Video about What Might Have Happened: Accurate History or Imagination?
By AT News Team, March 23, 2015: A video produced for the General Conference (GC) of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination is designed to motivate prayer in advance of the GC Session next summer (which only convenes every five years), but its accuracy is now in question. It includes historical drama recreating events surrounding the 1901 GC Session when much of the current organizational structure of the denomination was first crafted. It conveys a traditional message among Adventists: the lack of faith among believers is delaying the return of Jesus.
Placing this notion more than a century in the past creates questions that the producers probably did not intend. “Did all the wars of 1900’s occur because of the lack of humility of the little Adventist band in the 1800s?” asked an editorial published by Spectrum, the journal of the Association of Adventist Forums, the largest organization of Adventist academics.
The moral weight of the idea that both World Wars, the Holocaust, the Soviet horrors, Cambodia and Rwanda is based on the quarrels of two or three dozen Adventist ministers in the 1890s is absurd in the view of some. On the other hand, the issue of the delay of the Second Advent and its meaning to a movement that believes that “Jesus is coming soon” is critical and central to Adventist faith.
Pastor Gerry Chudleigh, who has written previously on what happened at the 1901 GC Session and what it says about where authority is centered in the Adventist denomination today, has published a paper challenging the historical accuracy of the video. Click HERE to read the paper.
Dr. Gil Valentine, a historian on the faculty of La Sierra University, told Spectrum that the dream experienced by Ellen G. White which provides a key piece of the drama in the video is presented as having happened at the time of the 1901 GC Session but actually is documented in a letter written almost 20 months later after two major fires destroyed key Adventist institutions in Battle Creek, Michigan. These disasters led to moving the denomination’s main offices from Michigan to Washington DC, a few miles from where they remain today.
Most of the video is brief appeals from Pastor Ted Wilson, the denomination’s president; his wife, Nancy; and two of his vice presidents. The bottom line in these appeals is for Adventist believers to pray for the GC Session coming up in July this year. They express the hope that this could be a turning point for the movement and set the stage for the return of Christ.
One of the major decisions on the agenda for the July session is about the controversy in the denomination concerning the role of women and the meaning of clergy ordination. There is also a proposal on the agenda to modify the denomination’s doctrine on creation, introducing extra-biblical language. Both topics strain the unity of a movement with perhaps 30 million adherents around the world, including many highly-educated professionals and many more of the very poor and largely uneducated rural residents of developing nations in the southern hemisphere.
The implications of the upcoming session and its agenda are significant for Adventists and other Christians who care about the Adventist movement. “The appeal for prayer and heart-searching is very important even if the video’s history is not entirely accurate,” reflected one Adventist pastor who is a fourth generation church member.
NOTE: The video “What Might Have Been” can be viewed on the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Vimeo channel HERE.
In younger days I knew classmates in academies and colleges who became so personally stressed by their implication in the delay of Jesus’ return that they began to forfeit sleep, food, and other normal human behavior in an effort to pour themselves out entirely on behalf of spreading the gospel—they were sincere but ineffective and fostered an aura of negativity, tiredness, and angst that seemed to energize no one in a positive sense and seemed to imply depression rather than contagious joy in Christ’s salvation. I think the twin teachings that lack of perfection in the church, and lack of endeavor among the perfect, are direct causes of the Lord’s delay have a particularly chilling effect on our members who have mystical tendencies, especially those who are natural introverts and are attracted to a brooding heaviness on these topics….Granted, this is a deep topic and worthy of much discussion, but there are certain things we really can’t do a tremendous lot about and we must, in effect, leave those decisions in the Lord’s hands, as we serve him with all our strength and count on His blessings to multiply the effect of our testimony, however pitifully inadequate those efforts turn out to be in the great panorama of salvation….
The only prerequisite criteria that Jesus gave us for His return is that the gospel must be preached to the whole world. Since that is a humanly impossible task because the world population is growing faster than we can tell them all, the ultimate responsibility must be with God Himself, not us.
