Ellen White’s Endorsement of Waggoner and Jones (Part 3)

“The great wonder to me is that our brethren should accept these writings because they could see nothing objectionable in them. Why did they not consider what there is in them that is of a character to be endorsed and sent forth with the power of influence which gives them their force?

There are many things I shall not say now, which it will be necessary to say hereafter. While I would do nothing to hurt this sister, I would not dare to keep silent I am placed in a peculiar position, and this matter should never have been so treated as to make it necessary for me to speak on such a subject. It hurts my heart to do it, and were it not that I see the future dangers, I would not utter one word in regard to the matter, but would let it develop, and leave my brethren and sisters to pursue their own course in regard to these manifestations, which are not at all peculiar…. I fail to see in the writings of Sister Phillips anything of a character that should create such movements as have been made. And if things of this nature are to be so eagerly grasped, you will have plenty of them, varied in some respects, yet such as you could treat with as much confidence. I am so sorry, so sorry.” —Letter 68, 1894; (Vol. 2, Selected Messages, 94, emphasis added.)

Now, as for anyone making a charge of this is a “diabolical assault” on Ellen White’s ministry because she appeared to have no knowledge that unqualified love is a satanic doctrine in order to directly reprove Waggoner of that error, remember Moses had no clue that the apostasy was well under way at Kadesh because he was busy carrying out the work of writing down the experiences of Israel as a testament. Note what Ellen White says regarding that experience:

“During the time of their encampment beside Jordan, Moses was preparing for the occupation of Canaan. In this work the great leader was fully employed; but to the people this time of suspense and expectation was most trying, and before many weeks had elapsed their history was marred by the most frightful departures from virtue and integrity.

“At first there was little intercourse between the Israelites and their heathen neighbors, but after a time Midianitish women began to steal into the camp. Their appearance excited no alarm, and so quietly were their plans conducted that the attention of Moses was not called to the matter. It was the object of these women, in their association with the Hebrews, to seduce them into transgression of the law of God, to draw their attention to heathen rites and customs, and lead them into idolatry. These motives were studiously concealed under the garb of friendship, so that they were not suspected, even by the guardians of the people….

“When Moses was aroused to perceive the evil, the plots of their enemies had been so successful that not only were the Israelites participating in the licentious worship at Mount Peor, but the heathen rites were coming to be observed in the camp of Israel. The aged leader was filled with indignation, and the wrath of God was kindled. (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, 454.)

She continues: “Their iniquitous practices did that for Israel which all the enchantments of Balaam could not do—they separated them from God. By swift-coming judgments the people were awakened to the enormity of their sin. A terrible pestilence broke out in the camp, to which tens of thousands speedily fell a prey. God commanded that the leaders in this apostasy be put to death by the magistrates. This order was promptly obeyed. The offenders were slain, then their bodies were hung up in sight of all Israel that the congregation, seeing the leaders so severely dealt with, might have a deep sense of God’s abhorrence of their sin and the terror of His wrath against them.” (Ibid., 454, 455.)

So, why then did God not give indication that stronger opposition to the errors of Kellogg and Waggoner commence sooner than they did? Some were quite perplexed by the apparent slowness of Ellen White to reprove what they had quickly discerned as error.

When in 1901 and 1902, W. A. Spicer saw that Ellen White was not promptly reproving the developments of Kellogg’s book and Jones’ & Waggoner’s association with the errors, he questioned the reasons why. He related the experience in his 1934 book, “How the Spirit of Prophecy Met a Crisis”(HSPMC). He wrote: “As to the teaching, it seemed at the headquarters’ office that warnings should be sounded, to put our workers and people on guard.

“But just then came a message from the Spirit of prophecy, from California, telling the brethren to hold still, to be quiet, to wait.

“Wait? Keep quiet? It was hard counsel to take. How could we keep quiet when we saw the new-old teaching getting out into the open. We saw friends accept it as something fine and new and advanced. And were we to keep quiet? I recall that it seemed to me I would have to cry out openly against it or deny my own deepest convictions. It was a painful situation. We did not discuss it much among ourselves. It was a time when each one had to feel his way along, not leaning on anyone else.

“But as though the Lord knew how painful it was to be told to wait quietly, another message soon came. We were told that we must remember the rebellion in heaven, and how mysterious was the working of evil principles and mystifying error even among the angels. The Lord had to wait, and allow error to develop. Had He acted at once, angels would not have understood. There would have been greater loss still in the family of heaven. That thought of delay in heaven, waiting for error to work out, brought wonderful relief. And when, a year or two later, the issues involved were brought fully into the open, and workers and people had had an opportunity to see for themselves what was involved, the crisis was fully met with much less confusion and loss than would likely have followed had we at once started in to sound warning to all.” (HSPMC, 23-25, emphasis added.)

To every one considered a free moral agent God has granted freedom to choose. This power of choice always carries the heavy burden of responsibility. The greatest burden of responsibility is the power of influence to good or evil. We are all individually held accountable for our choices and the influence exerted. Ultimately, the choices hinge upon the act of believing God’s Word and His prophets, or believing the lies of Satan and his agents of destructive deception.

While the reproof sent to A. T. Jones in 1894 did not appear to have a lasting impression upon him, Anna Phillips took the reproof to heart. She confessed her visions as a satanic delusion, and repented of them thoroughly. According to the compilers of Vol. 2, Selected Messages, “… Anna Phillips discerned and acknowledged the delusion, repudiated her past work, and became a trusted, fruitful Bible instructor in the work of the church.” (85.)