de·ceive /dəˈsēv/ – verb – past tense: deceived; past participle: deceived – (of a person) cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage.
“Truth never has to hide from a lie.”
[This content is written for Seventh-day Adventists but can be applied to anyone created by God. Some assumptions are made or implied that will be best understood by someone with an understanding of Seventh-day Adventist history and theology, but the intent is to be faithful to God's Word which applies to all.]
[Note also that this content is a dynamic work not intended to be a static reference. The purpose of this content is to help people see the urgency of knowing and choosing the One True God. Modifications which are hoped to be helpful to others will be made from time to time. This content will hopefully inspire personal study into the subjects presented where more authoritative sources can be sought out. Be sure to check out the "Other Resources" recommended below.]
How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
Penn Jillette, an atheist
I saw that one saint, if he were right, could move the arm of God; but a multitude together, if they were wrong, would be weak and could effect nothing. EW 120.2
The people who cry for God’s love the most extend the least to us. Let us not do the same. If we have the right concept of God, … the nominal churches of the world ought to see God’s love more so among us than anywhere else. — Ingo Sorke, sermon on YouTube, timeline 1:15:25
It’s a Simple Issue – Who is your God?
“Don’t eat of the tree,” said God. If you do, you will die.
“Do not have any God’s before Me”, says God. None.
Eve failed God’s test by believing the lie, “Ye shall not surely die.” Do you believe the lie that God’s truth is mysterious and can’t be understood now? It’s really very simple. Believe God’s Word. Do what it says. (James 1:22) You will be judged by the Word of God. (John 12:48) You will surely live eternally or die forever based upon your obedience to what God has revealed.
Do we know everything about God? No, many things are mysterious to us. What we do know is what God has revealed. Do not disregard what God has said. Do not eat of the tree. It’s a mystery why God told Adam and Eve to not eat of the tree. It’s no mystery at all the fact that God told them to not eat of the tree and that if they did they would surely die. Don’t confuse revealed facts with mystery. To call God’s revealed truth a mystery is to disregard God’s Word, to effectively say that we won’t surely die if we disregard God’s Word.
God cannot die. God doesn’t lie. God doesn’t change. God’s truth has always been true and will never change. Progressiveness with respect to God’s truth is only valid if it describes our growing knowledge of God’s truth. If progressiveness is used to claim that what was once truth is no longer truth, that’s not progressiveness, that’s a lie. Eve was progressive in her willingness to believe that she would not surely die, to believe a lie. Eve progressed to leave her husband’s side and to believe the serpent’s lie. Progressiveness away from truth and obedience leads to death.
It’s simple. Obey God. If you love Him, you will obey Him. If you do not believe in the literal only begotten son of God, you will perish. That’s what God’s Word says in John 3:16. Believe it or not. Choose this day whom you will worship. It’s not a mystery. It’s up to your freewill choice. It’s an open book test. Nothing could be more clear or more fair.
There are two errors against which the children of God—particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace—especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy. [emphasis supplied] SC 59.4
The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption. SC 60.1
But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled, “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” Hebrews 10:16. And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience—the service and allegiance of love—is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the Scripture says, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 5:3; 2:4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. SC 60.2
If Christ alone can make us holy, how important is it that we know, follow and obey the true Christ. The true Christ warned us about false Christs and antichrist. Do not be fooled for a minute by something that calls itself the Son of God but doesn’t conform to the truth of the Word of God.
Does it matter who you think God is? Absolutely. You will lose eternal life if you are not faithful to the One True God!
Marriage provides a good illustration of why it matters. If a man’s wife takes another man home and relates to him as if he is her husband, does it matter? The husband will surely think it matters. The wife may say that this other man responds to addressing him as husband and will even respond to the husband’s name. The wife may say that this other man listens and makes her feel good and gives her nice things. Does that make it good or right? Absolutely not. It’s the husband who has been rejected. Any decent husband will be justifiably jealous and will take action to defend and correct his marriage. It’s no different with God. God is a jealous God. God says to have NO OTHER GODS before Him. It matters. Just because you call something Jesus or God doesn’t make them the true God. God has even warned us about false gods, antichrists and deceivers. These are all designed to destroy your relationship with your only Creator God. It’s up to you. Does it matter? You may like the feel good experiences of infidelity, but it will destroy your marriage. You will lose eternal life. It matters.
The Original One True God Movement
Ideological movements don’t necessarily mark the first time that the ideas behind the movement have existed. The Advent Movement which gave birth to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination was established on old truth. The truth had been given by God to man thousands of years ago in His Word. The Advent Movement was simply a renewed awareness and emphasis of God’s timeless truth brought to prominence as present truth in the last days under the influence of God’s Holy Spirit upon specific people including Ellen White.
There is in our day a movement known by different characterizations depending on who is looking at it. The proponents of this movement often refer to it by the phrase One True God. The detractors of this movement call it non-trinitarian or even with more derision as the anit-trinitarian movement.
There is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 Truth comes from God. God’s truth is not new and it doesn’t change. Man’s awareness of truth and man’s efforts to call attention to God’s actual truth often show up in what we consider to be movements. God anticipated that man would deviate from truth. God calls it idolatry and apostasy when man deviates from God’s truth. God says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”
Man sinned. God provisioned a way for man to be saved from sin. That’s God’s truth. Man rejected God’s truth and offer of salvation by rejecting God’s laws and character and chose rather to engage in idolatry and selfishness. Selfishness is essentially making oneself one’s own god, to reject our Creator God. God chose a people to be His, to represent Him to the world. These chosen people were the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and are known as the Israelites, the Jews. The Israelites were a religious movement established by God to restore an understanding of God’s truth for mankind. From Abraham to Jesus much truth, including the inspired written Word of God, was preserved through God’s chosen people. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to this world as our incarnate Savior through the Israelite people. God ordained that to be so.
By the time Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Israelites had experienced numerous iterations of apostasy away from God’s truth while still professing to be God’s chosen people. The life and ministry of Christ on earth was first and foremost to represent His Father in truth. Christ succeeded in representing His Father by always being faithful to truth and never allowing His personal ideas and desires to have greater prominence in His life than His Father’s will. Christ demonstrated that His Father was His God and did so with such faithfulness that when people saw Him they saw a right representation of His Father. A consistent pattern in the ministry of Jesus was to confront the leaders of God’s chosen people by pointing out their unfaithfulness to God’s truth.
The Jews were the original Seventh-day Advocates. The Jews received the truth of the seventh day Sabbath from God when God called them out of Egypt. God’s truth regarding Sabbath was not new to the Jews. God had given mankind the Sabbath from the very beginning of creation. God told the Jews to “remember” the Sabbath day. By the time Jesus was born, the Jews were still professing the Sabbath while totally missing the right understanding of the Sabbath.
Jesus ended the era of the Jews as God’s chosen people to carry His truth to the world when He was crucified. The veil in the temple was torn revealing the temple and the whole of Israel to be desolate of the presence of God in their midst. God’s chosen people, the Israelites, as the movement to carry God’s truth to the world was over. Jesus established a new movement, a movement that would survive to the end of the world and even the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Jesus established His church. (Matthew 16:18) God’s truth through all of the chaos of man’s apostasy has not changed. Truth has always been and always will remain a straight and narrow path without deviation. The ideological movements championed by man will either lead mankind to follow truth or to deviate from truth. Christ gave His life as man’s Savior to enable the ultimate movement to be restored to our Creator Father God, the One True God.
The disciples of Christ were the original leaders of the original Christian movement to restore man’s knowledge and faithfulness to the One True God. This movement professed the truth regarding the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Living God who came, lived, was crucified and resurrected to offer salvation to man. Saul, who was eventually converted by this One True God movement, became Paul. Paul was a heretic as far as the now apostate leaders of God’s formerly chosen people were concerned. Paul, who in his previous life as Saul once hunted to persecute the faithful adherents to the One True God movement established by Jesus, found himself to be in danger of persecution by the very people he once revered as stewards of God’s truth. The defining trait of the apostate Israelites was to reject the true only begotten Son of the Living Creator God.
The only thing that will remain forever is God’s truth. The only people that will live forever will be those who choose to submit to and obey God’s truth by the righteousness and power of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. If you believe this, you will not perish. (John 3:16)
This truth is present truth. Present truth is that sin will be brought to its end by God in judgment. Man will choose either to have the mark of the beast or the seal of God. Man will persist in apostasy away from the One True God or man will be restored to the One True God. There is only one way to be restored to the Father and that is by the only begotten Son of God. This present truth is the foundation for the mission of the Advent Movement. You must choose if you will remain steadfast with your spiritual feet on the straight path of God’s truth. Standing with anyone in denial of God’s truth, whether it’s the unfaithful Jews or Seventh-day Adventists in apostasy, will result in loss of eternal life.
Will you be a faithful Adventist believer or an apostate Adventist believer. The difference is determined by alignment with God’s truth which we know by the Word of God. (John 12:48)
All Important Context
God made everything perfectly. Freewill is a necessary part of God’s design. Sin entered into this world’s creation through the exercise of freewill by Adam and Eve. Sin utterly separates us from our Father God, our Creator. God the Father created all things through His Son. (Genesis 1:26, Hebrews 1:4) God cannot, must not and will not change His standards to accommodate our sin. God is love. God has provisioned a way through His only begotten Son for man to be redeemed from sin. Being redeemed from sin doesn’t mean accepting us as sinners. Being redeemed means to transform us from sinners to a state of righteousness as if we never sinned.
He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him will show their love by obedience. DA 668.2
This is an incomprehensible act of God from our perspective, but He’s promised and revealed His plan to offer redemption to sinful man. God will not in redeeming anyone undermine His original design that includes our freewill. We retain the right to choose to reject God’s redemption. God has done all the work. God has taken all the risk. God has promised to do the work of redemption in us. Our part is to genuinely choose to let Him transform us.
Transforming us is based on the voluntary sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Christ was not created as were the angels. He was not adopted as is the forgiven sinner. Jesus was begotten of God, tore from His bosom before all creation. God created all things through His Son. Lucifer, the highest being in Heaven next to God’s Son, desired to be divine like the Son of God and to receive worship. This is called the mystery of iniquity and cannot ever be. Only God and His Son are divine and worthy of worship. This is the key to sin in this world. Lucifer, now Satan, still desires to rule others and to receive worship. Satan has devised many ways to deceive people to worship him. In one sense, Satan has an advantage. All Satan needs to accomplish is to get us to not worship the true God and His Son. Satan can present as a kind, compassionate god figure with wonderful power and light, but he’s just as content to have us deny God altogether and live wicked lives. Either way, Satan can snare your soul and eternal life.
God’s way for us is straight, true and fully revealed by His Holy Spirit in His Word. If we desire to be restored to relationship with our Father Creator God, all we must do is choose to worship Him faithfully. We must discern the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven now and the world. Spiritual things are foolishness to those of the world. We must live in the world but not be of the world.