At last, someone has put into print an obvious observation: “The world population is growing faster than we can tell them all. . .” When will we realize that only God can “finish the work”, not us humans.
SDA church leaders who have said this before are quickly silenced.
This video is about the money. The areas of the world with the largest SDA church growth have no money. The church is supported by the “active” 50% of the members in the NAD. If they become discouraged or disillusioned, game over.
Well that is only about half-true.
Brazil is nigh unto eclipsing USofA in total tithe returns.
Money talks and if you want to follow the money in the SDA church you have to pay attention to Brazil as well as the USofA. If present giving trends continue the USofA will have progressively less say in how the church functions in other parts of the world.
But this administration clearly believes that they must be “the ones” who God will, in some way, empower to finish the job.
It’s obvious that they are decided to do “something” even if it’s not God’s plan to have it done yet.
We definitely need a more mature, realist, and less delusional administration up there!
Ted Wilson, and all those who accept the idea
that the messages of Daniel and Revelation were for the SDA Church, exclusively, are so
wrong, and have been brainwashed since birth,
or, on becoming SDA. The world has approx. 6 billion people, and they believe the approx. 20 million SDA’s, have the total responsibility of assuring the return of Jesus Christ is inconceivable. What a totally arrogant view. The SDA and all Christian Groups haven’t a chance of a snowball falling on the surface of our Sun, of finishing the task that welcomes the return of Christ. They are deceived. God the Holy Spirit will finish the work. More new babies are born each day than there are SDA’s.
Actually, Earl, to enhance your astute points there are now 7.2 billion people on this increasingly crowded planet. Some 6.6 million are added each month (80 million per year). That said, you are spot on that growth in the SDA Church will never achieve a saturation of global gospel deliverance alone. As Scripture says, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.”
But this video has nothing to do with reaching those people around the world! It is indeed just a mere propaganda-video to impress those people in the world church trying to convey the idea that this administration is “very spiritual” and therefore needs to be re-elected. It’s just a smart electoral maneuver!
This thing about a 100-day prayer effort is also nothing but another tool to hit people in their emotional realm, to make it appear that their vote has to go to the current Prez, or they may feel guilty.
One must be way too naive not to detect the real intentions of this video. And many are – which will end up having, indeed, “grave consequences.”.
The work of preparing souls for the kingdom of God is being done by numerous churches all over the world. As you say the SDA church is very arrogant and believes they are the only church that God is working in. I beg to disagree, there are many churches living up to the knowledge that they have in the Holy Spirit.
umm, all of it very interesting, but especially …
… “at the time of the 1901 GC Session [but actually] is documented in a letter written almost 20 months later after two major fires destroyed key Adventist institutions in Battle Creek, Michigan.”
Have learned any alternative explanations for SDA institutional [Ted Wilson oligarchy] and world events to date?
The making of such a video is one of the most irresponsible behaviors I’ve ever seen in the Church in my whole life – over 6 decades!
It’s my impression that there is a bunch of very immature teenagers playing some games in those offices upstairs, thinking that serious and mature people will not catch their lack of seriousness.
We need a new administration asap, before this one wrecks the Church completely. Their style is too childish and completely off reality.
What a waste of time and money just to play a game that is exclusively geared toward RE-ELECTION and nothing else!!!
It would seem that there are some here that would consider anything done by the current administration as a political move. Personally I believe that a call to prayer was very appropriate. And I would not be so quick to stand in judgement of others motives.
Perhaps it is unfair to judge a person’s motives, but that is the price of leadership. In our current society, we are called to prayer by politicians, talk show hosts, as well as church leaders and the leaders of independent ministries. And when you analyze their propaganda, what they are really asking for is support; politically and financially. Very few calls for prayer are actually interested in the prayer, or even God’s intervention in their situation. They want what they want, and they want the reader/viewer to help them get it.
