Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 1988 Selected Aspects of Ellet J. Waggoner's Eschatology and Their Relation to His Understanding of Righteousness by Faith, 1882-1895 Clinton L. Wahlen Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Recommended Citation Wahlen, Clinton L., "Selected Aspects of Ellet J. Waggoner's Eschatology and Their Relation to His Understanding of Righteousness by Faith, 1882-1895" (1988). Master's Theses. 57. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/57 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Order Number 1336634 Selected aspects of Ellet J. Waggoner’s eschatology and their relation to his understanding of righteousness by faith, 1 8 8 2 -1 8 0 5 Wahlen, Clinton L., M.Div. Andrews University, 1989 Copyright ©1988 by Wahlen, Clinton L. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary SELECTED ASPECTS OF ELLET J. WAGGONER'S ESCHATOLOGY AND THEIR RELATION TO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH, 1882-1895 A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Divinity by Clinton L. Wahlen July 1988 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. SELECTED ASPECTS OF ELLET J. WAGGONER'S ESCHATOLOGY AND THEIR RELATION TO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH, 1882-1895 A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Divinity by Clinton L. Wahlen APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: C. MervyW Maxwjell, Ph.D., Adviser h ~ .. George R. Knight, Ed.D. o l-A 1 I Kenneth A. Strand, Ph.D. Date approved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Clinton L. Wahlen 1988 © All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT SELECTED ASPECTS OF ELLET J. WAGGONER'S ESCHATOLOGY AND THEIR RELATION TO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH, 1882-1895 by Clinton L. Wahlen Adviser: C. Mervyn Maxwell Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Department of Church History Title: SELECTED ASPECTS OF ELLET J. WAGGONER'S ESCHATOLOGY AND THEIR RELATION TO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH, 1882-1895 Name of researcher: Clinton L. Wahlen Name and degree of faculty adviser: C. Mervyn Maxwell, Ph.D. Date completed: July 1988 The purpose of this study is to examine Ellet Joseph Waggoner's (1855-1916) understanding of the Seventh-day Adventist concepts of a "cleansing" of the heavenly sanctuary and preparation for Christ's return as they relate to his understanding of righteousness by faith. Waggoner's published material from 1882 to 1895 are given thorough consideration, as well as other pertinent documents. Important findings of this study include: justification by faith, according to Waggoner, involves a transformation of life and is the work of a moment while sanctification is the work of a lifetime and culminates with Christ's perfection being seen in His followers; Waggoner clearly and consistently taught important features of the Adventist sanctuary doctrine including a pre-advent, investigative judgment. In addition, this study documents much of what Waggoner probably presented at the Minneapolis Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. General Conference session and it finds that by the m id 1890s, W aggoner began emphasizing the immanence of God in order to counter a growing tendency of assigning naturalistic causes to phenomena which Scripture attributes to God. This study concludes that Waggoner synthesized the Biblical concepts of justification by faith and the final judgment, thereby making a significant contribution to Seventh-day Adventist theology. His presentations in Minneapolis continue to be significant for the doctrinal content involved as well as a reminder of the importance of Christian charity in doctrinal discussions. In view of the controversies that have arisen since Waggoner's day over the subjects of justification and judgment, his synthesis may assist current Adventist attempts at reconciling these important concepts. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS___________________________ v PREFACE Significance and Purpose vi Scope and Delimitations. vu Methodology viii Historical Background _______________________________________ ix Survey of Literature _________________________________________ xiii C hapter I. THE EARLY PERIOD INCLUDING THE MINNEAPOLIS GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1882-1888 Survey of Waggoner and His Eschatology_____________________._______ 2 Biographical Sketch 2 Eschatological Framework______________________________________ 4 The Last Davs _________________________________________ 5 Antichrist and Sunday Legislation___________________________ 6 The Gospel Proclamation___________________________________________ 8 Justification by Faith_____________________________________________ 10 Waggoner's Concept of Sin__________________________________ 10 Justification, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness_________________ 13 Sanctification—Overcoming Sin, Obedience and Perfection___________ 17 The "Holiness" Movement a Contextual Factor________________ 17 Waggoner's Understanding of Sanctification__________________ 24 The Significance of Christ's Humanity_______________________ 34 The Two Covenants____________________________________________ 38 Selected Aspects of Waggoner's Eschatology____________________________ 40 Sanctuary Theology____________________________________________ 40 Christ's Work in Heaven 41 The Investigative judgment 43 Preparation for Christ's Return__________________________________ 51 The 1888 Minneapolis General Conference Session 54 Issues Leading up to the Debate_________________________________ 54 Historical Context 54 Dominant Issues 59 Waggoner's Presentations at Minneapolis________________________ 68 Records of the Conference___________________________________ 68 Methodological Considerations 69 Chronology of Events_______________________________________ 71 Ellen White's Concept of Waggoner's Message 77 i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Waggoner's Lectures. 83 Summary and Conclusions 98 II. 1889-1895: YEARS OF CLARITY OR OF TRANSITION? Survey of Waggoner and His Eschatology 105 Biographical Sketch 105 Ministerial Institute of 1889-90 107 Waggoner's Move to England 111 Eschatological Framework