Understanding Ellen White
- Contents- Acknowledgments
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Introduction
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Chapter One - The Gift of Prophecy in Scripture
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Chapter Two - Revelation and Inspiration: Ellen White’s Understanding
- Definition of important terms
- General revelation
- Special revelation
- Prophetic revelation
- Inspiration
- Illumination
- Common views on inspiration
- Verbal inspiration view
- Illumination or encounter view
- Thought inspiration view
- Ellen White and thought inspiration
- Some problematic paradigms
- Ellen White’s incarnational view of inspiration
- Visionary experiences and pictorial depictions
- Words and instructions
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Chapter Three - Ellen White and Scripture
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Chapter Four - The Authority of Ellen White’s Writings
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Chapter Five - How to Read Ellen White’s Writings
- 1. Begin with a healthy outlook
- 2. Study Ellen White’s writings in the light of Scripture
- 3. Focus on central issues
- 4. Account for problems in communication
- 5. Study all available information on a topic
- 6. Avoid extreme interpretations
- 7. Study each statement in its historical and literary context
- 8. Recognize Ellen White’s understanding of the ideal and the real
- 9. Use sanctified common sense
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Chapter Six - Ellen White as God’s Spokesperson
- How the visions happened
- What the visions accomplished
- Understanding the dynamics of receiving and communicating her visions
- When and where she received visions
- What she remembered from her visions and when
- Visions revealing the past, present, and future
- Understanding what she was shown
- Temporary misinterpretation of some aspect of a vision
- Divine correction for incorrect counsel
- Dramatic predictions of world events
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Chapter Seven - Humanity of the Prophets
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Chapter Eight — Ellen White and the Development of Seventh-day Adventist Doctrines
- Ellen White’s role in the development of Seventh-day Adventist doctrines
- Second advent of Christ
- Observance of the seventh-day Sabbath
- Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary
- Three angels’ messages of Revelation 14
- Conditional immortality and annihilation of the wicked
- Ellen White and distinctive Seventh-day Adventist doctrines
- Theological themes in Ellen White’s writings
- The great controversy
- Salvation and atonement
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Chapter Nine - How Ellen White Did Her Writing
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Chapter Ten - Ellen White Criticisms and D. M. Canright
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Chapter Eleven - Ellen White and Sources: The Plagiarism Debate
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Chapter Twelve - Understanding Ellen White and the “Shut Door”
- Millerite disappointment view (October 1844 to about January 1845)
- Ellen White’s experience
- The Bridegroom view (January 1845 to about January 1847)
- Ellen White’s contribution
- The sanctuary view: January 1847 to fall 1848
- Ellen White’s contribution
- The sealing message and the open door: 1849 through 1852
- Ellen White’s contribution
- Theological integration
- Ellen White’s contribution
- Misconception and growing understanding
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Chapter Thirteen - Ellen White and Science
- Sound advice at the time, but less obviously useful today
- Statement 1: Dangerous wigs
- Statement 2: Toxic cosmetics
- Statement 3: Wasp-waist corsets
- Statement 4: Dangers of eating cheese
- Explanations fully or partially supported by current science
- Statement 5: Dangers of disease from miasma
- Statement 6: Leprosy from eating pork
- Statement 7: Great difference in age of marriage partners
- Statements that remain obscure or unconfirmed
- Statement 8: Causes of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
- Statement 9: Height of antediluvians and giant fossils
- Statement 10: Amalgamation of man and beast
- Statement 11: Choosing a wet nurse
- Statement 12: “Solitary vice”
- Statement 13: The planets vision
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Chapter Fourteen - Ellen White and Vegetarianism
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Chapter Fifteen - The History and Work of the Ellen G. White Estate
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Chapter Sixteen - The Gift of Prophecy and Contemporary Ideas
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Chapter Seventeen - Why Should I Read Ellen White?
- Renew interest in the Bible
- Provide a comprehensive biblical worldview
- Restore enthusiasm for the Second Coming
- Demonstrate practical Christian living
- Show involvement in contemporary issues
- Give principles for improving our quality of life
- Provide practical advice for relationships
- Give guidance for the church as a whole