Her service to Mrs White was particularly useful while preparing The Desire Of Ages for publication. She collected vital information on the life of Christ from Mrs White’s diaries, letters, and articles. Marian also organized the important parts collected from Mrs White’s scrapbooks. Other sources were the bound books and long manuscripts of Ellen G White.

Marion’s contribution

After drawing material for The Desire Of Ages from all these sources, she planned the chapters. She also made a note of certain areas where information was needed from Mrs White. It was apparent that these two women had a close working relationship. Mrs White had given her the freedom to suggest what was lacking from the book.
When the suggestions were given, some of them were accepted and others were rejected. The best example was Marian’s advice with regards to ‘the rock when the water flowed.’ This was accepted for a book that had been written earlier.

Marion’s recommendation with regards to ‘the war of kings’ and ‘the building a tower’ was rejected. Ellen G White said that she wouldn’t write on these topics unless she was led by the Lord’s Spirit. Mrs White was given suggestions referring to the parables of the pearl and the net.

Marian also offered suggestions on the struggle of Jesus Christ when tempted to use his divine power. Ellen G White undoubtedly appreciated the suggestions of Marian. However, it was Mrs White herself who decided what were the topics she would write on.
The Bible as well as some historical sources were used by Mrs White for preparing her other books. She studied the Bible whenever she wrote on important topics. Historical dates were also gathered and geographical relations were included.

Her study of history also helped her to perfectly describe the details. She was provided with the main outlines in a very clear and plain manner. This was done especially in certain historical matters. Some examples would be the ones in Acts of the Apostles, The Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and Prophets.

Control over the manuscript

All the initial writing of her books was done by Ellen G White herself. She also took complete responsibility for all the words that eventually appeared in her books. She had once explained to her sister, Mary, that she read over all that was copied. This was done to see whether everything was as it was supposed to be.

Ellen G White always made sure that she read the entire manuscript before it was sent for publishing. This had become her routine working method. Marian Davis had once told her that nothing would go that she did not approve of. Marian was, of course, her most trusted editorial assistant. Despite this, the absolute control of the content was always with Mrs White.

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However, it was combined with some beautiful phrases and had a deep devotional tone. These are the qualities that make this masterpiece from Ellen G White quite unique compared to her other works. 

No one knows the entire story about how this book was written. There are certain parts of the story that would always remain a mystery. What has helped in bringing certain things to light is an examination of sources that were made available. Over the years, these sources have provided some important insights into the creation of this worldwide best-seller.

Sources of information

There are thousands of quotations from the holy book, which Ellen G White has included in her writings. This clearly shows that she knew her Bible well. In all of her books, she has made use of the Word of God. Her primary source of information about what Jesus Christ had said and done were the Christian scriptures. 

She had not received any revelation on the order of Biblical events. She, therefore, found it necessary to seek it on her own by studying various histories of Bible. Apparently, she has also used certain books that dealt more specifically with Jesus Christ’s life.

When Ellen G White began writing once again after some gap, she revealed many of her spiritual experiences. She spoke about things that came to her with regards to the mission of Christ. At times, she would also admit how difficult it was to present such subjects. 

She asserted that she was tracing words which would communicate with others the words God had given her. In her words, the truth said in her books was barricaded by the words ‘Thus saith the Lord’. She had said this while talking about several of her books including The Desire of Ages.

The divine inspiration

Of course, Ellen G White was helped by several people while writing The Desire of Ages. She was helped by some of the other authors as well as her secretaries. Above all, she had the help of The Almighty Lord. 

It was not just another book on Jesus Christ’s life. It had directed and controlled her and was behind all the messages that have been conveyed in the book. The Desire of Ages was written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. For this reason, the book contrasted with other works on the life of Jesus Christ.

Every page of this book breathes a heavenly spirit. Upon reading this book, an individual would come face to face with the Almighty Lord. He or she may have the chance to get acquainted with his or her Savior. This does not generally happen while reading any of the other books outside of the Bible. It would be no less than a blessing for those who are ready to be led by the Holy Spirit.

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In 1873, she had expressed her sadness of not being a scholar and a grammarian. She had again lamented her inadequacy almost twenty years later. At that time, she admitted that she was weak, simple, and ignorant. She also declared that her language was inadequate to express the grand and holy revelations of God.

