Did Ellen White support the ordination of women?

WrittenbyWilliamFagal
What does Adventist history show us about Ellen White and the ordination question? If she simply did not address the matter as an issue in her writings, and therefore neither endorsed nor explicitly forbade ordination of women (see "Did Ellen White Call for Ordaining Women?" Ministry, December 1988), can we perhaps discover her attitude by studying her actions? This article will ex amine claims made on the basis of certain historical documents and events in an effort to see whether these can show that she supported ordaining women as pastors or elders. Some key statements by Mrs. White on women's role in gospel work will be presented at the end.

WasEllenWhiteherselfordained?
There is no record of Ellen White ever having been ordained by human hands. Yet from 1871 until her death she was granted ministerial credentials by various organizations of the church. The certificate that was used read "Ordained Minister. " Several of her credential certificates from the mid 1880s are still in our possession. On the one from 1885 the word ordained is neatly struck out. On the 1887 certificate, the next one we have, it is not. Had she been ordained in the interim? Some have argued that she had. But the question is settled definitely by her own hand. In 1909 she filled out a "Bio graphical Information Blank" for the General Conference records. On the blank for Item 19, which asks, "If ordained, state when, where, and by whom," she simply inscribed an X. This is the same response she made to Item 26, which asked, "If remarried, give date, and to whom." In this way she indicated that she had never remarried, nor had she ever been ordained. She was not denying that God had chosen and equipped her, but she indicated that there had never been an ordination ceremony carried out for her. 1 Why then do some of her credentials say "ordained minister"? The fact that "ordained" was sometimes crossed out highlights the awkwardness of giving credentials to a prophet. The church has no such special category of credentials. So it utilized what it had, giving its highest credentials without performing an ordination ceremony. In actuality, the prophet needed no human credentials. She functioned for more than 25 years prior to 1871 without any.

Licensingofwomenministers
A number of women received ministerial licenses from the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most of these were the wives of ordained ministers, and most of them apparently were engaged in personal labor similar to that of a Bible instructor today. Some notable exceptions are Minnie Sype, Lulu Wightman, and apparently Ellen Lane, who functioned effectively as public evangelists. But to date I have seen no evidence that women served as the leaders of churches. Further research may shed more light on this matter.

Some have suggested recently that the circumstances surrounding the licensing of women as ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church comprise a man date for ordaining women today. The argument, in brief, is this: The year 1878 saw two important events: the church first licensed women as ministers, and the church first called for an examination to be made of candidates for license, since it was understood that licensing would put women on the path to ordination. Ellen White took an active part in examining the qualifications of candidates for license, some of whom presumably were female. And shortly after the church began licensing women, it considered ordaining them. Though the proposal was not adopted, Mrs. White did not oppose it or warn against it. Rather, she later called for ordaining women to church ministries and paying them from the tithe. Several inaccuracies appear in this scenario. First, Ellen Lane was first licensed not in 1878, but three years earlier in 1875, at the same time that Sister Roby Tuttle was licensed.2 Further, these were not the first women to receive the ministerial license. That honor seems to belong to Sarah A. H. Lindsey, who received a license from the New York and Pennsylvania Conference on August 9, 1871.3 The licensing of these women therefore cannot demonstrate that the church at that time assumed licensing of women would lead to ordination. The policy calling for an examination prior to licensing anyone came seven years after the first woman was licensed, and the question of ordaining women would not be considered until 1881, 10 years after their first licensing. Second, there is no absolute evidence that Ellen White took active part in the examination of candidates, male or female, for license. The assertion that she did is based on two pieces of evidence: (1) Mrs. White attended certain conference sessions at which women were granted the ministerial license, 4 and (2) she wrote the following comment about her stay at a camp meeting in Oregon "I was unable to sit up yesterday, for with much writing, reining myself up to meet different ones who put in re quests for license, speaking in public, and showing the unfitness of different ones to attempt to teach others the truth, it was too much for my strength." 5 The statement does not say that she took part in examinations or, as has been claimed, that she recommended that some of the candidates not receive licenses. It merely lists things she had been doing and makes no connection between "meeting" license applicants and "showing the unfitness" of certain unnamed individuals to teach the truth. The lack of connection between those two elements is shown by the fact that they are separated by another item on the list-"speaking in public." And there is not a hint here that any of the candidates for license are female. If Mrs. White's "showing the unfitness of different ones to attempt to teach others the truth" was not in the context of an examination for a license, then what was it about? A possible clue occurs later in the same paragraph, where she describes her sermon of the night before: "I here brought in genuine sanctification and the spurious article which is so common." 6 Was she counteracting false doctrine that was already being taught there, and showing the unfitness of those who were already teaching it? We don't know for certain. But it goes beyond the facts to assert that Mrs. White here said that she recommended that certain applicants not receive licenses.

The third inaccuracy in the scenario lies in the claim that the church considered ordaining women shortly after it began licensing them, indicating that licensing was understood to put them on the ordination track. We have already shown above that rather than three years (18781881), which would correspond roughly to today's typical time between licensing and ordination in the Adventist ministry, it was 10 years after the church started licensing women that, it first considered ordaining them. And the events of that consideration need some further explication. The Committee on Resolutions at the 1881 General Conference session introduced the following for consideration: "Resolved, That females possessing the necessary qualifications to fill that position, may, with perfect propriety, be set apart by ordination to the work of the Christian ministry." 7 After discussion in which eight delegates spoke to the issue, the resolution was referred to the General Conference Committee.8 Referral to committee is a way to provide for more careful study of something on which the whole body is uncertain. It has also functioned at times as a means of dealing with something that will not pass, without having to vote it down. Though General Conference sessions were held yearly until 1889 (when they became biennial), neither the committee nor anyone else ever reintroduced the matter until recent years. Apparently the idea of ordaining women had little support in the church at that time. But did Ellen White support it?

EllenWhite'ssilence
Mrs. White was not present at the 1881 General Conference session. She likely read the report of the resolutions in the Review a few weeks later or heard about them from her son W. C. White, but we have no record of her making any comment one way or the other on the matter. This is harder to explain from the position that she favored ordination than from the position that she opposed it. Proponents of ordination today deny that her silence lent approval to the handling of the matter. They say that her silence must at least be viewed as permissive in light of her encouragement to women to participate in the work of the church and her responsibility to warn the church against error. Ellen White's silence, by itself, neither promotes nor precludes ordination for women. But if she favored it, why didn't she speak out when the church veered away from ordaining women? She may simply have felt that the issue was not important. Or if she felt that the church should not ordain women, she may have made no comment on the resolution simply because none was necessary. No corrective was needed, because the church was not about to begin ordaining women. She took a similar course at first in relation to the pantheism crisis a few years later. In connection with this crisis, which came to a head with the publication of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's book Living Temple, she wrote that: "About the time that Living Temple was published, there passed before me, in the night season, representations indicating that some danger was approaching, and that I must prepare for it by

writing out the things God had revealed to me regarding the foundation principles of our faith. A copy of Living Temple was sent me, but it remained in my library, unread. From the light given me by the Lord, I knew that some of the sentiments advocated in the book did not bear the endorsement of God, and that they were a snare that the enemy had prepared for the last days. I thought that this would surely be discerned, and that it would not be necessary for me to say anything about it." 9 Had the church leaders discerned the danger of the concepts in Living Temple and moved against it, evidently Mrs. White would have said nothing. Yet her silence would not have been permissive in regard to pantheism. Only when it was clear that the error was gaining ground did she speak out.

Chargedtoprotestinjustice
If denying ordination to women were (as some today claim) arbitrary, unjust, and oppressive, we could expect Ellen White to speak out. She stated, "I was charged not to neglect or pass by those who were being wronged. I was specially charged to protest against any arbitrary or overbearing action toward the ministers of the gospel by those having official authority. Disagreeable though the duty may be, I am to reprove the oppressor, and plead for justice. I am to present the necessity of maintaining justice and equity in all our institutions." 10 The women who might have been affected by the 1881 resolution were licensed as ministers of the gospel, but church officials did not see fit to permit their ordination. Mrs. White spoke strongly in favor of the women workers being paid and paid fairly, even from the tithe; 11 she spoke about the importance of supporting aged ministers; 12 she protested against unfair treatment of Black ministers; 13 but she had nothing to say when the General Conference declined to ordain licensed women ministers. Evidently she did not see this as "arbitrary," "overbearing," or a matter of "justice and equity." Again, one must be careful not to claim too much on the basis of silence. Yet Mrs. White's silence on the ordination issue should make one slow to claim that she gave her support or influence to the cause of bringing women into the ordained pastoral ministry. The final claim of the scenario we have been examining is that Ellen White called for women to be ordained and for them to be paid from the tithe. We have already examined the passages that are used to say that Mrs. White called for women to be ordained to the gospel ministry (see "Did Ellen White Call for Ordaining Women?" Ministry, December 1988), and we have found that they do not make such a call. Yet we must recognize that Mrs. White did call for women to be involved in an active personal ministry, and that she envisioned paying from the tithe the women workers who gave themselves whole-souled to this work, "although the hands of ordination have not been laid" 14 upon them. But there is no basis in her writings nor in Adventist history for saying that Mrs. White supported ordination of women to the gospel ministry.

Mrs.White'sview
What then was Mrs. White's view of the ministry of women? Though there are no indications that she called for women to serve as ordained elders or pastors, she presents a broad view of service for women in God's work. She saw women as able to do a great work for Christ in personal contacts, bringing the message for this hour into homes and families. And she recognized and cited important contributions they could make in various leadership responsibilities in the church as well. For instance, she called for training to be offered for women in our schools. Speaking of Avondale, the newly opened school in Australia, she said, "The Lord designs that the school should also be a place where a training may be gained in women's work." After enumerating certain domestic and educational training to be included, she added, "They are to be qualified to take any post that may be offered superintendents, Sabbath school teachers, Bible workers. They must be prepared to teach day schools for children." 15 She described the important mission women could fulfill: "Wonderful is the mission of the wives and mothers and the younger women workers. If they will, they can exert an influence for good to all around them. By modesty in dress and circumspect deportment, they may bear witness to the truth in its simplicity. They may let their light so shine before all, that others will see their good works and glorify their Father which is in heaven. A truly converted woman will exert a powerful transforming influence for good. Connected with her husband, she may aid him in his work, and become the means of encouragement and blessing to him. When the will and way are brought into subjection to the Spirit of God, there is no limit to the good that can be accomplished." 16 While Mrs. White emphasizes a husband-wife ministry here, single women ("the younger women workers") are also included. The type of work is not designated, but would surely include the various lines of work that we have noted before. She says that with modesty and propriety, with the will and way brought into subjection to God, women may let their light shine and may exert a limitless influence for good.

Personalministry
In Testimonies, volume 6, Ellen White published an article called "Women to Be Gospel Workers." Presumably it represents fairly what her view of women as gospel workers really entailed. In it she stressed the importance of personal work for others, then went on to write of the work that women are to do> after first speaking of what they are to be. "The Lord has a work for women as well as men to do. They may accomplish a good work for God if they will first learn in the school of Christ the precious, all-important lesson of meekness. They must not only bear the name of Christ, but possess His Spirit. They must walk even as He walked, purifying their souls from everything that defiles. Then they will be able to benefit others by presenting the all-sufficiency of Jesus. "Women may take their places in the work at this crisis, and the Lord will work through them. If they are imbued with a sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Spirit of God,

they will have just the self-possession required for this time. The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of His countenance, and this will give them a power which will exceed that of men. They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed. "A direct necessity is being met by the work of women who have given them selves to the Lord and are reaching out to help a needy, sin-stricken people. Personal evangelistic work is to be done. The women who take up this work carry the gospel to the homes of the people in the highways and the byways. They read and explain the word to families, praying with them, caring for the sick, relieving their temporal necessities. They present before families and individuals the purifying, transforming influence of the truth." 17 So the core of her burden for women was that they do personal work with women and families. If done in the right spirit, under the influence of Christ, "the light of His countenance . . . will give them a power which will exceed that of men. . . . Their labor is needed." This need is still with us today. Though some urge this need as a reason that women should be ordained, Mrs. White envisioned women performing this ministry without reference to their serving as ordained elders or pastors. She said that such ministry is capable, when rightly done, of exhibiting a power greater than that of men. It is noble work, needed work. In defining women's work in this way, she has in no way belittied it. 18 Such statements appear in many places in Mrs. White's writings. 19 Her view is consistent: without calling for ordination of women as pastors or elders, she urged a vigorous participation of women especially in personal ministry. Ellen White's view of women's ministry requires no change in church structure or polity, yet its implementation would revolutionize the church's practice. There would be a great increase in personal work being done, both by paid full- and part-time workers and by volunteer laborers. If the work were done in the spirit of Jesus, the women would show a power greater than that of the men. There would be an explosion in the numbers of people won to Christ and His truth through the gentle, appealing ministry of women. There would be healing in the home relationships, as godly women workers challenged men to reflect the self-sacrificing headship of Christ in their own relationship with their wives, and women to honor that headship as they would the headship of Christ. Families would be strengthened, and the church would make a start on the road to showing a world filled with hurting and broken families what a difference the practice of the Lordship of Jesus really makes.

