The Message of 1888 Re-examined- Part II

 

1889 April 7 (to W. C. White)

I think that Elder A. T. Jones should attend our large

camp meetings, and give to our people and to outsiders

as well the precious subject of faith and the

righteousness of Christ. There is a flood of light in this

subject. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 291)

 

1889 May 12 (Morning Talk)

Now brethren I want to tell you, when the Spirit of

God comes into our midst, it will strike the minds that

are ready to receive it. But if their minds are not open to

receive it, they are all ready to pass judgment upon the

messenger and the words spoken. In the place of

coming to God and asking Him to give them a new

heart and a new mind, that the transforming influence of

the grace of God shall be upon them, they commence to

find fault and pick flaws. It doesnʼt strike them, and it

must harmonize with their ideas and they will stand

right there until these things are culled out of the way,

and they place themselves right there to judge. This is

the way it was at Minneapolis. (EGW 1888 Materials, p.

303)

 

1889 May 12 (to Children of the Household)

All this was an offense to God and must not have

any place here at this meeting [Minneapolis]. There

were souls starving for food and they must be fed. I told

them that which the Spirit of God had revealed to me as

I was conducted to the rooms of those who came to the

conference. I was made to hear the conversation, the

sarcasm, the evil feelings expressed, the bearing false

witness, the making light of the message God sent, and

the messenger who brought the message. I was told all

this was wisdom that was from beneath in marked

contrast to the wisdom that was from above, which has

been specified by God through His apostles. [James

3:1318 quoted.] (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 308)

I never labored in my life more directly under the

controlling influences of the Spirit of God. God gave me

meat in due season for the people, but they refused it for

it did not come in just the way and manner they wanted

it to come. Elders Jones and Waggoner presented

precious light to the people, but prejudice and unbelief,

jealousy and evil-surmising barred the door of their

hearts that nothing from this source should find entrance

to their hearts. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 308, 309)

1889 June 19 (Sermon at Rome, NY)

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 45 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.

(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 348, 349)

 

 

1889 June (Manuscript “Experience Following

the Minneapolis Conference”)

We have the example of the children of Israel to

warn us off that ground. The Lord wrought in our midst,

but some did not receive the blessing. They had been

privileged to hear the most faithful preaching of the

gospel, and had listened to the message God had given

His servants to give them, with their hearts padlocked.

They did not turn unto the Lord with all their heart and

with all their soul, but used all their powers to pick

some flaws in the messengers and in the message, and

they grieved the Spirit of God, while those who did

receive the message were charmed with the presentation

of the free gifts of Jesus Christ. (EGW 1888 Materials,

1. 368)

 

I have not left anything undone that I have had any

evidence it was my duty to do. And as far as Battle

Creek is concerned I can do no more than I have done.

Those who have not united with me and the

messengers of God in this work, but whose influence

has been to create doubt and unbelief, I do not judge.

Every jot of influence that has been cast on the side of

the enemy will meet its reward according to its works.

God was working with me to present to the people a

message in regard to the faith of Jesus and the

righteousness of Christ. There have been those who

have not worked in harmony but in a way to counteract

the work God has given me to do. I must leave them

with the Lord. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 370, 371)

 

1889 July 23 (to Elders M. and H. Miller)

The Lord has shown that are in just as much danger

in our day as were the people in the days of Christ. The

Lord is speaking through his delegated messengers;

but the same unbelief is exhibited. Men close their

hearts against Jesus, and hold themselves in the veriest

bondage to Satan, supposing that they are preserving

their dignity as free men; that they are maintaining their

right to act and think for themselves, to believe or

doubt; and like the despisers of the gospel in the

apostolic times, they wonder and perish. (EGW 1888

Materials, p. 398)

 

When Christ told Peter what should come upon him

because of his faith, Peter turned to John, and asked,

“Lord, and what shall this man do?” The Lord said,

“What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.” If Elder Smith

or Elder Butler should reject the message of truth which

the Lord has sent to the people of this time, would their

unbelief make the message error?—No. We are to

follow no one but Christ.

If men who have occupied leading positions feel at

liberty to despise the message and the messenger, their

unbelief is no reason for others to do the same. Our

salvation is an individual work. Neither Brother Smith,

Brother Butler, nor any other mortal man can pay a

ransom for my soul or yours in the day of judgment. In

that day there will be no excuse to offer for neglecting

to receive the message the Lord sent you. (EGW 1888

Materials, p. 418, 419)

 

Do not men know from the word of God, that just

such a message as has lately been going to the churches,

must be given in order that the very work which has

been going on among us might be accomplished? Some

who ought to have been first to catch the heavenly

inspiration of truth, have been directly opposed to the

message of God. They have been doing all that was in

their power to show contempt for both the message and

the messenger, and Jesus could not do many mighty

works because of their unbelief. However, truth will

move on, passing by those who despise and reject it.

