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Ellen G. White: Prophet of Destiny
In April, 1906 Ellen G. White was granted a vision foreseeing the destruction of the city of San Francisco. Two days later, an earthquake struck, leveling the city. Once again, Ellen G. White had somehow seen into the future. Since girlhood, she had had more than 2,000 visions, revealing truths of religion, history, medicine and nutrition, often foreshadowing scientific discoveries yet to be made. Inspired by these visions and her sense of the presence of God, Ellen G. White worked throughout her life, first to help found the Seventh-day Adventist Church, then to spread its word around the world. She lived to see it become one of the major religious forces of our time; and during her lifetime, wrote more than fifty books which have been translated into one hundred languages and sold in the millions of copies. All of this she accomplished in the face of dire poverty, with no formal schooling beyond the third grade. Rene Noorbergen's bestseller is a full and fascinating portrait of a truly remarkable, yet strangely little-known woman.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 17, 2024
If she could be considered a prophet, I believe she would not object to the following of her writings! Yet, even before her death she adamantly said that the Bible should be used to interpret itself. Only prayer and meditation could help with understanding what the bible writers wrote down, not that her writing could be read, but not replacing the Bible! I do believe that her childhood accident has a lot to do with her trance like states she incurred. Or maybe the fact when she fell onto a rock it injured a part of her brain to cause her hallucinations, because when she was alive there was no way to find out what was going on in her brain! And even though the religion ended up using her writing as holy, the religion has done something good by building schools, hospitals, and other various charities! It was a very well written document into the life of Ellen G. White, I found it quite interesting and somewhat unbelievable at times, but not a bit boring to read!
May 15, 2024
A SYMPATHETIC PORTRAYAL OF THE 7TH-DAY ADVENTIST FOUNDER’S WORK
Author Rene Noorbergen is also the author of books such as 'My Life and Prophecies: Her Own Story as Told to Rene Noorbergen'; 'Secrets of the Lost Races: New Discoveries of Advanced Technology in Ancient Civilizations'; 'Treasures of the Lost Races', etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1972 book, “Born into a family where the deeper values of life took priority over social standing, surrounded by the grueling poverty of the early 1800s and severely handicapped, she found herself elevated from mediocrity to a position of guiding leadership in a great church, her actions aided and directed by a seemingly endless number of inspired revelations… Was she really a prophet?... many are convinced she was, even though she actually never boastfully laid claim to such distinction… During her lifetime… the question was asked whether she regarded herself as a prophet, and the answer was invariably the same. ‘Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?’ she would reply ‘It is because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of Christ, and because my work includes much more than the word “prophet” signifies.’’
In the first chapter, he explains, “While researching background material for the book, we spent many hours together, examining her religious conviction and political strength. Even though in those particular sessions her answers indicated that she is firmly convinced she is the equal of the Biblical prophets, there can be no doubt that on BIBLICAL GROUNDS she cannot be regarded as a true prophet of God, inasmuch as she violates almost every prophetic test spelled out in the Bible.” (Pg. 17)
He notes of her followers observing her, “Throughout the eyewitness accounts of medical men and trained observers, the same impression that she was without breath is continually emphasized. Humanly speaking, it is utterly impossible to retain both mental and physical capacities while deprived of oxygen; but then, no one yet has ever been able to ascertain the limits of supernatural power, and the possibility that the same power which controlled the prophetic impulses also governed the prophet’s physical actions while in vision must be considered… Researchers have noticed a striking resemblance between most of these points and Ellen White’s state while in vision as the files testify, since most of her daytime visions were witnessed by others, and sometimes in large numbers. Only the visions that reached her during the secret hours of the night were hers and hers alone.” (Pg. 77-78)
