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The Lesser Light and the Greater Light explained

Created: 11 Aug 2013 / Modified: 08 Sep 2013 For one reason or another, there are many who believe that the writings of Ellen G. White are a lesser light as compared with the Bible, which is said to be the greater light.

Lesser & Greater Lights Defined


Lets take a look at a number of passages in Sis Whites writings and in the Bible and see if the terms lesser light and greater light are clearly defined there. ------John was more than a prophet. While prophets had seen from afar Christs advent, to John it was given to behold Him and to present Him to Israel as the Sent of God. The prophet John was the lesser light to be followed by a greater. No other light ever will shine so clearly on fallen man as the teaching and example of Jesus. {HLv 141.5} The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. As Gods 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 220.2} 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 Fathers 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 246.3} The religion of the Jews, in consequence of their departure from God, consisted mostly in ceremony. John was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater light. He was to shake the confidence of the people in their traditions, and call their sins to their remembrance, and lead them to repentance; that they might be prepared to appreciate the work of Christ. God communicated to John by inspiration, illuminating the prophet that he might remove the superstition and darkness from the minds of the honest Jews, which had been, through false teachings for generations, gathering upon them. {RH April 8, 1873, par. 15}

------In other words, God's servants, of which John the Baptist was the primary example, are the lesser light. And God's Son is the Greater Light. Now, lets see if these definitions correspond to the biblical definitions of the same terms. Here we have an utterance of John the Baptist as recorded by the Apostle John:
John 1:6-9 KJV There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

The Lesser Light & Greater Light explained

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Who (not What) is the Lesser Light?


If we combine what we have learned from the previous passages from Sis White's writings, with the record of the Apostle John, we will notice when we read the passages from the links below that it is Sis White herself who is being referred to as the lesser light, pointing to Jesus Christ, the greater/True Light. (Please bear in mind that in all of the compiled works, the captions of the various paragraphs were provided by the publishers, NOT by Sis White.) -- https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_AUCR.March.15.1905.par.2 -- https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_CEv.37.1 -- https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_3SM.30.4 Sis White didn't call her writings a lesser light -- she called God's servants, including *herself* a lesser light. Unfortunately, the publishers failed to get the point and created at least one misleading caption as a result, but it is quite clear if you look at the previously referenced quotations found in Review and Herald, April 8, 1873 and Desire of Ages where the who of the lesser and greater lights is fully spelled. (The links below are provided for convenience and full context.) -- https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_RH.April.8.1873.par.15 -- https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_DA.220.2

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit


God's servant, Ellen G. White, was inspired by the same Holy Spirit, and in the same manner as all of the writers of the Holy Scriptures, and what she was inspired to write was for the same purpose as the Holy Scriptures:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

------When you find men questioning the testimonies, finding fault with them, and seeking to draw away the people from their influence, be assured that God is not at work through them. It is another spirit. Doubt and unbelief are cherished by those who do not walk circumspectly. They have a painful consciousness that their life will not abide the test of the Spirit of God, whether speaking through His Word or through the testimonies of His Spirit that would bring them to His Word. Instead of beginning with their own hearts, and coming into harmony with the pure principles of the gospel, they find fault, and condemn the very means that God has chosen to fit up a people to stand in the day of the Lord. {1SM 45.1} -- Selected Messages Book 1 Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in these last days.Letter 50, 1906. {3SM 83.5} -- Selected Messages Book 3 The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy. These are not to be twisted and turned to mean what man may want them to mean, to carry out mans ideas and sentiments, to carry forward mans schemes at all hazards.Letter 92, 1900. {3SM 30.3} -- Selected Messages Book 3

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At that time [after the 1844 disappointment] one error after another pressed in upon us; ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search the Scriptures with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds. Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures and earnestly asking God for guidance. Companies of devoted men and women assembled for this purpose. The power of God would come upon me, and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and what is error. {3SM 31.4} As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and explanations would be given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly things, and of the sanctuary, so that we were placed where light was shining on us in clear, distinct rays.Gospel Works, p. 302. {3SM 32.1} -- Selected Messages Book 3

------We therefore conclude that God's writings through Ellen G. White are every bit as authoritative for His people as His words through any of His other servants throughout time, although the Bible remains the standard by which we judge all doctrine and instruction and revelation.

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