Seeking help from accomplished individuals

It was owing to such feelings that she decided to seek help from experts. It was necessary to find people skilled in literature, who would help her prepare manuscripts for getting published. Her husband, James White, was a qualified schoolteacher. He assisted her in writing the Spiritual Gifts series. 

After his death, she was assisted by Marian Davis when The Desire of Ages was taking shape in the 1890s. He was her major editorial assistant. The copyists of Ellen G White corrected spelling and grammar, removed unnecessary repetitions, and grouped the writings in paragraphs. Help from other individuals was also sought for making improvements in her manuscripts.

She wanted Joseph Harvey Waggoner to criticize her manuscript and offer suggestions to improve it. He was a knowledgeable theologian, and an accomplished editor and publisher. However, she was displeased with him when he failed to change or improve one of her manuscripts. Ellen G White had also sought the help of Dr. David Paulson at one point. 

The need for editorial assistance

Ellen G White had an understanding that some Bible writers had also needed assistance for editing their works. She had mentioned that it was customary in those times for a writer to send the manuscript to someone. It was for a detailed examination and criticism. An example would be Luke, who chose Theophilus to perform this task. 

She, therefore permitted and even sought help at times with regards to her manuscript. This also resulted in certain changes made to some of her words. While she was not really happy with the changed words, the technical improvements were appreciated. 

Despite sending her manuscripts to several accomplished individuals for criticisms and suggestions for changes, she was not pleased. She had once stated that the words of someone else would never represent her rightly. The editors and copyists of Ellen G White never contributed to her actual writings. 

Once the publisher had appealed for the immediate completion of the manuscript of The Desire of Ages. She wrote in response that there was one thing that even the most competent editor couldn’t do. It was to get the manuscript prepared before it was written. 

Her editorial assistant, Marian Davis had made a note of this fact. This clearly meant that Marian Davis could never do the editing work until she had written her manuscript.

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They were The Desire of Ages, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, and Christ’s Object Lessons. The Desire of Ages is a part of White’s five-volume series called Conflict of the Ages. It is a devotional commentary that spans the Biblical history, beginning from Genesis to Jesus Christ’s second coming.

The purpose of the book

The purpose of this book is revealed in the opening parts of the preface. It is to present Jesus Christ as the one in whom every desire may be fulfilled. The author accepts the fact that many books on the life of Christ have been written before. All of them have been excellent books with a wealth of information. They provide some fascinating insights into Jesus Christ’s life and teachings. 

However, the author also reminds that much has been left untold. The book, therefore, intends to present God’s love as revealed in His Son. It also intends that its words satisfy the longings and desires of people through Jesus Christ.

In the beginning of the book’s preface, the human desire has been described well. Whatever situation they are in, they long for things that they do not possess. The book says that this longing was implanted in them by God. It is owing to this longing that human beings begin seeking for the best. 

This quality of seeking in humans is then perverted by Satan to fulfil his evil purposes. He tricks humans into believing that their desires can be satisfied by wealth, fame, pleasure, or power. Those who fall prey to Satan’s evil ways keep their souls dissatisfied as ever.

Those who are not deceived by Satan end up finding the one who is able to satisfy their desires. It happens perfectly according to God’s design. The one is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is within Jesus that fullness and fulfillment resides. He is, therefore, described in this book as The Desire of Ages. 

What is not the purpose of the book

Later in the preface, the book describes what is not its purpose. It declares in a very clear manner that its purpose is not to create harmony of the gospels. Neither is its purpose to chronologically arrange all the important events and lessons of Jesus Christ’s life.

In the concluding parts, the readers are reminded once again of the true purpose of this book. One can also find some descriptions about the author, Ellen G White. For instance, she is described as a woman who possesses deep and long experiences in God’s things. The final parts of the preface also say that she has presented new beauties from Jesus Christ’s life. 

It states that she has opened before the reader all the riches they would have never dreamed of. The preface ends with the hope that the dissatisfied souls would get to know Jesus Christ. It also hopes that they find the fulfilment of all their desires in Him.

