Section I—The Light on Our
Pathway
Introduction
Statements penned by Ellen G. White, regarding her work as the messenger of the
Lord and concerning the processes by which God communicates his will to members
of the human family, are always helpful and interesting. Such are presented in this
opening section of Selected Messages.
Although the question of inspiration was touched on at intervals through her
seventy years of ministry, the outstanding presentation is the author’s introduction
to The Great Controversy (not appearing here) written in May, 1888. An earlier
statement, “Objections to the Bible,” penned in 1886, is published herein, and another,
“The Inspiration of the Word of God,” written in the autumn of 1888, is also presented
here. A fourth major statement, “The mysteries of the Bible a proof of its inspiration,”
was published in 1889 and may be found in Testimonies for the Church 5:698-711.
Various explanations about her work, the republication of the 1913 tract “The
writing and sending out of the testimonies to the church,” and Mrs. White’s answers
to certain questions and charges concerning her earlier writings round out the section
devoted to “The Light on Our Pathway.”—White trustees.
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Chap. 1 - The Inspiration of the Prophetic
Writers
The Inspiration of the Word of God
This is a time when the question with all propriety may be asked, “When the Son
of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Spiritual darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people. There
are in many churches skepticism and infidelity in the interpretation of the Scriptures.
Many, very many, are questioning the verity and truth of the Scriptures. Human
reasoning and the imaginings of the human heart are undermining the inspiration of
the Word of God, and that which should be received as granted, is surrounded with a
cloud of mysticism. Nothing stands out in clear and distinct lines, upon rock bottom.
This is one of the marked signs of the last days.
This Holy Book has withstood the assaults of Satan, who has united with evil men
to make everything of divine character shrouded in clouds and darkness. But the Lord
has preserved this Holy Book by His own miraculous power in its present shape—a
chart or guidebook to the human family to show them the way to heaven.
But the oracles of God have been so manifestly neglected that there are but few
in our world, even of those