"This is the danger to which the church is now exposed--that the inventions of finite men shall mark out the precise way for the Holy Spirit to come. Though they would not care to acknowledge it, some have already done this. And because the Spirit is to come, not to praise men or to build up their erroneous theories, but to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, many turn away from it. They are not willing to be deprived of the garments of their own self-righteousness. They are not willing to exchange their own righteousness, which is unrighteousness, for the righteousness of Christ, which is pure, unadulterated truth. The Holy Spirit flatters no man, neither does it work according to the devising of any man. Finite, sinful men are not to work the Holy Spirit. When it shall come as a reprover, through any human agent whom God shall choose, it is man's place to hear and obey its voice." {TM 64.3}
Chapter 4
Was the Message of 1888 Accepted?
(Contradictory views)
Statements are being published today under responsible auspices that the message of 1888 was joyfully and enthusiastically received by the church, and that the General Conference Session of that year marked a great victory in the advance of this movement. There are statements in other books also published by the denomination which as emphatically say that the message of 1888 (See here) has never to this day been properly (and therefore truly) received by the leadership of this movement. Such contradictory confusion regarding a most important matter is very unfortunate, especially when in print.
The result of publishing such conflicting views is to encourage perplexity and confusion in the minds of workers and believers. A dark cloud of apparently inscrutable mystery enshrouds the "Minneapolis" history in the minds of most of our ministers today. "What is it all about? What really happened?" are questions frequently asked when the subject becomes a topic of conversation between workers. Even elderly ministers who passed through that epochal period of our history wonder what the controversy really was. No loyal minister of this denomination will admit today that the "doctrine" of justification by faith was ever denied officially by the denomination, and surely is not today. Why, then, the perennial interest in the history of 1888?
Has God so ordained our SdA human nature that we as a people can never forget that strange part of our history, and seek to understand it better? The subject holds all the thrilling interest of an unsolved mystery. Younger workers especially, as we near the end, will insist on knowing the facts. It is the deep-seated conviction of many that that phase of our history constitutes to this generation a parable of profound importance.
A former president of the General Conference recognized that any designing equivocation in dealing with the subject could only add to the present mystery.
"It would be far more agreeable to eliminate some of the statements given in the Spirit of prophecy regarding the attitude of some of the leaders toward the message and the messengers. But this cannot be done without giving one a partial presentation of the situation which developed at the (Minneapolis) conference, thus leaving the question in more or less of mystery." [AG Daniells, Christ our Righteousness, p. 43.]
After these many years, that "mystery" still prevails. Some say that the Minneapolis Conference was time of defeat; others insist that it was a time of victory. Some say we lost our way at Minneapolis; the other "school" maintain that we found our way there. Some say that we have been wandering in a wilderness since 1888; others, that we have been marching triumphantly to victory ever since. No genius has arisen as yet who has been able to reconcile successfully the two conflicting views into a believable synthesis, the reason being that SdA minds being trained to accept and believe logical truth, they find it difficult to believe self-contradictory views.
A few examples of the view that the 1888 message was accepted follow. The first is taken from one of the reports rendered at the recent General Conference Session:
"As an illustration of God's watchcare over His remnant church and how, through the prophetic gift, He corrects our thinking and leads us to (plains of) higher achievement, I refer to the session of the General Conference in 1888, held at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This conference really marked a crisis in the history of this church, involving the great truth of salvation through faith in Christ alone. It proved to be the beginning of a re-emphasis of this glorious truth, which resulted in a spiritual awakening among our people."
[M.E. Kern, R&H, August 3, 1950, p. 294.]
This "reemphasis" view of the effects of the 1888 message is also presented in some mimeographed lessons used in the Theological Seminary:
"As a body of worker, we are familiar with the crisis on this matter which occurred in 1888 at the General Conference in Minneapolis. The two outstanding instruments were young men from the West - Waggoner and Jones. Mrs. White approved and supported their work, and denomination-wide revival among Seventh day Adventists was seen ...
In the early 1920's Elder A.G. Daniells, former president of the General Conference, with several associates, revived the revival of the 90's ... Perhaps the clearest picture of the movement is given by L.H. Christian in his book, Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts."
[G.E. Vandeman, Mimeographed lessons, `Pastoral Counseling,' Winter Term, 1949-1950, S.D.A. Theological Seminary.]
Very clear statements of this "re-emphasis" view are presented in the book referred to above:
"The General Conference at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1888 is a notable landmark in SdA history. It was really like crossing a continental divide into a new country. Some smiters of the brethren calling themselves reformers have tried to make out that the session was a defeat; whereas, the truth is that it stands out as a glorious victory and the occasion and the beginnings of larger and better things for the advent church . . . We all need to know what happened at Minneapolis . . . (a session of) deep and solemn spiritual tone and revival. . .
The Minneapolis session stands out like some towering mountain above all the other conference sessions of this advent movement. . . It introduced a new period in our work - a time of revival and soul saving. . . In every conference and in many churches and, above all, among the young people of this denomination those days were a time of happy spiritual experience. . .
(The Minneapolis session was a stormy one, but the final outcome was good.) Some have spoken of the Minneapolis conference as though it ended in apostasy. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Lord gave His people a marvelous victory. It was the beginning of a great spiritual awakening among Adventists. . . .
(It) became the dawn of a glorious day for the Adventist church. . .
The blessed consequences of the great awakening at and after the 27th session of the General Conference are with us yet. That great spiritual revival led our people. . . nearer to God . . . rallied our people everywhere to greater things for God. Thus the aftereffect of the great Minneapolis revival was the beginning of another era for the advent movement. This blessed period of revival beginning in 1888, . . . was rich in both holiness and mission fruitage."
[L.H. Christian, Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, pp. 219, 223, 223, 233, 237, 244, 245.]
Another recent history of the Advent movement likewise follows the "reemphasis" view:
"The greatest event of the eighties in the experience of SdAs was the recovery, or the restatement and new consciousness, of their faith in the basic doctrine of Christianity (justification by faith) ...
It became an inspiring message which rescued the church from the danger of legalism, and opened minds to the sublime reaches of the gospel. The last decade of the century saw the church developing, through this gospel, into a company prepared to fulfill the mission of God . . . The church . . . was aroused by the revival message of justification by faith."
[A.W. Spaulding, Captains of the Host, pp. 583, 602.]
According to one of the above quotations, any one seeking to "revive the revival of the 90's", and by so doing, counting the 1888 history a "defeat", would be a "smiter of the brethren". AG Daniells led out in the 1920's in a work which at the time was almost universally acknowledged to be a "revival and reformation". He has left on record the following appraisal of the reception of the 1888 message [285]:
"How sad, how deeply regrettable, it is that this message of righteousness in Christ should, at the time of its coming, have met with opposition on the part of earnest, well-meaning men in the cause of God! The message (See here) has never been received, nor proclaimed, nor given free course as it should have been in order to convey to the church the measureless blessings that were wrapped within it. ... The division and conflict which arose among the leaders because of the opposition to the message of rigtheousness in Christ, produced a very unfavorable reaction. The rank and file of the people were confused, and did not know what to do. . .
Back of the opposition is revealed the shrewd plotting of that master mind of evil, the enemy of all righteousness. The very fact of his determination to neutralize the message and its inevitable effects, is evidence of its great value and importance; and how terrible must be the results of any victory of his in defeating it."
[A.G. Daniells, Christ Our Righteousness, pp. 47, 50, 53, 54. Emphasis supplied.]
Throughout his little book `Christ Our Righteousness,' AG Daniells emphasizes the thought that there was not a denomination-wide revival and recovery of this "lost" doctrine of Christ's righteousness. He considered the "revival" to be yet future:
"Through the intervening years (since 1888) there has been steadily developing the desire and hope - yes, the belief - that someday the message of Righteousness by Faith would shine forth in all its inherent glory, worth, and power, and receive full recognition." [Ibid., p. 43. Righteousness, therefore, is always a term that means holiness that has confronted temptation in sinful nature and has overcome.]
The "mighty revival" which other authorities speak of so assuringly as having taken place, Elder Daniells placed in the category of a "what might have been":
"What a mighty revival of true godliness, what a restoration of spiritual life, what a cleansing from sin, what a baptism of the Spirit, and what a manifestation of divine power for the finishing of the work in our own lives and in the world, might have come to the people of God if all our ministers had gone forth from that Conference as did this loyal, obedient servant of the Lord (Ellen G. White)!" [Ibid., p. 47.]
Before closing this section on contradictory published views concerning the 1888 message and its reception, in order to consider factual statements of the Spirit of Prophecy, A.T. Jones' idea of how the message was received should be carefully considered. He was the Lord's chosen messenger at the time, and it is doubtful if any of us living today could have endured the test and trial any better than he did. While no one can accord to his words the authority of inspiration in the sense of a prophetic gift, his opinion as expressed early in 1893 is worthy of serious consideration:
"When it (the message {See here}) was presented four years ago, and all along since, some accepted it just as it was given, and were glad of the news . . . They received it gladly just as God gave it, and heartily thanked the Lord for it. Others would not have anything to do with it at all; but rejected the whole thing. Others seemed to take a middle position. They did not fully accept it, neither did they openly reject it. They thought to take a middle position, and go along with the crowd if the crowd went that way . . . And, so, all the way between open and free deliberate surrender and acceptance of it, to open deliberate surrender and positive rejection of it - all the way between - the compromisers have been scattered ever since; and those who have taken that compromising position are no better prepared tonight (1893) to discern what is the message (See here) of the righteousness of Christ than they were four years ago." [AT Jones, G.C.B., 1893, p. 242.]
Many years later AT Jones wrote a letter which apparently presented a somewhat different appraisal of the spirit which prevailed at Minneapolis:
"(I) can't now name anyone who accepted the truth at that 1888 meeting openly (besides EGWhite of course) . But later many said they were greatly helped by it. One Battle Creek man said at that meeting after one of Dr. Waggoner's meetings: `Now we could say amen to all of that if that is all there were to it. But way down yonder there is still something (else) to come. And this is to lead us to that. . And if we say amen to that, and then we are caught.' . . . There was no such thing, and so they robbed themselves of what their own hearts told them was the truth; and by fighting what they only imagined, they fastened themselves in opposition to what they knew that they should have said amen to." [AT Jones', Letter to C.E. Holmes, Thursday, May 12, 1921.]
The apparent discrepancy between the previously quoted admission of "some" who accepted the message gladly, and the above statement that he could not then remember "anyone" who accepted it openly, can possibly be reconciled by considering the following quotation from AT Jones in 1893:
"Others would favor it, but when the spirit of persecution was strong, instead of standing nobly in the fear of God, and declaring in the face of the attack, "it is the truth of God, and I believe it in my soul", they would begin to yield and in an apologetic way offer excuses for those who were preaching it, as though it were a matter only of men's persons, to be held in advantage because of admiration." [AT Jones, G.C.B., 1893, p. 145.]
AT Jones has also left on record his opinion of the extent of the "world-wide denominational revival" which followed the 1888 meeting. The following paragraph from the AT Jones letter is quoted in a Theological Seminary thesis written in support of the "reemphasis" and "revival" view of the 1888 results:
"Then when campmeeting time came we all three (AT Jones, EJ Waggoner, and EG White) 
visited the campmeetings with the message of righteousness by faith . . . sometimes all three of us being at the same meeting. This turned the tide with the people, and apparently with most of the leading men." [NF Pease, SDA Theological Seminary Thesis.]
The next sentence from the letter was not included in the thesis quotation:
"But this latter (sic.**) was only apparent, it was never real, for all the time in the GC Committee and amongst others there was a secret antagonism always carried on; and which . . . finally gained the day in the denomination, and gave to the Minneapolis spirit and contention and men the supremacy." [** the word could have been `matter'.]
Spirit of Prophecy Statements
Candidly investigated, the writings of EG White do not blow hot and cold on this issue of the reception of the 1888 message, supporting both sides of two wholly contradicting views. While the quotations from AT Jones are fresh in the reader's mind, the following statements from Mrs. White should be considered, as throwing light on his statements. His statement about the tide being turned only apparently is substantiated as follows:
"For nearly two years, we have been urging the people to come up and accept the light and the truth concerning the righteousness of Christ, and they do not know whether to come and take hold of this precious truth or not. They are bound about with their own ideas. They do not let the Saviour in." [Loc. cit.]{R&H, March 11, 1890, par. 11}
In the next week's issue of the R&H, Mrs. White stated the reason why the people were so reticent and perplexed:
"Our young men look to our older brethren, and as they see that they do not accept the message, but treat it as though it were of no consequence, it influences those who are ignorant of the Scriptures to reject the light. These men who refuse to receive truth, interpose themselves between the people and the light." {R&H, March 18, 1890.}
Mrs. White also had difficulty finding one to take a decided stand at and soon after the Minneapolis meeting:
"I found on reaching the mission two letters, one from yourself, and one from Brother ___ in reference to our coming to ___. My Brother, you well understand your position in reference to me and my work while in the conference at Minneapolis. There has been no change in my ideas and views of the condition of things among our ministering brethren. The testimony I bore in that conference is the same testimony I have borne before and since that conference convened. The Lord imparted His spirit to me in a special manner on that occasion, but I have not had one question in reference to my duty in bearing to you the message (See here) I did; but you did not recognize the voice of the true shepherd speaking through his servant. Again and again did I bear my testimony to those assembled, in a clear and forcible manner, but that testimony was not received. When I came to Battle Creek, I repeated the same testimony in the presence of Elder Butler, but there was not one who had the courage to stand by my side and help Elder Butler to see that he, as well as others, had taken wrong positions, and had misapprehended my words, and had false ideas in reference to my position and work. The prejudice of Elder Butler was greater after hearing the various reports from our ministering brethren at that meeting in Minneapolis. Elder Butler presented the matter before me in a letter stating that my attitude at that conference just about broke the hearts of some of our ministering brethren at that meeting." {1888 251.3}{Washington D.C., January 25, 1889, U-3-1889, Ellen White.}
The men who interposed themselves between the people and the light were very responsible men, and were thus "false guideposts, pointing the wrong way", {TM 97}
"They began this satanic work at Minneapolis . . . Yet these men have been holding (1895) positions of trust, and have been molding the work after their own similitude, as far as they possibly can . . . blind leaders of the blind." {TM, 80,81.}
A brief resume of clear Spirit of Prophecy statements made at different times from 1888 to 1900 should make it evident that the 1888 message was not received by the leadership of this movement, and consequently not by the laity; and that the "revival" which followed the Minneapolis Conference was more of a laboratory test-tube proof of the truth of the message rather than a denomination-wide application of the full message of 1888 to our spiritual needs:
"... In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was evidence and there was reasoning from the word that commended itself to the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the "old landmarks" when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks, but they had perverted ideas of what constituted the old landmarks. {1888 518.1}
The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God's people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels' messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God's law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing the old landmarks is all imaginary. {1888 518.2}
Now at the present time God designs a new and fresh impetus shall be given to His work. Satan sees this, and he is determined it shall be hindered. He knows that if he can deceive the people who claim to believe present truth, [and make them believe] that the work the Lord designs to do for His people is a removing of the old landmarks, something which they should, with most determined zeal, resist, then he exults over the deception he has led them to believe. The work for this time has certainly been a surprising work of various hindrances, owing to the false setting of matters before the minds of many of our people. That which is food to the churches is regarded as dangerous, and should not be given them. And this slight difference of ideas is allowed to unsettle the faith, to cause apostasy, to break up unity, to sow discord, all because they do not know what they are striving about themselves. Brethren, is it not best to be sensible? Heaven is looking upon us all, and what can they think of recent developments? While in this condition of things, building up barriers, we not only deprive ourselves of great light and precious advantages, but just now, when we so much need it, we place ourselves where light cannot be communicated from heaven that we ought to communicate to others." {1888 518.3}
"During the Minneapolis meeting, I passed through a painful experience, because of the attitude of our ministering brethren, which I knew was not in harmony with the Spirit of God . . .
I wish prosperity to my brethren, every one of them; but I tremble for their souls when I see them following their own wisdom and their own judgment, and receiving impressions one from another that is wrong, which I know will lead them into difficulties and separate them from God."
{Letter U-23-1889, Feb. 8, 1889.}
"Because of their blindnes, they have lost an experience that would have been more precious to them than silver and gold. Some, I fear, will never recover that which they have lost." {Battle Creek, Feb. 27, 1891; MS6, 1903, Mar. 13, 1903.}
"Since the time of the Minneapolis meeting, I have seen the state of the Laodicean Church as never before. I have heard the rebuke of God spoken to those who feel so well satisfied, who know not their spiritual destitution. Jesus speaks to these as he did to the woman of Samaria: "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."
Like the Jews, many have closed their eyes lest they should see; but there is as great peril now, in closing the eyes to light, and in walking apart from Christ, feeling need of nothing, as there was when he was upon earth. I have been shown many things which I have presented before our people in solemnity and earnestness, but those whose hearts have been hardened through criticism, jealousy, and evil surmisings, knew not that they were poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked. Those who resist the messages of God through his humble servant, think they are at variance with sister White, because her ideas are not in harmony with theirs; but this variance is not with sister White, but with the Lord, who had given her her work to do." . . .