He explains, “While the most important thrust of her health message was contained in the 1863 vision, not all of it was released information were periodically published, and as time went on, more visions enlarging upon certain health-related areas were given. It is interesting to note, however, that all new material presented by Ellen White as the result of the visions shocked many members of the scientific community with its logic and fundamental soundness, even though most of it was not proved scientifically until years later… Her keep foreknowledge of the basis of scientific thought, now being proved, has provided a powerful reason for an every-increasing number of people to turn to the writings of Ellen G. White for the answers to mysterious questions regarding health and medicine. Ellen White had only three years of formal education; she was not a trained scientist, nor a theologian nor a nutritionist; yet much of her inspired insight in these fields, penned more than one hundred years ago, is still regarded as highly advanced and extremely significant.” (Pg. 91)
He states, “Many times in the past I have heard critics raise objections to some of the prophetic statements made by Ellen White. ‘There is no specific time element attached to many of her predictions,’ they cry out discouragingly. ‘She doesn’t give us years and dates like the psychics do.’ Perhaps it is better this way, for inasmuch as her prophecies come directly from the Source of Prophecy and deal with human nature, the factor of ‘uncontrolled uncertainty’ always applies. Ellen White once said that if the body of believers that had developed out of the Millerite movement had done its work as charged during the decade that followed the great disappointment, the world would already have ended. No, Ellen never voiced specific time predictions, but she did pinpoint specifically the events that would eventuate the ‘time of the end,’ and these constitute a more than adequate guideline.” (Pg. 174)
He summarizes, “That Ellen White managed to retain her tranquil outlook, her confidence in mankind and unimpaired mental vigor throughout her many years of public involvement in nothing short of a miracle and understood best in the light of the reality of her day-by-day communion with the Eternal. As a CHANNEL for Godly intelligence, she became the relay point through which messages of encouragement, and often warning and rebuke, were transmitted; yet at the same time she served as TARGET of her own revelations, as they were directed to humanity without exception. At other times she served as unchallenged confidante of God, and as such shared secret knowledge hidden from mankind up to that time.” (Pg. 126-127)
He concludes, “Was the truly inspired? Was she truly ‘led’? When the counsels of her visions were heeded, prosperity marked the work. When neglected, the result has been great loss. The Author of Prophecy, in speaking of his messengers, declared, ‘By their fruits ye shall know them’ [Mt 7:20]. The Scripture declares, ‘Believe His Prophets, so shall ye prosper.’ [2 Chron 20:20] The record speaks for itself.” (Pg. 228)
This book will be of great interest to those looking for ‘positive’ assessments of Mrs. White’s life and work.
Author Rene Noorbergen is also the author of books such as 'My Life and Prophecies: Her Own Story as Told to Rene Noorbergen'; 'Secrets of the Lost Races: New Discoveries of Advanced Technology in Ancient Civilizations'; 'Treasures of the Lost Races', etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1972 book, “Born into a family where the deeper values of life took priority over social standing, surrounded by the grueling poverty of the early 1800s and severely handicapped, she found herself elevated from mediocrity to a position of guiding leadership in a great church, her actions aided and directed by a seemingly endless number of inspired revelations… Was she really a prophet?... many are convinced she was, even though she actually never boastfully laid claim to such distinction… During her lifetime… the question was asked whether she regarded herself as a prophet, and the answer was invariably the same. ‘Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?’ she would reply ‘It is because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of Christ, and because my work includes much more than the word “prophet” signifies.’’