You are correct that many times piety is used in the hands of those whose motives are self serving. God will be their judge. God is well able to take care of that part and we would do well to leave it to Him.
It has been my observation that God does not use nor does he call His people to use the methods of slander, judgement, or vindictiveness. Rather He has his own ways of setting things right.
We see the example of David and Saul. David, who had been anointed of God, would not raise his hand against Saul. Rather he trusted God and His timing and His ways.
Gamaliel gave what is perhaps appropriate advice in Acts 5.
“And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
Perhaps I should add that there have been many times that I have not been a shining example of my own comments above. God is still doing that work in my own heart.
Now that I have a number of years behind me and the grey hairs to prove it, I can see that many times I have sought to do things that were right but not with methods and spirit that were right. And I am sorry to say that often from God’s perspective I was undoubtedly viewed as contributing to the wrong.
My comments are not in reference to any one person in the leadership of the SDA church but are based on personal observations of many instances of corrupt and dishonest practices and policies in multiple organizational units of the church, inside and outside of America. My observations entitle me, at the least, to criticize and choose not to support the existing administration. Whether the existing administration is complicit in these practices, or merely ignores and tolerates them is irrelevant as to their disqualification to continue in their current positions.
Do you equate calling the Ted Wilson admin an oligarchy with “slander, judgement, or vindictiveness?”
I agree with you. A sincere call to pray not just for the women’s ordination issue, but for our church, for each person to become what God intends them to be is so important. Reading between the lines is for God to do not us. We should not stand in judgment of others no matter how it looks, we need to remember the words to the little song,
You can talk about me, (repeat)
Anyway that you please, (repeat)
You can talk about me, (repeat)
Anyway that you please, (repeat)
You can talk about me any way that you please,
I’ll talk about you when I’m on my knees,
All my sins are washed away, Praise the Lord.
I know the theology of a song is not always completely correct, but in this case I believe when we talk about others in a negative light, even if we truly believe we are correct, we are not following the ways of God. Instead we are letting the wrong spirit come into our midst.
I am in favor of women’s ordination simply because I have seen the results of God calling women to serve and I don’t believe it is my place to say that God would not do this. We must let God be God. He calls, He judges, He loves us. Let us be more like him!
Is the voice talking to Ellen an angel? If so the angel is speculating since Jesus declared in Matthew 24:36 that
the angels don’t know anything about the second coming and neither does the Son, Himself. Ellen said the things
she has written must be put in their time, place, and
circumstance. She said “people should think for them-
selves.”
Actually the text in king James is not an accurate translation. The Greek says, no angel makes known, neither the Son, but the Father”
Jesus is fully God and fully man, nothing can be hid from Him. It has simply been decided by the “three Heavenly Beings” that the Father would announce the “day and the hour”. Ellen White was shown the “day and the hour”but was not permitted to remember and share it.” Of course Jesus knows, He is God !
“Ellen White was shown the ‘day and the hour”but was not permitted to remember and share it.’”
Sure!…
Thanks for bringing Chudleigh’s excellent article and the video it discusses to my attention. The video feels like a propaganda piece, complete with the presumptive presidential nominee being joined by his wife at the end of his speech. All that was missing was the balloon drop and fireworks.
I would like to correct an error in this article, however. You said, “Most of the video is brief appeals from Pastor Ted Wilson, the denomination’s president; his wife, Nancy; and two of his vice presidents.” Actually, the first 20 minutes of the video was the dramatization, while only the last 7 minutes was appeals from GC v.p.’s and Ted Wilson. (Interesting that the v.p.’s say they are retiring, so they have no skin in the game, while Wilson clearly is not intending to retire!).
