Work To Be Done In The Cities

At this stage of our experience we are not to have our minds drawn away from the special light given [us] to consider at the important gathering of our conference. And there was Brother Daniells, whose mind the enemy was working; and your mind and Elder Prescott’s mind were being worked by the angels that were expelled from heaven. Satan’s work was to divert your minds that jots and tittles should be brought in which the Lord did not inspire you to bring in. They were not essential. But this meant much to the cause of truth. And the ideas of your minds, if you could be drawn away to  jots or tittles, is a work of Satan’s devising. To correct little things in the books written, you suppose would be doing a great work. But I am charged, Silence is eloquence.

I am to say, Stop your picking flaws. If this purpose of the devil could only be carried out, then [it] appears to you [that] your work would be considered as most wonderful in conception. It was the enemy’s plan to get all the supposed objectionable features where all classes of minds did not agree. And what then? The very work that pleases the devil would come to pass. There would be a representation given to the outsiders not of our faith just what would suit them, that would develop traits of character which would cause great confusion and occupy the golden moments which should be used zealously to bring the great message before the people. The presentations upon any subject we have worked upon could not all harmonize, and the results would be to confuse the minds of believers and unbelievers. This is the very thing that Satan had planned that should take place—anything that could be magnified as a disagreement.

Read Ezekiel, chapter 28. Now, here is a grand work, where strange spirits can figure. But the Lord has a work to [be] done to save perishing souls; and the places which Satan, disguised, could fill in, bringing confusion into our ranks, he will do to perfection, and all those little differences will become enlarged, prominent.

And I was shown from the first that the Lord had given neither Elders Daniells nor Prescott the burden of this work. Should Satan’s wiles be brought in, should this “Daily” be such a great matter as to be brought in to confuse minds and hinder the advancement of the work at this important period of time? It should not, whatever may be. This subject should not be introduced, for the spirit that would be brought in would be forbidding, and Lucifer is watching every movement. Satanic agencies would commence his work and there would be confusion brought into our ranks. You have no call to hunt up the difference of opinion that is not a testing question; but your silence is eloquence. I have the matter all plainly before me. If the devil could involve any one of our own people on these subjects, as he has proposed to do, Satan’s cause would triumph. Now the work without delay is to be taken up and not a [difference] of opinion expressed.

Satan would inspire those men who have gone out from us to unite with evil angels and retard our work on unimportant questions, and what rejoicing [there] would be in the camp of the enemy. Press together, press together. Let every difference be buried. Our work now is to devote all our physical and brain-nerve power to put these differences out of the way, and all harmonize. If Satan could with his great unsanctified wisdom be permitted to get the least hold, [he would rejoice.]

Now, when I saw how you were working, my mind took in the whole situation and the results if you should go forward and give the parties that have left us the least chance to bring confusion into our ranks. Your lack of wisdom would be just what Satan would have it. Your loud proclamation was not under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I was instructed to say to you that you picking flaws in the writings of men that have been led of God is not inspired of God. And if this is the wisdom that Elder Daniells would give to the people, by no means give him an official position, for he cannot reason from cause to effect. Your silence on this subject is your wisdom. Now, everything like picking flaws in the publications of men who are not alive is not the work God has given any of you to do. For if these men—Elders Daniells and Prescott—had followed the directions given in working the cities, there would have been many, very many, convinced of the truth and converted, able men that [now] are in positions where they never will be reached.

All the world is to be regarded as one great family. And when you have such a fountain of knowledge to draw from, why have you left the world to perish for years with the testimonies given by our Lord Jesus Christ? True religion teaches us to regard every man and woman as a person to whom we can do good.

This has been in print many years: “A Balanced Mind,” testimony to Elder Andrews. The mind may be cultivated to become a power to know when to speak and what burdens to take up and to bear, for Christ is your teacher. And I feared greatly for you [when I saw you] exalting your wisdom and pursuing a course to bring in differences of opinion. The Lord calls for wise men who can hold their peace when it [is] wisdom for them to do so. If you would be a whole man, you need sanctification through Jesus Christ. Now there is a work just started, and let wisdom be seen in every minister, in every president of [a] conference. But here was a work for you to take hold of years ago where you were needed to lift your voice for this very work. Christ gave all His people special directions what they shall do and the things they shall not do. And there is a little time left us to work out the righteousness of the Lord.

You can understand the way of the Lord. I saw your purpose of carrying things after your own devising after you were placed as president. You had thought you would do wonderful things, which would be a work God had not placed in your hands to do. Now, your work is not to oppress but to release every necessity possible if the Lord has accepted you to serve. But you have very early given evidence that wisdom and sanctified judgment have not been manifested by you. You blazed out matters that would not be received unless the Lord should give light.