In the first chapter, he explains, “While researching background material for the book, we spent many hours together, examining her religious conviction and political strength. Even though in those particular sessions her answers indicated that she is firmly convinced she is the equal of the Biblical prophets, there can be no doubt that on BIBLICAL GROUNDS she cannot be regarded as a true prophet of God, inasmuch as she violates almost every prophetic test spelled out in the Bible.” (Pg. 17)
He notes of her followers observing her, “Throughout the eyewitness accounts of medical men and trained observers, the same impression that she was without breath is continually emphasized. Humanly speaking, it is utterly impossible to retain both mental and physical capacities while deprived of oxygen; but then, no one yet has ever been able to ascertain the limits of supernatural power, and the possibility that the same power which controlled the prophetic impulses also governed the prophet’s physical actions while in vision must be considered… Researchers have noticed a striking resemblance between most of these points and Ellen White’s state while in vision as the files testify, since most of her daytime visions were witnessed by others, and sometimes in large numbers. Only the visions that reached her during the secret hours of the night were hers and hers alone.” (Pg. 77-78)
He explains, “While the most important thrust of her health message was contained in the 1863 vision, not all of it was released information were periodically published, and as time went on, more visions enlarging upon certain health-related areas were given. It is interesting to note, however, that all new material presented by Ellen White as the result of the visions shocked many members of the scientific community with its logic and fundamental soundness, even though most of it was not proved scientifically until years later… Her keep foreknowledge of the basis of scientific thought, now being proved, has provided a powerful reason for an every-increasing number of people to turn to the writings of Ellen G. White for the answers to mysterious questions regarding health and medicine. Ellen White had only three years of formal education; she was not a trained scientist, nor a theologian nor a nutritionist; yet much of her inspired insight in these fields, penned more than one hundred years ago, is still regarded as highly advanced and extremely significant.” (Pg. 91)
He states, “Many times in the past I have heard critics raise objections to some of the prophetic statements made by Ellen White. ‘There is no specific time element attached to many of her predictions,’ they cry out discouragingly. ‘She doesn’t give us years and dates like the psychics do.’ Perhaps it is better this way, for inasmuch as her prophecies come directly from the Source of Prophecy and deal with human nature, the factor of ‘uncontrolled uncertainty’ always applies. Ellen White once said that if the body of believers that had developed out of the Millerite movement had done its work as charged during the decade that followed the great disappointment, the world would already have ended. No, Ellen never voiced specific time predictions, but she did pinpoint specifically the events that would eventuate the ‘time of the end,’ and these constitute a more than adequate guideline.” (Pg. 174)
He summarizes, “That Ellen White managed to retain her tranquil outlook, her confidence in mankind and unimpaired mental vigor throughout her many years of public involvement in nothing short of a miracle and understood best in the light of the reality of her day-by-day communion with the Eternal. As a CHANNEL for Godly intelligence, she became the relay point through which messages of encouragement, and often warning and rebuke, were transmitted; yet at the same time she served as TARGET of her own revelations, as they were directed to humanity without exception. At other times she served as unchallenged confidante of God, and as such shared secret knowledge hidden from mankind up to that time.” (Pg. 126-127)
He concludes, “Was the truly inspired? Was she truly ‘led’? When the counsels of her visions were heeded, prosperity marked the work. When neglected, the result has been great loss. The Author of Prophecy, in speaking of his messengers, declared, ‘By their fruits ye shall know them’ [Mt 7:20]. The Scripture declares, ‘Believe His Prophets, so shall ye prosper.’ [2 Chron 20:20] The record speaks for itself.” (Pg. 228)
This book will be of great interest to those looking for ‘positive’ assessments of Mrs. White’s life and work.
November 6, 2017
Wish I had read this years ago.
This book provides the background to understand who Ellen White is in her actual place in history. I have been apprehensive about her writings, but this book has opened my mind to better understanding of what her experience was and why her message is valuable.
This book provides the background to understand who Ellen White is in her actual place in history. I have been apprehensive about her writings, but this book has opened my mind to better understanding of what her experience was and why her message is valuable.
January 13, 2020
Thank you
Thank you - posthumously- for the work of this book and for the pulling together of some the most salient aspects and prophecies of the prophet and messenger Mrs. E. G. White.
Thank you - posthumously- for the work of this book and for the pulling together of some the most salient aspects and prophecies of the prophet and messenger Mrs. E. G. White.
March 18, 2013
LOVED this book. A MUST-read for all who want to know about Ellen G. White.
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October 20, 2017about ellen g white
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews