1888 - Another Look

The Adventists Only portion of the Firm Foundation Series given by Shauna Manfredine at the Spring Retreat 2004 in Terra Bella, California

The 1888 General Conference session has become a famous icon among Seventh-day Adventists. The fact that something important happened there is quite clear. But what actually was presented? Most Seventh-day Adventists have come to believe that the Conference session in Minneapolis in 1888 was about Righteousness by Faith. But why should this be such a big deal? After all, the concept of Righteousness by Faith was accepted by Martin Luther and many other reformers during the Dark Ages! Logically then, 1888 has held little interest to many S.D.A.'s. So, 1888 has long lain unexplored. Why should we look into something if it is about so obvious a subject? Actually, according to many of the eye witnesses who were actually present at this famous conference, a whole lot happened in 1888. So much so in fact that it has been characterized as "epochal" and "crucial." Perhaps then, its time we took another look at S.D.A. General Conference session held in 1888...

Ellen G. White has become a controvesial figure in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Whatever your views may be about her, for this study, we will be using Ellen G. White as a credible witness. Having attended the infamous 1888 conference, Mrs. White had a great deal to say about what took place there. Through her observations and comments, as well as through the writings of others, we may reconstruct the events and messages presented at this conference session and through them take another look at this pivotal moment in Seventh-day Adventist church history. I. What Mrs. White said happened in 1888: You (the S.D.A. conference leadership) may continue to reject Christ in the person of His messengers. When men do this, the words of the apostle will find an application in their case, as in the time of the Jews: He came to His own, and His own received Him not We are less excusable than were the Jews; for we have before us the example of rejection of Christ and His apostles, and we have been warned not to fall after the same example of unbelief. Throughout the history of the church in all ages, and especially in that of the Seventh-day Adventists, we have examples of those who have refused the light God sent them by His chosen agents My brethren, the Lord is not pleased to have us settle down in unbelief, and question and quibble over matters of truth as you have done. (1888 Materials, 399-400) There was to be SPECIAL LIGHT for Gods people as they neared the closing scenes of this earths history. ANOTHER ANGEL (the fourth angel of Revelation 18) was to come from heaven with A MESSAGE, and the whole earth was to be lightened with his glory. (Manuscript Releases, Vol 13, p 334) To summarize then, Mrs. White states that the Fourth Angel's Message was to be the final message shared just prior to Christ's return.

This message, as we will soon see, was presented by Jones and Waggoner at the 1888 conference. In reference to the "light" which was presented in 1888, Mrs. White says that the S.D.A. leadership at that time "refused the light God sent them." This is a serious allegation. What happened? What was presented? What was refused? Perhaps now, it is clear that the 1888 issue bears notice and further study. Let us continue... The dazzling angel of Revelation 18 is described as bringing more light. So much light, in fact, that it will "lighten the whole earth with the glory of God." Never before, including the messages of the former three angels, has the Bible described a teaching as so filled with holy light. But, wait a minute, one may say, where do we get the idea that light is associated with a message or a teaching? According to the Bible, the light of God is His Truth. The fourth angel of Revelation 18 is brighter because he carries MORE LIGHT MORE TRUTH. But all will not love Gods wonderful light/truth, for light is uncomfortable to darkness. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds be reproved." (John 3:19-20) What added light does the fourth angel bring when he unites his voice with the three angels messages (which Biblically precede him)? From the three angels messages Seventh-day Adventists learned to: Keep the commandments Keep the Seventh-day Sabbath The Mark of the Beast was Sunday-keeping The fourth angels Message ADDITIONALLY teaches us to: Keep the commandments AND the statutes (the whole Torah is the Law) Keep the Seventh-day Sabbath AND the seven annual Sabbaths The Mark of the Beast is Sunday-keeping AND the keeping of any of the false holy days which the beast has set up as holy (and are from paganism) This information is clearly presented, Scripturally and historically, in the book, The Testimony of the Moon. If there is any question in your mind regarding this broader definition of the Law of God, or the additional light of the fourth angel, this book is an excellent place to begin a study of these concepts. (Actually, this document on 1888 is meant to serve as an addendum for Seventh-day Adventists who HAVE already read the book. According to the Bible, what is the call of the fourth angel, which bears so much light? And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4) Okay, so far we know that Ellen G. White, as an eyewitness, wrote that the S.D.A. leadership had rejected God's light as presented in 1888. In addition, we are beginning to see that there is a connection to the message of the fourth angel.