This great spiritual destitution is not caused by any failure on the part of Christ doing all that is possible for the Church. Our Heavenly Father bestowed all Heaven in one gift,--that of his dear Son. The work of the Holy Spirit is not to daub with untempered mortar, but it is to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, of judgment to come. Jesus says, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." The revelation of the Son of God upon the cross, dying for the sins of men, draws the hearts of men by the power of infinite love, and convinces the sinner of sin. Christ died because the law was transgressed, that guilty man might be saved from the penalty of his enormous guilt. But history has proved that it is easier to destroy the world than to reform it; for men crucified the Lord of glory, who came to unite earth with heaven, and man with God." {RH, August 26, 1890 par. 5-13}
Indeed, this is not a pleasant phase of our history to investigate. "It would be far more agreeable to eliminate some of the statements given by the Spirit of Prophecy regarding the attitude of some of these leaders toward the message and the messengers. But this cannot be done without giving only a partial presentation of the situation, . . . thus leaving the question in more or less a mystery." [AG Daniells, op. cit., p. 43.] The less "mystery" the better in this late and perilous hour when God expects and will require righteous judgment. Therefore the following citations, as brief as possible, but verbatim, are presented from Testimonies to Ministers, as found in a chapter "Rejecting the Light", written in 1895 concerning the reception of the message of 1888:
"Many . . . treat it with disdain."
... You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord.
... that light which is to fill the whole earth with its glory has been despised
Beware how you ... pour contempt upon the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent.
... these great and solemn realities are unappreciated and spoken against.
... men ... stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of the scornful.
... Many have entered into dark, secret paths, and some will never return.
... They have tempted God, they have rejected light.
... They have chosen darkness rather than light, and have defiled their souls.
... they have not only refused to accept the message (See here), but they have hated the light.
These men are parties to the ruin of souls. They have interposed themselves between the heaven-sent light and the people. They have trampled upon the word of God and are doing despite to His Holy Spirit.
... [they] have stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition.
How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness?
... They have taunted them (the messengers) with being fanatics, extremists, and enthusiasts.
... you will, when it is too late, see that you have been fighting against God.
... Your turning things upside down is known of the Lord.
Go on a little longer as you have gone, in rejection of the light from heaven, and you are lost.
... so long as false guideposts, pointing the wrong way.
... If you reject Christ's delegated messengers, you reject Christ.
... despise this glorious offer of justification through the blood of Christ
... I entreat you now to humble yourselves and cease your stubborn resistance of light and evidence. {TM, 89-98, 1895}
This was the "notable landmark in Seventh day Adventist history," the crossing of a "continental divide into new country," the "glorious victory and the occasion and the beginnings of larger and better things for the advent church", the "time of revival and soul-saving", the "time of happy spiritual experience", the "beginning of a great spiritual awakening among Adventists", a "denomination-wide revival"! EG White wrote better than she knew in 1895: "Your turning things upside down is known of the Lord."
The statements quoted above were written seven years after the Conference, when there had been ample opportunity for repentance, confessions, and a hearty participation in a "denomination-wide revival"! It should not be necessary to examine other statements made previously, but a few herewith quoted which give a more complete picture:
In 1890, Mrs. White said:
"Instead of pressing your weight against the chariot of truth that is being pulled up an inclined road, you should work with all the energy you can to push it on.
Our older brethren . . . do not accept the message, but treat it as though it were of no consequence."
{R&H, March 18, 1890.}
"I cannot express to you my burden and distress of mind as the true condition of the cause has been presented before me. . . .
... It was shown to me that on the part of the ministers in all our conferences, there is a neglect to study the Scriptures, to search for the truth. ... Faith and love--how destitute are the churches of these!
... Bible religion is very scarce, even among ministers. . . . the standard of the ministry has been greatly lowered
... There is a sad neglect of reading the Bible and searching it with humble hearts for yourselves.
Coldness, heartlessness, want of tender sympathy, are leavening the camp of Israel. If these evils are permitted to strengthen as they have done for some years in the past, our churches will be in a deplorable condition."
{TM 142-156.}
There follow a few quotations regarding the progress of the "great spiritual revival" which "led our people nearer to God," as it appeared to Mrs. White in 1892:
"The atmosphere of the church is so frigid, its spirit is of such an order, that men and women cannot sustain or endure the example of primitive and heaven-born piety. The warmth of their first love is frozen up, and unless they are watered over by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, their candlestick will be removed out of its place, except they repent and do their first works. The first works of the church were seen when the believers sought out friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and with hearts overflowing with love told the story of what Jesus was to them and what they were to Jesus. Oh, that the Lord would awaken those who are in responsible positions, lest they undertake to do work, relying upon their own smartness. The work that comes forth from their hands will lack the mold and superscription of Christ." {TM 167.3}
...
"The great advantage of the ministerial institutes is not half appreciated. They are rich in opportunities, but do not accomplish half what they should because those who attend them do not practice the truth which is presented before them in clear lines. Many who are explaining the Scriptures to others have not conscientiously and entirely surrendered mind and heart and life to the control of the Holy Spirit. They love sin and cling to it. I have been shown that impure practices, pride, selfishness, self-glorying, have closed the door of the heart even of those who teach the truth to others, so that the frown of God is upon them. Cannot some renovating power take hold of them? Have they fallen a prey to a moral disease which is incurable because they themselves refuse to be cured? Oh, that everyone who labors in word and doctrine would heed the words of Paul, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." {TM 160.3}
There were always "some" whose hearts were in tune with God, and who enjoyed a constant, day-by-day revival. There have always been such, in all ages of the history of the church. But in 1893, they were greatly in the minority in the remnant church:
"O how few know the day of their visitation! How few, even among those who claim to believe in present truth, understand the signs of the times, or what they are to experience before the end. We are under divine forbearance today; but how long will the angels of God continue to hold the winds, that they shall not blow? We are convinced that among the people of God there is blindness of mind and hardness of heart, although God has manifested inexpressible mercy toward us. How few there are who are truly humble, devoted, God-fearing servants in the cause of Christ, whose hearts are full of gratitude and thanksgiving because they are called to act a part in the work of God, being co-laborers with Jesus Christ, partakers with Christ of his sufferings! How few there are who can say from the heart, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." {RH, April 4, 1893 par. 3}
"Today there are few who are heartily serving God. The most of those who compose our congregations are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. They come and go like the door upon its hinges. For years they have complacently listened to the most solemn, soul-stirring truths, but they have not practiced them. They are less and less sensible of the preciousness and value of truth, because they neglect the practice of those things which are pleasing in the sight of God. The stirring testimonies of reproof and warning do not arouse them. The sweetest melodies that come from God through human lips--justification by faith, and the righteousness of Christ--do not bring forth from them a response of love and gratitude. Though the heavenly merchantman displays before them the richest jewels of faith and love, though his voice invites them to buy of him "gold tried in the fire," and "white raiment that they may be clothed," and "eye-salve that they may see," they steel their hearts against him (the Heavenly Merchantman) , and fail to exchange their lukewarmness for love and zeal; but fold their hands in complacency, make a profession, but deny the power of true godliness. If they continue in this state, God will reject them with abhorrence. To praise the world and God at the same time, is in no way acceptable to God. Awake, awake, before it is everlastingly too late." {RH, April 4, 1893 par. 4}[290]
"The blessed consequences of the great awakening" of 1888 were not apparent to one of the ministers who, according to his confession, had spurned the light at Minneapolis, and later repented. In his third study on the "Holy Spirit", presented at the 1893 General Conference session at Battle Creek, W.W. Prescott recounted how God had been sending reproof, and waiting. He said, "It is a wonder to me, that instead of impatiently waiting, He does not sweep us out of His sight, and take a people that will be ready to cooperate with Him." [WW Prescott, GCB., 1893, p. 105.]
Conditions had evidently improved by 1895:
"Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. There are many who have outgrown their advent faith, . . . while saying in their hearts, as they desire it shall be, `My Lord delayeth His coming.' . . .
Warnings have come from God again and again for these men, but they have cast them aside and ventured on in the same course. . .
If God spares their lives, and they nourish the same spirit that marked their course of action both before and after the Minneapolis meeting, they will fill up to the full the deeds of those whom Christ condemned when He was upon earth."
There had been no change by 1896:
"That men should keep alive the spirit which ran riot at Minneapolis is an offense to God. All heaven is indignant at the spirit that for years has been revealed in our publishing institution at Battle Creek. . . . Unrighteousness is practiced that God will not tolerate. He will visit for these things. A voice has been heard pointing out the errors and, in the name of the Lord, pleading for a decided change. But who have followed the instruction given? Who have humbled their hearts to put from them every vestige of their wicked, oppressive spirit? I have been greatly burdened to set these matters before the people as they are. I know they will see them. I know that those who read this matter will be convicted." {Testimony addressed to the Battle Creek Church; TM 76.3-77.}
The "revival" had not succeeded in capturing the hearts of the leaders by 1897:
"God gives men counsel and reproof for their good. He has sent His message, telling them what was needed for the time--1897. Did you accept the message (See here)? Did you heed the appeal? He gave you opportunity to come up armed and equipped to the help of the Lord. And having done all, He told you to stand. But did you make ready? Did you say, "Here am I; send me"? You sat still and did nothing. You left the word of the Lord to fall unheeded to the ground; and now the Lord has taken men who were boys when you were standing at the forefront of the battle, and has given to them the message and the work which you did not take upon you. Will you be stumbling blocks to them? Will you criticize? Will you say, "They are getting out of their place"? Yet you did not fill the place they are now called to fill.
Oh, why will men be hindrances, when they might be helps? Why will they block the wheels, when they might push with marked success? Why will they rob their own soul of good and deprive others of blessing that might come through them? These rejecters of light will remain barren deserts, where no refreshing, healing waters flow, and their ministrations as barren of moisture as were the hills of Gilboa, where there was neither dew nor rain. They are not clothed with divine unction and convey no blessing to others. They might humble their hearts and confess their wrongs, and break Satan's hold upon them. They might break the fetters which education, prejudice, or habits have forged. Would they only inquire of God, in the spirit of penitence, they would find Him. Then they would not set up their own will, but go where the Spirit of the Lord leads; they would be guided by Him." {TM 413.2}
The revival meetings which followed 1888
There are numerous references in the writings of Mrs. White from 1888 - 1890 regarding the revival meetings which she held in company with AT Jones and EJ Waggoner. AT Jones said that those meetings "turned the tide with the people". It must be pointed out, however, that there never was an issue or tide to be turned with the people; the issue or tide was entirely with the leaders and the ministry of the movement. The people would gladly have accepted the light had the leaders permitted it to come to them undistorted and unopposed, or rather, had the leaders joined heartedly in presenting it. There were many among the younger ministers, even, who were keenly interested in the message presented. They investigated their Bibles, and the message was doubtless a common topic of conversation. But the continually noncommittal attitude, or outright opposition, originating with responsible leaders in Battle Creek and elsewhere, quenched the movement.
At Minneapolis, Mrs. White earnestly appealed to the delegates not to look to the older, experienced men to see what they would do with the light. But they evidently failed to follow her counsel. She warned them that the ministry would prevent the light reaching the people:
"There is positive danger that some who profess to believe the truth will be found in a position similar to that of the Jews. They take the ideas of the men they are associated with, not because by searching the Scriptures they conscientiously accept the teachings in doctrine as truth. I entreat you to make God your trust; idolize no man, depend upon no man. Let not your love of man hold them in places of trust that they are not qualified to fill to the glory of God; for man is finite and erring, liable to be controlled by his own opinions and feelings. Self-esteem and self-righteousness are coming in upon us, and many will fall because of unbelief and unrighteousness, for the grace of Christ is not ruling in the hearts of many." {1888 166.4}
"We are to be ever searching for the truth as for hidden treasures. I entreat you, close not the door of the heart for fear some ray of light shall come to you. You need greater light, you need a clearer understanding of the truth which you carry to the people. If you do not see light yourselves, you will close the door; if you can you will prevent the rays of light from coming to the people. Let it not be said of this highly favored people, "Ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered" (Luke 11:52). All these lessons are given for the benefit of those upon whom the ends of the world are come." {1888 166.5}
"No one must be permitted to close the avenues whereby the light of truth shall come to the people. As soon as this shall be attempted, God's Spirit will be quenched, for that Spirit is constantly at work to give fresh and increased light to His people through His Word. Let the love of Christ reign in hearts here. Let all yield themselves to that heavenly power which alone can create unity by quelling selfish ambitions and human pride. When the Spirit of God comes in, love will take the place of variance, because Jesus is love; if His spirit were cherished here our meeting would be like a stream in the desert." {1888 Materials, 171.1; Sermon at the Minneapolis Conf., MS 15, 1888.}
"Now our meeting is drawing to a close, and not one confession has been made; there has not been a single break so as to let the Spirit of God in. Now I was saying what was the use of our assembling here together and for our ministering brethren to come in if they are here only to shut out the Spirit of God from the people? We did hope that there would be a turning to the Lord here. Perhaps you feel that you have all you want." {1888 151.2}
One writer admits that it was Mrs. White's support alone which was responsible for the message (See here) being carried to the people after 1888:
"She championed the cause of reform, and it was chiefly this support, indeed, which won for it the hearts of the people." [AW Spaulding, op. cit., p. 597.]
Mrs. White determined not to wait for any of the responsible brethren to encourage the preaching of the message:
"Some of our leading brethren have frequently taken positions on the wrong side, and if God would send a message and wait for these older brethren to open the way for its advance, it would never reach the people. These brethren will be found in this position until they become partakers of the divine nature to a greater extent than ever they have been in the past. There is sadness in heaven over the spiritual blindness of many of our brethren. Our younger ministers who fill less important positions must make decided efforts to come to the light, to sink the shaft deeper and still deeper into the mine of truth.
The rebuke of the Lord will be upon those who would be guardians of the doctrine, who would bar the way that greater light shall not come to the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of greater light, that they may unite with the messengers whom he shall send harmoniously to accomplish the work that he designs they should. The Lord has raised up messengers and endued them with his Spirit, and has said, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Let no one run the risk of interposing himself between the people and the message of heaven. The message of God will come to the people; and if there were no voice among men to give it, the very stones would cry out. I call upon every minister to seek the Lord, to put away pride, to put away strife after supremacy, and humble the heart before God. It is the coldness of heart, the unbelief of those who ought to have faith, that keeps the churches in feebleness." {RH, July 26, 1892 par. 9}
"The very men who ought to be on the alert to see what the people of God need, that the way of the Lord may be prepared, are intercepting the light God would have come to His people, and rejecting the message (See here) of His healing grace. Brethren, I beseech you to come into harmony with the work of God for this time. . . . " {11MR 288.1}
This context of the glowing reports of the revivals must be borne in mind. Both AT Jones and EJ Waggoner were very unpopular with the responsible brethren at the time. By championing their message, Mrs. White drew upon herself the criticism and virtual persecution of the leading brethren also (as will be shown in a later chapter). The leading brethren manifested no more sympathy with the message (See here) of righteousness by faith (Gal. 5:5) than they did for the messengers. Therefore, human nature being what it is when it is on the wrong side, it was only natural that opposing brethren should expect, and very likely hope, that the unwelcome message should take no better with the common people than it did with the elders and authorities at Minneapolis. But when the reports came in of the wonderful results of the preaching of the inspired trio, they were chagrined. The Holy Spirit's approval of the work discomfited them:
"The perils of the last days are upon us. Satan takes the control of every mind that is not decidedly under the control of the Spirit of God. Some have been cultivating hatred against the men whom God has commissioned to bear a special message to the world. They began this satanic work at Minneapolis. Afterward, when they saw and felt the demonstration of the Holy Spirit testifying that the message was of God, they hated it the more, because it was a testimony against them. They would not humble their hearts to repent, to give God the glory, and vindicate the right. They went on in their own spirit, filled with envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings, as did the Jews. They opened their hearts to the enemy of God and man. Yet these men have been holding positions of trust, and have been molding the work after their own similitude, as far as they possibly could. . . ." {TM 79.3}
The revivals held at South Lancaster, Chicago, Ottowa, Kansas, and in the Battle Creek church itself, were a powerful witness that God had set His seal to the message being borne. The experiment testing the light was being made in the laboratory of the churches. It worked - never had such manifestations of heavenly glory attended any message since the midnight cry.
"Now, although there has been a determined effort to make of no effect the message God has sent, its fruits have been proving that it was from the source of light and truth. Those who have cherished unbelief and prejudice, who in the place of helping to do the work the Lord would have them do, have stood to bar the way against all evidence, cannot be supposed to have clearer spiritual eyesight for having so long closed their eyes to the very light God sent to the people.
