Chapter 2—Presenting the Message

Ellen White gave messages in most all of the ways the Bible prophets did. She preached sermons. She wrote letters. Some 4500 articles appeared in, various church journals from her pen. She wrote more than twenty-five books in her lifetime. She also gave counsel in personal interviews.HPEGWW 4.8

But prophets are not all alike. Some were counselors to kings. Others gave dramatic messages to cities or nations. Still others quietly wrote out their messages. Some were political leaders, while others were reformers. This latter role is the most common one. In the Old Testament Jeremiah, Elijah, and Elisha were reformers, and in the New Testament there was John the Baptist.HPEGWW 4.9

Ellen White was called to be a reformer. Her messages, for example, on health, diet, dress and education are reformatory in nature. She also spoke in doctrinal areas. This included (1) explaining of Scripture; (2) guidance away from false doctrines, and (3) presenting correct teachings. Again, what she said was to reform. She wrote to administrators, to ministers, to teachers, to publishing workers, to those connected with medical work, and to parents and children. This, too, called for reform.HPEGWW 4.10

Still another major writing task was the development of the controversy theme. She wrote of human beings on the visible stage of action, but more important, of the working of invisible forces of good and evil behind the scenes. This presentation included a consideration of the future and how to prepare for it.HPEGWW 5.1