You piqued my curiosity when you posted this rant on the Old Testament forum:
Your rant, for me at least, made some of the peculiarities about your discussion style suddenly make sense — not that I agree, but I think I see where you are coming from. Well, I say I can see where you are coming from, but I really don't have a clear picture because I know next to nothing about what Ellen G. White had to say. There were almost 600 pages leading up to that quote, so, although my first instinct is to think it is misguided, commenting on it out of context is unfair. I ordered the book and, hopefully, plan to read it soon (no promises though; I'm hopelessly behind in my reading and have stacks of books I plan to read someday...)Yeah, I understand your point and if I may I would certainly disagree with you. I see the state of the dead question vitally important for understanding the future of this world and the definitely signs we need to look for to indicate the deception that is sure to come. Satan we are told can come in the form of a "messanger of light" and because the "coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders." If we are not sure exactly what is taught in scripture how do we know for sure we won't be fooled?
I know people roll their eye when I make a point, especially when I use the writings of Ellen White to do so. But read carefully the warning contained here:
"Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.
As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought,the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.
The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium." - The Great Controversy page 589
The reason I offer this quote is the obvious trends that have been taking place in the country in just the last few years. The proliferation of television shows about ghost chasing, haunted houses, poltergeists, et al have risen dramatically in just the last few years. I did not use this quotation to say, "see this was prophesied by EGW" because it wasn't, it was clearly prophesied by the scriptures. We are in the throws of the process aimed at "normalizing" what God considers to be an abomination. <----end of rant.