Wheeling’s Encyclopedia

of Attacks on Ellen White

Charles Wheeling is still fighting Ellen White. He never seems to give up. He reminds one of a tenacious bulldog, determined to finish off his adversary.

On March 28, I received a phone call from an acquaintance living in Massachusetts. He was deeply upset, and said a friend who was a theology student at one of our colleges had heard that Charles Wheeling’s organization had put together an “E.G. White Packet.” Thinking he could use it to help convince others that Ellen White was a true prophet of God, he ordered it.

When it arrived, he read it through—and then threw out his Spirit of Prophecy Books! In addition, he quit college and left Adventism.

Charles, you are doing the devil’s work; he is proud of you and wants you to keep in business. You take the profits, from selling Great Controversy, and use them to publish and distribute literature attacking its author.

We received this collection of false charges, and found it to be horrible. A week after receiving it, a friend phoned from Arkansas about some other matter. I mentioned Wheeling’s latest effort to eradicate the influence of the Spirit of Prophecy from the minds of the people, thinking she did not know about it. But she replied in anger, “Yes, I know all about it. My brother (or sister, I do not recall which) got hold of one of those packets. It caused him to repudiate Sister White’s writings!” And then, very upset at what had happened, she added in strong tones, “God will judge Charles Wheeling for what he is doing!”

If any of our readers cannot believe this report, all they have to do is to order the “E.G. White Packet” from the Wheeling organization for themselves—and they will be convinced. That man is trying to destroy the Spirit of Prophecy.

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In recent years, we had written several reports on how Charles Wheeling was subtly attacking the Bible-Spirit of Prophecy writings and their messages.

Wheeling: WM–315-319 CHARLES WHEELING LEAVES HISTORIC ADVENTISM Part 1-5 Feb 91. An analysis of Wheeling’s September 3, 1990, refutation of historic beliefs in regard to the prophecies of Daniel and the nature of Biblical and Spirit of Prophecy inspiration. (TB:WHEELING)

Wheeling: WM–315x1-6 THE CHARLES WHEELING 46-PAGE TAPE TRANSCRIPT Part 1-6 Mar 91. Transcript of the complete lecture. (TB:WHEELING)

Wheeling: WM–383A CHAPPELL’S LETTER Feb 92

Wheeling: WM–383-386 REPLY TO CHAPPELL’S LETTER Part 1-4 Feb 92

Wheeling: WM–532-533 WHEELING’S LATEST ATTACK ON THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY Part 1-2 June 94

Wheeling: WM–534 ANALYSIS OF THE PRESCOTT LETTER June 94

Wheeling: WM–537-539 ANALYSIS OF THE 1919 BIBLE CONFERENCE Part 1-3 June 94

Wheeling: WM–547-550 OPEN LETTER TO CHARLES WHEELING Part 1-4 Sept 94 (by Luis Munilla)

Wheeling: WM–595-597 REPLY TO THREE RESPONSES Part 1-3 Mar 95

Wheeling, Charles: TRBK Wheeling Doc Tractbook 46 pp, $3.50 + p&h (See Book Order Sheet.)

In Charles’ attacks, certain facts are clear:

1 - He not only attacks the Spirit of Prophecy, but also the Bible and our historic interpretations of it.

2 - He initially broached his doubts in public meetings, tapes, and transcripts with questions about the veracity of historic Adventist interpretations of Daniel and Revelation. His objective appears to be to cause the faithful to question our historic beliefs, so they will be more interested in considering his variant views on certain topics.

3 - Those topics especially include the interpretation of Daniel 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12; the 2300-year prophecy; the date, 1844; the application of the ram and the he goat; the investigative judgment; and the integrity of the day-year principle of prophetic interpretation.

4 - Wheeling apparently thinks that, only by downgrading our historic prophetic interpretations, will he be able to induce the faithful to accept his fanciful and ever-changing theories and time prophecies. Every year or two, Charles makes new applications of major Bible prophecies to current events.

5 - Day-day time prophecies continually develop anew in Charles’ mind. Each set applies to the next year or two. When that passes, he devises new applications to the following year or two.

