Miraculous Healing

When Christ sent forth His disciples “to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2), He assured them that in His name they would cast out devils, speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick, and they would recover (see Mark 16:17, 18).CEESDAH 12.3

Early Adventist sources frequently referred to healing miracles. Incidents in the church today indicate that the gift of healing is still with us.CEESDAH 12.4

When we review the early records we must keep in mind that during the mid-nineteenth century there was great ignorance in regard to the cause and cure of disease. The concept of germs was unknown. Night air was thought to be poisonous. Poisonous drugs were prescribed freely, inflicting a large death toll. If one had a fever, the physician probably would drain a pint or a quart of blood from the patient’s veins and pour it down the drain, for the fever supposedly indicated that he had too much blood. Anesthetics were unknown. Surgery was of the crudest type and when major was usually fatal. When an epidemic swept through the land it decimated the population. Almost any kind of sickness was an occasion for terror. As the disease progressed it was often said that the sufferer was “marked for the grave.”CEESDAH 12.5

How precious, then, seemed the promise of James 5, which called for the anointing with oil and the prayer for healing that “the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (verse 15).CEESDAH 12.6

Records of the late 1840’s abound in narratives of how God answered prayer during the desperation, sufferings, and illnesses of that period.CEESDAH 12.7

For example, there was that spring day when a number of believers were assembled in Topsham, Maine, at the home of Stockbridge Howland. His daughter, Frances, in an upstairs bedroom suffering from rheumatic fever, was under the care of a physician. Her hands were so badly swollen that the joints could not be distinguished. Ellen White reported:CEESDAH 12.8

“As we sat together speaking of her case, Brother Howland was asked if he had faith that his daughter could be healed in answer to prayer. He answered that he would try to believe that she might, and presently declared that he did believe it possible. We all knelt in earnest prayer to God in her behalf.... One of the brethren present cried out, ‘Is there a sister here who has the faith to go and take her by the hand, and bid her arise in the name of the Lord?’ ... Before he ceased speaking Sister Curtis was on her way to the stairs. She entered the sickroom with the Spirit of God upon her, and taking the invalid by the hand, said, ‘Sister Frances, in the name of the Lord arise, and be whole.’ New life shot through the veins of the sick girl, a holy faith took possession of her, and obeying its impulse, she rose from her bed, stood upon her feet, and walked the room, praising God for her recovery.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 74.

“Frances dressed and came down to where the group was, ‘her countenance lighted up with unspeakable joy and gratitude.’ The next day she rode three miles in rainy weather, sustained no injury, and continued to improve.”

In the same report, Ellen White spoke of William Hyde, who was gravely ill with dysentery. She wrote:CEESDAH 12.9

“His symptoms were alarming, and the physician pronounced

his case almost hopeless.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 75.CEESDAH 13.1

Shortly thereafter those of faith united around his bedside pleading with God for his healing. Ellen White continued:CEESDAH 13.2

“I have seldom known such a reaching out to claim the promises of God. The salvation of the Holy Spirit was revealed, and power from on high rested upon our sick brother and upon all present. Brother Hyde immediately dressed and walked out of the room, praising God, and with the light of heaven shining upon his countenance.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 76.

He joined the family at the dinner table, ate heartily, and Ellen White reported that “his recovery was complete and permanent.”CEESDAH 13.3

In 1848 Ellen White recounted the healing of Sister Penfield, right after the first of the Sabbath conferences in Rocky Hill, Connecticut:CEESDAH 13.4

“Last Wednesday about six o’clock P.M., a brother came from Portland, 11 miles from here and wanted we should go and pray for his wife for she was just alive, and that was all. She was taken so violent that they called in a physician. He tried to help her, but could do her no good, and said she must die. Another physician was consulted who said he could do nothing. The last was the most celebrated physician in Middletown, Ct.

“Sister Penfield told her husband to go for God’s people, she sent for us. It was rather of a trial for me to start, it was rainy and I had been very weak all day, but I concluded to go. James felt he must go too. Brother and Sister Ralph also went according to her request. We prayed for her at ten o’clock that night and the spirit began to settle. She had been in very great agony but we anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord and then our earnest cries went up to God for healing power.

“God began to work, the pain ceased, but we did not get the full victory we wanted that night. She rested well that night, was free from pain. In the morn we united in prayer for her again. The power came down like a mighty, rushing wind, the room was filled with the glory of God, and I was swallowed up in the glory and was taken off in vision. I saw the willingness of God to heal the afflicted and distressed....

“The work of healing was done up well. She grew stronger in body and mind.... Sister Penfield is strong. Praise the Lord.”—Letter 1, 1848.