One aspect of the work which God has entrusted to the Advent believer is to be a “restorer of paths to dwell in” (Isaiah 58:12). The lifestyle of man has drifted farther and farther away from the original plan of his Maker in virtually every aspect—morally, mentally, and physically. Reformation, restoration to God’s plan has been greatly needed.

Inspiration declares, “Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” (Ecclesiastes 10:17). Blessed it is indeed when principles of health are practiced and exemplified by those in positions of secular authority. And how much more essential is it to be found among those who profess to be followers of the majestic Creator Himself! To base one’s choices of what to eat and drink on noble principle instead of by slavery to lustful appetites truly reveals the power of Christ in the life—demonstrating how His Spirit gives us strength to exercise self-control by developing the higher powers of the mind over the lower. We are bidden, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor­inthians 10:31).

This factor is so important to our spiritual well-being, that relatively early in the Advent movement God led the believers to recognize the vital connection between good health and our habits of eating, dressing, and activity. By graciously giving light from Heaven, it has been His plan to educate a people in sound health practices, thus contributing greatly to our preparation for eternity.

Drastic, enduring changes in daily habits are not generally made overnight. Major changes may occur, “but the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Pro­verbs 4:18). God in His mercy brings us into greater light gently and gradually, that we might not be overwhelmed by the brightness of its brilliantly shining rays.

In 1858, Inspiration declared: “If God requires His people to abstain from swine’s flesh, He will convict them on the matter. He is just as willing to show His honest children their duty, as to show their duty to individuals upon whom He has not laid the burden of His work. If it is the duty of the church to abstain from swine’s flesh, God will discover it to more than two or three. He will teach His church their duty.” 1 Sure enough, the Lord soon showed the body of believers their duty through a vision given to E. G. White just five years later, on June 6, 1863.

Once the precious beams of heavenly light were poured upon God’s messenger, six pamphlets entitled How to Live were published. These touched not only upon the subject of swine’s flesh, but all flesh meats. Topics in the first pamphlet included natural remedies, dietary reform and recipes, and causes of disease. Thus the concept of health reform was initiated among Seventh-day Adventists in a distinctive manner.

The General Conference took the subject to heart. At the 1866 GC session, strong resolutions were adopted in favor of the establishment of a health institution, and at the 1867 session, several more resolutions were adopted, urging the acceptance of health reform as part of the work in preparing for the judgment. Other resolutions called for simplicity in dress.

It is never easy to climb uphill in overcoming faulty habits long entrenched, but the believers pressed onward. J. N. Loughborough was assigned the task of preparing a book manuscript to appeal to the reason of the people, tracing the source of many ailments from cause to effect with explanations on the structure, functions and care of the human system.

In a Testimony written in 1885 we learn: “There are many ways of practicing the healing art, but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God’s remedies are the simple agencies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a proper diet, purity of life, and a firm trust in God are remedies for the want of which thousands are dying; yet these remedies are going out of date because their skillful use requires work that the people do not appreciate. Fresh air, exercise, pure water, and clean, sweet premises are within the reach of all with but little expense, but drugs are expensive, both in the outlay of means and in the effect produced upon the system.” 2

Such methods of restoring and maintaining health are an integral part of Advent history, and their value never becomes outdated or obsolete in the face of increased technology. For “thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

In an age when doctors generally ordered extensive bed rest for invalids, the inspired pen presented some rather innovative ideas:

“Let men and women work in field and orchard and garden. This will bring health and strength to nerve and muscle. Living indoors and cherishing invalidism is a very poor business. If those who are sick will give nerves and muscles and sinews proper exercise in the open air, their health will be renewed.” 3

“Many have never learned by experience the beneficial effects of the proper use of water, and they are afraid of it. Water treatments are not appreciated as they should be, and to apply them skillfully requires work that many are unwilling to perform. But none should feel excused for ignorance or indifference on this subject. There are many ways in which water can be applied to relieve pain and check disease. All should become intelligent in its use in simple home treatments. “Mothers, especially, should know how to care for their families in both health and sickness.” 4

Man’s appetite can be one of the most influential aspects of his life, and is frequently the source of many temptations. The fall of man was based on appetite, and appetite was the first temptation over which Christ gained the victory in the wilderness. While it is certainly possible to overemphasize this one aspect of health reform at the expense of other vital factors, it is nonetheless important that we realize its role in Advent history and in our own individual preparation for the judgment.

