Ellen White Investigation

Ellen White's Unfulfilled Prophecies about Labor Unions

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Ellen White warned that labor unions would soon plunge the world into unparalleled chaos—disrupting society, crippling cities, and making it nearly impossible for Seventh-day Adventist [SDA] institutions to function. More than a century later, history tells a very different story. Rather than triggering a global catastrophe, unions have steadily declined, and the very institutions she said would be doomed in the cities have flourished there. This article examines one of her most dramatic prophetic failures.

Dire Warnings of Disaster

In the early 1900s, Mrs. White wrote dire prophecies about the rising power of labor unions. She claimed they would bring a time of trouble upon the earth worse than any since the world began:

And the trades unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began.1

She also prophesied:

The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive.2

In 1903, she prophesied the unions would make it very difficult for SDAs to do business in cities like Los Angeles:

Because of these unions and confederacies, it will soon be very difficult for our institutions to carry on their work in the cities. My warning is: Keep out of the cities. Build no sanitariums in the cities. ... When the question arose in regard to the establishment of a sanitarium in Los Angeles, I felt that I must oppose this move. I carried a very heavy burden in regard to the matter, and I could not keep silent. It is time, brethren, that we heeded the testimonies sent us in mercy and love from the God of heaven.3

Interestingly, the SDA Corporation ignored these "testimonies" that were supposedly sent by God himself and opened multiple institutions in the greater Los Angeles area:4

Analysis

A Failed Prophecy?

Unions caused sporadic problems in the early 1900s, but there is no evidence they caused a "time of trouble" worse than any since the world began! There is no evidence labor unions hindered SDA Hospitals from carrying on work in cities, which they continue to do all over the world to this day.5

Some may insist these dire prophecies are yet future, but it appears increasingly far-fetched. Union membership in the United States peaked between the years of 1930-1950, at around 30% of the work force, but has since been on a steady decline.

In 1947, the Taft-Hartley Act put restrictions on unions. The changing composition of the labor force, competition from other countries, scandals, and the rise of robotic automation have all combined to weaken labor unions. These are forces Ellen White could not possibly have known about when she made her ill-fated "prophecies." By 2024, union membership in the United States had dropped to 10%, which is about a third of what it was at its peak.6 Similar drops occurred in most other leading industrialized nations from 1980 to 2017:7

Conclusion

In the early 1900s, at a time of great strife in the labor unions, these failed apocalyptic predictions may have seemed feasible. After 125 years, it is now evident they were seriously misguided.

While labor union activity was high in 1903, unions did not bring about the apocalyptic "time of trouble such as has not been since the world began."

Ellen White's failed prediction that "soon" it would "be very difficult for our institutions to carry on their work in the cities" was a complete flop. This prophecy is factually disproven by the successful history of SDA institutions. SDA corporate leaders wisely ignored their delusional prophet and went on a building spree in major cities throughout the world. This demonstrates how little confidence SDA corporate leaders have in their own prophetess. If they have so little confidence in her, then why should you have any at all?

See also

Category: Visions Examined