This account of a dream or vision by Ellen White seems to be reliable. The witnesses themselves are reliable but I haven't confirmed that Johnson's account is verbatim. I got it from Elder Richard Gates a couple days ago who got it from his son David Gates of Gospel Ministries International, the mission pilot/TV media ministry. If true, it's sobering.
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A statement by Ellen G. White
Elmer M. Johnson

Brother Will Ross, now deceased, was a personal friend of mine for about 45 years. In our church fellowship we very often spent Sabbath afternoons discussing his experience in the message, and his conversations with Mrs. EGW.

About 1908, while living in Loma Linda near Sister White, he frequently accompanied her in her walks, and would discuss the message and future events. On one of these occasions, while waiting at the railroad depot, in company with Sister McInterfer, and Elder D. R. Robinson, her granddaughter’s husband, Sister White related to the three of them about the storm of persecution that was to come upon Seventh Day Adventists. Brother Will Ross related it to me as follows:

“Sister White told us as we three stood there on the depot platform, that a terrible storm of persecution was coming like a windstorm that blew down every standing object. There was not a Seventh Day Adventist to be seen. They, like the disciples, forsook Christ and fled. All who had sought positions were never seen any more.

“After the storm there was a calm, then the Adventists arose like a great flock of sheep, but there were no shepherds. They all waited in earnest prayer for help and wisdom, and the Lord answered by helping them to choose leaders from among them who had never sought positions before. They prayed earnestly for the Holy Spirit which was poured out upon them, making them fully ready for service. They then went forth ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners’ to give the message to the world.”

“I was astonished, and asked if that applied to Loma Linda, as we were looking in that direction Sister White replied to my question by stating that it applied to the entire denominational world. It so stunned me that I did not ask any more questions.” Will Ross, Boulder, Colorado.

In the year 1943 when Elder D.R. Robinson was visiting the churches in Colorado, I was serving on the platform that Sabbath that Elder Robinson visited the Boulder church having with him the large Bible which Sister White held in her hand and leafed through during one of her visions.

At the close of the service Brother Ross spoke with Elder Robinson when he, Sister Mcinterfer and Sister White were standing on the depot platform visiting together, and Sister White related to him about the terrible storm of persecution that was coming upon Seventh-day Adventists. Elder Robinson replied, “Yes, Brother Ross, I remember it.”

So I documented this reply January 16th, 1946, not wishing to forget this important narration related to my Brother Ross. I frequently discussed it with him in later years, and his statement never varied.

A statement by Ellen G. White, confirmed by Elder D.R. Robinson, who was present.
Recorded by Bro. Elmer M. Johnson
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Really sobering isn't it. It doesn't have to come true IMO. The prophecy with the disciples was "strike the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered" but we're told that didn't have to come true. I'm going to pray and fast that it doesn't. Please join me if you can. Jacob's curse on Levi that his seed would be scattered in Israel was turned into a blessing and he was given something better than lands. He inherited the Lord and His work.

Can't find anything about this on the EGW CD, therefore, I am very leary about this.

What is the purpose in posting this? Why would you make public a "statement" with more holes in it than your grandmother's knitted doily?

Have you done ANY research to learn ANYTHING about the players mentioned, or the circumstances. Who is Richard Gates? Who is David Gates? Where did HE get it from?

Why was it not published?

I'm sorry, Mark, but I think you unnecessarily stir the pot with unsupported hear-say.

Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend . . . .

It's not on the Ellen White CD because it was from a conversation. She was talking to someone, rather than writing it down. One of the reasons for posting it was to see if anyone has other confirmation. Personally, I've found David Gates to be credible but he has his detractors who in my view are not credible. I look at his fruits. He leads by example. In 15 years his ministry has grown exponentially.

But I don't want to focus on Gates. If anyone has knowledge of the accuracy of the account please post it here. My reasons for posting it are that the witnesses are credible and they're identified. Also it rings true to history - in a crises, most forsake Christ to 'save' themselves. And the vision agrees with Ellen White's other visions. I'll try to find it, but I remember reading one of her published visions that the world was stuck by some crises and all the lights of God's people went out. But they gradually came back on. This is not exact so don't quote me. I'll try to find it.

Seems strange that no one present felt impressed to record it. Also seems to fly in the face of the following testimonies:

Well, I still can't find that EGW vision about the lights going out. But here's a prophecy from Zechariah that says the same: This was fulfilled partly at the time of Christ but the main application appears to be in the future. About whom does the Lord declare "It is my people" if it is not the 144,000 - the 12 spiritual tribes?

So has Islam

I would have thought that EGW would have written down something that important.

MM, your quotes support the statement. What about them do you think "flies in the face" of it?

The church will stand, but only 1 in 20 (or less) in it will be saved. That goes for the leaders, too (or more so). I recall reading other prophecies in the old testament where the shepherds are the ones who lead the flock astray in more direct language than what Mark quoted.