But, let's take smaller steps rather than such big leaps. We will progress step-by-step through this "rejected" message and the related events of this 1888 conference. Let's begin with general S.D.A. church history on this subject: What is generally known about the famous 1888 Conference: There was a General Conference Session in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1888. Ellet Waggoner and Alonzo Jones presented a special message that was controversial In the work, Grace on Trial, 1888 Was called the Epochal Conference in Adventism. "What made the 1888 conference epochal and crucial? It was both the character of the special message presented there and the strange manner of its reception. The message was profoundly unique, the most glorious since the midnight cry of 1844; and its reception the most emphatic and determined resistance of the gospel ever known within the Advent Movement." (Grace on Trial, p 103) Ask Yourself: What have I been told about 1888? Does the issue of Righteousness by Faith sound profoundly unique knowing that Righteousness by Faith was discovered in the time of Luther? Was the message of Righteousness by Faith resisted? More about what Ellen G. White, as an eye-witness, had to say about 1888: Here is the secret of the movements made to opposed the men whom God sent with a message of blessing for His people. These men have been hated, the message was despised, as verily as Christ Himself was hated at His first advent (1888 Materials, p.1525) Things new and old were brought before us Truths were revealed that the people were scarcely able to comprehend and appropriate Light flashed from the oracles of God in relation to the LAW AND THE GOSPEL which seemed to souls who were hungry for truth, as light too precious to be received. (Review and Herald, July 23, 1889) NOTE: How does the Bible define the Gospel? It is the first angels reminder to Fear God and give glory to Him (See Revelation 14:6-7) Fearing God and giving Him glory is keeping His law (See Deut. 6:2, Deut. 17:19, Eccl. 12:13) Thus, we see that the message of 1888 was an uplifting of Gods whole Law. The real issue was Waggoners interpretation of the law in the book of Galatians and Romans Traditionally Seventh-day Adventists had always taught that the law which Paul spoke about in the book of Galatians was actually the ceremonial law (and that it passed away at the death of Christ) Elder Waggoner, however had studied the book of Galatians very carefully and had come to the conclusion (which he presented in the Signs of the Times), that this law which Paul speaks about, actually (was) the MORAL LAW (and was NOT nailed to the cross) (The Return of the Fourth Angel, p 2) (Mrs. White:) Said my guide, There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of God and the gospel of righteousness. The message, understood in its true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its glory. (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 2, 58)

But the Adventist leadership did not meet this message graciously. The 1888 Conference became a rather ugly scene, and naturally, Ellen White desired to leave. But, in Mrs. White's own words, the angel of the Lord restrained her, asking her instead to stand by the besieged Jones and Waggoner and defend Gods message. 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 It is not you they are despising, but the messengers and the message I sent to My people. (Letter B-2a, 1892) I shall never, I think, be called upon to stand under the direction of the Holy Spirit as I stood at Minneapolis But in the rooms was heard ridicule, criticism, jeering, laughter. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit were attributed to fanaticism. (Letter, May 31, 1896). More about what Ellen G. White had to say about 1888: They (the Adventist leadership who opposed the Message of Jones and Waggoner) 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? Why have you lifted up your souls against God? When evidence was piled upon evidence, you did not humble your hearts before God, and repent of your rejection to the message of mercy I sent to you (Letter, Jan 9, 1893) I saw that Jones and Waggoner had their counterparts in Joshua and Caleb as the children of Israel stoned the spies with literal stones of sarcasm and ridicule I saw that you (the Adventist leadership present at this conference) willfully rejected what you know to be truth, just because it was too humiliating to your dignity. I saw some of you in your tents mincing and making all manner of fun of these two brethren (Jones and Waggoner). I also saw that if you had accepted their message, we would have been in the kingdom in two years from that date (1888), but now we have to go back into the wilderness (General Conference Bulletin, May 7th) NOTE: The message presented in 1888 was the LAST message. Had it been accepted, it would have fulfilled the prophecy of the being the Gospel message and would have been carried on the wings of Pentecost to the whole world. The end would have come in just two short years! But, Adventism, has repeated the history of the Jews. Rather than receiving Gods last truth gladly, the leadership chose to lose its light for a time. We have been wandering in the wilderness. But, now the light is beginning to shine from the fourth angel again. Thus we can be certain that we are again approaching the boundaries of heavenly Canaan. Satan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel, and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. Through the agency of evil spirits strange gods were introduced; and because of transgression, the chosen people were finally scattered from the Land of Promise. This history Satan is striving to repeat in our day. God is leading His people out from the abominations of the world, that they may keep His law; and because of this, the rage of the accuser of our brethren; knows no bounds. The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Revelation 12:10-12) The antitypical land of promise is just before us, and Satan is determined to destroy the people of God and cut them off from their inheritance. The admonition, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation (Mark 14:38) was never more needed than now. (Patriarchs and Proph. p 688)

