Ellen G. White, a prominent figure in early Seventh-day Adventism, reportedly underwent dramatic vocal changes during her visions, according to early eyewitnesses and biographical accounts. J. N. Loughborough and D. M. Canright, both early Adventist leaders, described her voice in vision as unusually deep, unnatural, and forceful—a stark contrast to her typically soft-spoken demeanor. This transformation, they asserted, did not align with biblical accounts of the Holy Spirit's influence on prophets but rather suggested an individual overtaken by a supernatural force.
Comparison to Demonic Possession in Scripture
This phenomenon bears a striking resemblance to descriptions of demonic possession in the Bible.
Mark 5:2-9 recounts Jesus' encounter with a demon-possessed man in the country of the Gadarenes. Verse 5 highlights the man's abnormal strength and behavior, while in verse 9, when Jesus asks his name, the voice replies, "My name is Legion, for we are many." Here, a single body spoke with the voices of multiple demons, illustrating that demonic possession can indeed involve a change in voice, tone, or identity, precisely what was observed in Ellen White.
Acts 16:16-18 describes a young woman possessed by a spirit of divination who followed Paul, crying out loudly for days. Despite her religious pronouncements, such as "These men are servants of the Most High God," Paul discerned the evil spirit and cast it out. This passage is significant because it shows a possessed individual using language that sounded good, yet the source was demonic. The demonic spirit gave her an unusual voice and knowledge, mimicking religious truth, similar to reports of Ellen White's trances, where she would shout "Glory!" before her voice and strength shifted unnaturally.
Ellen G. White's Visions and Demonic Influence
Reports indicate that Ellen White's visions would begin with her shouting "Glory!" three times, followed by her collapsing into a trance. During these trances, her voice would reportedly change, becoming either loud and forceful or unusually deep and rigid. This dramatic alteration is presented as a clear indicator of demonic influence.
The New Testament provides no record of the Holy Spirit taking over prophets in such a dramatic, seizure-like, or voice-altering manner. On the contrary, 1 Corinthians 14:32 states, "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets," implying that a true prophet maintains control of their faculties. However, Ellen White's manifestations—including a stiff body, superhuman strength, unbreathing trances, and altered voice—are argued to directly contradict this principle.
Conclusion
There is no biblical record of New Testament prophets like Paul, Peter, or John experiencing such altered voices during divine inspiration. In contrast, the Bible repeatedly presents evidence of demonic voices changing pitch, tone, and even identity in possessed individuals. This consistency with Ellen White’s reported experiences, combined with claims of false prophecies, failed predictions, contradictions of Scripture, and extra-biblical legalism attributed to her, leads to the conclusion that her change of voice during visions aligns more with the behavior associated with demonic possession than with the calm, Spirit-led ministry of New Testament prophets. It suggests that her authority stemmed not from the Spirit of God but from a deceptive spirit.
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