1 Arthur L. White, "Ellen G. White the Person," Spectrum 4, No. 2 (Spring 1972): p. 7. The Biographical Information blank is on file at the White Estate office in Washington, D.C. A photo

copy is in Document File 701 at the White Estate branch office, Andrews University. 2 Review and Herald, Aug. 26, 1875, p. 63. 3 Ibid., Sept. 12, 1871, p. 102. 4 Ibid. June 12, 1879, p. 190. 5 Letter 32a, 1880. 6 Ibid. This was evidently a problem affecting the church at large, for in the next year Mrs. White published an 82-page pamphlet entitled Bible Sanctification: A Contrast of the True and False Theories (Battle Creek, Mich.: Steam Press, 1881). This was an edited version of a series of 10 articles published in the Review and Herald between January 18 and May 3, 1881. Their appearance in pamphlet form in the same year of their pubication in the Review indicates the importance they held for the church. Bible Sanctification was later republished as The Sanctified Life (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald, 1937). 7 Review and Herald, Dec. 20, 1881, p. 392. 8 Ibid. 9 E. G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 202, 203. 10 Review and Herald, July 26, 1906, p. 8 (also in Selected Messages, book 1, p. 33). 11 E. G. White, Evangelism, p. 492; see also 491 concerning fairness in pay. 12 Ibid. 13 Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 223. 14 E. G. White manuscript 43a, 1898 (also in Gospel Workers, p. 452). 15 Evangelism, p. 475 (letter 3, 1898).

16 Ibid., pp. 467, 468 (manuscript 91, 1908). 17 Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 117, 118. 18 She cautioned others concerning that danger: "Seventh-day Adventists are not in any way to belittle woman's work" (Evangelism, pp. 492, 493). 19 See, for example, Christian Service, pp. 27-29; Evangelism, pp. 459-461,464-478,491-493; Gospel Workers, pp. 452, 453; Welfare Ministry, pp. 143166; and Counsels on Health. She also calls for women to become involved in medical missionary work, some as doctors and nurses, and others as nonprofessionals.

WomenministryTruth.com

Questions and Answers

Did Ellen G. White urge the church to ordain women? To the Gospel ministry and as elders? No. She urged that certain women who were willing to consecrate some of their time to the service of the Lord should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and minister to the necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to this work by prayer and laying on of hands ( Review and Herald , July 9, 1895). It was to this work, a personal work of visitation and mercy, that they were to be set apart. This is not the same as the role of church leadership entrusted to the pastor or elder.

Questions and Answers

What is Ellen G. Whites relationship to this issue? Was she ever ordained? Ellen White was never ordained. After more than 25 years of her prophetic ministry, the church voted her the credentials of an ordained minister, but she indicated in 1909 (when she was in her eighties) that she had never been ordained (Arthur L. White, Spectrum , 4, 2 [Spring 1972] :7). Nor did she ever exercise the special functions of an ordained minister, such as performing marriages, baptizing, and organizing local churches. As are all church members, she too was ordained of God to work for Him and was given a special work to do. But she was never ordained by human hands.

Questions and Answers

Didnt Mrs. White encourage women to participate in the work of the church? Yes, she did. Noting a sphere in which God had called and equipped women to work (see Patriarchs and Prophets , p. 59), she called for greater involvement. She urged women especially to engage in personal work for women and families. A clear example of this may be found in her article, Women to Be Gospel Workers ( Testimonies for the Church , vol. 6, pp. 114-118). Among other things, she says there that women can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed (pp. 117, 118). Sisters, God calls you to work in the harvest field and to help gather in the sheaves. . . . In the various lines of home missionary work the modest, intelligent woman may use her powers to the very highest account ( Welfare Ministry , p. 160).

Questions and Answers

What does the bible teach regarding the role of women in the church?

The Bible presents women as full participants with men in the religious and social life of the church. In the fifth year of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, the priests went to Huldah the prophetess for counsel (2 Kings 22:13, 14). Women served as musicians and attendants at the tabernacle and Temple (1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Chronicles 25:5, 6, Psalm 68:24, 25). Women prayed aloud and prophesied in the church (1 Corinthians 11:5). They labored side by side with Paul and other workers in the Gospel (Philippians 4:3). In the closing chapter of Romans, Paul begins his greetings and commendations with women, and he includes several other women subsequently in the chapter (16:1-5, 6, 12, 13, 15). Widows (Acts 9:39) may have been an organized body for service in the New Testament church. But women did not serve as priests in the Old Testament (Exodus 28:1, Numbers 3:1-13) nor did they serve in the leadership/teaching role of elder or pastor in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:11-14; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 14:33-36).

Questions and Answers

Why is the issue of the ordination of women as elders or pastors of such crucial important for the Seventh-day Adventist Church at this time? What is at stake is the authority of the Bible for defining SDA beliefs and practices. The New Testament expresses its teaching on the role of women in the church in theological terms, basing it on interpretation of earlier Bible passages. It is presented as part of God's "law and as a command of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:34, 37). If such a Biblical teaching is regarded as limited to the culture of Paul's time, the same could be said of Biblical teachings regarding Creation, Sabbathkeeping, clean and unclean meats, footwashing, tithing, etc. The authority of Scripture as a whole would thus be undermined and discredited. The issue is important enough that it is scheduled for consideration and resolution at the 1990 General Conference.

Questions and Answers

What does the Bible teach regarding the role of woman in the church?

The Bible presents women as full participants with men in the religious and social life of the church. In the fifth year of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, the priests went to Huldah the prophetess for counsel (2 Kings 22:13, 14). Women served as musicians and attendants at the tabernacle and Temple (1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Chronicles 25:5, 6, Psalm 68:24, 25). Women prayed aloud and prophesied in the church (1 Corinthians 11:5). They labored side by side with Paul and other workers in the Gospel (Philippians 4:3). In the closing chapter of Romans, Paul begins his greetings and commendations with women,

and he includes several other women subsequently in the chapter (16:1-5, 6, 12, 13, 15). Widows (Acts 9:39) may have been an organized body for service in the New Testament church. But women did not serve as priests in the Old Testament (Exodus 28:1, Numbers 3:1-13) nor did they serve in the leadership/teaching role of elder or pastor in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:11-14; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 14:33-36).

Questions and Answers

What does the New Testament actually say about women in elder-pastor leadership roles? I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent (1 Timothy 2:12). If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, . . . an apt teacher (1 Timothy 3:1, 2). This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife . . . (Titus 1:5, 6). As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. . . . If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:3337). There are more New Testament directives on this subject than there are about tithing or footwashing or the Sabbath. These New Testament passages are examined in this issue.

Questions and Answers

Didnt Ellen G. White have a position of authority in the church?

Her authority was in the messages God gave her rather than in any position the church gave her. She specifically rejected the idea of a leadership position in the church. It is not right for you to suppose that I am striving to be first, striving for leadership. . . . I want it to be understood that I have no ambition to have the name of leader, or any other name that may be given me, except that of a messenger of God. I claim no other name or position (Letter 320, 1905; Manuscript Release #340). I am not to appear before the people as holding any other position than that of a messenger with a message ( Testimonies for the Church , vol. 8, p. 237).

Ellen G. White Credential

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Ellen G. White Credential

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Records Pertaining to Ellen G. White's Ministerial/Ordination Credentials

A.EllenWhite'sBiographicalInformationForm

On March 5, 1909, Ellen White's biographical information form was filled out by her assistant, Mary Steward, as requested for General Conference records. Question 19 asked, "If ordained, state when, where, and by whom." The line was marked with an "x" indicating that she had not been ordained, just as an "x" was recorded for question 26, "If remarried, give date, and to whom."
B.ConferenceCredentialingRecordsintheReviewandHerald

Ellen White's name is not found in lists of Michigan Conference credentialed ministers prior to 1871. (See, for example, lists published in RH, May 31, 1864, May 28, 1867, and May 26, 1868.) She was first issued ministerial credentials on February 10, 1871, by the Michigan Conference: "Moved and voted, That Sr. Ellen G. White receive credentials from this Conference."RH, Feb. 14, 1871, p. 69. Her credentials were renewed by the Michigan Conference annually thereafter through 1887.[1] The 1886 report was introduced with the words: "Your committee on credentials and licenses would present the following names of ordained ministers for a renewal of their credentials the ensuing year." (Ellen White was not listed in the Michigan Conference report for 1888.)
C.ListingsintheSeventhdayAdventistYearbook&GeneralConferenceBulletin

The first listing of ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook was in 1884. Ellen White was listed under both "General Conference" Ministers and "Michigan" Ministers. The listings appeared the same in 1885, 1886, and 1887. In 1888 she was listed under "California" Ministers, as well as under "Michigan" Ministers and "General Field" Ministers. She was also listed under "Ministers" (not Licentiates) in the "Alphabetical List of Laborers." Beginning in 1889, all the workers were listed alphabetically, as well as by territory, with letter codes inserted to indicate whether the worker was (l) licensed to preach or (m) an ordained minister. Ellen White was listed under "General Conference" Ministers only (not "Michigan" or "California") and an (m) appeared after her name in the directory. She was listed the same way from 1890-1894. No yearbooks were published from 1895 to 1903, however, "Workers' Directories" were published in the General Conference Bulletin. In the 1895/1896/1897/1898 Bulletins, Ellen White was consistently listed in the "Workers' Directory" with the code for "Minister" (m) in the absence of any separate coding for ordained ministers in the directory, as well as appearing in the list of "General Conference" Ministers. In the 1899/1900 Bulletins, the Ministerial Directory listed (m) for ordained minister and (l) for

licensed minister. Ellen White was listed with the (m) code, and in the list of "General Conference" Ministers. In the 1901/1902 Bulletins, the codes were not used, but a distinction between Ministers and Licentiates was made in territorial listings. Ellen White was listed in the General Conference "Ministers" list rather than the "Licentiates." No directory was published for 1903, but she was granted "ministerial credentials" from the General Conference by action reported in the General Conference Bulletin, Apr. 14, 1903, p. 216. In the 1904 Yearbook, Ellen White was listed in the Ministerial Directory and with "Ministers Under the Direction of the General Conference." There was no separate coding for ordained ministers in the directory. In the 1905/1906/1907/1908 Yearbooks, she was listed in the Ministerial Directory and with Ministers listed under "Laborers Engaged in General Work and in Mission Fields, Under the General Conference." Again, there was no separate coding for ordained ministers in the directory. In the 1909/1910/1911/1912/1913 Yearbooks, Ellen White was listed in the Ministerial Directory and with Ministers under "Laborers Engaged in General Work Under the General Conference" (with no separate coding for ordained ministers in the directory). In the 1914/1915 Yearbooks, Ellen White was listed in the Ministerial Directory and with Ministers listed under "General Laborers Holding Credentials From the General Conference" (with no separate coding for ordained ministers in the directory).
D.EllenWhite'sPaperCredentials

The White Estate possesses six paper credentials that were issued to Ellen White. The first credential is dated October 1, 1883, from the Michigan Conference. The second is dated December 6, 1885, from the General Conference. On that one credential, the word "ordained" was crossed out. The third is dated December 27, 1887, from the General Conference. The fourth is dated March 7, 1899, from the General Conference. The fifth is dated June 14, 1909, from the General Conference. The sixth is dated June 12, 1913, from the General Conference.
E.StatementbyEllenG.White'sFamily

In a letter dated Nov. 17, 1935, Dores E. Robinson replied on behalf of W. C. White (Ellen White's son and Robinson's father-in-law) in response to a query concerning Ellen White's ministerial credentials. He wrote: "[W. C. White] tells me that Sister White was never ordained, that she never baptized, nor did she ever give the ordination charge to others."
Summary

From 1871 until her death in 1915, Ellen White was issued ministerial credentials. From 1871 to 1887 she was credentialed by the Michigan Conference, and from 1884 until her death, she was credentialed as a General Conference Minister. On one of the credentials (1885), the word "ordained" is struck through. (In the 1888 Yearbook she was also listed among the California

Ministers.) Throughout the years, her name was listed along with ordained ministers rather than licentiates, although her biographical information sheet and the testimony of her family indicates that she did not receive ordination at the hands of church officials. Compiled by the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc. October 2012

