A Message to Our Leading Physicians
NP
1905
Previously unpublished. +NoteOne or more typed copies of this document contain additional Ellen White handwritten interlineations which may be viewed at the main office of the Ellen G. White Estate.
I have a message for our physicians. My brethren, the Lord has committed to each of you a work which is plainly outlined in His Word. You are in great need of clear discernment in order that you may not betray the sacred trust committed to you. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 1
Those who are connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium have evidence that the testimony borne by me during the General Conference of 1901 was of God. At this meeting the Lord encouraged Dr. Kellogg, but Dr. Kellogg has used this encouragement to exalt and glorify himself. He has lent himself to the service of the archdeceiver, who is playing the game of life for his soul. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 2
“Where,” said the angel of God, “has been your discernment? Could you not discern that in following him, you will soon be adrift in faith and doctrine? Dr. Kellogg does not know that by his course he is ruining himself. He may think to build up the reputation of a great man, but the greatness he would gain is worthless in the estimation of heaven. ‘Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.’ [Matthew 5:19.] Men may call him great, but by the heavenly host he is called the least.” 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 3
My brethren, in the name of the Lord, I say to you, be careful how you voice the words and practice the methods of Dr. J. H. Kellogg. Be careful how you accept his version of the testimonies that God has given me for His people. If you sustain his propositions, as you are in danger of doing, you will displease the Lord God of heaven. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 4
The Lord does not acknowledge Dr. Kellogg’s course as pleasing to Him. God condemns the course that he has followed. His boasting is abhorrent to Him. He may think that he has clothed himself in the garments of righteousness; but should he come thus clothed to the marriage supper of the Lamb, it would be seen that he has on the dress of a civilian. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 5
The Lord Jesus was displeased with Dr. Kellogg’s course of action at the Oakland Conference. At one time it was presented to me that angels clothed with beautiful garments were escorting Dr. Kellogg from place to place and inspiring him to speak words of boasting which were offensive to God. Heavenly messengers were viewing all that took place. They heard the words and witnessed the acts that were of a nature to bring glory to man rather than to God. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 6
At this time our brother was not led by the Spirit of God. His threats that he would bring the law to bear upon those who crossed his track showed that he was in the same condition as those to whom the Laodicean message is addressed. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 7
My experience during the Oakland Conference was a very painful one. The Lord instructed me that I was to have no conversation with Dr. Kellogg, lest I give him occasion to misinterpret me and to present my words in a false light to his fellow physicians. I have repeatedly been instructed to have no controversy with the Doctor, because the enemy works upon his imagination, leading him to make statements that are not true. Those who accept these statements and carry them out in practice will separate themselves from the great Medical Director. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 8
This is a time when Satan’s deceptive power is exercised, not only upon the minds of inexperienced youth, but upon the minds of men and women of mature years. Men in positions of responsibility are in danger of changing leaders. This I know, because it has been plainly revealed to me. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 9
Christ never compels men to accept Him or to believe His words. Were He in the Battle Creek Sanitarium in person, He might not be able to lead all to stand on His side, where they could see the terrible deceptive working of satanic influences. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 10
When Christ was on this earth in person, He said of the cities which had seen so many of His mighty works, “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been [done] in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.” [Luke 10:13, 14.] 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 11
From this scripture we learn that those who place themselves in a position of resistance against holy influences are not affected even by the pleadings of Christ Jesus. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 12
The first three messages that I bore during the Conference of 1901—messages that bore unmistakable evidence of being given under the inspiration of the Spirit of God—made a deep impression on Dr. Kellogg’s mind. At one time during the Conference, the Doctor came into my room and told me that during one of my talks, his brother, who was sitting beside him, was deeply touched by what I said. His tears flowed freely, and he said, “John, she speaks by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, as one having authority from God.” And as the Doctor told me this, he said, “My own heart was thrilled by the power of God. His Spirit sustained you in speaking.” 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 13