What was Heavens response to this rejection of heavenly light? All heaven is filled with amazement that (when this loving message is presented to men) they are so indifferent, so cold, and unmoved The Lord has sent a message to arouse His people to repent, and DO THEIR FIRST WORK. (Review and Herald, Dec. 23, 1890) The Seventh-day Adventist leadership actually PUT OUT the light of the fourth angel in 1888! The whole of Revelation 18 will be fulfilled in the glorious closing of this work. It hasnt yet been fulfilled, and the light of the fourth angels message began to shine in that strange and impressive way at Minneapolis. The only reasonable conclusion is that the light was PUT OUT by human instrumentalities. (Letter 106) An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this TRUTH, lay at the foundation of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the LORDS MESSAGE THROUGH BRETHREN WAGGONER AND JONES The light that was to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren kept away from the world. (1888 Materials, p 1575) The Official Seventh-day Adventist Statement about what happened in 1888 is very different from Ellen Whites View. Here is what the S.D.A. Church leaders told the Adventist people about the 1888 conference: The 1888 message was merely the same doctrine that Luther, Wesley, and others had been teaching Our leading men in general gladly accepted the message: the rank and file of Seventh-day Adventist workers and laity accepted the presentations (of Jones and Waggoner) at Minneapolis and were blessed The 1888 Conference stands out as a glorious victory! Brothers and sisters, considering that we SHUT OUT the light of the Fourth Angel at this conference, I ask you to think about it Yes, 1888 was a victory but a victory for whom? Certainly not the cause of God! Part of the confusion over the 1888 issue has been the result of two different angels speaking. The third angel's message was shared in 1888, as we will soon verify. But the fourth angel's message was also shared. The Message of Justification by Faith is the 3rd Angels Message But Sister White, said it was the FOURTH angels message that was PUT OUT Thus we may safely conclude that we have been given a bit of a smoke screen in being told that 1888 was about Righteousness by Faith. Several have written to me (Mrs. White), inquiring if the message of justification by faith (as was presented in 1888) is the Third Angels Message, and I have answered, It is the Third Angels Message in verity. (Review and Herald, April 1, 1890) When Jones and Waggoner presented the Fourth Angels Message in 1888, they were hated and persecuted by the Adventist leadership. Mrs. White found this hard to understand, and asked: 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 followed His will, Cain killed him. (Letter 51-A, 1895) Mrs. White goes on to state that the Spirit of God was insulted in 1888! I can never forget the experience which we had at Minneapolis, or the things which were there revealed to me in regard to the spirit that controlled men (in Adventist leadership) They moved at the meeting by another spirit, and they knew not that God had sent these young men to bear a special message to them which they treated with contempt I know that the Spirit of God was insulted. (Letter S-24, 1892) The Fourth Angels Message as presented in 1888, will be heard again. This time, it will swell in the Loud Cry and finish the Gospel work. In 1888, in the General Conference held at Minneapolis, Minn., the angel of Revelation 18 came down to do his work (this is the fourth angel), and was ridiculed, criticized, and rejected, and when the message he brings will AGAIN SWELL INTO A LOUD CRY, it will AGAIN be ridiculed and spoken against and rejected by the majority. (Are Seventhday Adventists Doing Gods Will, by Elder W.L. Brisbin, p 10) What is the Fourth Angels Message that was rejected in 1888? "And after these things, I saw another angel (the fourth angel) come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory (His message is:) Babylon is fallen come out of her, my people that ye be not partakers of her sins. (Revelation 18:1-4)

If we are not to partake of the sins of Babylon, the angel, by strong implication, is directing us to Gods holy Law (just as Mrs. White said this message did in 1888) For without the Law, we cannot know what sins to come out of, or even what sin is! For by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20) I had not known sin, but by the law (Romans 7:7) If we would receive the light of the glorious angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory, let us see to it that our hearts are cleansed, emptied of self, and turned toward heaven, that they may be ready for the latter rain. (Signs of the Times, 8/1/1892) We begin to realize even more about how important the Fourth Angels Message is when we see that it is connected with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain! Today the heralds of the cross are preparing the way for the second advent of Christ And as they continue to let their light shine, as did those who were baptized with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they receive more and still more of the Spirits power. Thus, the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. (Gods Amazing Grace, p 190)

