Was It Ellen White or the Spirit of God?

There were some who grumbled about the visions given to Ellen White; of course, the visions were openly opposed by many of their former brethren in the Advent movement. As she made a record of what was shown to her in early January, 1849, she made a statement relating to attitudes toward the visions that is rather startling:1BIO 157.3

I saw the state of some who stood on present truth, but disregarded the visions—the way God had chosen to teach in some cases, those who erred from Bible truth. I saw that in striking against the visions they did not strike against the worm—the feeble instrument that God spake through—but against the Holy Ghost. I saw it was a small thing to speak against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God.1BIO 157.4

I saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors through visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through visions, they would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of error, and think they were right, until they would find it out too late. Then in the time of trouble I heard them cry to God in agony, “Why didst Thou not show us our wrong, that we might have got right and been ready for this time?”1BIO 157.5

Then an angel pointed to them and said, “My Father taught, but you would not be taught. He spoke through visions, but you disregarded His voice, and He gave you up to your own ways, to be filled with your own doings.”—Manuscript 2, 1849 (see also Selected Messages 1:40).1BIO 158.1