6 - It is clear that Charles is a sensationalist and craves attention. He ought to become a public evangelist and proclaim historic Adventism to the lost. Then he would receive lots of public attention, and many souls would be gathered into the kingdom.

7 - In recent years, Charles has more directly turned his weapons against the Spirit of Prophecy writings in general. Now it is not just her positions on Bible prophecy that he attacks, but her credibility as a prophet! Nothing seems sacred to Charles. He must tear down and destroy all confidence in God’s final Inspired Messenger to Planet Earth. He leaves no paper stone unturned. Every document, every past discussion of doubt, he unearths. Any time worldly men in the ranks of Adventist leadership questioned the Spirit of Prophecy in earlier decades, Charles eagerly searched out their statements and published them.

In the early 1980s, Wheeling preached widely that the money was going to be changed and effectively rendered almost worthless in value. When that did not happen, in the mid-1980s he shifted his attention to the Near East and predicted that Daniel 8 applied to the Iraq-Iran war. When his predictions fizzled, he then applied those prophecies to the Gulf War between the U.S. and Iraq.

When those predictions failed, he quickly turned his attention to historic Advent teachings about 1844, the investigative judgment, 1798, etc., and said that our teachings on those subjects were wrong. He also implied that Ellen White’s writings were incorrect also. (See Charles Wheeling Leaves Historic Adventism—Part 1-5 [WM–315-319] and The Charles Wheeling 46-Page Tape Transcript—Part 1-6 [WM–315x1-6].)

Within two years, Charles had become more open in his attacks on the Spirit of Prophecy. (See Wheeling’s Latest Attack on the Spirit of Prophecy—Part 1-2 [WM–532-533].)

And so it continues down to the present time. Although Wheeling detests the Spirit of Prophecy, he professes to accept it, yet all the while quietly carrying forward his attacks against it. On one hand, he wants to destroy the influence of those precious books in the minds of the faithful, so they will be more open to his theories. But, on the other, he needs to keep receiving donations so he can use it to print and quietly circulate attacks on Ellen White.

Then the man who had been treasurer of Wheeling’s Countdown Ministries for several years (and the one responsible for distributing Great Controversy widely in America and foreign countries), Luis Munilla, left Prophecy Countdown—and revealed that Wheeling was diverting funds, sent in for Great Controversy distribution, to paying for the preparation and anonymous mailing out of thousands of copies of tapes and printed material attacking Ellen White’s integrity and writings. (See Open Letter to Charles Wheeling by Luis Munilla—Part 1-4 [WM–547-550] and Reply to Three Responses—Part 1-3 [WM–595-597].)

Every year or two, Charles devises new applications of major Bible prophecies to current events and offers new day-day time prophecies, to replace the dates in the previous year which failed to produce what he predicted for them. How can the words of such a man be trusted? If his own theories are not reliable, how can we trust him to tell us the truth about what is wrong with Ellen White and our historic doctrinal positions on Bible prophecy?

A shrink-wrapped sheaf of papers, entitled “Info-Pak #1” was sent to us.

Scanning through it, I found the same old shop-worn attacks on Ellen White: comments by a grumbler here and insinuations there, by worldly Adventists in recent and earlier decades, along with reprinted letters of doubt by Charles himself.

On top of the packet of denunciations, to the one it was sent to, was a handwritten note by the office secretary who mailed it. It encouraged the person who sent for the packet, saying that the information in it would be a great help and to “keep studying!”

Just below that was a printed letter by Charles Wheeling, dated January 11, 1994, in which he states:

“No doubt you have heard rumors or even some statements made by me in seminars that might tend to suggest that ‘Charles Wheeling no longer believes in the Spirit of Prophecy.’ These rumors persist and disturb me greatly.” This was said to tempt the unwary to read further and become hooked by the skepticism. Wheeling encouraged the reader to set aside prejudices and opinions and have an open mind when reading the enclosed material.

Looking through the packet, we find every possible sample of doubt that Wheeling could drudge up.

