Ellen Harmon’s First Vision — 1844

Two months after the disappointment, at a time when the majority of Adventists had abandoned all confidence in the verity of the seventh-month movement, and were either postponing the close of the 2300 days to some future time or were repudiating their entire advent experience, and at a time when people generally were much prejudiced against any known as Adventists, God prophetically communicated a message designed to sustain confidence in His leadership and in the integrity of the experience through which they had just passed. The one chosen as God’s mouthpiece was an earnest Adventist maiden who resided with her parents in Portland, Maine. The first vision was given during the morning worship hour at the home of Mrs. Haines in nearby South Portland.EGWMR 28.1

The exact date of the vision is not given, but the month of December, 1844, is attested to by early documents. “The Lord showed me the travail of the advent band and midnight cry in December.”—E. G. White Letter, July 13, 1847, Record Book I, p. 1. (See also Second Advent Review Extra, July 21, 1851, p. 1, col. 2.) The significance of this symbolic revelation cannot be overestimated. (For the initial printing of the vision, see The Day-Star, January 24, 1846. See also Early Writings, 13-17; Testimonies for the Church 1:58-61.) Note the following points:EGWMR 28.2

(1) Time of vision: Two months after the disappointment (December, 1844).EGWMR 28.3

(2) Subject presented: Experience of the “advent people in the world.”EGWMR 28.4

(3) Time covered: From October 22, 1844, to the New Jerusalem.EGWMR 28.5

(4) Depiction: Adventists “traveling to the city” by a narrow path “high above the world.”EGWMR 28.6

(5) Relation to seventh-month movement: “Midnight cry,” “a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path.”EGWMR 28.7

(6) Enduring significance of advent experience: “Light shone all along the path” “so that they might not stumble.”EGWMR 28.8

(7) Assurance given: Safe entry into the city of God assured those who “kept their eyes fixed on Jesus,” who was just before them, “leading them to the city.”EGWMR 28.9

(8) Extension of time beyond expectation: “Some grew weary and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them.”EGWMR 28.10

(9) Results of rejection of the seventh-month experience: “Others rashly denied the light behind them [midnight cry] and said that it was not God that had led them.” “The light” “went out;” “they stumbled” and “fell off the path.”EGWMR 28.11

(10) Carried to time of second advent: “Soon “heard voice of God... which gave... the day and hour of Jesus’ coming.”EGWMR 28.12

(11) Events connected with second advent: The “144,000” “sealed;” “wicked were enraged;” “small black cloud” “appeared.” Jesus appears with “ten thousand angels;” resurrection of the righteous dead; living saints clothed in immortality join the ascending resurrected dead.EGWMR 28.13

(12) Ascension: “Seven days ascending to the sea of glass.”EGWMR 28.14

(13) Rewards given: “Jesus brought the crowns,” “gave us harps of gold and palms of victory;” saints given possession of the New Jerusalem.EGWMR 28.15

While this revelation did not answer the question as to why the Adventists had been disappointed on October 22, 1844—for this had to be discovered through Bible study—this first revelation indicated beyond all question that the seventh-month movement was of divine origin, and that God’s blessing would rest upon those who maintained confidence in it, while those who abandoned their confidence would do so at the peril of their salvation. It brought assurance that Christ was leading them, and that after some delay they would meet their Lord for whom they waited. It established the order of future events, and held out a reward to those who rested their confidence in the movement and continued to follow Christ’s leadings. Within a few days this first vision was related to the advent believers who resided in Portland, Maine. In the second vision, which occurred about a week after the first, instruction was given as to delivering the messages. (Second Advent Review Extra, July 21, 1851, p. 1; Early Writings, 20.) As opportunity was afforded, Miss Harmon traveled to other points, meeting with the believers, recounting these and subsequent visions.EGWMR 28.16

Although Ellen Harmon many times told interested audiences of her first vision and described the scenes presented to her, it was not put into print for many months. Here in tabulated form is the record of its publication:EGWMR 28.17