In 1990, when my wife and I became members of the Seventh-day Adventist church, one of the questions that I had at the time was about the ministry of Ellen G. White. Coming from a background in the Presbyterian and Baptist churches, I had always been taught that any church that offered extra-Biblical writings was a sign that the church was a cult. As such I was very skeptical when I was presented with the ministry of Ellen G. White.
When I asked questions, the pastor that was ministering to us invited me not to take the word of the church, or his own word that Ellen G. White was a prophet, but to test her ministry and discover for myself if she met the Biblical standards for the gift of prophecy. He handed me one of her books and asked me to read it. The book he handed me was entitled, "Patriarchs and Prophets".
I began reading the book with a very skeptical eye, but as I read I discovered the Bible came to life, and the messages of the book brought me into a closer relationship with Jesus. Since that time I have never stopped reading her books and writings, and have found her a tremendous blessing in my Christian experience.
Please don't get me wrong, the writings of Ellen G. White have never replaced my love for the Bible, and the authority of Bible. The Bible is still the one authority by which everything else is measured, including the writings of Ellen G. White.
Should we expect the gift of prophecy in the modern Christian church today? Consider this passage, "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: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV According to Scripture prophecy is a gift of the Spirit that will be evident in the Christian church until we come into the "stature of the fulness of Christ". When will that happen? God will have a people measuring up to that description just before Jesus comes again.
My prayer is that you and I will be part of that group as we allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to bot.h "..will and to do His good pleasure." Philipians 2:13
If you have never read anything from Ellen G. White feel free to contact me and I would be happy to send you a book, of course free of charge.
Blessings!
Pastor John