I would also like to thank AT for bringing this video to our attention, and also Pastor Gerry Chudleigh’s brief historical background study which helps us understand the 1901- 1903 historical context. I agree with Chudleigh’s view in general. The “kingly power” was a primary emphasis in the original sources. But my reading of the sources is that the primary reference of the term “kingly power” was the dictatorial policies and practices of the General Conference President at that time, along with the coterie around him, using the office of General Conference president as if he were a “king sitting on his thrown” in that office.
The fact that the office of General Conference President was completely abolished by the 1901 General Conference supports this view. Yet it is also true that Dr. J. H. Kellogg was also reigning as the “kingly power” in the Battle Creek Sanitarium and the health work, and “decentralization” was the primary work of the 1901 General Conference, as Pastor Chudleigh points out. Perhaps the need for “decentralization” again would have been a more appropriate emphasis in the video, rather than “what might have been”?
Comment on above comments about Matt. 24:36 and EGW knowing day and hour:
My copy of The Nestle-Marshall Interlinear Greek—English New Testament(1960) translates Matt. 24:36 this way:
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, except the Father only.”
(Compare also Mark 13:32: “But concerning that day or hour no one knows, not the angels in heaven neither the Son, except the Father.”
The RSV of Matt. 24:36 reads: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
The RSV of Mark 13:32 reads: “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
I would like to see the reference for this quoted statement: “Ellen White was shown the “day and the hour” but was not permitted to remember and share it.”
I have not the slightest knowledge as to the time spoken by the voice of God. I heard the hour proclaimed, but had no remembrance of that hour after I came out of vision. Scenes of such thrilling, solemn interest passed before me, as no language is adequate to describe. It was all a living reality to me.”—Ellen G. White Letter 38, 1888, published in Selected Messages 1, 76. – {EW 298.1}
In quite a contrast to some of the rather skeptical comments re this video, and having just finished Ron Duffields latest book-“Wounded In The House of His Friends,When Will The Aborted Latter Rain Resume?”, the second to the last chapter goes into considerable detail to outline what did and did not take place at the 1901 GC session and EGW’s later dream(likley had in late 1902), of what could of happened but did not. I must say I rather enjoyed the video and did not feel critical of it!
And now, 114 years later,in the light of what could have happened, would it not be wonderful if this summers GC turned out very differently. If our leaders were ALL to pray and confess sins as Daniel and Moses did for their sins and for the sins of their people. If our leaders were to recognize how derailed we have become in our understanding of the 1888 period and what some of our leaders did to the church in the 1956 period and since. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all, or at least 75%, of the church were to be praying for all the delegates and especially the leaders from all over the world who will be there, that they will be willing to be motivated by the Holy Spirit and to make their votes and choices to be directed by God- to the best of their ability to understand God’s will. Is it possible that the Latter Rain might start again, that the message of the Three Angels (Rev14) of righteousness by faith might start to be flashed around the world and the Loud Cry would be heard again? Those messages deal with Creatorship, Worship and Judgement. At least that is what I am praying for.
My little “laser beam” of prayer is not very strong,but if we all were doing the same, each of our laser’s combined might become so powerful it may actually light up the Inner Temple/Sanctuary where Christ is. That’s my dream.
Simple Believer
Wow, the Devil must be having a field day, listening to all this “knowledgeable bantering” going on.I hope you all get it figured out soon for the LORD is going to return in His time whether you do or not.
Anytime someone has a different opinion from the “powers on high”, it must be inspiration from the Devil.
Thanks Tim for the EGW reference re “Day and Hour”.
The reference to [EW 298.1], is page 285.9 in my 1945 Edition of EW. I note her statement quoted from Letter 38, 1888, in SM 1, p. 76, was written some 30 years
after her original statement quoted in EW, pp. 15, 34, and 285 that says in her vision “…God spoke the day and hour of Jesus’ coming….” Though EGW says she heard the
“hour proclaimed,” she “had no remembrance of that hour after I came out of vision.” So this whole issue is now quite “academic,” “theoretical,” and/or a “moot” question!