If we are to bear a part in this work to its close, we must recognize the fact that there are good things to come to the people of God in a way that we had not discerned; and that there will be resistance from the very ones we expected to engage in such a work. A man that is sincere in the wrong is not justified in the wrong, because he has opened his heart to a class of evidence leading him to condemn the right, and has closed his heart to a class of evidence which, if he would not cherish prejudice, would lead him to see and acknowledge what is truth." {16MR 106.4}
Mrs. White looked upon this work as an experiment being made, but continued to hope for a change of heart in the leaders once they recognized the incontrovertible proof. The following paragraph is found in Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts:
"I have traveled from place to place, attending meetings where the message (See here) of the righteousness of Christ (Acts 17:31) was preached. I considered it a privilege to stand by the side of my brethren, and give my testimony with the message for the time; and I saw that the power of God attended the message wherever it was spoken. You could not make the people believe in South Lancaster that it was not a message of light that came to them. The people confessed their sins, and appropriated the righteousness of Christ. God has set his hand to do this work. We labored in Chicago; it was a week before there was a break in the meetings. But like a wave of glory, the blessing of God swept over us as we pointed men to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. The Lord revealed his glory, and we felt the deep movings of his Spirit. Everywhere the message led to the confession of sin, and to the putting away of iniquity." {RH, March 18, 1890 par. 7; Quoted by LH Christian, op. cit., p. 238.}
The same article in the R&H of March 18, 1890, also contains the following pointed question, which makes plain the reason for writing these reports of wonderful blessing:
"I have tried to present the message to you as I have understood it, but how long will those at the head of the work keep themselves aloof from the message of God?" {RH, March 18, 1890 par. 8}
The saddest annal in SdA history is that a greater sin was added to the unbelief of 1888 at Minneapolis: The incontrovertible evidences of the Holy Spirit's approval of the message, demonstrated in the wonderful revivals, only confirmed the stubborn opposition of the leading brethren. "When they saw and felt the demonstration of the Holy Spirit testifying that the message was of God, they hated it more!" Mrs. White pathetically appealed for unity with the messengers:
"There are many outside our people who are in the favor of God, because they have lived up to all the light that God has given them. For nearly two years we have been urging the people to come up and accept the light and the truth concerning the righteousness of Christ, and they do not know whether to come and take hold of this precious truth or not. They are bound about with their own ideas. They do not let the Saviour in. I have done what I could to present the matter. I can speak to the ear, but I cannot speak to the heart. Shall we not arise, and get out of this position of unbelief? Shall we not bruise Satan under our feet? I beseech of you, Come up where the living waters flow." {RH, March 11, 1890 par. 11.}
"The third angel's message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory. The work that might have been done, will be left undone by the rejecters of truth, because of their unbelief. We entreat of you who oppose the light of truth, to stand out of the way of God's people. Let Heaven-sent light shine forth upon them in clear and steady rays. God holds you to whom this light has come, responsible for the use you make of it. Those who will not hear will be held responsible; for the truth has been brought within their reach, but they despised their opportunities and privileges. Messages bearing the divine credentials have been sent to God's people; the glory, the majesty, the righteousness of Christ, full of goodness and truth, have been presented; the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus Christ has been set forth among us with beauty and loveliness, to charm all whose hearts were not closed with prejudice. We know that God has wrought among us. We have seen souls turn from sin to righteousness. We have seen faith revived in the hearts of the contrite ones. Shall we be like the lepers that were cleansed who went on their way, and only one returned to give glory to God? Let us rather tell of his goodness, and praise God with heart, with pen, and with voice." {RH, May 27, 1890 par. 6}
Wonder, o heavens! And be astonished, O earth! Never since the rejection by Israel of her King of glory has the heavenly universe witnessed a more inexcusable and shameful failure on the part of the chosen people of God, led by their leaders. Mrs. White did not hesitate to apply to the leading brethren the famous "woes upon the Pharisees", and emphasize their present (1896) application. "Read these Scriptures to the people . . . If God has ever spoken by me, these scriptures mean very much to those who shall hear them:" {TM 76.}
"(That) the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." Luke 11:50-52, (referred to above.)
Such is the true picture of the "great revival" which followed the 1888 meeting. Many lay members and younger ministers began "to enter in"; but the elders at Jerusalem "hindered" them. Thus the revival proved abortive, and the Spirit was grieved and quenched.
There is no desire to make this sad recital tedious, but facts are clamoring for recognition. Therefore the following serious words are quoted in this connection. No one can say why they were penned, unless for our admonition who are living in this mid-twentieth century. They have been buried in the archives since 1893:
"The Spirit of God cannot work effectually in any heart where pride and self-esteem exist. But without the aid of the Spirit of God the soul cannot be renewed, a new heart cannot be created within. The Lord is at work seeking to purify his people, and this great work is retarded by unbelief and stubbornness. Many think that had they lived in Christ's day, they would have been among his believing followers; but if all the miracles of Christ were presented before those whose hearts are not subdued by the Spirit of God, their convictions would not be followed, nor their faith increased. Light has been shining upon the church of God, but many have said by their indifferent attitude, "We want not thy way, O Lord, but our own way." The kingdom of heaven has come very near, and they have caught glimpses of the Father and the Son, but they have barred the door of the heart, and have not received the heavenly guests; for as yet they know not the love of God." {RH, April 11, 1893 par. 4} [310] (continues comparison with light the Jews had).
".... There is less excuse in our day for stubbornness and unbelief than there was for the Jews in the days of Christ. They did not have before them the example of a nation that had suffered retribution of their unbelief and disobedience. But we have before us the history of the chosen people of God, who separated themselves from him, and rejected the Prince of life. Though they could not convict him of sin, though they could not fail to see their own hypocrisy, they hated the Prince of life because he laid bare their evil ways. In our day greater light and greater evidence is given. We have also their example, the warnings and reproofs that were presented to them, and our sin and its retribution will be the greater, if we refuse to walk in the light. Many say, "If I had only lived in the days of Christ, I would not have wrested his words, or falsely interpreted his instruction. I would not have rejected and crucified him as did the Jews;" but that will be proved by the way in which you deal with his message and his messengers today. The Lord is testing the people of today as much as he tested the Jews in their day. When he sends his messages of mercy, the light of his truth, he is sending the spirit of truth to you, and if you accept the message, you accept of Jesus. Those who declare that if they had lived in the days of Christ, they would not do as did the rejecters of his mercy, will today be tested. Those who live in this day are not accountable for the deeds of those who crucified the Son of God; but if with all the light that shone upon his ancient people, delineated before us, we travel over the same ground, cherish the same spirit, refuse to receive reproof and warning, then our guilt will be greatly augmented, and the condemnation that fell upon them will fall upon us, only it will be as much greater as our light is greater in this age than was their light in their age." {RH, April 11, 1893 par. 7}
One week later Mrs. White added:
"Will those who profess to believe the truth listen to the words of Jesus? . . .
Those who in sincerity and truth believe the words of Christ sent to them through his ambassadors, will understand what is the import of those words (woes on the Pharisees, Mt. 23:34-38); but those who have intrenched themselves in unbelief, will be as were the Jews, blinded to the light. By rejection of evidence, they lost their spiritual eyesight, and could not discern between good and evil, between truth and error, light and darkness. Those who are filled with unbelief can discern the least thing that has an objectionable appearance, and by beholding the objectionable feature, they can lose sight of all the evidence that God has given in manifesting his abundant grace and power, in revealing precious gems of truth from the inexhaustible mine of his word. They can hold the objectionable atom under the magnifying glasses of their imagination until the atom looks like a world, and shuts out from their view the precious light of heaven. But instead of placing that which appears objectionable beneath the eyes, why not bring before the soul the precious things of God? Why make the things of priceless value of little esteem, while the worthless things are made much of? Why take so much account of that which may appear to you as objectionable in the messenger (AT Jones or EJ Waggoner), and sweep away all the evidences that God has given to balance the mind in regard to the truth?
With the history of the children of Israel before us, let us take heed, and not be found committing the same sins, following in the same way of unbelief and rebellion." {Quotes in closing Hebr. 3:7-14; 1.Cor. 10:5-15.; RH, April 18, 1893 par. 9}
The message of 1888 (See here) called not only for a "revival", but also for a reformation. The light given was to work a change in ideas, concepts, plans:
"There is too little dependence upon God. When God would have a special work done for the advancement of the truth, He will impress men to work in the mines of truth with prayerful earnestness to discover the precious ore. These men will have Christlike perseverance. They will not fail or be discouraged. They will sink self out of sight in Jesus. Men will go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is their work to make crooked things straight. Some things must be torn down, some things must be built up. The old treasures must be reset in a framework of truth. They are to preach God's Word; their testimony must not be molded by the opinions and ideas that have been regarded as sound, but by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. They are to lift up Christ and call sinners to repentance. They are to practice the graces of Christ, to pursue a straightforward course, breaking down skepticism and urging upon all their personal responsibility to be kind and courteous, to do good and to win souls to Jesus." {Sermon Minneapolis Conference, MS 1888 169.1}
"We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn." {TM 30.}
"The end is near! We have not a moment to lose! Light is to shine forth from God's people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world. Our work is not to be restricted to those who already know the truth; our field is the world. The instrumentalities to be used are those souls who gladly receive the light of truth which God communicates to them. These are God's agencies for communicating the knowledge of truth to the world. If through the grace of Christ his people will become new bottles, he will fill them with the new wine. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered, and replaced in the frame-work of truth; and wherever the laborers go, they will triumph. As Christ's ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures, to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error. And every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,--Christ our righteousness." {RH, December 23, 1890 par. 19}
What should have taken place, but what did not, was made plane in a statement made at the 1901 GC session [330], when Mrs. White referred back to the 1888 crisis as follows:
"I feel a special interest in the movements and decisions that shall be made at this Conference regarding the things that should have been done years ago, and especially ten years ago, when we were assembled in Conference, and the Spirit and power of God came into our meeting, testifying that God was ready to work for this people if they would come into working order. The brethren assented to the light God had given, but there were those connected with our institutions, especially with the Review and Herald Office and the Conference, who brought in elements of unbelief, so that the light that was given was not acted upon. It was assented to, but no special change was made to bring about such a condition of things that the power of God could be revealed among his people." {1888 1743.2; GCB, Wednesday, April 3, 1901 par. 1.}
The difference between a "revival" and a reformation is further made plain by the following quotation:
"God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children.
A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things.
1. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death.
2. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices.
Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend."
{The Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1902. Emphasis supplied.}
Intrinsic in the divine call to a reformation in 1888 and thereafter was the revival of which some speak. The call to a reformation sounded insistently in the revival, and the success of the revival wherever the message of Jones and Waggoner penetrated was the heavenly credentials which attested the truth of the call to reformation. But the reformation was refused, and therefore the revival died out, leaving the rejecters in a worse state than they were in before.
"The Lord has sent a message to arouse his people to repent, and do their first works; but how has his message been received? While some have heeded it, others have cast contempt and reproach on the message and the messenger. Spirituality deadened, humility and childlike simplicity gone, a mechanical, formal profession of faith has taken the place of love and devotion. Is this mournful condition of things to continue? is the lamp of God's love to go out in darkness? The Saviour calls; listen to his voice: "Be zealous and repent." Repent, confess your sins, and you will be forgiven. "Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?" Why will you try to rekindle a mere fitful fire, and walk in the sparks of your own kindling?" {RH, December 23, 1890 par. 16}
Some of the brethren recognized in 1893 that the reformation had been refused, and that the revival had consequently failed. AT Jones said:
"Brethren, the time has come to take up tonight what we there (Minneapolis four years earlier) rejected. Not a soul of us has ever been able to dream yet the wonderful blessings that God has for us at Minneapolis, and which we would have been enjoying these four years, if hearts had been ready to receive the message which God sent. We would have been four years ahead, we would have been in the midst of the wonder of the loud cry itself, tonight. Did not the Spirit of Prophecy tell us there at that time that the blessing was hanging over our heads?" [AT Jones, GCB., 1893.]
The following letter from Mrs. White, read at the same GC session, clearly supports AT Jones' statement to the effect that the brethren turned the Minneapolis meeting into a defeat:
"The opposition in our own ranks has imposed upon the Lord's messengers a laborious and soul trying task; for they have had to meet difficulties and obstacles which need not have existed. While this labor had to be performed among our own people, to make them willing that God should work in the day of his power, the light of the glory of God has not been shining in clear concentrated rays to the world. Thousands who are now in the darkness of error, might have been added to our numbers. All the time and thought and labor required to counteract the influence of our brethren who oppose the message has been just so much taken from the world of the swift coming judgments of God. The Spirit of God has been present in power among his people, but it could not be bestowed upon them, because they did not open their hearts to receive it.
It is not the opposition of the world that we have to fear; but it is the elements that work among ourselves that have hindered the message (See here). The efficiency of the movements for extending the truth depends upon the harmonious action of those who profess to believe it. Love and confidence constitute a moral force that would have united our churches, and insured harmony of action; but coldness and distrust have brought disunion that has shorn us of our strength.
The Lord designed that the messages of warning and instruction given through the Spirit to his people should go everywhere. But the influence that grew out of the resistance of light and truth at Minneapolis, tended to make of no effect the light God had given to his people through the Testimonies. " Great Controversy," Vol. 4 has not had the circulation that it should have had, because some of those who occupy responsible positions were leavened with the spirit that prevailed at Minneapolis, a spirit that clouded the discernment of the people of God.
The work of opponents to the truth has been steadily advancing while we have been compelled to devote our energies in a great degree to counteracting the work of the enemy through those who were in our ranks. The dullness of some and the opposition of others have confined our strength and means largely among those who know the truth, but do not practice its principles. . . ." {Letter read from E.G. White, 11th meeting 1893, GCDB, February (27?),28, 1893 par. 2-5.}
Anyone who is courageous enough to term the 1888 period a "defeat" is spoken of today as a "smiter of the brethren", an opprobrious appellation indeed. An army that loses a battle will invariably discuss afterwards the reasons for their failure, in an attempt to discover why the defeat took place. They will then speak of victory only in the conditional, subjunctive mood of the verb, as a thing which "might have been".
It is interesting and significant to note that the oft-quoted passage published in 1909, and found in 9T, p. 29, which begins with the tragic "if", was written by Mrs. White concerning the results of the Minneapolis meeting. It is the very sentence which follows the end of the above quotation from the letter read at the 1893 GC session:
". . . If every soldier of Christ had done his duty, if every watchman on the walls of Zion had given the trumpet a certain sound (1.Cor. 14:8), the world might ere this have heard the message of warning. But the work is years behind. What account will be rendered to God for thus retarding the work?
While the angels were holding the four winds that they should not blow, giving opportunity for every one who had light to let it shine to the world, there have been influences among us to cry peace and safety. Many did not understand that we had not time or strength or influence to be lost through dilatory action. While men slept, Satan has been stealing a march upon us, working up the advantages given him to have things after his own order." {GCDB, February 28, 1893 par. 6}
Human language could hardly make more plain the fact that the "glorious victory" gained at the "notable landmark in SdA history" at Minneapolis was Satan's. When the vanquished (the prophet speaking for the church in God's name) concedes the victory, we ought not to doubt the facts. We have here, however, a most intriguing situation. A few paragraphs later in the same letter, Mrs. White predicted that as a consequence of our failure, Satan would work up his advantage most skillfully. "The deep plotting of Satan will reveal its working everywhere," she said. He would be far too keen to make the stupid blunder of assuming the livery of the devil; he would pretend to be the Christ! "The appearance of a false Christ will arouse delusive hopes in the minds of those who will allow themselves to be deceived."
The following thoughts are painful to contemplate, but too serious to ignore. Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. It is his very nature to lie. He is too keen-minded to claim his victory before it is complete even though the partial victory is true. Such boasting would drive the remnant church to her knees in the Repentance of the ages, for she is honest in heart. Telling her the truth will never work - she must be kept in deception until the very last! Therefore, Satan knows far too well the folly of claiming his victory gained in 1888 - it is his great desire that we should be deceived about it. He will slyly admit defeat, and concede the victory to the church, pretending to lie prostrate at our feet. No more skillful subterfuge has ever been perpetrated in Israel. The heavenly universe will hardly condone our deception, however, for there could be no greater folly than for those who, for the sake of justifying self, are willing to be caught in such a trap of satanic strategy. The deception, if cherished, can lead only to an infatuation with the false Christ [400], due to our blind confusion. If we cannot read the past aright, how will we be able to interpret the future correctly as it unrolls before our eyes? While we think Satan is lying prone and prostrate at our feet, he will enter another door clothed in the garments of Christ. May the true God be merciful to His foolish people!
Conclusion to chapter 4
It must be said that those who have portrayed the 1888 period of our history as a great and glorious victory have done so with the desire to preserve the unity and existence of the remnant church. Critics have arisen from within who have gone without, claiming that the victory gained by Satan in 1888 and thereafter was complete, and that the church is now in a hopeless condition.
Some have maintained that the mistake made at Minneapolis transformed Israel into Babylon. "Nothing could be further from the truth." Israel will never become Babylon, though she may have her period of captivity. The Lord will bring her again, to her borders. And when she comes back to her own land again, she will be chastened and repentant thoroughly and sincerely.
But in seeking to counteract the message of heretics who condemn the church as being in a hopeless state, we must not make the equally grave mistake of denying truth. We have somehow thought that the church must be vindicated, in order for Israel to be vindicated. But the church is ourselves, and therefore in the process of vindicating her, we twist the truth in vindicating self. That is not right - there will be no glorious victory for the church at last if we insist on that glory being in us. The glory and the victory are all of God; let us ascribe glory and honor to whom it is due. That, in the light of our past history, is going to require that we be greatly humbled!
"Many who claim to believe the truth will change their opinions in times of peril, and will take the side of the transgressors of God's law in order to escape persecution. There will be great humbling of hearts before God on the part of every one who remains faithful and true to the end. But Satan will so work upon the unconsecrated elements of the human mind that many will not accept the light in God's appointed way." {1888 166.2}
"Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own backsliding, shall repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall abhor herself. When she resists the evil and chooses the good, when she seeks God with all humility and reaches her high calling in Christ, standing on the platform of eternal truth and by faith laying hold upon the attainments prepared for her, she will be healed. She will appear in her God-given simplicity and purity, separate from earthly entanglements, showing that the truth has made her free indeed. Then her members will indeed be the chosen of God, His representatives." {8T 247-251 (April 21, 1903); LDE 60.2}
We must remember that that experience is not any more and evidence that God will have cast off His church than that He had cast off Job (Job 42:6) or Isaiah in the times of their repentance (Isa. 6:5), or Peter, when he threw himself on the ground in Gethsemane and wished that he might die (Matth, 26:75; DA 713). It was then that the dear disciple was converted. And it will be when the above words of the prophet are fulfilled, that the remnant church will likewise be converted. Her Pentecost will be no further away at that time than Peter's was when he came to know himself, and in so doing, found His Lord's forgiveness.
