1988 March-April Vol. 4 Num. 2
Good News!
There Will Be a Fourth National 1888 Message Conference
The Fourth National Conference is scheduled August 2 to 6 on the campus of Broadview Academy, La Fox, IL, near Chicago. With the help of Pastor Joe Gresham and Pastor Bill Brace, arrangements have been made to use the school chapel, dormitories and other facilities. Detailed information and a registration form will be provided in the next Newsletter since there has not been time to visit the school and make specific plans before we go to press with the March-April issue. If you need information about rates or accommodations before June, write to us and we will provide it in a form letter. Let us unite in praising God that what seemed a closed door has been opened, and pray that the Holy Spirit will prepare our hearts to receive a fullness of blessing
1888 Message Spreads Joy Around the World!
In 1888 Adventist church membership worldwide numbered 28,000 with 288 ordained ministers. Today we face the awesome challenge of how the message which was rejected 100 years ago is to reach a world membership of more than 5 million to prepare a people to give the loud cry to the earth’s 5 billion inhabitants. "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." Lest our hearts faint, the Lord gives us small tokens of what is to come: Gloria Lawson, Committee member for Canada, gives a set of Glad Tidings Bible Study Guides to a friend for Christmas. The friend, needing a gift for a Czechoslovakian friend, passes the Guides on to her. Delighted with what she read, the Czech woman makes a copy to send to the Adventist publishing house in her native land, and word comes back that they were received with joy. Requests come for speakers to hold meetings in England, Germany, Holland, France and Belgium. Wieslaw Karatnik arrives in Chicago from Poland to learn English and obtain 1888 Message publications that he can translate for his fellow Adventists. Yoshi Tsuji, a Loma Linda University student, discovers the 1888 Message and returns to Japan to study and to share it. He requests the Newsletter sent to him airmail so that he can duplicate it and start his own mailing list. Presently long lists of orders for books and pamphlets arrive from ten of his contacts, including pastors and a Far Eastern Division worker in Singapore. From everywhere come reports of people starting study groups in their homes using the Glad Tidings and Good News for Laodicea Study Guides. Pastors are using them in prayer meetings and follow-up for Revelation Seminars. With hearts full of gratitude, let us give ourselves wholly as channels the Holy Spirit can use to the glory of God and the giving of the final message of Christ’s righteousness.
Lewis Walton Sermon Tape Introduces the 1888 Message
Has anyone asked you, What really was the message preached by Jones and Waggoner in 1888 and in following years? A sermon by Lewis Walton, available on audio or videotape, entitled 1888 Overview provides a very clear and appealing way to introduce friends and fellow church members to the actual content of the 1888 Message. The audiotapes are available from the Newsletter office for $2.00 each; the videos, $15.00, postage extra.
Opportunities Opening Everywhere Demand Faith and Sacrifice
Black Monday was a warning tremor of the earthquake that will soon bring the financial institutions of the world crashing down. We must "work while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work." God has prospered His people. Under their control are hundreds of millions of dollars tied up in bank accounts, stock, real estate. Opportunities are opening everywhere to share the "most precious message," which began the latter rain and loud cry 100 years ago and has the same power to revive God’s children today as it reaches them. Calls are coming from overseas for speakers who can hold 1888 Message Seminars. A resurgence of interest in true Adventism among students on our college campuses is opening doors for sharing the good news of "the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." (TM 92) There is urgent need for means to provide more workers to respond to these requests. Book and tape orders doubled in February over January. Our little office team is being stretched to the limit to keep up with the requests and inquiries and orders.
Norman and Joan Barker, who produce the Glad Tidings Bible Study Guides and other 1888 materials in Canada, are upgrading their printing equipment to improve quality and lower prices. Gifts from Canadian friends for purchase of a printing press may be sent to Gloria Lawson, 29 Park Rd., N., Grimsby, Ontario, L3M2P2. Plans for a TV program entitled "The Good News Is Better Than You Think" on the Three Angels Broadcasting System are being held before the Lord that the needed $15,000 will become available if this is His will. The little committee of five retired conference workers who called the First National 1888 Message Conference at Camp Mohaven in 1985 has grown to 20 dedicated men and women who serve at their own expense. But a way must be found to provide for younger workers who do not have retirement income to depend upon. The Committee stepped out by faith last fall to hire Greg Owen and purchase the little 12- acre farm that provides living and work space. It will also provide a place to hold retreats, training sessions and committee meetings when funds are available for some remodeling. We are grateful to all of you who are responding to the invitation to join the 1000 CLUB and to you who have sent one-time gifts as you are able
Conferences and Seminars Scheduled Through Summer and Fall
London and Gazeley, England, March 17-22
Speakers: Steven Grabiner and Gerald
Finneman.
Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, April 1- 18 Speaker: Alex Snyman at appointments
as arranged by Helen Schuefer.
Banning, CA, April 8-10
Speaker, Robert Wieland. For information,
call 714-849-5055.
Knoxville, TN, April 22-24
Gray's church. Speaker: Alex Snyman.
For Information, call 615-966-3724.
Chicago, IL, April 29-30
Korean church, 300 E. 55th St.,
Westmount. Speakers: Alex Snyman,
Robert Wieland.
For information, call 312-852-9316.
Cedar Falls, CA, April 28-May 1
Speakers: Lorin Cook, Chris Ezell, R. J.
Gravell, Dan Ramirez, Wendell Row. For
information, call: 714-541-6535.
Valley Vista Camp, WV, May 12-15
Conference camp near Huttonsville.
Speakers: Alec Snyman and Bruce Ullom.
For information, call Fred Seeley, 304- 294- 6922 or Elder Earl Clough, 304-364- 5837.
Red Bluff, CA, May 13-14
Speaker: Robert Wieland For information
Smithville, TN, May-June
Revelation Seminar. Speaker: Alex Snyman.
For information, call 615-528-8588.
Chula Vista, CA, July 22-27
Speakers: Alex Snyman, Robert Wieland.
For information, call 619-422-0405.
La Fox, IL, August 2-6
Fourth National 1888 Message Conference.
For information, call Don Cate, 216-699-2021.
Hermosa, SD, September 1-4
Black Hills Health and Education Center.
Regional Conference. For information, call:
714-541-6535.
Cedar Falls, CA, October 26-29
Second Western Regional Conference. For
information, call: 714-541-6535.
Plan a Seminar
Our list of seminars is growing as more and more pastors and laymen are scheduling them in Adventist churches, schools or camps. Would you like to plan an 1888 Message Seminar in your area? We will be glad to work with you in arranging for speakers, announcement flyers, book display, etc. For assistance, call the Newsletter office, 216-699-2021.
Laymen Holding Seminars
Our seminar schedule in this issue includes meetings in England, Germany, France, Holland and Belgium that have been arranged in response to a groundswell of interest in the 1888 Message that is spreading overseas. We rejoice in this evidence that the Holy Spirit is once more bringing the "most precious message" of Christ and His righteousness to God’s remnant people. At the same time we recognize that the growing interest is stretching our original small group of speakers to their physical and mental limit. It is encouraging to see lay members beginning to provide seminars on their own. Dr. Lorin Cook has arranged for such a laymen's program at Cedar Falls April 28 to May 1. (See seminar schedule, page 2.) A group of young people from the DeLand, Florida, church presented a seminar which was well attended by members of nearby churches. They hope to provide similar seminars in other Florida churches.
From the Mailbox
This Is What I've Searched For
Praise God, His work (message) is going forward. I attended the 1888 sessions that were recently held in Massachusetts and was richly blessed. This is what I've searched for since I returned to the church four years ago. By God's grace I will continue to study and share these wonderful truths with my sisters and brothers in Christ. — EF
Freed From Slavery to Appetite and TV
The Lord used your books, 1888 Re-examined and The 1888 Message: An Introduction to get me back into the church and from that has freed me from a lifelong slavery to appetite and TV. Thank you for letting the Lord use you. This message is going through our church like wildfire. It is amazing! — CG
Radiologic Technologist Exchanges Job for Full-Time Literature Evangelism
I would just like to start by thanking the Lord for the existence of this committee. In June of 1985 my wife and I were in Nashville, TN, on our honeymoon. We stopped at the ABC and inquired as to whether they had any books by Jones or Waggoner or others on the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. They gave me the book 1888: An Introduction. I found it warming to my heart. When we learned of the Second National 1888 Message Conference at Andrews, we attended with great anticipation. It was one of the most blessed weeks we have spent in our entire lives...
