THE LESSER LIGHT
By Pastor Stephen Bohr
Introduction: The story of “What Jesus Said.”
Present the full SDA message from the Gospels and the book of Acts
Because many say they are New Testament Christians
Finding all our teachings was actually quite easy, except one: The gift of prophecy.
After much prayer and reflection on the Word of God, I finally found the key and I
want to share it with you today.
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Let’s begin our study with John the Baptist:
John was asked if he was a prophet and he said no (John 1:19-26). If not a prophet,
then what was he? Luke 7:27: He was the messenger of the Lord (see also, Malachi
3:1).
John the Baptist had the testimony of Jesus (John 5:31-33; 1:15).
John the Baptist was more than a prophet (Luke 7:26).
John denied that he was the light (phos; John 1:6-8). His purpose was to bear witness
to the light. Yet Jesus called John a bright and shining light (luchnos: portable lamp or
candle; John 5:35). In other words, John was a lesser light which was to lead men and
women to the greater light–Jesus Christ (see John 5:36 where Jesus actually uses
the word “greater” to refer to Himself).
But notice that the Scriptures also gave witness to Jesus (John 5:39). Thus there are
two sources which testify of Jesus: John the Baptist and the written Scriptures of the
Old Testament. There was a canonical and a non-canonical source to give witness to
Jesus.
The question immediately suggests itself: Why did the people need a non-canonical
source if they had the written Scriptures of the Old Testament? Or, even further, why
would they even need a lesser light if they would soon have the greater light in their
midst? The answer is actually quite simple: The people had fallen into gross darkness
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and gone astray because of their neglect of the Scriptures during the Inter-
testamental period. All kinds of false teachings and practices came in during this
period (John 1:5; Isaiah 60:1-2) They therefore needed a lesser light to draw attention
to the greater light Give the illustration of the light switch in the tape room. A
flashlight led to the light switch.
The role of John was not to bring in new light but rather to turn the attention of the
people to the light already given. He was to awaken interest in the study of Old
Testament prophecy. In other words, the role of John was complementary to
Scripture, not supplementary.
You see, those who claimed to be God’s people and boasted at having the Old
Testament were violating every principle of the Word of God. They professed to be
waiting for the Messiah. They professed to love God. They claimed to have a close
relationship with Him and yet they crucified Christ because they misunderstood the
Old Testament and rejected the clarification given by the lesser light.
We can imagine the Jews saying, “We have Moses,” but they did not understand or
practice the teachings of Moses. They boasted of their knowledge of the Scriptures
and yet did not understand them at all. John was called to attract attention to the Word
already given. (at this point, study carefully with the congregation, John 5:39-40, 45-
47). I am of the firm belief that If the Jews had understood and obeyed the writings
of Moses, John would never have been raised up by God!!!
John lighted up the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. He presented
Jesus as the Lamb of God, a clear reference to the sanctuary sacrifice and Isaiah 53.
He took from the Old Testament and showed how it was being fulfilled in Jesus. He
exalted the Old Testament and made it vivid, alive and present truth. He rebuked,
reproved, was a fly in the ointment, a pain in the neck, a speck in the eye. He was no
pushover (see Matthew 11:7-8)
The role of John was to prepare a people for the first coming of Jesus (Luke 1:17).
By revival (repentance) and reformation (bearing fruit) the people were to wait
expectantly for their bridegroom. John was the liaison or go-between, between Jesus
Christ (the groom) and Israel (the bride). He was to prepare the way for the wedding
(John 3:28-30). In New Testament times, the friend of the bridegroom was
responsible for making all the preparations for the wedding so that all was ready
when the groom should come. The friend of the bridegroom was not to take the glory
for himself. The glory was for the groom who was marrying the bride. The best man
does not want all eyes centered on himself at the wedding. He decreases so that the
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bridegroom can increase! In other words, he blends into the woodwork so that all
can see the bridegroom.
The Old Testament had prophecies about the coming of the bridegroom to marry his
bride. The matchmaker (John the Baptist) has come to set up all the arrangements.
Yet the bride rejected her husband. By rejecting the work of the matchmaker, they
rejected the bridegroom as well. Let’s see how John the Baptist was treated.
Matthew 11:18: He was accused of having a devil.
Luke 7:29-30: He was rejected by the leaders, especially.
Matthew 17:12-13: They knew Him not (same expression as John 1:10-11). Because
they did with John as they pleased, they also did with Jesus as they pleased. And these
were the people who claimed to go by the Scriptures!! By rejecting the lesser light,
they rejected the greater light!!
Prophets are not omniscient or infallible. They were human. They grew in their
understanding of truth. John, for example, thought there would only be one coming of
the Messiah (Matthew 3:7, 10, 12). When Jesus did not appear to measure up to his
preaching, he sent a message to Jesus asking whether He was the one to come or
wether they should expect another (Matthew 11:1-3). Was John a false prophet
because he did not fully understand the work of the Messiah? Was his work as a
prophet any less trustworthy because his knowledge and understanding were limited?
After Jesus healed the sick, etc., John finally understood!!
Now let’s turn at the life and work of Ellen G. White:
Ellen White preferred not to be called a prophet, she claimed to be the Messenger of
the Lord (I SM 32)
Ellen White had the Testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17; 19:10; 22:9).
