Sabbath School

Adult Sabbath School Bible study guide.

The prophets speak to us with authority and relevance because God has chosen them as His messengers. There are canonical prophets (those whose writings became part of the Bible), non-canonical prophets (those who did not write a book included in the Bible), and postbiblical, noncanonical prophets (those prophets who appear after New Testament times). All were equally inspired, and their messages bore the stamp of divine authority.

Ellen G. White belongs to the postbiblical, noncanonical group of prophets. Yet, Seventh-day Adventists do not consider her writings an addition to the Bible, nor equal to it. Her writings are, however, relevant and speak with authority, a point stated by Ellen G. White herself: “ ‘In these letters which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision—the precious rays of light shining from the throne.’ ”—Selected Messages, book 1, p. 29.

Consistent with the Bible, Ellen G. White points out the reality of sin and our need of Jesus, the only hope of eternal life, which is given by grace to all who by faith claim it for themselves, another powerful theme in her messages.

Through her messages (or rather, God’s messages through her) we see the battle between good and evil, starting with the fall of Lucifer in heaven and going right through to the end of time, when sin and evil, along with Satan and his fallen angels, will be forever eradicated. Ellen G. White’s writings provide insight into biblical principles within the end-time context. She speaks, for example, of the danger of merging church with state and the importance of religious liberty; she warns about the decay of morality; she uplifts God’s law and its significance; and though our understanding of, for example, the “mark of the beast” is certainly not based on her writings, her words do give us wonderful insights on final events.

She also emphasizes the practical application of Christian living. Her messages about spirituality, health, education, family relations, parenting, moral life, and more have helped many change their lifestyle and thus experience better lives on a number of levels.

Ellen G. White’s writings are not in the Bible, but God has used her to guide believers who are living in the final days of earth’s history. Her writings still speak with prophetic authority and rele­vance.

Click here for Further Study 🔗.

Supplemental EGW Notes

That I May Know Him, “Christ the Revelation of God,” February 1, p. 38. Ye Shall Receive Power, “John the Baptist,” September 21, p. 273.\

The above quotations are taken from Ellen G. White Notes for the Sabbath School Lessons, published by Pacific Press Publishing Association. Used by permission.