What does the phrase Greater and Lesser light means ? Is the Spirit prophecy the Lesser light that's points to the Greater light the Holy Bible ? Did not the Bible call Christ the Greater light ? What is the correction understanding of the terms greater and lesser light ?

1. The Greater and Lesser Light
Written and Compiled by Antonio Bernard

2. Introduction
Every day brings us closer to the Final Crisis! Inspiration describes it as a
“time of trouble such as never was,” that is “soon to burst upon us as an
overwhelming surprise!”
God foreknew the intensity of this end-time conflict:
He knew that you and I would never be able to stand before Satan’s mighty
“power of force” without special assistance from the Holy Spirit.
For Satan will very shortly cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor,
free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name
of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16,17)
How thankful we should be that God has given the Spirit of Prophecy to His church
which together with the Bible will enable His people, through Christ’s power, to
prepare for and pass through the end-time crisis, and to do so with divine assurance
of victory!
For only through His Word can we be assured that Christ will stand by each
one who faithfully fulfills the divine conditions that are clearly revealed to us
through these inspired writings.
Before we continue to explore heaven’s guidelines, let us first seek the aid of
divinity:
Loving Father, it is time for us to awake from Satan’s fearful stupor which is
enveloping Thy people. Please, dear Father, open our spiritual senses so we may
comprehend the divine instruction that You have sent to us, that we may face this
coming crisis fearlessly as soldiers of the cross. We ask this in the holy name of
Jesus. Amen.
-Elder Lawrence Nelson
In this study we will be looking at what does the phrase lesser and Greater
light means when it comes down to the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy.
-Antonio Bernard

3. Table of Content
Chapter 1
The Greater and Lesser from the Bible, what does the Bible call’s the
Greater and lesser Light- Antonio Bernard, pages 4-11
Chapter 2
The lesser Light- Pastor Stephen Bohr, pages 12-20
Chapter 3
Lesser and Greater Light - Part 1 Elder Lawrence Nelson, pages 21-33
Chapter 4
Lesser and Greater Light - Part 2 Elder Lawrence Nelson, Pages 33-47

4. The Greater and Lesser from the Bible what does
the Bible call’s the Greater and lesser Light
Antonio Bernard
In Chapter one (1), We will only use two statement’s from the Spirit of prophecy
({The Great Controversy page, 598 and Christ Object Lessens, page, 69})
,everything this else will be from the Holy Bible.
The Great Controversy page, 598
God has given us His word that we may become acquainted with its teachings and
know for ourselves what He requires of us. When the lawyer came to Jesus with
the inquiry, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" the Saviour referred him to the
Scriptures, saying: "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" Ignorance will
not excuse young or old, nor release them from the punishment due for the
transgression of God's law; because there is in their hands a faithful presentation of
that law and of its principles and claims.
It is not enough to have good intentions; it is not enough to do what a man
thinks is right or what the minister tells him is right. His soul's salvation is at
stake, and he should search the Scriptures for himself. However strong may be
his convictions, however confident he may be that the minister knows what is
truth, this is not his foundation. He has a chart pointing out every waymark
on the heavenward journey, and he ought not to guess at anything. {GC
598.1}
It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the
Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to
follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing
every thought and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help we are to
form our opinions for ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God.
{GC 598.2}

5. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that
which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a
time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time
to dance;
Has God given us given us sometime for us to
identify the day time from the night time?
Genesis 1:14,16
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day
from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser
light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
What were the two lights God has given us
The greater light to rule the day-SUN
The lesser light to rule the night-MOON
Now has God lets His church into darkness has given given his Church guiding lights to
guide them and to show them where they are in time and their purpose and mission ,as
God has given us a sun and the moon ?

6. Let look at the bible, what does the sun and the
moon represent in SPIRITUAUL/BIBLICAL
TIMES AND SEASONS?
Sun-Jesus
Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the
root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Revelation 1:16
16 And he (Jesus) had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp
twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Here in Revelation 1:16, Jesus is described as the SUN
Malachi 4:2
King James Version (KJV)
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his
wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The Bible says the Jesus is the SUN/GREATER
LIGHT so what is the lesser light ?
Psalm 89:36-37
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

7. So the moon is suppose to testify about Jesus the creator of
Heaven and earth
What does the moon represents
John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of me.
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of
her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
Revelation 19:10
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy
fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
So let’s recap, the Sun is Jesus the greater light and the bible
and the Spirit of Prophecy is the lesser that points to Jesus the
Greater light.
Did God give only gave his old testament church the gift of prophecy
only or was the gift of prophecy to continue to the new testament church

8. What does the bible say?
Ephesians 4:11-14
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
“PROPHETS ARE ALSO FOR THE "EDIFYING" OF THE CHURCH. ALL THIS IS
IN ADDITION TO THE SCRIPTURES ALREADY GIVEN. SO THEN, HOW CAN
THE BIBLE SAY ALL THIS, AND IT BE "UNBIBLICAL" TO ACCEPT PROPHETS
IN THE CHURCH IN ADDITION TO THE BIBLE? NOT AT ALL.
Only if the Church ended with the apostles of the New Testament, and only if the Church
attained the full perfection EPHESIANS 4:10-14 spoke of, would there be no more need
for the gifts of the Spirit. God is not partial or discriminatory. Once the Church remains
in place today then the gifts are still relevant, and once the Bible does not change its
prophecy FOR THE LASTS DAYS in Joel 2:27-32 and Mal. 4:1,4-6, then we can expect
prophets (and healers, preachers, teachers, etc.) to still remain with the Church.
Too many who claim to believe and hold to the tenets of the Bible (as the sole/final
rule of faith for the Christian) tend to reject the notion that genuine prophets can be
in the Church, yet, apart from what was BIBLICALLY shown above, it does appear
strongly FROM THE BIBLE ITSELF that one of the identifying marks of the TRUE
people of God in the last days is for them to be blessed with “the spirit of prophecy” or
the “spirit of the prophets”, even as they are identified as being obedient to the
commandments of God (see Rev. 12:17 and Rev. 19:10 with Rev. 22: 8, 9).” -Derrick
Gillespie

9. Revelation 12 God describes his True church
A wonman in bible prophecy represents a church- Isaiah 51:16 and Jeremiah 6:2
Jeremiah 6:2
2
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
Isaiah 51:16
16
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine
hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto
Zion, Thou art my people.
Revelation 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman (Church) clothed with the sun
(Jesus), and the moon (Bible and Prophets/Spirit of Prophecy) under her feet, and upon
her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 Peter 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in
your hearts:
The day star is Jesus
Revelation 22:16
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the
root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
So the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy are given to guild and prepare us so that when
Jesus comes we shall be like him and reflect his character.

10. When Jesus comes the question is asked who shall be
able to stand ?
Revelation 6:14-17
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and
island were moved out of their places.15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men,
and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and
every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said
to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and
who shall be able to stand?
Who shall be able to stand ?
Psalm 24:4
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully.
Isaiah 33:14-15
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us
shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of
oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from
hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Psalm 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it
shall not cleave to me.

