R.J. Wieland & D.K. Short

@ Published with permission by R.J. Wieland

May reading this document help you to become more faithful to the Word of God like it helped me to commit my life to Christ on a daily basis.

The Advent Movement Has thus far not made progress consistent with its prophetic destiny. The world has not as yet been truly stirred by the threefold message of Revelation 14. Though we may boast of our achievements, regaling ourselves wit statistical appraisals of our "phenomenal progress", we cannot escape the conviction of our better, soberer judgment that the Advent movement has so far fallen far short of the divine ideal for it. The conviction is deepening within the movement that its failure as assuming truly vexing proportions. This thought, though increasingly difficult to repress, is not openly confessed, simply because no one seems to know what would be the next step to take following such confession. It must be said, sooner or later, to our shame and confusion, that we have not yet understood very clearly the reasons why the movement has fallen so far short of its ideals,

To say helplessly that the reason is that we have failed to do our duty is merely an expression of the unanswered question in different terms. Why haven't we done our duty, and when will we do it? On the other hand, to say helplessly that God will soon arise and do something is merely to state the unanswered question in still another form: Why hasn't He already done what He will eventually do? We would not dare to charge God with any negligence or reluctance to bring about the complete fulfillment of prophecy, for we know that He has been ready to bring the Advent movement to its ultimate triumph long ago. The question remains, and now insists on being answered: What is the reason for our failure, and how can the difficulty be rectified?

For the greater portion of a century this question has been awaiting its answer. In recent decades, it has been vainly hoped that each succeeding resolution, program, policy, and "revival" would make the answering of the question unnecessary. We have assumed that the embarrassing show-down may somehow be obviated. If only some supernatural power could be attained which would render the propagation of Seventh-day Adventism universally and indisputably phenomenal, there would be no need for an unsavoury and humiliating investigation into Seventh-day Adventist history. The church and its leaders would thus be vindicated before the world and the universe, and in that "vindication", the long-awaited triumph of the movement would be realized.

This vain hope does not take into account the fact that such a vindication before the world and the universe of an unfaithful church could not by any means be vindication of God's truth. God could never bring the movement to a triumph without the making of past denominational wrongs right, unless He should "back down" to the point of surrendering His century-long insistence on the following of right principles, as communicated to His church through the ministry of the Spirit of Prophecy. To do so would be for Him to admit defeat, such a defeat being virtually that of the entire plan of redemption. It would be an admission that His standards had been too high, and that He never seriously expected that they would indeed be followed. Such lowering of the standard in order to vindicate an unrighteous people would be a complete travesty of divine justice. It would mean the establishment of Old Jerusalem, continually backsliding, unrepentant, and disobedient, in the New Earth, in place of the spiritually triumphant and thoroughly repentant New Jerusalem. It would be a complete disappointment of the hopes of Abraham, who "looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and Maker is God," and which city was to comprise a finally victorious community of his spiritual descendants, victorious in that they had attained to the maturity of Christian experience and faith, of which he was the true spiritual ancestor. Such a denouncement to the drama of the ages is unthinkable. Every failure of God's people to follow the light shining upon their pathway for the past century must be completely rectified by the present generation before the remnant church can be granted any divine vindication before the world. Absolutely nothing which does not bear the test of truth will be triumphant in the Judgment. As Judge, God simply cannot and will not clear the guilty, whether it be an individual or a movement. If this is true, it follows that there is before the remnant church a heavy account to settle. And the sooner the issue is faced squarely and candidly, the better.

The findings of this essay indicate that there has been serious misunderstanding of the significance of our history. A closer investigation is absolutely necessary. Truth will lose nothing as a consequence. The following quotation is primarily concerning doctrinal positions, with which the first section of this essay is not concerned; but the principles stated apply equally to any interpretations of our history that will not bear the closest scrutiny:

"There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation. We are living in perilous times, and it does not become us to accept everything claimed to be truth without examining it thoroughly; neither can we afford to reject anything that bears the fruits of the Spirit of God; but we should be teachable, meek and lowly of heart. There are those who oppose everything that is not in accordance with their own ideas, and by so doing they endanger their eternal interest as verily as did the Jewish nation in their rejection of Christ. The Lord designs that our opinions shall be put to the test, that we may see the necessity of closely examining the living oracles to see whether or not we are in the faith. Many who claim to believe the truth have settled down at their ease, saying, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." But Jesus says to these self-complacent ones, Thou "knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Let us individually inquire, Do these words describe my case? If so, the True Witness counsels us, saying, "Buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see." {RH, December 20, 1892 par. 1}

If we ourselves do not "put to the test" our opinions concerning both doctrinal matters and historical interpretations, we may be sure that keen minds among our opponents will eventually do the work for us:

"We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and now that the movement is right upon us, we ask, What are our people going to do in the matter? Do you realize that the night will soon come, when no man can work? Have you that intensity of zeal, that piety and devotion, which will enable you to stand when opposition is brought upon you? If God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be brought before councils, and every position of truth which we hold will be severely criticised. The time that we are now allowing to go to waste should be devoted to the charge God has given us, of preparing for the approaching crisis. Much time should be spent in prayer, that our garments of character may be washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb." {RH, December 11, 1888 par. 17}

"We see that efforts are being made to restrict our religious liberties. The Sunday question is now assuming large proportions. An amendment to our Constitution is being urged in Congress, and when it is obtained, oppression must follow. I want to ask, Are you awake to this matter? and do you realize that the night cometh, when no man can work? Have you had that intensity of zeal, and that piety and devotion, which will enable you to stand when oppression is brought upon you? It does not seem possible to us now that any should have to stand alone; but if God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be brought before councils and before thousands for his name's sake, and each one will have to give the reason of his faith. Then will come the severest criticism upon every position that has been taken for the truth. We need, then, to study the word of God, that we may know why we believe the doctrines we advocate. We must critically search the living oracles of Jehovah." {RH, December 18, 1888 par. 12}

When the above words were written, denominational history was in the making. Today it lies buried in archives, and certain interpretations of it very current amongst us have assumed almost the form and authority of "doctrines", it being considered as serious a matter to question these official interpretations of our past as to question our fundamental doctrines. Hence we need for thorough investigation, that true history may be distinguished from the "traditions of the elders". For various reasons to be named later, the Minneapolis [50] episode of our history has been enveloped in the foggy mists of that tradition. Fact must be separated from fancy.