The main reason I am writing to you at this time is to gather information regarding how we might go about setting up an 1888 Seminar or Conference in our area. I have quit my job as a radiologic technologist at a hospital and am now a full-time literature evangelist. My wife and I have run into so many wonderful Spirit-filled people in this work... I have seen much interest in this message by many in the literature work... — MM
Blessed by New England Conference
I thoroughly enjoyed the meetings in December. Keep up the good work. I've attended many campmeetings but never one like this. It's wonderful to see so many of our young people attending and enthusiastic. I really received a blessing... For the first time in three years I've been able to say I really love some of our members that I once detested... As I have been studying more this past year, I've been convinced that our biggest problem is lack of interest and study of Scripture and Sister White's writings... Please pray for me as I try to have others interested in this message.— CO
Members Studying Bible Study Guides
Presently our church is going through the guidelines during Sabbath School. We have over 75 members in the lower fellowship hall studying the precious message of 1888. We have been blessed by the message. —KM
"Jesus in Our Home"
We are praying much for Jesus to be revealed in our lives here at the Randall house and, do you know what? We are having more witnessing opportunities. My area is health and natural healing, and the Lord has given me at least three opportunities this week to reveal His goodness. My wife has also had similar opportunities this week.
God wants to be revealed ... I sometimes wonder if He could not have chosen some better vessels. —MR
Message Translated in Indonesia
A few weeks ago I received from a friend your book, The 1888 Message. I was so impressed of its contents, and according to my judgment the messages are very important for God's people today, including the people in Indonesia. Therefore we would like permission to translate it and publish it in our language ... The only main purpose is that this book may help and inspire God's people in this country and that they may receive the spiritual blessings from the 1888 Message. We hope to begin the work of translation will be in the hands of our people. — MW
Eager to Share Exciting, Hopeful News
I have thoroughly enjoyed 1888 Re-Examined and feel in my heart it presents the truth of our history. The whole 1888 Message and concepts have influenced my Christian experience more than any other thing during my 10 years as an Adventist Christian. So I'm eager to learn more of it and pass on to others this exciting, hopeful news. — LH
Good News Spreads in England
I am enjoying the books I have read so far very much. I thank you for all the hard work that you must be doing and I know that God will bless your work as it is the message He wants the world to hear.
The messages on the tapes I have are so beautiful in uplifting Christ... — AM
Seminar Speakers Schedule Crowded Weekend
A measure of the quickening interest in the 1888 Message is the calendar of speaking appointments for Committee members on a recent weekend. Over the March 18-20 weekend, Steven Grabiner and Gerald Finneman met appointments in England; Bill Brace and Sidney Sweet held a righteousness by faith seminar in the Waltham, MA, church; Alex Snyman presented a series in Elkhart, IN, and Robert J. Wieland and Donald K. Short held one in Mt. Dora, FL. A previously scheduled appointment for Steven Grabiner and Sidney Sweet in the Lafayette, NJ, church on that weekend was rescheduled to make way for the trip to England. In addition, an increasing number of pastors are preaching the good news in their churches. We praise God for the doors that are opening and "pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Matt. 9:38)
Personally Speaking
More and more people attending seminars and conferences , and responding warmly to the good news they are hearing... book and tape sales doubling in February over January... study groups forming everywhere... we praise God for the evidence that the "most precious message” is finding a welcome in humble, hungry hearts. But this is only the first tiny ray of the light the angel of Revelation 18 has been given for the world. If the message Ellen White described as the "beginning" of the latter rain is at last to swell to the loud cry, it must be more than a topic for theological discussions or even for sermons that warm our hearts. Volume 6 of the Testimonies is made up of messages Ellen White sent to the church from Australia in the years following 1888. In the first article, Mrs. White, with inspired insight, goes deep into the heart of God's purpose in sending that special message to the church through Elders Jones and Waggoner. "It is God's purpose," she wrote, "to manifest through His people the principles of His kingdom... . A great work is to be accomplished in setting before men the saving truths of the gospel... To present these truths is the work of the third angel’s message. The Lord designs that the presentation of this message shall be the highest, greatest work carried on in the world at this time. "...The glory of this light, which is the very glory of the character of Christ, is to be manifested in