Participants:
Series Code: LIN
Program Code: LIN000014A
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00:16 Ellen White didn't just provide instruction
00:18 to the church and individuals in it, 00:21 but she also received visions 00:23 that dealt with real life issues and events 00:26 in contemporary society in her day. 00:29 She lived during the civil war and received visions on this 00:33 before and during the war. 00:36 If we rewind a few years we see that the great awakening 00:40 was linked with the abolition movement. 00:42 And in fact all the early Adventist pioneers 00:45 were abolitionists. 00:47 The issue of slavery would come to a head in the civil war 00:51 and God would have His say on this terrible institution. 01:00 South Carolina would be the first state 01:03 to secede on the 20th of December, 1860. 01:07 And 23 days later, 01:09 Ellen White would have her first civil war vision 01:11 in Parkville, Michigan, here in this church. 01:15 It's unlikely that she knew 01:17 that in the three days before her vision, 01:19 three more states would secede, 01:21 but either way it will be three months 01:23 before the civil war started 01:25 when the confederate forces fired 01:27 on Fort Sumter in South Carolina 01:29 after the union forces had previously taken it over. 01:33 The conventional wisdom in the North 01:36 was that there would be no civil war 01:38 or if that there was, 01:39 it would be extremely short 01:41 with a quick victory for the union. 01:43 Ellen White correctly predicted that there would be war, 01:47 that there would be a long war 01:49 and that people in the audience 01:50 that day would lose sons in the war. 01:57 Her second civil war vision happened here 02:00 in the Roosevelt Seventh-day Adventist Church 02:03 in New York State on August 3rd, 1861. 02:07 She was standing behind this very pulpit, 02:10 though it would have been located 02:11 on the other side of the church. 02:14 She saw that slavery was a sin 02:16 and that upholding it was in direct contrast 02:19 to the teachings of Christ. 02:21 She also saw that God was using the civil war 02:24 to punish both sides. 02:26 The South for practicing slavery 02:28 and the North for so long suffering 02:30 its overreaching and overbearing influence. 02:34 Perhaps most fascinating of all 02:36 was a insight into the battle of Manassas, 02:39 sometimes called the Battle of Bull Run. 02:48 On July the 21st, 1861, 02:51 the northern troops approached Manassas 02:53 for the first time, 02:54 expecting a swift victory as they were in the ascendency. 02:59 At one point in the battle they were pushing ahead 03:01 when as Ellen White describes, 03:03 an angel descended from heaven to the battlefield 03:06 and waved his hand backwards. 03:09 Instantly there was confusion in the ranks. 03:12 The northern forces thought they were in retreat 03:15 when it was not so in reality. 03:16 But a retreat commenced. 03:18 Lieutenant Colonel WW Blackwood, 03:21 writing later says that, 03:23 "The lines of blue that had been so well defined 03:27 and unbroken suddenly became like a swarm of bees 03:30 running away as fast as they could." 03:39 Many American civil war historians 03:42 recognize a mysterious element in this battle, 03:45 though virtually all understandably fail 03:47 to see a supernatural element in its genesis. 03:50 Today at the battlefield of Manassas, 03:53 you can see the various plaques that dot the field 03:56 that recount the sudden retreat of the Northern troops 03:59 and an unlikely victory 04:00 that was won that day for the South. 04:07 Then her angel explained that, 04:09 "God had this nation in his own hand 04:12 and would not allow victories 04:13 to be gained faster than He ordained." 04:16 The North was not to be allowed to win a quick decisive battle 04:20 thus bringing an abrupt end to the war 04:22 because it would be punished 04:24 for condoning slavery before the war 04:27 and also for not making abolition 04:29 the principal ethical issue in the war. 04:32 This vision shows how God involves Himself 04:35 in the affairs of men and does not stand idly by 04:39 as we sometimes feel. 04:45 The prophetic gift was given 04:47 to address a major social and political issue of the day 04:51 showing the relevancy and the practical side of it. 04:53 Today there are some that say as Christians, 04:56 we shouldn't get involved in social issues 04:58 but should just preach the gospel. 05:00 But whilst preaching the gospel we should seek to do justly, 05:04 love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. 05:07 Some of the issues 05:08 that have been around for centuries 05:10 are still around in our day. 05:11 And as Christians 05:13 we should seek to fight injustice 05:15 and seek mercy for others. 