Actually, EGW was right on as far as the civil war was concerned!
Many people assume today, that the civil war was fought over slavery, the noble north going forth to fight for human rights for the oppressed slave in the south.
HOWEVER--
The initial aim of the North in the civil war was NOT to free the slaves, it was simply to keep the country united.
The North did not start the war in order to free the slaves.
The south wanted to separate "peacefully" if possible, and gain independence from the North. But the North would not allow this and fought to maintain the union.
In fact "escaped slaves" who risked everything to flee to the north, were captured by northern law enforcers and shipped back to their owners! During the 1800’s many slaves escaped from the South to freedom in the North. Even once the slaves reached the North they were not safe because of the Fugitive Slave Laws which gave the southern slave owners the right to track down their escaped slaves in the north. Further, anyone caught assisting an escaped slave faced harsh penalties and long prison sentences.
There were northern generals who had no intentions of freeing any slaves and were right disturbed that others thought this should be done.
In his inaugural address Lincoln made it clear he would not interfere with slavery where it existed. Even though he made this speech after the South seceded he left the door open for their return.
There was no way that God could bless the war efforts under those conditions and it would be totally out of character for God to send a message of "assurance that all would end well". It is exactly the message people think EGW should have given which would have been the message of a false prophet, for all would NOT BE WELL as long as the country continued the way they were going.
Frank Monaghan in "Heritage of Freedom" writes: "Many in the Union Armies were not anti-slavery men." Many business men in the North were not anti-slavery either, they wanted the business with the South and had no desire to disturb the economy of the rich Southerners.
It was under these conditions that Ellen White wrote her warnings--
Under the mixed objectives of the north thousands upon thousands of men lost their lives due to indecisive moves made because the generals were not united in there purposes.
Again one must read the sentence in it's context.
Said the angel: "Hear, O heavens, the cry of the oppressed, and reward the oppressors double according to their deeds." This nation will yet be humbled into the dust. England is studying whether it is best to take advantage of the present weak condition of our nation, and venture to make war upon her. She is weighing the matter, and trying to sound other nations. She fears, if she should commence war abroad, that she would be weak at home, and that other nations would take advantage of her weakness. Other nations are making quiet yet active preparations for war, and are hoping that England will make war with our nation, for then they would improve the opportunity to be revenged on her for the advantage she has taken of them in the past and the injustice done them. A portion of the queen's subjects are waiting a favorable opportunity to break their yoke; but if England thinks it will pay, she will not hesitate a moment to improve her opportunities to exercise her power and humble our nation. When England does declare war, all nations will have an interest of their own to serve, and there will be general war, general confusion. England is acquainted with the diversity of feeling among those who are seeking to quell the rebellion. She well knows the perplexed condition of our Government; she has looked with astonishment at the prosecution of this war--the slow, inefficient moves, the inactivity of our armies, and the ruinous expenses of our nation. The weakness of our Government is fully open before other nations, and they now conclude that it is because it was not a monarchial government, and they admire their own government, and look down, some with pity, others with contempt, upon our nation, which they have regarded as the most powerful upon the globe. Had our nation remained united it would have had strength, but divided it must fall. - You will notice that she precedes the state with two CONDITIONAL statements:
1. If she (England) should commence war abroad...
2. If England thinks it will pay, she will not hesitate...
If these conditions are met and England declares war it would also involve many other nations and general war would result.
The point again returns -- IF the North [United States government] had continued it's course of merely seeking to preserve the union without addressing the divisive issues, and not taken a united stand against slavery, all these warning predictions would have come true.The above is not a definit "prediction", it is assessing present conditions and attitudes and where those conditions and attitudes will lead IF ......
Remember, EGW wrote the above words on August 3, 1861, at this point the North was still confident of a quick and easy victory.
But a quick victory was not to be. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives in senseless battles. It was not until a decided stand was made to free the slaves that God could help them. Once the commitment was made-- how fast the war was won!
EGW and the Civil War
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