Ordination:OldTestamentverses
Genesis14:18AndMelchizedekkingofSalembroughtforthbreadandwine: andhe[was]thepriestofthemosthighGod. 14:19Andheblessedhim,andsaid,Blessed[be]AbramofthemosthighGod, possessorofheavenandearth: SelectionofLeaders(SOP) Vol.5;Testimonies618.1 TheapostlePaulwritestoTitus:"Setinorderthethingsthatarewanting,and ordaineldersineverycity,asIhadappointedthee:ifanybeblameless,the husbandofonewife,havingfaithfulchildrennotaccusedofriotorunruly.Fora bishopmustbeblameless,asthestewardofGod."Itwouldbewellforallour ministerstogiveheedtothesewordsandnottohurrymenintoofficewithout dueconsiderationandmuchprayerthatGodwoulddesignatebyHisHolySpirit whomHewillaccept.{5T617.1} Saidtheinspiredapostle:"Layhandssuddenlyonnoman."Insomeofour churchestheworkoforganizingandofordainingeldershasbeenpremature;the Biblerulehasbeendisregarded,andconsequentlygrievoustroublehasbeen broughtuponthechurch.Thereshouldnotbesogreathasteinelectingleaders astoordainmenwhoareinnowayfittedfortheresponsibleworkmenwho needtobe 618 converted,elevated,ennobled,andrefinedbeforetheycanservethecauseof Godinanycapacity.{5T617.2} Thegospelnetgathersbothgoodandbad.Ittakestimeforcharactertobe developed;theremustbetimetolearnwhatmenreallyare.Thefamilyofthe onesuggestedforofficeshouldbeconsidered.Aretheyinsubjection?Canthe manrulehisownhousewithhonor?Whatcharacterhavehischildren?Willthey dohonortothefather'sinfluence?Ifhehasnotact,wisdom,orpowerof

godlinessathomeinmanaginghisownfamily,itissafetoconcludethatthesame defectswillbecarriedintothechurch,andthesameunsanctifiedmanagement willbeseenthere.Itwillbefarbettertocriticizethemanbeforeheisputinto officethanafterward,bettertoprayandcounselbeforetakingthedecisivestep thantolabortocorrecttheconsequencesofawrongmove.{5T618.1} Theleadersofchurchesineveryplaceshouldbeearnest,fullofzealand unselfishinterest,menofGodwhocangivetherightmoldtothework.They shouldmaketheirrequeststoGodinfaith.Theymaydevoteallthetimethey wishtosecretprayer,butinpublictheyshouldmaketheirprayersandtheir testimoniesshortandtothepoint.Long,dryprayersandlongexhortations shouldbeavoided.Ifthebrethrenandsisterswouldhavesomethingtosaythat willrefreshandedifyothers,itmustfirstbeintheirhearts.Theymustdailybe connectedwithGod,drawingtheirsuppliesfromHisexhaustlessstorehouseand bringingtherefromthingsnewandold.Iftheirownsoulshavebeenvivifiedby theSpiritofGod,theywillcheer,strengthen,andencourage 619 TestimoniesToMinisters HewhoisselectedasthepresidentoftheGeneralConference,should,inthe fearofGod,standinhislotandplace,withoutpartiality,andwithunselfish interests.Heshouldbeafaithfulsteward.Heshouldbeapriestandwiseruler overhisownhouse.Heshouldmakemanifestthatheunderstandstheworkof governinghisownfamilywisely,andinthefearofGod.Ifthisisneglected,hewill carryhisdefectswithhimintohiswork.Ifanymanevidencesthattheloveand fearof 323 Godiskeptawayfromthecenterofhisbeinglestthetruthshouldcontrolhislife practice,whileworldlythingsaremadeallandinall,heisnottheman,evenfor localelder.{TM322.3}

Todaymenwhoarepresidentsofconferencesarelessefficientandstrongand ablethantheyshouldbe,becausetheyplacemanwhereGodshouldbe,andthey receiveonlythatwhichmancangivethem.{TM323.1} SeekCounselofGod Presidentsofconferences,youwillbewiseifyouwilldecidetocometoGod. BelieveinHim.Hewillhearyourprayers,andcometoyourassistance,inmuch lesstimethanthepublicconveyancescouldtakeone,two,three,orfourmen fromalongdistance,atagreatexpense,todecidequestionswhichtheGodof wisdomcandecidefarbetterforyou.Hehaspromised,"Ifanyofyoulack wisdom,lethimaskofGod,thatgivethtoallmenliberally,andupbraidethnot; anditshallbegivenhim."IfyouwillsincerelyhumbleyourheartsbeforeHim, emptyyoursoulsofselfesteem,andputawaythenaturaldefectsofyour character,andovercomeyourloveofsupremacy,andcometoGodaslittle children,HewillbestowonyouHisHolySpirit.Whentwoorthreeshallagreeas touchinganything,and 324 shallasktheLord,inthenameofJesus,itshallbedoneforthem.{TM323.2} 7BCSDABibleCommentaryVol.7(1957) Chapter3 113(John10:1115).CarefulnessinSelectingChurchLeaders.MaytheLord impressuponthemindsandheartsofallconnectedwiththesacredworkofGod, theimportanceofascertainingwhetherthosewhoaretoministerasdeaconsand 915

eldersaresuitablementobeentrustedwiththeflockofGod.JesuscallsHimself the"GoodShepherd."Hedoesthisincontrastwiththosewhooccupypositionsof trustinconnectionwiththechurch,butwhohavenorighttotheseplaces, becausetheyputawrongmolduponthework.Whatisnaturalwillappear.{7BC 914.11} ComparetheGoodShepherd,whogaveHislifeforHissheep,withthosewho arefilledwithselfesteem,puffedup,dictatorial,lovingtoruleinthechurch.The prophetshavespecifiedChrist'sattributes.TheyforetoldHimasagentle Shepherd,whowouldcarrythelambsinHisbosom.Thereareotherspointedout byprophecy,whohaveacceptedthepositionofleadersandreligiousinstructors, whomtheWordofGodrebukesfortheirneglect,intheirignorance,todothe workwhichtheyshouldhavebeendoingintheirplacesofresponsibility(MS176, 1898).{7BC915.1} (Ex.3:5.)God'sWordNottoBeDissected.Ittakesallofeternitytounfoldthe gloriesandbringouttheprecioustreasuresoftheWordofGod.Donotletany livingmancometoyouandbegintodissectGod'sWord,tellingwhatisrevelation, whatisinspirationandwhatisnot,withoutarebuke.Tellallsuchtheysimplydo notknow.Theysimplyarenotabletocomprehendthethingsofthemysteryof God.Whatwewantistoinspirefaith.Wewantnoonetosay,"ThisIwillreject, andthiswillIreceive,"butwewanttohaveimplicitfaithintheBibleasawhole andasitis. 920 {7BC919.9} WecallonyoutotakeyourBible,butdonotputasacrilegioushanduponit, andsay,"Thatisnotinspired,"simplybecausesomebodyelsehassaidso.Nota jotortittleisevertobetakenfromthatWord.Handsoff,brethren!Donottouch theark.Donotlayyourhanduponit,butletGodmove.ItiswithHisownpower, andHewillworkinsuchamannerthatHewillcompassoursalvation.Wewant Godtohavesomeroomtowork.Wedonotwantman'sideastobindHimabout. {7BC920.1}

 4Testimonies407.1 Inmanyplaceswemeetmenwhohavebeenhurriedinto 407 responsiblepositionsaseldersofthechurchwhentheyarenotqualifiedforsuch aposition.Theyhavenotpropergovernmentoverthemselves.Theirinfluenceis notgood.Thechurchisintroublecontinuallyinconsequenceofthedefective characteroftheleader.Handshavebeenlaidtoosuddenlyuponthesemen.{4T 406.3} MinistersofGodshouldbeofgoodrepute,capableofdiscreetlymanagingan interestaftertheyhavearousedit.Westandingreatneedofcompetentmen whowillbringhonorinsteadofdisgraceuponthecausewhichthey represent.Ministersshouldbeexaminedespeciallytoseeiftheyhavean intelligentunderstandingofthetruthforthistime,sothattheycangivea connecteddiscourseuponthepropheciesoruponpracticalsubjects.Ifthey cannotclearlypresentBiblesubjectstheyneedtobehearersandlearnersstill. TheyshouldearnestlyandprayerfullysearchtheScriptures,andbecome conversantwiththem,inordertobeteachersofBibletruthtoothers.Allthese thingsshouldbecarefullyandprayerfullyconsideredbeforemenarehurried intothefieldoflabor.{4T407.1} Thequalificationsofabishop,orofanelderordeacon,are,tobe"blameless,as thestewardofGod;notselfwilled,notsoonangry,notgiventowine,nostriker, notgiventofilthylucre;butaloverofhospitality,aloverofgoodmen,sober,just, holy,temperate;holdingfastthefaithfulwordashehathbeentaught,thathe maybeablebysounddoctrinebothtoexhortandtoconvincethegainsayers." {1T692.1} WifeofanElderSisterS,yourhusbandmightbeofsomeuseinthechurchif yourinfluencewerewhatitoughttobe.Butyourexampleandinfluence

disqualifyhimtoexertasanctifyinginfluenceinthechurch.Homeinfluences morethancounteracthiseffortsforgood.Youarewhollyunqualifiedtobethe wifeofanelderofthechurch.Godcallsuponyoutoreform.Your 317 husbandhasaworktodotosethisheartandhouseinorder.Whenheis converted,thencanhestrengthenhisbrethren.{2T316.2} ActsofApostles94.Ordinationofelders,inMoses'time Inharmonywiththisplan,"MoseschoseablemenoutofallIsrael,andmade themheadsoverthepeople,rulersofthousands,rulersofhundreds,rulersof fifties,andrulers 94 oftens.Andtheyjudgedthepeopleatallseasons:thehardcausestheybrought untoMoses,buteverysmallmattertheyjudgedthemselves."Exodus18:1926. {AA93.2} Later,whenchoosingseventyelderstosharewithhimtheresponsibilitiesof leadership,Moseswascarefultoselect,ashishelpers,menpossessingdignity, soundjudgment,andexperience.Inhischargetotheseeldersatthetimeoftheir ordination,heoutlinedsomeofthequalificationsthatfitamantobeawiseruler inthechurch."Hearthecausesbetweenyourbrethren,"saidMoses,"andjudge righteouslybetweeneverymanandhisbrother,andthestrangerthatiswithhim. Yeshallnotrespectpersonsinjudgment;butyeshallhearthesmallaswellasthe great;yeshallnotbeafraidofthefaceofman;forthejudgmentisGod's." Deuteronomy1:16,17.{AA94.1} PP381.4 MosesrepeatedtothecongregationthewordsoftheLord,andannouncedthe appointmentoftheseventyelders.Thegreatleader'schargetothesechosen menmightwellserveasamodelofjudicialintegrityforthejudgesand legislatorsofmoderntimes:"Hearthecausesbetweenyourbrethren,andjudge

righteouslybetweeneverymanandhisbrother,andthestrangerthatiswithhim. Yeshallnotrespectpersonsinjudgment;butyeshallhearthesmallaswellasthe great;yeshallnotbeafraidofthefaceofman;forthejudgmentisGod's." Deuteronomy1:16,17.{PP381.3} Mosesnowsummonedtheseventytothetabernacle."AndtheLordcame downinacloud,andspakeuntohim,andtookofthespiritthatwasuponhim, andgaveituntotheseventyelders:anditcametopass,that,whenthespirit resteduponthem,theyprophesied,anddidnotcease."Likethedisciplesonthe DayofPentecost,theywereenduedwith"powerfromonhigh."Itpleasedthe Lordthustopreparethemfortheirwork,andtohonortheminthepresenceof thecongregation,thatconfidencemightbeestablishedinthemasmendivinely chosentounitewithMosesinthegovernmentofIsrael.{PP381.4} SDABibleCommentaryVol.5(1957)1104.3 57(John18:13,14).NeedNotBeInstrumentsofUnrighteousness.Caiaphas wastheonewhowastobeinofficewhentypemetantitype,whenthetrueHigh Priestcameintooffice.Eachactorinhistorystandsinhislotandplace;forGod's greatworkafterHisownplanwillbecarriedoutbymenwhohaveprepared themselvestofillpositionsforgoodorevil.Inoppositiontorighteousness,men becomeinstrumentsofunrighteousness.Buttheyarenotforcedtotakethis courseofaction.Theyneednotbecomeinstrumentsofunrighteousness,any morethanCainneededto(RHJune12,1900).{5BC1104.3} GospelWorkers;173.2 Carefulnessindressisanimportantconsideration.Theministershouldbe clothedinamannerbefittingthedignityofhisposition.Someministershave failedinthisrespect.Insomecasesnotonlyhastherebeenalackoftasteandof orderlyarrangementinthedress,buttheclothinghasbeenuntidyandslovenly. {GW173.1} TheGodofheaven,whosearmmovestheworld,whogivesuslifeand sustainsusinhealth,ishonoredordishonoredbytheapparelofthosewho officiateinHishonor.ToMosesHegavespecialinstructionregardingeverything

connectedwiththetabernacleservice,andHespecifiedthedressthatthose shouldwearwhoweretoministerbeforeHim."Thoushaltmakeholygarments forAaronthybrotherforgloryandforbeauty,"[EX.28:2]wasthedirectiongiven toMoses.Everythingconnectedwiththeapparelanddeportmentofthepriests wastobesuchastoimpressthebeholderwithasenseoftheholinessofGod,the sacrednessofHisworship,andthepurityrequiredofthosewhocameintoHis presence.{GW173.2}

[The current General Conference policy on ordination of women as local church elders is stated in the 2009 Seventh-day Adventist Minister's Handbook, p. 94.] "Elders and deacons should be persons of experience, chosen wisely. By action of the Annual Council of 1975, reaffirmed at the 1984 Annual Council, both men and women are eligible to serve as elders and receive ordination to this position of service in the church."

