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The Great Controversy Vision
 In 1858, Mrs. Ellen G. White received a vision at Lovett's Grove, Ohio, containing encouragement for the new Sabbath-keeping Advent believers. In addition to the encouragements, the vision repeated scenes Mrs. White had previously received regarding the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan. Mrs. White was instructed to write out what she had seen, which she did in 1858 and 1864 (Spiritual Gifts, vols. 1 and 4), and which she expanded in 1884 (Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4) and again in 1888. The 1888 edition of The Great Controversy noted her use of sources in telling the story of the controversy. In 1911 historical sources were footnoted.
Pastor Kevin Morgan holding a folio Bible like
the one Ellen White held during a vision.
The Source of the Concept of the Great Controversy
Certain critics have promoted the idea that Ellen White got her idea for the Great Controversy from a similarly titled book by H. L. Hastings (The Great Controversy Between God and Man). A careful comparison of the chapters and phrasing of the two books yields only inconsequential similarities. More importantly, Hastings does not deal with the fall of Satan and the war in heaven. His book centers on God's controversy with man, not with angelic beings who war against the government of God on planet earth. Though one may catch glimpses of the great controversy in the writings of others, Ellen White's account is like none other. Neither Hastings, nor Milton, nor Henry Melvill (whose sermons Ellen White read and adapted to express the grand themes given her), were the source of this unique book.
For those who would like to compare the two books, the following links are provided:
The Great Controversy Between God and Man by Hastings Click for link.
The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan (Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1) by White Click for link.
Use of Quotations in The Great Controversy
Concerns have been registered off and on since the publication of the 1884 edition that the author misled her readers into thinking that she was the originator of all expressions and material in the book. All this commentator can say is that the ones who have expressed such concerns must not have looked very carefully at the wording and markings in the book. The 1884 edition, for example, has quotation marks around the words of various speakers, with nested quotation marks (that is, quotation marks within quotation marks--e. g. "He said: 'Here I stand.' ") within these. Many quotations also include ellipses (...), showing that portions of the quotations have been left out to limit the length of the quoted material. Readers will also note that this edition did contain footnotes to call attention to a key feature of the book. The footnotes in this edition are to Scriptural references, which the author used throughout the various sections of the book. The author obviously wanted to call attention to the words of Scripture and not to historical authorities. The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan was intended as a Bible study on Christian history.
Added Materials in the 1888 Edition and a Note on Sources
After visiting Europe and seeing the locations of various scenes for the Protestant Reformation, Mrs. White augmented the historical account of the Protestant Reformation by adding certain chapters and enlarging others. She also included an Author's Preface which clarified what may have been misunderstood by some in reading the 1884 edition--that she had used historical sources in telling the story. She starts by discussing the Bible--the source of our knowledge of the war between good and evil:
The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are all "given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim. 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men. The Infinite One by his Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and hearts of his servants. He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed, have themselves embodied the thought in human language.
The ten commandments were spoken by God himself, and were written by his own hand. They are of divine, and not human composition. But the Bible, with its God-given truths expressed in the language of men, presents a union of the divine and the human. Such a union existed in the nature of Christ, who was the Son of God and the Son of man. Thus it is true of the Bible, as it was of Christ, that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14.
Written in different ages, by men who differed widely in rank and occupation, and in mental and spiritual endowments, the books of the Bible present a wide contrast in style, as well as a diversity in the nature of the subjects unfolded. Different forms of expression are employed by different writers; often the same truth is more strikingly presented by one than by another. And as several writers present a subject under varied aspects and relations, there may appear, to the superficial, careless, or prejudiced reader, to be discrepancy or contradiction, where the thoughtful, reverent student, with clearer insight, discerns the underlying harmony.
As presented through different individuals, the truth is brought out in its varied aspects. One writer is more strongly impressed with one phase of a subject; he grasps those points that harmonize with his experience or with his power of perception and appreciation; another seizes upon a different phase; and each, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, presents what is most forcibly impressed upon his own mind; a different aspect of the truth in each, but a perfect harmony through all. And the truths thus revealed unite to form a perfect whole, adapted to meet the wants of men in all the circumstances and experiences of life.
God has been pleased to communicate his truth to the world by human agencies, and he himself, by his Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was intrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language; yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth.
In his Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of his will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17, Revised Version.
Yet the fact that God has revealed his will to men through his Word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised by our Saviour, to open the Word to his servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings. And since it was the Spirit of God that inspired the Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit should ever be contrary to that of the Word.
The Spirit was not given--nor can it ever be bestowed--to supersede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. Says the apostle John, "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1. And Isaiah declares, "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. ...
In harmony with the Word of God, his Spirit was to continue its work throughout the entire period of the gospel dispensation. During the ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament were being given, the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual minds, apart from the revelations to be embodied in the sacred canon. The Bible itself relates how, through the Holy Spirit, men received warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction, in matters in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures. And mention is made of prophets in different ages, of whose utterances nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close of the canon of Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God.
Skipping down to the end of the preface, we read:
Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of the long-continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the writer of these pages. From time to time I have been permitted to behold the working, in different ages, of the great controversy between Christ, the Prince of life, the author of our salvation, and Satan, the prince of evil, the author of sin, the first transgressor of God's holy law. Satan's enmity against Christ has been manifested against his followers. The same hatred of the principles of God's law, the same policy of deception, by which error is made to appear as truth, by which human laws are substituted for the law of God, and men are led to worship the creature rather than the Creator, may be traced in all the history of the past. Satan's efforts to misrepresent the character of God, to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator, and thus to regard him with fear and hate rather than with love, his endeavors to set aside the divine law, leading the people to think themselves free from its requirements, and his persecution of those who dare to resist his deceptions, have been steadfastly pursued in all ages. They may be traced in the history of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, of martyrs and reformers.
In the great final conflict, Satan will employ the same policy, manifest the same spirit, and work for the same end, as in all preceding ages. That which has been, will be, except that the coming struggle will be marked with a terrible intensity such as the world has never witnessed . Satan's deceptions will be more subtle, his assaults more determined. If it were possible, he would lead astray the elect. Mark 13:22, Revised Version.
As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of his Word, and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make known to others what has thus been revealed,--to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially to so present it as to shed a light on the fast-approaching struggle of the future. In pursuance of this purpose, I have endeavored to select and group together events in the history of the church in such a manner as to trace the unfolding of the great testing truths that at different periods have been given to the world, that have excited the wrath of Satan, and the enmity of a world-loving church, and that have been maintained by the witness of those who "loved not their lives unto the death."
In these records we may see a foreshadowing of the conflict before us. Regarding them in the light of God's Word, and by the illumination of his Spirit, we may see unveiled the devices of the wicked one, and the dangers which they must shun who would be found "without fault" before the Lord at his coming.
The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages, are matters of history, well known and universally acknowledged by the Protestant world; they are facts which none can gainsay. This history I have presented briefly, in accordance with the scope of the book, and the brevity which must necessarily be observed, the facts having been condensed into as little space as seemed consistent with a proper understanding of their application. In some cases where a historian has so grouped together events as to afford, in brief, a comprehensive view of the subject, or has summarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been quoted; but except in a few instances no specific credit has been given, since they are not quoted for the purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject. In narrating the experience and views of those carrying forward the work of reform in our own time, similar use has occasionally been made of their published works.
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For more on the issues regarding The Great Controversy and Sketches from the Life of Paul click here:
To read one of Ellen White's favorite books, Night Scenes in the Bible by Daniel March, click here:
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