all about us 52:22 and she was in the presence of the Lord. 52:25 And a minute or two more went by 52:28 and that whole crowd, you could hear them, 52:31 weeping, crying over their sin. 52:35 A tremendous revival, really, 52:37 spiritual revival, a mighty power of God. 52:40 When she preached, God blessed her as a preacher, 52:43 but when she began to pray, He honored her as His prophet 52:46 before the people, I'll never forget it." 52:51 Isn't that beautiful? 52:52 Isn't that beautiful? 52:54 Ladies and gentlemen, what was it that Jesus said? 52:57 "By their fruits you'll know them." 53:01 I've made--- I've shared this with you before, 53:04 I am honored to testify to it again. 53:08 I have read a lot of books in my lifetime, 53:12 many, many authors, but I stand before you today 53:17 to tell you that I have never in my life 53:20 read from an author 53:23 who's so moved my own heart to long, 53:28 to go deeper and deeper with Jesus. 53:33 "By their fruits," hey, guys, that's how it works. 53:38 "By their fruits." 53:40 The mockery and venom of the website 53:43 on the one hand 53:45 and the passionate devotion to Jesus on the other hand. 53:48 "By their fruits." 53:50 I rest my case, "by their fruits," 53:55 you will know the truth 53:59 and the truth will set you free. 54:02 I believe that with all my heart. 54:04 When you know the truth, 54:07 it will set you free. 54:13 I want you to stand with me, sing it one more time 54:16 that chorus, turn your eyes upon Jesus, 54:19 look full in His wonderful face, 54:22 and the things of earth will grow strangely dim 54:26 in the light of His glory and grace. 54:40 Turn your eyes 54:43 Upon Jesus 54:48 Look full in His wonderful face 54:57 And the things of Earth 55:02 Will grow strangely dim 55:09 In the light of His 55:13 Glory and grace 55:20 Sing it quietly as a prayer. 55:23 Turn your eyes 55:27 Upon Jesus 55:34 Look full in His wonderful face 55:45 And the things of Earth 55:50 Will grow strangely dim 55:58 In the light of His 56:03 Glory and grace 56:13 And so, Father, that's all we ask 56:17 that You will keep our eyes on Jesus. 56:25 This is a bitter, 56:28 bitter season in earth's history. 56:31 We're nearing the end of time 56:35 and oh, God, now more than ever 56:38 the gift, the gift that will point us to Jesus. 56:44 Lock our eyes on our Savior, 56:47 I pray, until He comes. 56:54 Amen. 57:12 This little classic, it was a God send to me 57:14 when I hit rock bottom spiritually 57:16 as a graduate student on this campus years ago. 57:19 The title became a self-fulfilling prophecy, 57:21 Steps to Christ, because that's precisely 57:25 what I discovered in this short but inspiring, 57:27 and for me, life-changing book. 57:29 And I'd love for you to experience the same, 57:32 which is why we're setting aside a few of these books 57:34 for our viewing friends. 57:35 If you'd like your own copy of Steps to Christ, 57:37 call our toll-free number 877-His-Will, 57:40 just punch those two words, His-Will on your keyboard, 57:43 877-His-Will, and ask for the book. 57:46 If you want it in Spanish, ask for it. 57:47 It's one of the most translated books in the world. 57:50 Our friendly operators are standing by 24/7 57:52 to assist you and we'll get the book to you 57:54 as soon as possible, straight to your address. 57:56 So why not go to the phone right now 57:58 and see if your walk with Jesus 57:59 isn't deepened by this spiritual classic. 58:02 It's our gift to you. 58:04 And until I see you again next time, 58:05 may you sense the living Christ 58:08 walking beside you every step of the way. |
Revised 2016-11-28