I have been instructed that such hasty movements should not have [been] made [such] as selecting you as president of the conference even another year. But the Lord forbids any more such hasty transactions until the matter is brought before the Lord in prayer; and as you have had the message come to you that the work of the Lord resting upon the president is a most solemn responsibility, you had no moral right to blaze out as you did upon the subject of the “Daily” and suppose your influence would decide the question. There was Elder Haskell, who has carried the heavy responsibilities, and there is Elder Irwin and several men I might mention who have the heavy responsibilities.

Where was your respect for the men of age? What authority could you exercise without taking all the responsible men to weigh the matter? But let us now investigate the matter. We must now reconsider whether it is the Lord’s judgment, in the face of the work that has been neglected, of showing your zeal to carry the work even another year. If you should carry the work another year with the help that shall unite with you, there should be a change take place in you and Elder Prescott.

And humble your own hearts before God. The Lord will have to see in you a showing of a different experience, for if ever men needed to be reconverted at this present [time]; it [is] Elder Daniells and Elder Prescott.

Seven men should be chosen that are men of wisdom and through the working of the grace of God [give] evidence [of] a reconversion. For any men who are so blinded that they cannot reason from cause to effect, that they would ignore the men who have borne the responsibilities of the work and these presidents of conferences, [that] men [who] carry the work for over two years should be disregarded and such an impulsive consequence take place that men would neglect the very work kept before them for years—work the cities—and no, or but very little, attention [be] given to the old men for counsel, but proclaim the things they choose to give the people, bears its own testimony of the unsafety of the men to be entrusted with such a grand and wonderful work.

Christ is not dead. He will never suffer His work to be carried on in this strange way. Let the books alone. If any change is essential, God will have the harmony in that change consistent, but when a message has been entrusted to men with the large responsibilities involved, [God] demands faithfulness that will work by love and purify the soul. Elders Daniells and Prescott both need reconversion. A strange work has come in, and it is not in harmony with the work Christ came to our world to do; and all who are truly converted will work the works of Christ.

We are every one [to] work out the work which shall glorify the Father. We have come to the crisis—either to conform to the character of Jesus Christ right in this preparatory time or not attempt [it.] Elder Daniells, [you are not] to feel at liberty to let your voice be heard on high as you have done under similar circumstances. And understand, the president of a conference is not a ruler. He works in connection with the wise men who occupy the position as presidents whom God has accepted. He has not liberty to meddle with the writings in printed books from the pens that God has accepted. They are no longer to bear sway unless they show less of the ruling, dominating power. The crisis has come, for God will be dishonored.

How does the Lord look upon the unworked cities? Christ is in heaven. Now its acknowledgement is to be, ‘There is no kingly rule. And now is the crisis of this world. Now I am the Power to save or to destroy. Now is the time when the destiny of all is in My hands. I have given My life to save the world. And “I, if I be lifted up,” the saving grace I shall impart will prove that all who will be fashioned after he divine similitude and will be one with Me shall work as I work with My power of redeeming grace.’ Whoever will, [let him] take hold with his brethren to do the work given them to do when in responsible places under the counsel the Lord gives, and seek most earnestly to work in complete harmony with Him who so loved the world He gave His life a full sacrifice for the saving of the world.

I speak to our ministers, that as they enter upon the work in our cities let there be a calm sacredness attending the ministry of the Word. We cannot make the proper impression upon the minds of the people if we . . . [Lower third of this page left blank.]

I copy from my Diary. The truth as it is in Jesus—talk it, pray it, believe every word in its simplicity. What would you gain if mistakes are brought before the men who have departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits, men who wee not long ago with us in the faith? Will you stand on the devil’s side? Give your attention to the unworked fields. A world-wide work is before us. I was given representations of John Kellogg. A very attractive personage was representing the ideas of the specious arguments that he was presenting, sentiments different from the genuine Bible truth. And those who are hungering and thirsting after something new were advancing ideas [so specious] that Elder Prescott was in great danger. Elder Daniells was in great danger [of] becoming wrapped in a delusion that if these sentiments could be spoken everywhere it would be as a new world.

Yes, it would, but while their minds were thus absorbed I was shown that Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott were weaving into their experience sentiments of a spiritual[istic] appearance and drawing our people to beautiful sentiments that would deceive, if possible, the very elect. I have to trace with my pen [the fact] that these brethren would see defects in their delusive ideas that would place the truth in an uncertainty; and [yet] they [would] stand out as [if they had] great spiritual discernment. Now I am to tell them [that] when I was shown this matter, when Elder Daniells was lifting up his voice like a trumpet in advocating his ideas of the “Daily,” the after results were presented. Our people were becoming confused. I saw the result, and then there were given me cautions that if Elder Daniells without respect to the outcome should thus be impressed and let himself believe he was under the inspiration of God, skepticism would be sown among our ranks everywhere, and we should be where Satan would carry his messages. Set unbelief and skepticism would be sown in human minds, and strange crops of evil would take the place of truth.” Manuscript 67. 1910, 1–8.

