How can we distinguish a true prophetic voice from the noise of the modern world? In this week's feature, we explore the essential biblical mandates for testing prophetic claims, from doctrinal harmony to spiritual fruit, and apply these "law and testimony" filters to the life and ministry of Ellen G. White. By examining the nature of inspiration and addressing the common "originality" critique through a biblical lens, we discover how God has historically used human agents to communicate His eternal truths. We invite you to join our local church family this coming Sabbath as we study the Word and grow in faith together; it is the perfect space to explore these deep topics in a warm, welcoming community.
The Gift of Prophecy: Scriptural Mandates and Biblical Tests
"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ...he who prophesies edifies the church." 1 Corinthians 14:1, 4
If we are to navigate the claims of any prophetic voice, we must begin with a foundational understanding: God is not silent. Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that prophecy is not an ancient relic, but a deliberate gift of the Holy Spirit intended for the edification of the church. In fact, the Bible predicted that as we approach the last days, God would "pour out [His] Spirit on all flesh," resulting in sons and daughters who prophesy (Joel 2:28).
However, because the gift of prophecy is a reality, the danger of counterfeit prophecy is equally real. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned us not to be deceived by false prophets who would arise in the end times. This leaves us with a critical responsibility. We are commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 to "despise not prophesyings," but to "prove all things" and "hold fast that which is good." Clearly, God’s Word does not leave us to guess; He has provided a rigorous set of "counsel and means" to test any person claiming to speak for Him.
The Foundation of Doctrinal Harmony
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20
The ultimate, non-negotiable test of any prophet is their alignment with the established Word of God. A true prophet will never contradict the Bible, which serves as our final authority. Isaiah 8:20 sets the standard. Deuteronomy 13 further clarifies that even if a prophet performs a miraculous sign or wonder that comes to pass, if they use that influence to lead you away from God’s commandments, they must be rejected. Loyalty to God’s revealed truth takes precedence over any miraculous display.
The Accuracy and "If" Factor of Prediction
The Bible establishes that a prophet’s credibility is inherently tied to the accuracy of their word. As noted in Jeremiah 28:9 and Deuteronomy 18:22, if a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the event does not occur, they have spoken presumptuously. However, to be intellectually honest with the text, we must also understand the biblical principle of conditional prophecy.
Unlike sovereign, apocalyptic decrees, many prophecies are relational and depend on human response. In Jeremiah 18, God compares Himself to a potter, explaining that if He declares judgment but a nation repents, He will "change His mind" concerning the disaster. We see this clearly with Nineveh; Jonah warned of destruction in forty days, yet the disaster was averted because the people repented. In these cases, a "failed" prediction of judgment is actually a successful call to repentance, demonstrating a responsive God who honours human free will.
The Christ-Test and the Evidence of Fruit
Beyond predictions, we must look at the spiritual orientation of the messenger. According to 1 John 4:1-3, a true spirit will confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; the prophet’s work must consistently glorify Christ rather than drawing attention to themselves. This leads directly to the test of character. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:15-20 that we would know prophets "by their fruits." The long-term impact of a prophet’s ministry must result in a godly, Christ-like character and a message that leads the church into deeper obedience to God.
A Test of Faithfulness
Ultimately, Deuteronomy 13:3 explains that God allows the presence of prophetic voices—and even the challenge of false ones—to test whether we love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul. By applying these scriptural filters of biblical harmony, fulfilled predictions, and spiritual fruit, we can confidently move forward. We are protected from deception not by rejecting the gift of prophecy, but by using the tools God provided to identify the genuine.
Having established the biblical framework for identifying a true messenger of God, we must apply these same rigorous standards to the voices that have shaped our history. It is not enough to simply claim the gift of prophecy; one must withstand the scrutiny of the "law and the testimony." Perhaps no figure in modern religious history has been subjected to this testing more than Ellen G. White. While many critics point to modern standards of literary originality as a reason to reject her ministry, we must ask: is "originality" a test that the Bible itself requires? To answer that, we have to look past the surface-level accusations and examine how inspiration actually functioned for the writers of the Bible.
