Divisions
90-488: Great Controversy may refer to: The Great Controversy (book) , a book by Ellen G. White Great Controversy theme , the Seventh-Day-Adventist theological concept Great Controversy (album) , an album by Luciano See also [ edit ] The Great Devonian Controversy Great rites controversy Great Stirrup Controversy Topics referred to by
180-523: A climax. Belief that the end of the world is imminent is known as apocalypticism , and over time has been held both by members of mainstream religions and by doomsday cults . In the context of mysticism , the term refers metaphorically to the end of ordinary reality and to reunion with the divine . Many religions treat eschatology as a future event prophesied in sacred texts or in folklore , while other religions may have concepts of renewal or transformation after significant events. The explicit description of
270-684: A coming resurrection of the dead . They place this event (as well as the Second Coming) in the year 70. Advocates of partial preterism do believe in a coming resurrection. Full preterists contend that partial preterists are merely futurists , since they believe the Second Coming, the Resurrection, the Rapture , and the Judgment are yet to come. Many preterists believe first-century Christians experienced
360-634: A complete unraveling of the social fabric, with widespread calamity and war: Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you
450-512: A dark cloud makes the whole sky night, and it will rain more noxious creatures than water. A battle between the righteous and wicked will be followed by the Frashokereti . On earth, the Saoshyant will arrive as the final savior of mankind, and bring about the resurrection of the dead . The yazata s Airyaman and Atar will melt the metal in the hills and mountains, which will flow as lava across
540-492: A lengthy description of the end times . It also outlines several key Seventh-day Adventist doctrines, including the heavenly sanctuary, the investigative judgment and the state of the dead. Much of the first half of the book is devoted to the historical conflict between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism . White writes that the Papacy propagated a corrupt form of Christianity from the time of Constantine I onwards, and during
630-527: A mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to
720-606: A new earth is primarily found in Christian teachings (this description can be found in Chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation) . The Abrahamic religions maintain a linear cosmology , with end-time scenarios containing themes of transformation and redemption . In Judaism , the term "end of days" makes reference to the Messianic Age and includes an in-gathering of the exiled Jewish diaspora ,
810-527: A proofreader of long experience and member of White's staff. However, Ellen White decided to examine the book closely and make changes as needed: "When I learned that the Great Controversy must be reset, I determined that we would have everything closely examined, to see if the truths it contained were stated in the very best manner, to convince those not of our faith that the Lord had guided and sustained me in
900-410: A proper understanding of their application." Much of this history had passed before her in vision but not all the details and not always in precise sequence. In a statement read on October 30, 1911, carrying Ellen's written endorsement, W. C. White said: "She (Ellen) made use of good and clear historical statements to help make plain to the reader the things which she is endeavoring to present. When I
990-639: A situation where one must choose for or against the Bible as the will of God. Another view of the end times is preterism . It distinguishes the time of the end from the end of time . Preterists believe the term last days (or Time of the End ) refers to, neither the last days of the Earth, nor the last days of humankind, but the end of the Old Covenant between God and Israel ; which, according to preterism, took place when
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#17328522613701080-402: A stopover, Ellen experienced a stroke of paralysis, which made writing virtually impossible. For several weeks afterward, Ellen could not feel pressure on her hand or cold water poured on her head. At first, she wrote but one page in a day and then rested for three. But as she progressed, her strength increased, and by the time she finished the book, all effects of the stroke were gone. The book
1170-578: Is a range of eschatological belief in Protestant Christianity. Christian premillennialists who believe the end times are occurring now, are usually specific about timelines that climax in the end of the world. For some, Israel, the European Union , or the United Nations are seen as major players whose roles were foretold in scripture. Within dispensational premillennialist writing, there is
1260-521: Is an evangelical futurist Biblical interpretation that foresees a series of dispensations , or periods, in which God relates to human beings under different Biblical covenants . The belief system is primarily rooted in the writings of John Nelson Darby and is premillennial in content. The reestablishment of Israel in 1948 provided a major impetus to the dispensationalist belief system. The wars of Israel after 1948 with its Arab neighbors provided further support, according to John F. Walvoord . After
