A True Prophet of God

To find out if Ellen White was a true prophet of God, we first need to find out from the Bible what a true prophet was like. There are certain characteristics of a Bible prophet. So let's take a look through them and then find out if Ellen White fulfilled these "marks of a prophet".
"When the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known." (Jeremiah 28:9)
"He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak." (John 16:13)
"But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD .. to declare to Israel his sin." (Micah 3:8)
"And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me." (Jeremiah 1:16)
"Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." (1 John 4:2)
"Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16)
"He shall speak unto them all that I command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18)
So we have a list of charateristics that help us know if a prophet is truly a prophet of God. So the prophecies of a true prophet will of course come to pass. A true prophet will not speak of themselves, but will bring glory to God. A true prophet will point out sin. A true prophet will speak of coming judgments. A true prophet will proclaim that Jesus came in the flesh as fully human, capable of sin. A true prophet will have a good Christian character. And a true prophet will be obedient to the will of God.
So does Ellen White fulfill these marks of a true prophet? Well, before we go on, the first thing I would like to confirm is that a woman CAN be a prophet of God. The reason I want to confirm this is because there are some people who reject Ellen White straight away because she is a woman, and they believe that God only uses men as prophets. Well, this thinking is in direct opposition to God's Word, because there were a number of prophetesses in the Old Testament, including Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Noadiah. So God DOES use women as His prophets also.

Any Prophets After Jesus?

Another point that some people raise against Ellen White is that there were to be no more prophets after the time of Christ Jesus. This we can deal with swiftly from the Bible.

Acts 11:27-28 ...'And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.'

Ephesians 4:11-12 ...'And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.'

1 Corinthians 12:28 ...'And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.'

Joel 2:28 ...'And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.'

So would God use prophets after the time of Christ Jesus? Most definately yes.

Did Ellen White Fulfill the Marks of a Prophet?

So, was Ellen White a prophet, and did she fulfill the marks of a true prophet from the Bible? Yes, in every way. The main point that many people focus on is the one to do with visions from God and prophecies, so we will focus on that point the most. But let me confirm before we go into her visions and predictions, that Ellen White fulfilled all other points. If you read her writings, rather than take a text here and there out of context like many opposers do, you will see that Ellen White brought Glory to God and pointed the people to study the Bible first and foremost.

"The Lord desires you to study your Bibles. He has not given any additional light to take the place of His Word. This light [her own ministry] is to bring confused minds to His Word, which, if eaten and digested, is as the lifeblood of the soul." (E.G.White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 29)

"We must gather about the cross. Christ and Him crucified should be the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and of our most joyful emotion." (E.G.White, Steps to Christ, P.103 - 104)

"Make Christ first and last and best in everything. Constantly behold Him, and your love for Him will daily become deeper and stronger as it is submitted to the test of trial." (E.G.White, Testimonies, Vol.7, P.46)

"The object of all ministry is to keep self out of sight, and to let Christ appear. The exaltation of Christ is the great truth that all who labor in word and doctrine are to reveal." (E.G.White, Manuscript Releases, Vol.16, P.295)

As you can see, Ellen White's main focus was Christ Jesus and to bring glory to God. She also devoted much writing to point out sin and proclaim God's eternal law found in the ten commandments. She spoke much about the judgments that would come upon the world. And she truly declared that Jesus Christ was fully human on earth. And what about her character? Did she live a good Christian life, in line with the Word of God? Take a look at the following comments:

"She was absolutely honest in her belief in her revelations. Her life was worthy of them. She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre. She lived the life and did the work of a worthy prophetess." (New York "Independent", 1915).

"Mrs. White's life far transcends the life of anyone I have ever known or with whom I have been associated. She was uniformly pleasant, cheerful and courageous. She was never careless, flippant, or in any way cheap in conversation or manner of life. She was the personification of serious earnestness regarding the things of the kingdom. I never once heard her boast of the gracious gift God had bestowed upon her, or of the marvelous results of her endeavors." (A. G. Daniells, A Co-Worker for 23 Years)

Ellen White was generous, kind, and honest. She exemplified the Christian virtues she wrote about. For instance, despite the potential of living extravagantly off the royalties of her written work, she passed much of it on to spread the gospel and further the kingdom of God. Financially supporting church projects, and helping students attend Christian schools.
And what about the effect of her writings upon those who read them with an open mind? Well, in reviewing the chief findings of the 1980 research done by the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University, it is noted that Seventh-day Adventists "who regularly study the writings of Ellen White are also more likely to be stronger Christians in their personal spiritual life and in their witness to their communities than those church members who don't." (Ministry, October 1982, p. 10)
Did Ellen White fulfill the marks of a true prophet? She certainly did. But we still need to take a look at her visions and predictions.