The Originality Trap: Redefining Inspiration in the Writings of Ellen White
For over 120 years, a consistent line of critique has been levelled against Ellen White, popularized by well-known figures like D.M. Canright in Life of Mrs. E.G. White: Her Claims Refuted and Walter Rea in The White Lie. These authors have served as the foundational voices for generations of "anti-Ellen Whiters." While their presentations are often exhaustive, spanning hours of meticulously colour-coded evidence, their core argument usually boils down to a single premise: a lack of originality equates to a lack of inspiration.
However, when we move past the volume of the material and examine the underlying principle, a significant flaw emerges. The argument assumes that for a prophet to be inspired, every word must be entirely original. To understand whether this holds up, we must examine the nature of inspiration itself and apply the same standards to the biblical text.
The Principle of Originality vs. Inspiration
The central accusation against Ellen White is that she was a "literary thief." Critics point to the fact that she borrowed thoughts, phrases, and terminology from her contemporaries—often without direct attribution—as proof that she could not have been a messenger of God. The logic follows that if she claimed to have "new information" from heaven, finding "stolen" material invalidates her prophetic claim.
Today, we live in a world of strict copyright laws and "attribution fever." But this was not the standard in the 19th century, nor was it the standard for the writers of the Bible. To find the truth, we must ask: Does inspiration require originality? If we are to be intellectually consistent, we must apply this question to the Bible as well.
Biblical Precedents for Literary Borrowing
If originality is the litmus test for divine inspiration, then a significant portion of the Bible would fail. Scripture is replete with instances where inspired writers utilized non-original sources:
Lost Prophetic Books: The Bible mentions several prophets whose writings were never included in the canon, such as the records of Samuel the Seer, Nathan the Prophet, and Gad the Seer. A person can be a prophet without their work being in the Bible.
Historical Borrowing: The author of Joshua borrowed from the Book of Jasher to describe the sun standing still. The book of Numbers references the Book of the Wars of the Lord.
Secular Integration: In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul quoted non-Christian philosophers and poets like Menander, Aratus, and Epimenides to communicate spiritual truths (e.g., "In him we live and move and have our being").
The Compilation of Luke: Luke explicitly states that he "set in order a narrative" based on accounts delivered by eyewitnesses. He acted as an inspired curator, collecting and arranging historical records to communicate truth effectively.
If Luke is considered inspired despite his lack of direct visions and his use of existing accounts, why is Ellen White held to a different standard for her work in The Desire of Ages?
Wisdom and the "Plagiarism" of Proverbs
Perhaps the most striking example of literary overlap is found in the Book of Proverbs. Scholars have long noted the "eerie" similarities between Solomon’s writings and the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, which predates Solomon by centuries. For instance, the Egyptian text warns against robbing the poor and describes dishonest riches growing wings like geese to fly to heaven—imagery mirrored almost exactly in Proverbs.
Yet, Christian critics of Ellen White do not discard Solomon. They recognize that his inspiration involved collecting and organizing wisdom to point people toward God. Ellen White’s work follows this exact prophetic pattern: she used existing historical and descriptive language to provide a "ready and forcible presentation" of the Great Controversy.
The Nature of Inspiration: The Penman, Not the Pen
In the introduction to The Great Controversy, Ellen White openly addressed her use of other writers' work. She explained that she used their descriptions not as a source of authority, but because they offered a concise and powerful way to narrate history.
To understand this, we must shift our definition of inspiration. Inspiration acts on the person, not necessarily the specific vocabulary. As Ellen White herself wrote:
"The writers of the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen... It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions, but on the man himself, who under the influence of the Holy Ghost is imbued with thoughts." Manuscript 24, 1886
The divine mind combines with the human mind; the writer is then free to draw from history, poetry, and existing wisdom to communicate the message God has placed within them.
Conclusion: Weighing the Evidence
The "anti-originality" argument is a tired one. If you require 100% originality for something to be divine, you will lose both Ellen White and the Bible. Intellectual honesty demands that we recognize that God has always worked through human agents who utilize the culture and literature around them.
Inspiration may include originality, but it does not require it. While Ellen White borrowed from others to magnify the truths of Scripture, her life and work meet the biblical qualifications of a prophet. We should put down the highlighters and focus instead on the fruit of the message: a deeper understanding of the Word of God.
A portion of this text was developed from a transcript of a lecture by Midnight Cry Media titled "Plagiarism!!! Why Ellen White Critics are Failing." For the full context and original delivery, you can view the video here.