1350-660: Is believed to be imminent, with various current events as omens of impending Armageddon . These beliefs have been put forward by the Adventist movement ( Millerites ) and dispensational premillennialists . In 1918 a group of eight, well-known preachers produced the London Manifesto , warning of an imminent second coming of Christ shortly after the 1917 liberation of Jerusalem by the British. Protestants are divided between Millennialists and Amillennialists. Millennialists concentrate on
1440-531: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages The Great Controversy (book) The Great Controversy is a book by Ellen G. White , one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church , and held in esteem as a prophetess or messenger of God among Seventh-day Adventist members. In it, White describes the " Great Controversy theme " between Jesus Christ and Satan , as played out over
1530-434: Is drawing near." And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." In
1620-457: Is incorporated as part of the end of days. A well-known passage from the Book of Isaiah describes this future condition of the world: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift sword against nation and they will no longer study warfare" (Isaiah 2:4, see also Micah 4:3 ). Maimonides (1135–1204) further describes the Messianic Era in
1710-545: Is of the current, 1911 edition and its predecessor, the 1888 edition. While the original 1858 edition covered the entire history of sin from its beginning in heaven until it is eradicated in the new earth, these two editions cover just the Christian dispensation. The book begins with a historical overview, which begins with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 , covers the Reformation and Advent movement in detail, and culminates with
1800-633: Is preceded by the appearance of the Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl , and followed by the descending of ʿĪsā ( Jesus ), which shall triumph over the false Messiah or Antichrist; his defeat will lead to a sequence of events that will end with the sun rising from the west and the beginning of the Qiyāmah (Judgment Day). Dharmic religions tend to have more cyclical worldviews, with end-time eschatologies characterized by decay , redemption, and rebirth (though some believe transitions between cycles are relatively uneventful). In Hinduism ,
1890-558: The Amesha Spentas , living without food, hunger, thirst, weapons or injury. Bodies will become so light as to cast no shadow. All humanity will speak a single language, and belong to a single nation with no borders. All will share a single purpose and goal, joining with Ahura Mazda for a perpetual and divine exaltation. The Gnostic codex On the Origin of the World (possibly dating from near
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#17328522613701980-530: The Ancient Greek term ἔσχατος ( éschatos ), meaning "last", and -logy , meaning "the study of", and first appeared in English around 1844. The Oxford English Dictionary defines eschatology as "the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind". The main tenets of modern Jewish eschatology, in no particular order, include: Judaism usually refers to
2070-603: The Historical Jesus . However, C. H. Dodd and others have insisted on a "realized eschatology" that says Jesus' own ministry fulfilled prophetic hopes. Many conservative scholars have adopted the paradoxical position the Kingdom of God passages describes a kingdom that is both "present" and "still to come" claiming Pauline eschatology as support. R. T. France and N. T. Wright among others have taken Jesus' apocalyptic statements of an imminent end, historically, as referring to
2160-649: The Middle Ages was opposed only by the Waldensians and other small groups, who preserved an authentic form of Christianity. Beginning with John Wycliffe and Jan Huss and continuing with Martin Luther , Huldrych Zwingli , and others, the Reformation led to a partial recovery of biblical truth. In the early 19th century William Miller began to preach that Jesus was about to return to earth; his movement eventually resulted in
2250-475: The Mishneh Torah : "And at that time there will be no hunger or war, no jealousy or rivalry. For the good will be plentiful, and all delicacies available as dust. The entire occupation of the world will be only to know God; ... the people Israel will be of great wisdom; they will perceive the esoteric truths and comprehend their Creator's wisdom as is the capacity of man. As it is written (Isaiah 11:9): 'For
2340-816: The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE . Preterists believe that prophecies —such as the Second Coming , the desecration of the Jewish Temple, the destruction of Jerusalem, the rise of the Antichrist , the Great Tribulation , the advent of The Day of the Lord , and a Final Judgment —had been fulfilled when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and completely destroyed its Temple. Proponents of full preterism do not believe in
2430-542: The second coming of Jesus. And these will be part of the end time remnant of believers who are faithful to God, which will be sealed and manifested just prior to the second coming of Jesus. The official Ellen G. White Estate web site views the 1888 version as the original "Great Controversy," with the 1911 edition being the only revision. While working to complete the book in 1884, White wrote, "I want to get it out as soon as possible, for our people need it so much... . I have been unable to sleep nights, for thinking of
