The world that Ellen White experienced in the 1880s was soon to change dramatically. Proestantism remained a major, if not dominant, force in American politics for a number of decades. But after the failure of national Sunday legislation in the period of 1888-1890, Catholicism retreated from being a major player in the American political scene until Vatican II and the rise of John F. Kennedy in the late 1950s. And while spiritualism has remained at the fringes of American consciousness, its role in the public square rapidly diminished after 1890. With Ellen White’s death, a new threat to the American way of life became increasingly powerful, the rise of secularism/liberalism. It offered a direct threat to the “Protestant government” of the United States that was largely taken for granted when Great Controversy was first written. Protestantism fought back during the Liberalism/Fundamental controversy, but the Scopes trial in the 1920s and the collapse of Prohibition in the early 1930s signaled the death knell of Protestant dominance in American politics. The three main threats to the American way of life in the 1880s were now supplanted by a much greater threat, that the Christian values upon which America was founded would be totally set aside in favor of a pluralistic, secular order.
Another major feature of Ellen White’s world was colonialism. Virtually the entire world was either ruled by nominally Christian powers like England, France, Spain and Germany, or deeply influenced by the economic and political power these European nations wielded. The concept of an international Sunday law was very conceivable in the colonial era. But the colonial era began to unravel in the wake of World War II, and European dominance of Africa and Asia had almost totally evaporated by the early 1960s. The world today is a very different world than the world of Ellen White in the late Nineteenth Century. And that is a serious problem for anyone who wishes to project the details of her world into the Twenty-First Century. God meets people where they are. It is reasonable to expect that a prophetic voice arising today would say at least some things that would surprise us.
The scenario Ellen White projects in Great Controversy is deeply embedded in the very specific politics and issues of the 1880s and a little after. It addresses the very things the nation at large was discussing and includes all the major political players of the time. It is not the story of some far future for the United States of America, that story is a natural extension of Ellen White’s time and place. I remind you of her own statements in that regard. What she wrote about in GC concerned “movements now in progress” (GC 573). “In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. . . .” (GC 579). What she was describing was a “soon-coming conflict” (GC 592). In fact, “The decree. . . . has already gone forth” (7 SDABC 976). And it would be enforced by “a Protestant government” (RH, December 18, 1888). The world has changed massively in the last 125 years. Like the writers of the New Testament, Ellen White did not perceive the long period of time that would come after her. In fact, there is very little in her writings that directly describes the world in which we live.
Like the biblical prophets, when Ellen White describes the future it is in the language, time, place, and circumstances of the time in which she wrote. This is illustrated by the fact that language about a national Sunday law in Congress only appears in the immediate context of a bill in the Senate to establish a national Sunday law. Before that she speaks in very general terms about Sunday legislation, language appropriate to a time in which there were many local Sunday laws, but no push for a national one. As noted earlier, there were seven editions of the Great Controversy vision and she updated each edition to reflect the changes in the world current in that time. This is exactly the pattern that you find when you look at the fulfilled prophecies of the Bible.
You will look in vain for any clear description in Ellen White’s writings of the world in which we live. There has been more change in the last hundred years than in the previous 6000, but you wouldn’t detect that in any detail in her writings. Yet you won’t find any explicit descriptions of nuclear war or nuclear power. There is no mention of computers, the internet, or cell phones. There is no mention of space travel by human means. There is no description of Communism, the two world wars, or Islamic terrorism. There is no specific description of an America that is becoming increasingly secular or post-modern. This is exactly what you would expect on the basis of fulfilled prophecy in the Bible. Prophecy was not given to satisfy our curiosity about the future. It was given to teach us how to live today. When we use prophecy for other purposes, things inevitably go wrong.
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In my ignorance, if what she says is not applicable, what is the point? Moving to Revelation 13, image to the first beast, how can it be recognised? Surely everything from here on in is going to be subjective?
As the elections get closer and the political Left and Right collide – Socialism has been exposed as an underlying ideology rearing its ugly head and actually getting a foothold in our culture – especially with the younger demographic. Thus, it is not such a stretch of the imagination that a day of rest for the good of humanity, family and the environment be set before the citizens as a humanitarian measure – after all, a day of rest would be seen as benign compared to such a radical deviation from American principles as Socialism. This day of rest would not be legally prohibited as long as it is free of a religious character. So, a “Sunday Law” for secular rest purposes is not off the table and would be even logical to many – Catholics and Sunday keeping Christians would welcome it and promote it. Secular minded citizens would most likely be in favor of it, as it would provide a day off from work.
Additionally, persecution on religious grounds is not the exception in history, it is unfortunately a very common occurrence historically and globally. It would be somewhat naïve to assume that such a problem could not arise here domestically.
Mr Paulien, in his treatise “Revisiting the Sabbath in the Book of Revelation” states that “the issue in the final crisis of earth’s history is clearly worship” (page 182). Thus, Ellen Whites statements on a Sunday Law are not unimaginable, as many Bible scholars acknowledge we are living in the “Time of the end”.
To present E Whites Sunday Law statements as “conditional” or strictly relevant for her time period weakens confidence in her writings and does a disservice to the reader when inspiration is clear on this subject.
