Conclusion

It has been a century since these inspired observations were written. Recall the opening statement in this little collection, “The loud cry will soon be heard and the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. {20MR 357.1} June 27, 1884.

Has there been a delay, and if so, why?

The answer to both questions is unequivocal. June 9, 1893 Ellen White had to confess, “The Lord designed that the messages of warning and instruction given through the Spirit to His people should go everywhere. But the influence that grew out of the resistance of light and truth at Minneapolis tended to make of no effect the light God had given to His people through the Testimonies…. The work of opponents to the truth has been steadily advancing while we have been compelled

to devote our energies in a great degree to counteracting

the work of the enemy through those who were in our

own ranks. The dullness of some and the opposition of

others have confined our strength and means largely

among those who knew the truth but did not practice its

principles. If every soldier of Christ had done his duty,

if every watchman on the walls of Zion had given the

trumpet a certain sound, the world might ere this have

heard the message of warning. But the work is years

behind. What account will be rendered to God for thus

retarding the work?” {1888 1129.4}

 

If there had been a delay in 1893, the answer should be obvious.

Another answer to our questions was given by

something she wrote on May 22, 1896. “If the power of

Satan can come into the very temple of God, and

manipulate things as he pleases, the time of preparation

will be prolonged.” {1888 1525.2}

 

The last 30 years of her ministry were mostly

absorbed in meeting this emergency and speaking for

God in the midst of the challenges which resulted from

the delay. It is in light of these historical events that we

can understand the powerful spiritual calls to Godʼs

people to repentance that the following witnesses give

in the years 1901-1904.

Realize, dear reader, that we are 100 year after these

events, but that length of time only makes the counsel

that much more applicable to us. May we enter into

Godʼs heart longing to see the final witness of agape

given to the world! (Matt. 24:12-14).

April 3, 1901 Ellen White’s address to the

General Conference session

I feel a special interest in the movements and

decisions that shall be made at this Conference

regarding the things that should have been done years

ago, and especially ten years ago, when we were

assembled in Conference, and the Spirit and power of

God came into our meeting, testifying that God was

ready to work for this people if they would come into

working order. The brethren assented to the light God

had given, but there were those connected with our

institutions, especially with the Review and Herald

Office and the Conference, who brought in elements of

unbelief, so that the light that was given was not acted

upon. It was assented to, but no special change was

made to bring about such a condition of things that the

power of God could be revealed among his people.

{GCB, April 3, 1901 par. 1}

The light then given me was that this people should

stand higher than any other people on the face of the

whole earth, that they should be a loyal people, a people

who would rightly represent truth. The sanctifying

power of the truth, revealed in their lives, was to

distinguish them from the world. They were to stand in

moral dignity, having such a close connection with

heaven that the Lord God of Israel could give them a

place in the earth. {GCB, April 3, 1901 par. 2}

Year after year the same acknowledgment was made,

but the principles which exalt a people were not woven

into the work. God gave them clear light as to what they

should do, and what they should not do, but they

departed from that light, and it is a marvel to me that we

stand in as much prosperity as we do today. It is because

of the great mercy of our God, not because of our

righteousness, but that his name should not be

dishonored in the world. {GCB, April 3, 1901 par. 3}

Why, I ask you, are men who have not brought self

into subjection allowed to stand in important positions

of truth and handle sacred things? They have grown to

the stature of men, but they have brought with them

their childish tendencies. God does not want any such

thing. He has made provision for all to have in them the

grace of Christ. No others will enter heaven. There has

been one rebellion there, and there will not be another.

We have been given an opportunity to get rid of every

kind of rebellion. {GCB, April 3, 1901 par. 12}

Sermon by W.W. Prescott given at the General

Conference session April 15 1901

I appeal to the circumstances. I want to ask every

soul here who has known something of the history of

this work, to think a little. Every one who knows the

beginning of this movement knows that there was

wondrous power in it, not because they had all the truth

which God proposed to reveal to his people before he

became visible in the clouds of heaven, but because they

walked in all the light he gave them, rejecting nothing

he sent them. Therefore he gave the witness to their

message; and souls were converted, not by the power of

eloquence, but by the power of the Spirit of God.

Some are here who remember the time when a mere

hymn sung in the Spirit would bring the whole audience

to tears, because Godʼs melting Spirit was there

witnessing. Do not the hearts of some long for the ring

of those days? That time and experience will not come

back by turning backward, and going back to see how

much light they had. That experience will come by

facing toward him who is the Light, and opening the

windows of the soul toward heaven, closing them

toward earth, and stopping this listening to man and

putting the commandments of man in the place of the

commandments of God. The message that we have

given, we want to take to ourselves. We have given

away the message until we have lost it.

I appeal to you. After that movement, and the Lord

did not come, new light broke in—light upon the full

truth of what it meant to keep the commandments of

God. The Sabbath truth and the sanctuary truth came

forward at the same time, because they were

inseparable. The reform marched forward with power.

But there are many in this audience who can remember

when the pendulum began to swing back, and can also

remember when, thirteen years ago at Minneapolis, God

sent a message to this people to deliver them out of that

experience.

What has been the history of this people and this

work since that time? Where do we stand now with

reference to this message? How far has that truth been

received— not simply assented to, but actually

received?—Not far, I tell you. How far has the ministry

of this denomination been baptized into that Spirit?—

Not far, I tell you. For the past thirteen years this light

has been rejected and turned against by many, and they

are rejecting it and turning from it to-day; and I say to

every such one, “Beware lest that come upon you which was spoken of the prophets, Behold, ye despisers, and

wonder and perish.”

