Home: www.ProphecyWatch.biz Date This Page Last Edited: Monday, April 23, 2007
Locate Book & Page: Ellen White's Writings http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=default
MORE THAN A PROPHET is the fruit of twenty years of Prof. Bradford's painstaking research on the prophetic ministry of Ellen White. It is a long-overdue book that clears the air of prevailing misconceptions about Ellen White which have caused thousands of Adventists to leave church.
I believe in sharing with our members the valuable research of our leading Adventist scholars. I am offering their recordings as a free service. In fact, on Prof. Jon Paulien set of 120 lectures on Revelation, I loose $5.00 for every set I mail overseas. For me the greatest satisfaction comes, not from any financial profit, but from the intellectual and spiritual enrichment of our fellow believers.
Your personal effort to inform your church members about Prof. Bradford's new book MORE THAN A PROPHET, is greatly appreciated. This book has been long-overdue and will help many people to discover the REAL Ellen White and answer the attacks against her.
To make it possible for many Adventists to benefit from this timely study, I decided to offer the book by the case of 30 copies for the basic cost price of $5.00 per copy, that is, $150.00 for a case of 30 copies, mailing expenses included. Thank you for informing your church members of the unique opportunity to order the book by the case of 30 copies for only $5.00 per copy, instead of the regular retail price of $25.00.
The following information is designed to acquaint you with Prof. Bradford background and his latest book MORE THAN A PROPHET.
INTRODUCTION OF PROF. G. BRADFORD
Prof. Graeme Bradford has served the Seventh-day Adventist church with distinction as a pastor, evangelist and professor in the theology department of Avondale College. He has conducted seminars in many parts of the world, helping thousands to better understand and experience biblical truths.
He has written numerous articles, prepared a Bible Course for Global Mission, and edited three magazine on Archeology and the Bible. At the request of the South Pacific Division he is preparing a Revelation Seminar course together with Prof. Jon Paulien. He has authored several books. His latest book More than a Prophet, is explained and offered below.
Prof. Bradford earned a B. A. Degree in theology from Pacific Union College; a M. A. Degree in Religion from Andrews University and a D. Min. Degree from Trinity International Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Though he is currently retired, his ministry of writing, lecturing, and reclaiming former Adventists continues relentlessly.
DESCRIPTION OF MORE THAN A PROPHET
The book MORE THAN A PROPHET was born out of the raging controversy over the credibility of Ellen White as an inspired writer. Books, videos, and thousands of websites are attempting to destroy the credibility of the gift of prophecy manifested in the ministry and writings of Ellen White. Surprisingly, most of the material attacking Ellen White, has been produced by former Adventists, some of whom were church pastors.
To respond to the many attacks against Ellen White, Prof. Graeme Bradford spent twenty years of his life examining and digesting the writings of Ellen White in the light of the manifestation of the gift of prophecy in biblical prophets. By examining the human side of Bible prophets as revealed in scripture, Bradford shows that the problems they encountered, were not much different from the criticism brought against Ellen White.
Bradford clearly states the objective of his manuscript, saying: "Let me say from the outset, I write this book as one having great confidence in the prophetic gift as it has been used in the ministry of Ellen White. After reading and studying the evidence for and against her work, I emerge as a strong believer. However, I also realize that the Adventist Church has not always used this gift wisely. Despite her protests during her lifetime, after her death unrealistic expectations were placed upon her writings by those who saw her as a means to settle questions on a variety of subjects. It is imperative that the Church places her ministry where the Bible would have it placed. If this is not forthcoming then the gift that God designed to be a blessing can become counterproductive."
Over the years thousand of Adventists have left the church, claiming to have found serious mistakes and contradictions in Ellen White's writings. They assumed that prophets are inerrant all the time, no matter the topics or circumstances of their writings. Their departure from the church could have been prevented in many cases, had they been given the opportunity to understand what the Bible teaches regarding the gift of prophecy, namely, that prophets are human. There are times when they communicate a message from God, but there are also times when they speak their own mind.