the individual Christian, in the family, in the church, in the ministry of the Word, and in every institution established by God's people... By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in the church, the world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people on the earth." But even this spine-tingling description does not exhaust God's purpose for His people in this mighty hour. "Not to this world only," His servant wrote, "but to the universe are we to make manifest the principles of His kingdom... . We are workers together with God in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity." (Testimonies, Volume 6, pp.9-13) There is more, much more in the early pages of this volume that takes on new meaning as we study the history and content of the 1888 message. I invite you to join me as I study and meditate on and pray over these words that are burning into my heart. Oh, that we may let the Holy Spirit cleanse and fit us to be used as channels of His power in our daily lives. —HFC
Readers of Jones Biography Face Question of Authority
As we attempt to evaluate the message and the messengers that made 1888 a landmark year in Adventist history, whom are we to believe? Shall we take as our authority the "interpretive biography" by a historian who drew heavily on the record left by contemporaries of A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner? Shall we assume the reliability of men who "despised the men and the message they bore"? (TM 97) Or shall we accept the enthusiastic endorsement of the men and their message by God's inspired prophet? In From 1888 to Apostasy," Dr. George Knight characterizes A. T. Jones as "harsh, abrasive, egotistical, combative," to quote a few of his pejorative descriptions. He concludes: "...Even though Ellen White believed that the end was near in 1893 and that the loud cry had begun with the preaching of righteousness by faith in 1888, she also made similar statements at other times just as forcibly....Ellen White believed that Christ could have come soon after 1844. That idea has astounding consequences for those who would make too much of Jones, Waggoner and Prescott’s theology in 1888, 1893 or 1895. The implication is clear that Christ could have come before 1888— that is, before Jones and Waggoner ever preached their interpretation of the gospel. For that reason it is not helpful to build too much on the basis of their distinctive theology. It is not their message or the particular interpretation that they placed upon the gospel that is important but the gospel message itself." Ellen White wrote in sharp contrast: "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." (TM 91) The following brief quotes are a small sample from a compilation* of more than 300 endorsements of Jones and Waggoner found in Mrs. White’s articles and letters between 1888 and 1897: "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." (Letter 51-A, 1895) "We know that Bro. Jones has been giving the message for this time, meat in due season to the starving flock of God... 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... Afterward when the 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 has sent you?" (Letter 1893, January 9) "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 has attended the work." (Letter, January 9, 1893) "Here was evidence, that all might discern whom the Lord recognized as His servants. But there are those who despised the men and the message they bore. They have taunted them with being fanatics, extremists and enthusiasts ... Unless you speedily humble your hearts before God, ... you will ... see that you have been fighting against God." (TM 97) In the 1812 pages of the Ellen G. White 1888 Materials so propitiously released by the White Estate in this Centennial year, every open-minded Adventist may examine the evidence for himself. That evidence presses home to the conscience the crucial question: Do I accept the authority of God's inspired prophet or human opinion? The strange logic Dr. Knight uses to belittle the 1888 Message and messengers raises another question. If the message of Christ's righteousness which God gave Jones and Waggoner for the church was as Ellen White declared, "the third angel's message in verity" (1 SM 372), and the "beginning of the loud cry," would it not have been necessary to proclaim it in 1844 or at any subsequent time? *A larger sampling of this compilation is included as Appendix A in A.T Jones: the Man and the Message.
A FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY
In light of the current inter- est in A. T. Jones, the man, a note written ten years ago by O. S. Harrell provides a revealing glimpse: "You might be interested to know that shortly after I accept- ed the message in Wash., D. C., while canvassing for Bible Footlights in 1919 (58 years ago) I knocked at a door on Maryland Ave. and was invited in by a kindly gentleman. It was Elder A. T. Jones. I still remember how graciously he received me and there was no trace of bitterness or recrimination toward the denomination or its workers. He sought to encourage me in my work in every way. From this visit, I would have to say I believe he was a true Christian gentleman. Perhaps the Lord in His mercy will find a place in His kingdom for him even as for us. I hope so.”
