The Conflict of the Ages Series (5 Volume Softcover Set)

The Conflict of the Ages series traces the struggle between good and evil across the whole span of Scripture and history, from creation to the close of the controversy. This five-volume softcover edition makes the complete set affordable enough for literature ministry.

What’s inside the Conflict of the Ages series

The five volumes run in sequence and were written to be read that way, though each stands alone. Patriarchs and Prophets covers Genesis through David. Prophets and Kings carries the story through Israel’s monarchy, the prophets and the exile. The Desire of Ages is Ellen White’s life of Christ, and the volume most readers begin with. The Acts of the Apostles follows the early church. The Great Controversy runs from the fall of Jerusalem through church history to the end of the world.

Read in order, the set makes an argument the individual books only imply: that the same conflict runs underneath every era, and that history has a direction.

• Patriarchs and Prophets — creation to the reign of David
• Prophets and Kings — the monarchy, the prophets and the exile
• The Desire of Ages — the life and ministry of Christ
• The Acts of the Apostles — the founding of the early church
• The Great Controversy — church history through to the end of the world
• Softcover, priced for distribution rather than display

Who this book is for

This is the edition Literature Evangelists carry, because the price makes it possible to leave a complete set with someone rather than lend one volume. It also suits a reader who wants the whole series without the cost of the hardcover set.

New readers are usually pointed at The Desire of Ages first rather than starting at volume one.

About the author and publisher

Ellen G. White wrote the Conflict of the Ages series between 1888 and 1917. It is the body of work Adventist publishing is built on, and The Great Controversy and The Desire of Ages remain the two most widely distributed titles in the movement’s history. Published by The Stanborough Press.

The Conflict of the Ages series sits in our Ellen G. White range alongside The Great Controversy and Peace Above the Storm.

Questions about this book

Which volume should I read first?

The Desire of Ages, for most readers. It is the life of Christ and it works as an entry point. Readers who want the full arc start with Patriarchs and Prophets and go in order.

What is the difference between this and the hardcover set?

Content is identical. This is the softcover edition, priced substantially lower, which is why it is the set used for giving away.

Can the volumes be bought separately?

The Great Controversy is available separately in this catalogue. For the other volumes, contact HHES.

Is this the complete series?

Yes — all five volumes, from Patriarchs and Prophets through to The Great Controversy.

Is it suitable for someone who is not Adventist?

The Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy are both widely read outside the church. The series is written from an Adventist understanding of Scripture and does not disguise that.