This document details the transformative experiences of several individuals, primarily Joseph Bates and Daniel Bourdeau, as they transition from skepticism to belief in the divine origins of Ellen G. White's visions. It discusses significant events, such as Bates' reaction after witnessing a vision where White described celestial phenomena, and Bourdeau's dramatic observation of White in vision, reinforcing the belief in her prophetic role. The document also highlights the challenges White faced from skeptics and describes how her visions were documented and remembered over time.

1. Confirming the
Confidence
“And they went out and preached everywhere the Lord
working with them and confirming the word through
the accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).
By: Jeco Niel Tangub

2. Open vision often changed skeptics into
Believers
 Joseph Bates
One of the earliest and most
prominent skeptic-turned-believer.

3. Bates disbeliefs
 He only knew rumors of EG. White
early visions.
 He was not convince that her
visions were of God
 Visions at that time were confused
with spiritualistic séances or mesmerism.

4. Bates disbeliefs
 He thought that they were nothing
more than what was produced by
a protracted debilitated state of her body.

5. Turning point
November 1846, at the stocking bridge
Howland home in Topsham, Maine, a
small company of Sabbath keepers had
Convened, among them were Joseph Bates
and the Whites.

6. Turning point
Ellen White was taken in vision
and “for the first time had
a view of other planets” after
the vision she related what she had
seen.

7. Turning point
Bates an amateur astronomer, asked if
she had ever studied astronomy. He
was astonished at what he had
heard, saying, “this is of the lord”.

8. Turning point
What really astounded him was not the
description of planets, but Mrs. White
description
of the “opening heavens” a reference to
the so called open Orion space.

9. Not an astronomy lesson
The vision was not a lesson on
astronomy that was intended to be verified
by modern telescopes rather , it provides
enough information by a young woman totally
uninformed on astronomy conformed to
limited information that Bates, an amateur
astronomer, had in 1847.

10. Daniel Bourdeau
- At the age of 20, was doing missionary
work for Baptist church in Canada
- His parents and older brother (Augustin C.) joined
the Sabbatarian Adventist in northern Vermont
- Attempt to dissuade them but he was persuaded
regarding the Sabbath instead.
- Unbeliever in the visions

11. Turning point
June 21, 1857, when he observed Ellen
white in vision at Buck’s Bridge, New
York. He was told that he could
examine her during the vision.
In his word, to satisfy my mind
as to weather she breathe or not,,,,

12. Turning point
I first put my hand on her
chest sufficiently long to know that there
was no more heaving of the lungs
than there would have been, had she
been a corpse.

13. Turning point
I then took my hand and place
it over her mouth, pinching her nostrils
between my thumb and forefinger, so that
it was impossible to exhale or inhale
air, thus with my hand about ten
minutes, long enough for her to suffocate
under ordinary circumstances.

14. Turning point
“She was not in the least affected
by this ordeal…. Since witnessing this wonderful
phenomenon, “I have not once been inclined
to doubt the divine origin of her vision”.

15. E.G. White longest vision (4 hours)
occurred in 1845
 It happens before her marriage to James .
- One of the allegations against her was
that she could not have a vision
if James white and her sister where
not present.

16. 1845- Otis Nichols in Boston
- Hoping to expose the Charge, invited
E.G White and Sarah to his home,
leaving James in Portland.
- He invited fanatical leaders including
Sargent and Robins, who were also
advocating that it was sin to work.

17. -But when they learned that E.G. White
was present, they quickly withdrew, warning
Nichols that her vision were of the Devil and
left. Nichols told them that E.G. White
would like to attend their meeting I Boston,
to which they gave their approval.

18. The night before the proposed meeting.
Ellen was shown in vision that these
men had no plan to meet with
her. They alerted their followers to gather
in Randolph, 13miles south of Boston.

19. E.G White was told in the vision
that she should meet this group in
Randolph, and that God would gave her
the message that would convince “the
honest and unprejudiced ones. Whether her
vision were of the Lord or from Satan.”

20. The time of their meeting
came, they were shock why
Ellen White is present.

21. . In the meeting ,According to the report of
Otis Nichols, Ellen was taken off in vision
with extraordinary manifestations and
continued talking in vision with a shrill voice
which could be distinctly understood by all
present .

22. What did Sargent and
Robbins during that time?
“ They exhausted all their influence and bodily
strength to destroy the effect of the vision.
They would unite in singing very loud,

23. And then alternately would talk and read
from the bible in a loud voice in order
that Ellen might not heard, until their
strength was exhausted and their hands would
shake, so they could not read from the bible.”

24. Heavy family bible
Mr. Thayer, the owner of the house
was not convinced that Ellen Harmon was
of the devil He ask Sargent to
put the bible first but he refused. so
took his heavy family bible, opened it
and laid it on Ellen’s chest to test the vision.

25. She arose immediately and walked to the
middle of the room, holding the bible
high with one hand. With her free
hand , her eyes looking upward and not
on the bible, placing her finger on certain text.

26. Many in the room who were able
to look at the passages where her
finger was pointing while her eyes looking
upward, noted that she was quoting it
Correctly.

27. Nichols reported later that this “no work
Party” (Sargent and Robbins) became more
fanatical, declaring themselves
free from all sinning. About a year later,
the group was scattered amidst of
revelations of “shameful acts of their lives.”

28. Other stories
In 1852 personal event with Marion Stonwell ;
the experience of Stephen Smith
(reports in review and herald 1850’s)
Mr. &Mrs. Stephen and Matilda Smith in
Washington church. (Review and herald 1850’s)

29. Stephen Smith testimony
Brethren every word of the testimony
for me is true, and I accept it. And I come
to that place where I finally believe they
all are of God, and if I had heeded the one
God sent to me, as well as the rest, it
would have change the whole course of my life.
And I should have been a very different man…..

30. Stephen Smith testimony
I thought that I knew as much
as an old woman’s vision, as I
used to term it . May god forgive me
! But to my sorrow I found the vision
were right, and the man who thought
he knew it all is wrong,

31. Stephen Smith testimony
for I preached the time in 1854, and spent all I had
when if I had heeded them, I should
have saved and all that much more.
The testimony was right and I am wrong….
I want to tell our people everywhere
that another rebel has surrendered.

32. How vision were remembered?
Most vision’s of EG White were
written down in broad outline soon
after she received them. As time went
on , she would fill in the details.

33. How vision were remembered?
The vision given on Christmas day
1865, at Rochester at new York was
especially comprehensive. By 1868
according to James white Ellen white
had written several thousand pages
base upon that one vision.

34. How vision were remembered?
Mrs. White did not remember at
any on time all elements of the vision. In
late 1867 and in northern Michigan in 1898, she
saw many faces that instantly brought
back the message for then which she
then delivered orally or in writing.

35. How vision were remembered?
“It is impossible for me to call
up things which have been shown
to me unless the Lord brings them
before me at the time that he is
please to have me relate or write them….”