In the 1890’s, the light became stronger in warning against the use of flesh foods: “Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to his original design—that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth. Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view, and endeavor to work steadily toward it.” 5

This is simply a confirmation of the scriptural declaration of God’s diet for man before the Flood: “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” “And thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 1:29; 3:18, 19).

In 1897 the Spirit of Prophecy admonished, “The meat diet is the serious question. Shall human beings subsist on the flesh of dead animals? The answer, from the light that God has given is, No; decidedly No. Health reform institutions should educate on this question. Physicians who claim to understand the human organism ought not to encourage their patients to subsist on the flesh of dead animals. They should point out the increase of disease in the animal kingdom. The testimony of examiners is that very few animals are free from disease, and that the practice of eating largely of meat is contracting diseases of all kinds—cancers, tumors, scrofula, tuberculosis, and numbers of other like affections. If man would subsist upon the food which God has so abundantly provided, without having it first pass into the animal organism and become sinew and muscle, and then take it secondhand by eating of the corpse, his health would be much better insured.” 6

From 1902 we read, “It has been clearly presented to me that God’s people are to take a firm stand against meat eating. Would God for thirty years give His people the message that if they desire to have pure blood and clear minds, they must give up the use of flesh meat, if He did not want them to heed this message?” 7

A rather pointed statement was published that same year in the Review and Herald, “Greater reforms should be seen among the people who claim to be looking for the soon appearing of Christ. Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. There are those who ought to be awake to the danger of meat eating, who are still eating the flesh of animals, thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God’s people to walk no more with them.” 8

From the turn of the century the warnings against eating fleshmeat continued to be clear and decided. However, we also find an interesting statement written in 1909:

“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. As God’s messengers, shall we not say to the people, ‘Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God’? Shall we not bear a decided testimony against the indulgence of perverted appetite?” 9

With such strong evidence as to the physiological and spiritual dangers of eating flesh food, why could it not then be made a test of fellowship? The answer is found in the rejection of the earnest appeals that had been made to the leadership of the church in 1908. In that year, Sister White wrote to the General Conference president, urging that a pledge be made by the leaders to abstain from flesh foods, tea, coffee, and other injurious substances, and set a proper example before the people. Copies also went to several members of the General Conference Committee. She wrote:

“I appeal to young and old and to middle-aged. Deny your appetite of those things that are doing you injury. Serve the Lord by sacrifice. Let the good work begin at Washington, and go forth from there to other places. I know whereof I am writing. If a temperance pledge providing for the abstinence from flesh foods, tea, and coffee, and some other foods that are known to be injurious, were circulated through our ranks, a great and good work would be accomplished. I ask you at this time, will you not circulate such a pledge? The means saved by such a sacrifice, if used for the furtherance of the cause of God, would be blessed to the salvation of many souls.” 10

Although Sister White thus made it clear that this would save means which “would be blessed to the salvation of many souls,” apparently some leaders of the church were inclined to think otherwise. In a letter to F. M Wilcox, W. C. White related that some evidently felt that “to pledge themselves to not eat flesh would cause unnecessary strife and unnecessary criticism of our people in mission fields.” 11 So, since the leaders thus refused to take a firm stand in denying themselves and the membership this dainty, how could it possibly be made a test of fellowship at that time? The keen disappointment of Sister White was clearly evident in her 1909 address to the General Conference in session:

“Will any who are ministers of the gospel, proclaiming the most solemn truth ever given to mortals, set an example in returning to the flesh-pots of Egypt? Will those who are supported by the tithe from God’s storehouse permit themselves by self-indulgence to poison the life-giving current flowing through their veins? Will they disregard the light and warnings that God has given them? The health of the body is to be regarded as essential to growth in grace and the acquirement of an even temper. If the stomach is not properly cared for, the formation of an upright moral character will be hindered. The brain and nerves are in sympathy with the stomach. Erroneous eating and drinking result in erroneous thinking and acting.” 12

