Ellen G. White's Visions of Balls of Fire

The “Balls of Fire” Visions
July 1, 1904 and August 24, 1906

First vision, July 1, 1904

On Friday night, July 1, 1904, at Nashville, Tennessee, Ellen White was given a view of apocalyptic doom. The next morning toward the close of a sermon in the chapel of the Southern Publishing Association, whe made a brief reference to it. “Last night a scene was presented before me, I may never feel free to reveal all of it, but I will reveal a little.   MS 102, 1904

She did write about this scene four months later in the Review & Herald, “I saw an immense ball of fire falling among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard someone say, “We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon.’ Others said, ‘You knew? Why then did you not tell us? We did not know.’ On every side I heard such words spoken.” RH Nov. 24, 1904  also  Testimonies, Volume 9, page 28

Second vision, August 24, 1906

On August 24, 1906 at the Sanitarium of St. Helena, California she had a similar vision of a terrible conflagration. Letter 278, 1906.  In her diary she wrote, “In the night I was, I thought, in a room not in my own house. I was in a city, where I knew not, and I heard expression after expression. I rose up quickly in bed, and saw from my window large balls of fire. Jetting out were sparks, in the form of arrows, and buildings were being consumed, and in a few minutes the entire block of buildings was falling and the screeching and mournful groans came distinctly to my ears. I cried out to learn what was happening . . . Then I awoke. But I could not tell where I was, for I was in another place than home. I said, O Lord, where am I and what shall I do? A voice spoke, “Be not afraid. Nothing shall harm you.”

“I was instructed that destruction had gone forth upon cities. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Isaiah 29: 19 – 24 was repeated. I dared not move, not knowing where I was. I cried unto the Lord, What does it mean? There represenations of destruction were repeated. The Lord said, “In scenes I have represented that which will be; but warn My people to cease from putting their trust in men who are not obedient to my warnings and who despise My reproof, for the day of the Lord is right upon the world when evidence shall be made sure. Those who have followed the voices that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men.” These words were given me from Isaiah 30 (verses 8 – 15)”  MS 126, 1908

In the book Country Living, section, ‘A Call to Leave the Cities’ page 8 you can find:

Last Friday morning, just before I awoke, a very impressive scene was presented before me. I seemed to awake from sleep, but was not in my home. From the windows I could behold a terrible conflagration. Great balls of fire were falling upon houses, and from these balls fiery arrows were flying in every direction. It was impossible to check the fires that were kindled, and many places were being destroyed. The terror of the people was indescribable. – Evangelism, p. 29. (1906) 

Country Living, page 8 continues with . . .

While at Loma Linda, Calif., April 16, 1906, there passed before me a most wonderful representation. During a vision of the night, I stood on an eminence, from which I could see houses shaken like a reed in the wind. Buildings, great and small, were falling to the ground. Pleasure resorts, theaters, hotels, and the homes of the wealthy were shaken and shattered. Many lives were blotted out of existence, and the air was filled with the shrieks of the injured and the terrified. {CL 8.6}

The destroying angels of God were at work. One touch, and buildings so thoroughly constructed that men regarded them as secure against every danger, quickly became heaps of rubbish. There was no assurance of safety in any place. I did not feel in any special peril, but the awfulness of the scenes that passed before me I cannot find words to describe. It seemed that the forbearance of God was exhausted, and that the judgment day had come.  {CL 9.1}

The angel that stood at my side then instructed me that but few have any conception of the wickedness existing in our world today, and especially the wickedness in the large cities. He declared that the Lord has appointed a time when He will visit transgressors in wrath for persistent disregard of His law.  {CL 9.2}

Terrible as was the representation that passed before me, that which impressed itself most vividly upon my mind was the instruction given in connection with it. The angel that stood by my side declared that God’s supreme rulership, and the sacredness of His law, must be revealed to those who persistently refuse to render obedience to the King of kings. Those who choose to remain disloyal, must be visited in mercy with judgments, in order that, if possible, they may be aroused to a realization of the sinfulness of their course.– Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 92, 93. (1909)  {CL 9.3}

MR No. 918 – Cities Destroyed by “Balls Of Fire”

In the night I was, I thought, in a room but not in my own house. I was in a city, where I knew not, and I heard expression after expression. I rose up quickly in bed, and saw from my window large balls of fire. Jetting out were sparks, in the form of arrows, and buildings were being consumed, and in a very few minutes the entire block of buildings was falling and the screeching and mournful groans came distinctly to my ears. I cried out, in my raised position, to learn what was happening: Where am I? And where are our family circle? Then I awoke. But I could not tell where I was for I was in another place than home. I said, Oh Lord, where am I and what shall I do? It was a voice that spoke, “Be not afraid. Nothing shall harm you.”  {11MR 361.1}

I was instructed that destruction hath gone forth upon cities. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Isaiah 29:19-24 was repeated. I dared not move, not knowing where I was. I cried unto the Lord, What does it mean? These representations of destruction were repeated. Where am I? “In scenes I have represented that which will be; but warn My people to cease from putting their trust in men who are not obedient to my warnings and who despise My reproof, for the day of the Lord is right upon the world when evidence shall be made sure. Those who have followed the voices that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men.  {11MR 361.2}

These words were given me from Isaiah 30: “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” [Isaiah 30:8-15 quoted.] . . . .  {11MR 362.1}
  
I was instructed that light had been given me and that I had written under special light the Lord had imparted. — Ms. 126, 1906. (Diary, August 23, 27, 1906.) 

White Estate Washington, D. C. March 11, 1982  {11MR 362.2}

Ellen G. White’s Visions of Balls of Fire on Cities