Greater and Lesser Light

    "The Lord has sent His people much instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light. Oh, how much good would be accomplished if the books containing this light were read with a determination to carry out the principles they contain? There would be a thousandfold greater vigilance, a thousandfold more self-denial and resolute effort. And many more would now be rejoicing in the light of present truth." Review and Herald, January 20, 1903

This statement has often been quoted by those who consider the writings of Ellen G. White to be somehow on a "lesser" level than the Bible. But actually this statement was never intended as a comparison of inspired writings.

The "lesser and greater light" metaphor is based upon Genesis 1:16: "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also." The greater light in this case is the sun, and the lesser light is the moon. The moon produces no light of itself; but reflects the light of the sun. It bears witness of the sun.

These two lights are mentioned in Revelation 12:1: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Here the church is portrayed as a woman, clothed with the greater light, and standing upon the foundation of the lesser light.

The greater light is Jesus, the Sun of righteousness. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:4. The church of Revelation 12:1 is clothed with the glory and righteousness of Jesus; covered, as the song says, "with His life, whiter than snow."

The lesser light represents the apostles and prophets. As the moon generates no light of itself, but reflects the light of the sun, so the prophets can only reflect the light streaming from the Saviour. Thus we read of John the Baptist, "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light." John 1:7, 8.

In accord with Revelation's picture of the church standing upon the foundation of the moon, Paul speaks of "the household of God . . . built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets." Ephesians 2:19, 20. Thus by a comparison of scriptures, the apostles and prophets are the lesser light.

Even Revelation 21:14 associates the apostles with the foundation of the city which symbolizes the church. Verse 23 of that chapter adds, "the Lamb is the light thereof." All this agrees with the arrangement described in Revelation 12:1.

Now let us see how Sister White defines the greater and lesser lights:

"John [the Baptist] was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater light." Review and Herald, April 8, 1873

"The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. As God's representative he stood forth to show the relation of the law and the prophets to the Christian dispensation. He was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater." The Desire of Ages, p. 220

"With the first advent of Christ there was ushered in an era of greater light and glory; but it would indeed be sinful ingratitude to despise and ridicule the lesser light because a fuller and more glorious light had dawned." This Day with God, p. 246

"Christ makes no apology when He declares, 'I am the light of the world.' . . . Just as the sun compares with the lesser lights in the heavens, so did Christ, the Source of light, compare with the teachers of His day." That I May Know Him, p. 97

"All who believe may obtain clear views of Christ's true glory. When they behold him, all these minor things sink into insignificance, just as the lesser lights vanish when the sun appears. He who catches a glimpse of the matchless love of Christ, counts all other things as loss, and looks upon him as the chiefest among ten thousand, and as the one altogether lovely." Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1896

In each of these statements, "the greater light" is Jesus, and "the lesser lights" are His chosen messengers, such as John the Baptist and the other prophets, who reflect His light.

We conclude that the metaphor of greater and lesser lights is not a comparison of one group of prophetic writings with another, but rather describes the distinction between Christ and the human messenger who points to Him. Now let us go back to the original 1903 statement to confirm that this was Sister White's point. If you do not have the Review and Herald articles, you may read the context of the "lesser light" statement in Ye Shall Receive Power, page 232. Here is what it says:

"Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the instruction that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the precious, comforting light that God has graciously given His servant to be given to the world. From their pages this light is to shine into the hearts of men and women leading them to the Saviour."

Then, a few lines later, in the statement quoted at the beginning of this study, Sister White presents herself as "a lesser light [a prophet] to lead men and women to the greater light," which in the context of the earlier statement must be the Saviour. Nowhere does inspiration state that the writings of the ancient prophets shed greater light than do the testimonies of God's Spirit to the remnant church.

“Greater light shines upon us than shone upon our fathers.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 262

"The Bible has accumulated and bound up together its treasures for this last generation . . . What manner of persons ought we to be to whom all this rich light of inheritance has been given. Concentrating all the influence of the past with new and increased light of the present, accrued power is given to all who will follow the light." Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 339

"My work has been in the field since 1845. Ever since then I have labored with pen and voice. Increased light has come to me as I have imparted the light given me. I have very much more light on the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which I shall present to our people." Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 90

"As the end draws near and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, it becomes more important for those who accept present truth to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the third angel's message from its very rise. In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the Testimonies of His Spirit. There never was a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue." Counsels for the Church, p. 91

"The professed churches of Christ in this generation are exalted to the highest privileges. The Lord has been revealed to us in ever-increasing light. Our privileges are far greater than were the privileges of God's ancient people." Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 317

"It is His will that they should be ever moving forward, to receive the increased and ever-increasing light which is shining for them." Gospel Workers, p. 300