Do you believe that the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 contained error? Who were the three angels flying in the midst of heaven? Were they not men whom God had raised up to proclaim His messages to the world?
The Adventist pioneers were the very men through who God established the foundations of present truth. They were not expressing their own opinions. They were labouring under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and God instructed that their writings should be preserved and republished for future generations.
In 1905, we were specifically warned against removing even one pin from the foundations God had established through these pioneers.
“Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?” — Review and Herald, May 25, 1905, par. 28.
“The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 455–456.
“Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced.” — Review and Herald, May 25, 1905, par. 21.
You have referred to the 1910 instruction concerning Haskell, Loughborough and others regarding the daily in Daniel 8. However, that was a caution concerning a particular controversy and the misuse of prophetic writings to settle that question. It was not a blanket rejection of the pioneers, their inspiration, or the truths God had established through their labours.
There is a significant difference between cautioning brethren over a particular disputed interpretation and rejecting the established truths that God had led His people to understand.
we can’t dismiss their teachings because they were not prophets. The Holy Spirit guided the proclamation of the three angels’ messages through human instruments.
the statement that flesh eating is not to be made a test of fellowship does not make flesh eating acceptable for new baptism candidates. in the antitypical Day of Atonement. Isaiah 22:12–14 identifies the eating of flesh in a time when God calls His people to afflict their souls as a solemn matter. The question is not merely one of church membership, but of obedience to the light given for our time.
If we accept that God established the foundations of our faith through these pioneers, we must be very careful before setting aside their teachings. Otherwise, where shall we find safety?
In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?” — Review and Herald, May 25, 1905, par. 28.
“We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced.” — Review and Herald, May 25, 1905, par. 21.
“When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals. Gather up the rays of divine light that God has given as He has led His people on step by step in the way of truth. This truth will stand the test of time and trial.” — Manuscript 62, 1905, p. 6; Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 55.
“The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 455–456; The Three Angels’ Messages, 36.3.
“The work of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels, but has been entrusted to men.” — The Great Controversy, p. 312; The Three Angels’ Messages, 36.4.
“The first, second, and third angels’ messages are the messages to be given to the world. We hear not literally the voice of the three angels, but these angels in Revelation represent a people who will be upon the earth and give these messages.” — Manuscript 40, 1890; The Three Angels’ Messages, 37.3.
“The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God, and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” — Life Sketches, p. 429; Selected Messages, book 2, p. 387.
“When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth. No aftersuppositions, contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained.” — Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 31.2.
“God has graciously spared their lives to repeat and repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which they passed even as did John the apostle till the very close of his life. And the standard-bearers who have fallen in death, are to speak through the reprinting of their writings.” — Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 32.1.
“I am instructed that thus their voices are to be heard. They are to bear their testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time.” — Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 32.1.
“The past fifty years have not dimmed one jot or principle of our faith as we received the great and wonderful evidences that were made certain to us in 1844, after the passing of the time.” — Manuscript 129, 1905, as cited in The True Pioneer Position of the King of the North, Sabbath Sermons.
“The third angel’s message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.” — Review and Herald, May 27, 1890.
“And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” — Isaiah 22:12–14, KJV.
“We do not mark out any precise line to be followed in diet; but we do say that in countries where there are fruits, grains, and nuts in abundance, flesh meat is not the right food for God’s people.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 159.
“We are not to make the use of flesh food a test of fellowship, but we should consider the influence that professed believers who use flesh foods have over others.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 159.
“While we do not make the use of flesh-meat a test, while we do not want to force any one to give up its use, yet it is our duty to request that no minister of the Conference shall make light of or oppose the message of reform on this point.” — Letter 200, 1903; Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods, p. 66.
. What the caution shows is that these men, albeit inspired teachers, were nevertheless capable of erring in their interpretations of truth - its the platform of truth that is solid, but passing through the dim lens of human perception, things can be distorted.