Since she later stated she had “no remembrance of it after I came out of vision,” she did not know the day or hour, and never revealed it to anyone! The only practical significance might be her vision left her with an urgency to preach Christ’s Advent was very near, but this only echo’s Rev. 22:20 and many other NT texts. The Bible in two witnesses states only the Father knows the “day and hour.” The Father can reveal it to anyone at any time in any way He sees fit! But as of today, I know of no documented instance the “day and hour” has been revealed. So Matt. 24:36 and Mark 13:32 are still “present truth.”
I can’t imagine not seeing this video as a propaganda piece. Consider this, whether you accept or reject that it is the fault of the SDA church for a delay in the return of Christ, the argument is delay or no delay. But the whole argument is premised on the accuracy of Ellen White. So it serves to put her back in the accurate prophet mode. Then of course in the general session it re-establishes her use in the considerations at the session.
Of course it also establishes the idea of the piety of the leadership and the need of reform to 1850’s presumed church state when they viewed themselves as Philadelphia. Which interesting is a condition that is completely based upon their certain beliefs that they were right in their interpretations. I would submit that that Kind of certainty is a powerful desire among the current leadership.
I heard that this video was not supposed to appear in public until Friday night at the Session. But, since it was leaked, it was released.
Does anyone have any info on this? Is it true, or not?
Being a re-election propaganda video it seems plausible that there was an impact on the audience effect being sought by the group who made it. That impact is now lost, but the video is being used to promote Wilson’s re-election anyway.
I hope people are, indeed, praying for the right thing to happen…
Ellen White warned about how she was quoted when facing
a crisis at one of our schools. Perhaps her advise could
help in our present problem.
“Why, Sister White has said so and so, and Sister White
has said so and so; and therefore we are going right up
to it.” “God wants us to all have common sense, and He
wants us to reason from common sense. Circumstances alter
conditions. Circumstances change the relation of things.”
Review April 24, 1975
I’m puzzled by this article. Without reading the 2 articles referenced (the Spectrum editorial & Pastor Chudleigh’s), I must wonder if they and the AT news team who wrote this article watched the same ‘What Might Have Been” video that I did?
In the video I watched there is no hint that Ellen White’s vision “is presented as having happened at the time of the 1901 GC Session.” Instead, the angel tells her that he wanted to show her what “might have been” or “might have happened” at the prior 1901 GC session—clearly placing the vision at a later date. I don’t see any issue with the video’s accuracy.
Ellen White’s teaching that Christ would have come in the 1800’s had our believers responded to the revival offered by the Holy Spirit is central to the objections. And we may all be humbled as we again realize the opportunity for another revival—and our own personal need for it.
I must also ask, if you don’t think Elder Wilson, his wife & other GC vice-presidents should lead out in this call for revival and unity, whom do you think should? Isn’t that what leaders do–lead with their words & influence?
I’m grateful for the solemn message of the video and for God’s appeals thru imperfect men & women, like myself. I believe God’s last appeal will go to the whole world, with our willingness to be used by Him.
The only biblical sure statement about the end is that “this gospel of the kingdom will go to all the world and then the end will come, and only God is able to determine when that condition is fulfiled. Any speculation short of that has to be questionable
I believe that the greatest sense of urgency regarding the Advent is related to the fragile nature of human life. We never live in “tomorrow,” only today. As Paul said, “today is the day of salvation.” We must live “in Him” and “for Him” today and encourage others with that “urgent” message. The constant reiteration of “time is short,” leads to large amounts of cynicism among our young people who believe you can only cry “wolf” about so long. I have now heard it for 7 decades. The Second Advent must happen, or the first coming is pointless. But the timing is clearly in God’s hands.
AMEN and AMEN and AMEN
Though I have only heard it for 6 decades and I still prefer to believe it is true.
(And in my professional life by the Grace of God I have been able to spend a fair amount of my time and energy working in the world of “tomorrow” – a future that has now become the present for younger generations who do not remember and can scarcely imagine a time before modern ubiquitous computing and communications technology existed.)