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However, this event paved way for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was formed by some of his followers. The Adventists contended that October 22 was the beginning of Jesus Christ’s final work of atonement. They had also stated that it would lead to Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. Ellen G White became one of the key members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

She was its co-founder and had claimed to have received more than 2,000 dreams and visions from God. Her writings were instrumental in the development of the Seventh-day Adventist theology. In the years that followed, several writers contributed to the widespread fame of the Seventh-day Adventist teachings. Some of them were:

Ellen G White

Her dreams and visions were seen by the Adventist pioneers as a Biblical gift of prophecy. She wrote the Conflict of the Ages series, which became vital to the development of the Seventh-day Adventist theology. Her book, Steps to Christ, was published in over 140 languages. The writings of Ellen G White cover a wide range of subjects. 

They include religion, prophecy, nutrition, evangelism, agriculture, and social relationships. She also played an important role in the establishment of medical centers and schools across the world. Among them is the Loma Linda University and Medical Center located in California.

Doug Batchelor

His journey from being an anti-social drug addict to becoming the president of a worldwide ministry is truly amazing. Doug Batchelor is an individual who has experienced some of the life’s greatest extremes. As a teenager, Doug couldn’t find true happiness and peace despite being the son of an aviation tycoon. He even ran away from home when he was 15 years of age. 

He committed crimes, used drugs, spent time in jail, and lived a life of adventures. A few years later, he made a remote cave in the mountains his home. One day, he found a dust-covered Bible in the cave. As he read it, he became a believer and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. 

Besides being a senior pastor and ministry president, he has also authored several books. These books are based on the Seventh-day Adventist theology. Among the most prominent ones are The Richest Caveman, Broken Chains, and A World Of Wonders.

Arthur A Milward

He grew up in a village of North Derbyshire in England. Arthur A Milward has worked earlier as a proofreader, copy editor, and professor in California. Today, he is retired and lives in Pennsylvania. He wrote a lot for the most part of his life but didn’t submit any of his writings for publication. In his 40s, he was pleasantly surprised when all the writings he sent for publishing had been accepted. His writings are based on Seventh-day Adventist theology. Some of his popular books include It’s Going To Be Alright and I’ll Hold You While It Hurts.

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Some activities are clearly considered as sins, such as stealing and using drugs as intoxicants. Then there are others that are debatable, such as playing organized sports on Sundays. According to Biblical literature, they may be considered as working on the day of rest. Consuming alcohol can also be debatable. One may ask questions like – how much drinking is acceptable?

In the Old Testament, there are references to casting lots. This can be compared to rolling of dice or flipping of coin done today. Casting of lots was used to make decisions in certain matters. Individuals who think gambling is a sin often refer to Matthew 21:12-14. This passage describes how Jesus threw money changers out of the temple. 

He declared that they had turned his home into a place of robbers. In this case, Jesus was objecting to the fact that the temple was being used for conducting business. So, the point to be understood here is that Jesus was not against money changing. He was against using temple as a center for business purposes. 

Beliefs about gambling

Now, the question arises whether gambling is a sin or not according to the Bible. The answer to this question is quite straightforward. It is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible that gambling is a sin or it is immoral. There are certain beliefs that lead to confusions:

Belief #1 – Gambling makes a person commit sinful acts

Generally, when people think about casinos, they picture alcohol, slot machines, and prostitutes. One may also point out to the fact that Las Vegas is nicknamed ‘Sin City’. While gambling is often associated with a sinful lifestyle, it is up to the individual indulging in the act. One can always gamble responsibly.

Belief #2 – Gambling promotes greed

The Bible gives us warnings at certain places not to fall in love with money. Such passages may seem like condemning gambling. However, the truth is that they’re against the idea of gambling in the hope of winning millions. So, the activity must be viewed as a source of entertainment and not as a shortcut to becoming wealthy.

Belief #3 Gambling is an addiction

Many activities can lead to addiction when done in excess. Gambling is no different. As long as you’re gambling responsibly and for fun, it can be quite entertaining. Problem arises when people begin to see it as the only way to get rich quicker.

Learning how to gamble responsibly

Today there are many websites that have plenty of useful information on responsible gambling. One such site is Casinos Jungle. It not only provides excellent information on responsible gambling but also has reviews of the best online casinos. All of these casinos are reviewed and rated by experts in the field of online gambling. You can also try some games for free before playing with real money on the online casinos. To know more about this site, visit www.casinosjungle.com

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In her private and public meetings, she claimed to have received more than 2,000 dreams and visions from God. Among her prominent books is Steps to Christ, which has been published in over 140 different languages.