Predictions and Visions of Ellen White

Ellen White had so many visions, of which you can read about in her volumes of writings, we could not go through them here. So we will share with you some of the most extraordinary predictions and visions from this humble woman of God. But first let me clear up a common misunderstanding about Ellen White. Many people seem to believe that it was Ellen White who prophesied about Jesus returning in 1844. This is incorrect, as it was a man named William Miller who came up with this prediction from what He understood of Bible prophecy in the book of Daniel. This was concerning the 2300 day prophecy, which reveals the beginning of God's end time remnant church.
So now that is cleared up, let us take a look at Ellen White's visions and predictions. To start with, where there any clear indicators concerning Ellen White's visions that tell us they were of Divine origin? Yes there were. If you take a look at Daniel, chapter 10, you will see Daniel in vision and he says ... "neither is there breath left in me." So we could say that Daniel did not breathe while in vision. Take a look at what happened with Ellen White while in vision ...
Dr. Drummond, a local physician who had once declared her visions were the product of mesmerism, jumped at the opportunity to examine her while in vision. After giving her a thorough examination, he turned very pale and remarked, "She doesn't breathe." Skeptics would pinch both her nostrils and mouth, and even hold a mirror before her mouth while she was in vision. Both techniques proved that she simply didn't breathe while in a vision, not even when she spoke!
In another incident, a physician named Dr. Brown claimed that her visions were the product of spiritualism, and that he could control them. When the opportunity arose, Dr. Brown examined her, but before it was complete, he turned deathly pale and began to shake. "She does not breathe," he shuddered, making his way to the door. The people at the door said, "Go back, and do as you said you would; bring that woman out of vision." But the doctor, sufficiently spooked, grabbed the doorknob. "Doctor, what is it?" the people at the door persisted. "God only knows," he replied.

Let us get this one fact straight. These are eye witness accounts of what happened while Ellen White was in vision, which happened many times. And Satan DOES NOT have the power to stop someone breathing for such a long time (sometimes it was for HOURS!!) and keep them alive. This could ONLY be from God Himself.

So let's take a look at her visions and predictions.
VISION: - For a number of years, Ellen White received warnings of impending judgment upon San Francisco. But she had her final and most detailed vision regarding its destruction on April 16, 1906. She saw houses "shaken like a reed in the wind" and buildings falling to the ground. "Pleasure resorts, theaters, hotels, and homes of the wealthy were shaken and shattered. Many lives were blotted out of existence, and the air was filled with the shrieks of the injured and the terrified. The awfulness of the scenes that passed before me I cannot find words to describe." (E.G.White, Selected Messages, Book 3, P.40-41). Historical accounts reveal that two days later there was no sign of impending doom until 5:12 a.m. At that time the San Andreas fault slipped over nearly 300 miles, crumbling the very foundations of the city. In its wake, the quake left 490 city blocks in a state of total devastation and more than 227,000 homeless people, along with over 3000 dead.
VISION: - Another vison Ellen White had was concerning the civil war in America. The time she had the vision was 3 months before the civil war began, and she stated ...

"There is not a person in this house who has even dreamed of the trouble that is coming upon this land. People are making sport of the secession ordinance of South Carolina, but I have just been shown that a large number of States are going to join that State, and there will be a most terrible war. In this vision I have seen large armies of both sides gathered on the field of battle. I heard the booming of the cannon, and saw the dead and dying on every hand. Then I saw them rushing up engaged in hand-to-hand fighting [bayoneting one another]. Then I saw the field after the battle, all covered with the dead and dying. Then I was carried to prison, and saw the suffering of those in want, who were wasting away. Then I was taken to the homes of those who had lost husbands, sons, or brothers in the war. I saw there distress and anguish." ... Then she looked around the room to those who were with her and said ... "There are those in this house who will lose sons in that war." (E.G.White, Remarks at Parkville, Michigan, January 31, 1893) - General Conference Daily Bulletin., 2002, S. 37)

When Ellen White revealed this vision, the common view was that war was unlikely. And even if it came, it would be brief and result in few casualties. Yet what Ellen White said was fulfilled and extremely accurate.
VISION: - In another vision, Ellen white even foretold the two great world wars, when she said ...

"I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. There was war, bloodshed, want, privation, famine and pestilence, in the land ... My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace. Then the inhabitants of the earth were again presented before me, and everything was in the utmost confusion again. Strife, war and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this confusion and war. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men's hearts will fail them for fear, "and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." (E.G.White, Review and Herald, August 27, 1861.)

This vision was given to Ellen white some 50 years before world war I began in 1914. And look at the striking points of her vision. First, war would rage between the "inhabitants of the earth". Then there would be a "little time of peace". Then war would rage again, with "other nations" joining the war. And that these wars would cause great bloodshed and famine.

1. World War I (1914-1918)

2. Little Time of Peace (1918-1939)

3. World War II (1939-1945)

As we know, the whole world was involved in World War I and II, with a "little time of peace" in between. And the loss of life through the fighting and resultant famine was immense. With numbers up in the region of 70 million being killed by these wars. Another vision fulfilled.