Questions People Ask
(1) Is the 1888 message contained in Ellen White's books published after 1888, such as Steps to Christ, The Desire of Ages, Christ’s Object Lessons, Mount of Blessing, Acts of the Apostles, Ministry of Healing?
(a) The 1888 message is implicit in those books but not explicit. In other words, Ellen White’s writings are in harmony with the message, but not a repetition of it. Steps to Christ was much of it written well before 1888 and compiled later. But the author never suggested that the people neglect the message as presented by Jones and Waggoner, and read that book instead. It contains nothing about the nature of Christ or the cleansing of the sanctuary, or even the non-immortality of the soul, all topics closely related to righteousness by faith. All those books are wonderful and they are inspired, but the Lord gave them for a different purpose than the 1888 Message. On through 1896 and into 1897 Ellen White pleaded with our brethren and our people to listen to the 1888 Message.
(b) Ellen White never made the claim that she was sent by the Lord to herald the beginning of the latter rain and the loud cry. But she did make that claim for Jones and Waggoner. She had a different commission.
(c) She never claimed that any of her writings or her ministry superseded the 1888 Message or in any way made it unnecessary. If that were true she would have silenced Jones and Waggoner at Minneapolis. Instead she listened to them eagerly and learned from them.
(d) Those who say that all we need is her writings forget that she ministered to our people for 45 years previous to Minneapolis, and our brethren had her personal presence with them there. Nevertheless, "the Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones" (TM 91). This indicates that the Lord knew we needed that message. Ellen White says she learned from them (cf. Ms. 15, 1888).
(e) In principle we could agree that all we need is her writings. But to be logical, we must also say that all we need is the Bible. Her writings are the lesser light to lead to the greater. But further, all we need is the Old Testament, for did not both Jesus and Paul derive their understanding of righteousness by faith only from the Old Testament? And again, did not David experience that truth? And all he had was the books of Moses and perhaps Samuel. And for sure, Abraham was justified by faith, and all he had was Genesis 3:15. So that is all we really need. This is of course absurd; the conclusion is that we need all the light that the dear Lord sees fit to send us! That includes the 1888 Message, for the Lord sent it.
(f) There is good evidence that Ellen White regarded Waggoner as sent by the Lord to proclaim a message which He had not sent her to proclaim. Many people have said they had read her writings very extensively for years but never understood Galatians until they read The Glad Tidings. After discovering the 1888 Message, they found confirmation in her writings; but many truths are emphatically enunciated in the 1888 Message that are not so clearly emphasized in her writings.
(g) The real issue is this: do we need the latter rain, or is the former rain sufficient? If all we are thinking about is preparation for death, so we can get into heaven, then it could be said that the former rain is enough haven’t millions of people in all past ages died without the latter rain? Many of our people are absorbed in the thesis of "Gimme that Old Time Religion - It’s Good Enuf For Me!" But if a people are to be prepared to stand in the time of trouble without an intercessor, they will need the latter rain. To reject the 1888 Message while we pray for the Lord to send the latter rain is like the Jews rejecting Jesus while they pray the Lord to send them their Messiah.
(h) So we can conclude: if there is to be no second coming of Christ, if the popular churches are right that there is to be "world without end," no last- day events to prepare for, no vindication of Christ that is necessary, then we do not need the 1888 Message. All we need is what has prepared our forefathers for death.
(2) Did Ellen White after 1890 ever speak of corporate or denominational repentance? If she did not, why not? If she did not speak of it, why do you give it such a strong emphasis?
(a) The Ministry for February 1988 has an article that demonstrates that corporate repentance is definitely a Bible doctrine. Ellen White may not have used the phrase, even as she never used the word agape, but she clearly taught the principle (we will give sources in a moment).
(b) Truth is eternal, but its articulation must be adapted to the needs of each generation in phraseology that they can understand. Ellen White strongly urged our ministers not to read her writings in the pulpit, but to clothe the gospel in their own words. She never told us to say only what she herself had already said.
(c) The important question to ask is this: Is corporate repentance taught in the Bible? Did Jesus believe in it and experience it, and Paul, and others? The answer is clearly yes.