The cleansing of the sanctuary can never be complete until the Minneapolis incident of our history is fully understood, and the tragic mistake rectified:

"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 19d, 1892, p. 15. (To O. A. Olsen, Sept. 1, 1892.) {2MR 57.2} [Requested by Youth's Instructor for article by T. G. Bunch.] {2MR 57.3}

That generation has gone to their rest, and a new one is now faced with the duty of correctly interpreting the significance of what happened. It will be seen that we are being tested just as truly as they were tested. Minneapolis, like Calvary, is much more than a mere historical event; it represents the outworking of principles. In a certain sense, we are each one at Calvary. We are also at Minneapolis. That we shall be called upon to do what a past generation failed to do is evident in the following quotation from unpublished portions of the serious testimony given November 3, 1890:

""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 [200] 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}

A former president of the General Conference recognized that the Minneapolis issues will remain a perennial test among us, until we fully overcome:

"Some may feel tried over the idea that Minneapolis is referred to. I know that some have felt grieved and tried over any allusion to that meeting, and to the situation there. But let it be borne in mind that the reason why anyone should feel so is an unyielding spirit on his part. Just as quickly as we fully surrender, and humble our hearts before God, the difficulty is all gone. The very idea that one is grieved, shows at once the seed of rebellion in the heart ....

If we fail at one time, the Lord will take us over the ground again; and if we fail a second time, he will take us over the ground again; and if we fail a third time, the Lord will take us over the same ground again. .. Instead of being vexed over the idea that the Lord is taking us over the same ground, let us thank Him, and praise Him unceasingly, for this is God's mercy and compassion. Anything else than this is our ruin and destruction." {Ibid., p. 188}

A prediction made by A.T. Jones in 1893 is also worthy of serious consideration in this connection:

"That, however, is but a sample. There will be things to come that will be more surprising than what 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 messenger by whom it is sent, as God has declared we have treated that other message." {Ibid., p. 185.}

Until we recognize the facts of our past more candidly, all our attempts to secure a supernatural display of spiritual "power" proportionate to the promised latter rain must be, of necessity, doomed to failure. There are two reasons for the necessity of this failure:

1. The true God has promised that He will not add His blessings to confusion, for His name and the cause of truth could not thereby be glorified.

2. The false "God" of the modern religious world is powerless to make final and effective use of advantage gained by him already in his efforts to fasten the remnant church in his relentless grasp. He cannot bestow a supernatural "power" upon the Seventh-day Adventist church as a whole, as he is doing with other religious bodies, because of the presence within Israel of many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Even he cannot add his supernatural "blessings" to a divided people, halting between two opinions! The residual strength of the honest in heart who still constitute a great proportion of modern Israel renders impotent Baal's final attempt to subjugate the Israel of God.

The next step will obviously be for Israel to take stock of her situation, and decide to follow - in the sense of utter devotion - one Lord or the other. The implications of such a decision are staggering to contemplate.

Chapter 2

Leaving the first love

It is now clearly evident that very soon after the passing of the time in 1844 and the establishment of the "little flock" who were to constitute the remnant church, there was a manifest deficiency in the understanding of the three angels' messages that resulted in spiritual weakness and immaturity. This weakness was not seriously enough apparent to call forth rebuke from the Spirit of Prophecy, until the basic essentials of the message as we know it (See here) became understood. In other words, the deficiency in the understanding of the message was not doctrinal. It was spiritual, and affected adversely the Christian experience of the early Seventh-day Adventists.

No one can deny the genuiness of the Christian experience enjoyed by those who passed through the 1844 movement. Jesus was "precious" to the saints who looked for His soon coming. They were in love with Him, and their hearts were undivided in deep, sincere devotion. Numerous statements from Mrs. E.G. White and other of the early Adventist pioneers attest their solemn conviction that the Spirit of God was unmistakeably in that movement. Indeed, it was this conviction that the Spirit of God was in the movement (rather than their reliance on the doctrinal correctness of their positions) which preserved the "little flock" faithful through the time of the Great Disappointment. The Seventh-day Adventist church was conceived in a time indicated by prophecy to be an experience of genuine love and was born in a travail of soul on the part of the "little flock" who recognized, and would not surrender their faith in a genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Thus she was "well born". In her early years, she loved her "precious" Jesus with a true heart, and the genuine work of the Spirit of God was recognized. Her later difficulties stem from the tragic experience of leaving that "first love", and a consequent failure to recognize the true Holy Spirit.