Being close to my 90’s, I can only agree with Jim. The Western world has experienced a total dramatic technological
happening, in my lifetime. I remember autos being of odd looking fragile uncomfortable 35mph vehicles, with windshield wipers being hand operated, and with no insulation or heaters. Airplanes being a fabulous new creation, a novelty really, unpressurized, top speed of approx. 175mph, carrying a max of approx. 30 passengers at a top altitude of 8000ft.
Housing outside the major cities having no indoor plumbing, water, sewage disposal, toilets outdoors, sited over a hole in the ground. No friges, but a box with ice delivered every few days. Wood burning stoves for cooking, and for warming water for bathes in a wash tub that the whole family used, etc etc. Neighbors were known by name, and community sharing was the norn, and you could count on a neighbor when needed. There was a sense of “belonging”, to your neighbors, town, state, and country. Community spirit and expecting a better life was a valuable trait of the average citizen. There was a general theme of rising out of poverty, and achieving success, according to individual effort. A sense of patriotism
by all in love of country, and honoring the Constitution of the USA, and protecting it against all enemies, a sense that GOD had caused the USA to be a special happening of love and respect of religious freedom, and a haven for immigrants from all countries, that is except for dark skinned people, blacks, of which although Emancipation had occurred in the 1860’s, blacks were discriminated against and thought inferior to fair skinned people, and were relegated to segregated ghetto type poorer housing, schools, and uncivil
services, roles and jobs. Even in the North, segregation was generally 90%.
(To be continued)
But that intolerable situation now 150 years later, is largely a impossible bad experience of past memory. Yet it dwells in the hearts of some whites and blacks, that hopefully
will dwindle to non-existence soon. We are all equal in the eyes of our Creator God, and the trait of love for neighbor is
of prime importance to our Almighty God, for each of us. We are all “one”, and love must blossom forth out of “one”. Are we our brothers keeper, God says YES, we are one people in our Lord and Savior Jesus. Let the bad happenings of the past be gone. The new generations are not responsible for the past.
God Love You.
We as a nation and church have lost our innocence. The world for the last 100 years (I’m now in my 10th decade) has changed more rapidly that many have not adjusted. We are living much longer (at the turn of the 20th century longevity was only a few years past 50) and science and medical discoveries have greatly lengthened our lives and made them more comfortable.
Who wants to return to outdoor toilets, scrubbing clothes on a rubbing board, only ice boxes and much more that our children cannot even imagine.
Each day is a new adventure and learning something new every day should be our goal. Worry is for others. Enjoy each day and be grateful.
“I heard the hour proclaimed, but had no remembrance of that hour after I came out of vision.” (EGW)
I have been accused of trying to “undermine EGW and the SDA message” in “Amazing Facts or Amazing Paranoia?” and I’m sure I will attract the same criticism here.
Many are quick to say they use Scripture to test all things. And yet when it comes to matters of Church doctrine, which have been handed down through the years, they appear to accept them without question.
I actually find it hard to fathom that the above statement by EGW has not been scrutinized, either by the church members of her time, or by those throughout the following years.
Paul writes concerning spiritual wisdom and mysteries of God in 1 Cor.2:6-16. God reveals them to all who have His Spirit.
Verse 10: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit SEARCHES ALL THINGS, yes, the DEEP THINGS OF GOD.”
Verse 16: “For ‘Who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ”.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-15
Although Jesus is with God the Father and they are One, of the “day and hour” when His Son should return only His Father will determine.
If we are joined to Christ through His Spirit, the Spirit, Who brings to us all things from Jesus, would also SEARCH OUT the day in which He was to return. Therefore, if He knew, we would know also.
There is no doubt Jesus knows how close that time is, because He told us of the signs which would lead up to His return.
I think the question everyone of us should be asking ourselves here is: “What Foundation are we building our Faith on?”