Meeting Encroachments of Fanaticism

In every reformatory movement, states Ellen White, Satan has attempted “to deceive and destroy the people by palming off upon them a counterfeit in place of the true work.” (The Great Controversy, 186.) This was true in the formative period following the disappointment, even as it was in the first century of the Christian church and the Reformation of the sixteenth century. There arose misleading elements, which, if left unchecked, would have wrought disaster. Throughout this critical period, the Spirit of prophecy stood as an undeviating bulwark against all encroachments of fanaticism.EGWMR 32.2

In several regions, within a few months after the passing of the time in 1844, fanaticism in various forms broke out among certain of the disappointed Adventists. In fact, one of the leading features of Ellen Harmon’s work in 1845-1846 was that of dealing with these discordant elements. She was instructed regarding their erroneous teachings, and commissioned to save, if possible, those who were deceived.EGWMR 32.3