To

be ordained or licensed biblically begins with the candidate first acknowledging God 's call to the ministry and then begins the biblical and legal process of examination that leads to ordination or a ministry license that affords the candidate exciting opportunities for ministry. Such as: officiating wedding ceremonies, baptisms, starting a church or other ministries, becoming a pastor or chaplain and much more (1 Timothy 3:6; 5:22).

ITimothy3:1This[is]atruesaying,Ifamandesiretheofficeofabishop,hedesirethagood work. 3:2Abishopthenmustbeblameless,thehusbandofonewife,vigilant,sober,ofgood behaviour,giventohospitality,apttoteach; 3:3Notgiventowine,nostriker,notgreedyoffilthylucre;butpatient,notabrawler,not covetous; 3:4Onethatrulethwellhisownhouse,havinghischildreninsubjectionwithallgravity; 3:5(Forifamanknownothowtorulehisownhouse,howshallhetakecareofthechurchof God?) 3:6Notanovice,lestbeingliftedupwithpridehefallintothecondemnationofthedevil.

3:7Moreoverhemusthaveagoodreportofthemwhicharewithout;lesthefallinto reproachandthesnareofthedevil. ITimothy5:1Rebukenotanelder,butentreat[him]asafather;[and]theyoungermenas brethren; 5:2Theelderwomenasmothers;theyoungerassisters,withallpurity. 5:3Honourwidowsthatarewidowsindeed. 5:4Butifanywidowhavechildrenornephews,letthemlearnfirsttoshowpietyathome, andtorequitetheirparents:forthatisgoodandacceptablebeforeGod. 5:5Nowshethatisawidowindeed,anddesolate,trustethinGod,andcontinuethin supplicationsandprayersnightandday. 5:6Butshethatlivethinpleasureisdeadwhilesheliveth. 5:7Andthesethingsgiveincharge,thattheymaybeblameless. 5:8Butifanyprovidenotforhisown,andspeciallyforthoseofhisownhouse,hehath deniedthefaith,andisworsethananinfidel. 5:9Letnotawidowbetakenintothenumberunderthreescoreyearsold,havingbeenthe wifeofoneman,
The examination should conclude that the individual is indeed called by God and has demonstrated that they are able to provide leadership for the church. It must also be determined that they are Scripturally Sound and Spiritually Grounded. This determination must be provided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2).

ThePastor'sDuty
LetthechurchappointpastorsorelderswhoaredevotedtotheLordJesus,andletthesemensee thatofficersarechosenwhowillattendfaithfullytotheworkofgatheringinthetithe.Ifthepastors showthattheyarenotfittedfortheircharge,iftheyfailtosetbeforethechurchtheimportanceof returningtoGodHisown,iftheydonotseetoitthattheofficersunderthemarefaithful,andthatthe titheisbroughtin,theyareinperil.Theyareneglectingamatterwhichinvolvesablessingoracurseto thechurch.Theyshouldberelievedoftheirresponsibility,andothermenshouldbetestedandtried. {CS106.1} TheLord'smessengersshouldseethatHisrequirementsarefaithfullydischargedbythemembersof thechurches.GodsaysthatthereshouldbemeatinHishouse,andifthemoneyinthetreasuryis tamperedwith,ifitisregardedasrightforindividualstomakewhatusetheypleaseofthetithe,the Lordcannotbless.Hecannotsustainthosewhothinkthattheycandoastheypleasewiththatwhichis His.R.&H.Supplement,Dec.1,1896.{CS106.2}CouncilsonStewardship. AfaithfulUndershepherd Theworkofthegospelministeris"tomakeallmenseewhatisthefellowshipofthemystery,which fromthebeginningoftheworldhathbeenhidinGod."Ephesians3:9.Ifoneenteringuponthiswork choosestheleastselfsacrificingpart,contentinghimselfwithpreaching,andleavingtheworkof personalministryforsomeoneelse,hislaborswillnotbeacceptabletoGod.SoulsforwhomChrist diedareperishingforwantofwelldirected,personallabor;andhehasmistakenhiscallingwho, enteringupontheministry,isunwillingtodothepersonalworkthatthecareoftheflockdemands. {AA527.1} Thespiritofthetrueshepherdisoneofselfforgetfulness.Helosessightofselfinorderthathemay worktheworksofGod.Bythepreachingofthewordandbypersonalministryinthehomesofthe people,helearnstheirneeds,theirsorrows,theirtrials;and,cooperatingwiththegreatBurden Bearer,hesharestheirafflictions,comfortstheirdistresses,relievestheirsoulhunger,andwinstheir heartstoGod.Inthisworktheministerisattendedbytheangelsofheaven,andhehimselfis instructedandenlightenedinthetruththatmakethwiseuntosalvation.{AA527.2} Inconnectionwithhisinstructiontothoseinpositionsoftrustinthechurch,theapostleoutlined somegeneralprinciplesthatweretobefollowedbyallwhowereassociatedinchurchfellowship.The youngermembersoftheflockwereurgedtofollowtheexampleoftheireldersinthe 528

practiceofChristlikehumility:"Likewise,yeyounger,submityourselvesuntotheelder.Yea,allofyou besubjectonetoanother,andbeclothedwithhumility:forGodresisteththeproud,andgivethgrace tothehumble.HumbleyourselvesthereforeunderthemightyhandofGod,thatHemayexaltyouin duetime:castingallyourcareuponHim;forHecarethforyou.Besober,bevigilant;becauseyour adversarythedevil,asaroaringlion,walkethabout,seekingwhomhemaydevour:whomresist steadfastinthefaith."{AA527.3} [vol.6BibleCommentary1083.6]13.ChristtheUnitingStone.Paulasks,"IsChristdivided?"Have wenotonespiritualHead?Christhasbeentheunitingstone,thechiefcornerstone,inallages.The patriarchs,theLeviticalpriesthood,andChristiansoftoday,allhavetheircenterinHim.Heisalland inall(RHJan.3,1899).{vol.6BibleCommentary1083.6} ToAbrahamwasgiventhepromisethatofhislinetheSaviouroftheworldshouldcome:"Inthyseed shallallthenationsoftheearthbeblessed.""Hesaithnot,Andtoseeds,asofmany;butasofone, Andtothyseed,whichisChrist."Genesis22:18;Galatians3:16.{AA222.2} Moses,nearthecloseofhisworkasaleaderandteacherofIsrael,plainlyprophesiedofthe Messiahtocome."TheLordthyGod,"hedeclaredtotheassembledhostsofIsrael,"willraiseupunto theeaProphetfromthemidstofthee,ofthybrethren,likeuntome;untoHimyeshallhearken."And MosesassuredtheIsraelitesthatGodHimselfhadrevealedthistohimwhileinMountHoreb,saying, "IwillraisethemupaProphetfromamongtheirbrethren,likeuntothee,andwillputMywordsin Hismouth;andHeshallspeakuntothemallthatIshallcommandHim."Deuteronomy18:15,18. 223 {AA222.3} TheMessiahwastobeoftheroyalline,forintheprophecyutteredbyJacobtheLordsaid,"The sceptershallnotdepartfromJudah,noralawgiverfrombetweenhisfeet,untilShilohcome;and untoHimshallthegatheringofthepeoplebe."Genesis49:10.{AA223.1} Isaiahprophesied:"ThereshallcomefortharodoutofthestemofJesse,andaBranchshallgrow outofhisroots.""Inclineyourear,andcomeuntoMe:hear,andyoursoulshalllive;andIwillmake aneverlastingcovenantwithyou,eventhesuremerciesofDavid.Behold,IhavegivenHimfora witnesstothepeople,aleaderandcommandertothepeople.Behold,thoushaltcallanationthat thouknowestnot,andnationsthatknewnottheeshallrununtotheebecauseoftheLordthyGod, andfortheHolyOneofIsrael;forHehathglorifiedthee."Isaiah11:1;55:35.{AA223.2} JeremiahalsoborewitnessofthecomingRedeemerasaPrinceofthehouseofDavid:"Behold,the dayscome,saiththeLord,thatIwillraiseuntoDavidarighteousBranch,andaKingshallreignand prosper,andshallexecutejudgmentandjusticeintheearth.InHisdaysJudahshallbesaved,and

Israelshalldwellsafely:andthisisHisnamewherebyHeshallbecalled,TheLordOurRighteousness." Andagain:"ThussaiththeLord:Davidshallneverwantamantosituponthethroneofthehouseof Israel;neithershalltheprieststheLeviteswantamanbeforeMetoofferburntofferings,andto kindlemeatofferings,andtodosacrificecontinually."Jeremiah23:5,6;33:17,18.{AA223.3} EventhebirthplaceoftheMessiahwasforetold:"Thou,BethlehemEphratah,thoughthoubelittle amongthethousands 224 ofJudah,yetoutoftheeshallHecomeforthuntoMethatistobeRulerinIsrael;whosegoingsforth havebeenfromofold,fromeverlasting."Micah5:2.{AA223.4} TheworkthattheSaviourwastodoontheearthhadbeenfullyoutlined:"TheSpiritoftheLordshall restuponHim,thespiritofwisdomandunderstanding,thespiritofcounselandmight,thespiritof knowledgeandofthefearoftheLord;andshallmakeHimofquickunderstandinginthefearofthe Lord."TheOnethusanointedwas"topreachgoodtidingsuntothemeek;...tobindupthe brokenhearted,toproclaimlibertytothecaptives,andtheopeningoftheprisontothemthatare bound;toproclaimtheacceptableyearoftheLord,andthedayofvengeanceofourGod;tocomfort allthatmourn;toappointuntothemthatmourninZion,togiveuntothembeautyforashes,theoil ofjoyformourning,thegarmentofpraiseforthespiritofheaviness;thattheymightbecalledtrees ofrighteousness,theplantingoftheLord,thatHemightbeglorified."Isaiah11:2,3;61:13.{AA 224.1} "BeholdMyservant,whomIuphold;Mineelect,inwhomMysouldelighteth;IhaveputMySpirit uponHim:HeshallbringforthjudgmenttotheGentiles.Heshallnotcry,norliftup,norcauseHis voicetobeheardinthestreet.AbruisedreedshallHenotbreak,andthesmokingflaxshallHenot quench:Heshallbringforthjudgmentuntotruth.Heshallnotfailnorbediscouraged,tillHehaveset judgmentintheearth:andtheislesshallwaitforHislaw."Isaiah42:14. 225 {AA224.2} WithconvincingpowerPaulreasonedfromtheOldTestamentScripturesthat"Christmustneeds havesuffered,andrisenagainfromthedead."HadnotMicahprophesied,"TheyshallsmitetheJudge ofIsraelwitharoduponthecheek"?Micah5:1.AndhadnotthePromisedOne,throughIsaiah, prophesiedofHimself,"IgaveMybacktothesmiters,andMycheekstothemthatpluckedoffthe hair:IhidnotMyfacefromshameandspitting"?Isaiah50:6.ThroughthepsalmistChristhadforetold

thetreatmentthatHeshouldreceivefrommen:"Iam...areproachofmen,anddespisedofthe people.AlltheythatseeMelaughMetoscorn:theyshootoutthelip,theyshakethehead,saying,He trustedontheLordthatHewoulddeliverHim:letHimdeliverHim,seeingHedelightedinHim.""I maytellallMybones:theylookandstareuponMe.TheypartMygarmentsamongthem,andcast lotsuponMyvesture.""IambecomeastrangeruntoMybrethren,andanalienuntoMymother's children.ForthezealofThinehousehatheatenMeup;andthereproachesofthemthatreproached TheearefallenuponMe.""ReproachhathbrokenMyheart;andIamfullofheaviness:andIlooked forsometotakepity,buttherewasnone;andforcomforters,butIfoundnone."Psalms22:68,17, 18;69:8,9,20.{AA225.1} HowunmistakablyplainwereIsaiah'spropheciesofChrist'ssufferingsanddeath!"Whohath believedourreport?"theprophetinquires,"andtowhomisthearmoftheLordrevealed?ForHe shallgrowupbeforeHimasa 226 tenderplant,andasarootoutofadryground:Hehathnoformnorcomeliness;andwhenweshall seeHim,thereisnobeautythatweshoulddesireHim.Heisdespisedandrejectedofmen;amanof sorrows,andacquaintedwithgrief:andwehidasitwereourfacesfromHim;Hewasdespised,and weesteemedHimnot.{AA225.2} ItwasHewhorevealedHimselftothepatriarchs.Adam,Noah,Abraham,Isaac,Jacob,andMoses understoodthegospel.Theylookedforsalvationthroughman'sSubstituteandSurety.Theseholy menofoldheldcommunionwiththeSaviourwhowastocometoourworldinhumanflesh;and someofthemtalkedwithChristandheavenlyangelsfacetoface.{PP366.1} AdamandEve,attheircreation,hadaknowledgeofthelawofGod;theywereacquaintedwithits claimsuponthem;itspreceptswerewrittenupontheirhearts.Whenmanfellbytransgressionthe lawwasnotchanged,butaremedialsystemwasestablishedtobringhimbacktoobedience.The promiseofaSaviourwasgiven,andsacrificialofferingspointingforwardtothedeathofChristasthe greatsinofferingwereestablished.ButhadthelawofGodneverbeentransgressed,therewould havebeennodeath,andnoneedofaSaviour;consequentlytherewouldhavebeennoneedof sacrifices.{PP363.1} AdamtaughthisdescendantsthelawofGod,anditwashandeddownfromfathertosonthrough successivegenerations.Butnotwithstandingthegraciousprovisionforman'sredemption,therewere fewwhoaccepteditandrenderedobedience.Bytransgressiontheworldbecamesovilethatitwas necessarytocleanseitbytheFloodfromitscorruption.ThelawwaspreservedbyNoahandhisfamily, andNoahtaughthisdescendantstheTenCommandments.AsmenagaindepartedfromGod,the LordchoseAbraham,ofwhomHedeclared,"AbrahamobeyedMyvoice,andkeptMycharge,My