11. So Jesus is coming back for a people that looks exactly like him they
will reflect his character. So what is God’s character like?
Exodus 34:5-7
5 And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the
name of the Lord.6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The
Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,7
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will
by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and
upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
1 John 3:2-3
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but
we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he
is.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
So why has Jesus not yet come?
"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His
church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people,
then He will come to claim them as His own." {Christ Object Lessens, page 69}

12. THE LESSER LIGHT
By Pastor Stephen Bohr
Introduction: The story of “What Jesus Said.”
 Present the full SDA message from the Gospels and the book of Acts
 Because many say they are New Testament Christians
 Finding all our teachings was actually quite easy, except one: The gift of
prophecy. After much prayer and reflection on the Word of God, I finally
found the key and I want to share it with you today.
___________________________________________________________________
_____
Let’s begin our study with John the Baptist:
 John was asked if he was a prophet and he said no (John 1:19-26). If not a
prophet, then what was he? Luke 7:27: He was the messenger of the Lord
(see also, Malachi 3:1).
 John the Baptist had the testimony of Jesus (John 5:31-33; 1:15).
 John the Baptist was more than a prophet (Luke 7:26).
 John denied that he was the light (phos; John 1:6-8). His purpose was to bear
witness to the light. Yet Jesus called John a bright and shining light (luchnos:
portable lamp or candle; John 5:35). In other words, John was a lesser light
which was to lead men and women to the greater light–Jesus Christ (see
John 5:36 where Jesus actually uses the word “greater” to refer to Himself).
 But notice that the Scriptures also gave witness to Jesus (John 5:39). Thus
there are two sources which testify of Jesus: John the Baptist and the written

13. Scriptures of the Old Testament. There was a canonical and a non-canonical
source to give witness to Jesus.
 The question immediately suggests itself: Why did the people need a non-
canonical source if they had the written Scriptures of the Old Testament? Or,
even further, why would they even need a lesser light if they would soon
have the greater light in their midst? The answer is actually quite simple:
The people had fallen into gross darkness
and gone astray because of their neglect of the Scriptures during the
Intertestamental period. All kinds of false teachings and practices came in
during this period (John 1:5; Isaiah 60:1-2) They therefore needed a lesser
light to draw attention to the greater light Give the illustration of the light switch in
the tape room. A flashlight led to the light switch.
 The role of John was not to bring in new light but rather to turn the attention
of the people to the light already given. He was to awaken interest in the
study of Old Testament prophecy. In other words, the role of John was
complementary to Scripture, not supplementary.
 You see, those who claimed to be God’s people and boasted at having the
Old Testament were violating every principle of the Word of God. They
professed to be waiting for the Messiah. They professed to love God. They
claimed to have a close relationship with Him and yet they crucified Christ
because they misunderstood the Old Testament and rejected the
clarification given by the lesser light.
 We can imagine the Jews saying, “We have Moses,” but they did not
understand or practice the teachings of Moses. They boasted of their
knowledge of the Scriptures and yet did not understand them at all. John was
called to attract attention to the Word already given. (at this point, study
carefully with the congregation, John 5:39-40, 4547). I am of the firm belief
that If the Jews had understood and obeyed the writings of Moses, John
would never have been raised up by God!!!

14.  John lighted up the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. He
presented Jesus as the Lamb of God, a clear reference to the sanctuary
sacrifice and Isaiah 53. He took from the Old Testament and showed how it
was being fulfilled in Jesus. He exalted the Old Testament and made it vivid,
alive and present truth. He rebuked, reproved, was a fly in the ointment, a
pain in the neck, a speck in the eye. He was no pushover (see Matthew 11:7-
8)
 The role of John was to prepare a people for the first coming of Jesus (Luke
1:17). By revival (repentance) and reformation (bearing fruit) the people
were to wait expectantly for their bridegroom. John was the liaison or go-
between, between Jesus Christ (the groom) and Israel (the bride). He was to
prepare the way for the wedding (John 3:28-30). In New Testament times,
the friend of the bridegroom was responsible for making all the preparations
for the wedding so that all was ready when the groom should come. The
friend of the bridegroom was not to take the glory for himself. The glory was
for the groom who was marrying the bride. The best man does not want all
eyes centered on himself at the wedding. He decreases so that the
bridegroom can increase! In other words, he blends into the woodwork so
that all can see the bridegroom.
 The Old Testament had prophecies about the coming of the bridegroom to
marry his bride. The matchmaker (John the Baptist) has come to set up all
the arrangements. Yet the bride rejected her husband. By rejecting the work
of the matchmaker, they rejected the bridegroom as well. Let’s see how
John the Baptist was treated.
Matthew 11:18: He was accused of having a devil.
Luke 7:29-30: He was rejected by the leaders, especially.
Matthew 17:12-13: They knew Him not (same expression as John 1:10-
11). Because they did with John as they pleased, they also did with Jesus as
they pleased. And these were the people who claimed to go by the
Scriptures!! By rejecting the lesser light, they rejected the greater light!!

15.  Prophets are not omniscient or infallible. They were human. They grew in
their understanding of truth. John, for example, thought there would only be
one coming of the Messiah (Matthew 3:7, 10, 12). When Jesus did not
appear to measure up to his preaching, he sent a message to Jesus asking
whether He was the one to come or wether they should expect another
(Matthew 11:1-3). Was John a false prophet because he did not fully
understand the work of the Messiah? Was his work as a prophet any less
trustworthy because his knowledge and understanding were limited? After
Jesus healed the sick, etc., John finally understood!!
Now let’s turn at the life and work of Ellen G. White:
 Ellen White preferred not to be called a prophet, she claimed to be the
Messenger of the Lord (I SM 32)
 Ellen White had the Testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17; 19:10; 22:9).
 The work of Ellen White was far greater than that of a conventional prophet
(I SM 32, 34, 36).
 Ellen White was a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light,
Jesus Christ”
“Little heed is given to the Bible and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead
men and women to the greater light.” (3 SM 30).
“The religion of the Jews, in consequence of their departure from God,
consisted mostly in ceremony. John was the lesser light, which was to be
followed by a greater light. He was to shake the confidence of the people in
their traditions, and call their sins to remembrance, and lead them to
repentance; that they might be prepared to appreciate the work of Christ.”
(Review and Herald, volume 41, number 17, April 8, 1873).