First is the well-known letter by W.W. Prescott, in which he implied that there was something wrong with Ellen White. (I earlier wrote a tract about Prescott, a manic-depressive who would alternate between faithful work and despondency over everything in general. (See Analysis of the Prescott Letter [WM–534].) While writing my book, Editions of Great Controversy, an analysis of the history and contents of various editions of Ellen White’s most important book, I learned that Prescott was miffed because he had not been given permission to rewrite portions of Great Controversy, preparatory to its 1911 printing. He was summarily told No, that the 1911 edition was to consist of orthography (spelling) corrections and an addition of references to historical quotations. Prescott was a proud man who felt he should be regarded as the great source of truth in the church, not Ellen White.

Next in the packet is a two-page statement by Molleurus Couperus, former editor of Spectrum and well-known leader in the 1970s liberal attack on Ellen White. Molleurus hints that there must have been things wrong with Ellen White, in view of what the men at the 1919 Bible Conference said about her.

Then comes a 43-page transcript of part of that conference. We discussed this at length in Analysis of the 1919 Bible Conference—Part 1-3 [WM–537-539]. All it amounted to was a conversation one day at General Conference headquarters, when some of the leaders hinted that they were not sure of Ellen White.

But of what value are such opinions? I would rather have one page of the Spirit of Prophecy than a thousand pages of men’s skepticisms. They will not help me, one whit, to get to heaven.

The problem is, then just as now for men’s hearts have not changed,—that people do not want the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy writings to be authorities in their lives! They want to indulge their sins, and Ellen White was too specific in condemning those sins.

Following this are skeptical statements by Cottrell, and then several pages from Walter Rea’s blasphemous book, White Lie. Wheeling selected what he thought to be the most condemning evidence against Ellen White in that book. Looking through it, we find little of significance. If this is the best Rea and Wheeling can come up with, it does not amount to much. (For much more on this, see our recently released book, Ellen White Did Not Plagiarize, which thoroughly deals with the subject.)

For example, Rea declared that Ellen White’s chapter divisions were similar to those of Edersheim. For example, after the Fall, comes Cain and Abel, Seth and Enoch, the Flood, and then after the Flood. Well, what other pattern would be followed? That similarity is supposed to prove that something was wrong with the Spirit of Prophecy? If she had placed the Flood before Enoch in Patriarchs and Prophets, that would make her more accurate?

Rea says that Ellen White copied others, and cites this example:

“The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity (GC, 651) was copied from this statement: ‘This is the revelation of the cross . . the maker of all worlds and the absolute Arbiter of all destinies’ ” (Walks and Homes of Jesus, by Daniel March, 323).

Next in the packet is an article by Ron Graybill in Spectrum, hinting that there must be something wrong with Ellen White since she read in history books.

This is followed by a stack of doubting remarks, gathered from the writings of J.H. Kellogg’s brother, Merritt; A.T. Jones; Dr. Sadler (one of Kellogg’s medical associates); as well as two modern Spirit of Prophecy skeptics: Aage Rendalen and Tim Poirier. Opinions, inferences, subtle doubts.

Next comes more information about Ron Graybill’s doubtings.

Not only Ellen White is under attack in Wheeling’s packets, but also our historical beliefs on prophetic teachings. Wheeling especially takes aim at these, since they run counter to his day-day, and other, prophetic interpretation theories. Wheeling reprinted a study by Nordon Winger, which says our the historic teachings of Adventists on 1844, the Sanctuary, and the investigative judgment are wrong.

This is followed by an attack, written by Donald McAdams, on the historical chapters of Great Controvery. (See Give the Trumpet a Certain Sound, by Bill May [FF–33], now in our White Tractbook, for a good reply to McAdam’s foolishness.)

Next comes a comment by someone ridiculing our “shut door” position in the 1840s. (See our The Shut Door and Other Questions [PG–23-24] for a thorough defense of what happened back then. This and replies to many other doubts and attacks on Ellen White will be found in our White Tractbook.)

At the bottom of the stack of doubtings is a letter by McAdams to someone, wondering why Adventists are not more receptive to his attacks on Ellen White.