That a true understanding of the Minneapolis debacle will figure largely in our coming to know ourselves, is evident from these rarely (if ever) quoted words:
"We should be the last people on the earth to indulge in the slightest degree the spirit of persecution against those who are bearing the message of God to the world. This is the most terrible feature of unchristlikeness that has manifested itself among us since the Minneapolis meeting. Sometime it will be seen in its true bearing, with all the burden of woe that has resulted from it." {GCDB, February 7, 1893 par. 2}
There was a certain prescience evident in some of the utterances of AT Jones at the 1893 meeting, which ran in the same channel as the words of Sister White just quoted. He also referred to that long-delayed "sometime" of reparation:
"That, however (Minneapolis) is but a sample. There will be things to come that will be more surprising than that was to those at Minneapolis, more surprising than anything we have yet seen. And, brethren, we will be required to receive and preach the truth. But unless you and I have every fiber of that spirit rooted out of our hearts, we will treat that message and the messengers by whom it is sent, as God has declared we have treated this other message." [AT Jones, GCB., 1893, p. 185.]
Were none of the historical references and quotations presented in this chapter available to us, common sense and simple reason would still force us to recognize the following three points:
1. - The latter rain and the loud cry was to have an effect on the closing of the work like fire that goes in the stubble. (R&H, Dec. 15, 1885.) "The final movements will be rapid ones." The "loud cry" had its beginning with the revelation of the 1888 message, we are plainly told (see previous chapter). But instead of going like fire in the stubble, the work has dragged on for over half a century of protracted smoldering and smoking, inching along, while human souls are being born faster than we reach them with the message. The only reasonable conclusion is that the fire was put out - by human, not divine, instrumentality.
2. - When the loud cry comes, says John the Revelator, it is to be a light which will lighten the earth with its glory - a blaze of glory supeceding all previous displays of heavenly power since sin entered the world. The advent message is hardly known in the world today, though we as a people may be better known than we were in 1888. But it is our works rather than our faith that are thus known through our self-congratulatory reports. The kings of the earth have not yet stood afar off, with the merchants of the earth, bewailing the fall of great Babylon, brought to nought in one brief "hour" by the mighty preaching of the true "loud cry". A work is to be done for this world which we, in our blindness, have not begun to comprehend. The whole of Revelation 18 will be fulfilled in the glorious closing of this work. It hasn't yet been fulfilled, and yet the light of the fourth angel's mighty message began to shine in that strange and impressive way at Minneapolis. The only reasonable conclusion is that the light was put out, by human instrumentalities.
3. - When the message of righteousness by faith is accepted, there will be seen in the remnant church itself a revival of primitive godliness heretofore unknown upon this sinful earth. "The enemey of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken." (GW 103, old edition) No one but a willfully blind optimist would maintain today that the power of Satan as yet is broken in a spiritual sense over the ministry and members of the remnant church. There are far to many tell-tale signs of spiritual vanity, futility, lukewarmness, hypocrisy, and apostasy, to make such an assumption acceptable to a candid and reasoning mind. The only conclusion possible is that the message of Christ's righteousness was not received.
Again, in the light of the quotations presented in this chapter, intellectual honesty requires that we recognize the following three conslusions:
a. - The leaders in general of the advent movement, and the spokesmen in particular, refused to accept the gracious message brought to us at the 1888 meeting by AT Jones, EJ Waggoner, and EG White. Concerning what they did, it can be truthfully said, "You did not mean to do this, but you have done it."
b. - No deep-seated repentance and denomination-wide, extensive revival and reformation, consistent with the impressions conveyed in books quoted at the beginning of this chapter, took place. Rather, the revivals which did follow the 1888 meeting were experimental, laboratory tests proving to the responsible brethren that the message was indeed of God, and ought to be accepted. The revivals had the unfortunate effect, therefore, of fastening the leaders of the church in a deeper and more inexcusable condemnation.
c. - The message being of God in a special sense, the authoritative, responsible, and persistent opposition to it constituted a spiritual defeat for the Advent movement, which defeat must be recognized merely to be a battle in a larger war, and not the song of the war itself. Such a view of the matter will require that this generation recognize the facts of the case, and thoroughly rectify the tragic mistake. This can be done, and the living, righteous God will help us.
Chapter 5
What was the message presented in 1888?
(Contemporary published views)
The error of assuming that the church accepted the message of 1888 (See here) "victoriously" is in consequence of a still more basic error of misunderstanding, viz., what the message of Jones and Waggoner really was. The contemporary views of what that message was must be considered in the light of reason, and the Spirit of Prophecy revelation.
In the book Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, the following quotation is found in the chapter entitled "The Minneapolis Conference and the Great Revival":
"Some may well ask, `What was this teaching of righteousness by faith which became the mainspring of the great Adventist revival, as taught and emphasized by Mrs. White and others? It was the same doctrine that Luther, Wesley, and many other servants of God had been teaching." [L.H. Christian, Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, p. 239.]
In some lessons on the subject presented in the Theological Seminary, the views presented in that book are recommended as "perhaps the clearest picture of the (1888) movement," and the idea the message (See here) then presented was justification by faith as taught by then Protestant Reformers emphasized as follows:
"This plan - righteousness by faith - was emphasized anew to our people. A bit of the history of the development of this doctrine in our midst would help us to understand why many of the early brethren reacted unfavorably to the reception of this message.
Justification, or righteousness by faith, is defined as "that judicial act of God by which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, he declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law but to be restored to His favor."
[Systematic Theology, by H.A. Strong, p. 649.]
The same idea is expressed in different words in the Westminster Catechism. . . .
"Righteousness by faith was a vital part of the religious teaching of the reformers . . . In the early days of our movement, under the guidance of the Spirit of Prophecy, the Wesleyan interpretation became ours. This interpretation was understood before 1888, but our lack of attention to it was understandable enough. . . . Righteousness by faith was taken for granted and, in those days, taking such a thing for granted was not nearly so serious a matter as it is today, for the majority of Christian people were Christians indeed." [G.E. Vandeman, A Transforming Friendship, mimeographed lessons used in Pastoral Counseling Class, SDA Theological Seminary, Winter Term 49-50, pp. 1,2.]
The acceptance of this view that the message (See here) of 1888 was the historic Protestant doctrine of justification by faith raises some serious problems difficult for the Adventist mind to comprehend clearly. The fact that we have not previously been disturbed is merely indicative that the matter has not been thought through very thoroughly. If the findings of the previous chapter of this essay are correct, then the idea that the message of 1888, "the mainspring of the great Advent revival," was "the same doctrine that Luther, Wesley and many other servants of God had been teaching" makes it exceedingly difficult for the church to parry the thrusts of those who accuse her of having become Babylon. This will be evident as follows:
(1) - If the SdA church rejected, spurned, or - to use the mild expression quoted above - "reacted unfavorably," to the same doctrines that Luther and Wesley taught concerning justification by faith, her unfavorable reception would be no more justifiable than Rome's rejection of Luther's teaching, or England's rejection of Wesley's teaching. Since it would be most embarrassing to try to counter the charge that the Adventist church suffered a fall comparable to that of Roman and English churches, it is evident that it becomes necessary to assume that she accepted the message of 1888, and had a "great revival." But to say that the message was accepted also raises questions again as serious, in no way obviating the cruel dilemma:
a) - If the message was accepted, why wasn't the "work" finished decades ago, inasmuch as in the time of the loud cry, "the work will spread like fire in the stubble"? [R&H, Dec. 15, 1885]
b) - Why wasn't the earth lightened with the glory of that other angel, and mightily shaken by the message, resulting in the complete fall of Babylon as depicted in Revelation 18?
c) - Why hasn't the power of Satan been broken over us as a people, in a spiritual sense, as inspiration has promised it will be if "the people receive it fully"? [G.W. p. 103; R&H, Sep 3, 1889.]
(2) That the message of 1888 (See here) was spurned and rejected, cannot be denied without denying all the clear intent of abundant Spirit of Prophecy statements. Therefore, the proposition that the message of 1888 was the "same doctrine that Luther, Wesley . . . had been teaching" requires that we confess our rejection of the historic Protestant position, which would be tantamount to admitting a spiritual fall identifiable in principle with the fall of Babylon.
(3) Again, if the view is true, that the message of 1888 was the doctrine of the Reformers, it would require our belief that Luther and Wesley and "many other servants of God" or pre-1844 times preached the third angel's message, as the following quotation from Testimonies to Ministers will show:
"The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure." {TM 91.2}
Some years ago there arose a heretical movement in Europe which maintained that Martin Luther preached the third angel's message in his day. What true SdA would wish to be so muddled and confused in his thinking as to revive the idea that either Luther, Wesley, or any other of the "many servants of God" of pre-1844 times preached the third angel's message?
Such a view would inevitably rob us of any distinctive message to be presented to the world.
Another contemporary view of the 1888 message was that it was a "re-emphasis" of that which the Adventist movement had believed from its very beginning, a mere recovery of a homiletical balance in doctrine and preaching temporarily lost. This view has come to be very widely believed by SdA workers today. A few illustrations of this view must suffice:
"This conference (1888) . . . proved to be the beginning of a re-emphasis of this glorious truth, which resulted in a spiritual awakening among our people." [M.E. Kern, R&H, Thursday, Aug 3, 1950, p. 294.]
"The greatest event of the eighties in the experience of SdAs was the recovery, or the restatement and new consciousness, of their faith in the basic doctrine of Christianity, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.'" [AW Spaulding, Captain of the Host, p. 583.]
Many of our elderly workers will add their testimony that they knew of no denominational rejection of the "doctrine of justification by faith" previous to 1888, and that therefore the message of that time was merely a new underscoring or new emphasis of the old doctrine always believed. If this "re-emphasis" view is correct, the following questions address themselves to our reason:
(1) How could intelligent, conscionable leaders resist, neglect, or spurn that which they themselves had always understood and believed? How could consistent men "react unfavorably" to the "re-emphasis of a glorious truth" which they themselves preached some twenty, thirty, or forty years before? Or if this session of 1888 included a new generation of Adventist preachers, how could they "react unfavorably" to the preaching of a glorious truth their immediate forbears had been preaching, many of whom were still living at that time?
(2) Again, how could we successfully defend ourselves against the charge that the Adventist church did not suffer a moral fall very unpleasantly similar to the fall of Babylon in principle, if we accept the view that the brethren of the 1888 epoch rejected or spurned or even "reacted unfavorably" to what they believed at the beginning of the Advent movement?
When one is climbing upwards, and suddenly goes backwards, human language calls the descent a "fall."
This chapter will present evidence to show that the message of 1888 was neither a restatement of the doctrines of Luther and Wesley, nor a mere re-emphasis of the teaching of the Adventist pioneers; but that it was rather a more mature conception of the "everlasting gospel" than had ever been perceived by any previous generation of human beings, a preaching of "righteousness by faith" more mature and developed, and more practical than had been preached even by the Apostle Paul. This is not to say that the messengers of 1888 were greater than Paul, Luther, Wesley, or any one else, nor that they were keener, brighter students. It is to say that the message which they brought was the "third angel's message in verity" and, therefore, an understanding of righteousness by faith parallel to and consistent with the Adventist doctrine of the cleansing of the sanctuary, a message which, if allowed free course for acceptance and development, would have prepared a people to meet the Lord, "without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing," and "without fault before the throne of God," a message intended by its Divine Author to reopen the "firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb," the 144,000.[450]
Further, this chapter is to present evidence that the rejection of that message did not, therefore, constitute a moral or spiritual fall of the remnant church involving a repudiation of her character as honest-in-heart. It constituted rather a stupid and inexcusable, very foolish, arresting of her spiritual development, occasioned by a pitiful blindness and inability to recognize the love and the call of her Lord. Such blindness is better termed foolishness than wickedness. The rejection of that message resulted in a virtual eclipse of an ethical, spiritual, and practical understanding of the doctrine of the cleansing of the sanctuary, leaving only the outward shell of doctrinal structure, such as the chronological proofs of the 2300 years, and the factual concept of the "investigative judgment," as preached by us before 1888. No significant advance whatever in the comprehension of the cleansing of the sanctuary, the verity of the Adventist message, has been made since 1888.
How Mrs. White Considered the Message of 1888
As soon as Mrs. White had heard a little of Dr. Waggoner's views at Minneapolis (for the first time, incidentally), she recognized it to be "precious light" in harmony with what she had been trying to present all along. The thought she expressed was that the light presented was a further development in full harmony with past light, but never clearly preached before:
"Dr. Waggoner has spoken to us in a straightforward manner. There is precious light in what he has said. Some things presented in reference to the law in Galatians, if I fully understand his position, do not harmonize with the understanding I have had of this subject; but truth will lose nothing by investigation, therefore I plead for Christ's sake that you come to the living Oracles, and with prayer and humiliation seek God. Everyone should feel that he has the privilege of searching the Scriptures for himself, and he should do this with earnest prayer that God will give him a right understanding of His word, that he may know from positive evidence that he does know what is truth.
I see the beauty of truth in the presentation of the righteousness of Christ in relation to the law as the doctor has placed it before us. You say, many of you, it is light and truth. Yet you have not presented it in this light heretofore. Is it not possible that through earnest, prayerful searching of the Scriptures he has seen still greater light on some points? That which has been presented harmonizes perfectly with the light which God has been pleased to give me during all the years of my experience. If our ministering brethren would accept the doctrine which has been presented so clearly - the righteousness of Christ in connection with the law - and I know they need to accept this, their prejudices would not have a controlling power, and the people would be fed with their portion of meat in due season. Let us take our Bibles, and with humble prayer and a teachable spirit, come to the great Teacher of the world; let us pray as did David, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (Psalms 119:18)."
{1888 164.3}
I see no excuse for the wrought-up state of feeling that has been created at this meeting. This is the first time I have had opportunity to listen to anything in reference to this subject. I have had no conversation in regard to it with my son W. C. White, with Dr. Waggoner, or with Elder A. T. Jones. At this meeting I have heard for the first time Dr. Waggoner's reasons for his position. The messages coming from your president at Battle Creek are calculated to stir you up to make hasty decisions and to take decided positions; but I warn you against doing this. You are not now calm; there are many who do not know what they believe. It is perilous to make decisions upon any controverted point without dispassionately considering all sides of the question. Excited feelings will lead to rash movements. It is certain that many have come to this meeting with false impressions and perverted opinions. They have imaginings that have no foundation in truth. Even if the position which we have held upon the two laws is truth, the Spirit of truth will not countenance any such measures to defend it as many of you would take. The spirit that attends the truth should be such as will represent the Author of truth." {1888 164.4}
I have had the question asked, What do you think of this light that these men are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years - the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds. When Brother Waggoner brought out these ideas in Minneapolis, it was the first clear teaching on this subject from any human lips I had heard, excepting the conversations between myself and my husband. I have said to myself, It is because God has presented it to me in vision that I see it so clearly, and they cannot see it because they have never had it presented to them as I have. And when another presented it, every fiber of my heart said, Amen." {Ms 5, p. 10. (Sermon, Rome, New York, June 19, 1889.) {5MR 219.1}}
It will be evident from these quotations that Mrs. White regarded the message (See here) of Jones and Waggoner as something not preached clearly before. That the brethren at Minneapolis themselves understood the message to be a revelation of new light, rather than a re-emphasis of what they had all along been preaching, is shown by the following quotation:
"If Elder Waggoner's views were wrong, what business has anyone to get up and say what they did here yesterday? If we have the truth it will stand. These truths that we have been handling for years--must Elder Butler come and tell us what they are? Now, do let us have common sense. Don't let us leave such an impression on this people. One brother asked me if I thought there was any new light that we should have or any new truths for us? Well, shall we stop searching the Scriptures because we have the light on the law of God and the testimony of His Spirit? No, brethren. I tell you in the fear of God, "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils." How can you listen to all that I have been telling you all through these meetings and not know for yourself what is truth? If you will search the Scriptures on your knees, then you will know them and you will be able to give to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you." {1888 152.3}
The message of 1888 (See here) was something which the brethren had not previously comprehended. This incomprehesion was actually a failure to understand the heart and verity of the message, the outward forms of which alone the brethren knew:
"There are but few, even of those who claim to believe it, that comprehend the third angel's message, and yet this is the message for this time. It is present truth. But how few take up this message in its true bearing, and present it to the people in its power! With many it has but little force.
. . . The closing work of the third angel's message will be attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God as supreme Governor; His law will [be] looked upon as the rule of His government." {Ms 15, 1888, p. 5. ("A Call to a Deeper Study of the Word," November 1, 1888.)} {1MR 56.4}
"Said my Guide, "There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of God and the gospel of righteousness. This message, understood in its true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its glory. The great decisive question is to be brought before all nations, tongues, and peoples. The closing work of the third angel's message will be attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God." {Ms 15, 1888, p. 5. (To "Dear Brethren Assembled at General Conference," Nov. 1, 1888.)} Released July, 1958. {2MR 58.2}
"The peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that His people should be far in advance of the position which they occupy today. But now, when the time has come for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people--the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our ministers who are giving the third angel's message really understand what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct from the third angel's message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time." {5T 714.2}
"The watchman are asleep. We are years behind. . ."
"Let the chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers.
If the leading men in our conferences do not now accept the message sent them by God, and fall into line for action, the churches will suffer great loss."
