Table of Contents

Section 1

and The Loud Cry

The Messengers and The Message

Published by 4th Angel, 2005 1-866-546-6469

The Messengers and The Message

Preface

It was in November 20, 1857 that Ellen White was given a vision of the future shaking, [see article “The Future” RH 12/31/1857; recorded also

in EW pp. 269-271].

She describes a tremendous experience that the people of God were having, especially being freed to lay “hold of the truth,” and she asked the angel, “What had made this great change?” The angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.” As far as we know this the first time she used the term; “the loud cry of the third angel.”

The next time she used this phrase in the Review and Herald was November 22, 1892, in an article “The Perils and Privileges of the Last Days.” Here some four years after the Minneapolis conference, she wrote, “The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” In a sermon she had given the previous summer, she had also stated unequivocally, “the third angelʼs message is swelling to a loud cry….” {1888 pg. 959}.

What you are holding in your hands, dear reader, is Ellen Whiteʼs testimony concerning the messengers of the loud cry, as well as the message itself.

The statements given here span some eleven years, and are mostly from The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, given in chronological order. Concluding statements from other sources include, her opening address to the General Conference session in 1901, W. W. Prescottʼs testimony about Minneapolis at the same meetings, a letter written later that year to P. T. Magan, and lastly an article that she wrote in the Review and Herald Dec 15, 1904 entitled— “A Call to Repentance.”

Emphases, bracketed insertions, and ellipses are used to maintain the focus of the topic at hand. We encourage the reader, if possible, to read the entire documents from which these extracts are taken.

It is our prayer that this material will bring conviction to the hearts and minds of our readers, and that they will join with that third angel and the angel in Revelation 18:1 in giving the loud cry to a perishing world.

Fourth Angel Publishers

Foreword

This is a foreword from the pen of Ellen G. White concerning the loud cry.

God is raising up a class to give the loud cry of the third angelʼs message. ... The loud cry will soon be heard and the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. {20MR 357.1} June 27, 1884

Said my guide, “There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of God and the gospel of righteousness. This message, understood in its true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its glory. The great decisive question is to be brought before all nations, tongues, and peoples. The closing work of the third angelʼs message will be attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God as supreme Governor; His law will be looked upon as the rule of His government.” {1888 166.1} 1886

The word was spoken to me, “Speak to the people all the words that I shall give thee. Wake up the mighty men. Let them become fully aroused, that they may with pen and voice stir up the people to whom God has given great light, that they may let their light shine forth in clear, steady rays to the world. A world is to be warned; and when the third angelʼs message goes forth with a loud cry, minds will be fully prepared to make decisions for or against the truth.” {1888 510.2} December 1889

The third angelʼs message is swelling into a loud cry, and you must not feel at liberty to neglect the present duty, and still entertain the idea that at some future time you will be the recipients of great blessing, when without any effort on your part a wonderful revival will take place. Today you are to give yourselves to God, that he may make of you vessels unto honor, and meet for His service. Today you are to give yourself to God, that you may be emptied of self, emptied of envy, jealousy, evil-surmising, strife, everything that shall be dishonoring to God. Today you are to have your vessel purified that it may be ready for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord—fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. {1888 959.6} September 5, 1891

A Most Precious Message and Its Messengers

This familiar photograph is commonly believed to have been taken at the 1888 General Conference Session

What of the Messengers?

1888 October 21

(Talk to Ministers [at Minneapolis])

The message “Go forward” is still to be heard and respected. The varying circumstances taking place in our world call for labor which will meet these peculiar developments. The Lord has need of men who are spiritually sharp and clear-sighted, men worked by the Holy Spirit, who are certainly receiving manna fresh from heaven. Upon the minds of such, Godʼs Word flashes light, revealing to them more than ever before the safe path. The Holy Spirit works upon mind and heart. The time has come when through Godʼs messengers the scroll is being unrolled to the world. Instructors in our schools should never be bound about by being told that they are to teach only what has been taught hitherto. Away with these restrictions. There is a God to give the message His people shall speak. Let not any minister feel under bonds or be gauged by menʼs measurement. The gospel must be fulfilled in accordance with the messages God sends. That which God gives His servants to speak today would not perhaps have been present truth twenty years ago, but it is Godʼs message for this time. (p. 133)

Let men and women who are truly converted offer themselves in all humility to the service of the Lord, for verily He hath need of them. First, they must be emptied of all selfishness. They will be cleansed vessels unto honor. They will reflect the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to all with whom they come in contact. Partakers of the divine nature, they will be savors of life unto life. They will not talk of the faults of others, but will repeat the words of divine wisdom which have penetrated and illuminated their hearts. They will be men who fear to talk and make sport of Godʼs messengers, but men who pray much. (p. 134)

1888 December

(Manuscript “Looking Back at Minneapolis”)

Brother A. T. Jones spoke to the people [at the Kansas campmeeting on the way to Minneapolis], also Brother

E. J. Waggoner, and the people heard many precious things that would be to them a comfort and a strength to their faith. They appreciated this, to them, all-important privilege. (pp.

205, 206)

Why were not these men [“in high positions of trust”, “at the Minneapolis meeting”,

p. 227], who knew of these things, afraid to lift their hand against me and my work for no reason except their imagination that I was not in harmony with their spirit and their course of action toward men whom they and I had reason to respect? These men were just as sincere as those who criticized, men of correct principles—but who did not harmonize with their views concerning the law in Galatians. I knew how the Lord regarded their spirit and action and if they did thus in ignorance, through perverted ideas, they have had all the opportunity God will ever give them to know He has given these men [A.

9

T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner] a work to do, and a message to bear which is present truth for this time. They knew that wherever this message comes its fruits are good. A vigor and a vital energy are brought into the church, and where the message is accepted, there 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. (p. 228)

1889 March 5 (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald article

“Meetings at South Lancaster, Mass.”)

Eld. Jones came from Boston, and labored most earnestly for the people, speaking twice and sometimes three times a day. The flock of God were fed with soul-nourishing food. The very message the Lord has sent to the people of this time was presented in the discourses.