Clever (“progressive”) philosophies of men will lead to death. There is only one way to be restored to the Father and that is to have Christ in us providing us with the power to rise up to God’s standards. We can’t do it on our own, but with Christ all things are possible. This is the everlasting gospel. Worship the One True God who created all things and accept the plan of redemption provided to us at such a great sacrifice by God and His Son.
We face the exact same test that Eve failed at the tree of knowledge of good and evil and that Adam chose to fail as well. Eve was tempted to disregard the true word of God which told her to not eat of the tree. Eve believed the lie that she would not surely die even though the God of love had told her that she would die if she ate of the tree. Too many people today are believing the same lie. Too many people believe that disregarding God’s Word as given by and lived through His only begotten Son is not binding upon us, that we will not die, that we will have the opportunity in Heaven to understand truth, that God is too loving to destroy us for our sins. It’s true that we will learn much in Heaven, if we make it there, but we will not get to Heaven if we disregard the truth that God has already revealed to us in His Word. This is our test, do we trust God’s Word because it’s God’s Word, will we refuse to eat of the forbidden tree?
The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,—just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,—perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized. [emphasis supplied] SC 62.1
The tide of woe that flowed from the transgression of our first parents is regarded by many as too awful a consequence for so small a sin, and they impeach the wisdom and justice of God in His dealings with man. But if they would look more deeply into this question, they might discern their error. God created man after His own likeness, free from sin. The earth was to be peopled with beings only a little lower than the angels; but their obedience must be tested; for God would not permit the world to be filled with those who would disregard His law. Yet, in His great mercy, He appointed Adam no severe test. And the very lightness of the prohibition made the sin exceedingly great. If Adam could not bear the smallest of tests, he could not have endured a greater trial had he been entrusted with higher responsibilities. [emphasis supplied] PP 60.4
Had some great test been appointed Adam, then those whose hearts incline to evil would have excused themselves by saying, “This is a trivial matter, and God is not so particular about little things.” And there would be continual transgression in things looked upon as small, and which pass unrebuked among men. But the Lord has made it evident that sin in any degree is offensive to Him. [emphasis supplied] PP 61.1
To Eve it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree, and to tempt her husband also to transgress; but their sin opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step? [emphasis supplied] PP 61.2
Many who teach that the law of God is not binding upon man, urge that it is impossible for him to obey its precepts. But if this were true, why did Adam suffer the penalty of transgression? The sin of our first parents brought guilt and sorrow upon the world, and had it not been for the goodness and mercy of God, would have plunged the race into hopeless despair. Let none deceive themselves. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. The law of God can no more be transgressed with impunity now than when sentence was pronounced upon the father of mankind. [emphasis supplied] PP 61.3
Ever since Cain and Able there have been two classes of people in the world – sons of God and sons of men. God’s people can be traced through the biblical record and can be seen in post apostolic history as well. Often the sons of God were tempted to stray into the world, often being enticed by the daughters of men. It’s been a battle, a controversy, throughout the history of this world. You personally get to choose where you stand in this great controversy.
God has confirmed His Word through prophecy fulfilled. There is very little left on God’s prophetic story line before He determines to bring final judgement to this world and put an end to sin. God has predicted that most people will reject Him. This is not a numbers game, not a matter of majority opinion. God is seeking a faithful people. The good news for you is that you will choose for yourself what your judgement will be. Choose this day whom you will serve. God will honor your choice – either with eternal life or eternal destruction. Choose right now.
There is not the least excuse for any of us to remain in indifference, because angels of God are engaged in the warfare for our benefit, against the power of the adversary of God and of man for the soul. The light will gain no admission into the soul unless the door of the heart is open to welcome the Holy Spirit. In proportion as we work with the Holy Spirit’s influence will the truth find admission to the soul, and transform the character. The truth must be received in the love of it, with meekness and with love. If you open your heart to receive the suggestions of Satan, in criticising the language of the messenger you will give evidence that you do not value the truth which he brings to you as a precious jewel. There is prejudice, and your unsatisfied likes and dislikes bar the way, and prevent the entrance of the message God has sent you in warnings, admonitions, and reproofs, which if you do reject, it will be at the peril of your souls. [emphasis supplied] RH July 19, 1887, par. 11
There is great need for close watchfulness and most earnest prayer, lest we make a mistake and grieve the Holy Spirit of God by questioning and criticism, and so lose the force of the precious message. It is the truth we need in the heart to sanctify the soul. Satan plants his seeds of unbelief, of picking flaws, and of finding fault, when you should be diligently listening to the message which God is addressing to every one of you. He wants you to hear and obey, and so escape the snares which Satan has set for your feet. By cherishing doubts in thoughts, and expressing criticism, you can start a train of thought which will make the truth of God of none effect in the minds of those who have a constant struggle to cherish humility and faith, and they will give your words place in their heart, and thus lose the benefit of the message God has sent them. Anything like pride and wisdom of learning or science that you place between your soul and the words of truth spoken to you, will effectually close the door to the humble religion of Jesus Christ. The truth is a sanctifier of the life and character. [emphasis supplied] RH July 19, 1887, par. 12
Satan assails another class with arguments that present a greater show of plausibility. Science and nature are exalted. Men consider themselves wiser than the word of God, wiser even than God; and instead of planting their feet on the immovable foundation, and bringing everything to the test of God’s word, they test that word by their own ideas of science and nature, and if it seems not to agree with their scientific ideas, it is discarded as unworthy of credence. Thus the great standard by which to test doctrines and character is set aside for human standards. This is as Satan designed it should be. Some say, “It is no matter what we believe, if we are only honest.” But the law and the testimony remain valid, and we are to seek unto them. ST March 27, 1884, par. 5
How this world will end is no secret. God wins. God does not need us to defend His name, to discover His truth or to make His Word known to the world. God is fully capable of doing all He needs to do by Himself. God does not force His will on anyone. God asks us to do these things as evidence of our repentance and having Christ in us. We are to be examples of God’s love, mercy and power. God uses us, but God doesn’t need us. God is extending the last fragments of mercy available to this world to give everyone every possible opportunity to exercise their freewill to choose to make our one and only Creator our God. Everything is about you making up your mind and God giving you every possible opportunity to do so – before He does what He plainly says He will do to make a complete and final end to all sin. God’s wrath will be poured out without mixture which will destroy all unrighteousness.
Work backwards. The world will be destroyed by fire. You will either be found righteous or unrighteous, filthy or unfilthy. This is about you and your choice. There is only one reality. There is only one truth. There is only one God. This God has said all along that sin is not tolerable in His Kingdom, that sin will result in death, that sin separates man from God. The amazing thing about God is that without compromising His standards He has provisioned a way for mankind to have one more chance. God has out of love given His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin. God’s Son did the dying for anyone who will choose to accept His free gift of grace and mercy. This gift of salvation is not extended to even one single person who rejects what God has offered. The unjust will do their own dying. If you believe in the only begotten Son of God according to God’s Word, you will not perish. (John 3:16) ANY OTHER belief will lead to your eternal destruction. We are not capable of out philosophizing God. Men’s hearts, men’s thoughts, men’s philosophies are corrupt and will lead to death. Where do you want to be standing when this world ends with the destruction of all sin as God has plainly told us will happen? It’s an open book test. The test is not one of knowledge. God’s truth is made plain. The test is one of allegiance. Who will you worship?
The end is foretold in plain language. Many will be deceived. Only a remnant will be saved. It’s your choice. Don’t waste your choice by following this world and the deception that Satan has put all around us. Be part of God’s faithful people at the end of this world’s dreadful experience with sin. Choose whom you will worship.
The Two Thieves
Each of us individually are represented by one of the two thieves who were crucified beside Jesus on the cross. Neither thief had any chance of any future in this world. Neither do we. Both thieves while condemned and suffering intense physical anguish retained the capacity to exercise their freewill and to hold an opinion. One thief mocked Christ. One thief recognized Christ. Which thief represents you?
The thief which will hopefully represent you recognized and submitted to the reality that Jesus was literally the victorious only begotten Son of the Living God. This thief used his last breath to submit to Christ and ask to be remembered when Christ came into His kingdom. This is the first step of accepting the gospel of Jesus, to acknowledge our unworthiness, to acknowledge the worthy righteousness of Christ and to repent of our sinful depravity placing our whole selves upon the mercy and grace of the transforming power of Christ. This is what we must each do to be saved. This is the minimum and first step towards accepting salvation. Do this now. Time is running out.
The saved thief could see through spiritual eyes. He saw Christ utterly helpless in a worldly sense hanging upon a cross dying yet recognized that Christ was not defeated but victorious. This thief recognized that Christ was being crucified beside him as an innocent man in contrast to the thief’s guilt. This requires being able to distinguish between the Kingdom of Heaven and the things of this world. The Kingdom of Heaven is available to each of us now in this world.
It’s a pretty striking contrast to compare the saved thief on the cross with Peter. Peter and his brother Andrew were the first two disciples called by Jesus. Peter eagerly followed Jesus throughout His earthly ministry yet he failed all the way up to Christ’s trial when He was condemned to be crucified to be converted. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. Jesus told Peter that he was not yet converted. For three and half years while sitting at the feet of Jesus Peter failed to understand the main point of Christ’s ministry. This was even true after Christ gave Peter high praise for recognizing that He is the Son of the living God, the foundation upon which Christ would build His church. (Matthew 16:16-17) The thief understood in just a few moments and yielded his heart to Jesus who he acknowledged as the Messiah, as the Son of the living God. It wasn’t until Peter looked into the eyes of Christ after denying Him publicly that Peter’s heart was converted. It only takes a moment to repent and receive eternal life, but it takes submission which for some is difficult or even seemingly impossible. It’s all a matter of your opinion of yourself and your freewill to submit to your Creator God and source of life.
There is a lifetime of spiritual knowledge to learn. There is an inexhaustible amount of ministry work to be done in the world. You can’t begin to learn about God or to work for God until you have submitted to God. You can be religious. You can do many things in the name of Jesus. You can’t be known by Jesus until you submit your heart to Him and are converted. Submitting your heart to Jesus is not a simple emotional appreciation for Jesus. Submitting your heart to Jesus is to completely die to self and to choose to let Christ recreate a new heart within you based upon His righteousness. This transformation is from the deepest part of your being and will result in you through the power of Jesus being able to live in harmony with our Creator God and Father, to be restored in relationship with Him who cannot accept any sin. This will result in a full and clear decision to honor and worship the One True God. There is no other way to be saved.
Which one of the thieves will you CHOOSE to represent you?
Freewill
You are responsible for your own beliefs and choices. Don’t be spiritually lazy. Don’t let others, don’t let your church, tell you what to believe. Know God’s Word for yourself. Make your own choice.
Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.
