Charismatic Experiences In Early Seventh-day Adventist History

Chapter 3—What Went Wrong?

Regrettably Prescott’s optimism was not fulfilled, and one may well ask why. Oh, yes, the effects of revival were felt on into early 1893 and through the General Conference session of that year and then faded out. In the absence of other records, we turn to Ellen White’s comments written in 1893 and 1894. God sent His angel to give her the information. It is summed up somewhat in a communication written in 1893 addressed to “The Teachers and Students of Our College in Battle Creek and in All Our Educational Institutions.” CEESDAH 31.11

It opens with these words: CEESDAH 31.12

“Many prayers have been offered for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and recently there have been demonstrations of gladness of heart in those who have looked intently and undividedly to Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. There has been in your midst repentance and confession of sin, with true remorse of soul. There was a sense of the all-sufficient sacrifice, and the realizing of the fulfillment of the promise in the pardon, in transferring the live coal from the altar of atonement and touching the lips, which was the pledge of forgiveness. Lips defiled with sin were expressing the loftiest praise. Hosanna! Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna! in the highest! ... CEESDAH 31.13

“But what returns have our young people made to the Lord? Has it been as it was with the people of Israel on the most solemn occasion described in Exodus? Moses had gone up into the mount to receive instruction from the Lord, and the whole congregation should have been in humble attitude before God; but instead of that they ate and drank and rose up to play. Has there been a similar experience in Battle Creek? Have not many lost their hold on God? Did the exercise in games of football bring the participants into more close relation to God? CEESDAH 31.14

“In the night season messages have been given to me to give to you in Battle Creek, and to all our schools. While it is in the order of God that the physical powers shall be trained as well as the mental, yet the physical exercise should in character be in complete harmony with the lessons given by Jesus Christ to His disciples. That which is given to the world should be seen in the lives of Christians; so that in education and in self-training the heavenly intelligences should not record in the books that the students and the teachers in our schools are ‘lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.’”—Manuscript 51, 1893. CEESDAH 31.15

The last paragraph and the counsel that follows may be found in Fundamentals of Christian Education, 220-230. CEESDAH 31.16