The Message of 1888 Re-examined Part VI
What Was the Message?
(Ellen White made many statements regarding the
message sent through A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner.
The following excerpts are samples, mostly from EGW
1888 Materials, given in chronological order. The
repetitious variations serve to reinforce the divine
character and importance of this “most precious” message.)
It was a message of:
justification by faith (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
211, 447)
the righteousness of Christ in relation to the law
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 211)
the tidings that Christ is our righteousness (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 387)
the unmerited blessings that God has bestowed,
His grace, His privileges, His opportunities
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 387)
Godʼs dealing with His people as a loving,
forgiving father deals with an ungrateful,
wayward son (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 387)
the light shining forth from the word of God has
been clear and distinct— justification by faith,
Christ our righteousness. (EGW 1888 Materials,
p.447)
these great and glorious truths, the righteousness
of Christ and the entire sacrifice made in behalf of
man (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 217)
the religion of Jesus Christ clearly defined, made
so clear that a child may understand that it is an
immediate, voluntary, trustful surrender of the
heart to God—a coming into union with Christ in
confidence, affectionate obedience to do all His
commandments through the merits of Jesus
Christ; it is a decisive act of the individual,
committing to the Lord the keeping of the soul; it
is the climbing up by Christ, clinging to Christ,
accepting the righteousness of Christ as a free
gift; the will is to be surrendered to Christ;
through faith in the righteousness of Christ is
salvation (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 281)
faith in Jesus Christʼs righteousness in the behalf
of every individual soul (EGW 1888 Materials,
p.281)
the gospel of Christ (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
281)
the precious subject the righteousness of Christ
and of faith (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 291)
the gospel as well as the law (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 291)
the matchless charms of Christ
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 348)
the grand, and the overpowering ideas of His
Excellency (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 447)
the glory, the majesty, the righteousness of Christ,
full of goodness and truth; the fullness of the
Godhead in Jesus Christ, set forth with beauty
and loveliness, to charm all whose hearts were
not closed with prejudice (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 447)
much precious light (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
828)
divine love (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 913)
the rich gifts of Jesus unto men, imparting the
priceless gift of His own righteousness to the
helpless human agent (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1336)
justification by faith and the imputed
righteousness of Christ (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1455)
Christ crucified, a risen Saviour ascended into the
heavens to be our advocate (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 1455)
the wisdom and power of God in the conversion
of souls (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1455)
these themes,—Christ crucified for our sins,
Christ risen from the dead, Christ our intercessor
before God; the office-work of the Holy Spirit,
the representative of Christ, sent-forth with divine
power and gifts for men (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1455)
the special power of the Holy Spirit that God
longed to impart to them, that efficiency in
carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles
proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 1575)
taking their burden of sin to Jesus for His
forgiveness (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1689)
It was a message about:
a people John saw. He says, “Here is the patience
of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”
(Rev. 14:12). This people John beholds just
before he sees the Son of man “having on his
head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp
sickle” (verse 14). (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 211)
the law in Galatians (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
228)
the faith of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 370)
looking unto Jesus who is the Author and
Finisher of our faith, Christ the great pattern; his
character must be our character; all excellence is
in him; turning from man and every other model
with open face we behold Jesus in all his glory
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 447)
the value of the price that has been paid for our
salvation (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 546)
the law of God exalted, placed before the people
in the framework of the gospel of Jesus Christ
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 828)
the righteousness of Christ as our only hope of
gaining access to the Father
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1057)
their strength being proportionate to the strength
of their dependence (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1690)
It was a message that:
presented justification through faith in the Surety
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1336)
invited the people to receive the righteousness of
Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all
the commandments of God (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 1336)
directed the eyes of those who had lost sight of
Jesus to His divine person, His merits, and His
changeless love for the human family (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 1336)
by looking to Jesus and believing in his imputed
righteousness, I may gain eternal life (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 1688)
the plan of redemption shall come to his people as
the latter rain (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1690)
It was a message to:
wake up the mighty men to prepare for battle, for
the day of Godʼs preparation (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 210)
strengthen His people (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
267)
educate the people to look away from themselves
to Jesus and to His righteousness (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 286)
revive His people and give them light in clear
distinct rays that would lead to the magnifying of
Christ. The Lordʼs command to His people
through His messengers was, “Go forward.”
