Image of Ellen White

Timeline

Lifetime: 1915 - 1915 Passed: ≈ 109 years ago

Title

Author

Country/Nationality

United States
Wikipedia

Ellen White

Ellen Gould White was an American author and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Along with other Adventist leaders such as Joseph Bates and her husband James White, she was instrumental within a small group of early Adventists who formed what became known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. White is considered a leading figure in American vegetarian history. The Smithsonian magazine named Ellen G. White among the "100 Most Significant Americans of All Time." White's writings still influence people today.

White claimed to have received over 2,000 visions and dreams from God in public and private meetings throughout her life, which were witnessed by Adventist pioneers and the general public. She verbally described and published for public consumption the content of each vision. The Adventist pioneers viewed these experiences as the Biblical gift of prophecy as outlined in Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 19:10 which describe the testimony of Jesus as the "spirit of prophecy." Her Conflict of the Ages series of writings endeavor to showcase the hand of God in Biblical history and in church history. This cosmic conflict, referred to by Seventh-day Adventist theologians as the "Great Controversy theme," became foundational to the development of Seventh-day Adventist theology. Her book on successful Christian living, Steps to Christ, has been published in more than 140 languages. The book Child Guidance, a compilation of her writings about child care, training and education, has been used as the foundation for the Seventh-day Adventist school system.

White was considered a controversial figure by her critics, and much of the controversy centered on her reports of visionary experiences and on the use of other sources in her writings. Historian Randall Balmer has described White as "one of the more important and colorful figures in the history of American religion". Walter Martin described her as "one of the most fascinating and controversial personages ever to appear upon the horizon of religious history". Arthur L. White, her grandson and biographer, writes that Ellen G. White is the most translated female non-fiction author in the history of literature, as well as the most translated American non-fiction author of either gender. Her writings covered a broad range of subjects, including religion, social relationships, prophecy, publishing, nutrition, creationism, agriculture, theology, evangelism, Christian lifestyle, education, and health. She advocated vegetarianism. She promoted and has been instrumental in the establishment of schools and medical centers all over the world, with the most renowned being Andrews University in Michigan and the Loma Linda University and Medical Center in California.

During her lifetime she wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books. As of 2019 more than 200 White titles are available in English, including compilations from her 100,000 pages of manuscript published by the Ellen G. White Estate, which are accessible at the Adventist Book Center. Her most notable books are Steps to Christ, The Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy.

Books by Ellen White

Steps to Christ Cover image

Steps to Christ

Religion
Faith Gods Christianity

Steps to Christ is a book written by Ellen G. White, pioneer and prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was first published in 1892 by Fleming H. Revell Company. The copyright was purchased by Seventh-day Adventist publisher Review and He...

 The Great Controversy Cover image

The Great Controversy

Non-Fiction Religion
Sin Evil Christianity Religious Commentary Spirituality

The Great Controversy is a book by Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and held in esteem as a prophetess or messenger of God among Seventh-day Adventist members. In it, White describes the "Great Controversy them...

Education Cover image

Education

Non-Fiction Reference work
Education

Ellen White said that one of the most delicate tasks in life was working with youthful minds. Teaching should be varied which can make it possible for the 'high and noble powers of the mind' to have a chance to progress. Educators of youth should be...

Christ's Object Lessons Cover image

Christ's Object Lessons

Religion
Love Death Nature Resurrection Faith Glory Christianity Commentary God

In her classic work Christ's Object Lessons, Ellen G. White uses everyday objects to illustrate the truths of the Bible. Christ's Object Lessons is a book by Ellen G. White that uses everyday objects to illustrate the truths of the Bible. White beli...

The Desire of Ages Cover image

The Desire of Ages

Non-Fiction Religion Biography
Love Redemption Autobiography Faith Christianity Life Desire Jesus

In the depths of human yearning, there lies an unspoken desire, a longing for something greater than ourselves, a fulfillment that transcends the fleeting pleasures of this world. It is this longing that Ellen G. White's masterpiece, "The Desire of A...