Mrs. White vs. The Bible
Persecution in the Last Days

By D. Anderson

In her apocalyptic book Great Controversy Mrs. White describes a frightening end-time scenario. The wicked Catholics and apostate Protestants join together to pass a law enforcing Sunday observance, and a death penalty is imposed upon all who worship upon the seventh-day Sabbath. Mrs. White describes in vivid detail what happens when the universal Sunday law is passed:

"As the time appointed in the decree draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect [Seventh-day Adventists]. It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof. The people of God--some in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the forests and the mountains--still plead for divine protection, while in every quarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of evil angels, are preparing for the work of death." (Great Controversy, p. 635)

Ellen White: Righteous are in prison or hiding in forests/mountains

From the above quote we find that the righteous are either in prison or hiding in the forests and mountains. Mrs. White informs us that they have been driven from their homes by mobs:
"Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs..." (Early Writings, p. 56)

BIBLE: Righteous are in their homes

The Bible paints a different picture of Christ's Second Coming:
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Luke 17:34-36)
Notice from the above verse:
  1. Righteous and unrighteous men will be sleeping together in the same bed, apparently in their own homes.
  2. Righteous and unrighteous women will be working together, apparently preparing food in their own homes.
  3. Righteous and unrighteous men will be working together, apparently in their own fields.
Jesus also said that it would be like the "days of Noah" (Luke 17:26) and the "days of Lot" (Luke 17:28). Neither Lot nor Noah was hiding in the mountains or languishing in prison. They were living in their homes and working at their jobs prior to the falling of the judgments of God.

While Mrs. White says the righteous will flee their homes before infuriated mobs, Jesus says the righteous and the wicked will be sleeping and working together in their own homes and fields when He returns.