Early Writings of Ellen G. White
Spiritual Gifts
page 258
A Firm Platform
I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would
unsettle the established faith of the body. Elohim looked upon them with approbation. I
was shown three steps -- the first, second, and third angels' messages. Said my
accompanying angel, "Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these
messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of
souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received." I was again brought down
through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of Elohim had purchased their
experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. Elohim had
led them along step by step, until He had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform. I
saw individuals approach the platform and examine the foundation. Some with rejoicing
immediately stepped upon it. Others commenced to find fault with the foundation. They
wished improvements made, and then the platform would be more perfect, and the people much
happier. Some stepped off the platform to examine it and declared it to be laid wrong. But
I saw that nearly all stood firm upon the platform and exhorted those who had stepped off
to cease their complaints; for Elohim was the Master Builder, and they were fighting
against Him. They recounted the wonderful work of Elohim, which had led them to the firm
platform, and in union raised their eyes to heaven and with a loud voice glorified Elohim.
This affected some of those who had complained and left the platform, and they with humble
look again stepped upon it.
I was pointed back to the proclamation of the first advent of The Messiah. John was sent
in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of Yahoshua. Those who rejected the
testimony of John were not benefited by the teachings of Yahoshua. Their opposition to the
message that foretold His coming placed them where they could not readily receive the
strongest evidence that He was the Messiah. Satan led on those who rejected the message of
John to go still farther, to reject and crucify The Messiah. In doing this they placed
themselves where they could not receive the blessing on the day of Pentecost, which would
have taught them the way into the heavenly sanctuary. The rendering of the veil of the
temple showed that the Jewish sacrifices and ordinances would no longer be received. The
great Sacrifice had been offered and had been accepted, and the Holy Spirit which
descended on the day of Pentecost carried the minds of the disciples from the earthly
sanctuary to the heavenly, where Yahoshua had entered by His own blood, to shed upon His
disciples the benefits of His atonement. But the Jews were left in total darkness. They
lost all the light which they might have had upon the plan of salvation, and still trusted
in their useless sacrifices and offerings. The heavenly sanctuary had taken the place of
the earthly, yet they had no knowledge of the change. Therefore they could not be
benefited by the mediation of The Messiah in the holy place.
Many look with horror at the course of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying The Messiah;
and as they read the history of His shameful abuse, they think they love Him, and would
not have denied Him as did Peter, or crucified Him as did the Jews. But Elohim who reads
the hearts of all, has brought to the test that love for Yahoshua which they professed to
feel. All heaven watched with the deepest interest the reception of the first angel's
message. But many who professed to love Yahoshua, and who shed tears as they read the
story of the cross, derided the good news of His coming. Instead of receiving the message
with gladness, they declared it to be a delusion. They hated those who loved His appearing
and shut them out of the churches. Those who rejected the first message could not be
benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to
prepare them to enter with Yahoshua by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly
sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their
understanding that they can see no light in the third angel's message, which shows the way
into the most holy place. I saw that as the Jews crucified Yahoshua, so the nominal
churches had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no knowledge of the way
into the most holy, and they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Yahoshua there.
Like the Jews, who offered their useless sacrifices, they offer up their useless prayers
to the apartment which Yahoshua has left; and Satan, pleased with the deception, assumes a
religious character, and leads the minds of these professed believers to himself, working
with his power, his signs and lying wonders, to fasten them in his snare. Some he deceives
in one way, and some in another. He has different delusions prepared to affect different
minds. Some look with horror upon one deception, while they readily receive another. Satan
deceives some with Spiritualism. He also comes as an angel of light and spreads his
influence over the land by means of false reformations. The churches are elated, and
consider that Elohim is working marvelously for them, when it is the work of another
spirit. The excitement will die away and leave the world and the church in a worse
condition than before.
I saw that Elohim has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen
churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called
out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before
the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious
bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that Elohim is with them. He
hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that Elohim is still working for the
churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches,
and take their stand with the remnant.