2520-516: The second coming of Christ will be a cataclysmic event are generally called adventism . These have arisen throughout the Christian era, but were particularly common after the Protestant Reformation . Emanuel Swedenborg considered the second coming to be symbolic, and to have occurred in 1757. Along with others, he developed a religious system around the second coming of Christ, disclosed by new prophecy or special revelation not described in
2610-777: The year 6000 AM , and is the latest time the Messiah can come. A number of early and late Jewish scholars have written in support of this, including the Ramban , Isaac Abarbanel , Abraham Ibn Ezra , Rabbeinu Bachya , the Vilna Gaon , the Lubavitcher Rebbe , the Ramchal , Aryeh Kaplan and Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis . Frashokereti is the Zoroastrian doctrine of a final renovation of
2700-442: The Bible. The Millerites are diverse religious groups which similarly rely upon a special gift of interpretation for predicting the second coming. The difference between the 19th-century Millerite and adventist movements and contemporary prophecy is that William Miller and his followers, based on biblical interpretation, predicted the time of the Second Coming to have occurred in 1844. Contemporary writing of end time has suggested
2790-510: The Book of Revelation, the "great tribulation" (Rev. 7:14b) refers to a time of affliction upon God's people. The Profession of Faith addresses Catholic beliefs concerning the last days. Catholicism adheres to the amillennial school of thought, promoted by Augustine of Hippo in his work The City of God . Contemporary use of the term End Times has evolved from literal belief in Christian millennialism. In this tradition, Biblical apocalypse
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2880-578: The Destruction of Jerusalem, to the End of the Controversy , Volume 4 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan During the Christian Dispensation , Volume 5 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan in the Christian Dispensation , Volume 5 In 1858, at Lovett's Grove, Ohio , Sunday, 14 March, a funeral was held in a schoolhouse where Ellen and James White were holding meetings, James
2970-508: The End of the Controversy". The 4 volume set was then expanded to 5 volumes entitled "the Conflict of the Ages Series" with the last volume given the name "The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan During the Christian Dispensation" published in 1888. Volume 5 was again expanded and published in 1911. The 1884, 1888, and 1911 books incorporate historical data from other authors. This synopsis
3060-622: The Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption
3150-463: The Lord concerning—the dangers surrounding you and Elder Prescott. I have seen that Satan would have been greatly pleased to see Elders Prescott and Daniells undertake the work of a general overhauling of our books that have done a good work in the field for years." In addition to the major Adventist publishing houses, the book has also been printed and distributed by various independent initiatives . Remnant Publications sent more than 350,000 copies of
3240-603: The New Testament, applicable passages include Matthew 24 , Mark 13 , the parable of " The Sheep and the Goats " and the Book of Revelation —Revelation often occupies a central place in Christian eschatology. The Second Coming of Christ is the central event in Christian eschatology within the broader context of the fullness of the Kingdom of God . Most Christians believe that death and suffering will continue to exist until Christ's return. There are, however, various views concerning
3330-558: The Papacy has been a target for criticism by some. Eschatology Eschatology ( / ˌ ɛ s k ə ˈ t ɒ l ə dʒ i / ; from Ancient Greek ἔσχατος ( éskhatos ) 'last' and -logy ) concerns expectations of the end of present age , human history , or the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that negative world events will reach
3420-577: The Rapture to rejoin the Christ . According with Preterism's interpretation of end times, many "time passages" in the New Testament foretell a Second Coming of Christ, with last days to take place within the lifetimes of his disciples: Matt. 10:23, Matt. 16:28, Matt. 24:34, Matt. 26:64, Rom. 13:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:29–31, 1 Cor. 10:11, Phil. 4:5, James 5:8–9, 1 Pet. 4:7, 1 Jn. 2:18. Dispensationalism
3510-447: The academic sense. In 1911, more than 70 years before charges of plagiarism, White wrote in the introduction to The Great Controversy her reason for quoting, in some cases without giving due credit, certain historians whose "statements affords a ready and forcible presentation on the subject." That means that she acknowledged the charges of plagiarism and pleaded guilty (in the academic sense, not juridically). The book's tone toward