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 308)
arouse a lukewarm, slumbering church (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 414)
go to every church that claims to believe the truth,
and bring our people up to a higher stand-point
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 545)
carry the people forward and upward to a higher,
holier state of spirituality (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 1140)
be seen by these glorious truths glowing in our
hearts, trembling upon our lips and pervading our
whole being (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1692)
The faith of Jesus, Jesusʼdivine person, merits,
and changeless love
bring more prominently before the world the
uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the
whole world (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1336)
the world to prepare a people to stand in the day
of God (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1814; cf. p.
1525 regarding the preparation being prolonged)
It was a message whose results were:
good fruits: a vigor and a vital energy was
brought into the church; hope and courage and
faith beam in the countenances of all those who
open their eyes to see, their understanding to
perceive and their hearts to receive the great
treasure of truth (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 228)
a better knowledge of what constitutes faith
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 267)
66
highly satisfactory (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
267)
an experience beyond anything they had known
before (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 268)
a solemn realization that Christ came not to call
the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 268)
we seemed to breathe in the very atmosphere of
heaven; angels were indeed hovering around; the
Lord had visited his people (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 268)
many were convicted in the light of the law as
transgressors; they had been trusting in their own
righteousness; now they saw it as filthy rags, in
comparison with the righteousness of Christ,
which is alone acceptable to God; while they had
not been open transgressors, they saw themselves
depraved and degraded in heart (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 268)
the plan of salvation, the simplicity of faith has
been made so clear that a child may understand
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 281)
the tame, lukewarm tone of the peopleʼs
testimonies was gone; they were characterized by
deep, earnest feeling; men and women confessed
how destitute of the love of Christ in the soul and
of love for their brethren their religious
experience had been; they humbly and thankfully
expressed their gratitude for the light received;
they had been clinging closely to their own
righteousness; now by faith they trust in Christʼs
might and His power and His righteousness; they
can do literally nothing without divine help; their
prayers now are filled with earnest, simple faith
that takes God at His word; all now seem to have
warm hearts; the love of Christ is assurance to
them of their acceptance, and they long to speak
and acknowledge the great goodness of God in
providing them a righteousness which is pure,
spotless, efficacious (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
283)
our brethren and sisters have begun to see and to
understand what Jesus is to them; the Lord is in
our midst (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 284)
without excitement or extravagance; the leaven of
Christʼs righteousness has been introduced into
the experience and has energized the soul (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 284)
many bore precious testimonies that they never
loved Jesus, never viewed Him in the character of
such a Friend and so gracious as they now did
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 284)
their hearts were melted and subdued with the
love of Jesus; one brotherʼs heart was broken and
he was so impressed with the love of Jesus that he
wept aloud; ministers were happy, newly
converted, and they now bear a testimony that is
free and joyful (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 284)
relief to many, many souls (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 387)
the past year has been the best of their life; the
light shining forth from the word of God has been
clear and distinct—justification by faith, Christ
our righteousness. The experiences have been
very interesting. (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 447)
great interest is manifested (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 447)
a growth in faith and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 447)
light, and relief, and the blessing of God (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 447)
minds are filled with the grand and overpowering
ideas of his excellency (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
447)
every other object sinks into insignificance, and
every part of moral discipline is lost which does
not promote their likeness to his image (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 447)
their experience was of a more spiritual character
than they have had before since embracing the
truth (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 461)
the fruit is peace, courage, joy, and harmony
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 461)
its influence upon human hearts of all who have
received it is good and the fruits are good (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 499)
no relish for sin; hate the sin that caused the
sufferings of the Son of God (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 545)
the power of God attended the message wherever
it was spoken (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 545)
healing and life and comfort to many weary and
oppressed souls (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 673)
souls turn from sin to righteousness; faith revived
in the hearts of the contrite ones (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 673)
impressions left on many minds which will be
deepened and will be as lasting as eternity; many
testimonies in all parts of the field: “I found light,
precious light.” “My Bible is a new Book.”
“Never did we feel as at this meeting the
necessity of being under the constant control of
the Spirit of God, constantly uplifting the heart to
God, to be Christians in heart, Christians in
principles, possessing not merely a theory of the
truth but revealing the principles of truth in a
Christlike spirit.” (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 828)
those who do not allow prejudice to bar the heart
against the heaven sent message cannot but feel
the spirit and force of the truth (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 1122)
light and freedom and the out-pouring of the
Spirit of God (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1122)
the conversion of souls, bringing them back to
their loyalty to Christ (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1455)
they would understand what it means to be
justified by faith, and their testimony would be
heard in the congregation, “The Saviour has
cleansed us from all sin. We have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 1689)
truths have been made known that have been of
great value to the world and to the people of God.