Bradford reaches this conclusion through a careful study of how the gift of prophecy was manifested in Bible prophets. In fact he devotes the first 100 pages of his manuscript, to an analysis of the biblical understanding of the working of the prophetic ministry. This provides the basis for evaluating the ministry of Ellen White in the second part of the study.
In MORE THAN A PROPHET, Prof. Bradford defends the true nature of Ellen White's ministry, by showing how her ministry was perceived by herself, her son "Willie," and church leaders who worked closely with her. These leaders, including the General Conference President A. G. Daniells, who assisted Ellen White for many years, expressed their fears at the 1919 Bible Conference, that the Church was heading in a wrong direction in its understanding and use of her writings.A few ultra-conservative leaders wanted to glorify Ellen White as an infallible authority on everything that she wrote and said.
Unfortunately, the worst fears expressed at the 1919 Bible Conference were realized as cultural pressures were brought upon the Church which caused an unrealistic and inaccurate understanding of her ministry. This has resulted in the perception still prevailing among many Adventists that Ellen White's writings are like "fax messages" she received directly from God.
Fortunately, this misconception is slowly being corrected today, as numerous studies produced during the past 25 years, have shown the human aspects of Ellen White's life and writings. Adventism is gradually returning a full circle by coming back to a more biblical understanding of her gift, that recognizes her human limitations. This intriguing story is revealed in Bradford's More than a Prophet.
I read the manuscript with great interest and benefit over 5 years ago. The favorable reviews by respected Adventist church leaders and scholars, gave me reasons to believe that the manuscript would be speedily published, especially in view of the urgent need to restore confidence in the validity of the gift of prophecy manifested in the writings, preaching, and teachings of Ellen White.
Unfortunately, the publication of Prof. Bradford's manuscript has been delayed for several years. Apparently the perception has been that the manuscript was too demanding for the average Adventist reader accustomed to read simple stories or devotional literature. Eventually the decision was made to repackage the study in an abbreviated and simpler version.
A few weeks ago I received the abbreviated and simplified version of the manuscript MORE THAN A PROPHET, published in two booklets under the titles Prophets Are Human and People Are Human: Look at What they Did to Ellen White! These two booklets, published by Signs Publishing Company (Australia), are written in a fiction-style, with a couple asking questions about Ellen White, and a pastor giving answers which are biblical and faith affirming.
PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MORE THAN A PROPHET
The apparent reason for repackaging the manuscript into a simple, fiction-style story, was to popularize the study and make it more appealing to the average reader. I have no doubt that the two booklets will serve a useful purpose. But, my experience has been that an increasing number of educated Adventists, prefer to put their teeth into a substantive study that examines questions in a more analytical way.
With this in mind, I asked Prof. Graeme Bradford if he would grant permission to Biblical Perspectives, my publishing venture, to publish the original manuscript which has been edited several times. Bradford enthusiastically accepted my proposal and emailed me the latest edited version of the manuscript in two Microsoft Word files. This is the first and only book I have accepted to publish as part of the Biblical Perspectives series. The reason is my awareness of the urgent need of this timely study.
Incidentally, Bradford instructed me to pay the royalties into a special South Pacific Division fund established to finance his ministry of reclaiming the thousand of former Adventists who have left the church over the question of Ellen White. I dare to mention this personal matter, simply to help reader appreciate the fact that Prof. Bradford has a passion, not only for truth, but also for reclaiming former Adventists.
MORE THAN A PROPHET has been long overdue and will do much to restore confidence in the validity of the gift of prophecy manifested in the writings, preaching, and teachings of Ellen White - a woman who has left such a rich legacy not only for the Seventh-day Adventist Church but for the world at large.