{5T 714.2-715.1}
There is no hint whatsoever in the following quotation that the message of 1888 was a "re-emphasis" of a glorious truth either previously, or at the time, believed by the brethren:
"The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." We see here that the men in authority are not always to be obeyed, even though they may profess to be teachers of Bible doctrine. There are many today who feel indignant and aggrieved that any voice should be raised presenting ideas that differ from their own in regard to points of religious belief. Have they not long advocated their ideas as truth? So the priests and rabbis reasoned in apostolic days: What mean these men who are unlearned, some of them mere fishermen, who are presenting ideas contrary to the doctrines which the learned priests and rulers are teaching the people? They have no right to meddle with the fundamental principles of our faith." {TM 69.1}
"But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines. Because those who were once the depositaries of truth became unfaithful to their sacred trust, the Lord chose others who would receive the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and would advocate truths that were not in accordance with the ideas of the religious leaders. And then these leaders, in the blindness of their minds, give full sway to what is supposed to be righteous indignation against the ones who have set aside cherished fables. They act like men who have lost their reason. They do not consider the possibility that they themselves have not rightly understood the word. They will not open their eyes to discern the fact that they have misinterpreted and misapplied the Scriptures, and have built up false theories, calling them fundamental doctrines of the faith." {TM 69.2}
"Even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus, because it contradicts something which they have taken for granted as truth but which the Holy Spirit teaches is not truth. Let all be very modest, and seek most earnestly to put self out of the question, and to exalt Jesus. In most of the religious controversies the foundation of the trouble is that self is striving for the supremacy. About what? About matters which are not vital points at all, and which are regarded as such only because men have given importance to them. (See Matthew 12:31-37; Mark 14:56; Luke 5:21; Matthew 9:3.)" {TM 70.2}
"Finite men should beware of seeking to control their fellowmen, taking the place assigned to the Holy Spirit. Let no men feel that it is their prerogative to give to the world what they suppose to be truth, and refuse that anything should be given contrary to their ideas. This is not their work. Many things will appear distinctly as truth which will not be acceptable to those who think their own interpretations of the Scripture always right. Most decided changes will have to be made in regard to ideas which some have accepted as without a flaw. These men give evidence of fallibility in very many ways; they work upon principles which the word of God condemns. That which makes me feel to the very depths of my being, and makes me know that their works are not the works of God, is that they suppose they have authority to rule their fellowmen. The Lord has given them no more right to rule others than He has given others to rule them. Those who assume the control of their fellowmen take into their finite hands a work that devolves upon God alone." {TM 76.2}
The principle which made an advance revelation of "new light" necessary in 1888 is stated as follows in one of Mrs. White's sermons at the Minneapolis session:
"The message "Go forward" is still to be heard and respected. The varying circumstances taking place in our world call for labor which will meet these peculiar developments. The Lord has need of men who are spiritually sharp and clear-sighted, men worked by the Holy Spirit, who are certainly receiving manna fresh from heaven. Upon the minds of such, God's Word flashes light, revealing to them more than ever before the safe path. The Holy Spirit works upon mind and heart. The time has come when through God's messengers the scroll is being unrolled to the world. Instructors in our schools should never be bound about by being told that they are to teach only what has been taught hitherto. Away with these restrictions. There is a God to give the message His people shall speak. Let not any minister feel under bonds or be gauged by men's measurement. The gospel must be fulfilled in accordance with the messages God sends. That which God gives His servants to speak today would not perhaps have been present truth twenty years ago, but it is God's message for this time." {1888 133.2}
There was a distinct difference in Mrs. White's mind between the message of righteousness by faith as presented in 1888, and the "past message." While there was to be no contradiction, there must be further development:
"We must take our hands off the ark of God. I mean to stand faithfully at my post of duty. I mean to do my work for time and for eternity. It is only those who are faithful that are great in the sight of the Lord. Suppose that you blot out the testimony that has been going during these last two years proclaiming the righteousness of Christ, who can you point to as bringing out special light for the people? This message as it has been presented, should go to every church that claims to believe the truth, and bring our people up to a higher stand-point. Where are the builders that are carrying forward the work of restoration? We want to see who have presented to the world the heavenly credentials. God gives every man a chance to take his place in the work. Let the people of God tell what they have seen and heard and handled of the word of life. Every worker has his place; but God does not want any man to think that no other message is to be heard but that which he may have given. We want the past message and the fresh message. Let the Spirit of God come into the heart. O that we may realize the value of the price that has been paid for our salvation! I entreat of you to come nearer to God, that you may take hold of the message for yourselves." {RH, March 18, 1890 par. 9}
The idea that SdAs should confound with the light which was to lighten the earth with its glory doctrines, (however true for their day) held by Luther and Wesley and others is clearly disparaged in the following words:
"Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." How can the truth be laid out before our people that they will every one arouse from the lethargy which has been upon them, and come to a realization of the times in which we are living? How shall we present the need of greater zeal and more determined earnestness in searching the Scriptures, so that they may dig in the mines of truth and bring forth the treasures of God's word? It is not safe for us as reformers to repeat the history of the Reformers in every particular; for after those to whom God gave light advanced to a certain knowledge, many of them ceased to be reformers. We must not for a moment think that there is no more light and truth to be given us, and become careless, and let the sanctifying power of the truth leak out of our hearts by our attitude of satisfaction in what we have already attained. We are not to fold our hands in complacency, and say, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." {RH, August 7, 1894 par. 1}
In a series of Review articles in 1890. Mrs. White discussed the cleansing of the sanctuary truth in connection with the controverted message of righteousness by faith. Our ignorance was appalling (and still is):
"The mediatorial work of Christ, the grand and holy mysteries of redemption, are not studied or comprehended by the people who claim to have light in advance of every other people on the face of the earth. Were Jesus personally upon earth, he would address a large number who claim to believe present truth, with the words he addressed to the Pharisees: "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." {RH, February 4, 1890 par. 6}
"There are old, yet new truths still to be added to the treasures of our knowledge. We do not understand or exercise faith as we should. Christ has made rich promises in regard to bestowing the Holy Spirit upon his church, and yet how little these promises are appreciated! We are not called to worship and serve God by the use of the means employed in former years. God requires higher service now than ever before." {RH, February 25, 1890 par. 1}
A brief analysis of the points already presented in these quotations will be helpful:
1. The message of 1888 was said to be "light" which the brethren had not presented "heretofore." It was "greater light."
2. It was our portion of "meat in due season" - food for today, and not manna restored from yesterday.
3. Mrs. White heard at Minneapolis for the first time a doctrinal unfolding of that which she had been trying to present all along - the matchless charms of Christ. No other human lips had preached it.
4. Mrs. White recognized in EJ Waggoner an agent being used by the Lord for an advanced revelation of truth to His people, and for the world.
5. The verity of the third angel's message had not been comprehended by our people because they had not advanced to the position in understanding which they should have occupied by that time - forty-four years after the beginning of the cleansing of the sanctuary. Instead, advance light had been kept from the people.
6. The brethren at the time understood Mrs. White's support of Waggoner and Jones to be a recommendation of the new light which they brought, rather than a call to return to their original understanding of the "established doctrines." It was a call diametrically opposed to a return to a re-emphasis of old understandings. Had Brethren Butler and Smith so understood it, they would have been strong to champion it, instead of opposing it as they did.
7. Therefore, what the brethren rejected was the call for "most decided changes" in regard to ideas which had been accepted. They did not refuse to go back; they refused to go forward. Thus they tried to stand still - a difficult thing for any army on the march.
The Light of 1888 to have been the Beginning of Greater Light
We have already had a little glimpse, with AT Jones, into the realm of the "what might have been," as he saw it in 1893:
"Not a soul of us has ever been able to dream yet the wonderful blessings that God had for us at Minneapolis, and which we would have been enjoying these four years, if hearts had been ready to receive the message (See here) which God sent. We would have been four years ahead. We would have been in the midst of the wonders of the loud cry itself, tonight. Did not the Spirit of Prophecy tell us here at that time that the blessing of God was hanging over our heads? Well, brethren, you know." [General Conf. Bulletin, 1893.]
Mrs. White often spoke of the need of new light, and the certainty of God sending it, if and when His people were willing to receive it. The tragic "if and when" are necessary only because the new wine always requires new bottles, and that means a crucifixion of self:
"The end is near! We have not a moment to lose! Light is to shine forth from God's people in clear, distinct rays, bringing Jesus before the churches and before the world. Our work is not to be restricted to those who already know the truth; our field is the world. The instrumentalities to be used are those souls who gladly receive the light of truth which God communicates to them. These are God's agencies for communicating the knowledge of truth to the world. If through the grace of Christ his people will become new bottles, he will fill them with the new wine. God will give additional light, and old truths will be recovered, and replaced in the frame-work of truth; and wherever the laborers go, they will triumph. As Christ's ambassadors, they are to search the Scriptures, to seek for the truths that have been hidden beneath the rubbish of error. And every ray of light received is to be communicated to others. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,--Christ our righteousness." {RH, December 23, 1890 par. 19}
"O that we might gather up our forces of faith, and plant our feet on the rock Christ Jesus! You should believe that he will keep you from falling. The reason why you do not have more faith in the promises of God, is that your minds are separated from God, and the enemy meant it should be so. He has cast his shadow between us and our Saviour, that we may not discern what Christ is to us, or what he may be. The enemy does not desire us to understand what a comfort we shall find in Christ. We have only just begun to get a little glimmering of what faith is; for it is hard for those who have been absorbed in looking at dark pictures of unbelief, to see anything else save darkness. May God help us to gather up the jewels of his promises, and deck memory's hall with the gems of his word. We should be armed with the promises of God. Our souls should be barricaded with them. When Satan comes in with his darkness, and seeks to fill my soul with gloom, I repeat some precious promise of God. When our work grows hard because of the unbelief we have to meet in the hearts of the people, where faith should flourish, I repeat over and over, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." As I do this, the light of the glory of God fills my soul. I will not look at the darkness." {RH, March 11, 1890 par. 7}
"I have been shown that Jesus will reveal to us precious old truths in a new light, if we are ready to receive them; but they must be received in the very way in which the Lord shall choose to send them. With humble, softened hearts, with respect and love for one another, search your Bibles. The light may not come in accordance with plans that men may devise. But all who reverence the Word of God just as it reads, all who do His will to the best of their ability, will know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, notwithstanding the efforts of the enemy to confuse minds and to make uncertain the Word of God. God calls every man's attention to His living Oracles. Let no one quench the Spirit of God by wresting the Scriptures, by putting human interpretations upon His inspired Word; and let no one pursue an unfair course, keep in the dark, not willing to open their ears to hear and yet free to comment and quibble and sow their doubts of that which they will not candidly take time to hear." {1888 Materials, 167.1}
"New light will (Br. Wieland has here `may') ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in living connection with the Sun of Righteousness. Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed. The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the word of God. Many gems are yet scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people of God. But light is not given simply to be a strength to the church, but to be shed upon those who are in darkness. The people of God are to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Christ has said of His people, "Ye are the light of the world," and it is the mission of the light to shine out and illuminate the darkness." {CSW 34.1; R&H March 25, 1890 as stated in the essay did not yield this quotation. Also the reading, "New light may ever ...", I could not find.}
"The rebuke of the Lord will be upon those who would be guardians of the doctrine, who would bar the way that greater light shall not come to the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of greater light, that they may unite with the messengers whom he shall send harmoniously to accomplish the work that he designs they should. The Lord has raised up messengers and endued them with his Spirit, and has said, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Let no one run the risk of interposing himself between the people and the message of heaven. The message of God will come to the people; and if there were no voice among men to give it, the very stones would cry out. I call upon every minister to seek the Lord, to put away pride, to put away strife after supremacy, and humble the heart before God. It is the coldness of heart, the unbelief of those who ought to have faith, that keeps the churches in feebleness." {RH, July 26, 1892 par. 9}
AT Jones, in his plain spoken way, reminded us that the light which EJ Waggoner brought was but the beginning. Greater tests would follow, and each time the ultimate test would be on the battleground of self:
"That, however, is but a sample. There will be things to come that will be more surprising than that was to those at Minneapolis, - more surprising than anything we have yet seen. And, brethren, we will be required to receive and preach that truth. But unless you and I have every fiber of that spirit rooted out of our hearts, we will treat that message and the messengers by whom it is sent, as God has declared we have treated this other message." [Gen. Conf. Bulletin, 1893, p. 185.]
The message of 1888 was neither a re-emphasis of the views of the pioneers of the Advent movement on justification by faith, Wesleyan or whatever they were; nor was it "the same doctrine that Luther, Wesley, and many other servants of God had been teaching":
It was the beginning of the work of the fourth angel who was to join his mighty voice with the proclamation of the third angel. It is most regrettable that neither The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts nor Captains of the Host give a single allusion to the fact in their respective chapters on the Minneapolis "revival"! The omission will be seen, however, to be very significant. The following statement by Mrs. White, made in 1892, is well known to us all, and must never be ignored in the history of 1888 and thereafter:
Let every one who claims to believe that the Lord is soon coming, search the Scriptures as never before; for Satan is determined to try every device possible to keep souls in darkness, and blind the mind to the perils of the times in which we are living. Let every believer take up his Bible with earnest prayer, that he may be enlightened by the holy Spirit as to what is truth, that he may know more of God and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Search for the truth as for hidden treasures, and disappoint the enemy. The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ (Acts 17:31), the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to his disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men. Search the Scriptures; for they are they that testify of him." {RH, November 22, 1892 par. 7}
"I inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing? You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord. There needs to be a cleansing of the heart, the feelings, the sympathies, the words, in reference to the most momentous subjects--the Lord God, eternity, truth. What is the message to be given at this time? It is the third angel's message. But that light which is to fill the whole earth with its glory has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth. Be careful how you treat it. Take off the shoes off your feet; for you are on holy ground. Beware how you indulge the attributes of Satan, and pour contempt upon the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent." {TM 89.2}
"The Spirit of God cannot work effectually in any heart where pride and self-esteem exist. But without the aid of the Spirit of God the soul cannot be renewed, a new heart cannot be created within. The Lord is at work seeking to purify his people, and this great work is retarded by unbelief and stubbornness. Many think that had they lived in Christ's day, they would have been among his believing followers; but if all the miracles of Christ were presented before those whose hearts are not subdued by the Spirit of God, their convictions would not be followed, nor their faith increased. Light has been shining upon the church of God, but many have said by their indifferent attitude, "We want not thy way, O Lord, but our own way." The kingdom of heaven has come very near, and they have caught glimpses of the Father and the Son, but they have barred the door of the heart, and have not received the heavenly guests; for as yet they know not the love of God." {RH, April 11, 1893 par. 4}
It is necessary for those who will maintain that the message of 1888 was joyfully accepted by the church resulting in a "great revival" to ignore the fact that the message was the beginning of the loud cry. Otherwise, they would be obliged to explain how it could be that a work which was to have gone "like fire in the stubble" has been dragging on for 62 years, when the servant of the Lord declared it could have been finished by 1893 had all the brethren joined with the chosen messengers in proclaiming it! [Gen. Conf. Bulletin, EGW Letter, read Feb. 26, 1893.]
The Light of the Loud Cry Turned Off
Our God is merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and ready to forgive. We are prone to emphasize that thought in speaking of the opposition to the message of 1888, leaving the impression, implicitly if not explicitly, that the Lord graciously forgave the erring, "well meaning" men who later confessed their sad mistake in spurning the beginning of that greatest light ever to shine upon this world since the days of Christ. No Christian will deny that God will forgive, and will restore that which was lost, on condition of repentance. But we must not allow confusion to neutralize and obscure the parable of 1888.
It is stated frequently that "most" of the men who opposed the light at Minneapolis later repented, confessed their mistake [590], and joined heartily in proclaiming the message. In a later chapter, it will be necessary to examine those confessions of repentance more carefully. But for the present it should suffice to ask one question: If the brethren repented of their mistake, confessed it, and God forgave it in the sense of restoring that which was otherwise lost, why was not the original purpose of the 1888 message fulfilled in a speedy finishing of the work? It is most obvious that whatever transactions passed between erring brethren and their merciful and long-suffering God after 1888, there was certainly no revival and reformation which can be considered at all consistent in scope and effect with what was to come had the light been allowed to shine in clear rays after Minneapolis. Whether or not God forgave the sins of the blind and opposing brethren to whom He addressed the woes upon the Pharisees (and there is no desire to draw aside the curtain), it is certain that He did not send any more light after 1888 such as was brought at that time. We may ask, Why?
There is no evidence that Mrs. White wrote out in her books after 1888 the "light," doctrinally, which AT Jones and EJ Waggoner were commissioned by God to bring. What she wrote out was in full harmony with that revealed light, it [but] was the light that she had from the very beginning on the "matchless charms of Christ." The 1888 message did not open her eyes to a new truth, causing her to plunge into a course of writing she would not otherwise have done, as is so often represented today. In fact, much of Steps to Christ was written well before 1888, and compiled later. Following the light in her books will lead us to the latter rain; but Mrs. White never claimed that her books contained the light of the latter rain. It cannot be successfully maintained that the "blessings of the great revival" are "preserved for us" in her books written after 1888, any more than it could be maintained that the "blessings of Israel's unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea were preserved in the writings of the Pentateuch, which books Moses wrote after the Kadesh-Barnea crisis.
The Holy Spirit is a Person, and can be grieved. The Light which He gives can be quenched:
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Quench not the Spirit."
"I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you any evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."
Eph. 4:30; 1.Thess. 5:17; Hebr. 3:10-12.
If there is any lesson at all to be learned from the millenniums of history of God's dealings with His chosen people, it is that they may not safely presume upon His mercy by provoking Him to His face. There is no wrath like the wrath of the Lamb, and there is no greater reticence than that of Love to return when it has been cruelly, unjustly, and spitefully scorned. The resume of Spirit of Prophecy statements presented in the last chapter give evidence that there was no time between 1888 and 1900 when the responsible leadership of the church manifested even a half-hearted purpose to rectify the tragic mistake of 1888. Doubt, suspicion, mistrust of the message and the messengers continued for years. Repeated statements occur that there was but little genuine love for Jesus, and that the greatest lack of it was evident in the ministerial leadership of the church. If you were God, would you force yourself in the tender capacity of a Lover upon a cold, and unfeeling church who resisted and scorned your every loving appeal?
