The 1888 Conference

The 1888 General Conference Session held in Minneapolis was a turning point for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. From that time to our day it has been a subject of much discussion and controversy.

Some regard this experience as a repetion of history, comparing it with ancient Israel's coming to the borders of Canaan, Kadesh-barnea, and because of unbelief having to turn back into the wilderness. Others, such as L.E.Froom in his book, "Movement of Destiny", attempt to interpret the events of this conference as a victory and a turning point for good in the church. In this lesson, we shall trace the events that led to this conference and see what happened there.

As we have seen in the previous lessons, it did not take long for the church to backslide. Spirituality died out to a great degree. In their actions, Adventists were retreating back toward Egypt. Stern rebukes and startling testimonies were given to leaders and people alike, as the following statements show:

• 1881. "Unconsecrated ministers, professors, and teachers assist Satan to plant his banner in our very strongholds..." and "The anger of the Lord is kindled for these things." Testimonies, Vol.5, p. 12
• 1882. "I'm filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people..." and "The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt." Testimonies, Vol. 5, 217
• 1882. "I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. ... You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." Testimonies, Vol.5, p.75
• 1887. "What is our condition in this fearful and solemn time ? Alas, what pride is prevailing in the church, what hypocrisy, what deception, what love of dress, frivolity and amusement, what desire for supremacy ! All these sins have clouded the mind, so that the eternal things have not been discerned." Review and Herald, March 22, 1987

Seeing the condition of the church at that time, the Lord had a message for the people. But who was to give this message when the leadership was no longer faithful to God ?

• "The Lord often works where we least expect Him; He surprises us by revealing His power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come...
• "Even if all our leading men should refuse light and truth, that door will still remain open. The Lord will raise up men who will give the people the message for this time." Testimonies to Ministers, p.106-107

In 1888, God chose two young men to carry His message to the church. They were E.J.Waggoner and A.T.Jones. Elder E.J.Waggoner saw a vision of Christ hanging on the cross. This led him to study the Bible on the subject of "God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.".

In a letter (S-24-1892), Sister White wrote of these brethren: "The message given us by A.T.Jones and E.J.Wagonner is the message of God to the Laodicean Church." And in "Testimonies to Ministers", p. 91, she stated: "The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones."

Let us see how the test was received:

• "I can never forget the experience which we had in Minneapolis, or the things which were then revealed to me in regard to the spirit that controlled men, the words spoken, the actions done in obedience to the powers of evil... They were 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 ridicule and contempt, not realizing that the heavenly intelligences were looking upon them. I know that at that time the Spirit of God was insulted, and now when I see anything approaching to the same course of action, I am exceedingly pained." Letter, S-24-1892.
• "They began this satanic work at Minneapolis. Afterward, when they saw and felt the demostration of the Holy Spirit testifying that the message was of God, they hated it the more, because it was a testimony against them. They would not humbel their hearts to repent, to give God the glory, and vindicate the right. They went on in their own spirit, filled with envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings, as did the Jews. They opened their hearts to the enemy of God and man. 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.

Some held high hopes that at a later session of the General Conference a revival and reformation would take place, but to their disappoitment the years passed by and no change was seen in the course of the church and her leaders.

• "Today there are few who are heartily serving God. The most of those who compose our congregations are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins... The sweetest melodies that come from God through human lips - justification by faith, and the righteousness of Christ - do not bring forth from them a response of love and gratitude... They steel their hearts against Him (the Heavenly Merchantman)... If they continue in this state God will reject them with abhorrence." Review and Herald, April 4, 1893.

Of the General Conference Session held in 1901, Sister White wrote in a letter dated August 5, 1902:

• "What wonderful work could have been done for the vast company gathered in Battle Creek at the General Conference of 1901, if the leaders of our work had taken themselves in hand... There was a stopping short of entire surrender to God, and hearts that might have been purified from all error were strenghtened in wrong doing. The doors were barred against the heavenly current that would have swept away all evil. Men left their sins unconfessed. They built themselves up in wrong doing, and said to the Spirit of God, 'Go thy way for this time: when I have a more convenient season, I will call for thee'".

The message presented by the third angel was not able to bring about the revival and reformation called for in the Adventist ranks.

In a letter to Elder O.A.Olsen, September 1, 1892 (O'19, D'92), Sister White wrote:

• "No more tender calls, no better opportunities could be given them in order that they might do that which they ought to have done at Minneapolis. The time will come when they will be willing to do anything and everything possible in order to have a chance of hearing the call they rejected at Minneapolis... Better opportunities will never come, deeper feelings they will not have... God will not be trifled with."
• "The Spirit of God is departing from many among His people. Many have entered into dark, secret paths, and some will never return. They will continue to stumble to their ruin. They have tempted God , they have rejected light." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 90 (1895)
• "The conference at Minneapolis was the golden opportunity for all present to humble the heart before God, and to welcome Jesus as the Great Instructor; but the stand taken by some at that meeting proved their ruin. They have never seen clearly since and they never will; for they persistently cherish the spirit that prevailed there, a wicked , criticizing, denunciatory spirit." January 9, 1893, written from Melbourne

In our next lesson we shall study what happened following this fateful conference.