Last Day Events by Ellen G. White review

This book is a compilation of writings from Ellen White, and i think was first published in 1992.

How can i possibly give a book attributed to Ellen White anything less than a “A+” mark? Because this book highlights at least two of the problems of compilations – they often are (as this one is) trying to make certain points, and secondly, they are self-contradictory.

The book is laid out quite well, first showing how we are approaching the end of the world, then talking about how God’s people should be living in this preparation time, and how they should get out of the cities, then the events leading up to the coming of Jesus.

The order of the chapters too is mostly chronological, according to last day events as they will occur, but having a separate chapter for “The Latter Rain”, and then “The Loud Cry” makes one think that these are two separate events, while they are actually one and the same thing, the two names being used to show different aspects of the same event.

What are the self-contradictory parts? Where it talks about no one knowing when probation has closed in one place, and then talking about how the saints will not even be able to pray for the lost after probation has closed is one example, another is where it is said that no one will need to rest in heaven, yet in another place it says that we will sleep, and perhaps the worst is where it talks about how the coming of Jesus will be like a thief in the nite with no one knowing about it, while on the other hand it talks about the terrible earthquakes and floods and famines and of course 7 plagues that precede his coming.

There is also the usual attributing quotes from Early Writings (1882) to the 3 books that are supposedly put in it in their entirety, but such is not the case. Go back to the original 1851, 1854, and 1858 books to get the actual words of God.

There are many practical things mentioned in this book. One is the way family worship might be conducted – it should be short, sweet, and varied. There is excellent advice for all the “conspiracy theorists” that sadly are gaining ground among the conservatives in our Seventh-day Adventist church – that is (to paraphrase) we should not say or write anything that might “make it seem antagonistic to law and order. Everything should be carefully considered lest we place ourselves on record as uttering things that will make us appear disloyal to our country and its laws.” As mentioned above, the advice to leave the cities is very practical and timely for today.

For those who have never read the first, 1858, edition of “The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels”, and who wish to know more about the necessity of leaving the cities, then this book will be of great benefit to you. If you have read the above book already, and if you know that we must leave the cities, then your time can be better spent on other books.