ALBUM WITH WRITINGS AND RECORDINGS
The CD DISK with Prof. Bradford's Books and Articles
This CD album offers a searchable data base of most of Prof. Graeme Bradford published and unpublished writings. It includes also the latest book More than a Prophet! During the past 30 years, he has written books and articles on a wide variety of subjects such as occultism, near death experiences, Israel in Prophecy, expository preaching, kids and drugs, the Bible and Archeology, and endtime prophecies. His articles always offer a refreshing biblical perspective on current issues.
Until now Prof. Bradford's books and articles were available only in a printed form, often unavailable at local ABC stores. In view of my indebtedness to Prof. Bradford scholarship, I have offered to help him to place all of his books and articles on a CD album. This makes it possible with the ACROBAT global search, to locate immediately what he has written on biblical texts or current topics.
You will find in this collection a priceless resource to enrich your understanding and experience of biblical truths. You will especially appreciate his latest book More than a Prophet-a book that has been long overdue and will do much to restore confidence in the validity of Ellen White's prophetic ministry.
The DVD DISK with Prof. Bradford's Live Lecture on Ellen White
The DVD disk contains Prof. Graeme Bradford's popular two hours powerpoint lecture on "More than a Prophet." The lecture was recorded at the Avondale College Media Center in Australia. With the help of 75 slides, he discusses in an open and objective way the major issues related to the prophetic ministry of Ellen White. This lectures clears the air of prevailing misconceptions about Ellen White which have caused thousands of Adventists to leave church. Listening to this dynamic, visual presentation will enhance your appreciation for the gift of prophecy manifested in the writings, preaching, and teachings of Ellen White.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER ON MORE THAN A PROPHET
1 copy of More than a Prophet for $20.00 (instead of $25.00), plus $5.00 for mailing in the USA of $10.00 for airmailing overseas.
2 copies of More than a Prophet for $30.00 (instead of $50.00), plus $5 for mailing in the USA of $10.00 for airmailing overseas.
10 copies of More than a Prophet for $100.00 (instead of $250.00), plus $5 for mailing in the USA or $20.00 for airmailing overseas.
30 copies of More than a Prophet for $150.00 (instead of $750.00), plus $5 for mailing in the USA or $20.00 for airmailing overseas.
*CD/DVD ALBUM WITH PROF. BRADFORD'S WRITING AND VIDEO LECTURE ON MORE THAN A PROPHET
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER ON THE CD/DVD ALBUM
The ALBUM contains both the CD disk with all Prof. Bradford's writings and the DVD disk with his two hours video lecture. The introductory offer is only $50.00 (instead of $100.00). Airmailing expenses are included to any foreign destination.
PACKAGE OFFER WITH THE BOOK & THE CD/DVD ALBUM
The package of both one copy of More than a Prophet and one Album containing the CD disk with Prof. Bradford's writings and the DVD disk with his two hours video lecture for only $70.00 (instead of $125.00). Airmailing expenses are included to any foreign destination.
FOUR WAYS TO ORDER!
(1) On line: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/BradfordOffer/offer.htm
(2) Phone: By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.
(3) Email: By emailing your order to <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.
(4) Regular Mail: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 4990, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.
COMMENTS ABOUT PROF. BRADFORD RESEARCH ON ELLEN WHITE
The highlights of MORE THAN A PROPHET were published earlier in two booklets entitled Prophets Are Human and People Are Human. These booklets lack the extensive documentation of over 60 pages of footnotes and the analysis of issues found in MORE THAN A PROPHET, but they present the same balanced view of Ellen White. The comments below are from church leaders and scholars who have already reviewed the two booklets. They offer an indication of the great appreciation for Bradford's research on Ellen White.
"Thanks for the copy of your excellent book, Prophets are Human. I have given it a careful reading and am thrilled with what you have done. It is just what we need. It is at once readable, informative, and convincing for anyone who is sincerely looking for truth. The Lord Himself surely helped you produce this work."
Bob Olson
Former Director of the White Estate in Washington, D.C.
