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[Pages:150]ELLEN G. WHITE Prophet of Destiny

BY RENE NOORBERGEN

World rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be copied or reproduced in any form or manner whatever, except as provided by law, without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

This book was written to provide truthful information in regard to the subject matter covered. The author assumes full responsibility for the accuracy of all facts and quotations as cited in this book. The opinions expressed in this book are the author's personal views and interpretation of the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, and/or contemporary authors and do not necessarily reflect those of TEACH Services, Inc.

This book is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in giving sp iritual, legal, medical, or other p rofessional advice. If authoritative advice is needed, the reader should seek the counsel of a competent professional

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Copyright ? 2001 Judie D. Noorbergen ISBN-13: 978-1-57258-199-9 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1-57258-960-5 (Ebook)

Published by

TO R I N K E

A N D R A N D Y my father and my son, this book is fondly dedicated

Introduction

SIMPLICITY HAS OFTEN been called the mark of true greatness; no single word could describe Ellen G. White as accurately as this one.

Born into a family where the deeper values of life took priority over social standing, surrounded by the grueling poverty of the early 1800's and severely handicapped, she found herself elevated from mediocrity to a position of guiding leadership in a great church, her actions aided and directed by a seemingly endless number of inspired revelations.

Surrounded by the throes of a great religious awakening, she emerged from obscurity in 1844, after her first vision, and soon found herself guiding a small band of devoted religious believers through disappointments, Civil War, Reconstruction and finally the climactic years surrounding the turn of the century. [viii] Convinced through her prophecies that the world was rapidly approaching its end, she led and counseled a large segment of the religious world of her time into a deeper spiritual and social awareness. But she did more than that. Her spiritual, medical and nutritional insight, gained through more than two thousand visions and prophetic dreams, provided her with a knowledge that was in many cases more than a hundred years ahead of her time.

Medical researchers and nutritional experts still marvel at the forsightedness and accurate diagnoses of this woman, who, with only a third-grade education, managed to predict and guide health-related research to a point even beyond that which we have already reached today.

Yet, she remained humble.

Today, in a time when supernaturalism has again captured the minds of the masses through astrology and predictions forecasting calamitous events, the facts seem to indicate that even though many psychics claim to have "the answer," they solve no problems. They merely diagnose the symptoms, not the cause.

It is here that Ellen White shows her true greatness, for she goes deeper than any psychic ever has, and to confuse her inspired insight with the counsel of "spiritual seers" would be the greatest inaccuracy. Many more than ever are now turning to Ellen White, for during her lifetime and presently through her books, she not only counsels and guides, but she also points to the cause of all human misery--often illustrating it vividly by describing scenes shown to her while in vision.

Was she really a prophet? By comparing her life and work to that of the ancient prophets, and by using the tests of the ten criteria true prophets have to meet, many are convinced she was, even though she actually never boastfully laid claim to such distinction. Her introduction to a direct involvement with the prophetic power was marked by simple dignity, when, during a quiet moment of prayer, she felt taken up [ix] into heaven and brought into the presence of the heavenly host.

"As inquiries are frequently made as to my state in vision and after I come out," she once commented, "I would say that when the Lord sees fit to give me a vision, I am taken into the presence of Jesus and the Angels, and am entirely lost to earthly things. I can see no further than the angel directs me. My attention is often directed to scenes transpiring upon earth.

"At times I am carried far ahead into the future and shown what is to take place. Then again I am shown things as they have occurred in the past."1

During her lifetime, on numerous occasions, the question was asked whether she regarded herself as a prophet, and the answer was invariably the same.

"Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?" she would reply. "It is because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of Christ, and because my work includes much more than the word 'prophet' signifies."2

Exactly how much more she explained in the twenty-five million words she penned during her productive years; words now safeguarded in the vault of the Ellen G. White Estate offices in Washington, D.C.

Among the manuscripts held there are those of the thirty-seven books she wrote and published during her lifetime, and those of the thirty-two books published since her death, compiled from unpublished or out-of-print material. So tremendous is the appeal of her writings that some of her books--all hardbacks --have been sold in the millions, and have been translated into more than one hundred languages.

Taking her writings as an aid to a deeper understanding of the Bible, and to prophecy in general, it becomes quite apparent that the years ahead will be wrought in more controversy and hate than any other period in recorded history. [x]

Yet--and this is undoubtedly her strength--she not only forecasts the events, but she also points the way to escape from the final tragedy humanity is preparing for itself.

After having witnessed in vision the final events shaping the last climactic battle of the ages in true prophetic form, she described the outcome thus:

"The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness through the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love."3

And to acquaint man with the events that will move him to his unavoidable destiny, she relayed her visions.

Rene Noorbergen

Fairfax, Virginia

December, 1971

1. Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pp. 39?40. 2. The Review and Herald, July 26, 1906. 3. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 678

Contents

Introduction A Word of Appreciation 1. Psychics Versus Prophets 2. A Humble Life 3. The Enlightened Prophet 4. Science Catches Up with a Prophet 5. Unmasking the Mastermind 6. A Two-Pronged Controversy 7. Destiny Epilogue Bibliography

A Word of Appreciation

DEEPFELT APPRECIATION FOR his guidance and constructive criticism goes to Neal C. Wilson, a good friend, who, as a man with vision, greatly encouraged me in the writing of this book from the moment of its conception. His dedication to this project will always linger in my mind as a true example of sincere devotion.

Yet, encouragement and trust alone are never sufficient, and Arthur L. White, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, will always be remembered as the man who willingly placed all his knowledge and research on the subject of his grandmother at my disposal. Without him, the task would have been nigh impossible. His friendship, too, is greatly valued.

But there were others. Kenneth Wood's careful reading of the slowly developing manuscript, the advice of D. A. Delafield, and the untiring cooperation of other members of the Ellen G. White Estate also will not be forgotten. [xiv]

More than ever do I wish to acknowledge the tremendous help my wife Judie has been in the writing of this book. The endless hours she spent on revisions, editing and research, not to mention her work on the final manuscript, saved many a valuable day. If real teamwork ever produced a readable book, then this one should certainly be considered!

R. N.

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