Additionally, referring to the statement ” Yet you won’t find any explicit descriptions of nuclear war or nuclear power.” – this is irrelevant – prophecy is not to focus our attention on such things – but, it is to focus our attention on religious issues that affect God’s people. This principle also applies to why there are only 4 great empires presented in Daniel 2 – when clearly there were more than 4. Such significant and influential Empires such as Ancient China.
Below is an example of the kind of political maneuverings that most likely would be used to introduce a Sunday Law –
“In a bid to spur economic growth, outgoing Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti backed a new law that allows shops to stay open on the Sabbath.
But Sunday traditions are strong in the European nation, and the change provoked strong resistance from religious and secular groups.
The issue extends beyond Italy. In Brussels, dozens of religious groups—including the Catholic Church—unions and business associations from 27 countries have formed the ‘European Sunday Alliance’ to lobby the European Union to keep Sunday as a continent-wide day of rest, at least in principle.
Johanna Touzel, the alliance’s spokeswoman, said that setting Sunday aside is not necessarily a religious issue, and not discriminatory towards Jews and Muslims. ‘We need one day when everyone can rest—this is the origin of Shabbat. And in fact, even Muslim organizations support us.
For the Catholic Church, keeping Sundays free from shopping and work concerns is of larger consequence than the economy. ”
Read the entire article, Vatican Works to Stop Sunday Shopping in Italy
https://amazingdiscoveries.org/12.19.12-vatican-works-to-stop-sunday-shopping-in-italy
Be blessed
Mark, I like your approach above on the whole. Just one concern. I am not clear on your idea that applying conditionality Ellen White is somehow a disservice to readers “When inspiration is clear on this subject.” Isn’t inspiration clear on conditionality as well? Jer 18:7-10 and LDE 38.
Mr Pauline, conditionality is clearly a Biblical principle, as in the Biblical record of Ninevah – however, applying conditionality to every prophecy is akin to Prophetic Universalism and is not supported by scripture. The conditionality of a prophecy is dependent upon the subject matter.
Regarding the Sunday Law – Mrs Whites statements are clearly not conditional, but rather a sure expectation of a future Sunday Law – she just didnt know when that event would occur. Her following statement suggests that she did have some conviction that God would postpone a national Sunday Law so the issue could be more widely distributed to the world for a decision to be made by all people.
“We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land, and now that the movement is right upon us, we ask, What are our people going to do in the matter? … We should especially seek God for grace and power to be given His people now. God lives, and we do not believe that the time has fully come when He would have our liberties restricted. The prophet saw “four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.” Another angel, ascending from the east, cried to them, saying, “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” This points out the work we now have to do, which is to cry to God for the angels to hold the four winds until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world, and shall have proclaimed the warning against disobeying the law.” LDE 125.
Although the sunday Law movement was gaining momentum in her time, Mrs White was writing as if the Sunday Law, on a national scale, would be a future event. Why? Because she states Biblical prophecy requires it “…till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 12:3 and “until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world”. This “seal” is understood by Mrs White to be the seventh day Sabbath – which, is a “sign” that the observers belong to God – “And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I (am) the LORD your God. ” Ezekiel 20:20. Additionally, Mrs White understood that sending “missionaries to all parts of the world” would take time – placing the national Sunday Law sometime in the future.
Mrs White states:
“The Sabbath is the great test question. It is the line of demarcation between the loyal and true and the disloyal and transgressor. This Sabbath God has enjoined, and those who claim to be commandment keepers, who believe that they are now under the proclaimation of the third angels message, will see the important part the Sabbath of the fourth commandment holds in that message. It is the seal of the living God. They will not lessen the claims of the Sabbath to suit their business of convenience. – Manuscript 34, 1897.
Clearly, even by the late 1890’s – Mrs White writes that she is looking to a future fulfillment of the Sunday Law prophecy. Even as late as 1905 Mrs White is still looking for a future Sunday Law to be passed on a national scale.
“Sooner or later Sunday laws will be passed.—The Review and
Herald, February 16, 1905.
So, from Mrs Whites statements we can deduce that her expectation was that a Sunday Law would be – 1) on a national level, 2) yet a future event and 3) a global event.
However, all this said – the Sunday Law prophecy is not dependent on Mrs Whites statements, rather – her statements are grounded and dependent on Biblical prophecy. It is Biblical prophecy, specifically Revelation chapters 13 and 14, that give the Sunday Law prophecy validity and substance. To ascertain if the Sunday Law prophecy can be “conditional” – we apply the “conditionality” test. What happens if we assume that the Sunday Law was “conditional” or even fulfilled in Mrs White’s lifetime? Because the Sunday Law prophecy is anchored in scripture – we now have a Three Angels Messages problem. The Sunday Law issue is the central core of the warning given in Revelation 14. By placing the Sunday Law fulfillment in the past – you no longer have a valid prophecy in Revelation.
Consider the following texts and statement:
“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by (the means of ) those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ” Revelation 13: 14.
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive (his) mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ” Revelation 14:9.
