The Conference of 1856

Frequently we are referred to the Battle Creek conference meeting, held in 1856, and are asked how many who attended that meeting are now living.TOJ 109.5

The statement to which reference is here made is as follows:TOJ 109.6

“I was shown the company present at the conference. Said the angel, ‘Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus. ’”—Testimonies for the Church 1:131, 132.TOJ 109.7

This statement from the angel was made by Mrs. E. G. White at an early morning meeting in Battle Creek, Michigan, following a conference session, May 27, 28, 1856, which had just closed in that city. At the early morning meeting where the statement was made about one hundred persons were present. At the conference, which had just closed many more were present. We do not have the exact number, but it was a company so large that it could not be accommodated in the usual house of worship. Regarding this conference, Elder James White wrote in the Review of June 12, 1856:TOJ 109.8

“The attendance from this State was not very large, owing, no doubt, to the meeting being held in the time of planting, this backward season; still, with those from other States, there were more Sabbathkeepers present Sabbath morning than could be seated in the ‘House of Prayer,’ and it became necessary to adjourn to the tent before the hour for preaching.”TOJ 110.1

Mrs. White refers to the company present at the conference, and not to the company present at the early morning meeting. Evidently there were three or four hundred people present at the conference meeting. Many years after the conference meeting was held, two brethren attempted to compile a list of the names of those who were present. It was impossible for anyone at this late date to make an accurate list of those who were there. It was made up of those who were supposed to be there. No one living today knows how many of those present have died or how many are still living. Hence it is impossible to base any calculations as to the coming of the Lord upon this statement made by Mrs. E. G. White.TOJ 110.2

There is another angle to this question, which may well be considered in this connection. Some of the divine predictions as to the future were based on conditions contingent upon the course taken by those to whom the predictions were addressed. This principle is stated in the following Scripture:TOJ 110.3

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” Jeremiah 18:7-10.TOJ 110.4

An illustration of this principle was seen in the experience of Nineveh. Jonah was sent to Nineveh with a message that within forty days that wicked city would be destroyed. His message brought repentance, and the threatened judgment was withheld. This same principle was illustrated in the prophecy regarding the city of Jerusalem. Through Jeremiah, the Lord instructed Israel of old that if they would observe the Sabbath and be obedient to His requirements, Jerusalem would remain forever. (Jeremiah 17:24, 25.) But if they refused to do this then their capital city would be destroyed. (Verses 26 and 27.) And this destruction was accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah. (2 Chronicles 36:17-21.)TOJ 111.1

We are told by the messenger of the Lord that if the remnant church had met God’s plan and purpose in doing the work that He had appointed them, that the day of the Lord would have come ere this and the faithful would have been gathered into the kingdom. Read Testimonies for the Church 2:194; Volume VI, page 450. This affords a reasonable explanation of the prediction made in 1856 regarding the future of those who listened to the messenger of the Lord.TOJ 111.2