But there was also a second packet! Probably the seminary student from Massachusetts and the relative of that lady in Arizona had written for the second packet as well.

In it, we found still another collection of attacks. But this one was not as thick. Wheeling was running out of ammunition.

Like the first one, on top of this second packet is a form letter from Charles Wheeling, inviting the reader to carefully study the enclosures.

This is followed with letters by Wheeling which cast doubt on Ellen White and the prophecies of Daniel (Grecia, in Daniel 8, did not refer to the kingdom of Greece, etc.). In one of the letters, Wheeling says that Ellen White was dishonest.

This is followed by an article by Gary Gent, strongly attacking 1844 and our historic time prophecies. After this is an unsigned letter denouncing Ellen White.

Next comes 14 pages from Desmond Ford’s position study, prepared in late 1979 and early 1980 in defense of his attacks on Ellen White and our pioneer positions, prior to his hearing at Glacier View.

William Sadler, Charles Stewart, and A.T. Jones were involved with J.H. Kellogg, both in his apostasy and his successful swindling operations, to take the Battle Creek Sanitarium away from the Adventist denomination which paid for it. Articles, by all three, condemning Ellen White are presented next. Should you trust thieves more than Ellen White? (See our Reply to Three Responses [WM–595-597] for refutation of the Sadler, Stewart, and Jones letters. Also see our Alpha of Apostasy—Part 1-16 [DH–251-266], now Part 1 in our Doctrinal History Tractbook.)

Probably the point they hash over most of the time, and keep coming back to, is whether Ellen White accurately counted the number of rooms in a building! The truth is she probably rounded the number, something the Bible writers did repeatedly.

The 1907 interview with J.H. Kellogg comes next. (See the above-mentioned The Alpha of Apostasy for a rather complete analysis of the entire Battle Creek apostasy.)

This is followed by another article, trying to make trouble over the shut door.

After that comes an accusatory letter by Albion Ballenger’s brother, who also hated Ellen White. (He had once been a faithful worker; but, influenced by his brother, he turned bitterly against the Spirit of Prophecy.)

Then comes the Maine incident which I fully discuss in A Meeting in Maine—Part 1-2 [PG–25-26], now in our White Tractbook.

Throughout these two packets, we find complaints and allegations by friends of Kellogg and Ballenger, attacks by Walter Rea and Desmond Ford, and vilifying articles in Spectrum and Limboline.

Is that the kind of company you and I want to side in with? Just because others have chosen to cast eternity aside, should we do it also?

People that attack the precious Spirit of Prophecy writings are selling their souls in a cheap market.

But those who are looking for excuses, to reject those books, will find them. —vf

“Many wander in the mazes of philosophy, in search of reasons and evidence which they will never find, while they reject the evidence which God has been pleased to give . . All who persist in this course will fail to come to a knowledge of the truth. God will never remove every occasion for doubt. He gives sufficient evidence on which to base faith, and if this is not accepted, the mind is left in darkness.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 432.

“It takes those who have trained their minds to war against the truth to manufacture quibbles.”—3 Testimonies, 37.

“We are not to receive the words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of our faith.”—Counsels to Writers and Editors, 32.

“The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit.”—Letter 211, 1903.

“False theories will be mingled with every phase of experience, and advocated with satanic earnestness in order to captivate the mind of every soul who is not rooted and grounded in a full knowledge of the sacred principles of the Word.”—Manuscript 94, 1903.

“Very adroitly some have been working to make of no effect the Testimonies of warning and reproof that have stood the test for half a century. At the same time, they deny doing any such thing.”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 31.

“Before the development of recent events, the course that would be pursued by Dr. Kellogg and his associates was plainly outlined before me. He with others planned how they might gain the sympathies of the people. They would seek to give the impression that they believed all points of our faith and had confidence in the Testimonies. Thus many would be deceived, and would take their stand with those who had departed from the faith.”—Ellen G. White, Letter 238, 1906.

