The year 1888 in SDA

The year 1888 holds great significance for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. During that year, two young ministers presented a message that contained the key to revival within the church. Many believe that this message was never fully received or accepted by the denomination. The purpose of this tract is to briefly examine the essence of that message and whether it was embraced by the church.

Among Seventh-day Adventists, the year 1888 is as notable as 1844. It marked what is often described as the most important General Conference session in the church's history.

What made the 1888 General Conference in Minneapolis so significant? According to Ellen G. White, God sent a special message to His people through Elders A.T. Jones and E.J. Waggoner. 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."
(Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 363)

This declaration reveals that the message brought by Jones and Waggoner was intended to initiate the final phase of the work—the preparation of God's people and the finishing of the gospel commission. Yet more than a century later, the world remains unchanged, and the work remains unfinished. The only reasonable conclusion is that the message was not accepted.

In 1892, Ellen White further wrote:

"The brethren were moved at this 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, and I know that at that time the Spirit of God was insulted."
(Letter S – Manuscript 24)

The message and the messengers were not accepted. Because Ellen White supported the message, her prophetic role was even questioned by some. The rejection of the message in 1888 continues to this day, and the likelihood of its full acceptance appears no greater now than it was then.

What Was the Message?
The message presented in 1888 was known as Righteousness by Faith, or Justification by Faith. Simply stated, it is the teaching that salvation does not come by works, but by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Every step of the Christian journey depends on Christ. Victory over sin is possible only through continual dependence on Him.

This doctrine, though seemingly uncontroversial, was in fact rejected. The ongoing delay in receiving the latter rain and proclaiming the loud cry indicates that the message was not understood, nor truly embraced. There remains a vital element of the message that is still being overlooked.

Ellen White observed:

"The righteousness of Christ by faith has been ignored by some, for it is contrary to their spirit and their whole life’s experience. Rule, rule, this has been their course of action."
(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 363)

"Now it has been Satan’s determined effort to eclipse the view of Jesus and lead man to look to man and trust to man... Therefore, God gave His servants... a testimony that presented the truth as it is in Jesus, which is the third angel’s message in clear distinct lines."
(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 93)

The heart of the conflict was a dependence on man versus dependence on Christ. Trust in Christ excludes trust in human authority (Jeremiah 17:5). Those who look to Jesus for guidance must receive their instructions from Him—not filtered through human systems. The issue was, and remains, the replacement of Christ’s headship with human control.

Ellen White made it clear: those who love to rule will find it difficult to accept a message that gives Christ complete control over His people. This is why the message was rejected by church leadership in 1888, and why it continues to be resisted. Leaders who desire to direct every detail of the work—deciding where and how others must serve and worship—cannot accept a message that removes such power and returns it to Christ.

Elder A.T. Jones continued to proclaim this message despite opposition. Ellen White was eventually sent to Australia, a move she did not believe was directed by God. She later wrote:

"The Lord was not in our leaving America... There was so great a willingness to have us leave, that the Lord permitted this thing to take place... It was not the Lord who devised this matter. I could not get one ray of light to leave America."
(1888 Materials, pp. 1622–1623)

The historical writings of Jones clearly reveal the issues at stake in 1888. Modern efforts by some to reinterpret these events or diminish the role of Jones and Waggoner demonstrate the ongoing discomfort with the message.

Christ Alone
The greatest religious movements in history—Pentecost, the Reformation, and the Advent movement of 1844—were all led by the Holy Spirit, not organized or controlled by man. Those who led were called and empowered directly by God, without waiting for human endorsement. Established religious authorities in each era opposed these movements. The Holy Spirit testifies that the final work will be completed in the same manner.

This was the message of 1888: Christ alone is everything to His people—not only their salvation and assurance of eternal life, but also their victory over sin and power for daily living. He is to dwell personally and actively in His people, guiding each one individually. No human channel is required to process His instructions.

God is still waiting for a people who will listen to Him alone—who will cease from trusting in man, and who will honor Christ as the only Head of His church.

God Will Finish the Work
The Lord has clearly revealed how He will complete His work:

"Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning... God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands."
(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300)

"Under the showers of the latter rain the inventions of man, the human machinery will at times be swept away... and the Holy Spirit will speak through the living, human agent with convincing power... The workers will cast off man’s binding rules and cautious movements and will join the army of the Lord."
(Selected Messages, Book 2, pp. 58–59)

Those who truly seek to serve God must carefully consider the truth of this message.

A Final Warning
"The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth [Justification by Faith] should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken."
(Review and Herald, Sept. 2, 1889)

Satan maintains his control over souls by leading them to submit to human authority. But when the people of God accept the message that Christ alone is King, the enemy’s power will be broken. Then, and only then, will the work be finished.