Those who reject the Fourth Angels Message will be giving the response of the lukewarm Laodiceans! In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, THEY (our Adventist brothers and sisters especially the leadership) will see only something which, in their blindness, they think dangerous. Something that will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it Because they persistently said, I am rich (I have all the truth I need) and increased with goods, and have need of nothing! (Maranatha, p 219) Most commonly this Laodicean statement comes in the following forms: Is this a salavational issue? This question implies the person only desires the minimum amount of truth to get into heaven Give me the shortest possible list of requirements. I already have all the light I need to be saved. This is the opposite of what Gods true people will be like when it comes to their pursuit of truth: And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart Then the Lord will give an outpouring of His Spirit as on the day of Pentecost. (Lift Him Up, p 221) There is to be a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord In the manifestation they will see only something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it Because they persistently said, I am rich and have need of nothing. (Review and Herald, 12-23-1890) Actually the Latter Rain is a Two-Part Gift- First Comes the Rain of Doctrine, THEN comes the Power of heaven to carry the message. The power ONLY comes to those who accept the Message first! "My DOCTRINE shall drop as the rain, my SPEECH shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." (Deuteronomy 32:3) There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain. (Clearly it isnt talking about healing the sick and raising the dead for these are obvious manifestations that all can recognize) It (the final message) may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. (The Faith I Live By, p 333) God does not favor His people if they are satisfied with their present enlightenment. (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p 708) Although we have in trust the grandest and most important truth ever presented to the world, we are only babies, as far as understanding truth in all its bearings is concerned. (Counsels to Workers, p 29)

We must not for a moment think there is no more light, no more truth, to be given us and compose ourselves with the thought, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. (Gospel Worker, p 310) While we must hold fast to the truths which we have already received, we must not look with suspicion upon any new light that God may send. (Gospel Worker, p 310) The New Light at the End of Time will be Old Light If Gods people will become new bottles, He will fill them with the new wine (the 1888 message). God will give additional light, OLD TRUTHS WILL BE RECOVERED, and replaced within the framework of truth (Review and Herald Extra, Dec. 23, 1890) The question has been asked me, Do you think that the Lord has any more light for us as a people? I answer that HE HAS LIGHT THAT IS NEW TO US, and yet it is PRECIOUS OLD LIGHT that is to shine forth from the Word of truth. We have only the glimmerings of the rays of light that is yet to come to us. (Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p 401) Great truths that have lain unheeded and unseen since the Day of Pentecost, are to shine from Gods Word in their native purity. (Review and Herald, Aug, 17, 1897) We had better be very careful how we handle truth. For actually, rejecting Scriptural Light is Rejecting Christ! Gods servants have no tame testimony to bear at this time He who rejects the light rejects Christ. (Letter, May 31, 1896 to O.A. Olsen) How long will you hate and despise the messengers of Gods righteousness (Jones and Waggoner)?... If you reject Christs delegated messengers, you reject Christ! (Testimonies to Ministers, p 96-97) All the universe of heaven witnessed the disgraceful treatment of Jesus Christ, represented by the Holy Spirit. Had Christ been before them (in 1888), they would have treated Him in a manner similar to that in which the Jews treated Christ. (Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 6, p 20) Mrs. White scathingly denounced the work of the S.D.A. leadership in rejecting the 4th angels message as satanic. She said that its rejection resulted in slumping the church deeply into the Laodicean condition. They began this satanic work at Minneapolis... Yet these men have been holding positions of trust, and have been molding the work after their own similitude, as far as they possibly could. (Testimonies to Ministers, p 80) Since the time of the Minneapolis meeting, I have seen the state of the Laodicean church as never before Like the Jews, many have closed their eyes to the light, and in walking apart from Christ, feel need of nothing, as there was when He was upon the earth. (Review and Herald, Aug. 26, 1890)