As early as 1850, it was evident that the warmth of devotion and true love for Jesus manifest in the 1844 movement had been replaced in the hearts of some by a "stupid and dormant", "half awake" condition, caused by a love of self taking the place of a true love for God. One of the first testimonies of reproof from the Spirit of Prophecy presented the sufferings of Jesus in behalf of His people in an effort to stir their languishing love. {EW, 48-50}

Pride and complacency in the profession of a system of truth so obvious as the Advent message gradually began to crowd out the simple, heartfelt love for Jesus which led to its acceptance originally. The "truth" being found invincible in debate and argument, Adventists found it difficult to resist the subtle and unconscious temptation to indulge a spiritual pride that they had seen and accepted it. Opposition led them to cherish the hope of vindication at the time of the Second Advent. Gradually, and unconsciously, this hope of vindication in the Judgment at the "Second Advent" absorbed their thoughts more than Love's anticipation of the meeting with the Beloved, whether such a meeting included any vindication or not. Their faith became to them more an act on their part of belief and obedience, than a heart-felt love of Christ through a belief of the truth. Instead of continuing to walk humbly with God in utter dependence upon Him, "we" began to walk proudly with the indisputable doctrinal evidences of "the truth". The result was inevitably a form of legalism. The same experience has been repeated almost invariably in the individual lives of new Adventist converts, ever since. Rightly understood, the history of the Advent movement is the story of our own poor, individual hearts. In all that we say about the brethren of past years, we must remember that we are no better than they. We, as Paul informed the believers at Rome (Romans 2:1), do the same things. Only through such an insight can the mysteries of our denominational history be resolved into present-day significance.

Mrs. E.G. White early recognized that the real root of spiritual weakness of the young movement was that the church had left her first love. Mrs. White herself, however never lost that first love for Jesus. She was always keen and quick to recognize manifestations of the true Spirit of God. The miraculous demonstrations of the power of the Spirit of God attending her ministry forced the church to recognize the divine authority of her messages. Although the church as a whole was seldom in heart-sympathy with their spiritual import. The almost continual neglect of the church to heed her earnest appeals to return to that first love constitute the most shameful and embarrassing portions of our denominational history. The reason lay in the increasing self-love of ministers and believers. It was inevitable that love for Jesus should be crowded out, and as a consequence, that the ability to discern the working of the Holy Spirit became less keen. [CIAS comment: This happens in all churches of all faiths.]

Had it not been for the continued ministry of the Spirit of Prophecy, the movement could not have survived. This in itself - usually recognized amongst us as true - is a strikingly plain commentary on the nature of our deep seated unbelief. We were repeating in a few decades history that which ancient Israel occupied centuries in traversing. No Seventh-day Adventist would deny that the denomination was "Jerusalem". But she was still the old city, not yet the New.

This deficiency in the understanding of the three angels' messages was no fault of God. The Advent message itself was complete. But it was self which blinded the workers and believers to a proper discernment of the third angel's message in verity (??), just as the blindness of the Jews prevented them from discerning the message of Judaism in verity (See Ps. 111:7 and 1.Tim. 2:7). That verity to which the Jews were blind was the place of the Cross in the services of their sanctuary, and in the ministry of their expected Messiah. Likewise, the place of the Cross in the three angels messages was not discerned. The deficiency was tragic.

As early as 1867, Mrs. White said:

"We should not wish to invent something to make a cross; but if God presents to us a cross, we should cheerfully bear it. In the acceptance of the cross we are distinguished from the world, ... `We have been so united with the world that we have lost sight of the cross and do not suffer for Christ's sake.' {1T 525.1} ... who love us not and ridicule our peculiarity. Christ was hated by the world because He was not of the world. Can His followers expect to fare better than their Master? If we pass along without receiving censure or frowns from the world we may be alarmed, for it is our conformity to the world which makes us so much like them that there is nothing to arouse their envy or malice; there is no collision of spirits. The world despises the cross. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Galatians 6:14. {1T 525.2}

The authors quote only the bold part but we present the whole paragraph so the reader may rest assured that the quotations are appropriately chosen. In those paragraphs without bold print, the authors quoted the whole paragraph. That is why this presentation is so much longer than the original.

In 1879, she wrote:

"My ministering brethren, seek Jesus with all lowliness and meekness. Do not try to draw the attention of the people to yourselves. Let them lose sight of the instrument, while you exalt Jesus. Talk of Jesus; lose self in Jesus. There is too much bustle and stir about our religion, while Calvary and the cross are forgotten." {5T 133.1}

Unnumbered times, the messenger of the Lord decried the love of self that was so painfully evident in those who professed to love Jesus. Every species of self-love prospered within the church, resulting in a settled lukewarmness. To re-read the burning messages of reproof and entreaty that were sent to the church over a period of nearly twenty years preceding the 1888 meeting is to recognize that deep, heart-felt love for Jesus was all too lacking in the Seventh-day Adventist church.

Growth vs. Progress

The spiritual deficiency which obstructed the real progress of the Advent movement was only rendered more complex by the fact that the church was enjoying a prosperous growth numerically, financially, and in prestige. This growth was reflected in a steady increase of institutional and evangelistic strength. The movement has now assumed the form of a permanently established denomination, well respected.

There was, of course, nothing whatever wrong with the fact that the denomination was growing thus, and increasing in such form of strength. Most of the advances made were at the insistent exhortation of the Spirit of Prophecy. It was right and proper that institutes should be established, and that the work spread into new regions, and churches everywhere be raised up. What was not right and proper was that this growth should be mistaken for the real purpose of the Advent movement, namely, a spiritual progress. But confusion did result, and self-esteem and self-complacency were but thinly veiled in the weekly reports of the "advance of the cause", as published in the R&H. It is interesting to compare the spirit evident in those reports of "progress", which were the order of the day, with the burning messages of reproof and counsel which were sent out by the agent of the gift of prophecy at the same time. Most alarming discrepancies are evident between Mrs. White's appraisal of the condition of the church and the self-congratulatory spirit of many of the reports. History has not upheld as wholly warranted the almost incessant optimism of many of the brethren with regards to the results of their work. True, God was leading, and the movement was His. But the judgment of history must be that the most significant and remarkable aspect of the "work" was not its "progress", as reported, but its tragic lack of progress compared with what, under God, it should have been had it not been for the prevalence of selfish unbelief.

