I received questions from pastors concerned about the content of the Sabbath School Quarterly on Thursday, April 30, 2020. The author of the lesson dealt with the principle of Sola Scriptura (which the great reformer Martin Luther emphasized) and the role of the Spirit of Prophecy in our midst. I agreed with what the lesson says, but because of its brevity it opens the door to misinterpretations. I was written that in their comments on the lesson, some pastors “have feasted on what the booklet says about the lesser light” given by God to E. G. White compared to the Bible. I will not expose names associated with certain misinterpretations that I had often seen already in Europe but also at times in the USA, which depreciate the Spirit of Prophecy because it is considered a lesser light. They use this illustration given by E. G. White to put their particular interpretations above the gift of prophecy entrusted to the Adventist Church.
One pastor affirmed in his commentary on that lesson that the gift of prophecy manifested in E. G. White is formative, but not normative, because according to him, only the Bible is our standard of faith and conduct. We agree that the Bible is our only standard of faith and behavior, but what do we do with the many passages of Scripture that can confuse people about their true meaning? It causes us to wonder about the purpose and quality of that lesser light.
The lesser light that reflects the greater light
Around our planet, the greatest light is the sun, and the lesser light reflecting sunlight is the moon (Gen 1:14). This figure applies in its spiritual dimension to Christ who is the Sun of Righteousness, and to His church which, like the moon, reflects the light that comes from Him (Rev 12:1-2; cf. Mal 4:2; Hos 6:2-3, etc). “The church must and will shine forth ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners’” [Song of Songs 6:10] (RH Nov 18, 1902).
E. G. White also applied this illustration to the gift of prophecy she received from God, reflecting the light of Christ in the Word of God.
“The Lord has sent his people much instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light. O, how much good would be accomplished if the books containing this light were read with a determination to carry out the principles they contain! There would be a thousandfold greater vigilance, a thousandfold more self-denial and resolute effort. And many more would now be rejoicing in the light of present truth” (CEv 37).
But many misunderstand the meaning and purpose of “the lesser light,” so that they depreciate it to the point of giving it only a pastoral or spiritual value, not as a divine revelation whose nature is of the same character as the revelation of the Bible. And though the writings of E. G. White have neither the function nor the intention of occupying a place in the Bible, nor to be an addition to the Word of God, they are a true source of light that must be accepted so as not to err in the interpretation of the Bible.
What did Jesus, the Apostles, and E. G. White understand by “lesser light” and “greater light”?
The quality of inspiration of the Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible is the same. That inspiration comes from God. This is what we may verify when we compare the content of both sources of light. Before the world, of course, who does not know how the gift of prophecy was fulfilled as prophesied in the Bible, in the foundation and development of the SDA faith, we must make it clear that the Bible is the foundation of our faith: Sola Scriptura. We do not test the Bible by the Spirit of Prophecy, but the Spirit of Prophecy by the Bible.
Those who, having seen from their own experience the nature of the inspiration of the writings of E. G. White, depreciate or reject that inspiration, also depreciate or reject the Bible that proclaimed the gift of prophecy for the time of the end (Rev 12:17; 19:10). In other words, they do not believe in biblical prophecy. That is why E. G. White warned us that the Spirit of Prophecy should not be imposed as proof of discipleship in order to be baptized. But she also clarified that if, after having the opportunity to know the nature of that gift in the church, some openly reject that gift, the qualification for baptism or for a leader position in our church should be questioned. The gift of prophecy is one of the doctrines of the Adventist Church.
The Old Testament was a lesser light that was to guide to the greater light that is Christ
What is lesser light, and who were formerly that lesser light? Many pay no attention to the fact that the entire Old Testament was a lesser light that should guide to the greater light of Christ revealed in the New Testament. The ritual symbols of sacrifices and the entire office of the sanctuary pointed to the great fulfillment of Christ’s sacrifice and priesthood in the sanctuary of the new covenant. Does this mean that that lesser light of the ritual shadows of the OT that pointed to the Redeemer of the world, should be depreciated, and that we should keep only the greater light that Jesus Christ is? Of course not! If this lesser light is discarded, the fulfillment of the greater light of Christs Atonement cannot benefit anyone.
“With the first advent of Christ there was ushered in an era of greater light and glory; but it would indeed be sinful ingratitude to despise and ridicule the lesser light because a fuller and more glorious light had dawned. Those who despise the blessings and glory of the Jewish age are not prepared to be benefited by the preaching of the gospel. The brightness of the Father’s glory, and the excellence and perfection of His sacred law, are only understood through the atonement made upon Calvary by His dear Son; but even the atonement loses its significance when the law of God is rejected” (TDG 246).
John the Baptist was a lesser light that was to guide to the greater light that is Christ
This concept highlighted by E. G. White on the mission of John the Baptist is borrowed by the apostle John and Jesus Himself in the fourth gospel.
“You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me” (John 5:33-36). “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son” (1 John 5:9). “John… was not the Light. He came only as a witness to the Light” (John 1:6-8).
“John was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater light” (RH, April 8, 1873). “The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. As God’s representative he stood forth to show the relation of the law and the prophets to the Christian dispensation. He was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater. The mind of John was illuminated by the Holy Spirit, that he might shed light upon his people; but no other light ever has shone or ever will shine so clearly upon fallen man as that which emanated from the teaching and example of Jesus. Christ and His mission had been but dimly understood as typified in the shadowy sacrifices. Even John had not fully comprehended the future, immortal life through the Saviour” (DA 220). 3
John the Baptist was, in the preparation for the first coming of the Lord:
1. “More than a prophet”: “the messenger of the Lord” (Matt 11:9).
2. “A lesser light” to guide to “the greater light” (John 1:6-8; 5:33-36; 1 John 5:9).
3. He didn’t do miracles, but everything he said about Jesus was true (John 10:41).
4. He was the second Elijah foretold by prophet Malachi (Matt 11:14; cf. Mal 4:5).
5. Mission: to prepare a people for the first coming of the Lord (Matt 3:1-3,11-12; Luke 1:17).
The same mission was given to E. G. White, to prepare a people for the second coming of the Lord. In this way, that people (the Seventh-day Adventist Church), in whose midst is found that Spirit of Prophecy, is generally considered in our church as being the third Elijah (Mal 4:5; Matt 11:14; Luke 1:17; Rev 12:17). Even if there are miracles in our midst, the work we do is not characterized for doing miracles, as the ministry of E. G. White was not characterized by miracles. But everything she said and we say about Jesus and His Word is true. As she plainly expressed it, the mission God gave her was greater than that of being a prophet. God called her to be “the messenger of the Lord” (1 SM 32). Her testimony was a “lesser light” as was the testimony of John, which consisted in leading the people to Christ and His Word.
“The Lord has sent His people much instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light. Oh, how much good would be accomplished if the books containing this light were read with a determination to carry out the principles they contain! There would be a thousandfold greater vigilance, a thousandfold more self-denial and resolute effort. And many more would now be rejoicing in the light of present truth” (CM 125).
Why was the gift of prophecy given according to the testimony of E. G. White?
Some think that the Bible or greater light is the only rule of faith and conduct, and that is correct. But the Bible announces that God would give, at the time of the end, the gift of prophecy (Rev 12:17; 19:10). Rejecting that gift once it came would involve rejecting the Bible that announced it. The mission of that gift of prophecy is clear. It had to lead the people to the Bible, as we have already seen. As deceptions would multiply at that time, God would confirm the faith of God’s people, the last remnant who keeps God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus, through the gift of prophecy.
To be continued . . .
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