The Great Controversy Theme—Developed And Enlarged

The vision at Lovett's Grove, Ohio, on a Sunday afternoon in mid-March 1858 was one of great importance. In this the theme of the great controversy between Christ and His angels on the one side and Satan and his angels on the other was seen as one continuous and closely linked chain of events spanning 6,000 years. This vision has put Seventh-day Adventists into a unique position with clear-cut views of the working of Providence in the history of our world—a viewpoint quite different from that held by secular historians, who see events of history only as the interplay between the actions of human beings, often seemingly the result of chance or natural developments. In other words, this vision and others of the great conflict of the ages yield a philosophy of history that answers many questions and in prophetic forecast gives the assurance of final victory of good over evil.WV 264.11

The vision lasted for two hours, the congregation in the crowded schoolhouse watching with intense interest all that took place (WCW, in The Review and Herald, February 20, 1936).WV 265.1

In one brief paragraph Ellen White introduced what is thought of today as the principal topic of the March 14 vision:WV 265.2

In this vision at Lovett's Grove most of the matter of the great controversy which I had seen ten years before was repeated, and I was shown that I must write it out (Spiritual Gifts, 2:270). ^{*Is this a reference to a particular vision in 1848, as it seems to imply? Or does it refer to phases of many visions received in the late 1840s, in which she witnessed segments of the conflict between Christ and His angels and Satan and his angels? A number of these presented the ultimate triumph of the righteous and the final destruction of sin and sinners. The absence of a contemporary reference to a specific, all-inclusive great controversy vision in 1848 would seem to point to the latter. Many of the visions of the late 1840s gave glimpses and at times rather detailed accounts of controversy and the triumph of God's people over the forces of Satan.}WV 265.3