1843-44. When God showed people light about His law and the second advent. And more...

Nb wrote:

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1843-44. When God showed people light about His law and the second advent. And more...

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 In what sense did God show to the people the light about His law?

I agree. Didnt look anything up for specific dates. Just off the top of my head. 

Im sure theres more information on this subject....

One perspective that I find quite helpful is that the light of the midnight cry was intended to prepare people to enter into the most holy place, the second apartment of the sanctuary.

The quotes below touch on this.

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All heaven watched with the deepest interest the reception of the first angel's message. But many who professed to love Jesus, and who shed tears as they read the story of the cross, derided the good news of His coming. Instead of receiving the message with gladness, they declared it to be a delusion. They hated those who loved His appearing and shut them out of the churches. Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel's message, which shows the way into the most holy place. {SR 387.2}

Many look with horror at the course of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ; and as they read the history of His shameful abuse, they think they love Him, and would not have denied Him as did Peter, or crucified Him as did the Jews. But God who reads the hearts of all, has brought to the test that love for Jesus which they professed to feel. All heaven watched with the deepest interest the reception of the first angel's message. But many who professed to love Jesus, and who shed tears as they read the story of the cross, derided the good news of His coming. Instead of receiving the message with gladness, they declared it to be a delusion. They hated those who loved His appearing and shut them out of the churches. Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel's message, which shows the way into the most holy place. I saw that as the Jews crucified Jesus, so the nominal churches had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no knowledge of the way into the most holy, and they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there. Like the Jews, who offered their useless sacrifices, they offer up their useless prayers to the apartment which Jesus has left; and Satan, pleased with the deception, assumes a religious character, and leads the minds of these professed Christians to himself, working with his power, his signs and lying wonders, to fasten them in his snare. Some he deceives in one way, and some in another. He has different delusions prepared to affect different minds. Some look with horror upon one deception, while they readily receive another. Satan deceives some with Spiritualism. He also comes as an angel of light and spreads his influence over the land by means of false reformations. The churches are elated, and consider that God is working marvelously for them, when it is the work of another spirit. The excitement will die away and leave the world and the church in a worse condition than before.  {EW 260.1} 

I saw that the present test on the Sabbath could not come until the mediation of Jesus in the holy place was finished and He had passed within the second veil; therefore Christians who fell asleep before the door was opened into the most holy, when the midnight cry was finished, at the seventh month, 1844, and who had not kept the true Sabbath, now rest in hope; for they had not the light and the test on the Sabbath which we now have since that door was opened. I saw that Satan was tempting some of God's people on this point. Because so many good Christians have fallen asleep in the triumphs of faith and have not kept the true Sabbath, they were doubting about its being a test for us now.  {EW 42.3} 

With regard to what the actual light of the midnight cry is, let me throw out a perspective.

If we say that the midnight cry was intended to prepare people to enter into the most holy place, then that opens up a very large and rich set of theological issues.

In other words, one model of the gospel is that we're on the sin / repentance treadmill forever.  This model is still very common today.

Another model, implied by entering into the most holy place, is that it's possible to get off this treadmill, by making a deep and ongoing investment with Christ.  This idea is made plain in the third angel's message (Revelation 14:12).

It's also made plain in passages like the one about the 144,000 following Christ everywhere (Revelation 14:4), and by the mention of the "fit man" who served at the end of the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:21).

There's a great deal further that could be said on this particular aspect of the midnight cry.

Nb wrote:

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Bates was convinced of Sabbath and conv many in the movement. 

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 Bates accepted the Sabbath in 1845. He was also instrumental in the midnight cry movement too. First of all, when God sent S. Snow with the message, he was humble enough to step off from preaching his sermon in order to give place to the message from heaven. Here is the account as given in Loughborough's book:

Exeter Campmeeting

So the battle went on until July 1844, when the greatest campmeeting that was ever held by Adventists, assembled at the same Exeter, N.H. It was reported that there were three thousand in that encampment. It was held in the woods, in the open, no cloth pavilion for the camp services, but plenty of seats. On Sunday forenoon Elder Joseph Bates was preaching, when a man came riding at full speed into the camp, placed his horse where they kept their stock, then came into the audience, and seated himself by the family of Elder John Couch, and with open Bible, in a whisper, explained to them the cause of their disappointment, and the midnight cry that was now due. GSAM 522.2