Mrs White writes:
“In the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power,
the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence
the enforcement of Sundaykeeping in the United States would be an
enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image.—The Great
Controversy, 445, 448, 449 (1911).
So, as you can see – by promoting the Sunday Law as “conditional”, it causes confusion and undermines the Three Angels Messages in Revelation 14. Additionally, it undermines Mrs White and her writings – as it creates a conflict with Biblical prophecy found in Revelation 14.
Additionally, just because we have not seen a national Sunday Law passed for many years since written about by Mrs White – it doesnt mean it wont occur. Consider Mrs Whites following statement –
“Protestantism shall give the hand of fellowship to the Roman power. Then there will be a law against the Sabbath of God’s creation, and then it is that God will do His “strange work” in the earth.” —The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:910 (1886).
In 1999, the Protestant Lutheran church and the Catholic Church signed an agreement ending the “protest” which started with Martin Luther..
In 2014 Kenneth Copeland, along with Protestant ministers and Tony Palmer – reached out and extended an olive branch of reconciliation to Pope Francis in a video communication under the proclaimation of Tony Palmer that “the protest is over” – citing the 1999 agreement between the Protestant Lutheran church and the Catholic church.
On October 31st, 2017 – the Gaurdian, a UK news outlet reported “Catholic and Protestant leaders unite to mark start of reformation”, in which Pope Francis was quoted as saying “Catholics and Protestants were now enjoying a relationship of “true fraternity” based on mutual understanding, trust and cooperation.” He told Derek Browning, moderator of the Church of Scotland, who was visiting the Vatican as part of the Reformation commemorations, that the two traditions were “no longer … adversaries, after long centuries of estrangement and conflict”.
Not too long in the past the idea of Protestants and Catholics coming together was somewhat unbelievable considering the long held doctrinal differences that divided them for centuries. However, In light of these relatively recent events – it is now clear to see that Mrs Whites prophecy of Protestant and Catholic reconciliation is now becoming a reality. That said, it is now not difficult to imagine that a Sunday Law on a national scale is now plausible once the political desire emerges.
Hopefully, this clarifies my previous post. Thank you for your time. May the Lord bless you abundantly in truth.
Mark,
I appreciate your point of view and you may turn out right in the end. But if one takes the many shifts over the years in the Great Controversy series, I think it is clear that conditionality applies to many if not most things she says about the future. It seems to me the safer position is to retain an open mind regarding the future.
I understand the fear. How do you think the Pharisees felt when He told them that their “obvious” reading of Scripture was wrong? Things are not just subjective, there are many principles and aspects of prophecy that continue to guide us. We need read rightly, however, and that calls for course corrections every so often, not because God is unreliable, but to keep us on track. If the purpose of prophecy was certainty about the future, we are in big trouble. But that is not the purpose of prophecy. We are safe with what God has chosen to reveal.
Thank you for the reminder about the importance of context, including historical context, not just literary context. I appreciate your ministry to God’s Church.
Thank you Mark, I hope God is blessing you richly where you are.
To me all the noises I am hearing are pointing towards the unity of Church and State as well as Sunday Law as predicted by Ellen White. COVID-19 is really hastening the fulfillment of prophecy. I’m sorry Jon but I totally disagree with your analysis. Should we go by your analysis, we would then totally discard the Bible as it is actually older than Ellen White’s writing. Was it for that old world or is it for all time?
Pretty strong statements. My concern on the subject is limited to the specific issue of a national Sunday law in Congress, which Ellen White rarely mentions and only in relation to that very thing being a live issue around 1888. I don’t think we disagree on the rest. Are you suggesting that that specific prediction is immune to the principle of conditionality? On what basis would you say or think that?
I am inclined to agree with Busani. My understanding is that scripture is applicable to all generations. However as we journey through Revelation is is clear that there is a progression in the time prophecies. Some have been fulfilled and some are future, that is clear. It seems that we are sitting somewhere within Revelation 12 to Revelation 14. We are of course anxious that Jesus should come soon, no different than every generation since His ascension. Ellen White does put detail into the puzzle which seems to line up with scripture, we will have to wait and see.
But is Ellen White’s detail not subject to conditionality even though she says it is? LDE 38. I’m struggled to follow that logic.
Revelation 14:11 “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.“ i think we Need or should focus our attention to the phrase THE MARK OF HIS NAME. Talking about the name of the beast, it is ROME. This name will be used as the mark of the beast. Simply, the obvious fulfillment of this prophecy is the use of this name. (Rome) as in Roman Catholic Church. Whether you are American, Filipino, Canadian, Korean orChinese, in this faith represented by the pope you are called Roman Catholic. This name is also the manifestation of harlotry. This Church who is suppose to be Christian married to Christ is openly carrying the name of Rome universally. Proving that Sunday is the mark of the beast is casuistic. First you have to prove the Sabbath as mark of God which is not. Then jump that If the Sabbath is the mark of God, (and by the way it is not found in the Bible) therefore Sunday is the mark of the beast.
This is a great insight I appreciate it beloved ????
We should be much focus on time and place if we are to interpret the earlier writers!!