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(See
The Great Controversy, pp. 648, 649 for basic statement)
A Non-Essential Question
"Christ
says that there will be those in the church who will present fables and
suppositions, when God has given grand, elevating, ennobling truth, which
should ever be kept in the treasure-house of the mind. When men pick up
this theory and that theory, when they are curious to know something it
is not necessary for them to know, God is not leading them. It is not
His plan that His people shall present something which they have to suppose,
which is not taught in the Word. It is not His will that they shall get
into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually,
such as who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand. Those who
are the elect of God will in a short time know without question.
"My brethren and sisters, appreciate and study the
truths God has given for you and your children. Spend not your time in
seeking to know that which will be no spiritual help. 'What shall I do
to inherit eternal life?' This is the all-important question, and it has
been clearly answered. 'What is written in the law? How readest thou?"
-Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 174, 175.
Strive
to Be Among the 144,000
"Let us strive with all the power that
God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. And
let us do all that we can to help others to gain heaven." -Review
and Herald; March 9, 1905.
Mrs. White
and the 144,000
"The Lord has given me a view of other
worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to
a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living
green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the
place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore
the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy,
expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. . . . I begged of
my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the
thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said,
'You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000,* shall
have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork
of God."-Early Writings, pp. 39, 40.
Mrs.
Hastings to Be With the 144,000
"I saw that she [Mrs. Hastings, who had
just died] was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand
upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn
for her; she would rest in the time of trouble."-Letter 10, 1850
(2SM 263).
Silence
is Eloquence
[The following letter from C. C. Crisler, leading
secretary in Mrs. White's office, addressed to Elder E. E. Andross, president
of the Pacific Union Conference, was called forth by a request from him
to Sister White for any light she might have bearing on the teachings
of Dr. B. E. Fullmer of Los Angeles, that the 144,000 will be made up
of Americans only, none from other lands.]
"Elmshaven, Sanitarium, California, December 8,
1914. Dear Brother Andross: During the few minutes remaining of
the noon hour before close of mails, after receiving your special delivery
letter of inquiry, I sent you a hurried reply to your communication, promising
further word by wire. Tonight I am sending [you] the following telegraphic
letter:
"'Mrs. White instructs me to inform you she has
no light further than that the presentation of uncertainties as certainties,
and the urging of mysteries as revealed truths, is perilous and leads
to disappointment. She suggests building on Holy Scriptures, the true
foundation, rather than on personal conjecture.-C. C. Crisler.'
"When reading the letter to Sister White, and listening
to her remarks in response, I had with me as a witness Elder D. E. Robinson.
"'I have no light on the subject,' she said, upon hearing
the letter. 'It is a very delicate time in which we are living - a time
when we must individually cling to the Lord with all the powers of our
being.' She said further:
"Those who urge theories regarding matters that are
not revealed, are placing themselves where they are in peril of meeting
with disappointments. "Hide yourself in God; hide your mysteries in God"-
these words have been repeated during the night season, over and over
again. From the first, I have been instructed that the Lord Jesus can
give counsel that will not bring disappointment.
"'Please tell my brethren that I have nothing
presented before me regarding the circumstances concerning which they
write, and I can set before them only that which has been presented to
me.
"'There are those who attempt to deal with uncertainties
as certainties; and when they reach this position, they are where it is
possible for the enemy to use them.
"'In the past, light has been given me repeatedly
that when a crisis arises, we are to take the counsel of God, and trace
interestedly every item that presents the truth in its verity.
"'The greatest help will come when we see the
influence of the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Their influence is
to lead us to stand on an exalted basis, where we will build our faith
and the faith of others, not on this one's say-so, and that one's say-so,
and another one's say-so, but on the real foundation, the Word of the
living God.'
"I have tried to write out from my notes the words
spoken by Sister White after listening to your letter and to portions
of the letter written by me, also to my hastily written reply to you.
By no word or sign did Sister White attempt to say which party is right
and which party is wrong. In no wise did she make any comment on my letter
you, and, so far as we could understand, in no wise did she attempt to
interpret or explain that which she has written in former years regarding
the 144,000. But, rising above mere detail, she outlined the principles
set forth above.
"I have nothing to add to that which I wrote at noon.
Yes, there is one comment Sister White did make when I was reading to
her my letter. She expressed pleasure over the fact that I had included
in my letter to you the words, 'On the matter of the exact meaning of
the 144,000 Sister White has repeatedly instructed us that "silence is
eloquence."'
"She also commented favorably upon hearing the words
with which I closed, 'So far as I now know, no one knows the full truth
of the matter, nor will we know until we are on the other side of Jordan.'
"I feel confident, Elder Andross, that the brethren
in southern California will find blessing in reviewing the teachings of
Scripture concerning the 144,000, and bringing to bear upon these teachings
whatever light there may be in the published writings of Sister White.
And as prayerful consideration is given the matter in all its bearings,
I believe that God will make the truth sufficiently clear to make possible
the avoidance of needless and unprofitable controversy over questions
not vital to the salvation of precious souls.
"With kindest regards, and praying that God may give
breadth of sympathy as well as clarity of vision to those called upon
to handle this perplexing problem that has arisen, I am as ever, Yours
truly, C. C. Crisler."
Ellen G. White
Estate
December 21, 1964
Revised September, 1990
___________
*Note: Observe that
the promise was given to Mrs. White that if she was faithful, she with
the 144,000 would have certain privileges.
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