Childhood

She and her twin sister were born on 26th of November 1827 to Robert and Eunice Harmon. When she was nine and living in Portland, Maine, she got hit on her face by a stone. This left her face disfigured and she was unable to attend her school as a result. 

A few years after this incident, she attended a Methodist camp meeting with her parents. It was during her time spent in this camp that she had a religious experience. She became a follower of William Miller, who preached the imminent return of Christ. She was baptized on the 26th of June 1842 in Portland, Maine, by John Hobart.

Marriage

White experienced the first of her 2,000 dreams and visions towards the end of 1844. She claimed that about 200 of these visions occurred in public places and meeting halls. She married James Springer White in 1846. They had met a year earlier. Her husband was also a follower of William Miller and was convinced that his wife’s visions were true. 

They traveled together, spreading the Adventist faith. After they moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, the city became a hub of Adventist activities. Members of various Adventist congregations met and adopted the name of Seventh-day Adventists.

Role in the Adventist movement

Later, the Adventist church adopted a formal denominational structure. Her visions became a guiding force in the organization’s work and the establishment of an Adventist orthodoxy. The written interpretations of her visions were accepted promptly. Her testimonies for the church grew from the initial 16 pages to massive nine volumes. 

The Seventh-day Adventist practice incorporated her views on varied topics. Among them were her opposition to the use of meat, tea, coffee, and drugs. She helped in establishing the Western Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek in 1866. It soon became famous for its works in diet and health food as the Battle Creek Sanitarium.

Final years

The Whites had four sons – Henry Nichols, James Edson, William Clarence, and John Herbert. Of these four sons, only Edson and William could live to their adulthood. Henry had died at the age of 16 of pneumonia. John died when he was only two months of age from erysipelas. 

The final years of Ellen G White were spent in Elmshaven. It was her home in Saint Helena, California, after her husband’s death in 1881. Travels became less frequent during her final years as she was focused more on writing for the church. She died at Elmshaven on the 16th of July 1915.

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Her biographer was her grandson, Arthur L White. He had mentioned that she was the most translated female author in the non-fiction category. A wide range of subjects was covered by the writings of Ellen G White. They included religion, prophecy, nutrition, social relationships, and many other subjects. 

She had written over 5,000 articles and 40 books. Today, more than 200 titles of Ellen G White are available in the English language. Among all her books, the most notable are The Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ, and The Great Controversy.

1. Steps to Christ

This book from Ellen G White was first published in 1892. In the same year, Review and Herald Publishing Association, a Seventh-day Adventist publisher, purchased its copyright. As a result, it was printed by the publisher four years later. 

A new first chapter called ‘God’s Love for Man’ was added in 1893. This addition was made on the request of the Seventh-day Adventist publishing house in the United Kingdom. Steps to Christ became Ellen G White’s most popular and widely read book. It was printed in over 150 languages across the world. 

The book defines the subjects such as the nature of man, what a Christian’s life should be, and salvation. Several titles of this book have been distributed with different cover illustrations over the years. The Road to Redemption, Happiness Digest, and The Path to Peace are some of the known titles.

2. The Desire of Ages

First published in 1898, this book of Ellen G White is about the life of Jesus Christ. It is a part of her five-volume series called Conflict of the Ages. The book’s title is based on the prophecy of Jesus Christ in Haggai 2:7 from the Old Testament. 

This series makes devotional comments on Bible history right from Genesis to the Christ’s second coming. When it was written for the first time, the book had much larger content. It, therefore, was divided into three separate volumes before its publication. 

These volumes were The Desire of Ages, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, and Christ’s Object Lessons. Sunnyside Historical Home, located in New South Wales was the place where this book was written.

3. The Great Controversy

Published in 1858, it became a part of the 4-volume set called Spiritual Gifts. Later the four volumes got published separately. In this book, Ellen G White describes the theme as the cosmic battle between Jesus Christ and Satan. It mentions that the battle has been going on since its beginnings in heaven. 

The book further says that it would go on until its final end. This is when the remaining faithful people of God will be placed in heaven. Later, the world would be destroyed and recreated. The 4-volume set was expanded to a 5-volume series titled The Conflict of the Ages. In 1911, the 5-volume series was again expanded and published.

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About The Book

The Divine Inspiration Behind The Desire of Ages

The Purpose of The Desire of Ages

About The Author

Top 3 Books of Ellen G White

A Short Biography of Ellen G White

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