Ellen instructed people to give up their material assets to the Advent cause if and when the Advent cause instructed them to do so. She even threatened that they would not stand in the time of trouble if they refused. Simultaneously, she herself increased in her own wealth, owning multiple properties with a household of staff to assist with her daily tasks.

• "But there were also false prophets among the people; just as there will be false teachers among you...in their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories." 2 Peter 2:1-3

 

• About one week since the Lord showed me in vision that houses and lands will be of no use in the time of trouble; and that in that time they could not be disposed of. I saw that it was the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance, dispose of their houses and lands before the time of trouble comes, and thus make a covenant with God by sacrifice. I saw they would sell if they laid their property on the altar and earnestly inquired for duty. God will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them down. I saw that if any held on to their property and did not inquire duty of God, He would not make duty plain and they would be left to keep their property, and then in the time of trouble their property would come up before them like a mountain to crush them. Then they tried to get rid of it, but could not. I heard them mourn like this:—God’s people were suffering for truth, the cause was languishing; but we made no effort to supply the lack, and now our property is useless. Oh! that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven. I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but decreased, and was consumed…I saw that some had been required to dispose of their property in past time to sustain the Advent cause; while He had permitted others to keep theirs until a time of need. Then as the cause needs it is their duty to sell.“ Manuscript 3,  Topsham, Maine, January 18 (1849)
  • During the time of this vision, Ellen and James lived in a small cottage in Battle Creek, MI, and did not have much in terms of financial wealth or material possession. However, later in life, Ellen and James lived in a larger estate called Elmshaven, which was a seven-room home on a 60-acre property with several staff. At the time of Ellen’s death, the value of the estate and Ellen’s prior financial dealings was insolvent. The General Conference resolved this debt by purchasing the assets. Although she claimed to have received visions from God that properties were to be given up for the Advent cause before the time of trouble began, she did not follow this counsel, showing her lack of faith in her own vision. This appears to be a hypocritical application of Christian living according to what she had been “shown.”

 

• "In disposing of your property by will, be sure that you do not forget God's cause. You are his agents, holding His property; and His claims should have your first consideration. Your wife and children, of course, should not be left destitute...But do not, simply because it is customary, bringing your will a long line relatives who are not needy...Christians should be reformers and break up this present system...Let the idea be ever present that it is the Lord's property which you are handling. The will of God in this matter is law." Testimonies to the Church, vol. 4, p. 482-483

 

• “Dear Brother Everts, I was shown while at Lancaster, Mass., that the work of God was progressing in the West, and that you must be narrowing down your large farms. Do not talk your faith. Sell that ye have and give alms, says the angel. Not moving fast enough, said the angel. Cut loose, cut loose from your treasures here; lay up a treasure in heaven.” Letter 14 (1857) 

 

• “Discouragement has come upon the church. They have been loving the world, loving their farms, cattle, etc. Now Jesus calls them to cut loose, to lay up treasures in heaven, buy gold, white raiment, and eyesalve—precious treasures that will obtain for the possessor an inheritance in the kingdom of God.” Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 1, Manuscript 2 (1857)

 

Letter to an old man to square up his business before he dies so his money goes to her movement:

• "Dear Brother Peabody, I will try to write you what was shown me in vision nearly one year ago.…I saw that the Lord wanted your means which He has lent you. He calls for you to use it to advance His cause. I saw that there was but a little time for you to use the means which He has lent you in advancing His work. You must work fast to get your treasure before you into heaven and safely secured there, where thieves cannot steal it or moth corrupt it. I saw that your business was in an unsettled, perplexing state, and you must begin to square up your business. Get it into a snug compass. Be getting ready to move to the better country, even the heavenly. I saw that you should work as fast as possible to remove the means which God has lent you from the hands of unbelievers and transfer it to the believers, and aid in advancing the last message of mercy ever to be given to the world. I saw that you should be getting things in a close compass, and be preparing for the last great work of the third angel. In the last vision given me in Michigan, June, 1859, I saw that you must have your eyes open to see the wants of the cause and then to freely bestow…I have seen that there was a lack among those who have means. They lack faith in the result and success of this message. If they would venture something on the success of this message it would be more pleasing to God.…You were shown me among those whose faith must work, and your means be more freely imparted to advance the cause of present truth. I feel called out to say a few words to you. You are in a responsible place. You have a work to do to impart of your substance to the cause of God. Dear Brother, inquire carefully, What is my duty? I believe you are willing to do your duty if you know what it is. Many think they are sacrificing but they do not know what it is to sacrifice. A sacrifice decreases, it never increases, but decreases and consumes…I believe that God requires even more of you than the interest. From what God has shown me, you will have to touch the substance, the principal; then you will sacrifice. If you do not work fast, “The day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.” Zechariah 14:1. “Sell that ye have, and give alms…Your life is not secure. Apply your means as you want it while you can. You may live to go through the time of trouble with the remnant, and you may be one of that number who are called blessed. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,” etc. [Revelation 14:13.] Your head is already white. You are ripening up for the great harvest. Act the part faithfully which God assigns you, that at His coming it may be said of you, “Well done, good and faithful servant...” Letters and Manuscripts, letter 4 (1859)

 

Below is a letter to parents who had lost two of their three children. Ellen uses their grief to demand that they sell their property on threat of condemnation and losing their last child, and says God “snatched” their two children because they were idols:

• "Dear Brother and Sister Burwell, In the vision given at this place I was shown something concerning you. I saw that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. God has been merciful to you. He has in mercy spared you one child; and if you both pursue a right course, there is some prospect of her being influenced by the truth and being saved in the kingdom. But I saw that unless you were willing to make a sacrifice for this and prize her salvation and your own enough to act out your faith, cut loose from the world, and act like men waiting for their Lord, there is no prospect, none at all. Your course will influence her. Show her by acting out your faith that you really believe the message, “Be zealous ... and repent.” [Revelation 3:19.] When you really [believe] this message the effect upon you will be to separate from the world, live out your faith, sell that you have, give alms, and lay up for yourselves a treasure in the heavens. God has come very near unto you when you were at a great distance from Him. He took two idols from you that you might draw near unto Him and that God alone might be exalted and reign supreme in your heart, and that your eye might be single to His glory. These children were snatched away to save you and her. Brother, you love this world, especially Brother Burwell. You realize not how much your heart is set upon and glued to this world and how little you are willing to sacrifice for the better and heavenly country. If you prize the precious pearl of exceeding value highly enough to sell all that you have to purchase it, I saw that you could have it. Unless you prize it enough for this it is not yours, neither can you have it. Dear Brother, I dare not hold my peace. I must deal faithfully and truly with you. From what God has shown me, I fear your property will shut you out of heaven, because you love it, whether you realize it or not, better than anything else. A terrible calamity came upon you, yet it has not had the effect that God designed it should, to wean you from the world. Your possessions are still dear to you, are of worth, great worth, so much so that it looks to you to be a great thing to sacrifice anything even for your own soul’s sake. Every idol, brother and sister, is not yet sacrificed with you, and if there is one idol left, whatever that idol be, it will shut you out of heaven… " Letters and Manuscripts, letter 1 (1857)