Is Ellen White the final interpreter of scripture for SDA?

[stinsonmarri]

NO! NO! NO!

Ellen White herself did not feel her authority was in biblical interpretation. She saw her role as directing/encouraging people back to honest bible study and to relationship with Jesus. She did study the Bible a lot and therefore had some helpful insights at times, but she never saw herself, nor should she be held as a final interpreter of Scripture. Scripture should be interpreted using the context and references and interpretations given in the text itself or in its cultural/historical context.

Ellen White herself did not feel her authority was in biblical interpretation. She saw her role as directing/ encouraging people back to honest bible study and to relationship with Jesus. She did study the Bible a lot and therefore had some helpful insights at times, but she never saw herself, nor should she be held as a final interpreter of Scripture. Scripture should be interpreted using the context and references and interpretations given in the text itself or in its cultural/historical context.[/QUOTE]

Beloved you are the closest to the truth except on one point, interpretation. The Bible it said:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2Pe 1:20

What EGW saw or was shown by ELOHIM you can find it in the Bible. What we forget is that knowledge was starting to increase. But the sciences were in there infancy, including Biblical history. EGW also said the she saw words that had been changed in the Bible by the then known Biblical scholars. The Protestant churches did not truly move away from the Catholic Church as did the Adventist. They mainly view the same Greek paganistic ideology including the state government. Hellenistic views and belief became the major thought exactly as Daniel Seven showed and then Revelation continued in Chapter Thirteen. The Adventist Church also was in its infancy as well. These members were studying but they also brought in with them beliefs they still had from their churches they left. Even the Book on Daniel and Revelation was still using history and beliefs that most Protestants believed during that time.

The Adventist stood firm on the Sabbath, the Investigated Judgment and most of them were against the trinity. They appeared ready to accept more light but men like Uriah Smith push against these truths and the church changed. It moved in a different direction. EGW warned them, but the church did not listen and refuse to study believing all of their views were correct. They became stubborn even when she said that only ELOHIM is INFALLIBLE, they tried to label her prophet. She constantly told them that she was not, she was a messenger that is spelled out in Acts 2:17, 18.

EGW took the views of history and Biblical scholars of the time and they were incorrect. However, EGW never said all of her writings were written in stone except for what was shown! She made it very clear if error is found it should be shown loudly and it should be. We are now at the very edge when the Time of Trouble is about to begin. There is no excuse today, the Holy days, THE SACRED NAMES, the lie about the trinity and more is known today. The shovel has dug the truth that the Bible reserved for centuries. The Dead Sea Scroll was one of the greatest finds in the world, it prove the validity of the Bible.

Finally, the Bible should be understood and you have to start by correcting words that were put in deliberately for paganistic beliefs. We have the tools now, we can receive the knowledge from on HIGH if we ask and the truth will be shown clearly!

 

[JojotheBeloved]

stinsonmarri - I'm not sure I follow everything you just said, but that's okay. I think you misunderstood me in terms of my statement about Ellen White though. From what I understand you do not believe Ellen White was a prophet or that her gift was in biblical interpretation. I wouldn't go so far as to say she wasn't a prophet, but I won't dogmatically assert that she was either. As for biblical interpretation, I think we are essentially in agreement. I do not believe she has final authority on biblical interpretation nor that she had any private or hidden knowledge (to say that would be ancient Gnostic belief). I think she studied and used available resources and recognized and effectively communicated helpful insights. Does that make sense? Or am I not communicating effectively?

 

[stinsonmarri]

stinsonmarri - I'm not sure I follow everything you just said, but that's okay. I think you misunderstood me in terms of my statement about Ellen White though. From what I understand you do not believe Ellen White was a prophet or that her gift was in biblical interpretation. I wouldn't go so far as to say she wasn't a prophet, but I won't dogmatically assert that she was either. As for biblical interpretation, I think we are essentially in agreement. I do not believe she has final authority on biblical interpretation nor that she had any private or hidden knowledge (to say that would be ancient Gnostic belief). I think she studied and used available resources and recognized and effectively communicated helpful insights. Does that make sense? Or am I not communicating effectively?

Beloved: This is what EGW said at first:

To claim to be a prophetess is something that I have never done. If others call me by that name, I have no controversy with them. But my work has covered so many lines that I cannot call myself other than a messenger, sent to bear a message from THE MASTER* to HIS people, and to take up work in any line that HE points out. 1SM p.34

She change it and made it very clear:

I have had no claims to make, only that I am instructed that I am THE MASTER'S* messenger; that HE called me in my youth to be HIS messenger,

. . . Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?--Because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of YAHSHUA*; and because my work includes much more than the word "prophet" signifies. Letter of 1904 SM p. 32

When I was last in Battle Creek, I said before a large congregation that I did not claim to be a prophetess. Twice I referred to this matter, intending each time to make the statement, "I do not claim to be a prophetess." If I spoke otherwise than this, let all now understand that what I had in mind to say was that I do not claim the title of prophet or prophetess. 1SM p. 35

I will say she was not a prophet and she made a mistake at first. She stated she have not have controversy if others thought that. She realize that was wrong and she corrected it later on. She state she was told by YAHSHUA, HIMSELF that she would be a messenger.

