Bro. Mark, sorry I missed this request about the 1888 message and bro. Houteff.

Yes will do.

Here is a sermon done on "Righteousness by Faith"

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY GRACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH, AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST

link -- 1888 message study

"We have God's final message to the world!" many earnestly claim. Do they really? Or are they promoting a counterfeit? Steve Wohlberg's newest book, God's Last Message: Christ our Righteousness, exposes all satanic detours by teaching the truth. Don't be fooled. Heaven's last message is centered in Jesus Christ Himself, of whom the ancient prophet wrote, "This is His Name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6).

One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other,
--Christ our righteousness (RH, December 23, 1890).
Steve Wohlberg's book

Sermons on Righteousness By Faith

The 1888 Message doesn't matter any more in that it came and went 125 years ago. It's history. We need to make a fresh start. WE need to preach and proclaim the truth about the plan of salvation - what Jesus did for believers on the cross, what He is doing in and through believers here and now, and what He will do for believers in future. It's not only about what Jesus did for believers 2000 years ago. It includes what He is doing in and through believers right now. Tell the truth about justification (salvation from the penalty of sin). Tell the truth about sanctification (salvation from the power of sin). And tell the truth about glorification (salvation from the presence of sin)

I agree in part what you said. The 1888 message was "present truth" for that generation. Yet, we know that "Truth" is eternal and as such the gems of truth of that message still applies today.

What is "our" present Truth? What is our "testing" Truth? The Elijah message predicted by Mal. 4:5. That must be our focus and our desire, to know it, spread it and live it.

One question we can ask is this-- Why did the Lord choose "Elijah" as His prophet to come before the great and dreadful day? Why not Moses, or David, or anyone else?

His ways are indeed deep and far-reaching. Knowing that the last church of Laodecia would be self satisfied "rich and increased with good" and "blind and naked", He needed to send someone to call out our sins and proclaim reformation among us. And enlighten us about the 'great and dreadful day". What is it? When does it comes? How does it happen?

Preaching and proclaiming the 3AM is present truth. Living in harmony with "all things whatsoever" Jesus "commanded" is present truth. How to "go and sin no more," how to "grow in grace," how to "mature daily in the fruits of the Spirit" is present truth. When "this gospel" is lived, preached, proclaimed to everyone everywhere "then shall the end come".

The 1888 message of Jones and Waggoner, was justification by faith, which is the 3AM in verity. The 1888 message still matters.

Agreed. However, the Truth scroll unrolls with time, so we must keep up with the light.

"We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the light yet to come to us." (RH, June 3, 1890).

"When God's people are at ease, and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favour them. It is His will that they should be ever moving forward, to receive the increased and ever increasing light that is shining for them." (5T pp. 708, 709).



"The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to "science falsely so called" will not be the leaders then.

Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.

They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view." (Testimonies, vol.5, p.80)

"We must not think, 'Well, we have all the truth, we understand the main pillars of our faith, and we may rest on this knowledge.' The truth is an advancing truth, and we must walk in the increasing light." (RH: March 25, 1890).

Not much new light since the passing of our pioneers. Scholars have learned things that help us better understand the light we already have. But nothing totally new.

That I disagree with. The Elijah message is filled with light. In fact it illuminates heretofore Biblical mysteries. Things that SOP spoke very lightly on or did not touch.

Some Examples:
1) The meaning of Hosea 1 and 2
2) The understanding of Rev.12
3) The Zech.6 prophecy
4) Ezekiel chapter 4
5) The pre-millennial kingdom (Theocracy)
6) Matthew 20
7) Revelation 17

among many others.

"We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel's messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory." (Testimonies vol. 6, p.406)

Are we prepared to accept that "other angel's" message?