Investigating Ellen G. White #5: "The Turner Incident: Ellen White, Joseph Turner, and the origin of one SDA doctrine." [English]

Did You Know?

One of the most controversial doctrines in the Seventh-day Adventist Church can be traced back to a man who later became an open critic of Ellen White herself. Welcome to the Turner Incident—a story of ambition, timing, and unresolved questions that still linger today.

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Who Was Joseph Turner?

In January 1845, an article appeared in the Advent Mirror where Joseph Turner, a respected Adventist leader, proposed a bold theory: that the Bridegroom (Christ) had entered “within the veil” of the heavenly sanctuary. Boom—new doctrine alert.

But how would Adventists accept this teaching? Naturally, it needed a “prophetic seal.” Enter Ellen Harmon (later White), a young aspiring prophet.

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Ellen’s Vision—After the Fact

By mid-February 1845, Ellen suddenly claimed she had received a vision that matched Turner’s teaching exactly. But wait—didn’t Turner’s article come out first? Even Joseph Bates, another Adventist pioneer, was skeptical. He wrote to Ellen asking, “Was that really a vision, or did you just read Turner’s article?”

By 1847, Ellen responded—but defensively. By then, she and Turner were already at odds, and Turner had accused her of being “mesmerized” rather than divinely inspired. Naturally, Ellen couldn’t admit her revelation came from Turner’s article. Her answer? It came directly from the Lord, not from Turner.

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Suspicious Details That Can’t Be Ignored

Let’s ask the hard questions:

• Why was Ellen in Turner’s home for over two hours, with the article clearly available? Coincidence?
  
  
• Why did she claim she didn’t read a single word—even though the article was a hot topic among Adventists?
  
  
• Why did her family say nothing about Turner’s talk in their own home, despite its controversial nature?
  
  
• And the next day, when Ellen shared her vision with Turner, he replied: “That’s exactly what I taught last night.” Perfect timing—or something else?

If that’s not a red flag, what is?

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The Conflict Escalates

Eventually, Ellen and Turner clashed. Ellen wrote:

“Joseph Turner labored with some success to turn my friends and even my relatives against me. Why did he do this? Because I had faithfully related that which was shown me respecting his unchristian course.”

In short, accusations flew both ways. But Turner knew what had happened—he knew Ellen had been in his home, and that her “vision” mirrored his teaching. And he wasn’t the only one who doubted; even some of Ellen’s relatives and friends questioned the situation.

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Locked into the Doctrine

Because Ellen, as a prophet, endorsed the teaching that Christ entered the Most Holy Place in 1844, Adventists had no choice but to hold the line. Even though it’s difficult to defend biblically, they were committed—because “God’s prophet” had affirmed it.

But notice: even Ellen seemed confused about where Jesus was.

• 1886: Jesus is in the Most Holy Place
• 1888: He’s back in the Holy Place, at the altar of incense
• 1889: Returned to the Most Holy Place
• 1898: Again in the Holy Place

Confused much?

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Final Thoughts

So what’s the takeaway? Simple: The Turner Incident reveals that one of the core doctrines of Adventism—the Investigative Judgment and the 1844 event—did not arise from a clear revelation, but from highly suspicious circumstances.

If you read this account, wouldn’t you ask: Was this truly a vision, or just a borrowed idea dressed up with prophetic authority?

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Former Adventists Philippines

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