3600-525: The belief that Christians will be summoned to Heaven by Christ at the rapture , occurring before a Great Tribulation prophesied in Matthew 24–25; Mark 13 and Luke 21. The Tribulation is described in the Book of Revelation. "End times" may also refer to the passing of an age or long period in the relationship between man and God. Adherents to this view cite the Second Epistle to Timothy and draw analogies to
3690-452: The book plagiarizes from a variety of sources. White stated in the introduction to both the 1888 and 1911 editions before any charges of plagiarism: "In some cases where a historian has so grouped together events as to afford, in brief, a comprehensive view of the subject, or has summarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been quoted; but except in a few instances no specific credit has been given, since they are not quoted for
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3780-505: The book commonly called The Great Controversy . While currently all editions printed by Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses are based on the 1911 edition, the first three editions have also been reprinted by Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses as facsimile reproductions, and several Seventh-day Adventist laymembers have reprinted them in various formats, with various titles also. Publication history: The Great Controversy between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels From
3870-574: The book to residents of Charlotte, North Carolina in 2014, after having already sent a million books to people in Manhattan and over 300,000 to people in Washington, D.C. In 2024 they also sent out thousands of copies to households in Kansas City, Missouri. Walter Rea (book published 1983), Donald McAdams (circulated unpublished manuscript ~1976), and other critics of The Great Controversy maintain that
3960-502: The coming of the Messiah , the resurrection of the righteous , and the world to come . Christianity depicts the end time as a period of tribulation that precedes the second coming of Christ , who will face the rise of the Antichrist along with his power structure and false prophets , and usher in the Kingdom of God . In later traditions of Islam, separate hadiths detail the Day of Judgment
4050-409: The darkness will dissolve, and the deficiency will be taken from its root. Those who were not perfected in the unconceived one will receive glories in their realms and kingdoms of the immortals, but those who were will enter a kingless realm. All will be judged according to their deeds and gnosis . Christian eschatology is the study concerned with the ultimate destiny of the individual soul and of
4140-504: The devastation: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation , spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand). Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down. ...Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes, and woe unto them that are with child. ...For then shall be great tribulation, such as
4230-419: The earth and all mankind, both the living and resurrected, will be required to wade through it. Ashavan will pass through the molten river as if it were warm milk, but the sinful will burn. It will then flow down to hell, where it will annihilate Angra Mainyu and the last vestiges of wickedness. The righteous will partake of the parahaoma , which will confer immortality upon them. Humanity will become like
4320-516: The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea.'" In Kabbalah , the Zohar maintains that the seven days of the week, based on the seven days of creation, correspond to the seven millennia of creation. The seventh day of the week, the Shabbat day of rest, corresponds to the seventh millennium, the age of universal rest, or the Messianic Era. The seventh millennium begins with
4410-435: The end of days to be imminent. Most of the scholars participating in the third quest hold that Jesus was an eschatological prophet who believed the " Kingdom of God " was coming within his own lifetime or within the lifetime of his contemporaries. This view, generally known as "consistent eschatology," was influential during the early to the mid—twentieth century and continues to be influential today in proposed portraits of
4500-562: The end of days. The precise time, however, will come like a "thief in the night" ( 1 Thess. 5:2 ). They may also refer to Matthew 24:36 in which Jesus is quoted as saying: "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." In the New Testament, Jesus refers to this period preceding the end times as the "Great Tribulation" ( Matthew 24:21 ), "Affliction" ( Mark 13:19 ), and "days of vengeance" ( Luke 21:22 ). The Book of Matthew describes
4590-477: The end of the third century AD) states that during what is called the consummation of the age, the Sun and Moon will become dark as the stars change their ordinary course. Kings will make war with each other, and thunder will cause the world to be shaken. The corrupt Archons will mourn. The sea will be troubled by fighting of the kings who became drunk from the flaming sword . Finally, great thunder will come from Sophia ,
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#17328522613704680-763: The end of the world, the Last Judgment , and the New Heaven and New Earth in the world to come . Eschatological passages occur in many places in the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testaments . In the Old Testament, apocalyptic eschatology can be found notably in Isaiah 24–27, Isaiah 56–66, Joel , Zechariah 9–14 as well as in the closing chapters of Daniel , and in Ezekiel . In
