As Ellen White looked back over her experience leading up to her first vision and then the visions she received in the following months and years, she realized that the visions steadily helped move the “little flock” of early Bridegroom Adventists and then Sabbatarian Adventists toward a more open view. Her visions theologically moved them away from the Millerite shut-door view to a worldwide evangelistic proclamation of the gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages. UEGW 174.4
An additional point needs to be considered. Ellen White continued to believe that a certain group, those who had rejected the full light of the Midnight Cry when it was proclaimed before 1844, had closed their own probation. In 1883, she wrote: “I was shown in vision, and I still believe, that there was a shut door in 1844. All who saw the light of the first and second angels’ messages and rejected that light were left in darkness.” 39EGW, Manuscript 4 (c. 1883). She compared the 1844 experience with that of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and those who crucified Jesus. These each resulted in a limited close of probation. 40Ibid. She did, however, maintain a very open view of God’s ability to save anyone who responded to the working of the Holy Spirit. UEGW 174.5