Many Seventh-day Adventists continue to reject the message of the Fourth Angel. They believe that God's Law is only the 10 Commandments and deny the statutes. Or they teach that the annual holy days are not part of the statutes. This teaching is largely based on the idea that Mrs. White didn't instruct us to keep the feasts. Many say, she didn't do it, so I shouldn't. But actually, this is a fallacy. Sister White ACCEPTED the Light of the Fourth Angel even though the general Conference rejected it. And, as we will see in a few minutes, Mrs. White's acceptance of this message is the reason she was "exiled" to Australia! Here's what Mrs. White said about how she took the added Sabbath truth: The light upon the fourth commandment (which in 1888 was presented as the annual Sabbaths given in the statutes), which was new and unpopular and generally rejected by our Adventist brethren and sisters, WE HAD ACCEPTED. (Manuscripts 76) Because the Conference rejected the fourth angel, and Ellen White was outspoken in proclaiming this rejection a sin, she was in effect exiled to Australia to shut her up! Because of her strong stand against the church in favor of the message of Jones and Waggoner, the Conference leadership began to doubt that Ellen was right. They sent her to Australia to weaken her message and influence. (The Return of the Fourth Angel, p5) Ellen White was a gracious lady, and never said very much about the forces behind her being sent to Australia, but the following quotation from her speaks volumes: I have not, I think, revealed the entire workings that led me here to Australia The Lord was NOT IN OUR LEAVING AMERICA There was so great A WILLLINGNESS TO HAVE US LEAVE, that the LORD PERMITTED this thing to take place Our separation from Battle Creek was to LET MEN HAVE THEIR OWN WAY, which thought superior to the way of the Lord (1888 Materials, 1622-1623) The message of the Fourth Angel was rejected in 1888 because of an unwillingness to give up preconceived ideas. An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lords message through Brethren Waggoner and Jones. Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The enmity prevented them from obtained the efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The LIGHT THAT IS TO LIGHTEN THE WHOLE EARTH WITH ITS GLORY WAS RESISTED, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world. (1888 Materials, p 1575) Well, in 1888, the Fourth Angel's Message went over like a ton of bricks. But what about now? Mercifully God is sending this brilliant message again. How will MOST Seventhday Adventists respond when the Fourth Angel speaks his wondrous message once again? Mrs. White had a great deal to say about this. In fact, she told that the angel who "lightens the earth with the glory of God" (a term used only to desribe the fourth angel of Revelation 18) would be seen as a dangerous message by the majority. Once again it will be rejected.

But this is far less surprising now that we know what really happened in 1888. In the manifestation of that power WHICH LIGHTENS THE EARTH THE GLORY OF GOD, THEY (the SDA church leadership) will see only something, which in their blindness, they think dangerous. Something will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. (Maranatha, p 219) The light which will lighten the earth with glory WILL be called a false light by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory (more light more truth) (Review and Herald, May, 1890) I was shown that if Gods people wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit they will be found wanting The refreshing power of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by perfecting holiness in the fear of God (which is Spirit-empowered obedience to His whole Holy Law). (Testimonies, Vol. 1, 619) Full cleansing and obedience is what the fourth angels message is all about. This is why this message must be understood and fully decoded with the use of Scripture. It is ESSENTIAL LIGHT AND PART OF THE SEALING MESSAGE! All who do not join the angels who are sent from heaven with a message to fill the whole earth with its glory, will be passed by. The work will go forward to victory without them, and they will have no part in its triumph. (Review and Herald, Extra, Dec, 23, 1890) To conclude this study, I must add that I am a Seventh-day Adventist. I love my church. I love the wonderful truth in it. Our church has long known the messages of the three angels from Revelation. We have understood the decoded meaning. It is tremendous light. But it is not the last light. The final message is given when the voices of the first three angels are joined by the fourth angel. Together, a whole message will be given that will cut the final ties between true Christians and Babylonian paganism. This message will not be a popular one. Darkness finds light painful. And many, even in churches today, are living in darkness. What will you do, dear Reader? Will you study this subject? Will you learn for yourself the powerful message of the fourth angel? If so, you will not have the luxury of asking pastors or religious leaders whether these teachings are true. For while many of them are true Christians, many more are part of the same mindset that "Shut out" the fourth Angel's light in 1888. Thus, if you would know the truth, you must rely only on a "thus-saith-the-Lord." Study the Fourth Angel's Message. It is vital. It is life-changing. To aid you in this study, you may of course use the Word of God alone. From it, I have learned the Fourth Angel's powerful message. You may opt to take advantage of my Bible study on the subject. It is available in book form as The Testimony of the Moon. I only caution you with this, if you choose to begin your study by reading The Testimony of the Moon, I do believe you will be benefitted, but only if you continue to study this subject. No man or woman should be your ultimate source of authority. Go to the Word, friend. Know the truth that is there. Prayerfully study. And when God responds by shining His glorious light upon your path, receive it with joy and walk in it always.