In the Adventist realm we are always futurising everything, “when the latter rain shall come” is often said, but it is already come. It is also said “when the world will be lit with the glory”. But it began and has been shining since 1888. Are you taking advantage of the light that streams from 1888 in the proclamation of the nature of Christ? Do we take advantage to become stable Christians? If we reject these warnings, the warnings that we will get will be too late. When they saw their loved ones, their family and friends all slain and the blood rushing then they saw that the glory is departed and it was too late.

 

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 (RH Nov. 22, 1892). {7BC 984.6}

By exciting that opposition 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. {1SM 234.6}

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. {1SM 234.6}

They began this satanic work at Minneapolis. Afterward, when they saw and felt the demonstration of the Holy Spirit testifying that the message was of God, they hated it the more, because it was a testimony against them. {TM 79.3}

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 Lord’s message through Brethren [E.J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones. By exciting that opposition 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. {1SM 234.6}

The work will grow deeper and become more earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is the refuge in these days of error. . . . {2SM 114.1}

Another angel unites his voice with the third angel, and the earth is lighted with its glory. You must remember that this angel represents the people that have this message to give to the world. Are you among that people? {RH, August 18, 1885 par. 14}

If Elder Smith was standing in the clear light, he would give the trumpet a certain sound in perfect harmony with the angel of Revelation 18, who is to lighten the earth with his glory. Now is the time when we may look for just such a message as has been coming to us. {1888 1140.2}

A. T. Jones

Now we have come to the loud cry, haven’t we? That part of the prophecy is reached. We have come to the image of the beast; that part is reached; that prophecy is fulfilled. Now, of course, in the workings of the image of the beast there are many things to come in fulfillment of that, but all these things–persecutions, deceiving miracles, etc.–are simply the consequence of what has been done: simply the speaking and acting of the image that is already made. We are not to look now for any great, wondrous, marked movement in legislation or government to fulfill that part of the prophecy, because the image is made. That is fulfilled. What comes in the future in legislation and in the strifes and contentions and the rioting and warring, with the evil that will come, is simply the inevitable outcome and consequence of this. Then what next will there be in the line of this prophecy which is here before us? Rev. 14:9,10. [Audience: “The wrath of God.”] Yes. {February 1, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 87.5}

Then where are we, brethren? We are in the loud cry. Oh, then let that loud voice be heard. {February 1, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 93.6}

Where are we? In the loud cry of the third angel’s message. That angel’s message is to go, to call God’s people out of Babylon. But the angel comes down having great power. Then are we not brought face to face with the demand for that power that we must have to be clothed with power from on high, the power that is brought by God’s Holy Spirit? Are we not there? [Audience: “Yes.”] Well, then, brethren, let us stay there. Let us stay there, calling for that power, and depending wholly upon it when it comes. {February 1, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 94.3}

What is the loud cry for? To strengthen us for the time of trouble. Where are we? [Congregation: “In the loud cry.”] Has the loud cry begun? [Congregation: “Yes.”] What has it begun for? To do a work for us, to enable us to stand in the time of trouble. {February 6, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 167.10}

Now a little further in regard to that demand for unity. This that is before us–this call for the Loud Cry–the latter rain–it is this that strengthens us for the time of trouble. And it has already begun. There is the word. This is the one important thing–to be of one heart and mind. {February 6, 1893 ATJ, GCDB 167.11}

Did They Teach Error?

At one point AT Jones over emphasised faith without works so Sr White wrote him a letter;

Brother A. T. Jones, I wish to call your attention to another matter. I was attending a meeting, and a large congregation were present. In my dream you were presenting the subject of faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ by faith. You repeated several times that works amounted to nothing, that there were no conditions. The matter was presented in that light that I knew minds would be confused, and would not receive the correct impression in reference to faith and works, and I decided to write to you. You state this matter too strongly. There are conditions to our receiving justification and sanctification, and the righteousness of Christ. I know your meaning, but you leave a wrong impression upon many minds. {1888 1165.1}

While good works will not save even one soul, yet it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without good works. God saves us under a law, that we must ask if we would receive, seek if we would find, and knock if we would have the door opened unto us. Christ offers Himself as willing to save unto the uttermost all who come unto him. He invites all to come to Him. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’ You look in reality upon these subjects as I do, yet you make these subjects, through your expressions, confusing to minds. And after you have expressed your mind radically in regard to works, when questions are asked you upon this very subject it is not laying out in so very clear lines in your own mind that you can not define the correct principles to other minds, and you are yourself unable to make your statements harmonize with your own principles and faith. {1888 1165.2}