Jesus knows our human nature; He Himself partakes of it. He, too, knows some self-respect. He came very near to us in 1888; "not a soul of us dreams of what might have been" in the sweet days that would have followed had we walked with Him in Heaven's glorious light. We often speak of 1844 as the "Great Disappointment." 1888 was His great disappointment, for we can read of how He loved us. That love we would not have. Why should we marvel if He did not force it upon us?
We were told at Minneapolis itself:
"It will grieve the Spirit of God if you close your understanding to the light which God sends you ...
"No one must be permitted to close the avenue whereby the light of truth shall come to the people. As - soon - as this shall be attempted, God's Spirit will be quenched. . . Let the love of Christ reign in hearts here . . . When the Spirit of God comes in, love will take the place of variance, because Jesus is love; if His Spirit were cherished here, our meeting would be like a stream in the desert." {1888 Materials 171.1}
"Since that time, the Lord has given abundance of evidence in messages of light and salvation. No more tender calls, no better opportunities, could be given them in order that they might do that which they ought to have done at Minneapolis. The light has been withdrawing from some, and ever since they have walked in sparks of their own kindling. No one can tell how much may be at stake when neglecting to comply with the call of the Spirit of God.
The time will come when many will be willing to do anything and everything possible in order to have a chance of hearing the call which they rejected at Minneapolis. God moved upon hearts, but many yielded to another spirit, which was moving upon their passions from beneath. Oh, that these poor souls would make thorough work before it is everlastingly too late. Better opportunities will never come, deeper feelings they will not have.
In order to have better opportunities in the future, they must improve the opportunities they have already had, yield to the Spirit of God, and heed the voice from heaven, giving prompt obedience from willing hearts. God will not be trifled with. The sin committed in what took place at Minneapolis remains on the record books of heaven, registered against the names of those who resisted light; and it will remain upon the record until full confession is made and the transgressors stand in full humility before God." {Letter to O.A. Olsen, Sept. 1, 1892; MS 1888 1031.1}
Alas, and shame be upon us, we did not appreciate that love! Cold, hard hearts continued to tease and trifle with the tender love of One Who gave His life for us. Finally the selfish and stupid trifling changed to hatred. In 1895 the prophet said:
"I inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing? You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord. There needs to be a cleansing of the heart, the feelings, the sympathies, the words, in reference to the most momentous subjects--the Lord God, eternity, truth. What is the message to be given at this time? It is the third angel's message. But that light which is to fill the whole earth with its glory has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth. Be careful how you treat it. Take off the shoes off your feet; for you are on holy ground. Beware how you indulge the attributes of Satan, and pour contempt upon the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent.
The Spirit of God is departing from many among His people. Many have entered into dark, secret paths, and some will never return. They will continue to stumble to their ruin. They have tempted God, they have rejected light. All the evidence that will ever be given them they have received, and have not heeded. They have chosen darkness rather than light, and have defiled their souls. No man or church can associate with a pleasure-loving class, and reveal that they appreciate the rich current which the Lord has sent to those who have simple faith in His word. The world is polluted, corrupted, as was the world in the days of Noah. The only remedy is belief in the truth, acceptance of the light. Yet many have listened to the truth spoken in demonstration of the Spirit, and they have not only refused to accept the message, but they have hated the light. These men are parties to the ruin of souls. They have interposed themselves between the heaven-sent light and the people. They have trampled upon the word of God and are doing despite to His Holy Spirit." {TM 89.2-90.3}
Heaven was indignant (TM, 76). At Minneapolis, Mrs. White said: "If you only knew how Christ has regarded your religious attitude at this meeting!" (MS. 8A, 1888) "There is sadness in heaven over the spiritual blindness of many of our brethren." (R&H, July 26, 1892.) Speaking years later of "those who resisted the Spirit of God at Minneapolis," Mrs. White said:
"On many occasions the Holy Spirit did work; but those who resisted the Spirit of God at Minneapolis were waiting for a chance to travel over the same ground again, because their spirit was the same. Afterward, when they had evidence heaped upon evidence, some were convicted; but those who were not softened and subdued by the Holy Spirit's working, put their own interpretation upon every manifestation of the grace of God, and they have lost much. They declared in their heart and soul and words that this manifestation of the Holy Spirit was fanaticism and delusion. They stood like a rock; the waves of mercy were flowing upon and around them, but were beaten back by their hard and wicked hearts, which resisted the Holy Spirit's working. Had this been received, it would have made them wise unto salvation,-- holier men, prepared to do the work of God with sanctified ability. But all the universe of heaven witnessed the disgraceful treatment of Jesus Christ, represented by the Holy Spirit. Had Christ been before them, they would have treated him in a manner similar to that in which the Jews treated Christ." {SpTA06 19.2}
"I shall never, I think, be called to stand under the direction of the Holy Spirit as I stood at Minneapolis. The presence of Jesus was with me. All assembled in that meeting had an opportunity to place themselves on the side of truth by receiving the Holy Spirit, which was sent by God in such a rich current of love and mercy. But in the rooms occupied by some of our people was heard ridicule, criticism, jeering, laughter. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit were attributed to fanaticism. Who searched the Holy Scriptures, as did the noble Bereans, to see if the things they heard were so? Who prayed for divine guidance? The scenes which took place at this meeting made the God of heaven ashamed to call those who took part in them, his brethren. All this the heavenly Watcher noticed, and it is written in the book of God's remembrance." {1888 1565.1}
This is not to say that God withdrew the Holy Spirit from His people as a convicting, converting agency of blessing in the capacity of the "former rain." Unnumbered souls have been led to God through various outpourings of the Spirit manifested in the remnant church from 1888 until now. God has not forsaken His people. But this is to say that our attitude tied God's hands, as it were, making it impossible for Him to send any further showers of the "latter rain." God could not, would not cast His choicest, long-reserved pearls of heavenly truth before unfeeling souls who would only turn and rend Him, as the above quotation implies. Therefore, those gracious, long-awaited showers of heavenly blessing known as the "latter rain" ceased after the initial outpouring at Minneapolis was so rudely and persistently repulsed. No self-respecting God would drown us with something we did not want. Why must we think of Him as being beyond the capacity of being grieved? Is Jesus indeed like a rude one who forces his unwelcome attentions upon the unfeeling, unsympathizing object of his affections?
That the blessings which "might have been" were not, and are not yet, is evident from the following quotation:
"In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings, This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was evidence and there was reasoning from the Word that commended itself to the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the "old landmarks"--when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks." {11MR 243.2}
"Now at the present time God designs a new and fresh impetus shall be given to His work. Satan sees this, and he is determined it shall be hindered. He knows that if he can deceive the people who claim to believe present truth, [and make them believe] that the work the Lord designs to do for His people is a removing of the old landmarks, something which they should, with most determined zeal, resist, then he exults over the deception he has led them to believe. The work for this time has certainly been a surprising work of various hindrances, owing to the false setting of matters before the minds of many of our people. That which is food to the churches is regarded as dangerous, and should not be given them. And this slight difference of ideas is allowed to unsettle the faith, to cause apostasy, to break up unity, to sow discord, all because they do not know what they are striving about themselves. Brethren, is it not best to be sensible? Heaven is looking upon us all, and what can they think of recent developments? While in this condition of things, building up barriers, we not only deprive ourselves of great light and precious advantages, but just now, when we so much need it, we place ourselves where light cannot be communicated from heaven that we ought to communicate to others." {1888 518.3}
In a deeply thought-provoking, almost cryptic sermon delivered at "Minneapolis on Sabbath, October 20, 1888, Mrs. White spoke of Elijah being fed by a widow outside of Israel because those in Israel who had light had not lived up to it. She dwelt upon the thought of Naaman being cleansed from his leprosy, while Israelitish lepers [Hansen's disease] remained defiled. Then she spoke of the inhabitants of Nazareth rising up against the son of Joseph and Mary, offended that the lowly One whom they had known as a humble carpenter in their midst should instruct them [610] (When the inhabitants of Nazareth rose up against the Son of Mary, "some" were ready to accept Him as the Messiah, but an influence "pressed in" to counter their conviction. These were illustrations of our 1888 history. 1888-1988 Reexamined, p. 60):
"But here a state of unbelief arises, Is not this Joseph's son? ... What did the people do [with Christ] in their madness? They "rose up, and thrust him out of the city." Could their eyes have been opened they would have beheld angels of God all around Him, that all heaven was engaged in this warfare between Christ and the prince of the powers of this world. They could have seen this, but their eyes were holden that they might not see it.
Here I want to tell you what a terrible thing it is if God gives light, and it is impressed on your heart and spirit, for you to do as they did. (Why) God will withdraw His Spirit unless His truth is accepted. But Christ was accepted (at Nazareth) by some; the witness was there that He was God. But a counterinfluence pressed in, and the evil angels were working through the congregation to raise doubts that would cause disbelief so that it would shut out every ray of light that God would permit to shine. No more could Christ do in such a place. You can see what a hold Satan had and what mistakes the people had made; they had not advanced, and because they had not advanced they had been working under the generalship of Satan and yet claimed that they were working under the generalship of God. But God had nothing to do with their unbelief and their rising up against Jesus Christ.
I wish you could see and feel that if you are not advancing you are retrograding.
Satan understood this; he knew how to take advantage of the human mind, and he had taken advantage of the human family ever since they had first stood upon the field of battle against the powers of darkness. Christ knew what the warfare was to be." {1888 124.1-3; Then she enlarged upon the idea that Satan enters in to shut out light when it is not received." (MS.8, 1888. Sermon at GC Session, Sabbath, Oct. 20, 1888.)}
Two days before, Mrs. White had solemnly warned that, so far as advanced light commensurate with the "latter rain" was concerned, the steps of unbelief being taken would be fatal:
"I hope that at the beginning of this meeting our hearts may be impressed with the positive statement of our Saviour, "Without me ye can do nothing." We have a great and solemn truth committed to us for these last days, but a mere assent to and belief in this truth will not save us. The principles of the truth must be interwoven with our character and life. We should cherish every ray of light that falls upon our pathway, and live up to the requirements of God. We should grow in spirituality. We are losing a great deal of the blessing we might have at this meeting, because we do not take advance steps in the Christian life, as our duty is presented before us; and this will be an eternal loss." {1888 117.1; Morning talk at Minneapolis, Oct. 18, 1888.}
The fatal consequences to that generation cherishing the "wonderful `I'" during and after the Minneapolis Conference are set forth in two other quotations which follow: (The American Sentinel controversy was mingled with the righteousness by faith controversy, because the Lord had ordained AT Jones should lead out in both movements, simultaneously. Some of the light of the "loud cry" was evident in his presentations of religious liberty as the essence of the third angel's message. Consequently, we find the brethren opposing the religious liberty work along with the gracious message of Christ's righteousness.)
"I inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing? You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord. There needs to be a cleansing of the heart, the feelings, the sympathies, the words, in reference to the most momentous subjects - the Lord God, eternity, truth. What is the message to be given at this time? It is the third angel's message. But that light which is to fill the whole earth with its glory has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth. Be careful how you treat it. Take off the shoes off your feet; for you are on holy ground. Beware how you indulge the attributes of Satan, and pour contempt upon the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent." {TM 89.2}
"Will the people of God now arouse from their carnal lethargy? Will they make the most of present blessings and warnings, and let nothing come between their souls and the light God would have shine upon them? Let every worker for God comprehend the situation and place the Sentinel before our churches, explaining its contents and urging home the facts and warnings it contains. May the Lord help all to redeem the time! Let not unsanctified feelings lead any to resist the appeals of the Spirit of God. Stand not in the way of this light; let it not be disregarded or set aside as unworthy of attention or credence.
If you wait for light to come in a way that will please everyone, you will wait in vain. If you wait for louder calls or better opportunities, the light will be withdrawn, and you will be left in darkness. Accept every ray of light that God sends. Men who neglect to heed the calls of the Spirit and word of God, because obedience involves a cross, will lose their souls. When the books are opened, and every man's work and the motives that prompted him are scrutinized by the Judge of all the earth, they will see what a loss they have sustained. We should ever cherish the fear of the Lord and realize that, individually, we are standing before the Lord of hosts, and no thought, no word, no act in connection with the work of God, should savor of selfishness or of indifference." {5T 720.2}
Conclusion to chapter 5
In conclusion, it is necessary to examine another statement from Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts:
"Rigtheousness by faith (was) not new light. There are those who have 
entertained the mistaken idea that the message of the righteousness of Christ was an unknown truth to the advent movement up to the time of the Minnesota meeting, but the fact is that our pioneers taught it from the very beginning of the advent church. As a young preacher, I often heard our veterans, such as J.G. Matteson and E.W. Farn(s)worth, declare that justification by faith was not a new teaching in our church. Some of the best and most godly preachers we ever had told us that they had always preached forgiveness of sin through the merits of Christ alone, and salvation by grace alone." [L.H. Christian, Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, pp. 225, 226.]
In the light of the quotation presented in this essay, it is evidence that Mrs. White regarded the message (See here) of 1888 as advanced light, the beginning of the latter rain and loud cry.
The insistence that the "doctrine" of "righteousness by faith" was not new to the SdA church 
was the familiar hall-mark and insignia of the unfortunate opposition to the message of 1888. Not long after the Minneapolis meeting, Elder R.F. Cottrell wrote an article attacking the 1888 movement, entitled "Where is the New Departure?" This article, says a Theological Seminary Thesis on the subject, "is an index to the thinking of those who did not fully understand the revival movement." Another writer who was a welcome contributor to the R&H in those days when the church paper was opposed to the message was Elder Wolcott H. Littlejohn. In the issue of January 16, 1894,
"Littlejohn attacked directly the revival movement 
(with his article) "Justification by Faith Not a New Doctrine." He quoted Smith "with pleasure," maintaining that the denomination had always held the doctrine, and only a few had failed to accept it. He refused to admit that we as a people have relied for justification upon our own works instead of the righteousness of Christ. A few weeks later, an article by Mrs. White, perhaps by coincidence, neatly met Littlejohn's objections." [N.F. Pease, "Justification by Faith in the SDA Church Before 1900", SDA Theol. Seminary Library, p. 83. N.F. Pease was the head of the department of religion/ theology at La Sierra College in the late 1960's.]
No matter how many "godly preachers" of a past generation maintained that the message of 1888 was a mere re-emphasis (and an implied unnecessary one) of what the church had always believed, the writings of Mrs. White have as "neatly met" their objections as her article referred to above met Littlejohn's objections. When will we be ready to desist following the "line" of the opposition to the gracious message of 1888? The publication today of such confusing sentiments in accord with the opposition to that heavenly light is a serious matter.
In support of the idea that the message of 1888 was not advanced light, but "what was taught from the very beginning of the advent church," the following quotation from Mrs. White is used:
"Laborers in the cause of truth should present the righteousness of Christ, not as new light but as precious light that has for a time been lost sight of by the people." [R&H, March 20, 1894. Quoted in Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, p. 226.]
The context of this statement from a R&H article shows that Mrs. White was speaking of public evangelism for the world. Our ministers must not present the cold, legal doctrines as heretofore, devoid of their verity; "the great center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out." Likewise, the Sabbath truth must never be presented as "new light," but "as precious light that has for a time been lost sight of by the people." SdAs are to be repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in, the discoverers of the old ways. Such a presentation will disarm prejudice, whereas the presentation of old truth as something new and novel will arouse opposition. Discoverers usually unearth old things that were known before; inventors usually concoct new things, which in the realm of theology, they obtain from their imagination. It would be fatal for SdA ministers to try to present salvation by faith as a new invention.
Although this statement tells us how to present to the world the message of Christ's righteousness, it does not tell us that the message of 1888 was not an advanced revelation to the church. Let a few other statements follow, which will harmonize perfectly with Jones' and Waggoner's position that the third angel's message is the "everlasting gospel," preached to Abraham in embryo, and continually unfolding through the ages:
"In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings." {MS. 13, 1889.}
"Some of our brethren have expressed fears that we shall dwell too much upon the subject of justification by faith, but I hope and pray that none will be needlessly alarmed; for there is no danger in presenting this doctrine as it is set forth in the Scriptures. If there had not been a remissness in the past to properly instruct the people of God, there would not now be a necessity of calling especial attention to it. Some of our brethren are not receiving the message of God upon this subject. They appear to be anxious that none of our ministers shall depart from their former manner of teaching the good old doctrines. We inquire, Is it not time that fresh light should come to the people of God, to awaken them to greater earnestness and zeal? The exceeding great and precious promises given us in the Holy Scriptures have been lost sight of to a great extent, just as the enemy of all righteousness designed that they should be. He has cast his own dark shadow between us and our God, that we may not see the true character of God. The Lord has proclaimed himself to be "merciful and gracious, long- suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." {RH, April 1, 1890 par. 7}
"The offering of Cain was an offense to God, because it was a Christless offering. The burden of our message is not only the commandments of God, but the faith of Jesus. A bright light shines upon our pathway today, and it leads to increased faith in Jesus. We must receive every ray of light, and walk in it, that it may not be our condemnation in the judgment. Our duties and obligations become more important as we obtain more distinct views of truth. Light makes manifest, and reproves the errors that were concealed in darkness; and as light comes, the life and character of men must change correspondingly to be in harmony with it. Sins that were once sins of ignorance because of the blindness of the mind, can no more be indulged in without incurring guilt. When light, searched out carefully and prayerfully, is flashed upon the mind from the living oracles, individuals and churches are placed under greater responsibility than before. As increased light is given, men must be reformed, elevated, and refined by it, or they will be more perverse and stubborn than before the light came." {RH, September 3, 1889 par. 19}
In the same year in which the quotation referred to above was made, Mrs. White wrote about Jesus' methods of teaching, as an example to the ministers who were to preach the third angel's message to the world. She said:
"He introduced old truths in a new and precious light." {MS. 44, 1894.}
It should be superfluous to add that the messengers whom Jesus sends in different ages to His people always do the same work. They are continually introducing the everlasting gospel "in a new and precious light." The conflict between truth and error, light and darkness, waxes fiercer as we near the end. New revelations of the mystery of iniquity arise, necessitating new revelations of the age-old mystery of godliness to shine merciless light of truth upon them. The light is old, shining from eternity; the revelation is new.