(d) Jesus Himself calls for denominational repentance from "the angel of the church of the Laodiceans" (Rev 3:19). And Ellen White’s entire ministry is "the testimony of Jesus." Times without number she calls for denominational repentance, which always means individual repentance but also includes the body of the church because of our interrelation as members of His body (cf. 7BC 959- 967; ISM 196; 2SM 66; 3T 259, 260; EW 270; RH Dec. 15, 1904, etc.). She recognized the principle of national impenitence (COL 304, 305; AA 247), and denominational impenitence (5T 456, 457). Faith will bring about the opposite: denominational repentance.
(e) A clear example of the principle of corporate repentance, that is, repenting of the sins of others as if they were our own, is stated in 7BC 960. The idea of corporate repentance permeates all of her writings--contrition, humbleness of heart before the cross of Calvary, pouring contempt on all our pride. It is interesting that there is such determined opposition to the idea of corporate and denominational repentance, when Rev 3:19 clearly registers Christ’s call for it. But truth will triumph. Read Jer 1:17.
In Ellen White's earliest account of the great controversy between Christ and Satan in the little volume, Spiritual Gifts, published in 1858, there is a comment on the bearing which the fallen human nature Christ took had upon the cosmic conflict: "Satan again rejoiced with his angels that he could by causing man's fall, pull down the Son of God from his exalted position. He told his angels that when Jesus should take fallen man's nature, he could overpower Him, and hinder the accomplishment of the plan of salvation." (Vol. 1, p. 27)
Good News of Christ's Righteousness Illumines the Minds and Changes the Lives of its Hearers
"We Live the New Life in Him"
I can praise God for the 1888 Message. The hope and freedom I've begun to experience I must share with you. I have been grappling for long, not understanding how to give myself to Jesus fully. And it has finally dawned on me. We give Him our ALL—wants, joys, cares, fears—but also need to verbalize and articulate our memories and out with everything to Him alone. If we take our problems to others, I’ve found we can't trust God fully—if we rely on them for answers, comfort, etc. But I've found when I share all with Jesus, He not only gives comfort but freedom from those sins and problems, and we are enabled to live the new life in Him. How shameful are the sins we must give to a holy God. What love He has for us to be our divine Sin-bearer. We love Him too little. Yet, when we experience union with Christ, we can bring that experience into the church that the church may be unified. How long we have let Jesus wait.—Jane Schumacher
The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name," said Jesus, "that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it."—Desire of Ages, p. 667
"The Glory of Man Laid in the Dust"
Recently I came to see that the love of God is so good that it simply lays the glory of man in the dust. Man in his pride says, "What must I do to be saved? There must be something I can do." God says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Man says, "Is that all? There must be something I can do—just a little something." God says, "I loved you when you hated Me; I gave my only begotten Son for you. Your life and everything you have were bought with His blood. Appreciate what I have done for you." Still man says, "What about Bible study, saying my prayers and witnessing?" God tells him, "I inspired the Bible and gave you My Holy Spirit to open your eyes; I gave you life and a brain to think with. I gave you the desire to pray and inspired the words to say. My Holy Spirit convicts the people you talk to. Appreciate what I have given you. Yet, man still says, "Well, I've got faith, haven't I?... Haven't I? And God replies, "I gave you the measure of faith; it is not your own." "...then it's a gift?" "Yes, a gift." "Depart from me for I am a sinful man." And the glory of man is laid in the dust—the very material which God created him from, the very material from which He recreates him. He becomes like Paul, preacher of the Gospel, that great ambassador of Christ, who said, "God forbid that I should glory..." And what you glory in is where your focus is—"God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Oh, to give glory to God is not to impart anything to Him but to recognize a fact, to appreciate what He has done for us. The Gospel takes our focus off ourselves and puts it on Christ. It takes the dirt—our glory—off the mirror and allows God's glory to be reflected. And wonder of wonders, while we see the love of Christ and ourselves as sinful, we have peace in our hearts; no longer are we at war with the One who died to save us. The Gospel is the only way of making the Day of Atonement a reality; it alone has the power to afflict our souls, to humble us. The reason why a person gets up early in the morning to read the Bible, why he talks to God, why he tells others about our wonderful Saviour is because, with Paul, the love of Christ compels him. You cannot get youth motivated for Christ by telling them that if they want to be saved they need to work up a relationship with God. Give them the Gospel, show them Jesus and His great love for them and you won't be able to hold them back. I know, for it turned my life upside down, and that is why I am not out on the streets today ... This is God's work and He will finish that which He started. His church will repent and the glory of God will go to the world. —Robert and Rosalie Cook
