Before Ellen claimed to have visions regarding health reform, she wrote a letter in 1858 to two individuals who were teaching others to stop eating swine. She stated that according to a vision she had, God instructed her to tell them to stop this teaching and that people were permitted to eat swine. Only a few years later in 1863, she claimed to have her famous vision about health reform, where she began to teach that God was suddenly instructing everyone to abstain from eating swine along with a larger list of newly forbidden foods. James White later added a note in the second addition of this published Testimony and attempted to excuse this contradiction for being on God's behalf; that God had simply decided that it wasn't yet time in 1858 for His people to stop eating swine, and that it wasn't until 1863 that God had decided to enact His law of abstaining from swine onto his people and that Ellen was his messenger for that special revelation. She also had stated in her 1858 letter that per her vision, God would instruct more than two or three people if he wanted them to abstain from swine. Yet in 1863, Ellen boldly began to claim God was now forbidding the eating of swine, even though He had not revealed this to more than two or three in vision, but only to her. Meanwhile, scripture has for thousands of years established what God's commandments are and are not. These commandments have been known to anyone who has read the scriptures.

The reader should consider that the claim being made here is that God gave explicit contradictions considering his law and commandments to the same messenger, only a few years apart. The reader should also ask the question as to whether Ellen was being truthful regarding visions, and if she was being truthful and indeed being visited by angels, were these angels sent by God or were they of demonic origin? Can angels of God truly instruct humans to go against His commandments, only to suddenly change their instructions in a few years time on the same commandment, tying the obedience to something as severe as the third angel's message?   

• “Dear Bro. and Sr. ——: The Lord has seen fit in his goodness to give me a vision at this place, and among the different things shown, were somethings relating to you. I saw that all was not right with you. The enemy has been seeking your destruction, and through you to influence others….I saw that you had mistaken notions about afflicting your bodies, depriving yourselves of nourishing food. These things lead some of the church to think, surely God is with you, or you would not deny self, and sacrifice thus. But I saw that none of these things will make you more holy…I saw that your views were erroneous in these things, and you look at the church, and are watching them, noticing little things, when your attention should be turned to your own souls’ interest. God has not laid the burden of his flock upon you…. I saw that you are deceived in regard to your duty, and concerning the duty of others. Some have gone too far in the eating question….I saw that your views concerning swine's flesh [This remarkable testimony was written October 21, 1858, nearly five years before the great vision of 1863, in which the light upon health reform was given. When the right time came, the subject was given in a manner to move all our people. How wonderful are the wisdom and goodness of God! It might be as wrong to crowd the milk, salt, and sugar question now, as the pork question in 1858.—J.W., note to second edition.] would prove no injury if you have them to yourselves; but in your judgment and opinion you have made this question a test, and your actions have plainly shown your faith in this matter. If God requires his people to abstain from swine's flesh, he will convict them on the matter. He is just as willing to show his honest children their duty, as to show their duty to individuals upon whom he has not laid the burden of his work. If this is a duty of the church to abstain from swine's flesh, God will discover it to more than two or three. He will teach his church their duty. I saw that God was leading out a people, not a few separate individuals, one here and there, one believing this thing, another that. Angels of God are doing the work committed to their trust. The third angel is leading out a people, purifying a people, and unitedly they move with the third angel. I saw that some run ahead of the angels that are leading this people; but they have to retrace every step, and meekly follow no faster than the angels lead.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol 1, Ch 38 (1858) https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/116.1026#1027

 

James White: 

• “Some of our good brethren are troubled in regard to eating swine’s flesh, and a very few abstain from it, thinking that the Bible forbids its use…we do not, by any means, believe that the Bible teaches that its proper use, in the gospel dispensation, is sinful…Certainly, if eating swine’s flesh is a sin in the sight of Heaven, in this dispensation, the New Testament has in some way taught us the fact. But we find that the New Testament does not, directly nor indirectly, teach any such thing…. But the New Testament so far from teaching that the use of swine’s flesh is wrong, that it affords good testimony that it is not forbidden…. Some of our good brethren have added “swine’s flesh” to the catalogue of things forbidden by the Holy Ghost, and the apostles and elders assembled at Jerusalem. But we feel called upon to protest against such a course, as being contrary to the plain teaching of the holy scriptures. Shall we lay a greater “burden” on the disciples than seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and the holy apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ? God forbid.” James White 1850- The Present Truth, vol. 1 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/1636.1175#1267 

 

Only a few years after her 1858 vision affirming the use of eating swine, she claimed to have her 1863 health reform vision which condemned swine’s flesh and all other meats, including clean meats: 

• "But since the Lord presented before me, in June, 1863, the subject of meat-eating in relation to health, I have left the use of meat. For a while it was rather difficult to bring my appetite to bread, for which, formerly, I have had but little relish. But by persevering, I have been able to do this. I have lived for nearly one year without meat." Spiritual Gifts, vol 4a, p. 153 (1864) https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/672.525#527 

 

• "God has given you light and knowledge, which you have professed to believe came direct from Him, instructing you to deny appetite. You know that the use of swine’s flesh is contrary to His express command, given not because He wished to especially show His authority, but because it would be injurious to those who should eat it. Its use would cause the blood to become impure, so that scrofula and other humors would corrupt the system, and the whole organism would suffer. Especially would the fine, sensitive nerves of the brain become enfeebled and so beclouded that sacred things would not be discerned, but be placed upon the low level with common things. Light showing that disease is caused by using this gross article of food has come just as soon as God’s people could bear it. Have you heeded the light?" Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 96 (1868) https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/120.390#403 
  • Were God's people in scripture able to bear it any more than His people today

 

• "Of the swine God said, “It is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” Deuteronomy 14:8. This command was given because swine’s flesh is unfit for food. Swine are scavengers, and this is the only use they were intended to serve. Never, under any circumstances, was their flesh to be eaten by human beings. It is impossible for the flesh of any living creature to be wholesome when filth is its natural element and when it feeds upon every detestable thing. Pork, although one of the most common articles of diet, is one of the most injurious. God did not prohibit the Hebrews from eating swine’s flesh merely to show His authority, but because it was not a proper article of food for man." Counsels for the Church, p 229 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/19.1769#1770 
  • If human beings were "never, under any circumstances," to eat swine, why did Ellen receive a vision in 1858 instructing her that swine was not forbidden, and specifically to instruct others not to teach against eating it? Was this vision truly given to her or were they hallucinations she mistook for messages from God? Was she interacting with demons? Or was God in fact commanding her to break His law and teach others to break His law?

 

• "Pork, although one of the most common articles of diet, is one of the most injurious. God did not prohibit the Hebrews from eating swine’s flesh merely to show His authority, but because it was not a proper article of food for man. It would fill the system with scrofula, and especially in that warm climate produced leprosy, and disease of various kinds. Its influence upon the system in that climate was far more injurious than in a colder climate. But God never designed the swine to be eaten under any circumstances." Counsels on Diet and Foods, Ch 23, p. 392 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/384.3093#3286