Steadying Influence Amid Confusion

The thousands of adventists who had passed through the trying experiences of 1844, had come out from many different churches, or had been converted by the message itself. They were united in their expectation of Christ’s coming; but when that failed of realization, the bond of unity was broken. They were unorganized. A period of chaos and confused ideas followed. Many fanatical teachers arose to distract and annoy. Discordant voices, expressed in conflicting publications and on lecture platforms, were heard on every hand.AGP 274.3

Under these circumstances, how providential it was that the prophetic gift was so manifestly revived! It was not in the order of God to teach new truths by this means. Rather, the gift served to rebuke false and fanatical teachings, and to place the divine endorsement upon those truths that had first been found from the word by diligent, prayerful study by groups of earnest seekers for light.AGP 274.4

The following statement by Mrs. White regarding her firm and uncompromising stand against fanaticism, and her positive message regarding the setting of any specific time for the coming of Christ, is fully borne out by the facts:AGP 274.5

“Visions were given me to correct the errors of those who had taken extreme views of some texts of Scripture, and refrained wholly from labor, and rejected all those who would not receive their views on this point and some other things which they held to be religious duties. God revealed these errors to me in vision, and sent me to His erring children to declare them; but many of them wholly rejected the message, and charged me with conforming to the world.

“On the other hand, the nominal adventists charged me with fanaticism, and I was falsely, and by some, wickedly, represented as being the leader of the fanaticism I was laboring constantly to arrest by bearing the testimony given me of God.

“Different times were set for the Lord to come, and were urged upon the brethren. But the Lord showed me that they would pass by, for the time of trouble must come before the coming of Christ, and that every time that was set, and passed, would only weaken the faith of God’s people.” The Ministry of Healing, 220.

The fact that the distinctive truths that gave rise to the Seventh-day Adventist Church were reached by diligent, prayerful Bible study, and not by a credulous following of the visions, is worthy of emphasis. In those pioneer days, as today, these doctrines were preached with convincing power from the Bible alone. After men had done all in their power to find the truth for themselves, then God graciously sent them messages through the gift of prophecy to assure them of their conclusions, or to correct mistaken interpretations of Scripture. The doctrines did not come from the visions, though the visions confirmed the doctrines. Thus a wonderful unity was effected, and assured confidence was maintained by those who accepted the manifestations of the gift.AGP 275.1