(p. 267)

1889 April (to My Dear Brethren)

There are ways by which the Lord leads and guides His people. God has all wisdom and all knowledge. He has said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. Oh that all those who claimed to be Godʼs chosen servants would have felt that they were in need of wisdom, in the place of their feeling the perfect wholeness which they did feel. Much talking and inflaming one another were not wanting, and ridiculing

those whom God had raised up to do a special work.

They had, like brethren, taken their Bibles and searched the Scriptures and bowed upon their knees before God in earnest prayer, claiming the promises of God for divine guidance. In this time of peril, as we are nearing the period of an important crisis, it is only reasonable that we should expect something of the revealings of greater light to the people; and how did these men who had allowed their minds to be filled with prejudice and jealousy know but God had made these men messengers to give light and truth to the people? What right had they to set themselves in dead array against these ministers of Christ, even if they thought that their ideas did conflict with previous ideas on some points? Why not spend the hours together in prayer to God, in fasting, in deep heart-searching? “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven of the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7. The true, earnest seeker will give up his way for Godʼs ways, that he may be guided into paths wherein God may choose to lead him, where the Lord has great blessings awaiting him, although it may seem to short-sighted human beings there is only loss and disaster. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55:8, 9. (pp. 279, 280)

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.

(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.

(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.] (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. (pp. 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. (pp. 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. (p. 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. (pp. 370, 371)

1889 July 23 (to Elders M.(pictured) 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. (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. (pp. 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. (pp. 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. (pp. 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 it. 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. (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.

(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. (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. (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.

(p. 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. (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. (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. (p. 703)

1890 December 23 (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald article, “Be Zealous and Repent ”)

The Lord has sent a message to arouse his people to repent, and do their first works; but how has his message been received? While some have heeded it, others have cast contempt and reproach on the message and the messenger. Spirituality deadened, humility and childlike simplicity gone, a mechanical, formal profession of faith has taken the place of love and devotion. Is this mournful condition of things to continue? is the lamp of Godʼs love to go out in darkness? The Saviour calls; listen to his voice: “Be zealous and repent.” Repent, confess your sins, and you will be forgiven. “Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?” Why will you try to rekindle a mere fitful fire, and walk in the sparks of your own kindling? (p. 765)

1890 (Manuscript Light in God’s Word)

We have seen in our experience that when the Lord sends rays of light from the open door of the sanctuary to His people. Satan stirs up the minds of many. But the end is not yet. There will be those who will resist the light and crowd down those whom God has made His channels to communicate light. Spiritual things are not spiritually discerned. The watchmen have not kept pace with the opening providence of God, and the real heaven-sent message and messengers are scorned. (p. 831)

1891 January 6 (to U. Smith)

Dear Brother Smith,— Since your visit and our conversation I decided to place this in your hands to read yourself, and if necessary I may read it before a select number. I have a copy of the same. After I was so greatly burdened the Tuesday night, the same night I returned from Washington, I felt that I must trace upon paper my true feelings and the things which the Lord revealed to me. You may desire to know these things. When you visited me yesterday Jan. 5 and proposed such a meeting to take place I was glad because I thought that will result in good. But when you stated that you had not had feelings against Eld. Waggoner, and Eld. A.T. Jones, I was surprised. Perhaps you thought thus, but how could you think thus, is a mystery to me. The feelings cherished by yourself and Elder Butler were not only despising the message, but the messengers. But the blindness of mind has come by warring against the light which the Lord designed to come to his people. (p. 846)

1891 March 24 (Article Our Present Dangers)

In the revival work that has been going forward here during the past winter we have seen no fanaticism. But I will tell you what I have seen. I have seen men who were so lifted up in themselves, and so stubborn, that their hearts were enshrouded in darkness. All the light that Heaven graciously sent them is interpreted to be darkness. When the enemy presents a device of his own, some are ready to accept that; but they have been so very cautious that they would not receive the light which would have made them wise unto salvation. The mission of Godʼs servants was to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, if received, would have illuminated the soul- temple, and driven out the buyers and sellers, the pride of opinion and the lust of the flesh. But there are some who have criticised and depreciated, and even stooped to ridicule, the messengers through whom the Lord has wrought in power. (p. 904)

1891 March (Article read at Gen. Conf. of 1891)

In the fear and love of God I tell those before whom I stand to-day that there is increased light for us, and that great blessings come with the reception of this light. And when I see my brethren stirred with anger against Godʼs messages and messengers, I think of similar scenes in the life of Christ and the reformers. The reception given to Godʼs servants in past ages is the same as the reception that those to-day receive through whom God is sending precious rays of light. The leaders of the people to-day pursue the same course of action that the Jews pursued. They criticize and ply question after question, and refuse to admit evidence, treating the light sent them in the very same way that the Jews treated the light Christ brought them. (p. 911)

The Lord has been calling his people. In a most marked manner he has revealed his divine presence. But the message and the messengers have not been received but despised. I longed that those who have greatly needed the message of divine love would hear Christʼs knock at the door of the heart, and let the heavenly guest enter. But at the hearts of some Jesus has knocked in vain. In rejecting the message given at Minneapolis, men committed sin. They have committed far greater sin by retaining for years the same hatred against Godʼs messengers, by rejecting the truth that the Holy Spirit has been urging home. By making light of the message given, they are making light of the word of God. Every appeal rejected, every entreated unheeded, furthers the work of heart-hardening, and places them in the seat of the scornful. (p. 913)

1891 March (pamphlet Danger in Adopting Worldly Policy in the Work of God)

In a vision given in 1880 I asked. “Where is the security for the people of God in these days of peril?” The answer was, “Jesus maketh intercession for his people, though Satan standeth at his right hand to resist him.” “And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire” As manʼs Intercessor and Advocate, Jesus will lead all who are willing to be led, saying. “Follow me upward, step by step, where the clear light of the Sun of Righteousness shines.”

But not all are following the light. Some are moving away from the safe path, which at every step is a path of humility. God has committed to his servants a message for this time; but this message does not in every particular coincide with the ideas of all the leading men, and some criticize the message and the messengers. They dare even to reject the words of reproof sent to them from God through his Holy Spirit.