"Dr. Bradford has provided the church with a much-needed resource. While the reader will find the book confronting at times and very likely will not agree with everything it contains, the author is to be commended for bringing long-standing and difficult issues out into the open and addressing them in a manner that is not only credible but congruent with Scripture. In short, it is a stimulating and provocative read for the intelligent Christian."
Dr. Lester Devine
Director, Ellen G. White SDA Research Center
"Graeme Bradford is an honest seeker who writes honest answers to questions about Ellen White. Prophets are Human should give help to many other seekers. I commend this book."
Dr William Johnsson
Editor, Adventist Review
"Neither the critics nor the defenders of Ellen White have given adequate attention to the full range of biblical and historical evidence. That makes this book much more important than the easy to read style might suggest. Bradford's book is must reading for anyone interested in Ellen White's inspiration."
Dr. Jon Paulien
Chair, New Testament Department, Andrews University.
"Not everyone will agree with every point that Bradford asserts, but all of us must of necessity agree with his major thesis-that the church and its members will be healthier when they get as much as possible of the truth about Ellen White on the table and then disseminate it far and wide. Only in that way can the criticism of those who have built upon false conception be put to rest."
Dr. George R. Knight
Professor of Church History
Andrews University Theological Seminary
"In his new book People Are Human, Graeme Bradford effectively builds up a holistic and truthful picture of Ellen White, her growing understanding of Scripture, and her exhortations to advance more fully in the knowledge of the Bible. Now every church member has easy access to information hidden in the archives, yet needed to form a balanced view of her character and inspiring ministry."
Hans LaRondelle, Ph. D.,
Emeritus Professor of Theology
Andrews University Theological Seminary
"It is vital that every Seventh-day Adventist have a clear understanding of the issues discussed in this book. For too long too many, both friend and foe, have been drawing conclusions on this topic on the basis of little information, misinformation or suppositions which do not stand up under scrutiny. Graeme Bradford has my highest admiration, not only for the very readable manner in which he has addressed some significant issues surrounding the life and writings of Ellen White, but also for his personal integrity and commitment to the truth. I strongly commend this book to the reader and thank Graeme for his work."
Barry Oliver MA., Ph. D.
General Secretary, Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific
FOREWORD TO PROPHETS ARE HUMAN
By Laurie Evans, President of the South Pacific Division
Prophets are Human is one of those books that is born out of adversity and controversy. The catalyst for it centers around the increasing criticism and accusations that have been leveled at Ellen G White and her writings by those intent on destroying her credibility as an inspired writer and one through whom the gift of prophecy was manifest. Much has been published, circulated via videos and promulgated on the internet with this objective in mind.
This book has been written to show the arguments brought against Ellen White are, in the main, based on an incorrect understanding of inspiration and how this gift is manifest through the biblical prophets. The author, by analyzing the human side of bible writers as revealed in scripture, shows clearly that the problems encountered, which have caused many to lose their faith, are not so much with her writings as they are with unbiblical expectations of them. In short, the book makes the very important point that the same criticisms brought against Ellen White can to a large degree be brought against many of the authors of scripture.
The book has been written in a very captivating and engaging story form that makes it easy to read and difficult to put down.. The main characters ask questions that thoughtful people have pondered and stumbled over for decades. The answers given by "the pastor" are both biblical and faith affirming.
Graeme Bradford has done an excellent job in dealing with issues in connection with Ellen White and inspiration that for far too long have gone unaddressed. This book is long overdue and will do much to restore confidence in the authority and validity of the gift of prophecy as evident in the writings of this woman who has left such a rich legacy not only for the Seventh-day Adventist Church but for the world at large.
I commend the author for recognizing the need to provide answers to difficult questions, and strongly recommend the reading of this book which I believe will be very rewarding to the honest seeker of truth.
Laurie Evans
President
South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Christian regards,
Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D.,
Retired Professor of Theology and Church History, Andrews University
4990 Appian Way
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
Phone (269) 471-2915 Fax (269) 978-6898
E-mail sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com
WWW HOMEPAGE: http://www.BiblicalPerspectives.com