The primary end and purpose of the Advent movement is world history was the attainment by a remnant church to a perfect character which would completely vindicate the sacrifice of Calvary. No other community of "saints" in all history had attained to such a maturity of experience. This last community of saints should become fully worthy to constitute the population of a "New Jerusalem", having overcome all the mistakes of all previous generations of the professed people of God. In their characters was to be seen the practical result of the "cleansing of the sanctuary." In them the plan of salvation was to reach its culmination, and the doubts and objections of Satan and his hosts forever answered. The unfallen universe itself was to be reassured by beholding this perfect demonstration of the absolute success of the plan of redemption.

Consequent on the attainment of this primary objective, and bound up with it, was the realization of a secondary purpose: the finishing of the gospel program of world evangelization. It was inevitable that the attainment of the first and primary goal of the remnant church would include the attainment of this secondary goal. It follows, therefore, that for the Advent movement to have made genuine progress, there would have to be definite advancement toward the attainment of that primary goal of spiritual character development. Can anyone successfully maintain that the remnant church is closer to the attainment of that goal in 1950 than she was in 1850? Rather, it would be difficult to prove that there has not been some progress in reverse!

It is neither a pleasing nor an encouraging aspect of our history to dwell upon. The longer we delay the fact, however, the more difficult will our position become.

Had we not been blinded by self-love, a true understanding of the verity of the three angels' messages would have insured genuine progress long ago toward the attainment of that primary goal. However, the imagined fulfillment of the secondary goal, namely, the growth and establishment of a world-wide missionary endeavor, together with increased numerical, and financial strength, has enticed us into assuming that the Advent movement has made real "progress". Oblivious of the fact that many other denominations strength means nothing so far as Heaven's real blessings upon our work are concerned - we have largely lost sight of the attainment of our primary goal, in an illusory and imagined fulfillment of the secondary goal. Indeed, we no longer repress the language of our hearts, but unashamedly declare how rich and increased with "goods" we are, such "goods" being our works. Statistical reports bulge with ill-advised conclusions based on financial or numerical advancement. A few samples follow:

"All records of performance both at home and abroad during the past four years show clearly that God's work is advancing rapidly. . . The message of truth is moving steadily forward. The urgency of the world's need beckons on to higher attainments." [SDA Statistical Summary, 1946-49, by Claude Conrad.]

"The financial success of this vast denominational undertaking cannot be stronger than the faith and zeal which animate God's chosen people. These combined resources, under the generalship of the Captain of the Lord's Hosts, will lead to the early triumph of the great Second Advent Movement in all the world." [37th Financial Report, General Conference, Year ending Dec. 31, 1948, p. 9.]

Here is unashamed boasting that the faith and zeal which animate "God's chosen people" are measured by their statistical records! Since our faith and zeal cannot be less than our works, it must follow that it is now impossible to be "rich and increased with goods" and still remain in need of anything! The Author and Finisher of our faith declares just the opposite, however. We may take pride in this greatly expanding work, and feel that it is marching to victory certainly, while the truth is that we are approaching a spiritually bankrupt condition, unless help is forthcoming.

Such, in fact, was the spiritual condition of the church in the decade preceding the 1888 General Conference Session. There is this difference, however, that today, in 1950, with a more ponderous world-wide machinery of organization, the difficulty of rectifying the unfortunate condition appears to be even more perplexing. We face today the fact of our spiritual impotency, serious beyond any previous experience of the church. Self-love, self-regard, still being our basic sin, its incidence all over a vastly increased world work among our workers and people in many nations and tribes presents staggering problems. It can no longer be hoped that the mere passage of time can provide a remedy. Time enough has now gone by to satisfy anyone's reasonable patience. Even God's patience may soon be at an end. The nauseating effects of our wretched lukewarmness will not, cannot, be tolerated by the Lord Himself forever.

The key to the understanding of our present baffling position lies in a true appraisal of what happened at the 1888 General Conference Session, and its aftermath. That fateful meeting is now more than history: it is a parable.

Chapter 3

The "Loud Cry" to come in a surprising way

Earnest messages came from the agent of the gift of Prophecy to the remnant church during the years preceding the fateful Minneapolis General Conference Session of 1888. There is no need to repeat here a resume of those messages, for they are adequately summarized in the little book, Christ our Righteousness, EGW quotes compiled by A.G. Daniells or see these from 1SM. Those inspired appeals pointedly called attention to the lukewarm, legalistic, Christless, unspiritual, and formalist conditions prevailing in the church.

In spite of the prevailing declension of faith, the church and its leadership looked forward to the "time of refreshing", when a change would take place. This long-expected advent of the latter rain and the "loud cry" was as much a cherished expectation among SdAs of seventy years ago, as the long-awaited coming of the Messiah was to the Jews of Christ's day. However, it seemed not to be recognized that the outpouring of the Spirit in the "loud cry" would be primarily light to lighten the earth with glory, and that the expected miraculous demonstrations of supernatural power would be consequent upon the acceptance by the church of that light.

From our vantage point seventy years after, we may observe how apparently none of the responsible brethren of that day recognized the seriousness of Mrs. White's warning that they might disparage and spurn the "loud cry" when it should finally begin, because of their inability to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit. In 1882, Mrs. White wrote:

"The minds of many have been so darkened and confused by worldly customs, worldly practices, and worldly influences that all power to discriminate between light and darkness, truth and error, seems destroyed. I had little hope that my words would be understood; but when the Lord moved upon me so decidedly, I could not resist His Spirit. Knowing that you were involving yourselves in the snares of Satan, I felt that the danger was too great for me to keep silent." {5T 62.2}

"I bear you the testimony of the Lord. All will hear His voice who are willing to be corrected; but those who have been deceived by the enemy are not willing now to come to the light, lest their deeds shall be reproved. Many of you cannot discern the work and presence of God. You know not that it is He. The Lord is still gracious, willing to pardon all who turn to Him with penitence and faith. Said the Lord: Many know not at what they stumble. They heed not the voice of God, but follow the sight of their own eyes and the understanding of their own hearts. Unbelief and skepticism have taken the place of faith. They have forsaken Me. ...
Many are lifting up the soul unto vanity. No sooner does a person imagine that he possesses any talent which might be of use in the cause of God than he overestimates the gift and is inclined to think too highly of himself, as though he were a pillar of the church. The work which he might do with acceptance he leaves for someone else with less ability than he considers himself to possess. He thinks and talks of a higher station. He must let his light shine before men; but instead of grace, meekness, lowliness of mind, kindness, gentleness, and love shining in his life, self, important self, appears everywhere. " {5T 74.1}

"There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit. Such a faith as that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned and insufferable at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind." {5T 79.2}

Mrs. White pointed out that a false optimism prevailed among the brethren ("I know that many think far too favorably of the present time",) (5T 80) and warned that "in the mighty sifting soon to take place", leading workers would be found unfit for crisis-era leadership:

"The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to "science falsely so called" will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster." {5T 80.1}

As far back as 1880, Mrs. White had looked forward to the time when the Lord would take things in His own hands, and raise up human instrumentalities whom He could trust with such responsibilities:

"When as a people our works correspond with our profession, we shall see very much more accomplished than now. When we have men as devoted as Elijah, and possessing the faith which he possessed, we shall see that God will reveal Himself to us as He did to holy men of old. When we have men who, while they acknowledge their deficiencies, will plead with God in earnest faith as did Jacob, we shall see the same results. Power will come from God to man in answer to the prayer of faith. There is but little faith in the world. There are but few who are living near to God. And how can we expect more power and that God will reveal Himself to men, when His word is handled negligently and when hearts are not sanctified through the truth? Men who are not half converted, who are self-confident and self-sufficient in character, preach the truth to others. But God does not work with them, for they are not holy in heart and life. They do not walk humbly with God. We must have a converted ministry, and then we shall see the light of God and His power aiding all our efforts." {4T 402.1}

In a message addressed to the President of the General Conference [270], dated October 1, 1885, Mrs. White warns him that unless he and some others...

"... are aroused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Those who are accounted good workers will need to draw nigh to God, they will need the divine touch. They will need to drink more deeply and continuously at the fountain of living water, in order that they may discern God's work at every point. Workers may make mistakes, but you should give them a chance to correct their errors, give them an opportunity to learn caution, by leaving the work in their hands." {TM 299.2}

Thus it is evident that the Lord would be forced to pass by experienced workers in the cause, to use younger or more obscure men for this work:

"The Lord often works where we least expect Him; He surprises us by revealing His power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come . . . Many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them . . . Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message (See here) for this time. . . . Young men should search the Scriptures for themselves. They are not to feel that it is sufficient for those older in experience to find out the truth; that the younger ones can accept it from them as authority." [G.W. old edition, p. 126.]

Again, in 1882, the church was informed:

"Elijah took Elisha from the plow and threw upon him his mantle of consecration. The call to this great and solemn work was presented to men of learning and position; had these been little in their own eyes and trusted fully in the Lord, He would have honored them with bearing His standard in triumph to the victory. But they separated from God, yielded to the influence of the world, and the Lord rejected them.
Many have exalted science and lost sight of the God of science. This was not the case with the church in the purest times.
God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals." {5T 82.2-4}

"The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to "science falsely so called" will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster." {5T 80.1}

The divine choice of messengers

It is significant that in that very year, 1882, a young man in the West began a course of training under the guidance of the Holy Spirit that prepared him to be the agent of a special work for God. An experience came to Ellet J. Waggoner (1855-1916), son of Joseph H. Waggoner (1820-1889), of which he later wrote as follows:

"Christ is primarily the Word of God, the expression of God's thought; and the Scriptures are the Word of God simply because they reveal Christ. It was with this belief that I began my real study of the Bible, thirtyfour years ago (1882). At that time Christ was set forth before my eyes "evidently crucified" before me. I was sitting a little apart from the body of the congregation in the large tent at a camp meeting in Healdsburg, one gloomy Sabbath afternoon. I have no idea what was the subject of the discourse. Not a word nor a text have I ever known. All 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.]

In those same years preceding 1888, the Lord was preparing another human agent whose labours providentially were destined to join in the special work. The message of truth (See here) found A.T. Jones as 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.

He was a man of keen intellect, but of warm, simple, child-like faith. In the days when he was used of God, he was a mighty power in preaching and in personal ministry. In the years immediately following the 1888 Session, there were numerous demonstrations of the Spirit of God's unusual miracle-working power which attended his preaching of the gospel. It is impossible to deny that the Spirit of God was preparing these two young men to be the agents in heralding to the remnant church that message which was to have been the beginning of the long-awaited "loud cry":

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones (Their preaching is published in the book Lessons on Faith) [chp]. 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 (See here). 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}

"This is the very work which the Lord designs that the message He has given His servants shall perform in the heart and mind of every human agent (See here). It is the perpetual life of the church to love God supremely and to love others as they love themselves. There was but little love for God or man, and God gave to His messengers just what the people needed. Those who received the message were greatly blessed, for they saw the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and life and hope sprang up in their hearts." {TM 95.1}

For several years following the 1888 meeting, Mrs. White (1827-1915) repeatedly referred in a special sense to Elders Jones and Waggoner as the Lord's "messengers." There were no others, save the prophet herself, who fully shared their burden. In 1890 she said:

"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?" {R&H, March 18, 1890}

In 1888 she said:

"God is presenting to the minds of men divinely appointed precious gems of truth, appropriate for our time." {1888 Materials 139.2} [Unpublished Minneapolis Sermons, 1888, quoted by N.F. Pease in Seminary Thesis, p. 60.]