Although apparently retarded, it cannot be extinguished.

When the message of God meets with opposition, he

gives it additional force that it may exert greater

influence. Endowed with vital, heavenly energy, it will

cut its way through the thickest barriers, dispel

darkness, refute error, gain conquests, and triumph over

every obstacle. I speak that I do know, I testify of that

which I have seen. Those who would triumph in the

truth, will have to act a part in the sight of the universe

which will bring to them the reward of “well done.”

They will be known as laborers together with God.

(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 420, 421)

 

The watchmen on the walls of Zion are asleep. Many

have no burden of the work, they have no positive

warning to give. There are many who have heard the

message for this time and have seen its results, and they

cannot but acknowledge that the work is good, but from

fear that some will take extreme positions, and that

fanaticism may arise in our ranks, they have permitted

their imagination to create many obstacles to hinder the

advance of the work, and they have presented these

difficulties to others, expatiating on the dangers of

accepting the doctrine. They have sought to counteract

the influence of the message of truth. Suppose they

should succeed in these efforts, what would be the

result? The message to arouse a lukewarm church

 

should cease, and the testimony exalting the

righteousness of Christ would be silenced. Suppose that

prejudice should do its baleful work, suppose the work

should be given in to the hands of these opposers and

faultfinders, and they should be permitted to give to the

church the doctrine and the labor they desire to give;

would they present anything better than the Lord has

sent to His people at this time, through his chosen

agents? Would the message of the doubters arouse the

churches from their lukewarmness? Would its influence

tend to give energy and zeal, to uplift the souls of the

people of God? Have those who have opposed the light

openly or in secret, been giving the people the good that

would nourish their souls? Have they been presenting

the message which the time demands, that the camp

may be purified from all moral defilement? Have they

anything to offer to take the place of the truth which has

been given with fervor and zeal to prepare the way for

the Lordʼs coming?

The character, the motives and purposes of the

workmen whom God has sent, have been, and will

continue to be, misrepresented. Men will catch at words

and statements that they suppose to be faulty, and will

magnify and falsify these utterances. But what kind of

work are these lookers-on doing? Has the Lord placed

them in the judgment-seat to condemn his message and

messengers? Why do not these opposers lay hold of the

work, if they have so much light? If they see defects in

the presentation of the message, why do they not

present it in a better way? If they possess such farseeing

discernment, such caution, such intelligence, why do

they not go to work and do something?

The world is a second Sodom, the end is right upon

us; and is it reasonable to think that there is no message

to make ready a people to stand in the day of Godʼs

preparation? Why is there so little eyesight? So little

deep, earnest, heartfelt labor? Why is there so much

pulling back? Why is there such a continual cry of peace

and safety, and no going forward in obedience to the

Lordʼs command? Is the third angelʼs message to go out

in darkness, or to lighten the whole earth with its glory?

Is the light of Godʼs spirit to be quenched, and the

church to be left as destitute of the grace of Christ as the

hills of Gilboa were of dew and rain? Certainly all must

admit that it is time that a vivifying, heavenly influence

should be brought to bear upon our churches. It is time

that unbelief, pride, love of supremacy, evil surmising,

depreciation of the work of others, licentiousness, and

hypocrisy should go out of our ranks. (EGW 1888

Materials, p. 421-424)

 

1889 November 20 (letter to Brethren and

Sisters)

Judgment must not be passed hastily on any man

or on his work or his purposes. There is need of humble

hearts and contrition of soul. The message we bear at

this time is from above. Its influence upon human hearts

of all who have received it is good and the fruits are

good; while some stand criticizing and passing

judgment both upon the message and the messenger

sent of God. They are self-sufficient. They say in their

hearts, “I will do as I please and work as I please on my

own judgment. I will do just as I have done,—talk these

old truths but I will have nothing to do with the matter

now brought to us,—Justification by faith and the

righteousness of Christ. I will be religious.” In fact they

continue to whiten the sepulcher but do not cleanse it.