 

Editor’s Note

In Second Advent movement in the United States during the early 1840s there was unity of opinion on many major points of doctrine by the ministers who espoused the teachings on prophecy preached by William Miller. One of these points was the daily or continuance mentioned in Daniel 8:10–14 and Daniel 11 and 12. William Miller taught that the daily (or literally “the continuance in rebellion,” in Daniel 8:12) referred to paganism. The daily is an integral part of the 2300 day prophecy. This prophecy “above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith.” The Great Controversy, 409, and therefore the daily is of not small interest to Adventist Bible students. Ellen White had some pointed things to say about this Scripture subject: “Then I saw in relation to the daily (Daniel 8:12) that the word sacrifice was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the daily; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test.” Early Writings, 74, 75.

In the late 1890s, some Seventh-day Adventist ministers begin to preach what came to be called the new view of the daily. This new view of the daily is the idea that it referred to the continual mediation of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. This new view was accepted by W. W. Prescott, A. G. Daniells, L. R. Conradi, A. T. Jones, and Waggoner. A number of crises developed within Adventism around the turn of the century, not the least of which was the pantheistic tendencies promoted not only by Kellogg but by a number of other leading men which probably delayed the open debate concerning the daily until the latter part of the first decade of the twentieth century.

A.T. Jones, in his characteristic direct style, used the daily as a proof to show that the testimonies of Ellen White were at variance with the Bible on the daily and urged that the new view was the only tenable position.

Meanwhile, the son of Uriah Smith and F. C. Gilbert (one of the few leaders at that time who had a competent knowledge of Hebrew and who was therefore qualified to evaluate the original sources on this subject) put out a tract attacking the new view and stating that the new view contradicts the Spirit of Prophecy.

Perhaps it was because of this tract that A. G. Daniells, General Conference president, decided to present his views (the new view) of the daily at union conference sessions in 1910.

Elder Washburn believed that the new view of the daily would usher in the greatest shaking our people have ever had. Elder Washburn was evidently enough disturbed by Elder Daniells’ presentation of the daily in 1910 that he was in an all-night conversation with him soon after and reported that in order to avoid the need to accept Ellen White’s plain statement about the daily in Early Writings, Elder Daniells referred to some of Ellen White’s statements as imperfect and said that she erred in encouraging J. E. White to accept tithe funds for his work in the South. Elder Washburn said that as a result of the Bible conference in 1919 (there the daily was discussed), many believed that the writings of Ellen White were not inspired in regard to history; and some considered her writings uninspired in regard to theology and health reform.

It was in the context of this debate about the daily that the following testimony was written by Ellen White. The reader might like to investigate the following:

How many times does Ellen White mention that the leading persons who were introducing this new teaching about the daily were in one way or another under the influence of the devil and evil angels?

When she says that silence is eloquence, notice the context—she is talking about saying that the daily is the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary or the new view. (She had never made statements like that about teaching the old view for over fifty years.)

In referring to men who wrote and taught the old view, she several times deplores picking flaws with their writings.

She requests of Prescott and Daniells that they listen to and respect the men who were teaching the old view, such as Elder Haskell.

She states that the teaching of this new view of the daily will result in sowing skepticism among our ranks everywhere and evil will take the place of truth.

She said that our people would become confused by this new teaching.

Interestingly, those who teach futurism, especially in Daniel 12, believe either the new view of the daily or some other view than espoused by Seventh-day Adventists for the first decades of our history.

The meaning of the daily is shown clearly from the Hebrew text of Daniel 8 in our book God Predicts Your Future. In addition to the present confusion as a result of the teachings of futurism, Desmond Ford has pointed out that the new view of the daily has been a major factor causing many scholars and leaders o leave the ranks of Adventism. In his research for the Glacier View meeting, he mentions not only Conradi, Ballenger, Fletcher, and Grieve but Hilgert, Brimsmead, and himself. Elder Washburn maintained that the new view of the daily was a major factor in the loss of Jones and Waggoner.

The old view teaches that the daily is the work of Satan, but the new view teaches that the daily is the work of Christ. (They cannot be reconciled.)

(A.G. Daniells was elected president of the General Conference in 1901. This suggests that this document was written in 1910, a time when Mrs. White was very concerned about Daniells’ neglect of the cities and his involvement in the controversy over the “Daily.”)