Martin Luther
God’s truth is not hidden. The only way you can be deceived is to choose to ignore God’s Word or to reject God’s Word. To be deceived is ultimately a self-inflicted injury with eternally fatal consequences. God is not one bit more important to you than His Word is. Anything more important than God’s Word to you is a false god. Simple worldly pleasures can be idols and gods. The worst false gods are called God. Whatever is more important to you than God is your god. God has no mercy for false gods. There is no excuse to be deceived. God is no respecter of persons. Choose door number one, God’s Word, or choose door number two, deception. God’s Word is standing wide open for you to fully know what you are rejecting. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22 Don’t deceive yourself. The best possible life is exclusively available from the only source of life, our Creator, the One True God. Accepting eternal life is to accept truth by knowing truth and obeying it. You possess the most valuable winning lottery ticket, life, to ever have been offered in the universe and the only way to lose it is to reject it. To choose to be deceived is to choose a false god, to worship a false god.
The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sudden word or deed—it is the firm, determined resistance of truth and evidence. [emphasis supplied] 6LtMs, MS 30, 1890, par. 16
Spiritual warfare and the battle for who we will choose to truly worship occurs in our minds. Not one single individual can avoid engaging personally in spiritual warfare. It is you individually who Satan is attacking with deception. It is you individually who God is seeking to save. It is you individually who will choose your fate in this warfare. We must recognize truth from error. We must know God’s laws. We must learn how to discern deception. We must know who God is and who He says is His only begotten Son. This battle requires effort – our personal effort. The final outcome of this battle is very serious. You will either receive eternal life to live with our Creator God forever with all the blessings of life He intended for mankind, or you will be destroyed forever by fire. This is nothing to take lightly. You get to choose your outcome. What you choose will be a matter of what your spiritual priorities are which reflects who your God is. Will you seek selfish and worldly things or will you seek to be restored with your Creator Father God without sin. Satan will use our physical experience, our health, our safety, food, clothing, shelter, material wealth or the lack of it, our religions and philosophies, and whatever he can to apply pressure to your mind to decide to forsake God. God will sustain you with what is needed spiritually which will not seem to be what the world considers wise. We must learn to see reality through spiritual eyes and keep our feet on the path of truth. God will sustain us. God will reward us. Our God given reward is not of this world. Sin requires that it reveal itself which in turn requires that we experience it and suffer through it, but God will win and so will you if you exercise your freewill with all seriousness using God’s truth to guide you.
None should consent to be mere machines, run by another man’s mind. God has given us ability, to think and to act, and it is by acting with carefulness, looking to Him for wisdom that you will become capable of bearing burdens. Stand in your God-given personality. Be no other person’s shadow. Expect that the Lord will work in and by and through you. [emphasis supplied] MH 498.5
God’s promise is, “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. SC 43.1
The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: “Dead in trespasses and sins;” “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;” “no soundness in it.” We are held fast in the snare of Satan, “taken captive by him at his will.” Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. SC 43.2
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. 43.3
God’s freewill determines reality. Our freewill accepts or rejects God’s reality. We do not have the freewill to avoid exercising our freewill. You have already made a choice. Make sure it’s the choice you want to have made when Jesus comes again. To change your choice, to change directions, to repent, is an opportunity that will soon be gone.
Sin has caused tremendous suffering and misery. Do not let the pain of sin distract you from the miracle of life and God’s promise to do away with ALL sin and to restore those who accept His reality to eternal life without sin. Don’t let guilt or the sins of others distract you from God’s promise of eternal life. Do not be deceived. No one is too sinful to repent and be saved. Some people are too prideful and stubborn, but none are too sinful. No sin is too small to be overlooked by God. All sin must be repented to receive salvation.
But what do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all! I am ashamed to hear it spoken of, ashamed to write it. SC 46.1
Time is running out – fast! These are the last days, like the days of Noah. Jesus will be coming as a thief in the night anytime now. He’s told you to be ready. Be ready.
Today the world is mad; an insanity is upon them, which is hurrying them on to eternal ruin. Every species of indulgence prevails, and men become so infatuated with vice that they will not listen to warnings or appeals. The Lord declares to the people of the earth, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve. All are now deciding their eternal destiny. Men need to be aroused to realize the solemnity of the time and the nearness of the day when human probation shall be ended. 18MR 58.2
God gives no man a message that it will be ten years or twenty years before this earth’s history shall close. If it were forty or one hundred years, the Lord would not authorize men to proclaim it. He would not give any living being an excuse for delaying the preparation for His appearing. He would have no one say, as did the unfaithful servant, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” for this leads to reckless neglect of opportunities and privileges to prepare for that great day. Every soul who claims to be a servant of God is called to do his service as if every day might be the last. 18MR 58.3
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Obadiah 1:3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Have the Right Foundation
… for those that do in reality understand aright, must necessarily understand alike. EW 140.1
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
It is in your best interest to know and comprehend what the source of your life has revealed to us all. Despite all the nuance and layers, there are only two basic choices available to us and we have no choice but to choose between the two. One leads to eternal life. The other leads to eternal loss of life and total destruction. You are not at risk of anyone else making your choice or forcing you to make your choice. You have total freedom to make your own choice. You have total responsibility for your choice. You are without excuse for making your choice without factoring in all truth available to you now. Willful ignorance is no excuse.
Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Notice that in Acts 17:27-29, which precedes the verses that tell us that the times of ignorance are over that the context is specifically regarding God, His Son and judgement (see John 12:47-48). This passage is telling us that our ignorance about our true God will no longer be tolerated. Christ has been revealed as victorious over sin. Sin has been exposed. God’s Word regarding God and His only begotten Son has been made plain. There is no excuse for ignorance. We are “commanded, all men everywhere, to repent” and seek the Lord, the true Creator God (Acts 17:24).
Acts 17:27-29 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Those who have an opportunity to hear the truth and yet take no pains to hear or understand it, thinking that if they do not hear they will not be accountable, will be judged guilty before God the same as if they had heard and rejected. There will be no excuse for those who choose to go in error when they might understand what is truth. In His sufferings and death Jesus has made atonement for all sins of ignorance, but there is no provision made for willful blindness. [emphasis supplied] LDE 218.1
We will each be judged. You will be judged. You will be judged with utter fairness, but you will be judged. You will be judged according to the choice you make in relation to the truth revealed by your Creator through His Word.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Judgement is not new or mysterious. Judgement has been occurring throughout the entire history of this world and the existence of mankind. We have many examples of judgement. We have much instruction regarding judgement. We have prophetic foreknowledge of a coming final judgement. We have nothing to fear regarding our judgment. God will judge us according to our choice. Our choice is summed up in the question, “Who is your God, who do you worship?” We don’t choose our God by claiming to be His, by using His name. We demonstrate our choice of who our God is by the authority we live by and our obedience to it. We’ll be known by our fruits, not by the name we claim.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Luke 13:23-27 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Daniel 12:1-2 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
All will be tested and tried according to the light they have had. Those who turn from the truth to fables can look for no second probation. There will be no temporal millennium. If, after the Holy Spirit has brought conviction to their hearts, they resist the truth and use their influence to block the way so that others will not receive it, they will never be convinced. They did not seek for transformation of character in the probation given them, and Christ will not give them opportunity to pass over the ground again. The decision is a final one. [emphasis supplied] Letter 25, 1900. LDE 237.2
Here is declared the same truth that Jesus had revealed to Nicodemus when He said, “Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, margin. Not by seeking a holy mountain or a sacred temple are men brought into communion with heaven. Religion is not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit every sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer is acceptable to God. Wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirit’s working is manifest, and God will reveal Himself to that soul. For such worshipers He is seeking. He waits to receive them, and to make them His sons and daughters. [emphasis supplied] DA 189.2
One of the clearest signs that we are individually at risk of losing eternal life is that we are more interested in other things. Otherwise good things, when they occupy our interest and become priorities higher than our knowledge of and faithfulness to God and His Word, will be evidence of our choice to reject God and life.
I saw that when the truth is presented, it should be in the power and Spirit. Bring the people to the point to decide. Show them the importance of the truth—it is life or death. With becoming zeal, pull souls out of the fire. But, oh, the blighting influence that has been cast by men professing to be waiting for their Lord, and yet possessing large and attractive lands! The farms have preached louder, yes, much louder, than words can, that this world is their home. The evil day is put off. Peace and safety reign. Oh, the withering, blighting influence! God hates such worldly-mindedness. “Cut loose, cut loose,” were the words of the angel. [emphasis supplied] 1T 152.1
The hope of eternal life is not to be received upon slight grounds. It is a subject to be settled between God and your own soul—settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin. Since you are to stand or fall by the word of God, it is to that word you must look for testimony in your case. There you can see what is required of you to become a Christian. Do not lay off your armor, or leave the battlefield until you have obtained the victory, and triumph in your Redeemer. [emphasis supplied] 1T 163.4
Our lives are constantly at risk of death at any moment. Additionally, the world is manifesting all the signs of the last days as prophesied by the Bible and it is in these last days that Satan will escalate his deceptions and campaign to persuade us to be more interested in self than in God. Also, in the last days is when we expect God to take His final steps to put an end to sin which includes closing the door on our ability to change our minds regarding our ultimate choice.
Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Knowing and believing truth won’t save you. Rejecting truth will lead to your destruction. Truth is important, but it must become part of your reality to be meaningful to you.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands. If we make no effort to win souls to Christ we shall be held responsible for the work we might have done, but did not do because of our spiritual indolence. Those who belong to the Lord’s kingdom must work earnestly for the saving of souls. They must do their part to bind up the law and seal it among the disciples. [emphasis supplied] 6T 331.2
We are told by Scripture that keeping the seventh day Sabbath holy will be a sign between God and His people.
Ezekiel 20:12,20 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. … And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.
What is more important than the sign of who our God is? God is more important.
Exodus 20:3-7 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.
The Jews in Christ’s day professed and rigorously kept the seventh day Sabbath. However, in not honoring the God and Lord of the Sabbath they failed to keep the fourth commandment as given by God. Truth alone is not the point. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
The gospel of Jesus is incomprehensibly simple. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We will likely never understand the full depth of all that constitutes the gospel of Jesus, but we know the basics and we are commissioned to share what we know. Adam and Eve, our first human parents, sinned against God. They elevated their own ideas and desires above the authority and Word of God. They disobeyed God. They chose another god. This world fell under the rulership of Satan as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, specifically Adam’s sin. The consequence of sin is death, no exceptions. Christ experienced the consequence of sin on behalf of mankind. Christ, One who never sinned, died on the cross as divinity incarnated as man to win back the rightful rulership of this world lost by Adam. The death of Christ on the cross saves no one. The victory of Jesus on the cross and by His resurrection restores to each person individually the right to choose who their God will be, who they will worship. Christ purchased each of us back as His own, but He sets us free to exercise our freewill to choose to live with Him eternally, or not. Our salvation is made possible by the sacrifice of Christ, but we remain free to reject salvation. Our freewill is more important to God than our lives.
The possibility of eternal life is once again offered to mankind, only this time it is exclusively available to us under the robe of Christ’s righteousness. There is only one way to be restored to our Father God which is through Jesus. There’s no other way. Understand the significance of NO OTHER WAY, NO OTHER GODS. Salvation is free to us. Salvation is accomplished by the power and grace of Jesus. All we must do is accept the offered salvation. We accept salvation by loving God, by obeying Him.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Keeping God’s commandments includes the first three of the ten commandments which is to have no other gods before Him.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.