What reserve power has the Lord with which to reach those who have cast aside his warnings and reproofs, and have accredited the testimonies of the Spirit of God to no higher source than human wisdom? In the Judgment, what can you who have done this, offer to God as an excuse for turning from the evidences he has given you that God was in the work? “By their fruits ye shall know them.” I would not now rehearse before you the evidences given in the past two years of the dealings of God by his chosen servants; but the present evidence of his working is revealed to you, and you are now under obligation to believe. You cannot neglect Godʼs messages of warning, you cannot reject them or treat them lightly, but at the peril of infinite loss. Caviling, ridicule, and misrepresentation can be indulged in only at the expense of the debasement of your own souls. The use of such weapons does not gain precious victories for you, but rather cheapens the mind, and separates the soul from God. Sacred things are brought down to the level of the common, and a condition of things is created that pleases the prince of darkness, and grieves away the Spirit of God. Caviling and criticism leave the soul as devoid of the dew of grace as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of rain. Confidence cannot be placed in the judgment of those who indulge in ridicule and misrepresentation. No weight can be attached to their advice or resolutions. You must bear the divine credentials before you make decided movements to shape the working of Godʼs cause.

To accuse and criticize those whom God is using, is to accuse and criticize the Lord, who has sent them. All need to cultivate their religious faculties, that they may have a right discernment of religious things. Some have failed to distinguish between pure gold and mere glitter, between the substance and the shadow.

The prejudices and opinions that prevailed at Minneapolis are not dead by any means; the seeds sown there in some hearts are ready to spring into life and bear a like harvest. The tops have been cut down, but the roots have never been eradicated, and they still bear their unholy fruit to poison the judgment, pervert the perceptions, and blind the understanding of those with whom you connect, in regard to the message and the messengers. When by thorough confession, you destroy the root of bitterness, you will see light in Godʼs light. Without this thorough work you will never clear your souls. You need to study the word of God with a purpose, not to confirm your own ideas, but to bring them to be trimmed, to be condemned or approved, as they are or are not in harmony with the word of God. The Bible should be your constant companion. You should study the Testimonies, not to pick out certain sentences to use as you see fit, to strengthen your assertions, while you disregard the plainest statements given to correct your course of action. (pp. 953-955)

1892 April 15 (to J. H. Kellogg)

The many cautions that in the

loving kindness of the Lord have

been sent to you lead me to write

you now in this matter. Be careful

how you take a position against

Elder Waggoner. Have you not

the best of evidence that the Lord

has been communicating light

through him? I have, and the people where he has labored have been greatly blessed under his labors. (p. 977)

1892 July 26 (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald article, “Search the Scriptures”)

The rebuke of the Lord will be upon those who would be guardians of the doctrine, who would bar the way that greater light shall not come to the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of greater light, that they may unite with the messengers whom he shall send harmoniously to accomplish the work that he designs they should. The Lord has raised up messengers and endued them with his Spirit, and has said, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Let no one run the risk of interposing himself between the people and the message of heaven. The message of God will come to the people; and if there were no voice among men to give it, the very stones would cry out. I call upon every minister to seek the Lord, to put away pride, to put away strife after supremacy, and humble the heart before God. It is the coldness of heart, the unbelief of those who ought to have faith, that keeps the churches in feebleness. (p. 992)

1892 August 30 (to U. Smith)

The first thing recorded in Scripture history after the fall was the persecution of Abel. And the last thing in Scripture prophecy is the persecution against those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast. We should be the last people on the earth to indulge in the slightest degree the spirit of persecution against those who are bearing the message of God to the world. This is the most terrible feature of unchristlikeness that has manifested itself among us since the Minneapolis meeting. Sometime it will be seen in its true bearing, with all the burden of woe that has resulted from it. (p. 1013)

1892 September 1 (to O. A. Olsen)

Ministers are sent, as was John, to bear witness of that Light. The office of the messenger sent of God is not to draw the sympathies of the people to himself, but to direct the affections and sympathies away from himself, to center them upon Christ. The burden of his message should be,

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ “was in the world, and the world was made by Him”; but the world had sunk to such terrible depths of unbelief that when its own Creator came to it, it knew Him not. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This grace is not inherited.

I wish that all would see that the very same spirit which refused to accept Christ, the Light that would dispel the moral darkness, is far from being extinct in this age of the world. There are those in our day who are no more ready to recognize and acknowledge light than were the people when the prophets and the apostles came with messages from God, and many rejected the message and despised the messenger. Let us beware that this spirit is not entertained by any one of us. [Rev. 2:1-5, quoted.] (pp. 1018, 1019)

Why do not brethren of like precious faith consider that in every age, when the Lord has sent a special message to the people, all the powers of the confederacy of evil have set at work to prevent the word of truth from coming to those who should receive it?

If Satan can impress the mind and stir up the passions of those who claim to believe the truth, and thus lead them to unite with the forces of evil, he is well pleased. If once he can get them to commit themselves on the wrong side, he has laid his plans to lead them on a long journey. Through his deceptive wiles he will cause them to act upon the same principles he adopted in his disaffection in heaven. They take step after step in the false way, until there seems to be no other course for them except to go on, believing they are right in their bitterness of feeling toward their brethren. Will the Lordʼs messenger bear the pressure brought against him? If so, it is because God bids him stand in his strength and vindicate the truth that he is sent of God.

When men listen to the Lordʼs message, but through temptation allow prejudice to bar the mind and heart against the reception of truth, the enemy has power to present the most precious things in a distorted light. Looking through the medium of prejudice and passion, they feel too indignant to search the Scriptures in a Christlike spirit, but repudiate the whole matter because points are presented that are not in accordance with their own ideas.

When a new view is presented, the question is often asked, “Who are its advocates? What is the position of influence of the one who would teach us who have been students of the Bible for many years?” God will send His words of warning by whom He will send. And the question to be settled is not what person is it who brings the message; this does not in any way affect the word spoken. “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

Truth is often preached by one who has not experienced its power; but it is truth nevertheless, and is blessed to those who, drawn by the Spirit of God, accept it. But when the truth is presented by one who is himself sanctified through it, it has a freshness, a force, that gives it a convicting power to the hearer. The truth, in its power upon the heart, is precious, and the truth addressed to the understanding is clear. Both are needful—the word and the inward testimony of the Spirit.

