Vision Manifestation

God was working through Ellen White, and He didn’t want it to pass by unnoticed. So He manifested his divine power in interesting and concrete ways — especially at the outset of her ministry, before there was sufficient long-term evidence of her validity. Consider, for instance, her physical state during visions, and how it paralleled the Bible prophet Daniel’s state as put forth in Daniel chapter 10.

Daniel was guided through his vision by a “certain man, clothed in linen” (vs. 5, 6). Ellen spoke of her “guide,” and “the angel” or “angel messenger” or “young man,” who led her through her visions.

Daniel was “left alone” (vs. 8), unaware of his surroundings, in a trance-like state. Ellen was “utterly unconscious of everything transpiring around her.”

Daniel was first weak, but then strengthened to stand (vs. 8, 11, 18). Ellen would often lose her strength temporarily and sit, but then later stand.

Daniel said, “neither is there breath left in me” (vs. 17). Ellen did not breathe while in visions, which lasted up to three hours!

Often during public visions, anyone who wished could examine her., Dr. Drummond, a local physician who had once declared her visions were the product of mesmerism, jumped at the opportunity to examine her while in vision. After giving her a thorough examination, he turned very pale and remarked, “She doesn’t breathe.” Skeptics would pinch both her nostrils and mouth, and even hold a mirror before her mouth while she was in vision. Both techniques proved that she simply didn’t breathe while in a vision, not even when she spoke.

In another incident, a physician named Dr. Brown claimed that her visions were the product of spiritualism, and that he could control them. When the opportunity arose, Dr. Brown examined her, but before it was complete, he turned deathly pale and began to shake. “She does not breathe,” he shuddered, making his way to the door.

The people at the door said, “Go back, and do as you said you would; bring that woman out of vision.” But the doctor, sufficiently spooked, grabbed the doorknob. “Doctor, what is it?” the people at the door persisted. “God only knows,” he replied.

But as dramatic as this story is, it doesn’t match the drama of the visions themselves. Let’s now turn our attention to some of her most extraordinary visions.

Next: Life-Changing Visions