What is the remedy?—The very same as of old, and

no other,—repentance toward God and faith in our Lord

Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist came to prepare the

way of the Lord under those circumstances that I have

set forth, what was his message? “Repent ye: for the

kingdom of heaven is at hand.” When Christ himself

appeared, and began his work, what did he say? —“The

time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:

repent ye, and believe the gospel.” When he sent out his

disciples, the apostles, in his stead, to carry on his work

after he ascended, what did they preach?—“Repent ye

therefore, and be converted.” What are the messages to

the churches?—Repent, repent, repent. What is the

message to the Laodicean church?— “Be zealous

therefore and repent.”

 

Letter to Percy Magan, Dec 7 1901

How can finite man carry the burdens of

responsibility for this time? Godʼs people have been far

behind. Human agencies under the divine planning may

something of what is lost because the people who had

great light did not have corresponding piety,

sanctification, and zeal in working out Godʼs specified

plans. They have lost to their own disadvantage what

they might have gained to the advancement of the truth

if they had carried out the plans and will of God. Man

cannot possibly stretch over that gulf that has been

made by the workers who have not been following the

divine Leader. {20MR 312.7}

 

We may have to remain here in this world because of

insubordination many more years, as did the children of

Israel; but for Christʼs sake, His people should not add

sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their

own wrong course of action. Now, have men who claim

to believe the Word of God learned their lesson that

obedience is better than sacrifice? “He hath shewed thee

(this rebellious people), O man, what is good; and what

doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to

love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” [Micah

6:8]. {20MR 313.1}

 

Now the Lord will not be pleased with those men

whom He hath appointed to do a certain work [if they]

take on many lines of work and carry them until they

become so wearisome that it breaks their strength. You,

[brother Magan] nor any other agency, cannot heal the

hurt that has come to Godʼs people by neglect to lift up

His standard and occupy new territory. The churches

should now be acting in their strength, with capabilities,

talents, and means, carrying the work, reaching higher

and broader in capacity to stand before the world in the

power of invincible truth. {20MR 313.2}

 

But if all now would only see and confess and repent

of their own course of action in departing from the truth

of God and following human devising, then the Lord

would pardon. Warnings have been coming, but they

have been unheeded, but a few who may now seek to

bridge the gulf that stands so offensively before God

must make haste slowly, else the standard bearers will

fail, and who will take their place? {20MR 313.3}

 

Review and Herald, December 15, 1904; A Call

to Repentance

We are living in the time of the end. Thrones and

churches have united to oppose Godʼs purposes. The

association of man with man, which God designed

should be a means of strengthening goodness and

happiness, is used as a means of strengthening evil and

of developing tendencies to rebellion. Men have

assumed despotic power, and human laws have been put

in the place of the law of God.

{RH, December 15, 1904 par. 1}

 

It is the reign of Antichrist. Godʼs law is set aside.

The Scriptures are exchanged for the traditions of men.

Satan has become the ruler of the world; and in his

hands temptation has become a science. He rules over a

vast, well-organized empire. Sin has stimulated his

followers into fearful activity. Men have combined to perpetuate evil. The sale of intoxicating liquor,

destructive alike to soul and body, is legalized by

Christian governments. {RH, December 15, 1904 par.

2}

 

Influences are to be set in motion that will proclaim

to the world the first, second, and third angelʼs

messages. The world is to be warned, and I beseech

those who know the truth to do all in their power to

sound the message, “Prepare to meet thy God.”…

{RH, December 15, 1904 par. 3}

 

God says to his people today, “I have somewhat

against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and

repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto

thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his

place, except thou repent.” Will they heed the reproof?

Will they dare to trifle with so direct and decided a

statement, and keep their commended excellencies

blasted as with a mildew because they allow Satan to

steal in among them. “Thou hast left thy first love,” and

therefore there is no steadfastness of purpose. Without

this love, all knowledge, all capabilities, all outward

zeal and service, are worthless. You do not receive from

Christ grace to impart to others. And while you do not

reveal the love that Christ has commanded you to

reveal, your light is not shining forth to the world. {RH,

December 15, 1904 par. 7}

 

Leaving the first love is represented as a spiritual

fall. Many have fallen thus. In every church in our land,

there is needed confession, repentance, and

reconversion. The disappointment of Christ is beyond

description. Unless those who have sinned speedily

repent, the deceptions of the last days will overtake

them. Some, though they do not realize it, are preparing

to be overtaken. God calls for repentance without delay.

So long have many trifled with salvation that their

spiritual eyesight is dimmed, and they can not discern

between light and darkness. Christ is humiliated in his

people. The first love is gone, the faith is weak, there is

need of a thorough transformation. {RH, December 15,

1904 par. 8}

 

My brethren and sisters, humble your hearts before

the Lord. Seek him earnestly. I have an intense desire to

see you walking in the light as Christ is in the light. I

pray most earnestly for you. But I can not fail to see that

the light which God has given me is not favorable to our

ministers or our churches. You have left your first love.

Self-righteousness is not the wedding-garment. A

failure to follow the clear light of truth is our fearful

danger. The message to the Laodicean church reveals

our condition as a people. {RH, December 15, 1904 par.

9}