Sister White could not in good conscience lay to rest the issue of making a health reform covenant, but rather described it as a sure event which was yet future:

“Those who have received instruction regarding the evils of the use of flesh foods, tea and coffee, and rich and unhealthful food preparations, and who are determined to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, will not continue to indulge their appetite for food that they know to be unhealthful. God demands that the appetites be cleansed, and that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are not good. This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stand before Him a perfected people.” 13

Looking back on history, we can be thankful now that since 1925, the Lord has seen fit to raise up both the leaders and people of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement to stand solidly united on this vital point of present truth. Has He not thus mercifully opened a window of opportunity for continued spiritual progress when the door seemed to have been slammed shut?

Perhaps the most conclusive evidence to shun flesh foods in the last days comes from the Bible itself. God’s original diet for man was purely plant-based (see Genesis 1:29 which was soon followed by Genesis 3:18 after sin entered.) According to Acts 3:20, 21 all aspects of man’s lifestyle must be restored to God’s original design before the return of Christ. Even when flesh had been permitted in Genesis 9, there were clear prohibitions against partaking of blood and fat (Genesis 9:3–5; Leviticus 3:17; 7:22–27; Acts 15:29). We also read in Isaiah 22:12–14, “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.” Interesting. It mentions here oxen and sheep. According to Leviticus 11:3, are these clean or unclean animals? They are clean! Thus the passage couples the consumption of clean meats together with drinking wine and merrymaking, condemning the scene as “iniquity” that “shall not be purged.” The context of the Bible passage in Isaiah 22 can be confirmed by examining verse 22 of that chapter, “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open,” and we can readily cross-reference this to Revelation 3:7, 8, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” As Seventh-day Adventists, we are well familiar with this passage in Revelation as referring to the opening of the door of the most holy place and the shutting of the holy place in the heavenly sanctuary (see Early Writings, p. 42). Thus we can indeed be assured that the passage in Isaiah 22 has special reference to the antitypical day of atonement in which we are now living. It applies to all believers in the three angels’ messages!

Historically speaking, the Advent people received no direct prohibition against the use of these foods. However, we cannot overlook the fact that the Spirit of Prophecy did issue some distinct warnings:

“The light given me is that it will not be very long before we shall have to give up any animal food. Even milk will have to be discarded.” 14

“I present the Word of the Lord God of Israel, because of transgression the curse of God has come upon the earth itself, upon the cattle, and upon all flesh. Human beings are suffering the results of their own course of action in departing from the commandments of God. The beasts also suffer under the curse. Disease in cattle is making meateating a dangerous matter. The Lord’s curse is upon the earth, upon man, upon beasts, upon the fish, and as transgression becomes almost universal, the curse will be permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. Disease is contracted by the use of meat. The diseased flesh of these dead carcasses is sold in the marketplaces, and disease among men is the sure result. The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch or taste the flesh of dead animals. There is no safety in eating of the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of the cows will also be excluded from the diet of God’s commandment-keeping people. In a short time it will not be safe to use anything that comes from the animal creation.” 15

“The diet reform should be progressive. As disease in animals increases, the use of milk and eggs will become more and more unsafe. An effort should be made to supply their place with other things that are healthful and inexpensive. The people everywhere should be taught how to cook without milk and eggs, so far as possible, and yet have their food wholesome and palatable.” 16

“The time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth.” 17

How soon was this time to come? Can the huge commercial enterprises producing a major portion of the world’s food supply adequately ensure the safety of today’s animal-based products sold on the mass market? Do recent news reports of e. coli contamination, mad cow, hoof and mouth, and other diseases indeed confirm a 100% success rate? The Lord in His mercy has allowed this light from the Testimonies to shine upon His people for a definite reason. Let this be a subject of serious prayer for all concerned.

“We should have a spirit of progress. We must guard continually against being fixed in our views, feelings, and actions. The work of God is onward. Reforms must be carried on, and we must take hold and help move on the car of reform. Energy, tempered with patience and ambition, and balanced by wisdom, is now needed by every Christian.” 18

May the Lord help us to take these matters to heart and continue on the upward path of health reform in all of its aspects, in harmony with the words of the apostle: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 12:1; 1 Thessa­lonians 5:23).