Holy Spirit Not Present in Bedlam and Noise:

The following statement is not only helpful in the caution it gives, but instructive as to what we may expect just prior to the close of probation: “The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.CESDAC 4.7

“The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time.”—Selected Messages 2:36CESDAC 4.8

Ellen White was addressing the fanatical errors of the holy flesh movement that swept through the ranks of Adventists living in Indiana during the early years of the 1900s. Worship services were marked by all types of emotional demonstrations accompanied by loud, pulsating music of all kinds of instruments. These demonstrations were called the working of the Holy Spirit.CESDAC 5.1

Time and time again the church received words of caution against fanaticism that revealed itself in emotional demonstrations during worship. For example, in 1909 Ellen White wrote, “True religion does not demand great bodily demonstrations.... These are no evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God.” (Selected Messages 2:26). In 1908 she reviewed the early experience of Advent believers and said, “During those trying days some of our most precious believers were led into fanaticism. I said further that before the end we would see strange manifestations by those who professed to be led by the Holy Spirit. There are those who will treat as something of great importance these peculiar manifestations, which are not of God, but which are calculated to divert the minds of many away from the teaching of the Word.”—Selected Messages 2:41CESDAC 5.2

And again, “No greater harm could be done to the work of God at this time than for us to allow a spirit of fanaticism to come into our churches, accompanied by strange workings which are incorrectly supposed to be operations of the Spirit of God.”—Selected Messages 2:42 “Fearful waves of fanaticism will come. But God will deliver the people who will earnestly seek the Lord and consecrate themselves to His service.”—Selected Messages 2:47CESDAC 5.3