The Visions by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 7, 1876

The Visions.

By George I. Butler

While reading Bro. Smith’s searching notice of the work of our enemies against the visions in REVIEW of Aug. 17, I felt a desire kindle in my heart to say a word in regard to them. The old readers of our paper well know that this is a subject upon which I have said much in time past. In this time of rapid transitions and religious somersets it may be allowable to say a word further.

While those who have the greatest hatred against our work take so much pains to destroy confidence in this gift, and blacken the reputation of one who has never harmed them, the true friends of this cause should at once conclude that here is a vital point, because of this very fact. He who marshals the forces of our enemies does not throw away his efforts or aim them at points of no importance. He perceives, if we do not, that there is no surer way of weakening this cause, and bringing confusion to our counsels and palsy to our efforts, than by destroying faith in the “spirit of prophecy;” hence, some thirty years of arduous effort to break down the confidence of S. D. Adventists in the testimonies and in the one through whom they have come.

And these efforts of the enemy have not been fruitless. All these years examples have occurred more or less frequently before our eyes, showing the effect of losing confidence in them. Has there not been one uniform result? Has there been a single instance, during the thirty years of the history of S. D. Adventists as a people, where a person who had been a firm believer in these testimonies has lost confidence in them; and then become more devoted to the work, more in earnest to advance the cause of Christ, more ready to labor and sacrifice in its behalf than before? Do we not know that in every case just the opposite result has been seen? One of two courses are generally pursued by such persons. Either they soon become the deadliest enemies we have, sparing no pains to tear down the truth they before tried to build up, manifesting a bitterness of feeling and a rancor of spirit utterly uncontrollable; or they are involved in doubt and perplexity, loth to give up many points they held before, but trying to find some way out of the labyrinth into which they have fallen. From my soul I pity this latter class, and would gladly afford them help; but I feel sure they will never find full relief till they again accept the very truth they before believed and in which they greatly rejoiced.

The system of doctrines concerning our work for the present time as held by S. D. Adventists, stands or falls together. It is so connected that we might as well think to take a plank out of the hull without endangering the ship, as to remove one of its truths without affecting the rest. In saying this, of course I speak of those who have become thoroughly conversant with the whole of our faith; with those who are investigating, and have never become acquainted with the evidences for our positions, the case is different.

On this subject I feel that I can speak advisedly, as within the last five years I have traveled extensively in every Conference organized

by our people. My observation has taught me this: Wherever, in any Conference or church, the prevailing feeling is one of doubt or suspicion concerning this manifestation of the spirit of prophecy, there may be seen a blight upon the progress of the work, a drying up of the streams of liberality, and a dearth of the spirit of piety. I never knew an exception. Nothing need be said by way of reproof; the matter may be left apparently unnoticed, but the sure result follows. Like a canker, it eats out and saps the strength of our efforts. The people wither, and the work of God languishes. There are large sections of the field more or less affected from this cause.

If I needed any other proof upon this point I could find it in my own experience. Like all others with minds naturally skeptical, I have passed through experiences of doubt. When I first renounced infidelity, I could hardly believe the Bible. Of course, it was years before I believed in this manifestation. Oftentimes, in periods of darkness, doubts would come into my mind concerning this matter. But I always find in my own experience the same result I have spoken of in the case of others. Cherishing doubts of this kind kills out of my heart all relish for labor in the cause, and utterly saps my spiritual strength; while, on the contrary, when my faith is strong in the testimonies and I practice reading them, and meditate upon them, the sweet, humble spirit of love and peace comes into my soul.

I pity the person who can read these testimonies, and not perceive the true spirit of piety they contain. Their minds must be blinded by hatred, or their hearts hardened by resisting the influences of Heaven. In my very soul I feel that they have been to me a great source of spiritual strength and instruction. They are specially adapted to meet a want of the present time. They expose the special sophistries of Satan, through which he is bewitching the people of this age. It is no wonder to me that he hates them; that he spares no pains to make bitter war upon them; and that he employs agents filled with rancor to do it. But it is a source of deep astonishment that so many of our people are asleep to his devices; and that they cannot see that here is an important point on which to be guarded. The tactics of the enemy should teach them this, if nothing more.

Why is it that this one special spiritual gift should be looked upon with such suspicion? There has come to be quite a general recognition of the power of faith, even on the part of the popular churches, and of many of those who oppose visions. I recently purchased a book on prayer, written by a learned professor, which is an admirable work, full of excellent instruction on that important subject. He advocates the doctrine fully that there is power in the prayer of faith, and gives many very interesting instances of the sick being healed, great calamities being averted, and apparent miracles being wrought by it. Why should it be thought more wonderful that God should give visions in this age than that he should raise men from sick beds by the power of his Spirit, especially when he has said he would do so in his holy word? There is no good reason for this difference. It only comes as another fulfillment of prophecy. God has said, “The dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [the church], and went to make war with the remnant [the last end] of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The word of God will be fulfilled. We must pity the poor souls who lend themselves to do Satan’s work, and become channels through which to show his wrath, but we must cleave to the whole truth of God. Soon we shall be beyond his malice. We are in the closing struggle, and may God help us to be true to our King, while our enemies seem determined to be true to theirs. GEO. I. BUTLER.