The Divine-Human Family

W. W. Prescott (1855-1944) was an early Seventh-day Adventist educator and administrator. He was the General Conference Education Director at the time he presented these talks at the 1895 General Conference Session, February 1-13, in Battle Creek, Michigan. In developing his Bible theme, Prescott noted, "Adam is the man through whom death came; Christ is the man through whom comes the resurrection from the dead. Read also Romans 5:12 and onward." This Romans 5 focus was echoed less than three months later when Ellen White, in writing of A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner, stated, "God gave to His servants a testimony that presented the truth as it is in Jesus, which is the third angel's message in clear, distinct lines…. This is the testimony that must go throughout the length and breadth of the world. It presents the law and the gospel, binding up the two in a perfect whole. (See Romans 5, and 1 John 3:9 to the close of the chapter.)" (EGW 1888 Materials, pp. 1338.1; 1339.1; May 1, 1895) Four months later Ellen White listed Prescott among those who "since the Minneapolis meeting" in 1888 were extending "the invitation, 'Come, for all things are now ready. Come to the supper prepared for you.' Light, heaven's light, has been shining ... upon justification by faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ." (EGW 1888 Materials, pp. 1455.2; September 25, 1895) This unifying, family theme is a fruitful field of Bible exploration and practical application. "God looked upon humanity, not as vile and worthless; He looked upon it in Christ, saw it as it might become through redeeming love. He collected all the riches of the universe, and laid them down in order to buy the pearl." (COL 118.2; 1900) "By means of one agency, Christ Jesus, God has mysteriously linked all men together." (Special Testimonies Series B, No. 9, p. 25.3; 1903)