05:17 May our religion be practical and meet the needs of society, 05:21 demonstrating the love of God wherever we are. 05:56 The Adventist Church was in its infancy 05:59 with a membership that was only in the tens of thousands 06:03 and yet it had already made ventures 06:05 into the publishing work and the health work. 06:08 Despite a small membership it would soon move 06:11 into the educational field as well 06:14 with a vision far greater 06:16 than the reality of church life at the time. 06:19 A school had started in 1868 by Goodloe Harper Bell 06:24 that was supported locally here in Battle Creek. 06:27 But in 1872, James and Ellen White 06:30 would call for the upgrading of this school 06:33 into an advanced educational institution 06:36 and also for the denomination to support the school. 06:46 As guidance for the school, 06:47 Ellen White wrote Testimony for the Church, number 22, 06:51 where she developed the fundamental principle 06:54 of the correlation between the physical, mental, 06:57 moral and religious aspects of education. 07:00 The Bible was not to be just an elected option to study 07:04 but was to be infused throughout the whole curriculum 07:07 eliminating the classics as their main thrust. 07:11 Initially the teachers and administrators 07:13 struggled to implement 07:15 what they probably didn't fully understand themselves. 07:18 As well as making the curriculum Bible based, 07:21 there was also the admonition 07:23 to include a manual labor program. 07:31 Education was to move away 07:34 from the Latin and Greek classics 07:36 and be holistic, focusing on character development 07:39 and daily reminding the students 07:41 of their obligation to God. 07:43 To live for Him and be a missionary 07:45 wherever they were. 07:47 The focus on manual labor and missionary work 07:50 is reflected in the early names of these schools. 07:54 The College of Medical Evangelist, 07:56 Emmanuel Missionary College. 07:58 Southern Missionary College, 08:00 Australasian Missionary College, 08:03 and Oakwood Industrial School. 08:05 The purpose was for mission. 08:07 The name of the school 08:09 reflected the purpose of the church, 08:11 to train missionaries at home and abroad. 08:19 The vision to start 08:20 a comprehensive educational system 08:23 would mushroom and grow. 08:25 Education is such a key evangelistic strategy. 08:28 The places today where the church is stronger 08:31 have a strong Adventist educational system 08:34 that is valued and supported by the members. 08:38 Education that recognizes 08:40 it's not just for academic advancement 08:43 but that it's also evangelistic and redemptive. 08:46 Echoing the words of Ellen White that, 08:48 "Education and redemption are one." 08:55 The work of education now encompasses the globe 08:59 with the largest Protestant school system, 09:02 but our strength lies not in our size, 09:05 but in our faithfulness to the original purpose 09:07 of setting up the educational school system. 09:10 Practical education with a clear mission focus 09:14 was the primary motivating factor 09:16 rather than just academic excellence. 09:24 Many today do not have the opportunity 09:26 of an Adventist education. 09:28 If that is you, 09:30 then may you be a witness in your school or university 09:33 like the Waldensians in the years gone by. 09:35 Proverb says, "Train up a child in the way he shall go 09:39 and when he is old he will not depart from it." 09:43 Whether it's at Sabbath school, 09:45 home school, or Adventist school, 09:47 we see that education is vitally important 09:50 in solidifying what we believe 09:53 as well as giving us the skills that we need in life. 09:56 If you live near a school then support it. 09:59 Support the youth who are attending, 10:01 whether it's financially, through your prayers, 10:03 by volunteering, by working 10:05 or in whatever way that you can. 10:49 In July of 1849, 10:51 James White packed copies of the present truth 10:55 into a borrowed carpet bag and walked eight miles 10:58 to Middletown, Connecticut. 11:00 He was taking the first steps 11:02 in what would become a global publishing ministry. 11:05 The publishing work was extremely effective 11:08 in early Adventism, 11:09 both as a form of evangelism 11:11 and also as keeping a sense of cohesion 11:14 amongst the believers. 11:16 Prior to the great disappointment, 11:18 it was very important, 11:19 and after 1848 when Ellen White 11:22 had her vision that her husband should start a magazine 11:25 and that the paper would be like streams of light 11:28 going around the world. 