16.  As with John, two sources give witness to Jesus, one canonical (the Bible)
and the other non-canonical (the writings of Ellen G. White). As with John,
the purpose of her writings is to bring attention to the written Scriptures
which had been trampled upon and misinterpreted during the dark ages. If
God’s people had studied the Word of God with the sincere desire to obey
it, Ellen White would never have been called by God. (AT THIS POINT, READ,
TESTIMONIES, VOLUME 2, P. 665).
 Why Ellen White if we have the Bible? For the same reason that the Jews
needed John even though they had the Old Testament. They did not
understand or obey it so God, in His mercy, gave them a helping hand by
simplifying and amplifying the truths already given. Ellen White is not a
source of new light but rather one who amplifies and simplifies the old light.
Example of the talk show in Albuquerque.
 Around the same time and place that God raised up Ellen White, another
person also arose who claimed to be a prophet. He purportedly found some
gold plates in Palmyra, New York written in ancient Egyptian which he
translated into English. This document is known as The Book of Mormon.
This book is referred to as “another Testament of Jesus Christ.” [why not
in contemporary English and why no manuscript trail?] It is considered a
supplement to the Word of God (along with the Pearl of Great Price and
Doctrine and Covenants). In other words, they unapoligetically affirm that
these books contain truths which cannot be found in the Bible.
 When the Latter Day Saints pay a visit, their first task is to try and convince
the prospective student that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. As the
studies continue, the Book of Mormon and the Bible are used together.
 With Seventh-day Adventist the process is reversed. The student is taught
the truth from Scripture alone and once all the doctrines have been clearly
presented from Scripture, then the Spirit of Prophecy is presented last as a
complement (not supplement) of the Bible. This is not done because the
Spirit of Prophecy is of secondary importance but rather because the
function of the writings of Ellen White is not to supplement Scripture but
rather to complement it! Ellen White magnifies, explains, amplifies

17. simplifies and hilights the great truths of Scripture but does not add any
new truth!! Ellen White is like a telescope or a microscope. The telescope
does not create stars but rather helps us see them more clearly.
 Is it just possible that many in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today who
say: “I don’t need Ellen G. White, because I have the Bible,” are really
violating every principle of God’s holy Word? The fact is that Ellen G. White
is despised by many within the church as much as was John the Baptist. In
some churches, when Ellen White is quoted, certain members cringe but
they don’t mind if Max Lucado or Martin Luther are quoted.
 Former pastors write books such as The White Lie and Ellen G. White:
Prophetess of Health and certain internet sites (for example amalgamation)
sites lambast Ellen White with vitriolic hatred, all under the pretense that
because we have the Bible, we do not need Ellen G. White!! Sounds familiar,
doesn’t it? Ellen White foresaw all of this. Notice her words in II SM 48. If
this is Satan’s very last deception, then we must be close to the end because
we are seeing this hatred now!!
 I found out something long ago and it is this: I never form an opinion of a
person or a church on the basis of what its enemies say (because the enemies
distort what they believe) or even on the basis of what their friends say
(because they often embellish the truth). For example, many say we teach
that Satan is our Savior because of the scapegoat theology. But any impartial
and fair observer will see that Azazel bears sins which have previously been
forgiven in the sanctuary. Others teach that EGW believed that we are saved
because we keep the Sabbath, clearly a false statement!! If you want to know
the truth about Ellen White, go directly to the source, read her writings for
yourself. Get your information first hand!!
 The fact is that God has raised up Ellen White to prepare God’s people for
the Second Coming as John was to prepare a people for the first coming.
Will there be as few faithful ones prepared for the Second Coming as there
were for the first coming? The book The Great Controversy is meant to map
out all the dangers we must face as we prepare to enter the heavenly
Canaan. Ellen White describes a group of Adventist who are found without

18. shelter in the time of trouble. Notice, in her own words, the reason why:
Read II SM 40.
 Ellen White was not perfect, nor omniscient nor infallible. She made
mistakes (for example, the shut door). She grew in her understanding of
truth as she progressed in her ministry (Spiritual Gift, Spirit of Prophecy,
Conflict Series). Does this make her less than a trustworthy prophet? If it
does, then John the Baptist was in the same boat!
 Final Objections: Can a woman be a prophet? Wasn’t John the last prophet?
(John 11:13). No Joel 2:21-32 and Acts 2:14-21
On occasion, other women in scripture also prophesied, but were not expressly described as
prophesying. These women include: Rachel (Gen. 30:24), Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1-10), Abigail (1
Samuel 25:29-31), Elisabeth (Luke 1:41-45), and Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55).
The Daughters of Phillip
Acts 21:8-9
On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and
entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with
him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Noadiah
Nehemiah 6:14 NLT
Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And
remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate
me.
Noadiah was a prophetess that Nehemiah didn't particularly like. Noadiah was trying in some
unclear way to thwart Nehemiah. Just like numerous men in the Bible, Noadiah attempted
to stop God's will for Israel. Noadiah is similar to Balaam the prophet who used his gifting for
evil (Numbers 22-24).
Isaiah's wife
The major prophet Isaiah considered his wife to be a prophetess.

19. Isaiah 8:3
And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD
to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
Anna
Luke 2:36
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she
was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Huldah
Kings 22:14
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the
prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the
wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her.
Deborah
Judges 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
Miriam
Micah 6:4
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage;
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
 Ellen White’s profound comprehension of prophecy:
Jesus changing His garments
The identity of the little book
What knowledge is to be increased? (Evangelists)
Iron and Clay
Order of Events of Daniel 11
How she matter of fact explains the beast, the false prophet, the wine, the
mark, the seal, etc.

20. Ellen White wrote on a broad range of subjects. Our institutions and our personal
lives would be far better if we followed her counsel in the following books:
Medical (MH, CH, CDF, MM)
Educational (ED, FCE)
Publishing (CM)
Administration of the work (TM)
Ministerial (GW)
Evangelism (EV)
Theology (Conflict Series)
Home and Marriage (AH)
Devotional life (DA)
Children (CG)
Finances (CS)
Health (MH, CH, CDF)
www.secretsunsealed.org

21. “FACING THE CRISIS”
(With the Lesser and Greater Light - Part 1) Elder
Lawrence Nelson, January 1, 2000
(Edited from original which was prepared for cassette recording. Author’s emphasis in italics. Used with permission.)
Introduction:
Every day brings us closer to the Final Crisis! Inspiration describes it as a
“time of trouble such as never was,” that is “soon to burst upon us as an
overwhelming surprise!”
God foreknew the intensity of this end-time conflict:
He knew that you and I would never be able to stand before Satan’s mighty
“power of force” without special assistance from the Holy Spirit.
For Satan will very shortly cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor,
free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name
of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16,17)
How thankful we should be that God has given the Spirit of Prophecy to His church
which together with the Bible will enable His people, through Christ’s power, to
prepare for and pass through the end-time crisis, and to do so with divine assurance
of victory!
For only through His Word can we be assured that Christ will stand by each
one who faithfully fulfills the divine conditions that are clearly revealed to us
through these inspired writings.
Before we continue to explore heaven’s guidelines, let us first seek the aid of
divinity:
Loving Father, it is time for us to awake from Satan’s fearful stupor which is
enveloping Thy people. Please, dear Father, open our spiritual senses so we may
comprehend the divine instruction that You have sent to us, that we may face this
coming crisis fearlessly as soldiers of the cross. We ask this in the holy name of
Jesus. Amen.
We will begin our study by reading from God’s book, the Bible:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that
ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no

22. prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21)
Ellen White writes concerning the Holy Spirit:
The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the
Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of God is the
standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. Isaiah
declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20)—The Great
Controversy, Introduction, p.7.
The writings of the Spirit of Prophecy have passed every test of the Holy Scriptures!
They have been proven true to the Word of God! Indeed, Ellen White magnifies the
light given by the ancient prophets, making their words clearer and more
understandable in their special application to our time. The Lord has stated through
His last-day messenger:
The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy.—
Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 30.
And, in Letter 92, 1900, we read:
The Bible must be your counselor. Study it, and the Testimonies God has
given; for they never contradict His Word.
Therefore, since the Holy Spirit is the author of both the Bible and the Spirit of
Prophecy, I’m sure you will agree with me that the primary purpose of both is to
lead men and women to our Saviour who is the light and salvation of the world!
There are two brief quotations in the Spirit of Prophecy that we frequently hear
quoted among us. But they are often taken out of context. These statements are then
misinterpreted and misrepresented, not only by individuals, but even by some of the
leaders of our church! In this present study we will search for the true meaning of
the first one of these two passages. A study of the second quotation will follow in
Part 2 of this paper.

23. The passage we will consider today is taken from the Review & Herald of January
20, 1903, and reads as follows:
Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead
men and women to the greater light.
Immediately the question must be asked: Who is the “lesser light,” and who is the
“greater light?” It is here that Satan has begun to destroy confidence in the writings
of the Lord’s servant!
Now, the best way to learn the meaning of a perplexing expression is to ask the
author what he or she meant. Surely Ellen White will explain just what the Holy
Spirit, who inspired her thought, had meant for her to convey. It will be well for us
to read this often-quoted passage in its context.
But first, there are a number of other passages in which Ellen White uses the
expressions, “the lesser light” and “the greater light.” In solving this statement these
should be helpful. We will begin with one that is found in the Spirit of Prophecy,
Vol. 2, pp 83, 84. Consider carefully her explanation of the work of John the Baptist:
The prophet John was the connecting link between the two
dispensations. He was the lesser light which was to be followed by a
greater. He was to shake the confidence of the people in their traditions,
call their sins to their remembrance, and lead them to repentance; that
they might be prepared to appreciate the work of Christ. God
communicated to John by inspiration, illuminating the understanding
of the prophet, that he might remove the superstition and darkness from
the minds of the honest Jews, which had, through false teachings, been
gathering upon them for generations.
But the least disciple who followed Christ, witnessing his miracles, and
receiving his divine lessons of instruction and the comforting words
that fell from his lips, was more privileged than John the Baptist. No
light had ever shone or ever will shine so clearly upon the mind of fallen
man, as that which emanated from the teachings and example of Jesus.
Christ and his mission had been but dimly understood and typified in
the shadowy sacrifice.…

24. Although not one of the prophets has a higher mission or great work to
perform than had John, yet he was not to see even the result of his own
labors. He was not privileged to be with Christ and witness the divine
power attending the greater light.…
Did you notice those last words —”the divine power attending” … Who? There is
no question, her answer is Christ, “the greater light.” This sentence definitely
reveals that the greater light was Christ! And who did she name as the “lesser light?”
The prophet John! In this passage she has defined both of these two terms in
unmistakable language! And as we read other passages from her writings we will
find that she will be consistent.
Now let us look at a second passage which is found in the Review & Herald, April
8, 1873. Herein Ellen White writes that John was:
…one of the greatest prophets that God had sent as a messenger to the
earth.… Christ had said of him that he was more than a prophet…[that]
“there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”
In the context of these words Ellen White continues: “John was the lesser light which
was to be followed by a greater light.” And who was that greater light who followed
John? We would all answer: JESUS!
Passing on to a third statement, we’ll turn to page 220 of The Desire of Ages:
The prophet John was the connecting link between the two
dispensations. As God’s representative, he stood forth to show the
relation of the law and the prophets to the Christian dispensation. He
was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater. The mind
of John was illuminated by the Holy Spirit, that he might shed light
upon his people; [and now notice these words:] but no other light ever
has shone or ever will shine so clearly upon fallen man as that which
emanated from the teaching and example of Jesus.
From this there can be but one conclusion: John, the lesser light, was to show the
relation of the law and the prophets of the Old Testament to Christ, the “greater
light,” who followed him.

25. And the Bible confirms Ellen White’s definitions to be correct! We read in John 1:6-
9:
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came
for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him
might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of
that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that
cometh into the world.
In John 5:35 and 36, Jesus said: He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were
willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness [light] than that
of John.… Then, in John 9:5, Jesus declared: “I am the light of the world.”
If no other light ever has shone or ever will shine so clearly as Christ, surely all the
Old as well as the New Testament prophets of the Bible were “lesser lights.” There
can be no question about this!
In a fourth passage, Ellen White speaks of the Old Testament era as a “lesser light,”
and the New Testament era as “greater light.” We quote from This Day With God,
p. 246:
With the first advent of Christ there was ushered in an era of greater
light and glory; but it would indeed be sinful ingratitude to despise and
ridicule the lesser light because a fuller and more glorious light had
dawned. Those who despise the blessings and glory of the Jewish age
are not prepared to be benefited by the preaching of the gospel.…
So, we can clearly see that Ellen White does not depart from her established
definition. Christ’s first advent ushered in a time of “greater light and glory.” God,
through the Old Testament prophets, had established the “lesser light and glory of
the Jewish age.” The purpose of this age was to establish the sanctuary services
which pointed forward to the “greater light” to be ushered in with the first advent of
Christ.
Now we are ready to discuss the passage in the Review & Herald, January 20, 1903:
From this passage it has been declared from our pulpits and books that Ellen White

26. refers to the Bible as the “greater light” and to herself and her writings as the “lesser
light.”
I refer particularly to a man-made caption: In Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 30
[copyright 1980], it clearly promotes this mistaken position. The caption reads:
Relationship of E. G. White Writings to Bible—The Lesser Light. Immediately after
this caption, the passage from the Review & Herald is printed:
Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to
lead men and women to the greater light.—Review & Herald, January
20, 1903. (Quoted in Colporteur Ministry, page 125.)
Now, let me ask you: Have you ever read this passage in its context? As we read it,
please note the purpose of this Review article. From its beginning to its ending she
is promoting the sale of [what?] her books. To whom? To the people of the world.
Why?— “to lead them to the Saviour”—the Greater Light!
Note carefully as we read this sentence in its context:
I thank my Heavenly Father for the interest that my brethren and sisters have
taken in
the circulation of Christ’s Object Lessons. By the sale of this book great
good has been accomplished, and the work should be continued. But
the efforts of our people should not be confined to this one book.… The
larger books, Patriarchs and Prophets, Great Controversy, and Desire
of Ages, should be sold everywhere. These books contain truth for this
time,—truth that is to be proclaimed in all parts of the world. Nothing
is to hinder their sale.
Many more of our larger books might have been sold if church
members had been awake to the importance of the truths these books
contain, and had realized their responsibility to circulate them. My
brethren and sisters, will you not now make an effort to circulate these
books?
She continues,

27. Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the
instruction that during her life-work God has been giving her. They
contain the precious, comforting light that God has graciously given his
servant to be given to the world. From their pages this light is to shine
into the hearts of men and women, leading them to the Saviour. The
Lord has declared that these books are to be scattered throughout the
world. There is in them truth which to the receiver is a savor of life unto
life. They are silent witnesses for God. In the past they have been the
means in his hands of convicting and converting many souls. Many
have read them with eager expectation, and, by reading them, have been
led to see the efficacy of Christ’s atonement, and to truth in its power.…
The Lord has sent His people much instruction, line upon line, precept
upon precept, here a little and there a little. Little heed is given to the
Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to
the greater light.… [Surely this is clearly stated.]
Some of Ellen White’s books were designed to be distributed widely to the public.
Why? For the reason that from their pages “light is to shine into the hearts of men
and women, leading them to the
Saviour.”
She surely expressed the same thought when, a few sentences later she said:
“The Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light,”
because people had neglected the Bible which God had given to the world for this
very purpose.
Ellen White pointed to her own writings, though they were precious and inspired, as
the “lesser light” to lead the peoples of the world to Jesus Christ—the “greater light.”
If this passage meant what is commonly believed, that the “greater light” referred to
here is the Bible, it would not be consistent with all of her other passages in which
she defines the greater light to be Christ.
Therefore, one must conclude from this article that Ellen White is not demeaning
her writings as inferior to the Bible. For since the Holy Spirit is the author of her
writings, as stated in Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 30, and since God, not Ellen
White, is the originator of her writings, as found in the Review & Herald, January
20, 1903, then who is it that is teaching that the writings of Ellen White are second-
class?

28. It is none other than the Liberals among us who are being used by Satan “to
make of none effect” the Spirit of Prophecy. Ellen White was taught by the same
Holy Spirit of God as were the ancient prophets. And if John the Baptist, the
greatest of the prophets, was a “lesser light,” surely, the Bible prophets were all
lesser lights. Christ alone is the “greater light.”
In the creation story, there is an interesting illustration which may help us to
understand the difference between the lesser and greater lights. It is found in Genesis
1:16—
And God made two great lights; the great light to rule the day, and the lesser
light to rule the night.
I like the way John Janiuk calls attention to this illustration in his book, The Great
Controversy Endgame, #3, pp. 23,24. He points out that in the context of this verse,
two questions are answered. Namely, (1) What is the greater light? The answer: the
sun that rules the day. The sun is the greater light for it has original light, or light
emanating from itself. And, (2) What is the lesser light that rules the night? The
moon. Does the moon have light in itself? NO! All the moon can do is to reflect the
light of the sun. Does this not teach an important Bible principle?
A greater light has light in itself, while a lesser light can only reflect light. A
thousand moons together could never become the greater light, because the greater
light is the original light—the sun!
Janiuk concludes that the writers of the Bible and Ellen White did not have
light in themselves. As the moon they could only reflect the original light of Jesus
Christ—THE SUN OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Spiritually speaking, Christ is the Sun of Righteousness.
The Bible promises in Malachi 4:2 that as the Sun of Righteousness, He will
arise upon us
“with healing in His wings.”
For Jesus is the Light of Life. From Desire of Ages, p. 463, I quote these beautiful
thoughts:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he
that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

29. When He spoke these words, Jesus was in the court of the temple
specially connected with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles. In the
center of this court rose two lofty standards, supporting lampstands of
great size. After the evening sacrifice, all the lamps were kindled,
shedding their light over Jerusalem. This ceremony was in
commemoration of the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert,
and was also regarded as pointing to the coming of the Messiah. At
evening when the lamps were lighted, the court was a scene of great
rejoicing.
In the illumination of Jerusalem, the people expressed their hope of the
Messiah’s coming to shed His light upon Israel. But to Jesus the scene
had a wider meaning. As the radiant lamps of the temple lighted up all
about them, so Christ, the source of spiritual light, illumines the
darkness of the world. Yet the symbol was imperfect. That great light
[here she speaks of the sun which He Himself had infused with original
light] which His own hand had set in the heavens was a truer
representation of the glory of His mission.
This same thought is expressed in Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, p.
54:
The sun rising in the heavens is the representative of Him who is the life
and light of all that he has made.…
But let us never forget that man has a part to act in the salvation of the world. For
Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.” But humanity has no light in itself. Men
are likened, not to the sun, but to the moon. Man can only reflect the light of Jesus.
Listen as I quote this from Mount of Blessings, p. 40:
Humanity has in itself no light. Apart from Christ we are like an
unkindled taper, like the moon when her face is turned away from the
sun; we have not a single ray of brightness to shed into the darkness of
the world. But when we turn toward the Sun of Righteousness, when
we come in touch with Christ, the whole soul is aglow with the
brightness of the divine presence.

30. Christ’s followers are to be more than a light in the midst of men. They
are the light of the world.…
As in the moon, all human beings are “lesser lights,” whether they be prophet,
priest, or king. However, when men turn their faces toward Christ, and connect
themselves to Him, they can reflect His light to the world.
I quote the following from This Day With God, p. 93:
It is the privilege of the Christian to connect with the Source of light, and
through this living connection become the light of the world.
As the light of the sun is light and life and blessing to all that live, so
should Christians, by their good works, by their cheerfulness and
courage, be the light of the world. As the light of the sun chases away
the shades of night and pours its glories on valleys and hills, so will the
Christian reflect the Sun of Righteousness which shines on him.
Isn’t that beautiful?
Oh, what a privilege to reflect the light that shines from the “Sun of Righteousness!”
The book, That I May Know Him, p. 341, advises us:
O be sure you receive your illumination from the Source of all light. He is the
great central Light of the universe of heaven and the great Light of the world.
May this beautiful counsel be fulfilled in each and every one of us:
The princely dignity of the Christian character will shine forth as the
sun, and the beams of light from the face of Christ will be reflected
upon those who have purified themselves even as He is pure.
Always remember that “The Sun of Righteousness has risen. Christ our
righteousness is shining in brightness upon us” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 932).
Beloved, Christ does this for us because He loves us!
We read further, this time in Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1118:

31. Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it.” It is the purchase of His
blood.
The divine Son of God is seen walking amid the seven golden
candlesticks. Jesus Himself supplies the oil to these burning lamps. He
it is that kindles the flame. “In him was life; and the life was the light
of men.”
No candlestick, no church, shines of itself. From Christ emanates all its light.
Again, in Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 249, we are promised:
The trials may be severe, but look to Jesus every moment—not to
struggle, but to rest in His love. He careth for you. [I like that!]
We know that as trials press closer and closer, the hope grows stronger.
The beams of the Sun of Righteousness shall shine into your heart with
their healing power. Look beyond the clouds to the brightness, even the
light of the Sun of
Righteousness.…
Now with these glorious truths before us, we can better comprehend the damage
being done to the church when through misunderstandings, or various means, the
writings of Ellen White are downgraded as a “lesser light” to the Bible. Satan
understands the tremendous blessing and encouragement that the Testimonies are to
God’s church when they are treasured and studied by its members. I fear this
misunderstanding is one way among others that Satan is seeking to undermine the
ministry of God’s messenger to the Remnant Church so that eventually her writings
will become of none effect in the lives of many.
For, if Satan can downgrade the Spirit of Prophecy, by this and other implications,
so that the Testimonies are neglected—left on our shelves to collect dust, he knows
that God’s people may not detect his final deceptions—deceptions that the Spirit of
Prophecy not only points out clearly, but also tells us how to avoid. Never forget
that, if possible, Satan would have all of us perish!
Consider carefully this quotation from Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 48:

32. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the
testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the people
perish” (Prov. 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways
and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s
remnant people in the true testimony.
Oh, friend, let us not despise the last-day “lesser light,” or regard Ellen White’s
writings as inferior words from God.
I must be honest with you. During my 60 years of ministry for the Lord I have
constantly used both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy in my preaching to
Seventh-day Adventists and in all of my tape ministry. For I have always believed
that both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy originated from the same source of
authority—the Holy Spirit!
Now, one more important thought: In the beginning, when Christ created this world,
He set His healing light upon this void and shapeless earth. God said, “Let there be
light, and there was light. And the evening and the morning were the first day”
(Genesis 1:3,5). On that first day there was no light from the sun or the moon—they
were not created until the fourth day. But “there was light”! Who was that light? It
was Jesus, the Creator, Who was that “light,” and in the earth made new, there will
come a time when in the New Jerusalem there will be no need of “light” from the
sun or the moon, for we read in Revelation 21:23:
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it:
for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Jesus was, He now is, and ever will be the Sun of Righteousness. Our Greater Light
forever! Oh, what a Saviour, praise His name!
I appeal to you in the name of our Lord and Master: Let us face the coming crisis
with absolute assurance of victory in Christ, because we have accepted the Spirit of
Prophecy and the Bible as the lesser lights which lead us to the Great Light—the
Sun of Righteousness, Jesus Christ Who alone is able to save us.
Let us pray —

33. Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this positive information that encourages
us to believe without question in the writings of Ellen White and the Bible as both
authored by Thy Holy Spirit.
Please give us the courage to read, study and obey all of the teachings in these
two inspired sources that Thou hast given that we may fully understand what is so
soon to come upon the world.
We thank Thee for the promise of Thy dear Son: “To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in His throne.” For we ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
In Part 2 of this paper, we will discuss the second passage from the Spirit of
Prophecy which is often quoted out of context and misused, one which can have
disastrous results insofar as God’s people are concerned!

34. FACING THE CRISIS”
(With the Lesser and Greater Light - Part 2)
Elder Lawrence Nelson, February 1, 2000
Introduction:
In Part 1, we spoke of two brief quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy that
are often taken out of context, misunderstood, and therefore misused. The one we
presented is found in the Review & Herald, June 20, 1903. It reads:
Little heed is given to the Bible and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead
men and women to the greater light.
In Part 1 we read references where Ellen White clearly defines for us the meaning
of these two terms: All prophets, she clarifies (including Bible prophets and Ellen
White) are “lesser lights,” leading us to Christ who alone is the “greater light.” As
the moon reflects light from the sun, so a prophet having no light in himself or
herself, can only reflect light from the Sun of Righteousness. Who is Christ? —the
light of life! (See Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, pp. 83, 84.)
Before I introduce you to the second brief passage, let us pray:
Oh, loving Father, we beseech Thee to open our understanding to Thy
heavenly truth. Fill us with Thy Holy Spirit with an unquenchable thirst to be fed
from Thy “lesser lights,” and be prepared to meet the “greater light”—Jesus, our
Sun of Righteousness. May we thus be ready to meet Thy soon-coming without fear.
This we ask in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Now let us identify the inspired statement under consideration. I will quote it as it is
found in Prophets and Kings, p. 626:
The words of the Bible, and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit.
As we near the end in this Final Crisis, Satan seems more determined than ever
before to keep the Spirit of Prophecy from being presented to God’s remnant people!
An examination of this sentence in its context clearly reveals that she is not here
referring to the pulpits of Seventh-day Adventist churches, but to those times when
SDA ministers/workers stand before the professed Christians of the world. Read for

35. yourself in Prophets and Kings, pp. 623-627, and it will become very apparent
which pulpits are referred to.
Time will permit us to read but a few thoughts from pp. 625, 626:
Between the laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah will come the last
great conflict of the controversy between truth and error. Upon this
battle we are now entering.… Many have come to deny doctrines which
are the very pillars of the Christian faith. The great facts of creation as
presented by the inspired writers, the fall of man, the atonement, the
perpetuity of the law—these all are practically rejected by a large share
of the professedly Christian world.…
I continue reading:
Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as
an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by
diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its
precepts.… God calls for a revival and a reformation. The words of the Bible
and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit. But the Bible has been
robbed of its power, and the result is seen in a lowering of the tone of spiritual
life. In many sermons of today there is not that divine manifestation which
awakens the conscience and brings life to the soul.… Let the word of God
speak to the heart. Let those who have heard only tradition and human
theories and maxims, hear the voice of Him who can renew the soul into
eternal life.
We might ask: Was Ellen White speaking of SDA churches when she said, “Many
have come to deny doctrines which are the very pillars of the Christian faith?” She
proceeds to name which pillars she is referring to:
The great facts of creation as presented by the inspired writers, the fall
of man, the atonement, the perpetuity of the law —these all are
practically rejected by a large share of the professedly Christian world.