commandments,Mystatutes,andMylaws."Genesis26:5.Tohimwasgiventheriteofcircumcision, whichwasasignthatthosewhoreceiveditweredevotedtotheserviceofGodapledgethatthey wouldremainseparatefromidolatry,andwouldobeythelawofGod.ThefailureofAbraham's descendantstokeepthispledge,asshownintheirdispositiontoformallianceswiththeheathenand adopttheirpractices,wasthecauseoftheirsojournandbondageinEgypt.Butintheirintercourse withidolaters,andtheirforcedsubmissiontotheEgyptians,thedivinepreceptsbecamestillfurther corruptedwiththevileandcruelteachingsofheathenism.Therefore 364 whentheLordbroughtthemforthfromEgypt,HecamedownuponSinai,enshroudedinglory andsurroundedbyHisangels,andinawfulmajestyspokeHislawinthehearingofallthepeople.{PP 363.2}

EducationofIsrael
ThesystemofeducationestablishedinEdencenteredinthefamily.Adamwas"thesonofGod"(Luke 3:38),anditwasfromtheirFatherthatthechildrenoftheHighestreceivedinstruction.Theirs,inthe truestsense,wasafamilyschool.{Ed33.1} Inthedivineplanofeducationasadaptedtoman'sconditionaftertheFall,Christstandsasthe representativeoftheFather,theconnectinglinkbetweenGodandman;Heisthegreatteacherof mankind.AndHeordainedthatmenandwomenshouldbeHisrepresentatives.Thefamilywasthe school,andtheparentsweretheteachers.{Ed33.2} Theeducationcenteringinthefamilywasthatwhichprevailedinthedaysofthepatriarchs.For theschoolsthusestablished,Godprovidedtheconditionsmostfavorableforthedevelopmentof character.ThepeoplewhowereunderHisdirectionstillpursuedtheplanoflifethatHehad appointedinthebeginning.ThosewhodepartedfromGodbuiltforthemselvescities,and, congregatinginthem,gloriedinthesplendor,theluxury,andthevicethatmakethecitiesoftoday theworld'sprideanditscurse.ButthemenwhoheldfastGod'sprinciplesoflifedweltamongthe fieldsandhills.Theywere 34 tillersofthesoilandkeepersofflocksandherds,andinthisfree,independentlife,withits opportunitiesforlaborandstudyandmeditation,theylearnedofGodandtaughttheirchildrenofHis worksandways.{Ed33.3}

 150.RebellionAgainstLeadership.ThesemenofIsraelcomplained,andinfluencedthepeopleto standwiththeminrebellion,andevenafterGodstretchedforthHishandandswallowedupthe wrongdoers,andthepeoplefledtotheirtentsinhorror,theirrebellionwasnotcured.Thedepthof theirdisaffectionwasmademanifestevenunderthejudgmentoftheLord.Themorningafterthe destructionofKorah,Dathan,andAbiramandtheirconfederates,thepeoplecametoMosesand Aaron,saying,"YehavekilledthepeopleoftheLord."ForthisfalsechargeontheservantsofGod, thousandsmorewerekilled,fortherewasinthemsin,exultationandpresumptuouswickedness (Letter12a,1893).{Vol.1BibleCommentary1114.2} (1Sam.15:23).LessonsFromtheRebellion.Iquestionwhethergenuinerebellionisevercurable. StudyinPatriarchsandProphetstherebellionofKorah,Dathan,andAbiram.Thisrebellionwas extended,includingmorethantwomen.[REFERENCEISHEREMADETOTWOMENLEADINGA REBELLIONINACERTAINFIELD.EDITOR.]Itwasledbytwohundredandfiftyprincesofthe congregation,menofrenown.Callrebellionbyitsrightname,andapostasybyitsrightname,and thenconsiderthattheexperienceoftheancientpeopleofGodwithallitsobjectionablefeatureswas faithfullychronicledtopassintohistory.TheScripturedeclares,"Thesethingswerewrittenforour admonition,uponwhomtheendsoftheworldarecome."Andifmenandwomenwhohavethe knowledgeofthetrutharesofarseparatedfromtheirgreatLeader,thattheywilltakethegreat leaderofapostasy,andnamehimChristourRighteousness,itisbecausetheyhavenotsunktheshaft deepintotheminesoftruth.Theyarenotabletodistinguishthepreciousorefromthebase material....{1BC1114.3}

***TheLordhaspermittedthismattertodevelopasithasdone,inordertoshowhoweasilyHis
peoplewillbemisled,whentheydependuponthewordsofmeninsteadofsearchingtheScriptures forthemselves,asdidthenobleBereans,toseeifthesethingsareso....{1BC1114.4} Rebellionandapostasyareintheveryairwebreathe.Weshallbeaffectedbyitunlesswebyfaith hangourhelplesssoulsuponChrist.Ifmenaresoeasilymisled,howwilltheystandwhenSatanshall personateChrist,andworkmiracles?Whowillbeunmovedbyhismisrepresentations?Professingto beChristwhenitisonlySatanassumingthepersonofChrist,andapparentlyworkingtheworksof Christ?WhatwillholdGod'speoplefromgivingtheirallegiancetofalseChrists?"Gonotyeafter them."{1BC1114.5} Thedoctrinesmustbeplainlyunderstood.Themenacceptedtoteachthetruthmustbeanchored; thentheirvesselwillholdagainststormandtempest,becausetheanchorholdsthemfirmly.The deceptionswillincrease,andwearetocallrebellionbyitsrightname.Wearetostandwiththe wholearmoron.Mybrethren,youarenotmeetingmenonly, 1115

butprincipalitiesandpowers.Wewrestlenotagainstfleshandblood.LetEph.6:1018beread carefully(Letter1,1897).{1BC1114.6} ChristcametoourworldnottoaidSataninworkinguprebellion,buttoputdown rebellion.Wherevermenstartoutinrebelliontheywillworksecretlyandindarkness,astheywillnot comeasChristhastoldthemtodototheonestheyhaveanymatteragainstbutwilltaketheirbudget offalsehoodsandenmityandevilsurmisingsandSatanicrepresentations,asdidSatantothefellow angelsunderhim,andgaintheirsympathybyfalserepresentations(Letter156,1897).{1BC1115.1} 13.PrincesEnlistedinRebellion.ThosemenofIsraelweredeterminedtoresistallevidencethat wouldprovethemtobewrong,andtheywentonandonintheircourseofdisaffectionuntilmany weredrawnawaytounitewiththem.Whowerethese?Nottheweak,nottheignorant,notthe unenlightened.Inthatrebellionthereweretwohundredandfiftyprincesfamousinthecongregation, menofrenown(Letter2a,1892).{1BC1115.2} KorahDeceivedHimself.Korahhadcherishedhisenvyandrebellionuntilhewasselfdeceived,and hereallythoughtthatthecongregationwasaveryrighteouspeople,andthatMoseswasatyrannical ruler,continuallydwellinguponthenecessityofthecongregation'sbeingholy,whentherewasno needofit,fortheywereholy(Ibid.,31).{1BC1115.4} 19.ThePeopleDeceivedThemselves.ThepeoplethoughtifKorahcouldleadthem,and encouragethem,anddwellupontheirrighteousacts,insteadofremindingthemoftheirfailures,they shouldhaveaverypeaceful,prosperousjourney,andhewouldwithoutdoubtleadthem,notback andforwardinthewilderness,butintothepromisedland.TheysaidthatitwasMoseswhohadtold themthattheycouldnotgointotheland,andthattheLordhadnotthussaid.Korahinhisexalted selfconfidencegatheredallthecongregationagainstMosesandAaron,"untothedoorofthe tabernacleofthecongregation"(Ibid.).{1BC1115.5}

ThesevenDeacons
Summoningameetingofthebelievers,theapostleswereledbytheHolySpirittooutlineaplanfor thebetterorganizationofalltheworkingforcesofthechurch.Thetimehadcome,theapostlesstated, whenthespiritualleadershavingtheoversightofthechurchshouldberelievedfromthetaskof distributingtothepoorandfromsimilarburdens,sothattheymightbefreetocarryforwardthe workofpreachingthegospel."Wherefore,brethren,"theysaid,"lookyeoutamongyousevenmen ofhonestreport,fulloftheHolyGhostandwisdom,whomwemayappointoverthisbusiness.Butwe willgiveourselvescontinuallytoprayer,andtotheministryoftheword."Thisadvicewasfollowed, andbyprayerandthelayingonofhands,sevenchosenmenweresolemnlysetapartfortheirduties asdeacons.{AA89.1}

Theappointmentoftheseventotaketheoversightofspeciallinesofwork,provedagreat blessingtothechurch.Theseofficersgavecarefulconsiderationtoindividualneedsaswellastothe generalfinancialinterestsofthechurch,andbytheirprudentmanagementandtheirgodlyexample theywereanimportantaidtotheirfellowofficersinbindingtogetherthevariousinterestsofthe churchintoaunitedwhole.{AA89.2} ThatthisstepwasintheorderofGod,isrevealedintheimmediateresultsforgoodthatwere seen."ThewordofGodincreased;andthenumberofthedisciplesmultipliedinJerusalemgreatly; andagreatcompanyofthepriests 90 wereobedienttothefaith."Thisingatheringofsoulswasduebothtothegreaterfreedomsecured bytheapostlesandtothezealandpowershownbythesevendeacons.Thefactthatthesebrethren hadbeenordainedforthespecialworkoflookingaftertheneedsofthepoor,didnotexcludethem fromteachingthefaith.Onthecontrary,theywerefullyqualifiedtoinstructothersinthetruth,and theyengagedintheworkwithgreatearnestnessandsuccess.{AA89.3} Totheearlychurchhadbeenentrustedaconstantlyenlargingworkthatofestablishingcentersof lightandblessingwherevertherewerehonestsoulswillingtogivethemselvestotheserviceofChrist. Theproclamationofthegospelwastobeworldwideinitsextent,andthemessengersofthecross couldnothopetofulfilltheirimportantmissionunlesstheyshouldremainunitedinthebondsof Christianunity,andthusrevealtotheworldthattheywereonewithChristinGod.Hadnottheir divineLeaderprayedtotheFather,"KeepthroughThineownnamethosewhomThouhastgivenMe, thattheymaybeone,asWeare"?AndhadHenotdeclaredofHisdisciples,"Theworldhathhated them,becausetheyarenotoftheworld"?HadHenotpleadedwiththeFatherthattheymightbe "madeperfectinone,""thattheworldmaybelievethatThouhastsentMe"?John17:11,14,23,21. TheirspirituallifeandpowerwasdependentonacloseconnectionwiththeOnebywhomtheyhad beencommissionedtopreachthegospel.{AA90.1} OnlyastheywereunitedwithChristcouldthediscipleshopetohavetheaccompanyingpowerof theHolySpiritand 91 thecooperationofangelsofheaven.Withthehelpofthesedivineagenciestheywouldpresent beforetheworldaunitedfrontandwouldbevictoriousintheconflicttheywerecompelledtowage unceasinglyagainstthepowersofdarkness.Astheyshouldcontinuetolaborunitedly,heavenly messengerswouldgobeforethem,openingtheway;heartswouldbepreparedforthereceptionof truth,andmanywouldbewontoChrist.Solongastheyremainedunited,thechurchwouldgoforth "fairasthemoon,clearasthesun,andterribleasanarmywithbanners."SongofSolomon6:10. Nothingcouldwithstandheronwardprogress.Thechurchwouldadvancefromvictorytovictory, gloriouslyfulfillingherdivinemissionofproclaimingthegospeltotheworld.{AA90.2}