11:29 The work increased in effectiveness. 11:38 In 1853, the Review and Herald Publishing Association 11:42 bought its first printing press 11:44 and based itself out of the house 11:46 that James and Ellen White rented 11:48 in Rochester, New York. 11:49 It then moved to Battle Creek, Michigan 11:52 and continued to grow 11:53 and things would take a twist in the 1880s 11:56 when James White met a young Canadian 11:58 named George King 11:59 who desperately wanted to be a preacher. 12:02 He stayed with them for a few weeks, 12:04 but James White was unconvinced 12:06 that he had what it took to be a preacher. 12:13 James White then approached Brother Godsmarth 12:16 and told him about George King 12:18 and asked if he could live on the farm and work 12:20 and then maybe after a year 12:22 he would be able to go and preach. 12:24 He was a tall and slim man 12:26 and as he moved into this new home, 12:28 he would often preach in the living room 12:30 to the empty chairs. 12:32 It was soon arranged that he preach his first sermon 12:35 to some of the church members, 12:36 but it was a blundering failure and anything but to the point. 12:40 After a season of prayer, 12:42 the mother of the home stood up and said 12:44 that he could never be a preacher 12:46 and that he could not hold the attention of a crowd. 12:48 But he could be a fire-side preacher 12:51 and share books and tracks in people's homes 12:53 and spread the message this way. 13:00 He accepted this as the will of God 13:03 and the next Monday, 13:04 he packed his satchel full of magazines 13:06 and took two dollars and set off for the week. 13:10 The next Sabbath he was overwhelmed 13:12 at how much God had blessed him 13:14 and encouraged by the people he was able to speak to 13:17 as well as the 62 cents that he had earned. 13:20 The next week he was able to convert 13:22 nearly all the books in his bag to cash 13:25 and soon persuaded the brethren at the Review and Herald 13:28 to make a special book to use in the homes, 13:31 Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith. 13:39 And so the work of literature evangelism 13:42 would start with a man 13:43 who James White didn't know what to do with. 13:46 The work of literature evangelism 13:48 would grow and spread 13:49 and become a huge ministry in and of itself. 13:52 Key in the early days of our church 13:55 as it encompassed the globe. 13:57 The ministry is still active today, 14:00 both with summer programs 14:01 with academy age young people and university age students 14:05 and also with full time workers. 14:12 The story of George King teaches us 14:15 that whilst we may not be able to do the exact ministry 14:18 that we have set our hearts on, 14:20 God may have another work for us 14:22 that we haven't even thought of yet 14:24 and may use other people to guide us there. 14:27 When we are humbled and teachable, 14:29 there is no limit to how God may use us. 14:51 When I was growing up, if you wanted to study history 14:53 or do research on a particular topic, 14:55 there was really only one option that we had 14:58 and that was to read a book. 15:00 And I never really used to like reading that much. 15:02 So we decided to create a resource 15:04 that would translate this written information 15:06 into the language of today. 15:10 My name's Adam Ramdin. 15:11 And my name is Clive Coutet. 15:13 And we are the cofounders of Lineage Journey. 15:15 Back in 2016, 15:17 I was reading The Great Controversy, 15:18 and I was really struggling 15:19 to find any relevant video resources 15:21 that I could use to aid me in my study. 15:23 So I decided to approach Adam 15:24 about the possibility of making some videos 15:26 on the Reformation. 15:28 So we started filming in the end of 2016 15:31 and in 2017 we released 48 videos 15:34 that covered the period of the early church 15:37 all the way through to the end of the Reformation. 15:40 Then in 2018 and 19, 15:42 we released another 52 episodes on church history. 15:46 These have now been viewed all over the world 15:48 in over 100 countries, 15:50 covering about 50 different languages 15:52 and we have over 3 million views online. 15:56 These videos have been used as a resource 15:58 in both secular and Christian schools 16:00 as well as several church denominations 16:02 across the globe. 16:04 Used in Bible studies, study groups, 16:06 as well as play to the general congregation. 16:08 They also make a great online evangelistic tool 16:11 where people are able to share them. 16:12 And we've seen them go into countries 16:14 that we are ourselves can't go. 16:15 Countries that are Muslim, 16:17 countries where the Christian message cannot go. 16:19 One of the challenges we have though, 16:21 is that amongst our team of almost ten people, 16:23 we are all volunteers on this project, 16:25 sacrificing our time, our effort, and our energy 16:28 in order to make these resources together. 