Answers to the Hard Sayings of EGW
Below are statements by Ellen White that, at first glance, are hard to understand and appreciate. Critics tend to exploit these statements, ignoring their literary and historical contexts. Keep in mind that in comparison with the entire corpus of Ellen White's writings, these statements collectively are only a tiny part. When their literary and historical contexts are taken into consideration, however, they are not so hard as they look.
The links under each "hard saying" provide answers from different sources. Many will find that these statements, which look so bad on the anti-Ellen White websites, can be easily answered in an intellectually satisfying way. This page will be updated periodically as I add more answers and other hard sayings exploited on the Web.
Formal Principles for interpreting statements like these can be found elsewhere on this website.
The sayings are in alphabetical order.
Amalgamation of man and beast
The White Estate Website
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics
Herbert Douglass, Messenger of the Lord
More material forthcoming on this controversial statement
Amusement and Sports
*NEW* Jud Lake, "Was Ellen White Against Chess, Checkers, Tennis, and Bicycles?"
Apocrypha
The White Estate Website
The Truth About Ellen White Website
Astronomical statements
The White Estate Website
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics
The Truth About Ellen White Website (Tall people on Jupiter or Saturn?)
Civil War Statements
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics
The Truth About Ellen White Website
Death from cosmetics
Disclaimer to prophetic office
England to declare war during Civil War
The White Estate Website
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics
The Truth About Ellen White Website
Extra-biblical descriptions
God does not love erring children
The White Estate Website
More material forthcoming on this statement
God’s providence in the 1843 chart
The White Estate Website
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics
Jerusalem never to be rebuilt
The White Estate Website
Julia Neuffer, "The Gathering of Israel"
Herbert Douglass, Messenger of the Lord
Never say that you are saved
The White Estate Website
Jerry Moon, SDA Seminary (PDF File)
Predictions
*NEW* Jud Lake, "Pestilence Prediction?"
Self-abuse
The White Estate Website
Herbert Douglass, Messenger of the Lord
Some in 1856 alive when Jesus comes
The White Estate Website
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics
Herbert Douglass, Messenger of the Lord
More material forthcoming on this statement
Some slaves not resurrected
The White Estate Website
Francis D. Nichol, Ellen White and Her Critics