How does one account for this change in Ellen Whites views between 1858 and 1863?
First, she had received no light from God on swine’s flesh before 1863. Her vision in 1858 did not inform her as to the rightness or wrongness of eating pork. Rather, it reproved this brother for creating division among Adventists by making the issue a test question at that time. Second, she left open the possibility that if pork-eating ought to be discarded by God’s people, He would, in His own time, “teach his church their duty.” When the vision did come, nearly five years later, the whole church saw the issue clearly and never again was there division regarding this issue.[Adapted from Herbert E. Douglass, Messenger of the Lord: the Prophetic Ministry of Ellen G. White (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1998), pp. 157, 158, 312-319.]For additional information about Ellen White’s dietary practices see, Ellen White and Vegetarianism.
First, she had received no light from God on swine’s flesh before 1863. Her vision in 1858 did not inform her as to the rightness or wrongness of eating pork. Rather, it reproved this brother for creating division among Adventists by making the issue a test question at that time. Second, she left open the possibility that if pork-eating ought to be discarded by God’s people, He would, in His own time, “teach his church their duty.” When the vision did come, nearly five years later, the whole church saw the issue clearly and never again was there division regarding this issue. [Adapted from Herbert E. Douglass, Messenger of the Lord: the Prophetic Ministry of Ellen G. White (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1998), pp. 157, 158, 312-319.] For additional information about Ellen White’s dietary practices see, Ellen White and Vegetarianism.
