I have reserved to myself 144,000 who will not bow to the image

Was Ellen G. White a prophet? Some state that since she never directly claimed to be a prophet, she was not a prophet. Does that lack of claim disqualify her from being a prophet? Some who wish to be rid of her counsel and influence are quick to quote the following statement: “I said that I did not claim to be a prophetess.” By itself, this may seem to settle the question. However, let us look at the statement in context:

“During the discourse [at Battle Creek, October 2, 1904], I said that I did not claim to be a prophetess. Some were surprised at this statement, and as much is being said in regard to it, I will make an explanation. Others have called me a prophetess, but I have never assumed that title. I have not felt that it was my duty thus to designate myself. Those who boldly assume that they are prophets in this our day are often a reproach to the cause of Christ.

“My work includes much more than this name signifies. I regard myself as a messenger, entrusted by the Lord with messages for His people.”—Letter 55, 1905. (Selected Messages, book one, pp. 35, 36.)

Ellen White said that she did not have a burden to call herself a prophet. Some assume that because there is no record of her calling herself a prophet, she may not have been a prophet. However, if we follow this reasoning, we would also reject Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi, even Paul and Jesus Christ and many others from being Bible prophets because they made no such boast. Do we reject them because they did not claim to be prophets? Amos even stated that he was not a prophet, “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit.” (Amos 7:14)

Please be assured that even though many Bible writers never claimed to be prophets, they are described in the Bible as such:

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” (Acts 2:16)

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet, ...” (Matthew 12:17)

“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas [Jonah]. And he left them, and departed.” (Matthew 16:4)

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” (Matthew 24:15)

In fact, almost every time some man or woman is described as being a prophet, the description is not given directly by the prophet, but by another, or indirectly from the prophet quoting the “word of the LORD.” Sometimes the Bible writers made note of this concerning themselves and sometimes they did not.

Today, Adventism experiences a great deal of prejudice from the world and the professed Christian churches. Yet the prejudice was even greater in the beginning of the Advent movement. Not only were those claiming to be prophets distrusted, but especially women who made such claims, and especially if they came from some “offshoot cult group” such as Seventh-day Adventists were considered. Ellen White was too smart to give ammunition to the enemies of God’s people. She did refer to herself as a messenger and noted that her work included much more than the term prophet comprehended. A study of her life clearly reveals to me that she was a prophet.

God does not give gifts without a reason. The gift of prophecy is one of the gifts of the spirit mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 4.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” (Ephesians 4:8, 11)

These gifts are “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12) God would not have given this gift and others without a need. Personally, I am spiritually and mentally weak enough that I appreciate any and all the help the Lord Jesus Christ wills to send me. What about you?

A proper understanding of Ellen White’s role should not cause us to give up the Bible or have a third canon of Scripture. She stated:

“If you had made God’s word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God’s inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings.” (Testimonies  for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 605)

Many prophets are mentioned in the Bible who wrote inspired material which was not saved for the canon of Scripture. Here are some Bible verses that support this:

“Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer.” (1 Chronicles 29:29)

“Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?” (2 Chronicles 9:29)

“Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.” (2 Chronicles 12:15)

“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.” (2 Chronicles 20:34)

“And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah.” (2 Chronicles 21:12)

Here we find mention of Nathan, Gad, Ahijah, Iddo, Shemaiah, Jehu, and even Elijah as writing inspired materials that were not placed in the Bible. I ask sincerely, Did God give these writings to be disregarded? No! Neither did He give us the gift of prophecy in the last days to be discarded.

The gift of prophecy is described in the Bible as having a special work for God’s people in the last days. In the book of Isaiah we read, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. ... And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:11, 12, 16) God is going to recover His remnant in the last days “like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” What does Hosea say about that? “And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.” (Hosea 12:13)

I believe that the gift of prophecy is not ended. Too many texts tell us this to seriously argue otherwise. (See Revelation 16:6; 18:20, 24, Joel 2, etc.) I also believe that in raising up the Advent movement, God used Ellen G. White in a remarkable manner. The gift of prophecy is noted in the book of Revelation as a characteristic of the remnant. (Revelation 12:17; 19:10) To say that it begins and ends with Ellen White would not be correct. However, to say that Ellen White did not have a special function would not be correct either. If God raised up the Advent movement, and I believe He did, then the gift of prophecy should have been manifested among the early believers. If Ellen White did not fulfill this office of the Spirit, then who did?

Allen Stump