36. She cannot be including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, because true SDAs do
believe in “the great facts of creation as presented by the inspired writers, in the fall
of man, the atonement, and the perpetuity of the law.” “God calls for a revival and
a reformation.” To accomplish this, when teaching these professed Christians, she
says, “The words of the Bible and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit.”
Please note that Ellen White does not say from our pulpits, but “from the pulpit.”
How sad that some pastors of large churches have used this brief sentence to keep
God’s people from hearing the Spirit of Prophecy. After retiring, I was once a church
elder of a very large church in Southern California. In this church of some 1,200
members the pastor instructed his board of elders that they were never to use the
Spirit of Prophecy from his pulpit. He then quoted this statement we have just read.
Certainly, when speaking before an audience made up of professed Christians and
unbelievers, it is not proper to use the writings of Ellen White. We have this counsel
in Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 669:
I stated that some had taken an unwise course; when they had talked
their faith to unbelievers, and the proof had been asked for, they had
read from my writings, instead of going to the Bible for proof. It was
shown me that this course was inconsistent, and would prejudice
unbelievers against the truth. The Testimonies can have no weight with
those who know nothing of their spirit. They should not be referred to
in such cases.
So, as a pastor, when I give Bible studies to non-believers, and in my evangelistic
meetings when I preach, I have always proved every statement from the Bible. This
is in keeping with Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 29:
In public labor do not make prominent, and quote that which Sister White has
written, as authority to sustain your positions. To do this will not increase
faith in the testimonies. Bring your evidences, clear and plain, from the Word
of God. A “Thus saith the Lord” is the strongest testimony you can possibly
present to the people.
We might also mention that when speaking before “professed Christians of the
world [or before any other group for that matter], ministers should never deliver
sermons consisting of stories or anecdotes, or the gospel according to Time

37. Magazine, etc., just to entertain them. Ellen White declares, “Let those who have
heard only traditions and human theories and maxims” hear “the words of the Bible
and the Bible alone!” —Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 40.
We conclude that for very good reasons it is improper to use the writings of Ellen
White in public meetings, such as evangelistic campaigns or when giving someone
a Bible study, or even when having a discussion with unbelievers or members of the
worldly churches.
Now that we have noted when it is not proper to use the Spirit of Prophecy, let us
find the answer to the question: When is it proper?
Turning to the pages of the Spirit of Prophecy, we will quickly observe that
on many occasions the Lord instructed Ellen White to send testimonies to be read
from our pulpits, not only in our churches, but in our camp meetings.
Let me list a few examples:
Speaking of the Illinois camp meeting, from Battle Creek Letters, p. 49 (also
in Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 27), I quote:
When I went to Colorado I was so burdened for you that, in my weakness, I
wrote (in
September 1881) many pages to be read at your camp meeting. Weak
and trembling, I arose at three o’clock in the morning to write to you.
God was speaking through clay.…
But the document was entirely forgotten; the camp meeting passed, and it
was not read until the General Conference.
In his biography of Ellen White, Arthur White comments that this testimony arrived
from Ellen White during the middle of the Illinois camp meeting, and that there was
no excuse for the leaders having neglected to read it as requested.
Thus we recognize that it is not only in our day that some SDA leaders avoid, if
possible, the reading of the testimonies of God’s Spirit from the pulpits of our
churches. Ellen White faced this same problem. Please note that she had felt such a
great urgency that this testimony be read in that camp meeting that, though ill, she
arose at 3:00 A.M. to write it. But, alas, it was not read.

38. It is recorded in Manuscript 8, pp. 250 and 296, that she sent two large
manuscripts to be read at the Avondale, Australia, camp meeting. So this was not a
singular practice of hers.
In addition to sending testimonies to the camp meetings, the Lord instructed her to
send testimonies to the churches to be read to the congregations. Two such
testimonies which she sent to the Battle Creek, Michigan, church are preserved for
us today in Testimonies, Vol. 5, pages 45-84. Even though the Lord instructed her
to send these testimonies, once again she had some problem. Her request was
ignored for several weeks. I quote from Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 62:
Dear Brethren and Sisters in Battle Creek:
I understand that the testimony which I sent to Bro. _______, with the
request that it be read to the church, was withheld from you for several
weeks after it was received by him. Before sending that testimony my
mind was so impressed by the Spirit of God that I had no rest day or
night until I wrote to you.
Once again she felt such a great urgency to get this testimony to the church that she
had no rest day or night. But alas! Despite her feelings of urgency, her first testimony
was withheld for weeks. Among other things it contained the following counsel
found in Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 61. She points out here that there was a problem in
the church. I quote:
Many of our younger ministers, and some of more mature experience,
are neglecting the word of God, and also despising the testimonies of
his Spirit. [And I add, we can surely see this today.] They do not know
what the testimonies contain, and do not wish to know. They do not
wish to discover and correct their defects of character.
The next testimony she sent to Battle Creek to be read to the church, contained a
variety of counsels. Her main burden was to call them to repentance. She told them
they were spiritually dead, needed to crucify self, repent and be converted. That the
church was corrupt. Speaking directly to them, she continued, “‘Your sins have
separated you from God.’ You must lay aside every besetting sin.” Then she warned:
“If you continue on in your present spiritual state, nothing but evil can be prophesied
against you.”

39. These testimonies from Ellen White answer our question, Is it proper to use the
Spirit of Prophecy in our pulpits?
If the Lord requested that the testimonies of the Spirit of Prophecy rebuking
sin, etc., be read from the pulpits in our churches in her day—surely it is equally
proper in our day! Why would it not be proper to read counsel from the Lord in our
churches and at our camp meetings—NOW—when it is undoubtedly even more
urgently needed than it was in the 1880s?
We conclude that it is proper to use the writings of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy
together in our church, namely:
(1) in the Sabbath School
(2) in the divine service
(3) in prayer groups
I quote: “Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies
simplified the great truths already given, and in his own chosen way brought them
before the people, to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left
without excuse.” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 665)
So let us not be fearful to stand behind the pulpit and read from the Spirit of
Prophecy. Who knows better how to give counsel than does the Lord?
Now we turn from these illustrations in modern Israel to a similar illustration from
ancient Israel. For the purposes of this illustration, however, we will not consider
Jeremiah as an ancient prophet, but as a modern living prophet—which indeed he
was at the time of this graphic illustration which is recorded in Jeremiah 36:1-8, 18-
23:
And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of
Judah,
that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Take thee a
roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto
thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from
the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose
to do unto them; and they may return every man from his evil way; that
I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

40. Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from
the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had spoken
unto him, upon a roll of a book. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch,
saying, I am shut up: I cannot go into the house of the Lord: therefore
go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth,
the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lord’s house upon
the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah
that come out of their cities. It may be they will present their
supplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil
way: for great is the anger and the fury that the Lord hath pronounced
against this people. And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all
that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the
words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.
I quote again, beginning with verse 18:
Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me
with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. Then said the
princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man
know where ye be. And they went in to the king into the court, but they
laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the
words in the ears of the king.
So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama
the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in
the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month: and there was
a fire on the hearth burning before him. And it came to pass, that when
Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and
cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed
in the fire that was on the hearth.
These verses have illustrated two points: that the Lord commissions a prophet to
write a message, with the request that it be read in the church in the ears of the
people (in this case, the church was the temple). It also reveals the attitude of this
leader as he rejected the testimony God had sent to awaken himself and his people