It is a salvational matter to know who your God is and to obey Him. There can be no confusion about the identity of God for God is a jealous God and God has fully revealed who He is to us through His Word by which we will be judged. “Choose this day whom you will serve,” declared Joshua. “Have no other gods before me,” says God. How do we avoid a false god if we don’t clearly understand the identity of the true God? To reject the truth God has revealed through Scripture and our conscience is to grieve the Holy Spirit which is to choose to forfeit eternal life. Don’t ever believe anyone who says it doesn’t matter who we understand God to be or that we’ll find out who He really is once we get to Heaven. We won’t get to Heaven if we reject the One True God here and now. We have no excuse. God has revealed His truth through His Word. God has revealed His identity to us sufficiently for us to know who He is. God’s nature is another matter which we do not comprehend. We cannot comprehend God’s nature for God has not revealed that to us.
Understand the distinction between God’s identity and God’s nature.
No one need look upon the sin against the Holy Ghost as something mysterious and indefinable. The sin against the Holy Ghost is the sin of persistent refusal to respond to the invitation to repent. 102SDA Bible Commentary 5:1093 – FLB 58.8
The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sudden word or deed—it is the firm, determined resistance of truth and evidence. 6LtMs, MS 30, 1890, par. 16
The Spirit of God has unconfined range of the heavenly universe; and it is not the province of finite human minds to limit its power or prescribe its operations. Let no one pronounce judgment upon the Holy Spirit; for it will pronounce judgment upon those who do this. [emphasis supplied] RH August 25, 1896, par. 10
To reject the Holy Spirit, through whose power we conquer the forces of evil, is the sin that surpasses all others; for it cuts us off from the source of our power,—from Christ and communion with him. When there is a manifest awakening in church or school, and it is evident that the Holy Spirit is working, the first intimation of the heavenly influence should be honored. Let the routine of study or work be secondary, and let every one co-operate with the divine agency, with hearty thanksgiving that God has visited his people. [emphasis supplied] RH August 25, 1896, par. 11
This case is placed on record for our benefit. Just what took place in Pharaoh’s heart will take place in every soul that neglects to cherish the light and walk promptly in its rays. God destroys no one. The sinner destroys himself by his own impenitence. When a person once neglects to heed the invitations, reproofs, and warnings of the Spirit of God, his conscience becomes seared, and the next time he is admonished, it will be more difficult to yield obedience than before. And thus with every repetition. Conscience is the voice of God, heard amid the conflict of human passions; when it is resisted, the Spirit of God is grieved. [emphasis supplied] –5T 120.1
The church itself needs converting, so that its members may be made channels of light, may be blessed and made a blessing. A vague reliance upon God’s mercy will not obtain for us access to the throne of grace, or draw down the blessing from God the Father which he has provided for those who do his will. Faith must center in the word of God, which is spirit and life. Every page of the sacred word is illumined with the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The word of God is to be the support of the afflicted, the comfort of the persecuted. God himself speaks to the believing, trusting soul; for God’s Spirit is in his word, and a special blessing will be received by those who accept the words of God when illuminated to their mind by the Holy Spirit. It is thus that the believer eats of Christ, the Bread of Life. Truth is seen in a new light, and the soul rejoices as in the visible presence of Christ. [emphasis supplied] ST October 10, 1895, par. 9
Many at first appeared to receive the warning; yet they did not turn to God with true repentance. They were unwilling to renounce their sins. During the time that elapsed before the coming of the Flood, their faith was tested, and they failed to endure the trial. Overcome by the prevailing unbelief, they finally joined their former associates in rejecting the solemn message. Some were deeply convicted, and would have heeded the words of warning; but there were so many to jest and ridicule, that they partook of the same spirit, resisted the invitations of mercy, and were soon among the boldest and most defiant scoffers; for none are so reckless and go to such lengths in sin as do those who have once had light, but have resisted the convicting Spirit of God. [emphasis supplied] PP 95.2
Satan and sin will be destroyed, but Satan will not go down without a fight. Satan will manifest his best effort to deceive us and will do so by impersonating Jesus Christ. God knows that we are not capable on our own to combat Satan’s deceptions. God will fight our battles for us IF WE LET HIM. God will not force His will or His love on anyone. It’s our choice. How do we succeed in overcoming Satan’s deceptions when we are incapable by ourselves but must make our choice ourselves? We have been given sufficient knowledge to defeat Satan in God’s Word. That’s why it’s called the Sword of Truth. Deception stands no chance against truth when that truth is absorbed and reflected to reveal error. Our test will be whether we accept that truth as our authority, invest our best efforts to understand that truth, and submit to die to sin and be reborn under the righteousness of Christ and His Holy Spirit to guide and sustain us.
We’re in trouble. Most of the world is following after the beast, after a false god, after a god put forth as one of Satan’s greatest deceptions. Most of the world is content to let tradition dictate what their truth will be rather than the explicit, never changing Word of God.
Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
We are not free to have private interpretations of Scripture.
2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We must not add to or take away from God’s Word.
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
We must not teach or tolerate false teachings, false gospels, false Christs or false teachers.
Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
We must rightly divide the Word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Interpreting and understanding God’s Word is not about us having our own interpretations and understandings. Our duty to God is to know what He meant to reveal to us through His Word. God’s Word is a rule unto itself, it does not contradict itself, it is true. It is not possible for God’s Word rightly divided to have multiple legitimate understandings. There is only one true God. There is only one truth. There is only one reality. There are many, some say over 40,000, Christian denominations all professing to have a right understanding of God’s Word but are in contradiction with each other. God’s Word is true. God never changes. God’s truth never changes. God doesn’t lie. Any contradictions are defects in man’s understanding of God’s Word. Don’t expect any denomination to give you truth. You will stand before God and be judged by your understanding of and obedience to God’s Word on your own. Church, at least the true church, has its place, but it is not to dictate the interpretation of God’s Word. God dictates His own Word. We will either choose to let His Holy Spirit guide our understanding or we won’t. Too many people will choose to follow their own understanding and philosophies of other men, often in the name of God and Jesus, but their own understanding will lead to their destruction. Let Jesus through His Holy Spirit guide you to understand the written Word of God and to have the power to obey it.
Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble. [emphasis supplied] GC 623.1
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
One True God
Exodus 20:3 — Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 4:35,39 — Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 — Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.. [Note in Mark 12:28-34 how Jesus and a Jewish scribe he encountered understood this text. See Matthew 22:37-38.]
Deuteronomy 32:39 — See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
2 Samuel 7:22 — Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
1 Kings 8:60 — That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
2 Kings 5:15 — And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
2 Kings 19:15 — And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
1 Chronicles 17:20 — O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Nehemiah 9:6 — Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
Psalm 18:31 — For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Psalm 86:10 — For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Isaiah 37:16,20 — O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou has made heaven and earth. (20) Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.
Isaiah 43:10,11 — Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.
Isaiah 44:6,8 — Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, andI am the last; and beside me there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 45:21 — Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.
Isaiah 46:9 — For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.
Hosea 13:4 — Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior beside me.
Joel 2:27 — And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Zechariah 14:9 — And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
Mark 12:29-34 —And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
John 17:3 — And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Romans 3:30 — Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Galatians 3:20 — Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Ephesians 4:6 — One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 1:17 — Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
James 2:19 — Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Revelation 15:4 — Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one. MH 422.1
The entire purpose of church is to save sinners. Jesus came to overcome sin, not to entertain with philosophy and sentimentality. Conversion begins with recognizing our wretchedness and unworthiness. Sin must be overcome. Overcoming sin remains in the domain of our freewill. God will never force us to love Him or to obey Him. Church is about persuading people to choose to overcome sin by the power and grace of Jesus and His righteousness, righteousness by faith in Christ. Church is a corporate experience in which Jesus, the Head of the church, provides a unified truth and mission to those who connect with Him as a branch to a vine. Christ has commissioned those in His church to do a work towards salvation, to guard truth and to share truth with our fellow man.
Those who labor in word and doctrine have an important work before them in removing from the minds of those for whom they labor fatal and lifelong deceptions, and impressing upon them the importance of aiming to reach God’s great standard of righteousness. These workers should pray earnestly for divine enlightenment, and for wisdom to present the truth as it is in Jesus. Sympathy, tenderness, and love, woven into their discourses and manifested in their lives, will disarm opposition, weaken prejudice, and open the way to many hearts. [emphasis supplied] RH June 13, 1912, par. 1
Christ came to break the yoke from the necks of the oppressed, to strengthen the weak, to comfort the mourning, to set at liberty those who are bound, and to bind up the broken-hearted. His servants are to take up the work where he left it, and carry it forward in his name. But it is Satan’s constant aim so to shape circumstances that the workers will become disconnected from God and labor in their own strength. [emphasis supplied] RH June 13, 1912, par. 2
Our laborers should be very careful not to give the impression that they are wolves stealing in to get the sheep, but should let the ministers understand their position and the object of their mission,—to call the attention of the people to the truths of God’s Word. [emphasis supplied] RH June 13, 1912, par. 7
Church begins and ends with the truth about the only begotten Son of the living God. On this truth Christ established His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16-18) On this truth is determined who we will worship. On this truth is established the difference between the seal of the living God and the mark of the beast. (Revelation 14:9) On this truth is founded the truth of the Sabbath. It is the truth that Jesus is the literal only begotten Son of God who was brought forth before all of creation that is the foundation of our redemption. God’s Son is supremely important to Him and He will not tolerate any disregard for the truth of the Son’s identity or the genuine sacrifice made by Him on our behalf. We are either transformed by Christ in our hearts, or we are lost.
Matthew 16:16-18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Church is characterized by multiple people who call themselves brothers and sisters in Christ. This infers a submission to Christ as head of the church and to God’s Word as our ultimate authority. When anyone stands in representation of the church they must be accountable to the truth of Christ the only begotten Son of God as head of the church and to God’s Word. Leaders in any capacity, and especially those who stand in pulpits professing to teach God’s Word, must be held accountable to their use of God’s Word. When the claim is made that what is being presented is God’s Word through our words, we stand on holy ground. It is the domain of false teachers to thus represent themselves to others while teaching, instead of what God’s Word actually says, their own philosophies and speculations. The Bible strongly condemns such false teachers and directs us to reprove and correct false teachers lest we become guilty of those sins ourselves because of our indolence. God doesn’t take lightly any misuse of His Word, especially under the banner of His church.
It’s much easier to simply profess what God’s Word says. God said it, it must be so. It is untruth, lies and wild philosophies that become complex and difficult to keep straight. God doesn’t need or want us to be sophisticated philosophers with respect to His Word. God requires that we demonstrate submission to His Word on His terms as He has revealed it as evidence of our submission to Him, to whom we worship.
There is a false church, a church motivated to secure power, material advantage and influence (Satan’s trinkets) for its leaders and to teach false and corrupted doctrine all aimed at deceiving people. We must strive to serve Christ’s true church according to His principles and truth.
Some, I saw, have not a realizing sense of the importance of the truth or of its effect, and moving from the impulse of the moment or from excitement, often follow their feelings and disregard church order. Such seem to think that religion consists chiefly in making a noise. EW 118.2
Angels have been grieved and God displeased by the hours which have been spent in justifying self. I saw that God will not bow down and listen to long justifications, and He does not want His servants to do so, and thus precious time be wasted that should be spent in showing transgressors the error of their ways and pulling souls out of the fire. [emphasis supplied] EW 119.1
Many people who are brought to a humble recognition of sin and the need to repent of it are met with resistance by others professing to know truth. Those who would repent and urge others to repent are accused of needing to be right or of being legalistic. A large majority of people refuse to repent and persuade themselves that they are safe in their thinking because so many other people think like them. They accuse the remnant minority of not having the counsel of many. However, the Bible does not ever suggest that truth is found in the majority. Humble people seek counsel from the wise, not the majority.
I saw that one saint, if he were right, could move the arm of God; but a multitude together, if they were wrong, would be weak and could effect nothing. EW 120.2
If Christ won the victory on the cross and Satan knows that he has lost and must die for his sins, what motive does Satan have to continue warring against God and deceiving people to be lost? Misery loves company. More than that, Satan has a real personal interest in reducing the number of people covered by Christ’s righteousness. Satan will suffer for all the sins of the forgiven sinners. Unforgiven sinners will suffer for their own sins.
Satan did not then exult as he had done. He had hoped to break up the plan of salvation; but it was laid too deep. And now by the death of Christ he knew that he himself must finally die, and his kingdom be given to Jesus. He held a council with his angels. He had prevailed nothing against the Son of God, and now they must increase their efforts and with their power and cunning turn to His followers. They must prevent all whom they could from receiving the salvation purchased for them by Jesus. By so doing Satan could still work against the government of God. Also it would be for his own interest to keep from Jesus as many as possible. For the sins of those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ will at last be rolled back upon the originator of sin, and he must bear their punishment, while those who do not accept salvation through Jesus will suffer the penalty of their own sins. [emphasis supplied] EW 178.1
The church must work to save souls from their own sins. This begins with recognizing sin, both our own and the sin of others. The church must work to overcome sin. The church must not tolerate sin. The church must rebuke sin. Church must stand rigidly against all sin, not against the sinner. Sinners are the business of church, to persuade them to repent. The whole purpose of challenging sin is to save people from it. The church rebukes sin by the power and authority of Christ and His righteousness. Sin can be overcome only by submitting to Christ’s righteousness by faith. Christ died to give you the chance to overcome sin. That’s love. That’s church.
Does God Kill?
This question about whether God kills or not has no biblical foundation. God absolutely will kill and destroy all unrepentant sinners including Satan and his angels. The problem with this question is that it originates wholly out of philosophies of men. Some men presume to understand the love of God better than God Himself describes His love in His Word. Our standard for all belief is established in God’s Word. Some people formulate an argument that a loving God would never kill, but this is simply man presuming to have a greater understanding of God than God Himself.
Deuteronomy 32:39 — See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
The Bible is abundantly clear that not only will God kill unrepentant sinners, but God will raise all the unrighteous who are already dead and kill them again. The second death is a permanent destruction of all sin. God hates sin. God has provisioned a way for sinful man to be redeemed but our redemption is subject to our freewill acceptance of God’s gift of eternal life made possible through the voluntary sacrifice of His only begotten Son. All those who think they can be like gods themselves and bring a new order to creation will be deemed unrighteous and destroyed – forever.
Some call God’s judgement to destroy sinners a strange act. Indeed, it will be a strange act in that it will only occur once with utter finality, but it is not the least bit strange to expect that God will totally eradicate all sin by fire and death. There is an important difference between exercising justice that involves the death of the unrepentant sinner and the idea of murder which is an act of rage against someone. God is fully in control of His nature and does not act out of rage. This whole second death occasion has been planned and foretold with abundant clarity and is a means to justice which is necessarily a part of God’s true love.
If you are beguiled by the idea that God doesn’t kill, just know that you are disregarding God’s plain and abundantly clear Word that tells us that He absolutely will kill to destroy sin. A sinless eternal life is the promise of God to the righteous. All life comes from God. Why would God give eternal life to unrepentant sinners – i.e. eternal life in a perpetual hell? He won’t. We as sinners will destroy ourselves by our freewill choice to reject God, but God will execute the judgement that we choose by destroying unrepentant sinners. God has been exceedingly patient and fair giving all men the opportunity to be transformed and restored to righteousness. It’s our own freewill choice to reject God’s love and offer of salvation that places us in the wrath of God against sin. God will do what He must do to end all sin. God will kill.
Don’t be fooled by philosophies of men. Get your facts from God’s Word directly.
A Major Deception
The Bible teaches of One True God who has an only begotten Son. The majority of modern Christian denominations believe and teach about a trinity god. These are two different gods. These gods contradict each other. Only one is true. One is connected with the choice to have eternal life. The other is connected with the choice to reject God and life and be destroyed with sin at the end of this world. If you don’t see the difference between these gods, you need to study and learn. Calling another person by your spouse’s name doesn’t come close to making them someone with whom you can relate as you do with your spouse.
Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Most people believe that the trinity god is the right god depicted by the Bible. You are challenged to examine whether the idea of a trinity god comes from God’s Word or from religious tradition and philosophies of men. You must apply your God given intellect and make an effort to understand what God’s Word says about who God is and make your own choice which will result in either eternal life or destruction. It’s a serious decision and there is no safe way to avoid making it. By delaying or avoiding understanding what God has revealed you are effectively rejecting God’s Word. Ignorance is not an option. If you don’t believe in the only begotten Son of God, you will perish. (John 3:16) The trinity doctrine denies that Jesus is literally the Son of God (which is to not believe in the only begotten Son of God) and instead asserts that the Father and Son are co-eternal and co-equal. These differences are not anything close to different descriptions of the same god, these differences amount to different gods, one a deceptively false god at war with the true God and His only begotten Son.
The Great Controversy between Christ and His angels and Satan and his angels is not about the love of God or the sinfulness of man. The controversy is about the sonship of Christ and Satan’s desire to receive worship. Lucifer (now Satan) in Heaven was not able or allowed to participate in the affairs of the Godhead because he was not divine. Only God and His Son are divine. The sonship and divinity of Christ are the primary distinctions between Christ and Lucifer. Christ is divine because He is God’s only begotten Son. Lucifer was created. This distinction is real and permanent. Lucifer is not and never will be divine. Only God and His Son through whom all things have been created, even Lucifer, are the only Ones who are divine, the only One’s who constitute the Godhead. This is what Godhead means, to be divine, to have divinity. By persuading man to sin Lucifer receives man’s worship, at least for a time. Satan became the prince of our world by causing Adam to sin and forfeit his dominion of this world. Until Christ succeeded in being victorious over sin as a man in this world, Satan ruled this world. Satan’s challenges to Christ in the wilderness following His baptism were all about Christ’s sonship. “If thou be the Son of God,” Lucifer said to Christ. Lucifer receives man’s worship by persuading man to worship a false god, the trinity. This is the god of Satan, the god of Babylon, the god of the papacy, the god of the Roman Catholic Church. This is a different god from the one true God of the Bible who created all things. We will choose, as did the angels in Heaven, if we will follow Lucifer or be faithful to the Son of God. Just because the trinity god uses the biblical names of God, His Son and the Holy Spirit doesn’t make it anything other than a false god.
Will we eat of the forbidden fruit, i.e. worship a false god? God said don’t have any other gods before Him. Satan says that it doesn’t matter if the god we worship is not the true God of the Bible, that we won’t surely die if we worship a false god made to appear good for food, good to worship. Will we make the same mistake that Eve made and disregard the specific and clear Word of God and determine by our own selfish opinion that it doesn’t matter who we worship? We will receive the reward we deserve based upon the freewill choice that we make.
The Sabbath of the trinity god is Sunday. The fact that Seventh-day Adventists presently and outwardly worship on Saturday is no more a right regard for the true Sabbath than was the keeping of Sabbath by the Jews in Christ’s days on earth. The god of the trinity will not fail to call for allegiance to its Sunday Sabbath. Seventh-day Adventists who have not grounded themselves in a knowledge of Scripture and a commitment to honoring the true God by keeping all of His commandments will not remain faithful to Sabbath when pressured to make a choice between their trinity god and the One True God. Sabbath will ultimately be the sign of who your god is. The Sabbath commandment, the fourth commandment, is not only about the seventh day. The Sabbath is about the Lord of the Sabbath, the God who created all things. “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:11)
Just knowing who the true God is is not what makes us righteous. Even the demons believe and tremble. Cain and Able both worshiped the One True God. There was no question as to who God is. Cain knew the true God and worshiped the true God, but sin still found a place in his heart. Knowing God doesn’t save you, but rejecting God will lead to your loss of eternal life. It’s important to both know God and to obey Him according to His Word. To believe in the trinity God is to reject the One True God of the Bible.
When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that “the devils also believe, and tremble;” but this is not faith. James 2:19. Where there is not only a belief in God’s word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith—faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97. And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1. SC 63.2
Pray right now. Pray that the true God will give you His Holy Spirit to guide your mind and heart to understand and accept His truth. There’s no point in making an argument with anyone over this subject. What matters is, who is your God, who do you worship? Your eternal life is at stake. It’s an open book test.
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. [emphasis supplied] GC 624.2
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. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster. [emphasis supplied] 5T 80.1
The men of that generation were not all, in the fullest acceptation of the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity, and that through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah. [emphasis supplied] PP 95.3
Modern Seventh-day Adventists believe in a trinity god per what is officially published as follows:
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)
[Note that not one single biblical reference supplied to support the modern belief says what this belief claims. The closest any of these texts come is to mention that there is a God the Father, a Son of God and a Holy Spirit. Lacking is one shred of support for the idea that the Son of God is co-eternal with the Father and not a natural literal son or that the Spirit of God is a separate being. The Bible consistently refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God, not God the Spirit. To gloss over these points is to reject God's Word in favor of tradition and philosophies of men.]
The founders and pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist movement believed in God as follows:
I.
That there is one God, a personal, spiritual being, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal; infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Psalm 139:7.
II.
That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the one by whom he created all things, and by whom they do consist; that he took on him the nature of the seed of Abraham for the redemption of our fallen race; that he dwelt among men, full of grace and truth, lived our example, died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification, ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in heaven, where, through the merits of his shed blood, he secures the pardon and forgiveness of the sins of all those who penitently come to him; and as the closing portion of his work as priest, before he takes his throne as king, he will make the great atonement for the sins of all such, and their sins will then be blotted out (Acts 3:19) and borne away from the sanctuary, as shown in the service of the Levitical priesthood, which foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our Lord in heaven. See Leviticus 16; Hebrews 8:4, 5; 9:6, 7; etc.