TheorganizationofthechurchatJerusalemwastoserveasamodelfortheorganizationofchurches ineveryotherplacewheremessengersoftruthshouldwinconvertstothegospel.Thosetowhom wasgiventheresponsibilityofthegeneraloversightofthechurchwerenottolorditoverGod's heritage,but,aswiseshepherds,wereto"feedtheflockofGod,...beingensamplestotheflock"(1 Peter5:2,3);andthedeaconsweretobe"menofhonestreport,fulloftheHolyGhostandwisdom." Thesemenweretotaketheirpositionunitedlyonthesideofrightandtomaintainitwithfirmness anddecision.Thustheywouldhaveaunitinginfluenceupontheentireflock.{AA91.1} Laterinthehistoryoftheearlychurch,wheninvariouspartsoftheworldmanygroupsof believershadbeenformedintochurches,theorganizationofthechurchwasfurther 92 perfected,sothatorderandharmoniousactionmightbemaintained.Everymemberwasexhortedto actwellhispart.Eachwastomakeawiseuseofthetalentsentrustedtohim.Somewereendowedby theHolySpiritwithspecialgifts"firstapostles,secondarilyprophets,thirdlyteachers,afterthat miracles,thengiftsofhealings,helps,governments,diversitiesoftongues."1Corinthians12:28.But alltheseclassesofworkersweretolaborinharmony.{AA91.2} "Therearediversitiesofgifts,butthesameSpirit.Andtherearedifferencesofadministrations,but thesameLord.Andtherearediversitiesofoperations,butitisthesameGodwhichworkethallinall. ButthemanifestationoftheSpiritisgiventoeverymantoprofitwithal.Fortooneisgivenbythe Spiritthewordofwisdom;toanotherthewordofknowledgebythesameSpirit;toanotherfaithby thesameSpirit;toanotherthegiftsofhealingbythesameSpirit;toanothertheworkingofmiracles; toanotherprophecy;toanotherdiscerningofspirits;toanotherdiverskindsoftongues;toanother theinterpretationoftongues:butalltheseworkeththatoneandtheselfsameSpirit,dividingtoevery manseverallyasHewill.Forasthebodyisone,andhathmanymembers,andallthemembersofthat onebody,beingmany,areonebody:soalsoisChrist."1Corinthians12:412.{AA92.1} Solemnaretheresponsibilitiesrestinguponthosewhoarecalledtoactasleadersinthechurchof Godonearth.Inthedaysofthetheocracy,whenMoseswasendeavoringtocarryaloneburdensso heavythathewouldsoonhave 93 wornawayunderthem,hewascounseledbyJethrotoplanforawisedistributionofresponsibilities. "BethouforthepeopletoGodward,"Jethroadvised,"thatthoumayestbringthecausesuntoGod: andthoushaltteachthemordinancesandlaws,andshaltshowthemthewaywhereintheymust walk,andtheworkthattheymustdo."Jethrofurtheradvisedthatmenbeappointedtoactas"rulers ofthousands,andrulersofhundreds,rulersoffifties,andrulersoftens."Theseweretobe"ablemen, suchasfearGod,menoftruth,hatingcovetousness."Theywereto"judgethepeopleatallseasons," thusrelievingMosesofthewearingresponsibilityofgivingconsiderationtomanyminormattersthat couldbedealtwithwiselybyconsecratedhelpers.{AA92.2}

ThetimeandstrengthofthosewhointheprovidenceofGodhavebeenplacedinleadingpositions ofresponsibilityinthechurch,shouldbespentindealingwiththeweightiermattersdemanding specialwisdomandlargenessofheart.ItisnotintheorderofGodthatsuchmenshouldbeappealed tofortheadjustmentofminormattersthatothersarewellqualifiedtohandle."Everygreatmatter theyshallbringuntothee,"JethroproposedtoMoses,"buteverysmallmattertheyshalljudge:so shallitbeeasierforthyself,andtheyshallbeartheburdenwiththee.Ifthoushaltdothisthing,and Godcommandtheeso,thenthoushaltbeabletoendure,andallthispeopleshallalsogototheir placeinpeace."{AA93.1} Inharmonywiththisplan,"MoseschoseablemenoutofallIsrael,andmadethemheadsoverthe people,rulersofthousands,rulersofhundreds,rulersoffifties,andrulers 94 oftens.Andtheyjudgedthepeopleatallseasons:thehardcausestheybroughtuntoMoses,but everysmallmattertheyjudgedthemselves."Exodus18:1926.{AA93.2} Later,whenchoosingseventyelderstosharewithhimtheresponsibilitiesofleadership,Moses wascarefultoselect,ashishelpers,menpossessingdignity,soundjudgment,andexperience.Inhis chargetotheseeldersatthetimeoftheirordination,heoutlinedsomeofthequalificationsthatfita mantobeawiserulerinthechurch."Hearthecausesbetweenyourbrethren,"saidMoses,"and judgerighteouslybetweeneverymanandhisbrother,andthestrangerthatiswithhim.Yeshallnot respectpersonsinjudgment;butyeshallhearthesmallaswellasthegreat;yeshallnotbeafraidof thefaceofman;forthejudgmentisGod's."Deuteronomy1:16,17.{AA94.1} KingDavid,towardthecloseofhisreign,deliveredasolemnchargetothosebearingtheburdenof theworkofGodinhisday.SummoningtoJerusalem"alltheprincesofIsrael,theprincesofthetribes, andthecaptainsofthecompaniesthatministeredtothekingbycourse,andthecaptainsoverthe thousands,andcaptainsoverthehundreds,andthestewardsoverallthesubstanceandpossessionof theking,andofhissons,withtheofficers,andwiththemightymen,andwithallthevaliantmen," theagedkingsolemnlychargedthem,"inthesightofallIsraelthecongregationoftheLord,andin theaudienceofourGod,"to"keepandseekforallthecommandmentsoftheLordyourGod."I Chronicles28:1,8. 95 {AA94.2} ToSolomon,asonecalledtooccupyapositionofleadingresponsibility,Davidgaveaspecial charge:"Thou,Solomonmyson,knowthoutheGodofthyfather,andserveHimwithaperfectheart andwithawillingmind:fortheLordsearchethallhearts,andunderstandethalltheimaginationsof thethoughts:ifthouseekHim,Hewillbefoundofthee;butifthouforsakeHim,Hewillcasttheeoff forever.Takeheednow;fortheLordhathchosenthee:...bestrong."IChronicles28:9,10.{AA95.1}

ThesameprinciplesofpietyandjusticethatweretoguidetherulersamongGod'speopleinthe timeofMosesandofDavid,werealsotobefollowedbythosegiventheoversightofthenewly organizedchurchofGodinthegospeldispensation.Intheworkofsettingthingsinorderinallthe churches,andordainingsuitablementoactasofficers,theapostlesheldtothehighstandardsof leadershipoutlinedintheOldTestamentScriptures.Theymaintainedthathewhoiscalledtostandin apositionofleadingresponsibilityinthechurch"mustbeblameless,asthestewardofGod;notself willed,notsoonangry,notgiventowine,nostriker,notgiventofilthylucre;butaloverofhospitality, aloverofgoodmen,sober,just,holy,temperate;holdingfastthefaithfulwordashehathbeen taught,thathemaybeablebysounddoctrinebothtoexhortandtoconvincethegainsayers."Titus 1:79.{AA95.2} TheorderthatwasmaintainedintheearlyChristianchurchmadeitpossibleforthemtomove forwardsolidlyasawelldisciplinedarmycladwiththearmorofGod.The 96 companiesofbelievers,thoughscatteredoveralargeterritory,wereallmembersofonebody;all movedinconcertandinharmonywithoneanother.Whendissensionaroseinalocalchurch,aslater itdidariseinAntiochandelsewhere,andthebelieverswereunabletocometoanagreementamong themselves,suchmatterswerenotpermittedtocreateadivisioninthechurch,butwerereferredtoa generalcounciloftheentirebodyofbelievers,madeupofappointeddelegatesfromthevariouslocal churches,withtheapostlesandeldersinpositionsofleadingresponsibility.ThustheeffortsofSatan toattackthechurchinisolatedplacesweremetbyconcertedactiononthepartofall,andtheplans oftheenemytodisruptanddestroywerethwarted.{AA95.3} "Godisnottheauthorofconfusion,butofpeace,asinallchurchesofthesaints."ICorinthians 14:33.Herequiresthatorderandsystembeobservedintheconductofchurchaffairstodaynoless thaninthedaysofold.HedesiresHisworktobecarriedforwardwiththoroughnessandexactnessso thatHemayplaceuponitthesealofHisapproval.ChristianistobeunitedwithChristian,churchwith church,thehumaninstrumentalitycooperatingwiththedivine,everyagencysubordinatetotheHoly Spirit,andallcombinedingivingtotheworldthegoodtidingsofthegraceofGod.{AA96.1}

PROPHETS IN HEAVENS BOOK By Leslie Hardinge PHD.

In the book Education p. 46, these interesting sentences are recorded. From the earliest times Prophets have been recognized as teachers divinely appointed. In the highest sense the prophet was one who spoke by direct inspiration. Communicating to the people the messages that he had received from God. But the name was given also to those who was not so directly inspired were divinely called to instruct the people the works and ways of god. For the training of such a cast of teachers, Samuel, by the Lords direction established the schools of the prophets. Now let us think of what some of these prophets did. Some of these prophets were just a one time, a one-message kind of approach. Some of them didnt even give one message. The bible tells us that the prophets of God were helping them, by their presents. And I sure by their words, and by their prayers

The Women Prophetess are in Red

1. Aaron: Exodus 7:1; There are no messages that he recorded. He was to help Moses. A spokesman, by his presents, by his prayer. When Moses was lifting up his arms, Aaron and Hur upheld them. That was more than a physiological act, that was symbolic jester of total support. It comes to the English language to uphold the hands of any person right in the forefront of the conflict seeking to do the divine will.

2. Abigail: 1 Samuel 25:3 (mentioned 17 times in Old Testament.) She was given the flash of insight into the success and messianic potential of this outlaw Captain David. Who had been so bitterly insulted by her husband Nabal. 3. Abraham: Genesis Ch. 15; In the 15th chapter, and then in the messianic tablow of the sacrificing of his son. And Christ looking back, says to Isaac, your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and saw it. So God opened his eyes, in an inspired vision, and he looked down and saw, as you read in the 15th chapter, the horror of Great Darkness of Gethsemane, Calvary, 4. Adam: P&Ks 67, DA 799; tells us Adam had the Spirit of Prophecy, even though the bible doesnt tell us. He could look through, and see the future of his prosperity, the tragedy of the world, the future of the Kingdom of God, and the ultimate success.

5. Agabus: Acts 11:28, He meet Paul he predicted that Paul was to be arrested Acts 21:11; just a one shot message. As we go through these Prophets. Try to assess in our minds the circumstances and the wherefores as we can recall the stories why these prophets functioned.

6. Agur: Proverbs 30 & 31: Mystery man, also called Lemuel. Some think this was a way Solomon was speaking of himself. There are inspired writing by this writer. 7. Ahijah: 1 Kings 15:27; He gave his message, did what he could. Suffered all the rebuffs that came to him. And carried out the divine functioning. 8. Amos: Wrote a book, 9. Ananias: Acts ch. 9; God spoke to him, and said you go and speak to Saul thats called Straight. Youll find a man Saul of Tarsus, and tell him I have a future for him. And he did. He worked a miracle, almost completely restored Pauls blindness. He didnt completely, because Paul had trouble with his eyes the rest of his life. And the Lord aloud him to have this, so that he wouldnt be Proud because of the abundance of the Revelations given to him. See hes the New Testament counterpart of Moses. Paul molded and made the New Testament. He was the giant that describes the 1st century, and the succeeding century. God realized that Paul needed to maintain his humility, and He let this thorn in the flesh, this minister of Satan to buffed him. But Ananias accomplished this task, and baptized the most influential mind in the Christian Church, apart from Jesus Christ.

10. Anna: Luke 2:36; Meeting Christ. Elderly lady, filled with the gift of prophecy. recognizing that Christ had come, she was saturated with the knowledge of the Old Testament. Particularly the Psalms. and when Christ came, all that phraseology, that were in the Psalms, and in the prophets, came right back to their minds and focused on the face of that was there presented.