From the heart proceedeth evil thoughts, the lips speak

evil, jealousy, envy, evil surmisings. The soul temple

needs cleansing. These who will not accept of the

message the Lord sends will soon begin a tirade against

1. They see evidence enough to balance the mind in the

right direction but they are too proud to submit. They

are not willing to say that which they decided was all

wrong is right and then the mind begins to seek some

excuse, some subterfuge to evade the issue. They are

resolved not to obey God in this urgent call for the will

to be yielded. They will make a mountain of some

 

minor question and seek to get up a controversy on

minor points. The longer he remains as he is the more is

he puzzled and perplexed. Questions arise against the

testimonies for Satan will bring every doubter and

unbeliever over this ground. The work is before him to

give himself up to God; his will to be no longer arrayed

against Godʼs will. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 499)

1890 February 3 (Remarks at Bible School)

We have traveled all through to the different places

of the meetings that I might stand side by side with the

messengers of God that I knew were His messengers,

that I knew had a message for His people. I gave my

message with them right in harmony with the very

message they were bearing.

What did we see? We saw a power attending the

message. In every instance we worked—and some

know how hard we worked. I think it was a whole week,

going early and late, at Chicago, in order that we might

get these ideas in the minds of the brethren. The devil

has been working for a year to obliterate these ideas—

the whole of them. And it takes hard work to change

their old opinions. They think they have to trust in their

own righteousness, and in their own works, and keep

looking at themselves, and not appropriating the

righteousness of Christ and bringing it into their life,

and into their character. We worked there for one week.

It was after one week had passed away before there was

a break and the power of God, like a tidal wave, rolled

over that congregation. I tell you, it was to set men free;

it was to point them to the Lamb of God which taketh

away the sins of the world. (EGW 1888 Materials, p.

542)

 

1890 February 7 (Remarks at Bible School)

I believe without a doubt that God has given

precious truth at the right time to Brother Jones and

Brother Waggoner. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 566)

 

1890 March 8 (to U. Smith)

Night before last I was shown that evidences in

regard to the covenants were clear and convincing.

Yourself, Brother Dan Jones-Brother Porter and others

are spending your investigative powers for naught to

produce a position on the covenants to vary from the

position that Brother Waggoner has presented. (EGW

1888 Materials, p. 604)

 

1890 March 9 (Sermon)

If we place ourselves in a position that we will not

recognize the light God sends or His messages to us,

then we are in danger of sinning against the Holy Ghost.

Then for us to turn and see if we can find some little

thing that is done that we can hang some of our doubts

upon and begin to question! The question is, has God

sent the truth? Has God raised up these men to proclaim

the truth? I say, yes, God has sent men to bring us the

truth that we should not have had unless God had sent

somebody to bring it to us. God has let me have a light

of what His Spirit is, and therefore I accept it, and I no

more dare to lift my hand against these persons,

because it would be against Jesus Christ, who is to be

recognized in His messengers. (EGW 1888 Materials,

1. 608)

 

1890 March 10 (to W. C. White and wife)

Since I made the statement last Sabbath that the

view of the covenants as it had been taught by Brother

Waggoner was truth, it seems that great relief has come

to many minds. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 623) [see PP

363 ff.]

 

1890 May 27 (Advent Review and Sabbath

Herald article; “Living Channels of Light”)

Those whom God has sent with a message are only

men, but what is the character of the message which

they bear? Will you dare to turn from, or make light of,

the warnings, because God did not consult you as to

what would be preferred? God calls men who will

speak, who will cry aloud and spare not. God has raised

up his messengers to do his work for this time. Some

have turned from the message of the righteousness of

Christ to criticize 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. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 673)

1890 August 27 (to O. A. Olsen)

Dear Bro. Olsen: The enclosed testimony I sent to

the Conference especially, but the Lord has shown me

that the very same evils which are reproved in that

conference exist in other conferences. Churches are in

need of personal piety and a deeper, far deeper

experience in the truth and in the knowledge of Jesus

Christ. The spirit resistance that has been exhibited in

presenting the righteousness of Christ as our only hope

has grieved the Spirit of God, and the result of this

opposition has required the delivery of this matter the

more earnestly and decidedly, causing deeper searching

into the subject and calling out an array of arguments

that the messenger himself did not know was so firm,

so full, so thorough upon this subject of justification by

faith and the righteousness of Christ as our only hope.

The subject has been brought before many minds. The

sad part of the matter is that some who ought to have

stood in the clear light on this subject were working on

the enemyʼs side of the question. (EGW 1888 Materials,

1. 703)