One more reference to Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts must be made in closing, to make this point clear:
As to whether righteusnes by faith was new light, Mrs. White spoke as dollows:
"I have had the question asked, `What do you think of this light that these men (AT Jones and EJ Waggoner) are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last 45 years, - the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds.'" [Sermon delivered at Rome, N.Y., June 17, 1889; MS. 5, 1889. (L.H. Christian, op. cit., p. 227.)]
The next sentence of "MS. 5. 1889", reads as follows:
"I have had the question asked, What do you think of this light that these men are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years--the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds. When Brother Waggoner brought out these ideas in Minneapolis, it was the first clear teaching on this subject from any human lips I had heard, excepting the conversations between myself and my husband. I have said to myself, It is because God has presented it to me in vision that I see it so clearly, and they cannot see it because they have never had it presented to them as I have. And when another presented it, every fiber of my heart said, Amen." {Ms 5, p. 10. (Sermon, Rome, New York, June 19, 1889.)} {5MR 219.1}
Chapter 6
The Grave Seriousness of the 1888-92 Reaction
Many new assertions of the Spirit of Prophecy concerning the reaction to the 1888 light sound incredible. We may be tempted to discount (unconsciously, of course) much of their import as we read them. The reason they sound incredible is precisely that they are that to us - our belief acts as a veil over our eyes and upon our heart. Hence it is that we can rationalize ourselves into a position of wishful thinking regarding 1888 such as has been examined in the previous chapters of this essay. What was a defeat we can blandly term a "glorious victory"; where we lost the way we can speciously assume that we found it; our weary, protracted wandering in a mental, foggy wilderness, we can complacently assure ourselves, is the double-quick, triumphant march to victory.
Such credulity is more extreme than any sharp-pointed statements to be found in the Spirit of Prophecy writings. A candid investigation of Mrs. White's writings, laying aside this "vail upon our heart", will bring the picture of the mysterious 1888 epoch sharply into focus.
Some of the quotations to be presented herewith have been considered in earlier chapters. They are repeated in connection with others for the purpose of focusing to as near pin-point accuracy as possible the truly alarming picture presented therein. Hazy, indistinct impressions should be further clarified.
A few lightening flashes of stark truth should dispel the cloudy mist that envelops Minneapolis in our thinking, and stab our minds into realizing that we are still there; or at least are in the suburbs yet. We are a spectacle unto angels, and will soon be unto men. It is bad enough to play the fool on the stage of Time; but it is even worse not to realize our role!
What the inhabitants of heaven already realize what we truly did at Minneapolis, and what the inhabitants of the world will soon themselves know, is as follows:
The Holy Spirit was Insulted
We rightly consider that Seventh day Adventism should render its adherents (being) kind and courteous to all mankind. "The Bible enjoins courtesy, and it presents many illustrations of the unselfish spirit, the gentle grace, the winsome temper, that characterize true politeness. These are but reflections of the character of Christ." (Ed. 241. 242) But ought we not to be courteous to the Spirit of God, as well as to our fellow men? It appears we have not been courteous:
"Some have made confession, yourself among the number. Others have made no confession, for they were too proud to do this, and they have not come to the light. They (The brethren) were moved at the meeting (Minneapolis) by another spirit, and they knew not that God had sent these young men, Elders Jones and Waggoner, to bear a special message to them, which they treated with ridicule and contempt, (not realizing that the heavenly intelligences were looking upon them) and registering their words in the books of heaven.
The words and actions of every one who took part in this work will stand registered against them until they make confession of their wrong. Those who do not repent of their sin will, if circumstances permit, repeat the same actions. I know that at that time the Spirit of God was insulted, and now when I see anything approaching to the same course of action, I am exceedingly pained. The people of God have had an opportunity to see what is the work these agents are doing, and yet those who are opposed to the points of truth which they brought out will, if occasion affords them a chance, make it appear that they are not in harmony with them, as much as to say, Beware of what they teach, for they carry matters to the extreme; they are not safe men." {Letter S 24, 1892; 1888 1043.2-3}
"Oh, if those in the various fields, in America and all over the world, were working according to the Bible rule, and were striving to uproot selfishness, what a work would be accomplished for the church! But sins which have from time to time been pointed out are lying at the door of many, sins which the Lord regards as of no light character. If men would only give up their Spirit of resistance to the Holy Spirit, --the spirit which has long been leavening their religious experience,--God's Spirit would address itself to their hearts. It would convince of sin. What a work! But the Holy Spirit has been insulted, and light has been rejected. Is it possible for those who for years have been so blinded, to see? Is it possible that in this late stage of their resistance their eyes will be anointed? Will the voice of the Spirit of God be distinguished from the deceiving voice of the enemy?" {TM 393.1}
"Now our meeting is drawing to a close, and not one confession has been made; there has not been a single break so as to let the Spirit of God in.
Now I was saying what was the use of our assembling here together and for our ministering brethren to come in if they are here only to shut out the Spirit of God from the people? We did hope that there would be a turning to the Lord here. Perhaps you feel that you have all you want."
{Sermon, Oct. 24, 1888; 1888 151.1,2}
"We are to pray for the impartation of the Spirit as the remedy for sin-sick souls. The church needs to be converted, and why should we not prostrate ourselves at the throne of grace, as representatives of the church, and from a broken heart and contrite spirit make earnest supplication that the Holy Spirit shall be poured out upon us from on high? Let us pray that when it shall be graciously bestowed our cold hearts may be revived, and we may have discernment to understand that it is from God, and receive it with joy. Some have treated the Spirit as an unwelcome guest, refusing to receive the rich gift, refusing to acknowledge it, turning from it, and condemning it as fanaticism." {TM 64.1; Realize, no church is immune from this.}
It should be clear that trifling with the Holy Spirit is a much more dangerous undertaking than is meet for SdA ministers. (Added: Jer. 17:1. 1888-1988.) "Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost. . ." (Mark 12:32). After Minneapolis, the great yearning heart of God beheld the youth at Battle Creek, and beholding them, loved them. But, alas, -
"Are not the teachers in our schools in danger of blasphemy, of charging the Holy Spirit of God with being a deceiving power, and leading into fanaticism. Where are the educators that choose the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field, or the cold, flowing waters that come from another place, instead of the murky waters of the valley? (Jer. 18:13-15) A succession of showers from the living waters has come to you at Battle Creek. Each shower was a consecrated inflowing of divine influence; but you did not recognize it as such. Instead of drinking copiously of the streams of salvation, so freely offered through the influence of the Holy Spirit, you turned to common sewers, and tried to satisfy your soul-thirst with the polluted waters of human science. The result has been parched hearts (Jer. 17:6) in the school and in the church. Those who are satisfied with little spirituality have gone far in unfitting themselves to appreciate the deep movings of the Spirit of God. But I hope the teachers have not yet passed the line where they are given over to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. If they are again visited by the Holy Spirit, I hope they will not call righteousness sin, and sin righteousness." {FE 434.2}
Let us permit no cloud to befog the reality of those words. "The spirit of man which is in him" must be guided by some spirit. If we turn away from the Holy Spirit, there is but one other to which we can yield.
"I do not wish to speak one word to you that will discourage you or bring upon you one pang of anguish. I have a love for your soul, and I desire that you shall bear the banner of truth firmly until the close of this earth's history. But to say that you will do this, I cannot. I am compelled to say to you that you are in danger, and your only safety lies in walking humbly with your God. Be careful what steps you take in expressing your differences with your brethren. You cannot tell how it pains me to see some of our brethren taking a course that I know is not pleasing to God. They (Some of our brethren) are full of jealousy and evil surmising, and are ever ready to show in just what way they differ with Elder Jones or Waggoner. The same spirit that was manifested in the past manifests itself at every opportunity; but this is not from the impulse of the Spirit of God.
I have not received a line from either Elder Jones or Waggoner since I left Battle Creek. I did not write a line to them until the last mail, when I wrote to Elder Jones, and a few weeks before sent a letter to Elder Waggoner concerning the work in England. But I can never forget the experience which we had in Minneapolis, or the things that were then revealed to me in regard to the spirit that controlled men, the words spoken, the actions done in obedience to the powers of evil.
Some have made confession, yourself among the number. Others have made no confession, for they were too proud to do this, and they have not come to the light. They were moved at the meeting by another spirit, and they knew not that God had sent these young men, Elders Jones and Waggoner, to bear a special message to them, which they treated with ridicule and contempt, not realizing that the heavenly intelligences were looking upon them and registering their words in the books of heaven." {15MR 82.3-83.2.}
The Holy Spirit of God has every right to His revenge, and it is not inconsistent with His divine character that He can take it when the time comes. And how can He seek His revenge, consistent with His character, which is Love? We shall see, when the time comes, that Love's revenge is more poignantly painful to endure than any other; for it will still be the voice of Love that speaks:
"There will be messages borne, and those who have rejected the messages God has sent, will hear most startling declarations. The Holy Spirit will invest the announcement with a sanctity and solemnity which will appear terrible in the ears of those who would not hear the pleadings of Infinite Love, and who have not responded to the offers of pardon and forgiveness. Injured and insulted Deity will speak, proclaiming the sins that have been hidden. As the priests and rulers, full of indignation and terror, sought refuge in flight at the cleansing of the temple (Jh. 2:15), so will it be in the work for these last days. The woes that will be pronounced upon those who had light from heaven, and did not heed it, they will feel, but they will have no power to act. This is represented in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. They cannot obtain a character from the wise virgins, and they have no oil of grace to discern the clear light, or to accept it, that they may join the procession going into the marriage supper of the Lamb." {1888 1490.3; Spec. Testim. S#7, 54,55}
Jesus Christ Spurned and Insulted
The meek and lovely Jesus still condescends to identify Himself with His brethren, who are always, it seems, "only men". Strange, how He so often chooses those who are "roots out of a dry ground":
"I would speak in warning to those who have stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the word of the Lord. There is salvation for you, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offered you again and again. Light and power from on high have been shed abundantly in the midst of you. Here was evidence, that all might discern whom the Lord recognized as His servants. But there are those who despised the men and the message they bore. They have taunted them with being fanatics, extremists, and enthusiasts. Let me prophesy unto you: Unless you speedily humble your hearts before God, and confess your sins, which are many, you will, when it is too late, see that you have been fighting against God. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, no longer unto reformation and pardon, you will see that these men whom you have spoken against have been as signs in the world, as witnesses for God. Then you would give the whole world if you could redeem the past, and be just such zealous men, moved by the Spirit of God to lift your voice in solemn warning to the world; and, like them, to be in principle firm as a rock. Your turning things upside down is known of the Lord. Go on a little longer as you have gone, in rejection of the light from heaven, and you are lost. `The man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation.'
I have no smooth message to bear to those who have been so long as false guideposts, pointing the wrong way. If you reject Christ's delegated messengers, you reject Christ. Neglect this great salvation, kept before you for years, despise this glorious offer of justification through the blood of Christ and sanctification through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. I entreat you now to humble yourselves and cease your stubborn resistance of light and evidence. Say unto the Lord, Mine iniquities have separated between me and my God. O Lord, pardon my transgressions. Blot out my sins from the book of Thy remembrance. Praise His holy name, there is forgiveness with Him, and you can be converted, transformed." {TM 97.1}
"To accuse and criticize those whom God is using is to accuse and criticize the Lord who has sent them. All need to cultivate their religious faculties, that they may have a right discernment of religious things. Some have failed to distinguish between pure gold and mere glitter, between the substance and the shadow. ...
There has been a departure from God among us, and the zealous work of repentance and return to our first love essential to restoration to God and regeneration of heart has not yet been done. Infidelity has been making its inroads into our ranks; for it is the fashion to depart from Christ, and give place to skepticism. With many the cry of the heart has been, "We will not have this man to reign over us." Baal, Baal, is the choice. The religion of many among us will be the religion of apostate Israel, because they love their own way, and forsake the way of the Lord. The true religion, the only religion of the Bible, that teaches forgiveness only through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, that advocates righteousness by the faith of the Son of God, has been slighted, spoken against, ridiculed, and rejected. It has been denounced as leading to enthusiasm and fanaticism. But it is the life of Jesus Christ in the soul, it is the active principle of love imparted by the Holy Spirit, that alone will make the soul fruitful unto good works. The love of Christ is the force and power of every message for God that ever fell from human lips. What kind of a future is before us if we shall fail to come into the unity of the faith?" {TM 467.2}
How painful it is to see in what way that glorious message given at Minneapolis is represented by contemporary writers to have been the cause of a theological bush fight, a contentious message of verbal pugilistics (?) arousing justifiable resentment! We have already had occasion to note Mrs. White's and others' testimonies to the effect that EJ Waggoner's eleven or twelve studies at Minneapolis on "righteousness by faith" were already delivered in a calm, straight forward manner free from combative excitement, presented as a "Christian gentleman" should present them. They quite took away the spirit of debate, and left souls that were susceptible to the Spirit of God as "subdued, repentant sinners". Note how the following quotation still casts "contempt upon the messenger", if not upon the message (See here) itself:
"As we look back on the controversy we perceive that it was the rancors aroused by personalities, much more than the differences in beliefs, which caused the difficulty. The party of Butler, Smith and Morrison believed in the theory of justification by faith . . . The party of Waggoner and Jones believed in the performance of good works; but . . . bore almost exclusively upon faith as the factor in salvation. Minds which could calmly reason could harmonize these views, but neither side was disposed to consider the other side calmly." [A.W. Spaulding, Captains of the Host, p. 599.]
Was the issue there indeed a mere matter of personalities? Did those who were declared to be representing our Lord "arouse" the "rancors" that made heaven turn from the scene with shame? Were the Lord's messengers, in the capacity of agents for the proclamation of the righteousness of Christ (Acts 17:31), indisposed to "calmly reason"? Why should the prophet recognize "precious light" in their unsanctified "shouting" (Ibid., p. 593), unreasonable, ranting "extreme teaching" (Ibid., p. 601)? Was the most gracious call Heaven ever extended to the church a mere matter of "men's persons, in admiration because of advantage"?(Jude 1:16)
No! Back of the shameful scene at Minneapolis, and back of the confusing shadows caused by men's unbelief today, stands the Figure who was the Rock of offence [640] and the Stone of stumbling (1.Pet. 2:8) at that fateful meeting. Is His ear pleased to hear us add to our sin of discourtesy to Him a stubborn denial of it?
"Time is passing, and God calls for every watchman to be in his place (Is. 21:6). He has been pleased to lead us to a crisis greater than any since our Saviour's first advent. What shall we do? God's Holy Spirit has told us what to do; but, as the Jews in Christ's day rejected light and chose darkness (Lk. 20:17), so will the religious world reject the message (See here) for today (Hebr. 12:17). Men professing godliness have despised Christ in the person of His messengers. Like the Jews, they reject God's message. The Jews asked regarding Christ, "Who is this? Is not this Joseph's son?" (Lk. 4:22) He was not the Christ that the Jews looked for. So today the agencies that God sends are not what men have looked for. But the Lord will not ask any man by whom to send. He will send by whom he will. Men may not be able to understand why God sends this one or that one. His work may be a matter of curiosity. God will not satisfy this curiosity; and His word will not return unto Him void." {FE 472.1}
"I want to tell you, dear friends, that we have done great dishonor to our Master. Shall we continue to cherish the sin of unbelief, which doth so easily beset us, or shall we cast away this weight of unbelief, and go to the Source of strength, believing that we shall receive pity and compassion from the One who knows our frame, who loves us so well that he gave His own life for us, who bore in His own body the strokes which fell because of our transgression of the law of God. All this He did that we might be prisoners of hope.
