What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What happened in 1888 in Minneapolis and what impact did it have on the believers and the church?"
Answer
At the 1888 General Conference in Minneapolis, Elders E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones presented the central message of “Justification by Faith” to overcome a looming legalism in the church. The participants’ response was divided: while some gladly received the message and experienced spiritual renewal, others rejected it outright or took a neutral stance.
The effects were far‑reaching, as the church was led to a clearer understanding of the gospel in the ensuing period, although the session itself was marked by intense debates and resistance to Ellen White’s prophetic counsel.
The Renewal of Justification by Faith
»At the 1888 General Conference session in Minneapolis, Minnesota, special emphasis was placed on the fundamental truths of justification by faith. Ellen White described this as a revival of truths that had largely been lost from view. ... The records clearly show that many who attended this conference took home a new and glorious experience in Christ Jesus. Through sermons in the churches after this conference ... Adventists in general were led to a clearer understanding and acceptance of justification by faith.«
Mixed Reactions and Spiritual Struggle
»The reactions to the emphasis on this vital truth were mixed. ... Some, fearing that the new emphasis would weaken the church’s strong stance on God’s law, especially the Sabbath truth, offered strong resistance to the message of justification by faith. ... Ellen White reported in a letter written on the final day of the session: “My courage and my faith were good,” despite the almost “incomprehensible tug‑of‑war” she had endured.«
Open Rebellion and Spiritual Low Point
»In many ways the meeting in Minneapolis was a disaster. The church reached a spiritual low point at this session. Ellen White called it “the saddest experience of my life.” It is the only General Conference session in Adventist history that was marked by open rebellion against Ellen White [personally] by a large number of our ministers.«
Fruits of the Message in the Following Year
»At the General Conference session the following year, 1889, both staff and laypeople alike reported in their testimony meetings that “the past year had been the best of their lives; the light that shines from God’s word was clear and distinct—justification by faith, Christ our righteousness.”«
A Decisive Revival Message
»In 1888 a very clear revival message came to the Seventh‑Day Adventist community. It was then called “the message of justification by faith.” Both the message itself and the way it arrived left a deep and lasting impression on the minds of the preachers and the people.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