These are incompatible and contradictory beliefs about who God is. The contradiction is acknowledged by all as a matter of historical fact. Anyone who might suggest that these descriptions say essentially the same thing is not exercising their capacity to understand or rightly divide God’s Word. These are different gods. One is a false god. What you choose to do about deciding which one is the true God will establish a foundation for whether you receive eternal life or not. Just believing the correct and true version of God doesn’t make you submitted to Him, but you can’t submit to a God you deny to begin with.
A too common response to considering the issue of the One True God in contrast to the trinity doctrine is indifference. People often believe that the issues at hand are unimportant and trivial and that it doesn’t really matter what we understand or choose to profess. These people often suggest that the most important thing is love and suggesting that God may not be this trinity thing is just being argumentative and ultimately not loving. This response is nothing more than absolute proof of Satan’s success with this deception. Eternal life is at stake. Analogies are usually limited in expressing full truth and this one is no exception, but consider that the identity of God is like fuel in your car’s gas tank. If you have good quality proper fuel (One True God) in your tank, there’s no guarantee that you will operate your car to get you to your desired destination. However, if you put something other than good fuel (a false god such as the trinity) in your gas tank, there’s no possibility that you will drive your car to your desired destination, even if you want to and know the right route. You cannot serve two masters. Choose this day whom you will serve. You decide what you are putting in your fuel tank, only you. If you do not believe in the only begotten Son of God, the real one, you will perish. That’s what Jesus plainly teaches us in John 3:16. Do not miss what that text is saying. Yes, God is love and there is a way to not perish, but it is fundamentally based on your belief in God’s true Son, His only begotten Son. Satan’s best effort to deceive Christ began with the words, “If Thou be the Son of God.” Christ established His church on the truth acknowledged by Peter, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It really does matter, a lot, who your God is. He’s the ONLY source of life. The real Jesus is our ONLY HOPE of being restored to God the Father. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
George Knight, a prominent Adventist historian and proponent of the belief in the trinity doctrine, has acknowledged the divide between the founders of the Adventist movement and the modern Adventist organizational beliefs. Knight begins in his article quoted below with an error, however, by using the word ‘most.’ It wasn’t ‘most’ of the founders, it was all of them. Note also that Knight uses the term ‘semi-Arian’ without explaining what he means by it. This is careless and troubling in that the use of the word Arian generally carries with it the assertion that one believes that Jesus was a created being – despite evidence that Arias did not teach that Jesus was created. The non-trinitarian position that appeals to the pioneer Adventist concept of God does not believe that Christ was created. Rather, the pioneers professed that Christ is divine and was begotten of His Father just as the Bible says. This Arian question needs to be understood more carefully, but Knight’s implication here is a straw-man argument which is effectively a lie, a bearing of false witness, and a breaking of God’s commandments. God doesn’t lie and neither do His true people.
Unanimous, not 'most' as George Knight asserts: "In presenting to the public this synopsis of our faith, we wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline, aside from the Bible. We do not put forth this as having any authority with our people, nor is it designed to secure uniformity among them, as a system of faith, but is a brief statement of what is, and has been, WITH GREAT UNANIMITY, held by them." [emphasis supplied] https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/928.7#8
Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination’s Fundamental Beliefs. 1
More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the Trinity. For Joseph Bates the Trinity was an unscriptural doctrine, for James White it was that “old Trinitarian absurdity,” and for M. E. Cornell it was a fruit of the great apostasy, along with such false doctrines as Sunday-keeping and the immortality of the soul.2
In like manner, most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would have trouble with fundamental belief number 4, which holds that Jesus is both eternal and truly God. For J. N. Andrews “the Son of God … had God for His Father, and did, at some point in the eternity of the past, have beginning of days.” And E. J. Waggoner, of Minneapolis 1888 fame, penned in 1890 that “there was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God,… but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning.” 3
Neither could most of the leading Adventists have agreed with fundamental belief number 5, which implies the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Uriah Smith, for example, not only was anti- Trinitarian and semi-Arian, like so many of his colleagues, but also like them pictured the Holy Spirit as “that divine, mysterious emanation through which They [the Father and the Son] carry forward their great and infinite work.” On another occasion, Smith pictured the Holy Spirit as a “divine influence” and not a “person like the Father and the Son.” 4
Ángel Manuel Rodríguez of the Adventist Biblical Research Institute represents the modern church’s official stance regarding the sonship of Christ as follows:
The Son is not the natural, literal Son of the Father.
Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of “present truth.” Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Many of the pioneers, including James White, J. N. Andrews, Uriah Smith, and J. H. Waggoner, held to an Arian or semi-Arian view—that is, the Son at some point in time before the Creation of our world was generated by the Father. Only gradually did this false doctrine give way to the biblical truth, and largely under the impact of Ellen White’s writings in statements such as: “In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived” (The Desire of Ages, p. 530). Likewise, the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. Even today a few do not subscribe to it. — William G. Johnsson, Adventist Review, January 6, 1994, page 10
Notice that William G. Johnsson in the above Adventist Review article references Desire of Ages that contains the phrase from Ellen White, “life original, unborrowed, underived.” This same version of Ellen White’s quote is found in the book Evangelism which was selectively compiled long after White’s death. Pay attention to other uses of this phrase by Ellen White, notably in Selected Messages Book 1, page 296. Notice the completely different understanding of the phrase recognizing that this life is GIVEN to men too. This phrase does not mean “without beginning” regarding the life of Christ. God the Father alone has had no beginning and His life has been given to Christ and can be given to us. Don’t be deceived by clever learned men who should and usually do know better. They are accountable to God for their misrepresentations of what God has revealed.
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). It is not physical life that is here specified, but immortality, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life. Physical life is something which each individual receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the Life-giver, takes it again. Man has no control over his life. But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Him. “I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18), He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; IT IS GIVEN HIM as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Saviour. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). This is the open fountain of life for the world. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 296.2
Another often referenced quotation by Ellen White used by trinitarians is from Desire of Ages, page 671 which contains the phrase “third person of the Godhead.” Note that “third person” was not originally capitalized but has, after Ellen White’s death, been changed by someone without any attribution or disclosure beyond making a comparison of the original version with the newer modification. Trinitarians apply a superficial interpretation of “third person” to mean “third being.” This interpretation is at striking odds with many other statements from Ellen and White and Scripture. We either must conclude that Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy are in contradiction and therefore not inspired by God, or we must find an understanding which harmonizes with all other teachings. The latter option is readily possible, but rejected by trinitarians. This leaves trinitarians in the precarious position of claiming that Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy are spiritually authoritative while rejecting them at face value and having to rely upon philosophies of men and tradition to unify their beliefs.
In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church. [emphasis supplied] DA 671.2
A few other statements by Ellen White say that it is Christ who is needed to overcome sin which is totally incompatible with the interpretation by trinitarians that DA 671.2 equates “third person” with a third god being other than Christ who is the Spirit given to overcome sin. The only way to harmonize these statements is to understand that the Holy Spirit of God is God’s own personal Spirit given to man through Christ.
Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one who can arouse in the natural heart enmity against sin. He is the source of our power if we would be saved. No soul can repent without the grace of Christ. The sinner may pray that he may know how to repent. God reveals Christ to the sinner, and when he sees the purity of the Son of God, he is not ignorant of the character of sin. By faith in the work and power of Christ, enmity against sin and Satan is created in his heart. Those whom God pardons are first made penitent. [emphasis supplied] RH April 1, 1890, par. 5
There is but one power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature. [emphasis supplied] MH 428.3
Our condition through sin has become preternatural, and the power that restores us must be supernatural, else it has no value. There is but one power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature. This power the spiritualistic theories concerning God make of no effect. If God is an essence pervading all nature, then He dwells in all men; and in order to attain holiness, man has only to develop the power that is within him. [emphasis supplied] CCh 322.8
When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end. [emphasis supplied] DA 324.1
It is clear that there are two different concepts of God under the Adventist umbrella. These concepts of God are totally contradictory. These concepts of God divide Adventism into two major identities. One is the historical pioneer Adventist movement. The other is the modern Seventh-day Adventist denomination, a new organization as characterized by its new books of theology and its progressive theological beliefs that render Adventism’s original beliefs to be error.
Another large milestone to be aware of in Adventist history is the General Conference meetings in Dallas, Texas in 1980 where it was officially voted to change gods. There had been a long history of erosion and unofficial movement in the direction of a trinity doctrine prior to 1980, but 1980 marks the official voted change of gods by the denomination. By this voted change in beliefs the trinity doctrine professing three gods as one god who are each co-eternal and co-equal ushered in an official change of gods. There is only One True God. This change of gods is defended by the argument that Adventism is progressive in its theology. This argument contradicts the understanding that God does not lie or change. Appropriate progress is to grow in understanding of truth, not to invent a change of truth. This creates a serious problem for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. If the belief in a non-trinitarian God set forth as a pillar of Adventist faith during the first 50 years of the church’s existence and sustained officially until 1980 was in error, then the pioneers including Ellen White could not have been under the influence of the God of truth and His Holy Spirit. This makes the foundation of Adventism fraudulent if that is the case. If the new professed belief in the trinity doctrine is in error, then the modern Seventh-day Adventist denomination is in apostasy. The only other possible option logically is that neither the historical belief nor the modern belief are correct which undermines the legitimacy and credibility of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination as well. This trinity doctrine is built on a foundation of sand. Storm and tempest will sweep away the structure, but not without much spiritual carnage. When you hear calls for unity and faithfulness to the pillars of Adventism, you must ask yourself, “Which pillars, which Adventism, which god?” There is only One True God. There is only one begotten Son of God. There is only one way to be restored to the Father. Choose this day whom you will worship.
It seems that most people are quite unaware of the history and issues associated with the trinity doctrine. Before lashing yourself to the modern Adventist Titanic because of misunderstood quotes such as ‘the ship will go through,’ please endeavor with high priority to educate yourself on the facts, all the facts. You will be judged by God not for what you didn’t know but for what you did know but disregarded and for what you had opportunity to know but chose to ignore. (see LDE 218.1)
Those who have an opportunity to hear the truth and yet take no pains to hear or understand it, thinking that if they do not hear they will not be accountable, will be judged guilty before God the same as if they had heard and rejected. There will be no excuse for those who choose to go in error when they might understand what is truth. In His sufferings and death Jesus has made atonement for all sins of ignorance, but there is no provision made for willful blindness. [emphasis supplied] LDE 218.1
But whatever phase of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, “the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star.” Revelation 22:16. [emphasis supplied] 6T 61.4
Christ cannot be lifted up by those who deny that Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Just using His name doesn’t lift Him up.
Paráklētos – The Holy Spirit
This Greek word, Paráklētos (Strong’s number G3875), occurs 5 times in the New Testament in the writings of the Apostle John. This word is used to refer to the Holy Spirit of God as our Comforter and an advocate.