In regard to the testimony that has come to us through the Lordʼs messengers, we can say, We know in whom we have believed. We know that Christ is our righteousness, not alone because He is so described in the Bible, but because we have felt His transforming power in our own hearts. (pp. 1022-1024)

Should the Lordʼs messengers, after standing manfully for the truth for a time, fall under temptation, and dishonor Him who has given them their work, will that be proof that the message is not true? No, because the Bible is true. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Sin on the part of the messenger of God would cause Satan to rejoice, and those who have rejected the messenger and the message would triumph; but it would not at all clear the men who were guilty of rejecting the message of truth sent of God. (p. 1025)

1892 September 2 (to A. T. Jones)

Elder Jones, walk carefully before God. “Ye are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” Be careful not to present in the paper views which you know will clash with Elder Smith; for he feels that he is in authority to control the articles which appear in the REVIEW; but if he makes an attempt to close the door that light shall not come to the people, then, sad as it may be, the Lord will remove him. But the Lord loves Brother Smith, and be careful that no occasion shall be given, by publishing articles that he has not seen. If after he sees the articles and publishes them without seeing and speaking with the author of the article, then he has no right to put in the paper an opposite view; for he hurts the cause of God. This is no time for dissension; press together; seek to be a unit. There should be a breaking down of icy reserve and a mutual confidence and freedom exercised. Each must guard his words. Avoid all impressions which savor of extremes; for those who are watching for a chance will seize hold of any words strongly expressed to justify them in their feelings of calling you an extremist.

The crisis is just before us. The fierce conflict of mind with mind, of principle with principle, of truth with error, which is fast approaching, and which has already begun, calls for constant vigilance. This world is the great field where the last battle is to be fought. Now every man who is on the Lordʼs side will come up to the battle of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and the walls of antichrist shall fall before the Captain of the Lordʼs host. Then let not the chosen of God be found in opposition to the messengers and messages He sends; but let the ability and tact of every soul, by all Scriptural and holy means, be employed to give greater efficiency and strength in the aggressive warfare—not against brethren, not against the Lordʼs anointed—but against the Satanic agencies that they must meet.

The Lord will speak through His messengers. They are only the human instrumentalities, possessing no grace or loveliness of their own, and are powerful and efficacious only as God, the eternal Spirit, shall work upon human hearts. The treasure of the everlasting gospel is in earthen vessels. Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, and this is the extent of their ability: God only giveth the increase. There must be no dishonoring of God, no grieving of His Holy Spirit, by casting dishonor or reflection upon God, who selects His messengers to bear a message to the world, by refusing the message of Godʼs words from the lips of any of His servants, by whom He may send it. Many souls rob themselves of great blessings, and Christ of glory which should redound to Him; because they do not take heed to this, there is confusion, and defection, and weakness. (pp. 1037-1039)

1892 September 19 (to Uriah Smith)

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.

(p. 1043)

It is quite possible that Elder Jones or Waggoner may be overthrown by the temptations of the enemy; but if they should be, this would not prove that they had had no message from God, or that the work that they had done was all a mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this position, and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not under the control of the Spirit of God. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and cannot distinguish between the fire they have kindled and the light which God has given, and they walk in blindness as did the Jews. (pp. 1044, 1045)

Oh, that self may be subdued in each one of us who profess to believe in Jesus! Oh, that pride may be laid in the dust! Oh, that we may more fully reflect the image of Jesus! As never before we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come we may accept the message and respect the messenger. Oh, that darkness may not settle upon any soul, but that the illuminating Spirit of Christ shall fall upon His people. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and the glory of our Redeemer is His character; this we must behold with spiritual vision. I would pray as did the apostle, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” [Eph. 1:17, 18].

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” [1 Thess. 2:13]. The word of God cannot work effectually in the heart when it is barred out by unbelief. The message which the messengers have been proclaiming is the message to the Laodicean church. [Rev. 3:14-20, quoted.]

This message has not had the influence that it should have had upon the mind and heart of the believers. The true state of the church is to be presented before men, and they are to receive the word of God not as something originating with men, but as the word of God. Many have treated the message to the Laodiceans as it has come to them, as the word of man. Both message and messenger have been held in doubt by those who should have been the first to discern and act upon it as the word of God. Had they received the word of God sent to them, they would not now be in darkness. “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and the Father, and of Christ” [Col. 2:1, 2]. (pp. 1050, 1051)

Those who name the name of Christ should adopt Christian maxims. They should fear to ridicule the message or the messenger. Let no man say that this conversation is in heaven, while he is manifestly groveling in the dust, and his thoughts and feelings are as far separated from God as the east from the west. The true Christian will fear to make light of Godʼs message, lest he may lay a stumbling block in the way of a soul who may see and imitate his example.

The church of God is to shine as a light to the world, but Jesus is the illuminator, and He is represented as moving among His people. No one shines by his own light. The Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the lights thereof. The message given us by A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be unto anyone who professes to believe the truth and yet does not reflect to others the God-given rays. Elder Smith, had you been unprejudiced, had not reports affected you and led you to bar your heart against the entrance of what these men presented; had you, like the noble Bereans, searched the Scriptures to see if their testimony agreed with its instruction, you would have stood upon vantage ground, and been far advanced in Christian experience. If you had received the truth into a good and honest heart, you would have become a living channel of light, with clear perception and sanctified imagination. Your conceptions of truth would have been exalted, and your heart made joyful in God. God would have given you a testimony clear, powerful, and convincing. But the first position you took in regard to the message and the messenger, has been a continual snare to you and a stumbling block.