4770-448: The end time occurs when Kalki , the final incarnation of Vishnu , descends atop a white horse and brings an end to the current Kali Yuga , completing a cycle that starts again with the regeneration of the world. In Buddhism , the Buddha predicted his teachings would be forgotten after 5,000 years, followed by turmoil. It says a bodhisattva named Maitreya will appear and rediscover
4860-677: The end times as the "end of days" ( aḥarit ha-yamim , אחרית הימים), a phrase that appears several times in the Tanakh . The end times are addressed in the Book of Daniel and in numerous other prophetic passages in the Hebrew scriptures, and also in the Talmud , particularly Tractate Avodah Zarah . The idea of a Messianic Age, an era of global peace and knowledge of the Creator, has a prominent place in Jewish thought, and
4950-463: The entire created order, based primarily upon biblical texts within the Old and New Testaments . Christian eschatological research looks to study and discuss matters such as the nature of the divine and the divine nature of Jesus Christ , death and the afterlife , Heaven and Hell , the Second Coming of Jesus , the resurrection of the dead , the rapture , the Tribulation , millennialism ,
5040-495: The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. A number of interpretations of the term "Kingdom of God" have thus appeared in its eschatological context, e.g., apocalyptic , realized or Inaugurated eschatologies, yet no consensus has emerged among scholars. While some who believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible insist the prediction of dates or times is futile, others believe Jesus foretold signs of
5130-411: The formation of the Adventist Church. The second half of the book is prophetic, looking to a resurgence in papal supremacy . The civil government of the United States will form a union with the Roman Catholic Church as well as with apostate Protestantism , leading to enforcement of a universal Sunday law (the mark of the beast ), and a great persecution of Sabbath -keepers immediately prior to
5220-524: The framework of the major Abrahamic faiths, a fully developed concept of the end of the world was not established in Zoroastrianism until 500 BCE. The Bahman Yasht describes: At the end of thy tenth hundredth winter, the sun is more unseen and more spotted; the year, month, and day are shorter; and the earth is more barren; and the crop will not yield the seed. And men become more deceitful and more given to vile practices. They will have no gratitude. Honorable wealth will proceed to those of perverted faith. And
5310-422: The history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so to present it as to shed a light on the fast approaching struggle of the future. The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages, are matters of history, well known and universally acknowledged by the Protestant world; they are facts which none can gainsay. The facts having been condensed into as little space as seemed consistent with
5400-415: The important things to take place... . Great things are before us, and we want to call the people from their indifference to get ready." In the 1911 edition preface, the author states the primary purpose of the book to be "to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so to present it as to shed a light on the fast approaching struggle of the future." There are four major editions of
5490-476: The issue of whether the true believers will see the Great Tribulation or be removed from it by what is referred to as a Pre-Tribulation rapture . Amillennialists believe the end times encompass the time from Christ's ascension to the last day, and maintain that the mention of the "thousand years" in the Book of Revelation is meant to be taken metaphorically (i.e., not literally), a view which continues to cause divisions within Protestant Christianity . There
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#17328522613705580-431: The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Post-Exilic Hebrew books of prophecy such as Daniel and Ezekiel are given new interpretations in this Christian tradition, while apocalyptic forecasts appear in the Judeo-Christian Sibylline Oracles which include the Book of Revelation ascribed to John, the apocryphal Apocalypse of Peter , and the Second Book of Esdras . Religious movements which expect that
5670-403: The millennia from its start in heaven, to its final end when the remnant who are faithful to God will be taken to heaven at the Second Advent of Christ, and the world is destroyed and recreated. Regarding the reason for writing the book, the author reported, "In this vision at Lovett's Grove (in 1858), most of the matter of the Great Controversy which I had seen ten years before, was repeated, and I
5760-466: The mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by
5850-462: The night, so that they were fresh and vivid in my mind." In the 1884 Great Controversy , Ellen quoted from D'Aubigne, Wylie, etc. In this enlargement, she brought in considerably more of such materials. At times she quoted, at times paraphrased, and at times depicted, in her own words, the events of history that formed the vehicle for presenting the larger picture, the behind-the-scenes controversy, that had been opened to her in vision. In keeping with