The work of Ellen White was far greater than that of a conventional prophet (I SM
32, 34, 36).
Ellen White was a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light, Jesus
Christ”
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“Little heed is given to the Bible and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and
women to the greater light.” (3 SM 30).
“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 remembrance, and lead them to repentance; that they might be prepared to
appreciate the work of Christ.” (Review and Herald, volume 41, number 17, April 8,
1873).
As with John, two sources give witness to Jesus, one canonical (the Bible) and the
other non-canonical (the writings of Ellen G. White). As with John, the purpose of
her writings is to bring attention to the written Scriptures which had been trampled
upon and misinterpreted during the dark ages. If God’s people had studied the Word
of God with the sincere desire to obey it, Ellen White would never have been called
by God. (AT THIS POINT, READ, TESTIMONIES, VOLUME 2, P. 665).
Why Ellen White if we have the Bible? For the same reason that the Jews needed
John even though they had the Old Testament. They did not understand or obey it so
God, in His mercy, gave them a helping hand by simplifying and amplifying the
truths already given. Ellen White is not a source of new light but rather one who
amplifies and simplifies the old light. Example of the talk show in Albuquerque.
Around the same time and place that God raised up Ellen White, another person also
arose who claimed to be a prophet. He purportedly found some gold plates in
Palmyra, New York written in ancient Egyptian which he translated into English.
This document is known as The Book of Mormon. This book is referred to as
“another Testament of Jesus Christ.” [why not in contemporary English and why
no manuscript trail?] It is considered a supplement to the Word of God (along with
the Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and Covenants). In other words, they
unapoligetically affirm that these books contain truths which cannot be found in the
Bible.
When the Latter Day Saints pay a visit, their first task is to try and convince the
prospective student that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. As the studies continue,
the Book of Mormon and the Bible are used together.
With Seventh-day Adventist the process is reversed. The student is taught the truth
from Scripture alone and once all the doctrines have been clearly presented from
Scripture, then the Spirit of Prophecy is presented last as a complement (not
supplement) of the Bible. This is not done because the Spirit of Prophecy is of
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secondary importance but rather because the function of the writings of Ellen White is
not to supplement Scripture but rather to complement it! Ellen White magnifies,
explains, amplifies simplifies and hilights the great truths of Scripture but does not
add any new truth!! Ellen White is like a telescope or a microscope. The telescope
does not create stars but rather helps us see them more clearly.
Is it just possible that many in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today who say: “I
don’t need Ellen G. White, because I have the Bible,” are really violating every
principle of God’s holy Word? The fact is that Ellen G. White is despised by many
within the church as much as was John the Baptist. In some churches, when Ellen
White is quoted, certain members cringe but they don’t mind if Max Lucado or Martin
Luther are quoted.
Former pastors write books such as The White Lie and Ellen G. White: Prophetess of
Health and certain internet sites (for example amalgamation) sites lambast Ellen
White with vitriolic hatred, all under the pretense that because we have the Bible, we
do not need Ellen G. White!! Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Ellen White foresaw all of
this. Notice her words in II SM 48. If this is Satan’s very last deception, then we
must be close to the end because we are seeing this hatred now!!
I found out something long ago and it is this: I never form an opinion of a person or a
church on the basis of what its enemies say (because the enemies distort what they
believe) or even on the basis of what their friends say (because they often embellish
the truth). For example, many say we teach that Satan is our Savior because of the
scapegoat theology. But any impartial and fair observer will see that Azazel bears sins
which have previously been forgiven in the sanctuary. Others teach that EGW
believed that we are saved because we keep the Sabbath, clearly a false statement!! If
you want to know the truth about Ellen White, go directly to the source, read her
writings for yourself. Get your information first hand!!
The fact is that God has raised up Ellen White to prepare God’s people for the
Second Coming as John was to prepare a people for the first coming. Will there be as
few faithful ones prepared for the Second Coming as there were for the first coming?
The book The Great Controversy is meant to map out all the dangers we must face as
we prepare to enter the heavenly Canaan. Ellen White describes a group of Adventist
who are found without shelter in the time of trouble. Notice, in her own words, the
reason why: Read II SM 40.
Ellen White was not perfect, nor omniscient nor infallible. She made mistakes (for
example, the shut door). She grew in her understanding of truth as she progressed in
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her ministry (Spiritual Gift, Spirit of Prophecy, Conflict Series). Does this make her
less than a trustworthy prophet? If it does, then John the Baptist was in the same boat!
Final Objections: Can a woman be a prophet? Wasn’t John the last prophet? (John
11:13).
Ellen White’s profound comprehension of prophecy:
Jesus changing His garments
The identity of the little book
What knowledge is to be increased? (Evangelists)
Iron and Clay
Order of Events of Daniel 11
How she matter of fact explains the beast, the false prophet, the wine, the mark, the
seal, etc.
Ellen White wrote on a broad range of subjects. Our institutions and our personal lives would
be far better if we followed her counsel in the following books:
Medical (MH, CH, CDF, MM)
Educational (ED, FCE)
Publishing (CM)
Administration of the work (TM)
Ministerial (GW)
Evangelism (EV)
Theology (Conflict Series)
Home and Marriage (AH)
Devotional life (DA)
Children (CG)
Finances (CS)
Health (MH, CH, CDF)
www.secretsunsealed.org