11. Asaph: I Chronicles 25:9 And many other places. (A Song Writer) God had inspired several people to write hymns. The Psalms, to lead in worship. And we will call attention to them as we go through the bible. Asaph is probably one of the most famous. 12. Azariah: 2 Chronicles 15:1; (came once) meet a crisis, and disappears. . 13. Azur: Jeremiah 28:1; He does nothing that we have any knowledge. 14. Balaam: Was a true prophet at one time. He was one of Gods shining firmaments of glory. He was a priest. Talmud mentions there were great persons, 4 persons; 1. Job (a priest, and a prophet.) 2. Balaam (a Priest and prophet). 3. Melchizedek (a priest and prophet) 4. Jethro: (a priest and prophet). These were non-Hebrew people. But God accepted their offerings. This is used many times by the Talmudists, the ancient Hebrew writers, we sometimes think its just mentioned 6 times in the New Testament, which it is, but its mentioned many times, extra Biblically in the Jewish writings. Job: Was a Canaanite. He offered sacrifices continually, in case his sons sinned. Melchizedek: Was a Canaanite. Whose home was in Jerusalem. Jethro: Was a priest of the most high God from Midian. He was a Midianite. Balaam: Offered sacrifices to God, and he came from Mesopotamia. He aloud the erosion of his faith to be produced by his abborous, Balaam loved money, which destroyed his faith, and when the children concurred the land, he was slain.

Those mentioned above were non-Hebrew people. God introduces them into the scripture narrative, to indicate that His Spirit will fill, and His grace will transform characters wherever they are found.

15.Caiaphas: (Was chairman of the Sanhedrin) with the stories of Jesus arrest, and the condemnation of Christ. Caiaphas plays a very important roll. They knew nothing at all, its expedient that one should parish that the whole nation suffer not. Even though he despised Christ, God used him. This

spake he, not because he was a High Priest, but because God gave him prophecy. He understood it. You know God can use Balaam, He can Caiaphas, to convey His message, one shot. 16.Daniel: Wrote a book. 17.David: Great writer, poet. wrote parts of Samuel, and much of the Psalms. 18.Deborah: Judges Ch. 4; (a woman of action). 1 time ministry. Got a vision, one time. Barak was the leader, The presence of Deborah, with the message of the Lord to give to him. Then the great song of triumph in the 5th chapter of Judges. Something like the triumph that the Israelites sung after Crossing the Red Sea. A one-time ministry. Inspired by God, accomplished the will, when it was over, that was it. Then there were two mysterious characters, Eldad, and Medad they prophesied before Israel. While the children of Israel were forgetting, that Moses was in the Mount. Forgetting the Lord had brought them safely from bondage in Egypt, across the Red Sea, fed them, watered them, lighted them, cooled them, and heated them, Eldad & Medad prophesied. They wrote no books, gave no oral discourse that has been recorded by any other. Nevertheless, they accomplished a purpose. 19.Eldad: Numbers 11: 26-29; Eldad and Medad, they prophesied before Israel. 20. Medad: Numbers 11: 26-29. 21. Eliezer: 2 Chronicles 20:37; One time, gave his message. 22. The Seventy Elders: That prophesied and helped Eldad and Medad. Then we have Elijah and Elisha, They wrote no books. Nevertheless, theres a great deal told to us about their ministry. Much more about Elisha than Elijah. 23. Elijah: The Tishbite: (was fearless, a doer, rather than a thinker. teacher, or preacher.) A man of action. The need arose, and he rose to the need and said lets get it done. And he did it. Also both Elijah and Elisha were great educators. They reestablished the schools of the prophets. That was Deborah too, a woman of action. An other aspect of this prophetic ministry, is activity. Something needs to be done, lets get with it. And the wheels of machinery begin moving. 24. Elisha: Who followed in the footsteps of Elijah, who ask for, and given a double portion (blessing of Elijah).

25. Elizabeth: Luke 1:5; You can read Elizabeth the Mother of John the Baptist. when Mary came into her presence, Remember when she the child in my womb jumped for joy, and immediately she breaks out in peaians of praise, to the mother of the Lord of Glory. That is full of poetic effusion is full of Old Testament imagery and quotations and illusions, but also looks foreword to the success and ultimate triumphant of that babe in her presence.

26. Enoch: (the seventh from Adam.) He predicted the Flood, and the Second Advent. The two major interventions to stop this Planet, and remove the evil, so to speak, that God takes a part. 27. Ethan: Psalms 89: 1; He was an other singer. I Chronicles 16:41: He is also called Jeduthun; he is a musician and and a writer of Hymns. So God wished that His people sing Hymns of very high order. The lyrics, the music, God himself took an interest.

28. Ezekiel: We have no question, he wrote the book. 29. Gad: I Chronicles 29:29; wrote a book, and the book is lost. He was also very interested in music too. He took a great part in helping to smoothen out, and more worth while, the worship that Gods people rendered to God in corporate activities. Not personal, but when they meet together to worship. The choirs, and the singers, and the musicians, and the orchestras, the soloist, the lyrics they sang, the Music they produced, God gave this prophetic gift To be directed there. 30. Habakkuk: Wrote a book. 31. Hanani: II Chronicles 16:7, and 19:2, and I Chronicles 25:4. He to came once and gave his message, and went his way.

32. Hanna: II Samuel ch. Two; The mother of Samuel, God gave her the Spirit of Prophecy. Not only did she see the future of her son. But he gave to her a vision what the son would play some part in the accomplishing in the establishment of the kingdom of God. Hanna was a very remarkable women.

33. Heman: I Chronicles 25:1-6; The title that was given to him was THE SINGER It is believed that he composed Psalms 88. And when you read that Psalm, it was to help David when he was going through the weeks of terrible depression that he went through, when he had realized what he had done with Bathsheba and Uriah and everything that happened. When you read the Bible. David never got over that, never ever. It was like an incubus over him all the time. God had forgiven him, But sometimes when God forgives, He doesnt always remove the consequences of that act. And the consequences of that act, like the consequences of Adams act, for nearly a thousand years, when all wickedness came, when all the death and war and everything came. Adams descendents, great, great, great grandchildren came, and pointed their finger at Adam, and said you were the one responsible for this. A shadow over his life, although he was forgiven, right to the End. Heman evidently produced music, even for David. To help him lift his spirits up by seeing the Lord. 34. Hezekiah: The King, added fifteen years to his life, and cured him. Produced a Psalm that came by the gift of Prophecy. 35. Hosea: He wrote a book. 36. Huldah: II Kings 22:14; She lived there in the college, close by the temple. Well known by her ability to give expositions of the scripture. She was once introduced into the story as bringing a tremendous word in the confidence in Gods inspired word, and instruction to the King. 37. Iddo: An other man, wrote a book, it is lost. Was close to David. A chronicler, historian, encourager of the King in all his troubles. There is nothing of his actual words that are produced. These prophets come, and they fulfill their function for a day, a month, a year, and then they disappear. 38. Isaac: Genesis 26:6-24; Son of Abraham, he to be also granted the Spirit of Prophecy.

39. Isaiah: II Kings 19:2; And of course the book hes written. It is recorded that was sawn asunder. If you would look in the SDA Commentary, the volume that deals with Isaiah, you will read that Ellen White says he was sawn asunder. And also read in the Second volume of Charles, the pseudo epigrapher. You will read the martyrdom of Isaiah. Its just a small book, that Has been preserved, a very old one. About four pages long. It describes how Manasseh had him sawed into pieces. Also in Hebrews 11:37, Even though it doesnt give his name, does mention the various types of persecutions Gods prophets endured.

40. Isaiahs Wife: Isaiah 8:3; She was called the prophetess, this does not mean Mrs. Prophet, its a term indicative of a Prophetic Office. And so with her husband, she worked for the up building the cause of God, at a time when Israel was in desperate straights

41. Jacob: Genesis 49; predicting his sons future. Genesis 28:10 to 13. Spiritual Gifts Vol. 3, pg. 170. Jacob had the gift of Spiritual Prophecy. 42. Jehiel: Prophets and Kings, pg. 201, and II Chronicles 21:1-4: was an other Prophet, just one time. 43. James: Wrote the book, brother of the Lord in the New Testament. 44. Jeiel: II Chronicles 29:13; he too was a singer. Had the prophet gift, he helped with the cleansing of the temple. He aided Hezekiah had the prophetic gift. He helped him in the cleansing of the temple. 45. Jehu: I Kings 16:1 through 7 & 12 and several other places. He to helped the King. He was the son of Hanani. 46. Jeremiah: Wrote a book. 47. Job: Was a prophet, and priest. 48. Joel: Wrote a book. Son of Pethuel. 49. John the Baptist: Luke 7:28-30; There is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.

50. John the Revelator: these are pretty obvious, and we know their functions. 51. Joseph: Genesis 41: 16-29; and the 6th Vol. Of the Testimonies, pg. 219 Remember he saw sun, moon & stars, he got a vision bowing before him. And he saw the sheaves bowing down to him. He had several interesting Visions that the Lord had given him. And also functioned as a prophet for Pharaoh. 52. Joshua: Joshua 6:26.and I Kings 16:34; He wrote the book. He to had the Spirit of Prophecy. 53. Judas Barsabas: In the New Testament, Acts 15:22-27; Had the gift of prophecy. He helped Paul, encouraged the church. 54. Jude: The second to the last book in the Bible. 55. Luke: Wrote a book. 56. Malachi: Wrote a book. 56. Matthew: Wrote a book. 57. Mark: Wrote a book. 58. Mary: The Mother of Jesus. If you consider the magnificat, its full of the Psalms, she must have known those Psalms from memory. Magnificent teacher for the son that was commended to her care. Blessed among women could see through it, the future of her son. 59. Micah: Wrote a book. 60. Micaiah: He stood up to Ahab, predicted his death. Ahab put him in jail for his trouble. 61. Miriam: Exodus: 15:20; Miriam had the Spirit of Prophecy. You have to be very sad for Miriam and Aaron, they had made a mess of their lives. God could still use them. But they were never like what they could have been, like David. What David would have been? What these people would have been, if they hadnt allowed themselves to be seduced by Satan. God could still use them, but they were crippled. Their joints had never really set, so after leading the women of Israel in their anthem of praise antiphonally with the men that were lead by Moses. After the crossing of the Red Sea, allowing herself to become jealous of Zipporah, we need nothing more. Now the ministry God had specially for building the women, in helping their faith.

62. Moses: Wrote five books, the book of Job. Many predictions, every function. Moses was much more than a prophet. He was magnificent. 63. Nahum: Wrote a book. 64. Nathan: II Samuel 7:2; His ministry for David, the histories he wrote, the organization of the kingdom that he produced , the helping and encouraging and triggering the building temple. He had a very wide ministry. 65. Noah: Hebrews 11:7; The time of the Flood, 66. Obadiah: And his book.

67. Oded: II Chronicles 28:9; Not only a prophet himself. II Chronicles 15:8; that he was also a son of a prophet, Azariah. Two of them, father and son. Which is not common. 68. Peter: Couple books he wrote, predicts the Second Coming of Christ, predicts the Geo-science crises,

69. Paul: Paul of course, here is a shadow that flips across the page. I view Paul as a type of Moses, leading out in the first century of the Christian Age. 70. Philips daughters: Acts 21:8,9. Philips four virgin daughters prophesized. What they prophesized about is unknown 74. Haroeh: THE SEER, A descendant of Caleb listed in the genealogy of Judah. What he did, we are not told.

75. Samuel: An other giant, wrote a book, inaugurated Christian education, helped in the anointing of two Kings, and stemmed the defeat of Israel and a very young man against the Philistines. 76. Saul: I Samuel 10:5-12; King Saul, the first King of Israel. Patriarchs and Prophets. Page 610. He could be a King, as well as a Prophet. God turned him into an other man . Give him the gift of prophecy. The miracle was so profound and well known, that it became a proverb in Israel Is Saul also among the prophets? If he can get religion, then anyone can. But he allowed the attacks of the adversary to destroy him, until he committed suicide.

77. Shemaiah: I Kings 12:22-24, II Chronicles 11, II Chronicles 12. He came and carried out his purpose of sustaining and supporting. He wrote a book and it is lost. Was called A Man of God. There were two Simeons, There was the elderly gentleman in the temple, and there was a prophet at Antioch. The one was lead to identify Christ, and the Second Simeon helped in the inauguration of the first missionary enterprise of the Christian church, lead by Paul and Barnabus. 78. Simeon: Luke 2:25-32. The elderly prophet in the temple. 79. Simeon: Acts 13:1: The Prophet at Antioch, He was called Niga , and Niga in the Kings James spelling Niger. You have to have certain characteristics to be Called Niger. The word Niga in Latin means Black. The Nigerian Country and The river Niga in West of Africa, was the first place that was called Black. So this man evidentially was black in some way. 80. Solomon: He wrote his books, 81. Steven: Act 6:5-9; At his martyrdom, He was a deacon. A man full of Faith, and the Holy Ghost. 82. Urijah: Jeremiah 26:20-23; Was slain by Jehoiakim with a sword, and cast his body into the graves of the common people. Was the son of Shemaiah. There are three Zechariahs. 83. Zechariah: Son of Barachias. In Mathew 23:35; Christ mentions Zachariah son of Barachias, whom they had slew between the temple and the alter. Gave a call to return to God. 84. Zechariah: II Chronicles 24:20-22; Son of Jehoiada the priest, who was executed for prophesying against Joash for turning to idolatry. So they stoned him.

85.Zachariah: II Chronicles 26:5 and Isaiah 8:2; son of Jeberechiah.