"The message given us by A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church (See here)." {15MR 92.1}[E.G. White, Letter S-24-1892.]

Mrs. White, when she heard the teaching of E.J. Waggoner [280], perceived immediately its true significance as being a special revelation of light from God, for the church first, and ultimately for the world:

"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 (1850-1923). 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 Materials 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}

"Loud cry" not recognized

In the year 1892, Mrs. White clearly stated that the message (See here) which these two brethren presented at the Minneapolis Conference and immediately thereafter was the beginning of the long-awaited "loud cry":

"The loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the riighteousness of Christ, the sin pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth." {R&H, November 22, 1892}

The caviling, fault-finding, critical, and opposing attitude of the leading brethren tragically fulfilled the pointed warning sent to the President of the General Conference in 1885, quoted above, as well as many other testimonies sent to workers and people in general. Indeed, the brethren did "not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel" was "heard". When the light went forth "to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord," they tried to "bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas."

"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 (See here)? 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}

"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 83.1-2}

"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.
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." {15MR 83.2-3}

Later, in consequence of the insult of that time, the prophet declared that:

"Today this sacrilegious work is being more than repeated.
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, 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}

Thus did modern Israel, fondly expecting to be vindicated before the world by a display of supernatural power in the long-expected "loud cry", actually do despite to the Spirit of grace, and despise the riches of His goodness.

The most responsible officer of the church was foremost in his opposition to the actual manifestation of the light which was to lighten the earth with its glory:

"I see no excuse for the wrought-up state of feeling that has been created at this meeting (Minneapolis 1888). 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}

"Some interpretations of Scripture given by Dr. Waggoner I do not regard as correct. But I believe him to be perfectly honest in his views, and I would respect his feelings and treat him as a Christian gentleman. 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.
There are some who desire to have a decision made at once as to what is the correct view on the point under discussion. As this would please Elder Butler, it is advised that this question be settled at once. But are minds prepared for such a decision? I could not sanction this course, because our brethren are exercised by a spirit which moves their feelings, and stirs their impulses, so as to control their judgment. While under so much excitement as now exists, they are not prepared to make safe decisions." {1888 164.1-2}

In Elder Butler's opposition to the "loud cry" when it was beginning to sound, we may see the sad fulfillment of the inspired warning sent to him from Christiana, Norway, on Thursday, October 1, 1885, that he might "not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be hear." {PC, 381.1; TM, 300}

This sad experience is more than history. It is a parable, "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." The lesson applies to all of us who bear responsibilities in modern Israel in this mid-twentieth century. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

So-called "faults" of messengers no excuse

The sin committed at Minneapolis and thereafter was the sin of unbelief, for which no reason or excuse can be offered. The rejection of light by God's appointed trustees on earth is forever inexcusable. But the brethren who opposed the light of the "loud cry" thought their course was justifiable, because the agents whom the Lord employed seemed faulty. For our admonition, it would be well to note how the prophecy that the Lord would work in a way out of the ordinary was fulfilled in the manners and personalities of His chosen messengers for the time.

The only "reason" which can possibly be given for the opposing attitude of responsible brethren is simply that the Lord surprised them by the way He worked:

"There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of their heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their expectations and ideal, they will oppose the work. "Why," they say, "should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?" Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, but persistently said, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." {Mar 219.1; R&H, Thursday, November 7, 1918; Bible Training School, May, 1907.}

"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 Materials,166.2; 16Mr 306.2}

Mrs. White challenged the brethren who were so surprised at the means which God employed, "Can you tell in what way God is going to give us new truth?" [Sermon, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1888, Minneapolis.]

Older, experienced brethren were piqued at the prospect of Mrs. White so decidedly supporting the two comparatively young and obscure men against practically the entire assembly of workers. If Sister White was right, it seemed that God had passed them by:

"Those whom God has sent with a message are only men, but what is the character of the message which they bear (See here)? 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, Tuesday, May 27, 1890 par. 5}

"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? 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. {TM 413.1}

Human nature being what it is - when self is very much alive - it would be inevitable that the brethren should seek for some pegs on which to hang their doubts. The fact that the Lord's chosen messengers were "only men" seemed to supply the need:

"Those whom God has sent with a message are only men, but what is the character of the message which they bear (See here)? 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 (See here) 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}

"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}

In a recently published book (in an attempt to show that the opposition was "justifiable"), the "faults" of A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner are emphasized as follows:

Not only was he (AT Jones) naturally abrupt, but he cultivated singularity of speech and manner . . . was at times obstreperous (?), and he gave just cause for resentment . . . occasionally crudities (forgiveable).

(AT Jones and EJ Waggoner) shouting, "Christ is all" . . . gave evidence that they were not wholly sanctified. (Incorrectly quotes Mrs. White as supporting the idea that Jones and Waggoner contributed a contentious spirit to the "terrible experience at the Minneapolis Conference").

They bore almost exclusively upon faith as the factor in salvation . . . (were) not disposed to consider the other side calmly . . . Were not wholly without fault in conceit and arrogance . . .

Failed to show the humility and love which righteouness by faith (Gal. 5:5) imparts . . . Extreme teaching of Jones and Waggoner is observable still in the mystical pronouncements of those who make faith all and works nothing.

. . . imperfect channels . . . 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." [AW Spaulding, Captains of the Host, pp. 591-602.]