5940-414: The order and significance of other eschatological events. The Book of Revelation stands at the core of much of Christian eschatology. The study of Revelation is usually divided into four interpretative methodologies or hermeneutics : First-century Christians believed Jesus would return during their lifetime. When the converts of Paul in Thessalonica were persecuted by the Roman Empire , they believed
6030-423: The plates were totally worn out and needed to be replaced before another printing could be done. Since White owned the printing plates, whatever would be done with The Great Controversy had to be done under her direction and at her expense. At first, the procedures seemed routine and uncomplicated. No alterations in the text were contemplated, beyond technical corrections as might be suggested by Miss Mary Steward,
6120-410: The purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject. In narrating the experience and views of those carrying forward the work of reform in our own time, similar use has occasionally been made of their published works." Ramik cleared her of breaking the law of the land/time (copyright infringement/piracy), not of plagiarism in
6210-401: The readers were expected to be familiar with them. Some adaptation of wording seemed desirable and also changing of the verb tense from present to past. At that time, Ellen was living in Europe , the land of Reformation history, a subject that is an important part of the book. Accordingly, she added a chapter on Huss and Jerome of Prague , who had previously been but briefly mentioned. More
6300-405: The resetting of the book." Suggestions from around the world were received. These were blended into a group of points to study, first by White's staff and finally by White herself. While she delegated the details of the work to members of her experienced office staff, she carried the responsibility for changes in the text. She was ultimate judge and final reviewer of the manuscript. When the type
6390-430: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Great Controversy . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Controversy&oldid=609681360 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
6480-721: The teachings of the Buddha Dharma , and that the ultimate destruction of the world will then come through seven suns. Since the development of the concept of deep time in the 18th century and the calculation of the estimated age of planet Earth , scientific discourse about end times has considered the ultimate fate of the universe . Theories have included the Big Rip , Big Crunch , Big Bounce , and Big Freeze ( heat death ). Social and scientific commentators also worry about global catastrophic risks and scenarios that could result in human extinction . The word "eschatology" arises from
6570-420: The thinking in those times, she and those associated with her did not consider this use of available materials as a matter that called for specific recognition. By 1907, so many copies had been printed that repairs had to be made on the most badly worn plates. At the same time, the illustrations were improved and a subject index was added. Then in 1910, C. H. Jones, the manager of Pacific Press, wrote saying that
6660-598: The timetable will be triggered by future wars and moral catastrophe , and that this time of tribulation is close at hand. Seventh-day Adventists believe biblical prophecy to foretell an end time scenario in which the United States works in conjunction with the Catholic Church to mandate worship on a day other than the true Sabbath, Saturday, as prescribed in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8–11). This will bring about
6750-440: The type for the book because the old type was worn out. This was, therefore, a good time to improve and make corrections to the book. The 1884 book was reaching beyond the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists. Yet the terminology and, in some cases, the content was directed largely to Adventists. Expressions familiar to Adventists were sometimes incomprehensible to the ordinary reader. Also, some subjects were too briefly treated because
6840-543: The universe to after its final destruction in The New Earth . Plans were laid in the late 1860s for the Spirit of Prophecy series, an expansion of the 1858 Great Controversy theme into four volumes, designed especially for Seventh-day Adventist reading. Volume 1, dealing with Old Testament history, was published in 1870. The New Testament history required two volumes which were published in 1877 and 1878. For volume 4, Ellen
6930-496: The universe when evil will be destroyed, and everything else will then be in perfect unity with God ( Ahura Mazda ). The doctrinal premises are: Zoroastrian eschatology is considered one of the oldest in recorded history. The birth of its founder, Zoroaster , is unknown, with scholarly dates ranging from 500 BCE to 1,500 BCE. Pliny the Elder even suggests there were two Zoroasters. However, with beliefs paralleling and possibly predating
7020-487: The woman in the firmament above the forces of Chaos . She will cast the corrupt gods into the abyss where they will fight each other until only their chief Yaldabaoth remains and destroys himself. Next the heavens of the Archons will collapse on each other before the Earth sinks into the abyss. Light will cover the darkness and eliminate it then form into something greater than anything that ever existed before. The source of