We are told of the fate they suffered, but no details of their ministries.
81. Zephaniah: Wrote a book.

This is the list that emerges in the Bible, as Dr. Leslie Hardinge was able to get. Some of them wrote books, and the authors in the Bible are supposed to be some 43

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in number. They all had the gift of prophecy. There are others that have written books, that are no longer available. Iddo wrote a book, its called The Story of the Commentary of the prophet Iddo. But its gone. Jehu wrote a book, called; The Acts of Jehoshaphat, and it to is gone. Shemaiah wrote a book called; The Acts of Rehoboam, it too is gone. Ahijah wrote a book called; A Prophecy, in the Prophecy of Ahijah. Gad he wrote a history of David and Solomon. Nathan did the same, and he wrote a book called; The Acts of Solomon. Heman just that he wrote a book. There is a book of Isaiah, other then the prophecy that we have, that is a lost Biography of King Uzziah, first and last. II Chronicles 26:22.Thats not in the Prophetic book. Theres a book of Jasher; Joshua 10:13 & II Samuel 1:18; No body knows anything about that. Theres a book called The Wars of God, in Numbers 21:14. Theres a book called The Acts of Solomon, in I Kings 11:41 Theres a book called The Acts of Uzziah in II Chronicles 26; 22, That Isaiah wrote. In II Chronicles 21:12; there is a letter that Elijah wrote to Jehoram that is lost. In II Chronicles 35:4; The writings of David and Solomon. Then in Pauls second Epistle, he makes the illusion to the letter he had written after I Corinthians, to the Corinthian Church. These are lost. 2 Chronicles 20:20Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe his prophets, and you will prosper.

FIVE EPOCHS OR CRISIS

1. THE FLOOD: Prophetic Truth, Present Truth

Enoch
2. THE EXODUS: Prophetic Truth

Noah
Present Truth

Abraham, Joseph 3. THE EXILE: Prophetic Truth Jeremiah, Isaiah 4. TIME OF CHRIST; Prophetic Truth John the Baptist 5. TIME OF DANIEL: Prophetic Truth Daniel and the 2300 days.

Moses
Present Truth

Daniel
Present truth

Christ
Present Truth

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If you will notice the chart above, on it is five epochs. (An epoch is a crisis). The word crisis comes from the word krinein, from which the word critic comes. Or criticism. Crisis is an exact English letter transliteration of the Greek krisis. All words ending in is describe processes. Krino is to judge. Its the process; the krisis that brings you up to the watershed that makes for the time of decision, after which the rivers flow in a direction that they can never revoke. As we approach the Bible there are certain preconceptions that we must keep in our heads. They are so simple when I tell them, theyre almost truisms, but how many people really believe them? God never changes. How many texts do you want? I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14) I the Lord change not. (Malachi 3:6) With Him there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) If God changed, wed be all in the loony bin. What would happen if gravity didnt function now? Right now. If gravity disappeared and you started to float weightlessly through the area that you are in, what would you do? If you are always wondering whether that large object would stay down there or whether it would go up somewhere and gravity would stop and it would scrunch you. Life would be interesting, wouldnt it? Wed be insane. Sunrises, Sunsets. Gravity holds us chained to the location where we are at. God has made it so. Seedtime and harvest, day and night, summer and winter shall not cease. Since God does not change, the way He acts through the centuries doesnt change. Doesnt change. You can challenge that statement, but give me two texts to prove your point. Thats what Jesus says, In the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will stand. Matthew 18:16; You need at least two texts for every idea you get. He works the same in every age. And the Lord God will do nothing but Hell revealeth His secret to His servants and prophets. Now with these in our minds as presuppositions, lets look at these charts. God was going to destroy the world by a flood. Point #1. If He revealed His secret to His servants or prophets, find the prophet. Then when the period is ending, He applies prophetic truth as present truth by another prophet. And that second prophet forms the nucleus of a

believing, remnant that survives. Noah preached prophetic truth that Enoch had given, for 120 years. He built an ark in the process. God did His part and filled the ark with the species of the animals He wanted. He told Noah and all the believers, Get on board. And eight people

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climbed aboard. It has been suggested that there were about 6 billion people on the planet in the days of Noah. You dont have to believe that statement, go calculate. If you come to 5 billion, maybe Ill agree, too. If you come to 4, its a lot. If you come to one billion, its a lot. If you come to 100,000 and only eight got on board, its still a lot. So the figure is

inconsequential. A trickle of humanity decided to climb a board. How many people do you think Noah had on his last Sabbath morning sermon in church? As it was so, there was a surviving remnant that believed prophetic truth when it was made present truth on the tongue of a prophet. That has been so in every case in history. The Lord God will do nothing, but He will reveal His secret to His servants the prophets. The next step is known as the Exodus. Moses took the prophetic truth and applied it. Time has come, Pharaoh; Let my people go, God is saying. And a great number of people set out, and the journey was not the way they expected. It took them longer than they thought. See they had built up in their minds a myth, a scenario. Its going to be this way. Its going to be this quick. It should have been this quick. It must be this quick. And two people got to the Promised Land. Their named; Joshua and Caleb. Prophetic truth applied by Moses. You know since the turn of the century, the world has seen the greatest war that was ever fought, 60 million causalities. Its seen the greatest famine that was ever contrived. Did you known most of the famines are contrived? Thirty million people starved to death in China, (59-61) compared with nine million people that Stalin starved to death. Mao Tse Tung beat Stalin by 3 times. The greatest earthquake that the world has ever seen, 400,000 causalities. The greatest single epidemic. Since the turn of the Century we have seen these signs. What signs do we want to see more? There will be war, there will be pestilences, and there will be earthquakes. Staggering! Seventy weeks-coming of the Messiah. Scores and scores of prophecies finding the Christ; His birth, His time, His lineage. Everything to do with Him. He raised up; There has not been a greater prophet than John the Baptist. Jesus said. To proclaim, the time is fulfilled. Prophetic truth is becoming present truth. Prophets raised up. Scores and scores of predictions fulfilled. And people chose not to believe. Let me emphasize that. Belief is a choice. Ive had people come to me sometimes, I havent done it too many times, but Ive sort of enjoyed doing it. Somebody came to me and said I couldnt see anything wrong with that. I said, May I compliment you on your honesty, that you admit you cant see. Shook them

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up, which I wanted to do. Think again, why cant you see? Youre choosing not to, from the evidence given in the Bible. They chose not to accept Christ, and a remnant survived. After Christs ascension, how large was the biggest congregation that he addressed, according to the apostle Paul? Five hundred persons at one time, Paul tells us. Five hundred. How many of those were in the Upper Room? One hundred and twenty. What happened to the three hundred and eighty? Ten days He was away before His gift of the Spirit on Pentecost, and 380 had to go skiing. Or whatever else they did in those days to occupy their time. But there were survivors there. They would to me and said I couldnt see anything wrong with that. I said, May I compliment you on your honesty, that you admit you cant see. Shook them up, which I wanted to do. Think again, why cant you see? Youre choosing not to, from the evidence given in the Bible. They chose not to accept Christ, and a remnant survived. After Christs ascension, how large was the biggest congregation that he addressed, according to the apostle Paul? Five hundred persons at one time, Paul tells us. Five hundred. How many of those were in the Upper Room? One hundred and twenty. What happened to the three hundred and eighty? Ten days He was away before His gift of the Spirit on Pentecost, and 380 had to go skiing. Or whatever else they did in those days to occupy their time. But there were survivors, there were survivors. Lets look at the last one. This is where, so also shall be when the Son of Man comes. Daniel made a prediction that was fulfilled on October 22, 1844. If you cant

establish that, please learn to do so. During the Second World War, Leslie Hardinge was pastor of a church in Edinborough, Scotland. And he and his wife would offer a Rest and Recreation area in their home, so every Sabbath, they would have 4 or 6 or so GIs. New Zealanders, Canadians, Australians, Americans, wherever they came from, theyd come. And his wife would invite them to have lunch with us, and he would mingle with them and he wanted to see how they had got on, during the conditions of the war. Not to embarrass anyone. They were of age, but he wanted to find out how they managed. How they managed about the Sabbath. You know some of them told Leslie some wonderful stories. One guy had said to him, The first Friday, Sergeant was a little tough. He wouldnt give him the Sabbath. He shouldve, but he was a little tough. So he said, I want to see the Captain. So he took him to the Captain. The Captain was sitting at his desk and he explained to him what he wanted, and the captain

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says, Youre a Seventh-day Adventist. He said, Yes, Sir. He said, Sit down here. So he sat him down at the corner of the desk, pulled out a sheet of paper, stuck it in front of him and gave him a pencil and said, Draw me a chart of the 2300 days with all the trimmings. Leslie never forgot that phrase. 2300 days with all the trimmings. Could you draw a chart of the 2300 days with all the trimmings? Seven weeks, 62 weeks, last week, all unto the end. And he sat down there and with a prayer, he said, Lord help me! and he remembered, his Academy Bible teacher. You see, he was drafted before he went to College. And the Lord helped him to put it down and he got all the dates down and all the bits and pieces and he handed it to the Captain and the Captain had a grin all over his face. He said, You know, I went to an Evangelistic Meeting run by a Seventh-day Adventist some years ago and he had a chart like this and Ive always wanted one. Thanks! He had no trouble getting the Sabbath off. Thats what a Seventh-day Adventist was supposed to do, in this Captains mind. Hes supposed to know the 2300 days with all the trimmings. Now since Jesus Christ never changes, since the Bible tells us, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Since He has walked this way in every crisis, and every epoch in Salvation history, The prophetic truth of the 2300 days must be applied by a Prophet. Look down there and you will see Prophet question marks. Who is the prophet? Youve got to find one. That is the center of the believing nucleus that takes Prophetic Truth and makes it Present Truth. That organized a believing remnant. Step by step by step. Millerite Movement, down through the years, he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. Many will be taken, few will remain and we, who are alive and remain, shall be caught up. Twice, Jesus made a very interesting statement. Many are called, but few are chosen. Now may I say with very great respect, thats not quite what the Greek says. Thats a meaning of the Greek, but not the way it says it. Let me tell you the way it says it, and if you dont believe me, check up in the Testaments. Your Pastors got one. You can look it up and see. Christs statements are verbals. They are gerunds. The little word many; many, simple term. The next one, the-being-called-out-ones, its one word. Many, the-being-called-out-ones. Its a process. But few; simple term, another word, the-choosing-for-themselves-ones. You couldnt

translate it like that in English. So many are called but few are chosen. The end gerund, choosing-for-themselves, is a middle voice. Its not passive, its not that they are chosen, but they are choosing for themselves. You go look that up.

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We ought do what the Bereans did when Paul preached. They went home and they checked whether those things were so or not. (Acts 17:11) Many, the-being-called-out-ones. Ekkalein from which you get Ekklesia. They are the ones in process of being called out. Few, the-ones-who-choose-for-themselves, there is no doubt whatever, that one of the main emphases of scripture is that the surviving remnants are saved. Jesus works this way. Jesus is the one that made the prophecies. Did you know that? Did you know that Jesus inspired the prophets? I Peter 1:10, The prophets searched diligently who prophesied. Verse 11, Searching or what manner of time the spirit of Christ in them did signify. I Peter 1:10,11. The same Jesus who was going to save the believing remnant, made the prediction. And He sent the prophet to take prophetic truth and apply it as present truth. Thats why the Spirit of Prophesy is the Testimony of Jesus. He is the one that testifies. The Spirit of Prophesy is the Testimony of Jesus. Got that one from Revelation 19:10. Jesus was in the prophets, testifying beforehand. Jesus was in the prophet who took that prophetic truth and made it present truth, to apply to us, who live in the present. And present truth today, in the emphasis that I am giving this today, is to accept the teachings of Jesus that will enable us to survive. Believe, what He has taught. Believe, the prophets, so shalt you prosper. Believe His Word. Many are the ones being called out, but few choose for themselves, and what we are choosing is the Word of Jesus. And since Jesus is the Word, we are choosing Him. He is the Alphabet from which the Word was written. Hes the Alpha and the Omega. Hes all the words. He is the Word, but the words teach us about Him. He is all the articulated segments of speech, the Logos is the meaning. Jesus starts with the alphabet, Jesus goes through the words of the Bible, Jesus focuses on the message of the Bible. Jesus is the center of everything. Those who believed in His message, in Noahs time, the time of the Exodus, at the time of the Exile, at the time of Christ, and Today. Those are the survivors; those are the ones that hold to their hearts, the Testimony of Jesus. Brothers and sisters very soon, it will be all over. Many will be taken, and a few will be left. May the good Lord hold us to His side and keep us close. That when He comes in the clouds of heaven, we, who are alive and remain, will be caught up. THOUGHTS BY LESLIE HARDINGE PHD.

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I personally with to dedicate this work, as the life long passion, and dedication of Leslie Hardinge PHD, his research and his love for the Bible, and Spirit of Prophecy. He now is sleeping in the arms of Christ, awaiting the trumpeters call.

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