Nominal Adventists Go On Record

At the memorable Albany Conference (April 29-May 1, 1845), the first general meeting of nominal Adventists after the disappointment, formal action was taken, placing the body on record as warning against those who claim “special illumination,” those who teach “Jewish fables,” and those who establish “new tests.” (Advent Herald, May 14,1845) Thus the general body of Adventists turned, by formal action, from both the visions and the Sabbath, and thus closed the door against an advance step in proclaiming the third angel’s message, which would have quickly finished the work. Now, instead of a company of ministers and believers fifty thousand strong going forth with the message of the third angel, the work must pass to the hands of a small, scattered group, who became the noble pioneers of the remnant church of Revelation 12:17. A new beginning, as it were, must be made, and this with the handicap of prejudice created by the 1844 disappointment and by the opposition of the nominal Adventists. Of this Ellen White testified:EGWMR 31.12

“Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith, and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward.”—E. G. White Manuscript 4, 1883, in “Testimony of Jesus,” pp. 99. 100.EGWMR 32.1