The way has been made so plain that honest
hearts cannot but receive the truth. But there are
still treasures to be searched for. Let the shaft
which has begun to work the mine of truth sink
deep, and it will yield rich and precious treasures
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1689) [see p. 1690 for
more statements like the following regarding
more truth: “We are to know more than we do at
the present time… greater lengths and breadths
and heights of that knowledge which God alone
can give”]
thousands have set the Lord before them, and by
beholding been changed into the same image.
Their spirit burns within them as they speak of his
character, telling what Jesus is to them and what
they are to Jesus (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1692)
many moved and humbled, drink of the waters of
life (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1814)
It was a message that was:
Godʼs message for this time; but would not
perhaps have been present truth twenty years ago
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 133)
a solemn message (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 210)
no new light, but it was old light placed where it
should be in the third angelʼs message (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 211)
precious truths (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 217)
the message for this time (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 217, Paulson Collection, p. 151)
present truth for this time (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 228, 286, 387, 1710); truth for this time (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 406, 420, 447, 545, 1025,
1057, 1160, 1620); the precious sanctifying truth
for this time (EGW 1888 Materials, p.723, 1077)
the great treasure of truth (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 228)
the light which the Lord has given (3Bio 421)
soul-nourishing food (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
267)
the very message the Lord has sent to the people
of this time (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 267, 1395)
a flood of light in this subject of faith and the
righteousness of Christ (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
291)
the light and the message for the present time
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 291)
the rich blessing of God (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 308)
precious light to present before the people (EGW
1888 Materials, p.387)
a special work He is doing at this time (EGW
1888 Materials, p.414)
the words of Jesus, appealing to His people in
warnings, in reproofs, in counsels (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 417)
meat in due season to the starving flock of God
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 437, 1122; cf. 276)
large morsels from the Lordʼs table (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 447)
light and truth, just the truth for this time (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 447)
a feast of fat things (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
447)
bearing the divine credentials (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 447)
from above; the message the Lord sends (EGW
1888 Materials, p.499)
the matter now brought to us,— Justification by
faith and the righteousness of Christ (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 499)
this urgent call for the will to be yielded (EGW
1888 Materials, p.499)
His work for this time (EGW 1888 Materials,
p.673)
the heaven sent message, heaven sent light (EGW
1888 Materials, p. 673, 831, 1122, 1335, 1656, cf.
545)
a special message (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1043, 1245)
the message of God to the Laodicean church
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1052)
most precious (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1336)
immense in its importance, reaching into heaven
and compassing eternity (PH002:26; Letter 22,
1892 to O. A. Olsen)
the message that God commanded to be given to
the world (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1336)
the third angelʼs message, which is to be
proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with
the outpouring of His
Spirit in a large measure (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 1336)
the invitation, “Come, for all things are now
ready. Come to the supper prepared for you.”
(EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1455)
light, heavenʼs light (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1455)
the Lordʼs message (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1575)
the light that is to lighten the whole earth with its
glory (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1575)
a restoring, healing message to men, calling upon
them to look away from man and earthly things,
and place their trust in God (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 1688)
the light which would place them under the
guardianship of the Holy Spirit, to be moulded
after the divine similitude (EGW 1888 Materials,
- 1689, 1690)
additional proclamation of the principles of
purity, lowliness, faith, and the righteousness of
Christ, the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 1814)
It was a message of which Ellen White said she:
could respond to with all my heart (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 217)
felt inexpressibly grateful to God (EGW 1888
Materials, p. 217)
had presented the subject in the testimonies again
and again (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 217)
was convinced if it is not present truth for this
time, I know not how we can determine what is
truth (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 286)
had been presenting it to you for the last 45 years;
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 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; when another presented it, every fiber of
my heart said, Amen (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
348)
could see heights and depths that we may reach
accepting every ray of light and going forward to
a greater light (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 447)
knew, if God had ever spoken by me, that it is the
truth (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 537)
gave my message with the messengers of God,
right in harmony with the very message they were
bearing (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 542)
tried to present it to the people, that they may see
the evidence that I saw (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
543)
considered it a privilege to stand by the side of
my brethren, and give my testimony with the
message for this time (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
545)
tried to present the message to the people as I
understand it (EGW 1888 Materials, p. 545)
knew that the Lord is in this work, and no one
can silence the messenger whom God sends, or
repress the message. (EGW 1888 Materials, p.
1141)
End of Part V
The Message of 1888 Re-examined Part VI
