The prophet Samuel established schools, and Elijah later reestablished them, after they had gone into decay. His concern for these schools is seen in his final round of visits before his departure from earth. Elisha continued the task.

Like the ancient prophets, Ellen G. White spanned many areas of Bible present truth, including in the work of education. Books such as Education, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, and Fundamentals of Christian Education reveal amazing principles that could change the world.

“Now, as never before, we need to understand the true science of education. If we fail to understand this, we shall never have a place in the kingdom of God. ‘This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent’ (John 17:3). If this is the price of heaven, shall not our education be conducted on these lines?”—Mind Character, and Personality, vol. 1, p. 53.

The Bible has a grave concern for the health of God’s creation. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). Our bodies are to be a healthy living sacrifice to God, not some degenerated matter. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). We can then expect a comprehensive modern day prophet to address the subject of health reform. Her first vision on the health message was given on June 6, 1863, in Otswego, Michigan. This vision covered issues such as healthful living, disease and its causes, and drugs and their evil effects.

At the time Ellen White’s writings on health first appeared, this subject had been almost wholly ignored. Myths abounded. People thought smoking was good for you. But the Lord’s messenger revealed the truth about this and many other health topics in a way that was far in advance of her time.

Have the principles presented stood the test of time and experience? Definitely yes! Modern, state-of-the-art science is finally catching up with what Ellen White wrote over 100 years ago.

Besides education and health, there are more areas in which the writings of Ellen White provide divine instruction, including science, management, mental health, child rearing, marital relations, history, prophecy, oratory, and biblical principles of interpretation. With such a wealth of resources, who needs Sigmund Freud and other humanistic sources of counseling?

Many who read any of Ellen White’s books and, who don’t know anything about her say: “When I read her articles it seems to me as though her writings are inspired.” As we consider some of these facts, we are urged to follow the words of King Jehoshaphat of Judah in their time of crisis: “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).

In the book of Joel there is a prophecy about the last days of this earth’s history. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (2:28). The apostle Peter refers to this “afterward” as the last days. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:16, 17).

The context of these last days, although partially fulfilled in the time of the apostles, has a direct fulfillment as we approach the close of time. Joel 2:30, 31. The fulfillment of the prophecy would have specific significance after May 19, 1780.

To prepare the church for these last days, God will give them His Holy Spirit in a special measure. What will be the special gifts given by the Holy Spirit? The Lord has declared: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (verses 28, 29).

Who are the only ones that will respond to this work of the Holy Spirit? “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call” (verse 32).

It is the work of the prophets that prepare the remnant for the closing events of earth’s history. What parallel prophecy in the New Testament shows that prophets will have a major role at the end of time? “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). This does not mean Jesus is speaking directly to us. It is Christ speaking through prophets. Their work is to prepare a people, the remnant, for the end of time. What will be their characteristic? “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

It is the work of prophets to prepare a people to be like Jesus at the second coming. This was the work that Ellen G. White did in her lifetime, and her writings continue to carry forth this work even after her death.

What if these claims are false? What would we do then with these writings? In the Old Testament, the Lord directed that false prophets be removed from the camp (see Deuteronomy 13:5). And in the New Testament, those that taught false doctrine were to be avoided (see Romans 16:17).

Too often, a person would like a portion here and a portion there, rather than accepting the whole message as it is given through the Spirit of Prophecy. This is usually true only if a person does not like the reproof that he or she is reading. But we are to either accept the whole message or reject it.

“God has given us, as His servants, our work. He has given us a message to bear to His people. . . . We have been receiving the words of God and speaking them to His people. We have trembled at the responsibility, which we have accepted with much prayer and meditation. We have stood as God’s ambassadors, in Christ’s stead beseeching souls to be reconciled to God. We have warned of danger as God has presented before us the perils of His people. . . . God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work for the past thirty years bears the stamp of God or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil. In arraying yourself against the servants of God you are doing a work either for God or for the devil.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 229, 230.

If the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy have falsehood, then drop the whole matter. But if they are accurate, then realize that God is speaking to you through them!