"A Wrapped Gift for Everyone"
I must tell you that I have been thrilled with the 1888 Message and am sharing it with everyone I possibly can. I have a small study group in my home and find my soul thirsty for all the material I can read regarding the 1888 Message—righteousness by faith. Yesterday I came upon the perfect analogy to represent the vast difference between the "righteousness by faith" that I have been taught (as a life-long Adventist) and the correct or "1888" version. Some years ago when I taught a junior division Sabbath school class, we were instructed to present the simplicity of salvation in this way: Wrap a gift and ask your class, "Who would like this present?" Surprisingly, out of a class of about 10 students, only one was brave enough to raise her hand. She received the gift, and I then proceeded to explain to the class that the gift of eternal life was that simple ... It was there; all you had to do was reach out and accept it. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! I now have a new analogy: Present a wrapped gift to each member of the class and tell them, "Here is a present for each one of you. It's yours. The only way you cannot have this gift is to tell me, 'I don’t like presents,' 'I can’t stand gifts wrapped in red paper,’ 'I don’t want a gift that’s boxed’... Or simply push it off your chair. The gift is yours. There it is. You don’t have to do anything to get it but you have to do something NOT to get it. I am excited about this analogy and feel that it puts it in such simple terms that even children can understand it. And it dramatically points out the difference in the two views. The old way, we still had to do something; we still had to put forth some effort. Amazing! It's so simple, we're afraid of it! —Barbara Bender
Defective Tapes Replaced
We have at last found a satisfactory solution to the problem of defective tapes which has caused much frustration and delay both for us and for you who received them. If you have had this problem, do not return the tapes. Just mark the enclosed Cassette Tape Order list, as we’ve indicated. We will be glad to replace them free of charge. We regret the delay this has caused in your plans to share the message with your friends.
SS Lesson Tapes Available
The Sabbath school lessons, presented by Alexander Snyman from an 1888 Message perspective, are now available for the second quarter of 1988. Set of seven audio tapes, $15 plus postage from this office.
Mid-America Adventist Outlook Recommends 1888 Re-Examined
The March issue of the Mid-America Adventist Outlook carried the announcement that "The Minneapolis Centennial Planning Committee of the Mid-America Union recommends the following books for your personal study of the 1888 Message this year.” Included in the list is the entry, "Wieland, Robert J., and Donald K. Short, 1888 Reexamined. The 1888 Message Study Committee."
Study Guides Used in Personal Work
Several churches in Canada are using the Glad Tidings Bible Study Guides in house-to-house visitation or are offering them in newspaper ads. Lesson 1 and a reply card with your local church's imprinted return address are available for 18 cents each in quantities of 100 or more. We’ll also include a sample newspaper ad. Send U. S. orders to Newsletter address; Canadian orders to Norman Barker, RR 1, South River, Ontario, CANADA POA IXO.
We are committed to the support of our beloved Seventh-day Adventist Church. Specifically, all tithe is to be paid to the local church where we hold membership. We support financially the local church, the Sabbath school and other denominational programs.
The 1888 Message Newsletter is distributed free of charge. Those who wish to make tax-deductible gifts toward the work of The 1888 Message Study Committee may make checks payable to "1888 Message."
A.T. Jones: The Man and the Message
Prepared By 1888 MESSAGE STUDY COMMITTEE
A review of From 1888 To Apostasy
—The Case of A.T. Jones by George R. Knight
Review & Herald Publishing Association 1987
48 PAGES $1.50 ($1.10 each, 10 copies; $.95 each, ctn. price)
Editorial Committee: Helen Cate, Steven Grabiner, RJ Gravell, Alexander Snyman, Sidney Sweet.
Layout and Design, Greg Owen.
Editorial and business office: 2934 Sherbrook Drive, Uniontown, Ohio 44685. Telephone (216) 669-2021.
Circulation: Box 88, Paris, Ohio 44669. (216) 862-3696.