41. to repentance that they might receive forgiveness and salvation. In anger, the king
burned Jeremiah’s testimony in the fire!
There is a very startling statement concerning our church pastors which the Lord has
sent to us today—to His modern Israel. It is found in Testimonies to Ministers, pp.
409, 410. Let us not overlook that there are times when apostasy is so great that such
startling pronouncements as this are needed. I quote:
Unsanctified ministers are arraying themselves against God. They are
praising Christ and the god of this world in the same breath.… Let the sin
of deceit and false witness be entertained by a church that has had great
light, great evidence, and that church will discard the message the Lord has
sent, and receive the most unreasonable assertions and false suppositions
and false theories. Satan laughs at their folly, for he knows what truth is.
Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their
hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. If doubts and unbelief
are cherished, [then note what will happen:] the faithful ministers will
be removed from the people who think they know so much.…
In Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 77, we will read a passage that continues this same subject:
Who knows whether God will not give you up to the deceptions you
love? Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm, and true
may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful
churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training under the
hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard-
bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry,
Peace, peace, when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom weep, but
now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my paper
as I write. It may be that ere long all prophesying among us will be at
an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer disturb
their carnal slumbers.
What a picture! Are not these predictions being fulfilled today?
If Ellen White were shown in vision some of the new SDA churches that are
being “planted” by the NAD—NOW—how could she keep from weeping? How
could she keep the tears from blinding her eyes? Many of these new churches are

42. typical celebration churches. Church leaders may deny this fact, but nonetheless
they have all the right earmarks of such apostasy. The noise they make with their
“music” and shouting and dancing would surely make Jesus Himself weep!
There is no doubt about it; through the servant of the Lord, God had predicted that
this very type of satanic influence would be brought into our midst “just before the
close of probation.” Consider the following sad prediction from Selected Messages,
Vol. 2, p. 36:
Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with
drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become
so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And
this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit! [Did you get that?]
The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam
of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious
methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating,
ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship
of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the
work which last January was represented to me would be brought into
our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind
in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses
and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The
powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a
carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working.
Speaking of our present celebration churches, not only is their “bedlam of noise”
that they call “music” an abomination, but also their senseless dramatic skits and
other drama that are a part of their so-called “worship” services. All such drama is
plainly condemned in the word of the Lord! God has counseled: “Let nothing of a
theatrical nature be introduced.” (Review & Herald, February
14, 1907)
If we had read these startling warnings personally, and also to the people from the
pulpits of our churches and at our camp meetings, we may have been spared from
engaging in this terrible apostasy! By our neglect do we not, as did the king of Israel,
virtually burn the writings sent from God in the fire?

43. While we have had celebration churches in our midst for several decades by
“planting” such churches, it seems that the leaders are now making a more
determined effort than ever to promote this type of worship.
In an official church paper, the North Pacific Union Gleaner, August 1999,
we find the following advertisement for the OASIS CHRISTIAN CENTER in
Vancouver, Washington. I quote: “A refreshing place for people who have given up
on the church, but not on God. Great Kid’s Programs; Dramatic Skits; No-Jive Band,
etc. Not your typical church. Check it out.” The Oasis Christian Center that is being
advertized is one of the “planted” SDA celebration churches.
From Selected Messages, we just read that such exercises as these are an invention
of Satan, and that
“the powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise to have a carnival.”
It’s hard to realize that we are condoning and conducting “Adventist
carnivals” in church! Could this be the work of the “destroyers” who have been
trained “under the hand of Satan?” In this connection let us turn to Testimonies to
Ministers, pp. 109, 110, and read again that frightening prophecy:
Many will stand in our PULPITS with the torch of false prophecy in their
hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan!”
Just one more passage from the testimony that was sent to be read to the Battle Creek
Church which surely applies to us today—to the leaders of God’s Remnant Church:
There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the
opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be
trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy
Spirit.—Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 79.
Now I’m going to ask you a very thought-provoking question, and to some it may
be disturbing: Which would you choose to hear from your church pulpit—the voices
of the “Many [who] will stand in our pulpits,” teaching doctrines of devils and
conducting services whose spirit is “kindled from the hellish torch of Satan?” Or
would you prefer to hear the voices of faithful ministers standing behind the “pulpit”
teaching biblical truths and, when appropriate, quoting from the Testimonies that
are inspired by the Holy Spirit of God? Think it over.…
The Lord pronounces a woe upon all false shepherds!

44. Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!
saith the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed
my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and
have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your
doings, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1, 2)
Then again in Jeremiah 34:18, 19:
Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture,
but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures?
And to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with
your feet?
And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and
they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
Thus God will bring woe unto the false pastors!
At such a time as this, what is the duty of God’s faithful ministers? Isaiah shouts:
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people
their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)
In Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 321, the servant of the Lord admonishes:
In this fearful time, just before Christ is to come the second time, God’s
faithful preachers will have to bear a still more pointed testimony than
was borne by John the Baptist. A responsible, important work is before
them; and those who speak smooth things, God will not acknowledge
as his shepherds. A fearful woe is upon them.
Thus, to the congregations and the laymen of modern Israel, I quote this from
Testimonies to Ministers, p. 10:

45. Let no soul complain of the servants of God who have come to them
with a heavensent message. Do not any longer pick flaws in them,
saying, “They are too positive; they talk too strongly.” They may talk
strongly; but is it not needed? God will make the ears of the hearers
tingle if they will not heed His voice or His message. He will denounce
those who resist the word of God.
As we face the final crisis, we read in Selected Messages, Vol. 3, pp. 83, 84:
Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to
seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken
through Sister White and has given her a message, will be safe from the
many delusions that will come in these last days.
How sad that Ellen White had to write the following letter, written to those who
would diminish her work which was authored by the Holy Spirit!
I have tried to do my duty to you and to the Lord Jesus, whom I serve
and whose cause I love. The testimonies I have borne you have in truth
been presented to me by the Lord. I am sorry that you have rejected the
light given.…
Are you betraying your Lord, because, in His great mercy, He has
shown you just where you are standing spiritually? He knows every
purpose of the heart. Nothing is hid from Him. It is not me that you are
betraying. It is not me that you are so embittered against. It is the Lord,
who has given me a message to bear to you.— Manuscript Releases,
Vol. 5, p. 139.
In the same year, 1903, she wrote those who would give up their faith in the
Testimonies:
One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their
stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the warnings
and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit.—Selected
Messages, Vol. 3, p. 84.

46. Rather than neglecting the Bible and the Testimonies, let us eagerly ask: “Is there
any word from the
Lord?” (Jeremiah 37:17)
The following words from the Lord are found in Ezekiel 33:11 and Jeremiah 22:29:
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live;
turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of
Israel?
O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord.
Let us pray:
Our loving Father, forgive thy people who have invited the power of Satan to
enter our church through celebration, with so-called Christian rock music and
drama, with the use of drums and even dancing.
Open the eyes of our leaders who are determined to force their devilish
inventions upon Thy dear people!
Please help the faithful as they strive for a spirit of holy reverence, so all may
feel Thy divine presence as we worship. Give us, O God, a ministry that will preach
end-time messages from Thy word, the Bible, and the Spirit of Prophecy. Awaken
our pastors to give us sermons that will help us to prepare and be ready for the
coming crisis!
This we ask in the name of Jesus. AMEN