Understanding this word is the difference between eternal life and eternal destruction. There is ONLY ONE WAY to be restored to the Father and that is by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, Christ in us the hope of glory. The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit through Christ in us. If we deny this true Spirit of God and claim that the Holy Spirit is someone else, a third being, then we will not have the Holy Spirit in us. We may have a spirit of something, but it won’t be the Holy Spirit, the ONLY WAY we can be saved. This is what Paul means in 1 Timothy 3:5-7 when he says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” A form of godliness uses the name of God and the organization of church but denies the power, Christ in us, by denying the only begotten Son of God, our Holy Spirit. It is by the Comforter that we know the truth given by God the Father about His Son. It is by the Spirit of God, the Comforter who advocates, that we know of the Gospel of Jesus, the only way by which we can be restored to the Father and have eternal life.
John tells us that this advocate is “Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) It’s not the least bit difficult to understand or unclear what John is saying. The Comforter, our advocate, is Jesus. However, the majority of the nominal Christian world asserts that the Comforter is not Jesus, that the Comforter is rather a separate and third god that is neither the Father nor the Son. One of these ideas is not true. One of these ideas is the foundation for our salvation. The other is a deception of Satan that will lead to a rejection of the true Son of God and a forfeiture of eternal life.
Only you can decide what you will choose to believe.
Do not listen to anyone who tells you that it doesn’t matter what you believe. Do not listen to anyone who tells you that truth will be revealed after we get to Heaven. Truth has already been revealed. That’s the whole point of God giving us the Comforter, the “Spirit of truth”, to “teach you all things.” We must choose in whom we will believe. We will either believe the God of Creation as revealed to us now in His Word, or we will believe a deception that comes from Satan through the philosophies of men. Choose this day whom you will serve. Choose this day whom you will worship. Will you choose the mark of the beast or the seal of God? This is the most important choice you must make in this life. There will be no opportunity to change your mind in Heaven. It is this choice that determines whether you get to Heaven or not. It’s a simple but monumental choice. Who is your God?
Will you trust the Word of God? Will you let John’s words explain themselves or will you choose instead to believe other men who apply interpretations that do not fit the plainest understanding of the words found in Scripture. Will you have “itching ears” that hear not? Will you have eyes that do not see? Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Spiritual things are foolishness to the world, to those who follow philosophies of men over the plain revealed Word of God. God’s Word gives truth. “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
If you choose to accept the Word of God as it is plainly given, to believe that our advocate and Comforter is “Jesus Christ the righteous,” you will find yourself in a scorned minority in this world, a remnant. Will you stand in defiance of an order to bow to a false god and risk ridicule, rejection and persecution to be faithful to God’s Word? The reward for faithfulness to God’s Word is eternal life. What in this life is worth exchanging for eternal life with bodies made new that live forever with all the wealth of Heaven? Seriously, what is worth denying the revealed Word of God? “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) You can’t receive the things of the Spirit of God if you reject the Spirit of God by believing that the Comforter is anyone but Jesus Christ the righteous. If you reject Jesus, you reject life. If you deny that Jesus is our Comforter, you reject life. Consider this most carefully.
The Apostle John’s use of the word Paráklētos occurs in the following five texts. These instances have been translated in the King James Version using the words ‘Comforter’ and ‘advocate.’ It is the same word in each case – Strong’s number G3875. It is the Apostle John and his use of the word that we must look to for understanding its meaning. Faith in the Bible includes faith in the truth and consistency of the Bible.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Paráklētos G3875), that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 But the Comforter (Paráklētos G3875), which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter (Paráklētos G3875) is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Paráklētos G3875) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (Paráklētos G3875) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
People get confused about who the Comforter is, not because it isn’t clear, but because people have allowed their minds to be weakened through lazy personal study and development preferring instead to rely upon what other people tell them. God has designed life to require effort. We do not reap what we do not sow. God will reward us not based upon the level of our accomplishments but rather by the degree to which we stand in our God given personalities doing our very best. God isn’t looking for greatness. God is looking for faithfulness. Do we accept His Word or not?
It is a lazy interpretation to believe that the use of the third person pronoun “he” used in John 14:16 in reference to the Comforter means that the Comforter is a literal third being separate from Christ. Such an interpretation is inconsistent with other Scripture which would render God’s Word inconsistent and unreliable. John 14 also speaks of the actions of the Comforter in first person grammar when Jesus uses the pronoun “I.” John 14 clearly reveals that Judas, not Iscariot, understood that it was Jesus who would manifest Himself to his followers but that the world would not see Him. Judas knew full well the identity of the Comforter but could not understand the nature of the Comforter. 1 John 2:1 explicitly says that the “Paráklētos/advocate” is Jesus.
It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, “the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in my name.” [John 14:26.] “I will pray the Father, and he shall send you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” [Verses 16, 17.] This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter. Again Jesus says, “I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.” [John 16:12, 13.] [emphasis supplied] 7LtMs, Lt 7, 1891, par. 14
In taking on humanity, Jesus took on a second personality. Jesus is both divine and human. In His human capacity He cannot be our Comforter. Jesus was resurrected and glorified having His divinity unveiled/restored by His Father thereby making Himself available to mankind as the Comforter in His divine capacity. Jesus the human remains in Heaven as our High Priest and will only reveal Himself as the human victor of this world when He comes a second time to redeem the righteous. Jesus Christ our Comforter is present now to each person who chooses to invite Him into their hearts. It is by the power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Christ in us, that we can be transformed and redeemed from sin. There is no other way. The idea of a third god being is a deceptive misdirection to lead us away from Jesus our Comforter and the eternal life that comes through Him alone. If we believe in the true only begotten Son of God, we will not perish. (John 3:16) If we reject Christ as the Son of God and as our Comforter, we will perish. To persist in rejecting Jesus as the Holy Spirit is to reject, i.e. to grieve, the Holy Spirit.
We are faced with the exact same decision Eve was presented with at the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Obey God, or not. Believe what God says because He’s God, or not. By rejecting God’s Word as He has revealed it, we reject God. By rejecting God, we reject life. God is the only source of life.
If you want to know truth, it’s there for your understanding. You must submit to God’s Paráklētos to understand truth. If you submit to philosophies of men instead, you will not find truth no matter how much you want to believe that you know truth. God tells us truth. You either accept it or not. If you are of the world, you will not see/recognize the true Holy Spirit. That’s what John 14 is telling us. If you can’t see that the Comforter is Jesus Christ, you are of the world. It’s all an exercise of freewill choice. Make your choice. Accept the consequences. To believe that the Holy Spirit, Paráklētos, is someone other than Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God is to believe in a false god.
Is The Holy Spirit a Person?
Is the Holy Spirit a Person? Yes, but what does that mean? A person is an individual with a personality but can be divine or created. The question is not at all about whether the Holy Spirit is a person, but rather, is the Holy Spirit a ‘third’ person? Trinitarians attempt to assert that if the Holy Spirit is a person then the Holy Spirit must be a third person, a third god being. This is not biblical nor is it consistent with the fundamental principles of the Seventh-day Adventist pioneers including Ellen White.
In addition to claiming that the Holy Spirit is a third person, a third god being, trinitarians also put forth a false argument, a logical fallacy (the straw-man fallacy), a lie which is a bearing of false witness, a wilful and persistent breaking of one of God’s explicit commandments when they assert that those who do not believe the trinity version of the Holy Spirit believe that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force. It’s much easier to win an argument when the argument is fabricated with a false premise.
Acts 20:28 straight up tells us who the Holy Ghost is. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Jesus, the only One who ever purchased us with His blood, is the Holy Ghost.
Notice what Spirit Ellen White says was abiding in Abigail’s soul. This is not the spirit of some third god being. This is the Spirit of the Son of God, the Holy Spirit.
These words could have come only from the lips of one who had partaken of the wisdom from above. The piety of Abigail, like the fragrance of a flower, breathed out all unconsciously in face and word and action. The Spirit of the Son of God was abiding in her soul. Her speech, seasoned with grace, and full of kindness and peace, shed a heavenly influence. Better impulses came to David, and he trembled as he thought what might have been the consequences of his rash purpose. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9. Would that there were many more like this woman of Israel, who would soothe the irritated feelings, prevent rash impulses, and quell great evils by words of calm and well-directed wisdom. PP 667.1 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/84.3100#3139
John Harvey Kellogg provides an explicit acknowledgement that the pioneers of Adventism rejected the idea that the Holy Spirit is a third person. When Kellogg uses the word ‘person’ he is meaning ‘third person’ as do modern trinitarians. Kellogg to G.I. Butler, “Is the Holy Ghost a person? You say no.” (John Harvey Kellogg Letter to G. I. Butler, Oct 28, 1903 – PDF) G.I. Butler’s rejection of the Holy Spirit as a third god being is representative of the other pioneers at that time.
Trinitarians will refer to texts in the Bible such as Ezekiel 11:5 and conclude that because the Spirit of the Lord speaks that the spirit is a third god being.
Ezekiel 11:5 And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
What does this text actually say? This is the entire key to understanding anything in the Bible, to rightly divide the Word of God. The text says, “the Spirit of the Lord.” The text does not say, “God the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit of the Lord in this text is the Lord Himself communicating by His Spirit as if He were speaking such that Ezekiel perceived the words of the Lord. A right paraphrasing of this text could read, “And the voice of the Lord said unto me.” This text does not, nor does any other text in the entire Bible, say that the Holy Spirit is a third god being. The Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, is God Himself manifesting Himself through His Spirit. This is why the Holy Spirit is a person, because it is the person of God with God’s personality. To attempt to make this text say that the Spirit of the Lord is a third god being is to add to Scripture what is not there, which is of course necessary for the trinitarian to do to support the assertion that there is a third god being. God says to not add to or take away from His Word or there will be severe consequences. (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19)
Another text some trinitarians use to claim that the Holy Spirit is a third god being is Isaiah 40:13.
Isaiah 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Again, what does this text say? Note in Isaiah 40:10 that it is “the Lord God” that is being discussed with the discussion continuing in verse 13. It is God, the Lord God, the One True God, the Creator whom this passage is talking about. Verse 13 simply affirms that the “Spirit of the Lord” is “the Lord God.” Of course the Spirit of the Lord, the Lord God, knows things. The pronoun ‘He’ in verse 14 obviously refers to the Lord God, the Spirit of the Lord. Such a pronoun does not in the least support the assertion that there is a third ‘He.’
And another trinitarian attempt to twist the Word of God as found in Isaiah 63:10.
Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Of course the Holy Spirit can be vexed. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and God can certainly be vexed. Does vexing God’s Spirit mean that God’s word, God’s voice, and God’s breath suddenly become additional god beings separate from God? Of course not. Neither is the Spirit of God a separate god being. If we followed the trinitarian logic we’d have God the Word, God the Voice and God the Breath as additional god beings.
And another text, Genesis 6:3.
Genesis 6:3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Notice that the words ‘Lord’ and ‘My’ are capitalized and ‘spirit’ is not capitalized. The word ‘My’ here is possessive meaning that the spirit is God’s spirit, not someone else. To stretch this into evidence of a third god being is a stretch indeed.