The young man who came to Jesus with the question, “Good Master, what thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” and Christ saith unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if you wilt enter into life keep the commandments,’ He saith unto him, ‘Which?’ Jesus quoted several, and the young man said unto him, ‘All these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?’ Jesus said unto him ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me,’ Here are conditions, and the Bible is full of conditions. {1888 1165.3}

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.’ Then when you say there are no conditions, and some expressions are made quite broad, you burden the minds, and some can not see consistency in your expressions. They cannot see how they can harmonize these expressions with the plain statements of the Word of God. Please guard these points. These strong assertions in regard to works, never make our position any stronger. The expressions weaken our position, for there are many who will consider you an extremist, and will loose the rich lessons you have for them, upon the very subjects they need to know. {1888 1165.4}

Christ said, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ I feel such an intense interest that every soul shall see, and understand and be charmed with the consistency of the truth. The evidence of our love to Christ is not pretension; but practice. My brother, it is hard for the mind to comprehend this point, and do not confuse any mind with ideas that will not harmonize with the word. Please to consider that under the teaching of Christ many of the disciples were lamentably ignorant; but when the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised, came upon them and made the vacillating Peter the champion of faith. What a transformation in his character. But do not lay one pebble for a soul that is weak in the faith to stumble over, in over-wrought presentations or expressions. Be ever consistent, calm, deep, and solid. Do not go to any extreme in anything, but keep your feet on solid rock. O precious, precious Saviour. ‘He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he is it that loveth me, and he that believeth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.’ {1888 1165.5}

This is the true test–the doing of the words of Christ. And it is the evidence of the human agent’s love to Jesus, and he that doeth his will giveth to the world the practical evidence of the fruit he manifests in obedience, in purity, and in holiness of character. ‘If a man love me, he will keep my words; and the Father will love him, and he will come unto him.’ We, that is, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, and make our abode in him. O my brother, walk carefully with God. But remember that there are some whose eyes are intently fixed upon you, expecting that you will over-reach the mark, and stumble and fall. But if you keep in humility close to Jesus, all is well. {1888 1166.1}

2 Peter 1:1-11. This is the faith which we must have, that works by love, and purifies the soul. There is no place in the school of Christ where we graduate. We are to work in the plan of addition, and the Lord will work on the plan of multiplication. It is through the constant diligence that will through the grace of Christ live on the plan of addition, making our calling and election sure, for if ye do these things ‘add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. . . . For if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'”

(Signed) Ellen G. White

Copy sent to Elders Olsen, Jones, Daniells, and L. J. Rousseau.

Nevertheless

“The two men used mightily by God at Minneapolis and in the decade that followed, Waggoner and Jones, became the special point of attack of the great enemy of God and man. In time they were misled and their positive testimony was hushed.” {3BIO 474.5}

“It is quite possible that Elder Jones or Waggoner may be overthrown by the temptations of the enemy; but if they should be, this would not prove that they had had no message from God, or that the work that they had done was all a mistake. But should this happen, how many would take this position, and enter into a fatal delusion because they are not under the control of the Spirit of God. {3BIO 474.6} I know that this is the very position many would take if either of these men were to fall, and I pray that these men upon whom God has laid the burden of a solemn work may be able to give the trumpet a certain sound, and honor God at every step, and that their path at every step may grow brighter and brighter, until the lose of time.”–Letter 24, 1892. {3BIO 475.1}

If you want your own latter rain experience, study the message of 1888: http://sabbathsermons.com/category/walking-in-the-light-of-1888/

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Elder Jones:

“Whether temptation be from within or from without, He is the perfect shield against it all; and so saves to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him.” The Consecrated Way page 34. A T Jones.

Elder Waggoner:

“His humanity only veiled His Divine nature, by which He was inseparably connected with the invisible God, and which was more than able successfully to resist the weakness of the flesh. There was in His whole life a struggle. The flesh, moved upon by the enemy of all righteousness, would tend to sin, yet His Divine nature never for a moment harboured and evil desire, nor did His Divine power for a moment waver. Having suffered in the flesh all that men can possibly suffer…, having suffered all that sinful flesh is heir to, He knows all about it, and so closely does He identify Himself with His children that whatever presses upon them makes a like impression upon Him and he knows how much Divine power is necessary to resist it;” Christ and His Righteousness pages 29-31. Waggoner.