Brother Bates was using as an illustration of their course in patient waiting, his experience on nearing home on a sea voyage, after a long absence. The power of God came upon Sister Couch, as she arose, and beckoned to Brother Bates. He said, Sister, what is it? She replied, What you are saying is all very good, but here is a man who has light on the midnight cry. Well, said Brother Bates, then let him come up here on the platform, and give it to the people, and he sat down. GSAM 522.3

The minister who thus walked into the stand was S. S. Snow, who in a few sentences gave them the path of his midnight cry message. Elder James White was in that audience; I was not there, but got my light on the subject from those who were there. GSAM 522.4

The Midnight Cry

Brother Snow thus questioned them; Where are we in our Advent experience? GSAM 523.1

Answer from the audience: In the tarrying time. GSAM 523.2

Question: How long was the vision to tarry? GSAM 523.3

Answer: Until midnight GSAM 523.4

Question: What is a day in prophecy? GSAM 523.5

Answer: A year. GSAM 523.6

Question: Then what would a night be? GSAM 523.7

Answer: Six months. GSAM 523.8

Question: Then what would Midnight be? GSAM 523.9

Answer: Three months. GSAM 523.10

Question: How long have we been in the tarrying time? GSAM 523.11

Answer: Just three months. GSAM 523.12

He said, Then it is just the midnight now, and I am here with the midnight cry. In a few sentences he explained that it was the fall of 457 that the decree went forth, and so they were short six months in their reckoning, showing them that the 2300 days would terminate Oct. 22, 1844, instead of the spring as they had previously supposed. Then, in a strong voice he said, Behold the Bridegroom cometh on the tenth day of the seventh month, Oct. 22, 1844. Go ye out to meet Him. GSAM 523.13

As he uttered those words the mighty power of God swept over that camp, prostrating many to the ground, suddenly turning that camp into a most powerful confessing and testimony meeting. That was only the beginning of the midnight cry message. Of that movement Brother Southard said, in the Midnight Cry, the paper of which he was the editor, It swept over the land with the velocity of a tornado, and it reached hearts in different and distant places almost simultaneously, and in a manner which can be accounted for only on the supposition that God was in it. GSAM 523.14 

So, the midnight cry started in July, not in August as I thought. In August was printed on paper and published.

Can we try to be more specific on what the actual message was? I would suggest to go straight to the Bible and get an answer as simple as possible from there for the beginning. Than we can dig deeper, for sure. 

zafer wrote:

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So, the midnight cry started in July, not in August as I thought. In August was printed on paper and published.

 

Can we try to be more specific on what the actual message was? I would suggest to go straight to the Bible and get an answer as simple as possible from there for the beginning. Than we can dig deeper,

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Matthew 25:6 KJV

[6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

 

Nb wrote:

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Matthew 25:6 KJV

[6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

 

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 Thank you, this is right to the point! I know that we are easily tempted when we speak of the midnight cry to jump straight to the third angel's message. But the fact is: the midnight cry was preparing the believers to enter the 2nd apt. of the Sanctuary in heaven by preparing them to meet the Bridegroom. They didn't have the light on the Sanctuary, that light came later, with the 3rd AM. But still, this light of the midnight cry was to shine for the feet of believers until they will enter the holy city. We are taking for granted that we have the 3rd AM and, for that matter, we are on that path anyway. But if we read the writings of those who experienced that message on the spot we can realize that we don't have that light (if we are honest enough to do that). We believe in the validity of Oct. 22nd, 1844, but we reject much of the arguments which led to that specific date. Moreover, much of the rhetoric of those who rejected the message than is our rhetoric today.  

That is interesting about the Midnight Cry first starting in July.  Yet, it is obvious from the written material of that time, that it was not a general movement until the Exeter campmeeting in August, just 2 months before the expected date of October 22, 1844.

The Midnight Cry message itself was based on time - a definite time for the return of the Lord, telling people there is no more time left on this earth, so leave the churches and prepare everything and everyone to meet Jesus. 

The First Angel's message was telling people to get ready around the 1843-1844 time frame.  The Second Angel's message started in earnest around 1842, telling people to leave the fallen churches.  The Third Angel's message did not get started (could not get started) until after October 22, 1844.

The Loud Cry will basically be a repeat of the Midnight Cry, but with 10 times the power!:

CHAPTER 34 The Loud Cry

I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven.  They were descending to earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfilment of some important event.  Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to earth, and unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message.  Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory.  The light which went before and followed after this angel, penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is again given, with the addition of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844.  The work of this angel comes in at the right time, and joins in the last great work of the third angel's message, as it swells into a loud cry.  And the people of God are fitted up everywhere to stand in the hour of temptation which they are soon to meet.  I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united in the message, and fearlessly proclaimed with great power the third angel's message.