“Brilliant, sparkling ideas often flash from a mind that is influenced by the great deceiver. Those who listen and acquiesce will become charmed, as Eve was charmed by the serpent’s words. They cannot listen to charming philosophical speculations, and at the same time keep the Word of the living God clearly in mind.”—1 Selected Messages, 197.

“After looking upon the pleased, interested countenances of those who were listening, One by my side told me that the evil angels had taken captive the mind of the speaker . . I was astonished to see with what enthusiasm the sophistries and deceptive theories were received.”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 6, 41.

“My soul is so greatly distressed as I see the working out of the plans of the tempter that I cannot express the agony of my mind. Is the church of God always to be confused by the devices of the accuser, when Christ’s warnings are so definite, so plain?”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, 23.

“In the very midst of us will arise false teachers, giving heed to seducing spirits whose doctrines are of satanic origin. These teachers will draw away disciples after themselves. Creeping in unawares, they will use flattering words and make skillful misrepresentations with seductive tact.”—Manuscript 94, 1903.

“I am afraid of the men who have entered into the study of the science that Satan carried into the warfare in heaven . . When they once accept the bait, it seems impossible to break the spell that Satan casts over them.”—Ellen G. White, Letter to Daniels, Prescott, and their associates, October 30, 1905.

“When engaged in discussion over these theories, their advocates will take words spoken to oppose them, and will make them appear to mean the very opposite of that which the speaker intended them to mean.”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 6, 42.

“It takes those who have trained their minds to war against the truth to manufacture quibbles.”—3 Testimonies, 37.

“We are not to receive the words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of our faith.”—Counsels to Writers and Editors, 32.

THIS PAGE HAS GOOD QUOTES ! ! - Some are on page 4 of WHEEL / A 13

QUOTES FROM RESPONSE/AA11 (Reply to Three Responses March 1995, pp. 1-2):

“Pantheistic theories are not sustained by the Word of God . . Darkness is their element, sensuality their sphere. They gratify the natural heart, and give leeway to inclination.”—Review, January 21, 1904.

“The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit.”—Letter 211, 1903.

“The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization.”—1 Selected Messages, 204.

“The contest will wax more and more fierce . . Mind will be arrayed against mind, plans against plans, principles of heavenly origin against principles of Satan . . There are men who teach the truth, but who are not perfecting their ways before God, who are trying to conceal their defections, and encourage an estrangement from God.”—Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 11, 5-6.

“I wish to sound a note of warning to our people nigh and afar off. An effort is being made by those at the head of the medical work in Battle Creek to get control of the property over which, in the sight of the heavenly courts, they have no rightful control . . There is a deceptive working going on to obtain property in an underhand way. This is condemned by the law of God. I will mention no names. But there are doctors and ministers who have been influenced by the hypnotism exercised by the father of lies. Notwithstanding the warnings given, Satan’s sophistries are being accepted now just as they were accepted in the heavenly courts.”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 30.

“The long night interviews which Dr. Kellogg holds are one of his most effective means of gaining his point. His constant stream of talk confuses the minds of those he is seeking to influence. He misstates and misquotes words, and places those who argue with him in so false a light that their powers and discernment are benumbed. He takes their words, and gives them an impress which makes them seem to mean exactly the opposite of what they said.”—Ellen G. White, Letter 259, 1904.

“Even in our day there . . will continue to be entire families who have once rejoiced in the truth, but who will lose faith because of calumnies and falsehoods brought to them in regard to those whom they have loved and with whom they have had sweet counsel . . They opened their hearts to the sowing of tares; the tares sprang up among the wheat . . and the precious truth lost its power to them. For a time, a zeal accompanied their new theories, which hardened their hearts against the advocates of truth as did the Jews against Christ.”—Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 11, 9-10.

“It takes those who have trained their minds to war against the truth to manufacture quibbles.”—3 Testimonies, 37.

“We are not to receive the words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of our faith.”—Counsels to Writers and Editors, 32.

“The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit.”—Letter 211, 1903.

Wheeling’s Encyclopedia

of Attacks on Ellen White

PILGRIMS REST

1288 Myerstown Rd.

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