(p. 1052)

1892 September (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald article, “Address to the Church”)

There is less excuse in our day for stubbornness and unbelief than there was for the Jews in the days of Christ. They did not have before them the example of a nation that had suffered retribution for their unbelief and disobedience. But we have before us the history of the chosen people of God, who separated themselves from him, and rejected the Prince of life. Though they could not convict him of sin, though they could not fail to see their own hypocrisy, they hated the Prince of life because he laid bare their evil ways. In our day greater light and greater evidence is given. We have also their example, the warnings and reproofs that were presented to them, and our sin and its retribution will be the greater, if we refuse to walk in the light. Many say, “If I had only lived in the days of Christ, I would not have wrested his words, or falsely interpreted his instruction. I would not have rejected and crucified him as did the Jews;” but that will be proved by the way in which you deal with his message and his messengers to-day. The Lord is testing the people of to-day as much as he tested the Jews in their day. When he sends his messages of mercy, the light of his truth, he is sending the spirit of truth to you, and if you accept the message, you accept of Jesus. Those who declare that if they had lived in the days of Christ, they would not do as did the rejecters of his mercy, will to-day be tested. Those who live in this day are not accountable for the deeds of those who crucified the Son of God; but if with all the light that shone upon his ancient people, delineated before us, we travel over the same ground, cherish the same spirit, refuse to receive reproof and warning, then our guilt will be greatly augmented, and the condemnation that fell upon them will fall upon us, only it will be as much greater as our light is greater in this age than was their light in their age. (pp. 1057, 1058)

1892 November 5 (to Frank and Hattie Belden)

When you are enlightened

by the Holy Spirit, you will

see all that wickedness at

Minneapolis as it is, as God

looks upon it. If I never see

you again in this world, be

assured that I forgive you

sorrow and distress and

burden of soul you have brought upon me without any cause. But for your soulʼs sake, for the sake of Him who died for you, I want you to see and confess your errors. You did unite with those who resisted the Spirit of God. You had all the evidence that you needed that the Lord was working through Brethren Jones and Waggoner; but you did not receive the light; and after the feelings indulged, the words spoken against the truth, you did not feel ready to confess that you had done wrong, that these men had a message from God, and you had made light of both message and messengers.

(p. 1066)

When I purposed to leave Minneapolis, the angel of the Lord stood by me and said: “Not so; God has a work for you to do in this place. The people are acting over the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. I have placed you in your proper position, which those who are not in the light will not acknowledge; they will not heed your testimony; but I will be with you; My grace and power shall sustain you. It is not you they are despising, but the messengers and the message I send to My people. They have shown contempt for the word of the Lord. Satan has blinded their eyes and perverted their judgment; and unless every soul shall repent of this their sin, this unsanctified independence that is doing insult to the Spirit of God, they will walk in darkness. I will remove the candlestick out of his place except they repent and be converted, that I should heal them. They have obscured their spiritual eyesight. They would not that God would manifest His Spirit and His power; for they have a spirit of mockery and disgust at My word. Lightness, trifling, jesting, and joking are daily practiced. They have not set their hearts to seek Me. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and unless they repent they shall lie down in sorrow. Thus saith the Lord: Stand at your post of duty; for I am with thee, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee.” These words from God I have not dared to disregard. (pp. 1067, 1068)

circa 1893 (to the Review and Herald Office)

The Lord has raised up Brother Jones and Brother Waggoner to proclaim a message to the world to prepare a people to stand in the day of God. The world is suffering the need of additional light to come to them upon the Scriptures,—additional proclamation of the principles of purity, lowliness, faith, and the righteousness of Christ. This is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (pp. 1814, 1815)

1893 January 9 (to W. Ings)

Our work is clearly aggressive.

warfare is to be directed

against error and sin, not against

one another. God requires us to

be a strength to one another, to

heal, not to destroy. We are to

be constantly receiving light; and

we are not to spurn the message

nor the messengers by whom God

hall send light to His people. (p.

1121)

We know that Brother Jones has been giving the message for this time—meat in due season for the starving flock of God. 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. Brother Jones has borne the message from church to church and from State to State; and light and freedom and the outpouring of the Spirit of God have attended the word. (p. 1122)

Those who were then deceived might since have come to the light. They might rejoice in the truth as it is in Jesus, were it not for the pride of their own rebellious hearts. They will be asked in the judgment, “Who required this at your hand, to rise up against the message and the messengers I sent to My people with light, with grace and power? Why have you lifted up your souls against God? Why did you block the way with your own perverse spirit? And afterward when evidence was piled upon evidence, why did you not humble your hearts before God, and repent of your rejection of the message of mercy He sent you?” The Lord has not inspired these brethren to resist the truth. He designed that they should be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and be living channels of light to communicate the light to our world, in clear, bright rays. (p. 1126)

The opposition in our own ranks has imposed upon the Lordʼs messengers a laborious and soul-trying task; for they have had to meet difficulties and obstacles which need not have existed. While this labor had to be performed among our own people to make them willing that God should work in the day of His power, the light of the glory of God has not been shining in clear, concentrated rays to our world. Thousands who are now in the darkness of error might have been added to our numbers. (pp. 1128, 1129)

1893 January 20 (to I. D. Van Horn)

I know that Elder Smith, Elder Butler, and Elder Van Horn have been losing the richest privileges of heavenly enlightenment, because the spirit and impressions that were entertained before the Minneapolis meeting and in a large degree cherished since that time have kept them in a position where, when good cometh, they have had little appreciation of the same. I am so sorry for you, my brother; you have worked hard, but the wisdom which the Lord giveth to run like fine threads of gold through all your ministerial labor has been wanting. No greater light or evidence will come to any one of you except to Elder Butler. He has not been directly in the channel where light from the throne has come upon him. The Lord looks with compassion upon you all, but in a special sense upon Elder Butler. Both Elder Smith and yourself have had opportunities of the highest order, but neither of you has improved the privilege of opening the chambers of your mind, and withdrawing the curtain from the soul temple, that the train of the glory of God might illuminate heart and mind. There is no reason that either of you can offer before the great white throne, when the Lord shall asked you, “Why did you not unite your interests with the messengers I sent? Why did you not accept the message I sent through my servants? Why did you watch these men to find something to question and doubt, when you should have accepted the message that bore the imprint of the most High?” (pp. 1137, 1138)

Think you, my brother, if the Lord has raised up men to give to the world a message to the people to prepare them to stand in the great day of God, that any one could by their influence stop the work and close the mouth of the messengers? No; if every human agent should hold his peace, a voice would be put into the stones, and they would cry out. The message would go in greater and still greater power. And shall such men as Elder Smith, Elder Butler, and yourself, be left behind in the special message and work for this time to carry the people forward and upward to a higher, holier state of spirituality?

Is the work that has been going on since the Minneapolis meeting of God? If not, it is of another spirit. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” I know that the Lord is in this work, and no one can silence the messenger whom God sends, or repress the message. The Lord will be heard through his human agencies. And if any man refuses to accept the light and walk in it, that light will not continue to shine upon him. “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.” (pp. 1140, 1141)

1894 June 1 (to S. N. Haskell)

I have the most tender feelings toward our brethren who have made this mistake [thinking Anna Rice Phillips was a prophet of God], and I would say that those who depreciate the one who have accepted reproof, will be permitted to pass through trial which will make manifest their own individual weakness and defects of character. Bro. Jones and Prescott are the Lordʼs chosen messengers, beloved of God. They have co-operated with God in the work for this time. While I cannot endorse their mistakes, I am in sympathy and union with them in their general work. The Lord sees that they need to walk in meekness and lowliness of mind before him, and to learn lessons which will make them more careful in every word they utter and in every step they take. These brethren are Godʼs ambassadors. They have been quick to catch the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and have responded by imparting the heavenly light to others…. Let every soul who has received the theory of the truth now take heed how they treat Godʼs messengers. Let no one be found working on Satanʼs side of the question, as an accuser of the brethren. Let every bruise and wound be healed. Let every one who has named the name of Christ, walk in all humility of mind, and let no hard, unChristlike feelings be cherished in the heart to develop into satanic attributes in the character…. (pp. 1241, 1242)

1894 October 27 (to A. R. Henry)

…The very men whom God has entrusted with a message for his people have not been treated with respect; and A.R. Henry had those in harmony with him, had the power been in their hands would have rejected, not only the message, as they have done, but the messengers

whom God has sent. These men were intrusted with a work to do for the Master, and had their mouths been stopped, had their voices been silenced, God would have raised up others to do this work. If no human voice could be heard, He could have given a tongue to the stones to proclaim the very message he would have come to men.

Will Brother Henry consider what kind of spirit they have cherished in reference to the message and the messengers. How bitter were your feelings against them. Do you think that God was leading you? These feelings are waiting for a revival. If in the history of the men who have borne this gospel message, anything should take place which should prove them erring, fallible as yourselves, you would not consider your own errors and mistakes; you would manifest the most bitter feelings against them. It is high time you were thoroughly converted, that your sins may go beforehand, and be blotted out now in probationary time, lest it shall be forever too late for wrongs to be righted. Read Isa. 30:8-13.

I have not dared to speak to you smooth things. I have not dared to prophesy deceit. I have declared to you the word of the Lord, but some things I have not communicated in so plain and sharp a manner as the case demanded. You have not accepted the testimonies of warning and reproof which the Lord has given. You have had a hatred of the message which his chosen messengers have proclaimed…. (pp. 1299-1300)

1895 May 1 (to O. A. Olsen)

I inquire of those in responsible positions in Battle Creek, What are you doing? You have turned your back, and not your face, to the Lord. There needs to be a cleansing of the heart, the feelings, the sympathies, the words, in reference to the most momentous subjects— the Lord God, eternity, truth. What is the message to be given at this time? It is the third angelʼs message. But that light which is to fill the whole world with its glory, has been despised by some who claim to believe the present truth. Be careful how you tread. Take off the shoes from off your feet; for you are on holy ground. Beware how you indulge the attributes of Satan, and pour contempt upon the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. I know not but some have even now gone too far to return and to repent .(p. 1334, 1335)

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angelʼs message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. (pp. 1336, 1337)

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. 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 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. They were beholding Christ. “Fear not,” is His everlasting assurance; “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore.” “Because I live, ye shall live also.” The blood of the spotless Lamb of God the believers apply to their own heart. Looking upon the great antitype, we can say, “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (pp. 1339, 1340)

I have no smooth message to bear to those who have been for so long as false guideposts, pointing the wrong way. If you reject Christʼs delegated messengers, you reject Christ. Neglect this great salvation kept before you for years, despise this glorious offer of justification through the blood of Christ and sanctification through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. I entreat you now to humble yourselves, and cease your stubborn resistance of light and evidence. Say unto the Lord, Mine iniquities have separated between me and my God. O Lord, pardon my transgressions. Blot out my sins from the book of Thy remembrance. Praise His holy name, there is forgiveness with Him, and you can be converted, transformed.

(p. 1342)

1895 May 1 (to H. Lindsay)

My brother, why do you cherish such

bitterness against Elder A.T. Jones

and Elder Waggoner? It is for the

same reason Cain hated Abel. Cain

refused to heed the instruction of

God, and because Abel sought God,

and followed His will, Cain killed him.

God has given Brother Jones and Brother

Waggoner a message for the people. You do not believe that God has upheld them, but He has given them precious light, and their message has fed the people of God. When you reject the message borne by these men, you reject Christ, the Giver of the message. (p. 1353)

1895 June 19 (to O. A. Olsen)

When you are fully awake to these things, you will see and know that the reproof of God has for years been upon these responsible men, yet they have not humbled their hearts neither have they been converted, nor have they confessed where they have resisted the messages God has been giving his people. They have shown contempt for both the messenger and the message, from the time Eld. Jones and Waggoner were given a special work to do for these last days…. (p. 1395)

1895 September 25 (to J. E. White)

Those who, since the Minneapolis meeting, have had the privilege of listening to the words spoken by the messengers of God, Elder

A.T. Jones, Prof. Prescott, Brn. E. J. Waggoner, O. A. Olsen, and many others, at the campmeetings and ministerial institutes, have had the invitation, “Come, for all things are now ready. Come to the supper prepared for you.” Light, heavenʼs light, has been shining. The trumpet has given a certain sound. Those who have made their various excuses for neglecting to respond to the call, have lost much. The light has been shining upon justification by faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ. Those who receive and act in the light given, will, in their teachings, give evidence that the message of Christ crucified, a risen Saviour ascended into the heavens to be our advocate, is the wisdom and power of God in the conversion of souls, bringing them back to their loyalty to Christ. These are our themes,—Christ crucified for our sins, Christ risen from the dead, Christ our intercessor before God; and closely connected with these is the office-work of the Holy Spirit, the representative of Christ, sent-forth with divine power and gifts for men. (pp. 1455, 1456)