But the enemy, he who worked on the minds of the angels in heaven to lead them to disloyalty, has been working on human minds. I have been instructed that Satan seeks to link up with men bearing large responsibilities in the Lord’s work in order that he may fill their minds with evil devisings. Under his influence, men will suggest many things that are contrary to the mind of God. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 14
Our physicians, upon whom important responsibilities rest, should have clear spiritual discernment, so that they shall not act like blind men. They are to stand constantly on guard. Dangers that we do not now discern will soon break upon us; and I greatly desire that our physicians shall not be deceived. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 15
The showing at the Battle Creek Sanitarium is not in harmony with the Lord’s design for that institution. I have been instructed that in building so large a sanitarium in Battle Creek, men have followed their own devising. They have not been led by the Lord, but have gone decidedly contrary to the light that He has given. I write these words in order that the example that has been set in Battle Creek shall not be followed in other places; for it is not in accordance with God’s plan. Instead of so large an institution being built in one place, plants should have been made in cities in which there is nothing to represent the truth. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 16
The sanitarium at Battle Creek will place in close association a large number of believers and unbelievers. The Lord is calling for separation from the world, but this institution will call for the mingling of our youth with worldlings. This association will bring great temptation to the youth. The genuine work of soul-saving that could be done, were fewer unbelievers gathered together in one place, will be greatly retarded. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 17
Every believer who constantly realizes his dependence on God has his appointed angel sent from heaven to minister to him. The ministry of these angels is especially essential now; for Satan is making his last desperate effort to secure the world. The movement at Battle Creek is one that will help the enemy to spoil the faith of many. It will tend to destroy the identity of Seventh-day Adventists as the Lord’s peculiar people. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 18
Every satanic agency is now at work with power from beneath. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 19
The day of death is not set before us in the Word as the great constraining motive that is to impel us to be zealous and earnest in our service for God. What motive does God present in His Word to His workers, ministers, and gospel medical missionaries?—“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly.” [Zephaniah 1:14.] And before the coming of this great day, we are to proclaim to the world the last message of mercy, that men and women may be prepared for Christ’s coming. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 20
The enemy will devise many plans to occupy minds and to divert attention from this message. But we are to go forward with our work. The end of all things is at hand. The coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, is very near. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 21
At this time, when wickedness is at its height, ministers of the gospel are crying, “Peace and safety.” [1 Thessalonians 5:3.] Upon those whose minds are thus set at rest, sudden destruction cometh. Unprepared, they shall not escape. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 22
When Christ comes to gather to Himself those who have been faithful, the last trump will sound, and the whole earth from the summits of the loftiest mountains to the lowest recesses of the deepest mines will hear. The righteous dead will hear the sound of the trump and will come forth from their graves, to be clothed with immortality and to meet their Lord. And those who pierced the Saviour, those who scourged and crucified Him will also be raised, to behold Him whom they mocked and despised coming in the clouds of heaven, attended by the heavenly host, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 23
“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heaven shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” [2 Peter 3:10.] 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 24
This scene has been presented before me as fully as I could bear to behold it. Then the scene has changed, and representations of things existing at the present time have passed before me. I have seen men who have been placed in positions of trust as watchmen, molding and fashioning the work in accordance with worldly policy, which God condemns. The medical missionary work is sick and needs the restoring power of the great Healer before it can accomplish a work in harmony with its name. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 25
“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly.” [Zephaniah 1:14.] 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 26
Christ gave His life for the salvation of the world. One place is not to be worked over and over again, while other parts of God’s world are left barren and unworked. God’s only begotten Son gave His life as a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. “Christ also hath loved us,” Paul writes, “and hath given Himself for an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” [Ephesians 5:2.] This He did that we may be all that He desires us to be—representatives of Him, living lives that reveal His fragrance of character, His purity of thought. He died that others, beholding Him, might be led to desire to be like Him—pure and undefiled, wholly acceptable to God, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. 20LtMs, Ms 184, 1905, par. 27