16:30 Just to put things into perspective, 16:32 each Lineage episode as well as the filming 16:35 takes an additional two to three days 16:37 in post production. 16:38 That is a lot of time and sacrifice 16:40 that this team has made 16:42 in putting 100 episodes together. 16:43 So we need to raise the funds 16:45 to cover the cost of the filming 16:46 as well as the continued production costs 16:49 that come after that. 16:51 So for as little as one dollar a month, 16:53 you can help us to expand this ministry 16:55 to create new resources 16:56 to reach more people across the world. 16:59 Thank you for visiting this page 17:00 and taking the time to watch this video. 17:03 We really appreciate that. 17:04 Thank you for your support of the ministry so far 17:07 and we ask that you would prayerfully consider 17:09 being a partner with us on this Patreon page. 17:12 May God bless you 17:14 and we ask that you continue to keep this ministry 17:16 and our future plans in prayer. 17:33 For a long time the health work 17:35 has been heavily promoted in our church 17:38 and central to our evangelistic strategy. 17:41 Reports today speak of the Adventist blue zones 17:44 and note how Seventh-day Adventists 17:46 live between six and eight years longer 17:48 than the rest of the population. 17:50 The rates of disease such as cancer 17:53 and heart disease are significantly lower 17:55 than the rest of the population. 17:57 And some diseases such as lung cancer 17:59 are almost nonexistent. 18:02 How did this come to be? 18:04 Was it luck? Was it chance? 18:06 Or was it something greater than that? 18:13 In 1863 in Otsego, Michigan, 18:16 Ellen White was given her health vision 18:18 where she was shown things that were way ahead 18:20 of the medical practices of her time. 18:23 For example, she was shown that tobacco 18:25 was a slow, insidious and most malignant poison, 18:29 common knowledge to us today. 18:31 Yet in her time, 18:33 the medical wisdom would've prescribed 18:34 or least not deterred you from using tobacco, 18:37 should you have any throat or lung issues. 18:40 It wasn't until hundred years later 18:42 when the surgeon general of the United States 18:45 finally condemned the use of tobacco. 18:53 The vision was very broad in scope 18:56 and encouraged holistic health 18:58 and natural preventative medicine. 19:00 Whilst there is always a need for acute care, 19:03 preventative medicine seeks to prevent 19:06 as much as possible disease in the body. 19:09 Under Ellen White's guidance, they set up a health institute 19:13 called the Western Health Reform Institute. 19:16 Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, 19:18 today most famous for the world 19:20 renowned breakfast cereals that he invented 19:23 became the director of this institute 19:25 at the young age of 24. 19:31 John Harvey Kellogg attended some 19:33 of the best medical schools in his day, 19:35 the University Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan 19:39 and the New York University Medical College 19:42 at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. 19:45 He graduated in 1875 19:48 and would go on to be one of the leading doctors 19:50 in the United States, 19:52 treating both the rich and famous 19:54 as well as those less fortunate. 19:56 He changed the name 19:57 to the Battle Creek Health Sanitarium. 20:00 Sanitarium is a twist on the word sanatorium, 20:03 which was a health resort for invalid soldiers. 20:06 Replacing the O with an A, 20:09 he thus created a new word for the English language. 20:18 He would go on to pioneer 20:19 some of the best medical practices of his day, 20:22 and invent some ingenious machines 20:25 that were the forerunners of much of the modern equipment 20:27 you'll see today in a gym. 20:29 Such as this rower machine and gripmaster. 20:32 Many of these were on the titanic 20:34 when it set sail for use by its wealthy passengers. 20:37 The sanatorium would start out as a great witness 20:40 to the message that God had given, 20:42 but it would later veer of track. 20:49 Unfortunately today this message 20:51 has often been neglected 20:53 and while many recognize that we do have a message 20:56 and understand the truth and validity of it. 20:59 Many people do not live up to what they know about health. 21:02 The health work was created to be the right arm. 21:06 It was to assist the gospel. 21:08 Not to be isolated on its own 21:10 but to work harmoniously together. 