This is a confused analysis of the position and spirit of the men whom inspiration designated as the "Lord's messengers". While the men whom the Lord chose were indeed "only men", it is difficult to understand why the Lord who abhors a self-righteous, contentious spirit should choose for a very special work men who were notably "imperfect channels", unsanctified (in comparison with others), "extreme", proud and harsh, conceited and arrogant, "abrupt," "obstreperous", arousing "resentment" and "rancors", crude and "mystical".
While it is true that Mrs. White rebuked AT Jones for being too "sharp" on Uriah Smith in the controversy on the ten horns, and did not wholly support EJ Waggoner's views on the two laws, she nevertheless unequivocally defended the two brethren as being "Christians" and "gentlemen", while more than hinting that their opposing brethren did not evidence such heavenly credentials. It is to be feared that some modern writers are looking back upon the message and temperament of both Jones and Waggoner during the period from 1888 - 1892 through the colored or smoked glasses of their subsequent apostasy, forgetting Mrs. White's clear instruction that their later defection from the faith in no way affected the validity of their message at Minneapolis, or the fact that they were then the Lord's delegated messengers. Such an appraisal of their position from 1888 - 1892 is virtually identical with the caviling criticisms of their contemporary opponents, and justifies the spurning of the light which then came from heaven.

That Mrs. White regarded Jones and Waggoner as showing Christian spirit during and immediately after the Minneapolis conference is shown by the following quotations:

"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 would have humility of mind, and be willing to be instructed as a child. The Lord has been pleased to give me great light, yet I know that He leads other minds, and opens to them the mysteries of His Word, and I want to receive every ray of light that God shall send me, though it should come through the humblest of His servants.
Of one thing I am certain, as Christians you have no right to entertain feelings of enmity, unkindness, and prejudice toward Dr. Waggoner, who has presented his views in a plain, straightforward manner, as a Christian should. If he is in error, you should, in a calm, rational, Christlike manner, seek to show him from the Word of God where he is out of harmony with its teachings. If you cannot do this you have no right as Christians to pick flaws, to criticize, to work in the dark, to prejudice minds with your objections. This is Satan's way of working.
Some interpretations of Scripture given by Dr. Waggoner I do not regard as correct. But I believe him to be perfectly honest in his views, and I would respect his feelings and treat him as a Christian gentleman. 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." {1888 Materials 163.2-4, 164.1}

Elder Waggoner's Personality:

A worker who came to the Minneapolis meeting with a prejudiced mind has left on record his impressions of the spirit which EJ Waggoner showed:

"Being decidedly prejudiced in favor of Elder ___, and aginst EJ Waggoner, I went to that meeting (Minneapolis) with a prejudiced mind . . .
With pencil and notebook in hand I listened for heresy and was ready to see flaws and find fault with whatever was presented. As Elder Waggoner started in, it seemed very different from what I was looking for. By the close of his second lesson I was ready to concede that he was going to be fair and his manner did not show any spirit of controversy, nor did he even mention any opposition that he was anticipating. Very soon his manner, and the pure gospel that he was setting forth materially changed my mind and attitude, and I was an earnest listener for Truth . . . At the close of Elder Waggoner's fourth or fifth lesson I was a subdued, repenting sinner . . .

. . . After Elder Waggoner had finished his eleven studies, the influence of which had in quite a measure taken out of a good many the debating spirit." [C. McReynolds, `Experinces While at the General Conference in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1888." {EG White Estate, D File, 189.}

Mrs. White even defended the bold teaching and apparently iconoclastic spirit of Jones and Waggoner:

"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}

"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." {1888 169.1}

"Let no soul complain of the servants of God who have come to them with a heaven-sent message. Do not any longer pick flaws in them, saying, "They are too positive; they talk too strongly." They may talk strongly; but is it not needed? God will make the ears of the hearers tingle if they will not heed His voice or His message. He will denounce those who resist the word of God." {TM 410.1}

"Many who now claim to believe the truth, but who have no anchor, will be bound up with Satan's party. Those who have not worked on God's side of the question will be left to prove a stumbling block to those who have gained a living experience for themselves. Let every minister, in the place of standing to criticize and question, to doubt and oppose, if there is the semblance of a chance to do so, be now employed in erecting barriers against the wily foes. Rather than fight against those whom the Lord has sent to save these, let His people pray fervently and continually for the power of God's grace, and that the Captain of the Lord's host will take the field. Rather than sit in judgment upon men whom God has accepted to do Him service, let the burden of their prayer be, night and day, that the Lord may send forth more laborers into His vineyard. Ministers, do not dishonor your God and grieve His Holy Spirit, by casting reflections on the ways and manners of the men He would choose. God knows the character. He sees the temperament of the men He has chosen. He knows that none but earnest, firm, determined, strong-feeling men will view this work in its vital importance, and will put such firmness and decision into their testimonies that they will make a break against the barriers of Satan." {TM 412.2}

With obvious reference to the "crude", unpolished and unlettered AT Jones, "a towering, angular man, with a loping gait and uncouth posturings and gestures," [Spaulding. op. cit., p. 591]

Mrs. White wrote:

"There are Christian workers who have not received a collegiate education because it was impossible for them to secure this advantage; but God has given evidence that he has chosen them. He has ordained them to go forth and labor in his vineyard. He has made them effectual co-workers with himself. They have a teachable spirit; they feel their dependence upon God, and the Holy Spirit is with them to help their infirmities. It will quicken and energize the mind, direct their thoughts, and aid in the presentation of truth. When the laborer stands before the people to hold forth the words of life, there is heard in his voice the echo of the voice of Christ. {CE 141.1}
It is evident that he walks with God; that he has been with Jesus and learned of him. He has brought the truth into the inner sanctuary of the soul; it is to him a living reality, and he presents the truth in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. The people hear the joyful sound. God speaks to their hearts through the man consecrated to his service. As the worker lifts up Jesus through the Spirit, he becomes really eloquent. He is earnest and sincere, and is beloved by those for whom he labors. {CE 142.1}
What a sin would rest upon any one who should listen to such a man merely to criticise, to notice bad grammar, or incorrect pronunciation, and hold these errors up to ridicule. The Pharisees scoffed at Christ; they criticized the simplicity of his language, which was so plain that the child, the aged, the common people heard him gladly, and were charmed by his words. The Sadducees also derided him because his discourses were so unlike anything delivered by their rulers and scribes. Those Jewish teachers spoke in monotonous tones, and the plainest and most precious scriptures were made uninteresting and unintelligible, buried under such a mass of tradition and learned lore that after the Rabbis had spoken, the people knew less of the meaning of the Scriptures than before they listened. There were many souls starving for the Bread of Life, and Jesus fed them with pure, simple truth. In his teaching he drew illustrations from the things of nature and the common transactions of life, with which they were familiar. Thus the truth became to them a living reality; the scenes of nature and the affairs of daily life were ever repeating to them the Saviour's precious teachings. Christ's manner of teaching was just what he desires his servants to follow. {CE 142.2}
The speaker who has not a thorough education may sometimes fall into errors of grammar or pronunciation; he may not employ the most eloquent expressions or the most beautiful imagery, but if he has himself eaten of the Bread of Life; if he has drunk of the Fountain of Life, he can feed the hungry souls; he can give of the Water of Life to him that is athirst. His defects will be forgiven and forgotten. His hearers will not become weary or disgusted, but will thank God for the message of grace sent them through his servant." {CE 143.1}

"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; 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, and sweep away all the evidences that God has given to balance the mind in regard to the truth?" {RH, April 18, 1893 par. 8}

The true "reason" why the message (See here) was rejected

As we today re-read the gracious, warm, appealing messages sent to the brethren for some years following the 1888 Conference urging them to accept the message of Christ's righteousness, we cannot understand - reading on the surface - why there could be any failure to do so. We have therefore made the mistake of assuming that the brethren did indeed come to accept wholeheartedly that wonderful message.

We must not overlook the fact that there was constantly on the part of convicted readers of Mrs. White's appeals the consciousness that the acceptance of the message of 1888-90 (See here) as being specially of God, would require the acceptance also of the living messengers who brought it as being men specially chosen of God. How could the brethren accept the message (See here) God should send, and continue to hate and despise the messengers whom He should employ? But the fact that the messengers were "only men", were very positive and bold, and were, unfortunately for the prestige and peace of the brethren, right, made the Lord's chosen agencies of deliverance to the brethren, because of their unbelief, objects of stumbling, and stones of offence. That which the Lord intended as a savor of life unto life, became a savor of death unto death. That God ordained to the vindication of the brethren, they twisted to be the means of their condemnation. So far as the purpose of the special message was concerned - the bringing about of the finishing of the work - that which God sent to save they seized upon for their ruin:

"... 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}...
I state truth. The souls who love God, who believe in Christ, and who eagerly grasp every ray of light, will see light, and rejoice in the truth. They will communicate the light. They will grow in holiness. Those who receive the Holy Spirit will feel the chilling atmosphere that surrounds the souls of others by whom these great and solemn realities are unappreciated and spoken against. They feel that they are in the council of the ungodly, of men who stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of the scornful. {TM 90.1}
The word of God speaketh truth, not a lie. In it is nothing strained, nothing extreme, nothing overdone. We are to accept it as the word of the living God. In obedience to that word, the church have duties to perform which they have not done. They are not to flee from the post of duty; but in trial and temptation they should lean more heavily upon God. There are difficulties to be met, but God's people as one must rise to the emergencies. There are duties to be discharged to the church and to our God. {TM 90.2}
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 (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." {TM 90.3}

Self was the ultimate reason for their refusal to humble their hearts and to accept the gracious message in "God's appointed way." It was too much humiliation to accept the ministry of Jones and Waggoner: the implications were that God was displeased with the spiritual condition of the responsible brethren who were the "proper channels" for any special light from heaven:

"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}

"If the rays of light which shone at Minneapolis were permitted to exert their convincing power upon those who took their stand against light, if all had yielded their ways, and submitted their wills to the Spirit of God at that time, they would have received the richest blessing, disappointed the enemy, and stood as faithful men, true to their convictions. They would have had a rich experience. But self said, No. Self was not willing to be bruised. Self struggled for the mastery.
And every one of these souls will be tested again on the points where they failed then. They have less clearness of judgment, less submission, less genuine love for God and for their brethren now than before the test and trial at Minneapolis. In the books of heaven they are registered as wanting. Self and passion developed hateful characteristics." {16MR 112.2.; Letter to O.A. Olsen, O. 19, d'92, Sept. 1, 1892.}

"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}

"Every word spoken is in harmony with the living Oracles, and it is only by wresting the Scriptures from their true meaning, by misapplying and misinterpreting them and the testimonies which God has given me, that this can be gainsaid. Those who do this are like the impenitent Jews, who had eyes but saw not, ears had they, but they heard not, neither would they understand. Why? -- Lest they should be converted and have to acknowledge that not all their ideas were correct. This they were too proud to do, and therefore persisted in rejecting God's counsel and the light and evidence which had been given. Thus they deluded their own souls and the souls of others.
This is the ground over which some of our leading brethren are traveling now, notwithstanding the example of resistance and refusal of the Jewish nation to receive the evidence plainly revealed before them, and to be convinced and yield their ideas. The warnings of the Spirit of God are received in the same spirit by many today. "What," said Robert Hall, "should we think of a person who, after accepting an invitation to a feast, and taking his place at the table, instead of partaking of the repast amused himself with speculating on the nature of the provisions, or the manner in which they were prepared, and their adaptation to the temperament of the several guests, without partaking of a single article? Such, however, is the conduct of those who hear the Word without applying it to themselves or considering the aspect it bears in their individual characters." {13MR 239.1-2}

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 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."

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 the own ideas. They do nit let the Saviour in." [Loc. cit.]

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}

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 receiv