Let me explain why I am sure about this error the church is persistent on making this false claim. A prophet is someone who has be given by ELOHIM a vision of the past or future events, that are relevant to things dealing with appointed time. Read this:

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be THE NAME of ELOHEH FOREVER and EVER, for wisdom and might are HIS. And HE changeth set times and ages: taketh away kingdoms, and establisheth them: giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding: HE reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells in HIM. I thank YOU and praise You, O ELOH of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and has made me, know what we ask of YOU. For YOU have revealed to us the king's matter. Dan 2: 20-23

The Revelation of YAHSHUA MESSIAH, which YAHWEH gave to HIM so that HIS servants might have knowledge of the appointed time which will quickly take place and HE sent and made it clear by HIS angel to HIS servant John; Rev 1:1

If you notice what I underlined are exactly the same thing. EGW didn't see anything that was not already revealed. That is why we need the Bible and she was one of the messengers or "servants" that :might have knowledge."

In Joel and Acts this is what was given:

And it shall be afterward, I will consent the appearing of THE HOLY Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also, I will consent the appearing of THE HOLY Spirit upon MY servants, both men and women. Joe 2:28, 29

But this is that which has been spoken by the prophet Joel, And it shall be in the last days, YAHWEH says, I will bestow abundantly THE HOLY SPIRIT on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And also, I will bestow abundantly THE HOLY Spirit on MY servants and hand maids in those days, and they shall prophesy. Act 2:16

Again, I want it to be clear that Hiram Edison (that the church hardly speak about today. And he is the one not EGW, that saw in vision The Heavenly Sanctuary and the true 1844 message.), EGW, Jones and Waggoner and soon others today will provide knowledge from ELOHIM. The last prophet of all times is John and he was to write it down for ELOHIM,S servants starting in the 1800's to clearly understand the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that HE THE FATHER alone gives.

For I testify together with everyone hearing the Words of the prophecy of this Book, if anyone adds to these things, YAHWEH will add upon him the plagues having been written in this Book. And if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this prophecy, YAHWEH will take away his part from the Book of Life, and out of the Holy City, and of the things having been written in this Book. Rev 22:18, 19

This is what I was referring to and not any interpretation which means what you believe on you own. That is why we have so many churches not believing on the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of ELOHIM!

MY people perish for lack of knowledge. Because you rejected the knowledge, I also rejected you from being priest to ME. Since you have forgotten the Law of your ELOHIM, I will forget your sons, even I. Hos 4:6

I also stated that she made error due to the time, she lived and stated it:

How shall we search the Scriptures in order to understand what they teach? We should come to the investigation of ELOHIM’S Word with a contrite heart, a teachable and prayerful spirit. We are not to think, as did the Jews, that our own ideas and opinions are infallible; nor with the papists, that certain individuals are the sole guardians of truth and knowledge, that men have no right to search the Scriptures for themselves, but must accept the explanations given by the fathers of the church. We should not study the Bible for the purpose of sustaining our preconceived opinions, but with the single object of learning what ELOHIM has said.
Some have feared that if in even a single point they acknowledge themselves in error, other minds would be led to doubt the whole theory of truth. Therefore, they have felt that investigation should not be permitted, that it would tend to dissension and disunion. But if such is to be the result of investigation, the sooner it comes the better. If there are those whose faith in ELOHIM’S Word will not stand the test of an investigation of the Scriptures, the sooner they are revealed the better; for then the way will be opened to show them their error. We cannot hold that a position once taken, an idea once advocated, is not, under any circumstances, to be relinquished. There is but ONE who is INFALLIBLE--HE who is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. TM p.105

This is also where I was agreeing with you but against interpretation which are men's hypothesis or theories. We must prove all things!

Blessings!

 

[Robert Bee]

Mrs.White.
Now if you follow the Testimonies to the CHURCH then alone you are following GOD not Mrs.White.
Sure Mrs.White made errors just as I have but following what GOD told her is not following EGW.
I do limit it it the 9 volumes of the Testimonies for the CHURCH>
Mrs.White giving her OPIONS say on Divores,Marriage & remarriage is very wrong.
Trust GOD and not yourse;lf.

 

[stinsonmarri]

for now I will just put the topic. It is self explanatory.

For years, I have stated factually that EGW is not a prophet and that she along with the other pioneers made mistakes. We have to first understand that these pioneers did not understand everything which is very clear. Secondly came all came from Methodist and Baptist mostly and knowledge was just increasing. EGW spoke in Early Writings p. 220 about even the translators of the Bible had made many errors and words had been changed! We all have been condition to think a certain way even not to understand the sacredness of THE FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT NAMES. We all have been to condition that we should believe that THESE HOLY BEINGS are persons which is us or human. EGW did not believe in a trinity and she thought that THE HOLY SPIRIT came out of THE FATHER which is not correct as well. Their thoughts on the beasts of Daniel Seven were not correct because they correlate this vision with the vision of a once heathen king Nebuchadnezzar. They were wrong, however if you read TM p. 105-117 you would find they she stated clearly that the truth would be understood just before YAHSHUA would come! Now is that time! There is a lot they did not understood but they had something more valuable then us today. Faith, desire to understand with a humble spirit. Today most are lock in to tradition and have no clue of what needs to be understood today. If we did we would realize that she saw in her very first vision the downfall of the church leaving only 144,000 to finish the work. How many of you have really read Early Writings because this book and Testimony to the Ministers are the one that will bring your faith back and prepare for the coming events!!! How many have read our first Statement of Faith of 1872 which allowed us to study individually as well as collectively without accepting the leader of this Church as the Word of ELOHIM!!!!!! Do you truly know the history of the church and what Edson saw that change us to be the key to truth but we lost it. It is now time to return and realize why we were called into this marvelous light!
Happy Sabbath and be bless!

 

[reddogs]

The Holy Spirit always is the interpreter, and if she was led to write these things of the Spirit then...

John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.