1895 November 13 (to F. E. Belden)

I have no smooth words of peace and safety to speak to the hypocrites in Zion, whose business it is to turn the truth of God into a lie. Words and works are on Satanʼs side of the question. Men who have had evidence piled upon evidence that the Lord has been at work among his people and yet these men have hated the messenger and the messages God has given him to proclaim. There is no excuse for the course which they have pursued and still planning to pursue…. (p. 1473)

1896 January 16 (to Brethren Who Occupy Responsible Positions in the Work)

Some have been and are still, refusing to put on the wedding garment. They still wear their citizenʼs dress, and despise the garment woven in the loom of heaven, which is, “Christ our Righteousness.” “And he saith unto me, write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Who are friends of Christ to-day? Do you feel an intense desire for the robe of Christʼs righteousness? Are you sensible of the filthy rags of your own righteousness? Then let the truth come into your practical life. If you are friends of Christ, show it in words, in spirit; manifest love to Jesus, and love for the souls for whom Christ hath died. The sentiments of truth are the elements that constitute a symmetrical Christian character. We are far, far from being Christians, which is to be Christlike. We need the Holy Spiritʼs efficiency. God lives and reigns. The very reason that the Holy Spiritʼs manifestations were not accepted as precious tokens from God, is that there was not a receiving of the grace of God. The Spirit of the Lord has been upon His messengers whom He hath sent with light, precious light; but there were so many who had turned their face away from the Sun of Righteousness that they saw not its bright beams. The Lord says of them, They have turned their backs to Me, and not the face. There is need of seeking the Lord most earnestly. (p. 1484)

1896 May 22 (to O. A. Olsen)

Here is the secret of the movements made to oppose the men whom God sent with a message of blessing for his people. These men were hated, their message was despised, as verily as Christ himself was despised at his first advent. Men in responsible positions have manifested the very attributes that Satan has revealed. They have sought to rule minds, to bring their reason and their talents under human jurisdiction. There has been an effort to bring Godʼs servants under the control of men who have not the knowledge and wisdom of God, or an experience under the Holy Spiritʼs guidance. Principles have been born that should never have seen the light of day. The illegitimate child should have been stifled as soon as it breathed the first breath of life. Finite men have been warring against God and the truth and the Lordʼs chosen messengers, counterworking them by every means they dared to use. Please consider what virtue there came in the wisdom and plans of those who have slighted Godʼs messages, and, like the scribes and Pharisees, have despised the very men whom God has used to present light and truth which his people needed. (pp. 1525, 1526)

1899 May 11 (Untitled)

Those who have been separating from Christ by reason of false theories and maxims and customs hear the truth sent from God as a strange thing and inquire, “Doth he not speak in parables?” They lose sight of God and his manner of working, which is often as unexpected to the agent whom he uses as to the people to whom the agent is sent. In some character a prejudice is so strengthened by the first resistance of the truth that they take false positions, and hold to them, notwithstanding the most positive evidence from the word. With many there is an apparent desire to be much in prayer with God, and yet when the word comes from the Lord, they are startled into resistance, and they exclaim against it and the messenger as did the Jews, saying, “He is tearing away the very pillars of our faith.” In their blindness they do not comprehend what constitute the pillars of faith.

This departure from God and his word has for a long time been coming in; and it was God who called the attention of several of our brethren to the Scriptures, calling upon them to dig for the truth which had been buried beneath customs and traditions, as for hidden treasure. Truths which to many minds have been a great mystery are to be unfolded. “The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” This word is in a special sense to be proclaimed, that those who believe in Christ as a personal Saviour may have eternal life.

When the Israelites were dying from the sting of the fiery serpents, a brazen serpent was uplifted in the midst of them, that all might look and live. But there were those who stopped to reason regarding the foolishness of looking for relief to this means. That they should be healed by looking at a piece of brass was absurd to their minds, and they said, “We will not look.” This decision was fatal, and all who would not accept the provision made perished. The brazen serpent was uplifted in the wilderness that those who looked in faith might be made whole. In like manner God sends a restoring, healing message to men, calling upon them to look away from man and earthly things, and place their trust in God. He has given his people the truth with power through the Holy Spirit. He has opened his word to those who were searching and praying for truth. But when these messengers gave the truth they had received to the people, they were as unbelieving as the Israelites. Many are cavilling over the truth brought to them by humble messengers. They question, How can this message be truth? How is it possible that by looking to Jesus and believing in his imputed righteousness, I may gain eternal life? Those who have thus refused to see the truth do not realize that it is God with whom they are in controversy, that in refusing the message sent them, they are refusing Christ.( pp. 1687, 1688 )

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 The Ellen G. White 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 (p. 211, 447)

•the righteousness of Christ in relation to the law (p. 211)

•the tidings that Christ is our righteousness (p. 387)

•the unmerited blessings that God has bestowed, His grace, His privileges, His opportunities (p. 387)

•• Godʼs dealing with His people as a loving, forgiving father deals with an ungrateful, wayward son (p. 387)

•the light shining forth from the word of God has been clear and distinct— justification by faith, Christ our righteousness. (p.447)

•these great and glorious truths, the righteousness of Christ and the entire sacrifice made in behalf of man (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 (p. 281)

•faith in Jesus Christʼs righteousness in the behalf of every individual soul

•(p.281)

•• the gospel of Christ (p. 281)

•the precious subject the righteousness of Christ and of faith (p. 291)

• the gospel as well as the law (p. 291)

•• the matchless charms of Christ

•(p. 348)

•the grand, and the overpowering ideas of His Excellency (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 (p. 447)

• much precious light (p. 828)

• divine love (p. 913)

•the rich gifts of Jesus unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent (p. 1336)

•justification by faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ (p. 1455)

•Christ crucified, a risen Saviour ascended into the heavens to be our advocate (p. 1455)

•the wisdom and power of God in the conversion of souls (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 (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 (p. 1575)