Ellen White Health Claims

Ellen White was also an inspired health advocate, and gave many predictions concerning health and the future consumption of certain foods and substances. Below we will list a few.
CLAIM: - "Tobacco is a slow, insidious, but most malignant poison. In whatever form it is used, it tells upon the constitution; it is all the more dangerous because its effects are slow and at first hardly perceptible. It excites and then paralyzes the nerves. It weakens and clouds the brain. Often it affects the nerves in a more powerful manner than does intoxicating drink. It is more subtle, and its effects are difficult to eradicate from the system. Its use excites a thirst for strong drink and in many cases lays the foundation for the liquor habit." (E.G.White, Ministry of Healing, P.327)
Now you may look at this and think, "BIG DEAL!!, we all know smoking is bad for you!". But you need to take into account that Ellen White made this inspired claim in the 1860's, when cigar smoking was in fact prescribed to people for "HEALTH BENEFITS", and it wasn't until 1957 that the American Cancer Society concluded that smoking was a CONTRIBUTOR in causing lung cancer.

Please remember as you read through this that Ellen White did not receive a "formal education" and was forced to leave school before she was a teenager."

CLAIM: - Ellen White claimed that cancer was a "germ" and that it was due to poor diet, eating things like animal flesh that was becoming more and more diseased ... "If meat eating was ever healthful, it is not safe now. Cancers, tumors, and pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating." (E.G.White, Counsels on Health, P.133). Now it wasn't until 1956 that the "germ" theory had been proven by Dr. Wendell Stanley, a Virologist at the University of California. And today, any health expert who truly cares about what people eat will tell you that the majority of animals are now either diseased or so full of steroids and drugs, that the meat is not safe to eat anymore.

"Worldly physicians cannot account for the rapid increase of disease among the human family. But we know that much of this suffering is caused by the eating of dead flesh." (E.G.White, Counsels on Diets and Foods, P.386)

CLAIM: - "The light given me is that it will not be very long before we shall have to give up any animal food. Even milk will have to be discarded. Disease is accumulating rapidly. The curse of God is upon the earth, because man has cursed it." (E.G.White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, P.357, (1899)
And we can now thank a Physician by the name of Robert Cohen, amongst others, for giving us the facts about milk (Not Milk). Confirming the claim that Ellen White made all those years ago. Take a look at what Robert Cohen says about Ellen White. And just to confirm, Robert Cohen is not a Seventh Day Adventist.

"I have the advantage of citing scientific studies from peer-reviewed studies to work into my daily columns. Ellen G. White just "knew" milk did not do the body any good. Her visions were divinely inspired." (Robert Cohen, notmilk.com)

"Through a 70-year writing and speaking career, Ellen White spoke about clarity. How beautifully we can combine her religious insights with today's scientific evidence. We know that milk protein, casein, triggers the production of histamines. After eating cheese or ice cream, one manufactures mucus, and plenty of it. The kidneys, pancreas, lungs, thymus--all fill with viscous mucus. Collectively, the human body and organs become congested with 3-4 quarts of mucus which result in an "internal fog." (Robert Cohen, notmilk.com)

CLAIM: - "Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet." (E.G.White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, P.81)
Again, this claim does not seem that impressive today. But it is only recently that the world has discovered the benefits of eating natural foods like fruit, vegetables and grains etc. And secular studies have proven that people who live on a vegetarian or vegan diet tend to live at least 10 years longer than those who eat meat and dairy products. And notice that Ellen White also says that we should prepare these foods in as NATURAL a way as possible. Meaning do not destroy the goodness in them by cooking and processing them to death. Again, health experts today who are worth their salt will tell you that the more natural the state of the product (uncooked and unprocessed), the better it is for you.

Conclusion

There can be no doubt to any mind that is open to see the truth that Ellen White was a messenger of God and a true prophet. Contrary to all modern "prophets" who give their "best predictions" every January, or the perennial Nostradamuses who state their predictions so vaguely that they can be reinterpreted and made to fit as time passes. Ellen White's visions, claims and previews of closing events have never been contradicted by events. Today's economic insecurity, political strife, social unrest, decline in moral values, New Age revival of spiritualism, and the worldwide interest in religious unity, are an astonishing fulfillment of her predictions.
Her health claims given over 100 years ago are on par with those given by experts today who have access to huge amounts of research. And her predictions that have not yet been fulfilled, we can now see are beginning to happen. The Sunday Law being one of them. Was Ellen White a prophet of God? The proof is in, and there can be no doubt. Ellen White was a true prophet.

Please note, you will come across websites that attack Ellen White. There you will find quotes that have been taken completely out of context and twisted to suit their preconceived attacks. Please do not be deceived by these websites. Please see the below 3 websites which deal with in great detail the attacks and misconceptions about Ellen White:

Ellen White Defend      Ellen White Info      Ellen White Issues

"The weight of evidence points decisively to the trustworthiness of Ellen White's twin witness - her life and ministry. The integrity of her character was recognized by contemporaries, whether Adventists or not. The intense focus of her ministry in revealing the charm, reality, and power of Jesus was recognized by those within and without her church. Any attempt to accept either her life without her ministry, or her ministry without her life, seems irrational. As Edward Heppenstall put it: "It is impossible to place a high value upon her life and character and a low value upon her writings." (WhiteEstate.org)