7110-534: The working, in different ages, of the great controversy between Christ, the Prince of life, the Author of our salvation, and Satan, the prince of evil, the author of sin, the first transgressor of God's holy law. She wrote, "While writing the manuscript of Great Controversy I was often conscious of the presence of the angels of God... . And many times the scenes about which I was writing were presented to me anew in visions of
7200-687: The writing of its pages." The book was reviewed according to the following items: In addition, Willie White, Ellen's son and agent, following Ellen's desires, sought helpful suggestions from others. He reported: "We took counsel with the men of the Publishing Department, with State canvassing agents, and with members of the publishing committees, not only in Washington, D.C. , but in California , and I asked them to kindly call our attention to any passages that needed to be considered in connection with
7290-422: Was a mere boy, I heard her read D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation to my father. She read to him a large part, if not the whole, of the five volumes. She has read other histories of the Reformation. This has helped her to locate and describe many of the events and the movements presented to her in vision." While verbs used are still generally present tense , the first person aspect is not present. The book
7380-405: Was added about Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin . Other chapters were enlarged and important additions were made about the sanctuary. Additional scriptures were introduced and footnote references were increased. The book was also translated into French and German . The translators and proofreaders, along with White and her editors, would read, discuss, and translate chapters of the book as it
7470-433: Was asked to speak and Ellen was moved to bear her testimony. Part way through her talk, she went into a two-hour vision in front of the congregation. The vision mostly concerned the matter of the "great controversy," which she had seen ten years before (1848). She was told that she must write it out. The next day on a train they began arranging plans for writing and publishing the future book immediately on their return home. At
7560-510: Was being reviewed for the new edition. By this means, the translators got the spirit of the work and so could improve the translation. The introduction describes the work of God's prophets and details God's commission to her to write the book: "Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of the long-continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to the writer of these pages. From time to time I have been permitted to behold
7650-453: Was completed by mid-August and subsequently published as Spiritual Gifts , Vol. 1,: The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels . It is written in the first-person present tense, with the phrase "I saw" being used 161 times to refer to the author's experience in receiving the vision given to enable her to write this book. The book describes the whole history of sin chronologically, from before sin ever entered
7740-511: Was instructed through vision to present an outline of the controversy between Christ and Satan as it developed in the Christian dispensation to prepare the mind of the reader to understand clearly the controversy going on in the present day. She explained: "As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of His Word, and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make known to others that which has thus been revealed—to trace
7830-483: Was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. The resulting chaos will affect pregnancies, newborns, and a scourge will spread throughout the flesh, save for the elect. The vivid imagery of this section is repeated closely in Mark 13:14–20 . The Gospel of Luke describes
7920-457: Was published in two bindings, one, olive in color, carrying the title The Great Controversy , the other in black cloth titled Spirit of Prophecy , volume 4. The book was sold to both Seventh-day Adventists and the general public. Fifty thousand copies were distributed within three years' time. The 1884 Great Controversy had enjoyed escalating sales. In 1887, C. H. Jones, manager of Pacific Press, informed Ellen that they needed to completely reset
8010-527: Was set and proof sheets were available from the publishers, a marked set, showing clearly both the old reading and the new, was submitted to White for careful reading and approval. By early July 1911, the book was in the binderies of Pacific Press and the Review and Herald. In a letter to A. G. Daniells, White wrote in August 1910, shortly before the 1911 edition was published: "Message after message has come to me from
8100-406: Was shown that I must write it out." The name "Great Controversy" first applied to volume 1 of the 4 volume set "Spiritual Gifts" published in 1858. That single volume was then expanded to a 4 volume set entitled "The Spirit of Prophecy" subtitled "The Great Controversy" with the volumes published separately from 1870 to 1884. The last volume was also subtitled, "From the Destruction of Jerusalem, to
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