21:13 Healthy living was not to be an end in itself, 21:16 but its purpose was to work with the gospel, 21:19 creating an opening wedge to people's hearts. 21:22 May we implement these principles 21:24 first in our lives 21:26 and then also in the churches we are a part of 21:29 as we witness to the communities we live in. 22:28 The call had come from overseas, 22:31 please send someone. 22:32 The church was expanding from its North American roots 22:36 to further afield. 22:38 The plea had come from Europe 22:40 and the church leaders 22:41 in the United States had discussed it several times. 22:45 The need was there and finally in 1874, 22:48 the church voted to send J.N. Andrews 22:51 as the first official missionary 22:54 of the church. 22:55 Despite his wife dying just two years previous, 22:58 he remained undeterred and set sail 23:01 with his two young children for Europe. 23:04 The brethren in Europe had been told 23:06 that they're about to receive 23:08 the most ablest man in our ranks. 23:16 What qualified him to be the ablest man 23:20 in our ranks? 23:21 At the age of 25, 23:22 he wrote a paper that was presented 23:24 at the General Conference session 23:26 that persuaded the church to keep the Sabbath 23:29 from sunset to sunset. 23:31 He wrote the book The History of The Sabbath 23:32 at the age of 29. 23:34 He was elected General Conference president 23:36 at the age of 38. 23:38 He said he could recite the New Testament by memory 23:42 and much of the Old Testament. 23:44 And he secured non-combatant status 23:46 for Adventists in the civil war. 23:49 When as General Conference president 23:51 he posted the first Adventist camp meeting 23:54 in Wright, Michigan. 23:55 He would often go out at night and check on the tents 23:58 to make sure everyone was okay. 24:00 He was much loved, well respected 24:03 and was sent abroad with the church's blessings. 24:12 Initially docking in Liverpool, England, 24:15 before making his way across France to Switzerland. 24:17 Arriving in Switzerland the task ahead of him was huge. 24:22 Although he was not a pioneer missionary 24:24 as some work had already taken place before him, 24:27 there was little structure to work with. 24:29 There were no printing presses, 24:31 no publishing houses, and no organized conferences. 24:35 J.N. Andrews set about the work 24:36 with an intensity that he was known for. 24:45 J.N. Andrews and his children 24:46 quickly learned the French language, 24:48 making a family covenant 24:50 that they would not speak anything 24:52 to each other in the home, except French, 24:54 although German was acceptable at times. 24:58 His daughter, Mary, 24:59 quickly became fluent in the language 25:01 and became the proofreader for the new magazine entitled 25:05 "Les Signes des Temps." 25:07 J.N. Andrews wrote over 400 articles 25:09 for this magazine 25:11 during the seven year period that he was in Europe, 25:14 a remarkable amount considering 25:16 that he also contracted pneumonia 25:18 after being there just three years. 25:20 When the doctor came to visit him, 25:22 he asked him why he was starving himself 25:24 'cause he looked to be in such bad health. 25:31 Not wanting to overspend, 25:33 they lived mainly on white bread, 25:35 graham pudding, potatoes and sometimes cabbage, 25:39 with very little fruit, milk, or butter. 25:42 He was counseled to marry again 25:44 and it's likely this would have preserved his life 25:47 as it could have led to him taking better care of himself. 25:50 But he said he could not. 25:52 He was particularly heartbroken after the death of his daughter 25:56 and when he returned to Europe, 25:57 he was completely bedridden by 1883 with tuberculosis. 26:02 The church was concerned 26:03 and they sent J.N. Loughborough from England 26:06 to do an anointing service. 26:08 And his mother also visited him in his final months 26:11 but unfortunately, he still died young. 26:20 He charged that no eulogy should appear 26:23 in the Review and Herald 26:24 and while Uriah Smith wanted to publish one, 26:27 he complied with his request. 26:29 He was a pioneer, a dedicated worker 26:32 and one of the most intelligent and hardworking ministers 26:35 in the history of our church. 26:38 Whilst he received no eulogy after his death, 26:41 his legacy lived on in far more significant ways. 26:45 What kind of legacy are you building in your life? 26:48 If nothing was said publicly 26:50 or in written form after your death, 26:53 would the fruit of your life lead to positive change 26:56 in the life of other people? 26:58 May we make a commitment to leave such a legacy behind. |
Revised 2020-03-21