Angels were sent to aid the mighty angel from heaven, and I heard voices which seemed to sound everywhere, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues; for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.  This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, and joined it, as the midnight cry joined the second angel's message in 1844.  The glory of God rested upon the patient, waiting saints, and they fearlessly gave the last solemn warning, proclaiming the fall of Babylon, and calling upon God's people to come out of her; that they might escape her fearful doom.

The light that was shed upon the waiting ones penetrated everywhere, and those who had any light in the churches, who had not heard and rejected the three messages, answered to the call, and left the fallen churches.  Many had come to years of accountability since these messages had been given, and the light shone upon them, and they were privileged to choose life or death.  Some chose life, and took their stand with those looking for their Lord, and keeping all his commandments.  The third message was to do its work; all were to be tested upon it, and the precious ones were to be called out from the religious bodies.  A compelling power moves the honest, while the manifestation of the power of God holds in fear and restraint relatives and friends, and they dare not, neither have they power to, hinder those who feel the work of the Spirit of God upon them.  The last call is carried even to the poor slaves, and the pious among them, with humble expressions, pour forth their songs of extravagant joy at the prospect of their happy deliverance, and their masters cannot check them; for a fear and astonishment keep them silent.  Mighty miracles are wrought, the sick are healed, and signs and wonders follow the believers.  God is in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, follows the convictions of his own conscience, and unites with those who are keeping all the commandments of God; and they sound abroad the third message with power.  I saw that the third message would close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry.

Servants of God, endowed with power from on high, with their faces lighted up, and shining with holy consecration, went forth fulfilling their work, and proclaiming the message from heaven.  Souls that were scattered all through the religious bodies answered to the call, and the precious were hurried out of the doomed churches, as Lot was hurried out of Sodom before her destruction.  God's people were fitted up and strengthened by the excellent glory which fell upon them in rich abundance, preparing them to endure the hour of temptation.  A multitude of voices I heard everywhere, saying, Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Nb wrote:

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Very interesting Zafer. 

you have carefully studied this out!!

 

 Thank you for sharing. 

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 https://www.testimonypress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TRUE-MIDNIGHT-CRY-Doc.-3.pdf

I have been greatly blessed to study this material.

zafer wrote:

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I'm coming back to EGW's first vision. While in A Word to the Little Flock is pretty much the same with what you find from The Day Star and Broadside, there are some differences in the way the vision was published in 1851. I want to continue the quote from where I left in the introductory post, this time showing the difference between A Word to the Little Flock and ExV 1851. Because I get the error that the comment is too long, I will try to do it in the next post.

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But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark, and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, untilSoon we heard the voice of God like many waters, [Ezekiel 43:2. Joel 3:16. Revelation 16:17.] which gave us the day and hour of Jesus coming. [Ezekiel 12:25. Mark 13:32.] The living saints, 144,000, in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. [John 12:29.] When God spake the time, he poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God as Moses did when he came down from Mount Sinai. [Isaiah{ExV 10:27.] {WLF 14.2.1}

Bellow is another one from 1851 A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White ... The vision was published in Day Star on March 14, 1846, than on a Broadside in April 6, 1846, and again in 1851 in the said work. Now, in Broadside, the vision is introduced as follows: In February, 1845, I had a vision of events commencing with the Midnight Cry. {Broadside1, April 6, 1846 par. 7}, which means that this has everything to do with what we are discussing on this thread (didn't we agree that the midnight cry was to prepare the people to enter the Most Holy apartment?). But here is how it was changed in 1851:

Then I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne. They ; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne and pray, My Father give us thy spirit. Then Spirit; then Satan would breathe on upon them an unholy influence. In ; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy and peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived, and to draw back and deceive God's children. I saw one after another leave the company who were praying to Jesus in the Holiest, go and join those before the throne and they at once received the unholy influence of Satan. {DS, March 14, 1846 par. 1}{ExV 43.1}

zafer, thank you very much for taking the time to compare those publications.  I did that for 2 chapters in the original 1858 Great Controversy book and the portion of it said to be without changes in the 1882 Early Writings book.  

If you have much more of these types of comparisons, I would be happy to post them on my web site.

Yes, some nefarious things by unconsecrated men have been done with the words the Holy Spirit given to Ellen White to write.