The Second Advent Movement by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 5, 1914

The Second Advent Movement

By John Norton Loughborough

— No. 14

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. From such a statement it was evident to the Adventists that the true gift of prophecy was to be in the church of God on the earth, and that there must be ample means within their reach to decide what was genuine. It had been shown to Hazen Foss, in 1844, that the Lord’s chosen messenger would be one physically “the weakest of the weak.” On seeing Ellen Harmon, in January, 1845, he declared her to be the one shown to him whom the Lord has chosen. She was then just past seventeen years of age.

Since her ninth year, from an accident and loss of blood, she had been a sufferer from heart disease and lung trouble. At the time of her first vision, about the first of January, 1845, she could not speak above a whisper. The best physicians in Portland, Maine, had told her mother that Ellen could not live more than three months on account of lung trouble, and that she need not be surprised to find the girl dead any morning from heart failure.

Those who saw Miss Harmon in her first visions witnessed physical manifestations showing a power controlling her far above her strength. In her third vision, before about sixty of the believers in Portland, she arose to her feet in the vision and took an eighteen-and-one-fourth-pound family Bible, opened it, and held it on her extended arm for half an hour, at the same time with her right hand turning from text to text, meanwhile her eyes open, but looking away from the book. Her finger was placed by the text she was quoting. The brethren and sisters looked upon the open Bible. Every time her finger was by the side of the text she was repeating. Her mother told me that after Ellen came out of the vision, she asked her to lift that Bible from the table. She, then in her normal condition, could not lift the book, “but,” said her mother, “in the vision she held that large Bible for half an hour on her extended arm apparently as easy as if it had been a pocket Testament.”

The first testing of these visions was with the visions themselves, to see if they were like the visions of the Lord’s ancient prophets, as described in the Bible. Paul, in his vision, was lost to all around him, and could not tell whether he went to heaven bodily or not. 2 Cor. 12: 1-7. In Sister Harmon’s visions she was lost to all around her. Concerning Daniel’s vision five things are mentioned: (1) Loss of strength; (2) seeing an angel; (3) being touched by the angel; (4) receiving supernatural strength; (5) talking without breath. Dan. 10: 17, 18. In Sister Harmon’s case there was complete loss of strength for a short space of time. After her loss of consciousness of earthly things, she said the first she saw was a bright, glorious angel. Next he put his hand upon her. Then followed manifestations of supernatural strength, as the holding of the great Bible. The closest tests by the most skillful physicians have led them to decide that, while the heart and pulse are all right in action, there is not a particle of breath in her body during the vision. As with the ancient prophets, the talking is done by the Holy Spirit through her vocal organs. The prophets “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1: 21. David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” 2 Sam. 23: 2. In Acts 1: 16 we are told that the Holy Ghost spoke by the mouth of David. So also, her vision was like that of Balaam, “entranced, with eyes rolled upward.” Num. 24: 16, Spurrell’s translation,

margin. In the open visions of Sister White, she always had her eyes open, looking upward, as long as the vision continued. I have seen her in vision many times, and the manifestation was, every time, exactly like what the Bible tells us of the ancient prophets.

In writing out what is shown to her, she says, “I am just as dependent on the Spirit as in having the vision at first.” Not that she has the vision over again, but the Spirit of God brings vividly to her mind what has been shown to her. This is like the case of David in writing out instructions for Solomon concerning the construction of the temple. He wrote “with the hand of God upon him.” 1 Chron. 28: 12, 19.

In the exercise of Sister White’s gift there have been experiences similar to those of the ancient prophets. She has pointed out the devices of Satan against God’s work and told how to avoid his snares, which may be compared to Elisha’s counsel to Israel against the Syrians. 2 Kings 6: 8-12. In many cases she has pointed out persons whom she had seen in vision, but had never met personally, and has told what had been shown her concerning them, as did Elisha in the case of Hazael. 2 Kings 8: 8-13.

I first saw Sister White in vision in Rochester, N. Y., in October, 1852. There were eight of us—First-day Adventists—who had embraced the message under the labors of Elder J. N. Andrews, while Brother and Sister White were away in the Eastern States. At the time of the relating of this vision one of our number was away from the city. In speaking of what she had seen in the vision, Sister White mentioned a man—no one she had ever seen only as she had seen him in vision—and told what he was doing. None of us supposed it was any one we knew. In about six weeks our absent brother returned. As soon as Sister White saw him, she said, “That is the man I saw in the vision.” On relating the vision to him, he did exactly what Paul says such a person will do when his faults are made known to him through the gift of prophecy,—“falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” 1 Cor. 14: 25. That is just what he did, and confessed an offense committed in Paw Paw, Mich., six hundred miles distant, the same day the vision was given in Rochester, N. Y.

At Parkville, Mich., on Jan. 12, 1861, I witnessed another striking demonstration of the gift. On that day, before a crowd of people, Sister White had a vision, and upon this occasion we were strikingly reminded of the men upon whom came a great terror and quaking so that they fled to hide themselves when Daniel was taken in vision before them. Dan. 10: 7. A spirit medium in the place had declared that if Mrs. White should have a vision before him, he would bring her out of it in two minutes. When she was in the vision, it was with much urging that he, in his terror and trembling, came forward to examine her. Then he rushed for the door. Those near the door said, “Doctor, what is it?” He replied, “God only knows; let me out of this house.” Out he went, and we saw no more of him in the meetings.

Lodi, Cal.