•taking their burden of sin to Jesus for His forgiveness (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). (p. 211)

• the law in Galatians (p. 228)

•the faith of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ (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 (p. 447)

•the value of the price that has been paid for our salvation (p. 546)

•the law of God exalted, placed before the people in the framework of the gospel of Jesus Christ (p. 828)

• the righteousness of Christ as our only hope of gaining access to the Father

(p. 1057)

• their strength being proportionate to the strength of their dependence (p. 1690)

It was a message that:

•presented justification through faith in the Surety (p. 1336)

•invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God (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 (p. 1336)

•by looking to Jesus and believing in his imputed righteousness, I may gain eternal life (p. 1688)

•the plan of redemption shall come to his people as the latter rain (p. 1690)

It was a message to:

• wake up the mighty men to prepare for battle, for the day of Godʼs preparation

(p. 210)

• strengthen His people (p. 267)

•educate the people to look away from themselves to Jesus and to His righteousness (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.”

(p. 308)

• arouse a lukewarm, slumbering church

(p. 414)

•go to every church that claims to believe the truth, and bring our people up to a higher stand-point (p. 545)

•carry the people forward and upward to a higher, holier state of spirituality

(p. 1140)

• be seen by these glorious truths glowing in our hearts, trembling upon our lips and pervading our whole being (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

(p. 1336)

• the world to prepare a people to stand in the day of God (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 (p. 228)

•a better knowledge of what constitutes faith (p. 267)

• highly satisfactory (p. 267)

•an experience beyond anything they had known before (p. 268)

•a solemn realization that Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (p. 268)

•we seemed to breathe in the very atmosphere of heaven; angels were indeed hovering around; the Lord had visited his people (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 (p. 268)

•the plan of salvation, the simplicity of faith has been made so clear that a child may understand (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 (p. 283)

• our brethren and sisters have begun to see and to understand what Jesus is to them; the Lord is in our midst (p. 284)

•without excitement or extravagance; the leaven of Christʼs righteousness has been introduced into the experience and has energized the soul (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 (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 (p. 284)

• relief to many, many souls (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. (p. 447)

• great interest is manifested (p. 447)

• a growth in faith and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

(p. 447)

•light, and relief, and the blessing of God (p. 447)

•minds are filled with the grand and overpowering ideas of his excellency (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 (p. 447)

•their experience was of a more spiritual character than they have had before since embracing the truth (p. 461)

•the fruit is peace, courage, joy, and harmony (p. 461)

•its influence upon human hearts of all who have received it is good and the fruits are good (p. 499)

•no relish for sin; hate the sin that caused the sufferings of the Son of God

(p. 545)

•the power of God attended the message wherever it was spoken (p. 545)

•healing and life and comfort to many weary and oppressed souls (p. 673)

•souls turn from sin to righteousness; faith revived in the hearts of the contrite ones (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.” (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 (p. 1122)

•light and freedom and the out-pouring of the Spirit of God (p. 1122)

•the conversion of souls, bringing them back to their loyalty to Christ (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.” (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

(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 (p. 1692)

•many moved and humbled, drink of the waters of life (p. 1814)

It was a message that was:

• Godʼs message for this time; but would not perhaps have been present truth twenty years ago (p. 133)

• a solemn message (p. 210)

• no new light, but it was old light placed where it should be in the third angelʼs message (p. 211)

• precious truths (p. 217)

• the message for this time (p. 217, Paulson Collection, p. 151)

• present truth for this time (p. 228, 286, 387, 1710); truth for this time (p. 406, 420, 447, 545, 1025, 1057, 1160, 1620); the precious sanctifying truth for this time (p.723, 1077)

• the great treasure of truth (p. 228)

• the light which the Lord has given (3Bio 421)

• soul-nourishing food (p. 267)

• the very message the Lord has sent to the people of this time (p. 267, 1395)

70

•a flood of light in this subject of faith and the righteousness of Christ (p. 291)

•the light and the message for the present time (p. 291)

• the rich blessing of God (p. 308)

•precious light to present before the people (p.387)

•a special work He is doing at this time

(p.414)

•the words of Jesus, appealing to His people in warnings, in reproofs, in counsels (p. 417)

•meat in due season to the starving flock of God (p. 437, 1122; cf. 276)

• large morsels from the Lordʼs table (p. 447)

•light and truth, just the truth for this time (p. 447)

• a feast of fat things (p. 447)

• bearing the divine credentials (p. 447)

•from above; the message the Lord sends (p.499)

•the matter now brought to us,— Justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ (p. 499)

•this urgent call for the will to be yielded

(p.499)

• His work for this time (p.673)

•the heaven sent message, heaven sent light (p. 673, 831, 1122, 1335, 1656, cf. 545)

• a special message (p. 1043, 1245)

•the message of God to the Laodicean church (p. 1052)

• most precious (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 (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 (p. 1336)

•the invitation, “Come, for all things are now ready. Come to the supper prepared for you.” (p. 1455)

• light, heavenʼs light (p. 1455)

• the Lordʼs message (p. 1575)

•the light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory (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 (p. 1688)

•the light which would place them under the guardianship of the Holy Spirit, to be moulded after the divine similitude

(p. 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 (p. 1814)

It was a message of which Ellen White said she:

• could respond to with all my heart

(p. 217)

• felt inexpressibly grateful to God

(p. 217)

•had presented the subject in the testimonies again and again (p. 217)

•was convinced if it is not present truth for this time, I know not how we can determine what is truth (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 (p. 348)

• could see heights and depths that we may reach accepting every ray of light and going forward to a greater light

(p. 447)

•knew, if God had ever spoken by me, that it is the truth (p. 537)

•gave my message with the messengers of God, right in harmony with the very message they were bearing (p. 542)

•tried to present it to the people, that they may see the evidence that I saw

(p. 543)

• considered it a privilege to stand by the side of my brethren, and give my testimony with the message for this time

(p. 545)

•tried to present the message to the people as I understand it (p. 545)

• knew that the Lord is in this work, and no one can silence the messenger whom God sends, or repress the message.

(p. 1141)

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 for 2005 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

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 angelsʼ 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}

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