We are not polite to Christ. We do not recognize his presence. We do not realize that he is to be our honored guest, that we are encircled by his long human arm, while with his divine arm he grasps the throne of the Infinite. We forget that the threshold of heaven is flooded with the glory proceeding from the throne of God, that the light may fall directly on those who are seeking the help Christ alone can give. He said to the woman of Samaria, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. . . . Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. . . . We are to recognize Christ." {GCB, April 4, 1901 par. 11-13}
"Those whom God has sent with a message are only men, but what is the character of the message which they bear? Will you dare to turn from, or make light of, the warnings, because God did not consult you as to what would be preferred? God calls men who will speak, who will cry aloud and spare not. God has raised up his messengers to do his work for this time. Some have turned from the message of the righteousness of Christ to criticise the men and their imperfections, because they do not speak the message of truth with all the grace and polish desirable. They have too much zeal, are too much in earnest, speak with too much positiveness, and the message that would bring healing and life and comfort to many weary and oppressed souls, is, in a measure, excluded; for just in proportion as men of influence close their own hearts and set up their own wills in opposition to what God has said, will they seek to take away the ray of light from those who have been longing and praying for light and for vivifying power. Christ has registered all the hard, proud, sneering speeches spoken against his servants as against himself." {RH, May 27, 1890 par. 5}
We must learn that the one great lesson of history: that the true Christ has always been misapprehended. As often expected, He is as often rejected. Modern Israel must overcome at last all past failures of ancient Israel. No man can call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Flesh and blood can never reveal to us the true credentials of the "root out of a dry ground" (Is. 53:2) which may stand before us. Minneapolis teaches us that the ancient Jews will have to make room in history for us to kneel down beside them:
"The Spirit of God cannot work effectually in any heart where pride and self-esteem exist. But without the aid of the Spirit of God the soul cannot be renewed, a new heart cannot be created within. The Lord is at work seeking to purify his people, and this great work is retarded by unbelief and stubbornness. Many think that had they lived in Christ's day, they would have been among his believing followers; but if all the miracles of Christ were presented before those whose hearts are not subdued by the Spirit of God, their convictions would not be followed, nor their faith increased. Light has been shining upon the church of God, but many have said by their indifferent attitude, "We want not thy way, O Lord, but our own way." (Hebr. 3:10) The kingdom of heaven has come very near, and they have caught glimpses of the Father and the Son, but they have barred the door of the heart, and have not received the heavenly guests; for as yet they know not the love of God." {RH, April 11, 1893 par. 4}
"There is less excuse in our day for stubbornness and unbelief than there was for the Jews in the days of Christ. They did not have before them the example of a nation that had suffered retribution of their unbelief and disobedience. But we have before us the history of the chosen people of God, who separated themselves from him, and rejected the Prince of life. Though they could not convict him of sin, though they could not fail to see their own hypocrisy, they hated the Prince of life because he laid bare their evil ways. In our day greater light and greater evidence is given. We have also their example, the warnings and reproofs that were presented to them, and our sin and its retribution will be the greater, if we refuse to walk in the light. Many say, "If I had only lived in the days of Christ, I would not have wrested his words, or falsely interpreted his instruction. I would not have rejected and crucified him as did the Jews;" but that will be proved by the way in which you deal with his message and his messengers today. The Lord is testing the people of today as much as he tested the Jews in their day. When he sends his messages of mercy, the light of his truth, he is sending the spirit of truth to you, and if you accept the message, you accept of Jesus. Those who declare that if they had lived in the days of Christ, they would not do as did the rejectors of his mercy, will today be tested. Those who live in this day are not accountable for the deeds of those who crucified the Son of God; but if with all the light that shone upon his ancient people, delineated before us, we travel over the same ground, cherish the same spirit, refuse to receive reproof and warning, then our guilt will be greatly augmented, and the condemnation that fell upon them will fall upon us, only it will be as much greater as our light is greater in this age than was their light in their age." {RH, April 11, 1893 par. 7}
"Men (among us) can become just as were the Pharisees - wide-awake to condemn the greatest teacher that the world ever knew. Christ gave unmistakable evidence that He was sent of God, yet the Jewish rulers took upon themselves the work the enemy prompted them to do, and charged Him who made the Sabbath, who was the Lord of the Sabbath, with being a Sabbath breaker. Oh, the foolishness of men! the weakness of men!" {TM 294.2}
Let us hope there is still a remnant of gracious opportunity left to answer the following questions properly:
"The same disobedience and failure which were seen in the Jewish church have characterized in a greater degree the people who have had this great light from heaven in the last messages of warning.
Shall we, like them, squander our opportunities and privileges until God shall permit oppression and persecution to come upon us?
Will the work which might be performed in peace and comparative prosperity be left undone until it must be performed in days of darkness, under the pressure of trial and persecution?
There is a terrible amount of guilt for which the church is responsible."
{5T 456, 457}
A serious misconception has come to be patent today amongst us. It is supposed that the "controversy" of 1888 and thereafter was over a doctrine, a tenet of faith. Inasmuch as that "tenet of faith" appears in our present Year Book, and has appeared in our denominational literature for a century, it is further assumed that the entire issue of 1888 was simply that of how much emphasis to put on the preaching of this "doctrine." Theses in the Theol. Seminary have been written "to inquire what place the teaching of justification and righteousness by faith has been accorded alongside the distinctive tenets" of Seventh day Adventists. [See Bruno Steinweg, "Justification by Faith in the SDA Church After 1900", SDA Theol. Sem. Thesis, p. 4.]
The issue was not over a "doctrine" or a "tenet". No. It was rather: `What think ye of Christ?' Time and the Spirit of Prophecy writings prove the truth of the following words spoken over 40 years ago:
"Twenty years ago God sent to the SdA denomination the message of the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ to deliver them from any appearance of liability to the charge of legalism. This righteousness of God, which is by faith, was then treated with contempt by the administration of the organized work of the denomination. By the then president of the General Conference it was flouted as "the much counted doctrine of justification by faith". At Minneapolis, in 1888, the General Conference administration did its very best to have the denomination committed by a vote of the General Conference to the covenant of "Obey and Live", to righteousness by works. The attempt failed then; but from that day till this, that spirit and that element have never ceased just then, they apparently and professedly accepted righteousness by faith. But they never did accept it in the truth that it is. They never did accept it as life and righteousness from God; but only as a "doctrine" to be put on a list or strung on a string with "other doctrines", and preached as a "subject", with other "doctrinal subjects". [AT Jones, "The Everlasting Gospel of God's Everlasting Covenant," p. 31.]
While the Son of God hangs upon His Cross, must we continue to cast lots in various "inquiries" to see how to divide His vesture, this "doctrine" or "tenet" of righteousness by faith, among and "alongside of the distinctive tenets of SdAs"? Confusion has paralyzed our thinking when we suppose that the righteousness of the Son of God is a "doctrine" or "tenet of faith" to be emphasized in the intricate and homiletical balance of our preaching.[700]
How this confusion over a "doctrine" reared up its head amongst us will be seen in the following quotation:
"Whenever the Lord has a special work to do among his people, when he would arouse their minds to contemplate vital truth, Satan will work to divert the mind by introducing minor points of difference, in order that he may create an issue concerning doctrines that are not essential to the understanding of the point in hand, and thus bring about disunion, and distract attention from the essential point. When this occurs, the Lord is at work making impressions upon the hearts of men, concerning that which is necessary to their salvation. Then if Satan can draw the mind away to some unimportant issue, and cause the people to divide on some minor point, so that their hearts are barricaded against light and truth, he exults in malicious triumph. This he has done in the past, and this he purposes to do still, in order that he may cast his hellish shadow between the people and their God, and cut off the light that the Lord would have shine upon his children." {RH, October 18, 1892 par. 14}
The "crying baby" which distracted the attention of nearly all the brethren at the Minneapolis meeting was the doctrinal point of the "law in Galatians". Many fell for Satan's trap, and attention was successfully drawn away from the "precious light" being presented in Waggoner's eleven of twelve studies. It was not a doctrine that was being torn in pieces before it ever reached the bottom of the den - it was the glorious offer of righteousness through the faith of Christ, a living and real heart experience with Him, that was being despised. [Compare TM 97 and 292.]
A month before the Review article quoted above appeared, Mrs. White wrote a long letter to the President of the General Conference, in which she touched upon the same point of doctrinal distractions versus the heart experience of knowing Christ in the more intimate way that was lovingly offered us in 1888:
"When men listen to the Lord's message, but through temptation allow prejudice to bar the mind and heart against the reception of truth, the enemy has power to present the most precious things in a distorted light. Looking through the medium of prejudice and passion, they feel too indignant to search the Scriptures in a Christlike spirit, but repudiate the whole matter because points are presented that are not in accordance with their own ideas.
When a new view is presented, the question is often asked, "Who are its advocates? What is the position of influence of the one who would teach us who have been students of the Bible for many years?" God will send His words of warning by whom He will send. And the question to be settled is not what person is it who brings the message; this does not in any way affect the word spoken. "By their fruits ye shall know them."
... In regard to the testimony that has come to us through the Lord's messengers (Jones and Waggoner), we can say, We know in whom we have believed. We know that Christ is our righteousness, not alone because He is so described in the Bible, but because we have felt His transforming power in our own hearts." {1888 1023-1024.2. Letter written September 1, 1892, from North Fitzroy, Victoria, to O. A. Olsen, president of the General Conference.}
Ever since Minneapolis, the "doctrine" attitude has absorbed our attention. Dry, stale homilies have been repeatedly presented by those who have imagined that they were resurrecting the message (See here) of 1888, splitting hairs over the difference between "imputed" and "imparted" righteousness, justification and sanctification, expiation(?), propitiation, until the whole subject of "righteousness by faith" has become almost nauseating to our people. The same trouble prevailed soon after 1888:
"Many commit the error of trying to define minutely the fine points of distinction between justification and sanctification. Into the definitions of these two terms they often bring their own ideas and speculations. Why try to be more minute than is Inspiration on the vital question of righteousness by faith? Why try to work out every minute point, as if the salvation of the soul depended upon all having exactly your understanding of this matter? All cannot see in the same line of vision. You are in danger of making a world of an atom, and an atom of a world." {9MR 300.4}
Now that men know how to split the atom, which they did not know then, the plague is worse. The "doctrine" or "tenet of faith" has been greatly emphasized, while the Cross and the broken hearted sinner kneeling before it has been quite forgotten.
May we come to see that it was the Living, loving Christ who was insulted at Minneapolis, and not the cold doctrine that was "misunderstood"! We distrusted those swellings of the heart which were His drawings, and cast contempt upon Him who was drawing us by terming His tenderness "fanaticism". The mysterious attraction of the uplifted Cross drew from us zealous declaiming against enthusiasm and fanaticism. (See TM 80,81.) Oh, what a Saviour do we have, who can forgive is!
These words, written in 1867, by George MacDonald, seem almost prophetic of what happened in 1888 amongst us:
"He would come and dwell with us, if we would but open the chambers to receive Him. How shall we receive Him if, avoiding judgment, we hold this or that daub of authority or tradition hanging upon our walls to be the real likeness of our Lord? Is it not possible at least that, judging unrighteous judgment by such while we flatter ourselves that we are refusing to judge, we may close our doors against the Master Himself as an imposter, not finding Him like the pictures that hangs in our oratory?" [George MacDonald, Unspoken Sermons, pp. 69,70. London: Alexander Strahan, Publisher, 1867.]
Mrs. White's Ministry Was Seriously Questioned
It was a puzzle to the brethren of that era how Mrs. White could persist in supporting two young men against the calm, stolid judgment of the established brethren. It remains a puzzle to many of us today (perhaps unconsciously) how she could support two ranting extremists whose very extremism, so we suppose, led them into apostasy. If "balance" was what was needed, why did she so decidedly support the apparently unbalanced? In recent books, her position at Minneapolis is represented as being "middle ground" between Jones and Waggoner on the one hand and the brethren on the other. The "Lord's messengers" whom Mrs. White faithfully upheld are thus represented to be on the verge of being "carried away by their extreme views of certain points", viz., salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The resulting synthesis is unsatisfying to reason. If she was afraid, as L.H. Christian in Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts more than implies, that Jones' and Waggoner's teaching on Christ's righteousness contained "extreme views" calculated to "carry away" their adherents, why did she so unequivocally support that teaching and experience? Why did she go so far as to liken the brethren's reaction to Jones' and Waggoner's message to the Jews' reception of Christ? One author refers disparagingly to the "party of Waggoner and Jones", forgetting for the moment that there was no such party, except as Mrs. White herself joined them. Later he admits her support:
"The party of Waggoner and Jones believed in the performance of good works; but . . . they bore almost exclusively upon faith as the factor in salvation . . . Neither side was disposed to consider the other side calmly . . .
The fact that they could not be downed, and that they had the support of Mrs. White, intensified the animosity of their critics . . .
Jones and Waggoner had caught a vision of this supreme glory of Christ, and they were sent of God to reveal it. Yet the vividness of the truth at times led them to meet the opposition with extreme statements . . .
Extreme teaching of Jones and Waggoner."
[A.W. Spaulding, op. cit., p. 599. 601.]
Here is a puzzling problem to reconcile in our minds today, how Mrs. White could endorse "extreme teaching", even though there was some good in it. The prophet of the Lord was always quick to recognize that the most subtle form of evil possible is that which contains good mixed with embryonic evil. The third paragraph of the citation above goes so far as to admit that the vividness of the vision of Christ leads to extremism! Was that not precisely the fear that the opposition entertained at and following Minneapolis? And was that not precisely the caviling type of opposition that Mrs. White so boldly denounced? It is impossible to work out a modern historical "balance" between Mrs. White's position and that of the opposing brethren of that era, without perpetuating the very evils the following quotations condemn:
"I would speak in warning to those who have stood for years resisting light and cherishing the spirit of opposition. How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness? God has given them His message. They bear the word of the Lord. There is salvation for you, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offered you again and again. Light and power from on high have been shed abundantly in the midst of you. Here was evidence, that all might discern whom the Lord recognized as His servants. But there are those who despised the men and the message they bore. They have taunted them with being fanatics, extremists, and enthusiasts. Let me prophesy unto you: Unless you speedily humble your hearts before God, and confess your sins, which are many, you will, when it is too late, see that you have been fighting against God. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, no longer unto reformation and pardon, you will see that these men whom you have spoken against have been as signs in the world, as witnesses for God. Then you would give the whole world if you could redeem the past, and be just such zealous men, moved by the Spirit of God to lift your voice in solemn warning to the world; and, like them, to be in principle firm as a rock. Your turning things upside down is known of the Lord. Go on a little longer as you have gone, in rejection of the light from heaven, and you are lost. "The man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation." {TM 96.2}
"Those who are now first, who have been untrue to the cause of God, will soon be last, unless they repent. Unless they speedily fall upon the Rock and be broken, and be born again, the spirit that has been cherished will continue to be cherished. Mercy's sweet voice will not be recognized by them. Bible religion, in private and in public, is with them a thing of the past. They (the opposition) have been zealously declaiming against enthusiasm and fanaticism. Faith that calls upon God to relieve human suffering, faith that God has enjoined upon His people to exercise, is called fanaticism. But if there is anything upon the earth that should inspire men with sanctified zeal, it is the truth as it is in Jesus. It is the grand, great work of redemption. It is Christ, made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. ... If there is anything in our world that should inspire enthusiasm, it is the cross of Calvary. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Christ is to be accepted, believed on, and exalted. This is to be the theme of conversation--the preciousness of Christ." {TM 80.1, 81.1}
"The true religion, the only religion of the Bible, that teaches forgiveness only through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, that advocates righteousness by the faith of the Son of God, has been slighted, spoken against, ridiculed, and rejected. It has been denounced as leading to enthusiasm and fanaticism." {TM 467.2}
The "doctrinal" differences over the ten horns and the law in Galatians were Satan's distractions to divert attention from the presence of our Lord at that meeting. Mrs. White did not consider the presentation of the righteousness of Christ by Jones and Waggoner to be either "extreme" or "radical", but pointedly rebuked the caviling brethren because they thought it was! Witness the following from Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts, which follows the critical attitude of the opposition of long ago:
"Danger of Extreme Positions. Eagerness for debate was not the only peril that threatened the Adventist Church at the time of the Minneapolis session. Some were strongly inclined to take radical positions, as though it were a sign of strength to be extreme (an allusion to Jones vs. Smith). Mrs. White never wrote a line about the ten kingdoms to support either one side or the other. Nor did she endorse the ideas advanced by Elder Waggoner concerning Galatians (sic). She urged strongly that the discussion of this question should be dropped and attention be given to the subject of justification by faith. She even seemed to have a feeling that the two men who were so prominent at that time might later on be carried away by their extreme views of certain points." [L.H. Christian, op. cit., p. 232.]
Because of this unfortunate position herein perpetuated has a distinct bearing on our present attitude toward the Spirit of Prophecy, it is necessary to digress long enough to investigate more fully these virtual accusations against Jones and Waggoner. Three points must be noted:
that has remained with me was what I saw. Suddenly a light shone round me, and the tent was, for me, far more brilliantly lighted than if the noon-day sun had been shining, and I saw Christ hanging on the cross, crucified for me. In that moment I had my first positive knowledge, which came like an overwhelming flood, that God loved me, and that Christ died for me. God and I were the only beings I was conscious of in the universe. I knew then, by actual sight, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; I was the whole world with all its sin. I am sure that Paul's experience on the way to Damascus was no more real than mine . . . I resolved at once that I would study the Bible in the light of that revelation, in order that I might help others to see the same truth. I have always believed that every part of the Bible must set forth, with more or less vividness, that glorious revelation (Christ crucified)." [`The Last Confession of Faith,' E.J. Waggoner, written shortly before his death, which occured Tuesday, May 16, 1916.]
a private in the US army. He was not a product of the schools, but studied night and day, amassing a great store of historical and Biblical kowledge. Best of all, he was a humble, earnest, deep-feeling man, who came to have a genuine and unusual experience in knowing the Lord.
I have no reason to think that he is not as much esteemed of God as are any of my brethren, and I shall regard him as a Christian brother, so long as there is no evidence that he is unworthy. The fact that he honestly holds some views of Scripture differing from yours or mine is no reason why we should treat him as an offender, or as a dangerous man, and make him the subject of unjust criticism. We should not raise a voice of censure against him or his teachings unless we can present weighty reasons for so doing and show him that he is in error. No one should feel at liberty to give loose rein to the combative spirit. 
character. Many moved from feeling, not from principle and faith, and this solemn, fearful message stirred them. It wrought upon their feelings, and excited their fears, but did not accomplish the work which God designed that it should. God reads the heart. Lest His people should be deceived in regard to themselves, He gives them time for the excitement to wear off, and then proves them to see if they will obey the counsel of the True Witness." {1T 186.2} 
The President of the General Conference, Elder O.A. Olsen, also recognized the unprecedented seriousness of the issue at that 1893 meeting: