Ellen White and Uriah Smith: Armageddon, Ships, and Prophetic Revisions

The description of ships sinking in the context of the final conflict is linked to the removal of the restraining power of the four angels, allowing the nations to plunge into a time of trouble that leads to the battle of ArmageddonLDE 238.3+1.

The Final Conflict and Calamities at Sea

In the closing scenes of earth's history, the four mighty angels who hold back the powers of the earth will eventually release their grip once the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads Revelation 7:1-37BC 967.8+1. When this restraining power is removed, a time of unprecedented trouble and anguish will break upon the worldLDE 238.3. During this period, deadly instruments of warfare will be utilized, and many vessels, along with their living cargo, will be entombed in the great deep7BC 967.8+1.

Satanic Agency and the Elements

Satan is working through all conceivable methods to destroy, and he exercises his wrath through terrible tornadoes and calamities at sea4LtMs, Lt 3a, 1883, par. 2. Many shipwrecks on the high seas are also the result of human negligence and intemperance, as those in charge of vessels often place themselves under the control of Satan through liquor drinking19MR 280.2+1. However, the Lord often interposes and sends unseen angels to protect vessels for the sake of praying passengers who have faith in His keeping power19MR 280.2.

The Climax: Armageddon

While these calamities increase, the nations of the world are kept under control until the specific time comes for the great battle of ArmageddonLDE 238.3+1. In this final struggle, the religious elements of both good and evil will awake from their slumberLDE 251.3+1. The armies of heaven, led by the King of kings on white horses, will go forth to the final victory Revelation 19:11-16LDE 251.3+1.

...oved there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels with their living cargo will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of Satanic agencies, but they are to be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:967 (1900)— LDE 238.3 (1992)

...ved, there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels, with their living cargo, will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of satanic agencies. But they are to be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon— 7BC 967.8 (1957)

It is not wise to defer the preparation for eternity one day, no not an hour. This calamity speaks decidedly to every one of us to not neglect a vita...— 4LtMs, Lt 3a, 1883, par. 2

...ved, there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels, with their living cargo, will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of satanic agencies. But they...— 15LtMs, Lt 79, 1900, par. 34

The version of Daniel and the Revelation that is widely available today differs from the one originally read by Ellen White because it represents the final edition published during Uriah Smith's lifetime, incorporating his mature thoughts and correctionsDAR1909 3. It is vital to recognize that the books of Daniel and the Revelation are counterparts that naturally stand side by side and should be studied together to understand the closing scenes of world historyDAR1909 3.4+1.

The Evolution of the Text

• Author's Lifetime Revisions: The policy for the current digital and printed collections is to provide the last edition published while Uriah Smith was still aliveDAR1909 3. This ensures the reader has access to his most complete and refined explanations of the literal rule of interpretationDAR1909 4.3+1.

• Increase of Knowledge: The angel told Daniel that at the time of the end, knowledge would be increased, especially regarding prophecies designed to give light for the final generation Daniel 12:4DAR1909 5.1+1. As the light upon the prophetic word has increased over more than half a century, later editions reflect this growing luster and clarityDAR1909 5.1.

• Consistency in Interpretation: While the earlier versions laid the foundation, the later editions sought to offer a more consistent exposition according to the literal system, moving away from the "mystical method" of the past which relied on imagination rather than defined laws of scriptureDAR1909 4.3.

The Importance of These Prophecies

No other parts of the Word of God deal so largely with the physical, moral, and political aspects of the termination of probationary timeDAR1909 134.3. These books are designed to lead the inhabitant of the earth through the grand procession of events that ushers in the eternal reign of righteousnessDAR1909 134.3.

• Counterpart Books: Daniel and the Revelation are so intimately connected that the ninth chapter of Daniel is considered an appendix to the eighth, explaining the chronological portions of the 2300 daysDAR1909 218.3+1.

• Divine Blessing: There is a specific blessing pronounced upon those who read, hear, and keep the things written in the Revelation, for the time is truly at hand Revelation 1:1-3DAR1909 222.2.

• The Investigative Judgment: The later editions clearly set forth the work of the investigative judgment, where the Ancient of Days takes the throne and the books are opened to determine who shall receive eternal life Daniel 7:9-10DAR1909 134.3+1.

Understanding these prophecies is a praiseworthy effort, as they represent the Revelation of Jesus Christ communicated from God the Father to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass Revelation 1:1DAR1909 351.3. We can take pleasure in these features that were often overlooked in the past, knowing that the Spirit which inspired the scriptures aids the sincere investigator todayDAR1909 6.3+1.

While Ellen White did not endorse a total replacement of the established prophetic views, she actively approved of and cooperated in the specific grammatical and clarity-focused revisions made to Uriah Smith's work3MR 258.2. She maintained a very tender regard for Elder Smith and his life's work, specifically desiring that his name always appear as the leading editor of the Review2SM 225.2. However, her primary concern was that controversy over "new views" should not hinder the essential work of soul-winning10MR 49.1.

Approval of Revisions and Refinements

• Correction of Language: She personally made a careful and critical examination of the work done on her own Testimonies and the publishing work, expressing that where language was not the best, it should be made correct and grammatical3MR 258.2.

• Approval of the Committee: In 1883, a committee including W. C. White, Uriah Smith, and J. H. Waggoner was appointed to take charge of the republication of the Testimonies, and the work they produced was submitted to and approved by her3SM 96.

• Confidence in the Author: Ellen White rejoiced in Smith's articles, noting they were excellent and full of spiritual truth2SM 225.2. She believed God designed for him to stand in his place as an editor as long as his right hand could hold a pen2SM 225.2.

The Danger of Divisive "New Views"

• The "Daily" Controversy: In later years, a heated discussion arose between A. G. Daniells and W. W. Prescott (advocating a "new view") and followers of Uriah Smith's "old view" regarding the "daily" in Daniel 8:13+1.

• Neglect of Evangelism: She saw this controversy as a distressing development because it led to the neglect of city evangelism while forces were engaged in divisive debate10MR 49.1.

• Warning Against Book Revision: She explicitly bidden leaders to leave the work of book revision if it meant sowing seeds of uncertainty and distrust in the minds of others10MR 365.5. She urged them to instead devote their energies to presenting Bible truth to those who had never heard the message10MR 365.5.

Unity in Essential Truth

• The Spirit of Christ: When differences arise regarding the understanding of truth, the Bible rule is to come together in a spirit of meekness and love to see how closely brethren can draw together without sacrificing anything but selfish dignity Matthew 11:291888 1008.3.

• Open Minds: During the 1888 Minneapolis session, when Smith and A. T. Jones held different positions on the ten kingdoms of Daniel she urged all to approach the study with open hearts and prayerful minds Daniel 2:41-43+1TM xxiii.1.

• The Core Message: Regardless of minor interpretive differences, the central focus must remain on the righteousness of Christ and the third angel's message Revelation 14:121888 1052.2+1. She warned that turning from light because of a fear of accepting new positions would lead to spiritual darkness1888 603.5+1.

Ultimately, she advocated for a vital connection with the Great Leader of armies rather than following one's own inclination or getting bogged down in "fleshly reasonings" that produce no spiritual fruit1888 1041.3+1. Those who are wise will focus on turning many to righteousness, shining as the stars forever Daniel 12:3LS 254.2.

It is true that Ellen White passed away in 1915, but she was very much involved in the discussions regarding the revision of Uriah Smith's work during the final years of her life 🕊️. In 1910, five years before her death, a significant controversy arose when leaders like W. W. Prescott and A. G. Daniells proposed a "new view" of the "daily" mentioned in the book of Daniel Daniel 8:1310MR 49.1.

Her Counsel During the 1910 Revision Debates

• Warning Against Revision: When the talk of revising Uriah Smith's Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation became a source of heated discussion, Ellen White explicitly bidden the leaders to leave the work of book revision alone10MR 365.5.
• Preventing Uncertainty: She was deeply concerned that if leaders were to "sow broadcast seeds of uncertainty and distrust" by changing these established works, God would hold them to a stern account for the resulting evil10MR 365.5.
• Focus on Evangelism: Instead of spending time and energy on debating and revising these points of prophecy, she urged them to devote their entire minds to presenting the third angel's message to souls who had never heard it10MR 365.5.

Protection of the Pioneer Influence

• Respect for First Burden Bearers: Ellen White felt a strong, tender sympathy for Elder Uriah Smith and believed those who "fought bravely when the battle went so hard" should not lose their hold or be dishonored by those who entered the work later2SM 225.2.
• The "Daily" Controversy: She viewed the intense focus on the "new view" versus the "old view" of the "daily" as a distressing development that caused forces to be engaged in divisive controversy rather than city evangelism10MR 49.1.
• The Investigative Judgment: Despite any debates over minor points, she stood firm on the core prophetic truths such as the investigative judgment and the opening of the books before the Ancient of Days Daniel 7:9-10DAR1909 134.3.

Grammar vs. Theological Change

• Grammatical Corrections: While she was cautious about changing theological positions that had been established for years, she was open to making the language correct and grammatical3MR 258.2.
• Maintaining the Sense: She believed in correcting the language of her own Testimonies and other publications as long as it could be done without destroying the sense of the message3MR 258.2.
• The Final Edition: Because of her counsel to avoid divisive revisions, the version of Smith's book often used by the pioneers was the one published during his lifetime, which reflected the views he had refined over decadesDAR1909 3.

While later revisions of Daniel and the Revelation were indeed made many years after her death, she spent her final years urging the brethren to seek unity and avoid anything that would unsettle the faith of the people in the message God had given through the pioneers1888 1008.3+1. She believed that those who are wise should focus on turning many to righteousness so they may shine as the stars forever Daniel 12:3.

If you have more questions about her writings or other Adventist authors, feel free to ask ✨!

Uriah Smith personally prepared the 1844 and 1897 revisions of his book, and Ellen White consistently endorsed the original message of that work, which included the specific fulfillment of prophecy regarding the Ottoman EmpireGC 691.1+1. The interpretation regarding Turkey as a subject of prophecy was a central pillar of the Advent movement that Ellen White strongly supported because it gave a wonderful impetus to the workGC 334.4+1.

Uriah Smith's Role in the Final Revisions

• Authoritative Revisions: Uriah Smith was connected with the publishing work from its inception and labored for decades to refine the content of Thoughts on Daniel and the RevelationRY 19.3.

• Final Lifetime Editions: The 1897 and 1903 editions were the final versions prepared during Smith's lifetime, representing his mature thoughts on the literal interpretation of the "king of the north" as TurkeyDAR1909 305.1+1.

• Literal System of Interpretation: Smith explicitly offered his volume as a consistent exposition according to the literal system, rejecting mystical methods that relied on human imaginationDAR1909 4.3.

Ellen White's Endorsement of the Ottoman Interpretation

• Prophetic Accuracy: Ellen White endorsed the application of the "hour, day, month, and year" prophecy of the sixth trumpet to the fall of the Ottoman Empire in August 1840GC 691.1+1.

• The 1840 Fulfillment: She confirmed that at the very time specified by Josiah Litch, Turkey accepted the protection of European powers, which exactly fulfilled the predictionGC 334.4+1.

• Convincing the Multitudes: This specific fulfillment regarding the Ottoman power convinced multitudes of the correctness of Miller's principles of prophetic interpretationGC 334.4+1.

• Special Importance: She stated that the books Daniel and the Revelation, Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and Prophets contain the special light God has given His people and must be regarded as of special importanceEv 366.2+1.

The Nature of the War and Armageddon

• A Physical and Spiritual Conflict: While the battle of Armageddon involves a gathering of nations in a physical sense near the river Euphrates, it is also a struggle where the powers of earth marshal their forces for the last great battle between the Creator and the prince of darkness7BC 982.6+1.

• The Drying Up of the Euphrates: Smith interpreted the "drying up" of the Euphrates under the sixth vial as the literal cessation of the Ottoman nationality and powerARSH June 18, 1857, page 53.4+1.

• A Symbolic and Literal Meeting: Jerusalem and Palestine were identified as the literal location where nations would come into collision, while the conflict itself is the final decision of the great controversy between good and evilPM 49.4+1.

Warning Against Changing the Message

• Establishing New Believers: Ellen White urged that these books be given to those newly come to the faith so they would not be turned into strange paths or misled by those desiring to present something "new and strange"1MR 60.4+1.

• Divine Guidance in the Past: She emphasized that those who entered the work in its early history were given great light from God as they passed over the ground where special prophecies were being fulfilled17MR 1.7.

• A Settled Message: The great essential questions and the solid, eternal truth for this time are found in Smith's work, and the Lord showed her that this book would do a grand, good work in enlightening the world1MR 60.4+1.

While later revisions by other parties may have altered these positions, Ellen White and Uriah Smith stood together on the fundamental interpretation that saw the hand of God in the history and decline of the Ottoman powerGC 334.4+1. We should study these prophecies diligently, for they lay out the path so plainly that none need err therein 2 Peter 1:191MR 60.4.

Ellen White fell asleep in Jesus on July 16, 1915TM ix.1. Her death was regarded by her fellow laborers as the peaceful rest of a saint who was exceeding precious in the sight of the LordLS 476.1.

The Close of a Productive Life

• A Life of Labor: Up until her final rest, she remained dedicated to her calling, often rising early in the morning to write while others were still asleep19LtMs, Ms 8, 1904, par. 37.

• Confidence in her Writings: Shortly before her death, she expressed that whether or not her life was spared, her writings would continue to speak to the people as long as time should lastEGWATHW 16.5.

• Posthumous Publications: Following her passing in 1915, the Board of Trustees she appointed began issuing compilations of her manuscripts, such as Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers in 1923 and Medical MinistryTM ix.1+1.

The Meaning of Falling Asleep

In the scriptures and the writings of the pioneers, death is described as a state of unconscious sleep until the resurrectionTT 137.3. The apostle Paul used this term to provide comfort, explaining that just as Jesus rose from the dead, God will bring the sleeping saints from their graves at His comingLP 113.3. At the morning of the resurrection, those who are now sleeping in Jesus will be bestowed with fullness of joy and wake in immortal bloomLS 476.1+1.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints Psalms 116:15.

You are absolutely correct that Elder Uriah Smith passed away in 1903 and could not have been involved in the 1915 posthumous edition of his work2SM 225.2+1. He was one of the first burden-bearers in the publishing work, and Ellen White expressed a deep and tender sympathy for his life's interest in these books2SM 225.2. 🕊️

The Conflict Over Posthumous Revisions

• Ellen White's Warning: While she was still alive, Ellen White was aware of the efforts by some leaders to revise Smith's book, especially during the "daily" controversy of 191010MR 49.1.
• A Stern Account: She explicitly warned leaders like W. W. Prescott to leave the work of book revision alone, stating that sowing seeds of uncertainty in the minds of others was an evil for which they would be called to a stern account10MR 365.5.
• Preserving the Pioneer Message: She believed that the books Daniel and the Revelation, Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and Prophets contained the special light God had given His people and should be used to establish new believersEv 366.2+1.
• Focus on Evangelism: Her counsel was to devote the entire energies of the mind to the presentation of Bible truth rather than engaging in divisive controversy over interpretive changes10MR 365.5.

The "Lifetime" Editions

• The Author's Mature Thought: Because of the concerns regarding posthumous changes, many scholars and readers prioritize the editions published during Uriah Smith's lifetime as the most accurate reflection of his researchDAR1909 3.
• The Literal System: Smith championed a "literal method" of interpretation, which he believed was subject to well-established laws of scripture rather than the "uncurbed imagination" of later revisionsDAR1909 4.3.
• A Unified Testimony: Ellen White and Uriah Smith stood together in the belief that these books would do a grand work in enlightening those who become interested in the truth for this time1MR 60.4+1.

While the 1915 edition and later versions incorporated changes made by committees after both Smith and White had passed, the original "old view" was what provided the "wonderful impetus" to the early advent movement10MR 49.1+1. 🌟 We are encouraged to study these prophecies for ourselves, for they lay out the path so plainly that none need err therein 2 Peter 1:191MR 60.4.

If you have any more questions about the history of these works or other Adventist authors, I am here to help1MR 60.4! You can also contact us at hello@adventai.app if you have further inquiries.