Chapter 9—The “Lesser Light”

In the The Review and Herald, January 20, 1903, Ellen White made a statement that has often been used to characterize her writing. Speaking of her books she said:HPEGWW 22.3

The Lord has sent His people much instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light.—Colporteur Ministry, 125. (Emphasis supplied.)

Some Adventists have suggested that this statement shows that the Bible is more authoritative—that Ellen White’s writing is something less. Others have characterized her writing as no more than a helpful commentary on Scripture.HPEGWW 22.4

But what did she mean when she referred to her writing as a “lesser light” shining on the “greater light” of Scripture? We should first note that both are light. This suggests some possibilities: What has been written and spoken did not originate with the prophet. It had been given supernaturally as light. from the Lord Himself.HPEGWW 23.1

Ellen White many times received information or “light” from visions that was not in agreement with her thinking or practice at the time. Sometimes the light thus given required major adjustment in her personal habits of living. The counsel on flesh food is only one illustration.HPEGWW 23.2

All the prophets who arose were surely “lesser lights” to those who preceded them. Joshua considered Moses as authority on which to build his role as leader and prophet. From Moses’ time on, all the prophets who followed him accepted his record as authoritative. As each prophet appeared, he built on the authority of those who had gone before. The accepted, tested, proven Word of God was always the “greater light” to the prophets.HPEGWW 23.3

Three clear evidences of this would be that (1) the prophets quoted Scripture as authority for what they were saying, (2) they extolled former, prophets, and (3) they were humble in their call to the prophetic office.HPEGWW 23.4

When Ellen Harmon (White) was called to her work at age 17, she pled with the Lord to give it to someone else. At least two others had received a similar call, before her—William Foy and Hazen Foss. Foy became confused and dropped out of the picture. Foss rejected the call. Ellen White wanted to be excused, but the Lord reminded her that to reject the call would imperil her own salvation. After reluctantly accepting, she asked that the Lord would keep her from pride. This He promised to do by sending affliction whenever she was tempted. We can only wonder how often illnesses that she suffered were the result of the Lord’s fulfilling His promise.HPEGWW 23.5

As she continued her work and the evidence grew that the Lord was speaking through her, she spoke with increasing confidence about the Source of her messages. With the Apostle Paul, she was sure that the Holy Spirit had spoken through her:HPEGWW 24.1

When this work was first given me, I begged the Lord to lay the burden on someone else. The work was so large and broad and deep that I feared I could not do it. But by His Holy Spirit the Lord has enabled me to perform the work which He gave me to do.—Selected Messages 1:32-33.

I have written many books, and they have been given a wide circulation. Of myself I could not have brought out the truth in these books, but the Lord has given me the help of His Holy Spirit.—Selected Messages 1:35

I am just as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in relating or writing a vision as in having the vision. It is impossible for me to call up things which have been shown me unless the Lord brings them before me at the time that He is pleased to have me relate or write them.—Spiritual Gifts 2:293.

Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation.—Selected Messages 1:37.