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Jones’ and
Waggoner’s messages at the 1888 Conference itself were not
reproduced in the Bulletin, as in later years. But that
does not mean that the "most precious message" Ellen
White endorsed so enthusiastically is lost to us. The Lord loves
us more than to give the "beginning" of the Latter Rain
only to let it slip through the fingers of undiscerning brethren,
and to disappear forever. It is possible to "gather up the
fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." Several facts
must be noted:
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Ellen White did
not identify only the actual 1888 Conference presentations as
"the beginning" of the Loud Cry. Her well-known
November 22, 1892, statement includes presentations of the
"messengers" since the Conference:
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.1
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Further, Ellen
White’s enthusiastic endorsements of their ongoing message
extended through 1896, even into 1897. In 1889 she supported
"this light which these men [Jones and Waggoner] are
presenting"2 and said that "the very message the
Lord has sent to His people at this time" is being
presented in their "discourses."3 "The present
message—justification by faith—is a message from God; it
bears the divine credentials, for its fruit is unto
holiness."4 In 1890 she spoke of "the evidences
given in the past two years of the dealings of God by His
chosen servants, … whom God is using."5 In 1892 she
continued, "God is working through these
instrumentalities. … The message given us by A.T. Jones
and E.J. Waggoner is a message of God to the Laodicean
church."6 In 1893 she exulted that "light and
freedom and the outpouring of the Spirit of God has attended
the work" of Jones.7 In 1895 she spoke frequently of how
"God has given them [the two messengers] His message.
They bear the word of the Lord. … These men … have
been as signs in the world, … moved by the Spirit of God.
… Christ’s delegated messengers."8 "God has
upheld them, … He has given them precious light, and their
message has fed the people of God."9 As late as 1896 she
said that "he who rejects the light and evidence God has
been liberally bestowing upon us, rejects Christ."10
Scattered over the years, these endorsements number close to
three hundred!
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There is no
indication in her writings to suggest that Jones and Waggoner
corrupted the 1888 message or departed from the truth at this
time. While we cannot claim for them (or anyone else)
"perfection" in every detail,11 her multiplied and
enthusiastic endorsements of their message clearly indicate
that she regarded its essential elements as thoroughly
correct. Her support of their message is unprecedented in her
long career; if her mature judgment and discernment were
faulty here, her entire lifework must suffer as to
credibility. We can be sure that as long as the Lord’s
servant continued pleading for acceptance of their message, so
long at least their message remained valid. The Lord would
never appeal to His people to eat spoiled fruit.
The Essentials of
the Jones-Waggoner Message
Notes
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RH Nov. 22,1892.
[return to text]
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MS 5, 1889.
[return to text]
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RH Mar. 5,1889.
[return to text]
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RH Sept. 3,1889.
[return to text]
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TM 466; Nov. 3,1890.
[return to text]
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Letter O-19,1892.
[return to text]
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Letter Jan. 3,1889.
[return to text]
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TM 96, 97.
[return to text]
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Letter 51-A, 1895 (TCV 124).
[return to text]
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Letter, May 31,1896.
[return to text]
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GW 301.
[return to text]
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