Another text, Ephesians 4:30.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Same issue – the Word of God says ‘the holy Spirit of God’ not ‘God the Holy Spirit.’
And Matthew 12:31-32.
Matthew 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
To grieve the Holy Spirit of God is the persistent rejection of truth and evidence. Will you continue to reject the evidence that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and not God the Holy Spirit, not a third god being?
“The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sudden word or deed—it is the firm, determined resistance of truth and evidence.” [emphasis supplied] 6LtMs, MS 30, 1890, par. 16
To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme God which includes denying His true identity and character. It is blasphemy to fashion a false third god which defames the true identity and nature of God as our Creator Father who has a literal only begotten Son,.
And Romans 8:26-27.
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Of course, the Spirit of God is a manifestation of the person of God and can groan. Trinitarians say that an impersonal force can’t express emotions such as groaning therefore the Holy Spirit must be a third god being. The straw-man argument goes on, that there is a belief that the Spirit of God is a non-personal force. A straw-man argument is a lie and is bearing false witness against the people with whom you claim to be disagreeing.
And Matthew 28:19.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
How does this text support the contention that there are three god beings? It’s noted that the word ‘name’ in this text is singular. What is this name? The word ‘God’ is not a name, it’s a title. What is the name that is supposed to be used at baptisms? If this text refers to three individual god beings, what are their names? God the Father and God the Son both have names and titles. The Holy Spirit has no name, no crown, and no throne. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God not God the Holy Spirit.
Never before had angels listened to such a prayer as Christ offered at his baptism, and they were solicitous to be the bearers of the message from the Father to his Son. But, no; direct from the Father issues the light of his glory. The heavens were opened, and beams of glory rested upon the Son of God, and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The dove-like form was emblematical of the meekness and gentleness of Christ. While the people stood spell-bound with amazement, their eyes fastened upon Christ, from the opening heavens came these words: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The words of confirmation that Christ is the Son of God was given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to sustain the Son of God in his arduous work. Notwithstanding the Son of God was clothed with humanity, yet Jehovah, with his own voice, assures him of his sonship with the Eternal. In this manifestation to his Son, God accepts humanity as exalted through the excellence of his beloved Son. [emphasis supplied] 2SP 60.2
Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. But no; the Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour’s head descends a dovelike form of purest light,—fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One. [emphasis supplied] DA 112.1
And Matthew 3:16-17.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Note that Ellen White in Desire of Ages clarifies that the dovelike light from Heaven was an emblem of Christ, not a third god being.
Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. But no; the Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour’s head descends a dovelike form of purest light,—fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One. [emphasis supplied] DA 112.1
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
See the discussion about Paráklētos – The Holy Spirit . Another Comforter is not another being but is rather another manifestation of Jesus Christ in His divine personality.
Trinitarians continue the same logical fallacy with interpreting Ellen White. Of course Ellen White acknowledges that the Holy Spirit, “which is Jesus Christ,” (9LtMs, Lt 66, 1894, par. 18 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/6785.1#24) has a personality. Note in the second paragraph below that we too have spirits. Does that mean that there are additional beings besides ourselves called our spirits? That’s nonsense, but that’s what has to follow if the trinitarian logic is applied consistently.
The Holy Spirit always leads to the written Word. The Holy Spirit is a person; for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. What strong evidence of the power of truth we can give to believers and unbelievers when we can voice the words of John, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” [1 John 4:16.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 31
The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. “For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him; even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” [1 Corinthians 2:11.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 32
Is the Holy Spirit a person? Absolutely. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force field. The idea of an impersonal force field comes from trinitarian imagination motivated to defame those who believe the the Holy Spirit is indeed a person, just not a third god being. To abuse the Word of God by adding to it and changing it to make it read God the Holy Spirit instead of the Spirit of God as it was given by God is to undermine the authority of divine inspiration. Be a Berean. Your eternal life depends on it.
If the Holy Spirit were an impersonal force, how would we get close to God? How would we be restored to the Father in Heaven? We couldn’t. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, nor is the Holy Spirit a third god being. If the Holy Spirit were a third god being, how would we be reconciled to the Father? God’s Word tells us plainly that there’s only ONE way to the Father and that is Jesus Christ, not a third god being. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is manifested to mankind through the divine personality of Jesus. “We have AN advocate (Paráklētos) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. We need the Holy Spirit to be reconciled to God. If Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and He is, then believing in a false third god being will deny you any reconciliation with God. If you deny the true Holy Spirit, you deny the benefits of His ministry, the ministry of Christ in us our hope of glory. It’s your choice. It’s an open book test. If you do not believe in the only begotten Son of God, our Comforter, our advocate, our Savior and High Priest, you will perish. John 3:16
Comparison of the One True God and the False Trinity God
One True God
Trinity
Source of our knowledge about God
Bible
Paganism/Tradition/Philosophies of men
Type of god
True God
False god
Belief in results in …
Eternal life
Eternal destruction
Number of divine beings
2
3
Number of divine “powers”
3
3
The Father had a beginnig
No
No
The Son had a beginning
Yes
No
The God of the Father
None – The Father is God alone
Combination of three beings as one god
The God of the Son
His Father
Combination of three beings as one god
The Father’s source of life
Himself
Himself
The Son’s source of life
His Father
Himself
God the Father really is a father
Yes
No
God the Son really is a son
Yes
No
The Father lies about being a father
No
Yes
The Son lies about being a son
No
Yes
Origin of Son’s status as God’s Son
Before creation
Incarnation through Mary
True father of the Son incarnate
God the Father
God the Holy Spirit
The Son was created
No
No
Only begotten means “created”
No
Yes
The Holy Spirit is another god
No
Yes
The Holy Spirit is …
The Spirit of the Father and the Son
A third god
Man’s access to God the Father
The Son – incarnate – lamb of God
The Holy Spirit
Man’s access to the Holy Spirit of God
The Son – divine – Christ is the Holy Spirit to man
The Holy Spirit
Number of ways for man’s salvation
One – the Son
At least two – the Son, the Holy Spirit, Mary?
Man prays to …
The Father in the name of the Son
The Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a person because …
Christ is a person
The Holy Spirit is a third god being
The Holy Spirit has a personality because …
Christ has a personality
The Holy Spirit is a third god being
Which God stands knocking at the doors of our hearts?
The Son – divine – Jesus
The Holy Spirit (not Christ)
The Father has a bodily form
Yes
?
The Son has a bodily form
Yes
Yes
The Holy Spirit has a bodily form
n/a – The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Son
No
The Father has a name(s)
Yes
Yes
The Son has a name(s)
Yes
Yes
The Holy Spirit has a name(s)
n/a – not a separate being
No
The Father has a throne
Yes
Yes
The Son has a throne
Yes
Yes
The Holy Spirit has a throne
n/a – not a separate being
Yes
The Father has a crown
Yes
Yes
The Son has a crown
Yes
Yes
The Holy Spirit has a crown
n/a – not a separate being
Yes
Did Ellen White Change Her View of God?
People today claim that Ellen White progressed in her understanding regarding the identity of God. Ellen White has indeed progressed far beyond her original understanding of God, and in the resurrection she is going to be shocked by how much she has progressed since she died. Don’t miss the point/sarcasm that Ellen White’s “progression” has been perpetrated by others after her death. Even the very elect will be deceived if possible.
Ellen White speaking of herself in the third person:
I understood that some were anxious to know if Mrs. White still held the same views that she did years ago when they had heard her speak in the sanitarium grove, in the Tabernacle, and at the camp meetings held in the suburbs of Battle Creek. I assured them that the message she bears today is the same that she has borne during the sixty years of her public ministry. She has the same service to do for the Master that was laid upon her in her girlhood. She receives lessons from the same Instructor. The directions given her are, “Make known to others what I have revealed to you. Write out the messages that I give you, that the people may have them.” This is what she has endeavored to do. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 35.2
These books, giving the instruction that the Lord has given me during the past sixty years, contain light from heaven, and will bear the test of investigation. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 35.3
At the age of seventy-eight I am still toiling. We are all in the hands of the Lord. I trust in Him; for I know that He will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in Him. I have committed myself to His keeping. 1SM 35.4
When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth. No after suppositions contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained. Men will arise with interpretations of Scripture which are to them truth, but which are not truth. The truth for this time God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. One will arise, and still another, with new light, which contradicts the light that God has given under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit. A few are still alive who passed through the experience gained in the establishment of this truth. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 161.1
And while the Scriptures are God’s word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application moves one pillar from the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake. He who makes such an application knows not the wonderful demonstration of the Holy Spirit that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to the people of God. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 161.2
As a people, we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. He will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out his deceptive designs. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perception, who will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 201.2
Do not now make mistakes. Never, never seek to remove one landmark that the Lord has given His people. The truth stands firmly established on the eternal Rock—a foundation that storm and tempest can never move. [emphasis supplied] 8T 162.1
Remember that just as soon as you allow your influence to lead away from the straight and narrow path that the Lord has cast up for His people, your prosperity will cease; for God will not be your guide. Again and again the record of Nebuchadnezzar’s life has been presented to me to present to you, that you may be warned not to trust in your own wisdom or to make flesh your arm. Do not lower the banner of truth or allow it to drop from your hands in order to unite with the solemn message for these last days anything that will tend to hide the peculiar features of our faith. [emphasis supplied] 8T 162.2
In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history. [emphasis supplied] LS 196.2
The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in an answer to our urgent prayers. The visions that the Lord has given me are so remarkable that we know that what we have accepted is the truth. This was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Light, precious light from God, established the main points of our faith as we hold them today. And these truths are to be kept before the mind. We must arouse from the position of lukewarmness, from being neither cold nor hot. We need increased faith and more earnest trust in God. We must not be satisfied to remain where we are. We must advance step by step, from light to greater light. [emphasis supplied] 21LtMs, Lt 50, 1906, par. 3
The word of the Lord has guided our steps since the passing of the time in 1844. We have searched the Scriptures; we have built solidly; and we have not had to tear up our foundations and put in new timbers. There is always safety in presenting a “Thus saith the Lord.” We must put our trust in a “Thus saith the Lord” and be well established in the faith.—Letter 24, 1907, p. 3. (To A. G. Daniells, February 4, 1907.) 2MR 186.1
Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, [Older brethren among the pioneers are here thus reminiscently referred to. “Father Pierce” was Stephen Pierce, who served in ministerial and administrative work in the early days. “Father Andrews” was Edward Andrews, the father of J. N. Andrews.—Compilers.] Elder [Hiram] Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, “We can do nothing more,” the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 206.4
And now, after half a century of clear light from the Word as to what is truth, there are arising many false theories to unsettle minds. But the evidence given in our early experience has the same force that it had then. The truth is the same as it ever has been, and not a pin or a pillar can be moved from the structure of truth. That which was sought for out of the Word in 1844, 1845, and 1846 remains the truth today in every particular. [emphasis supplied] 21LtMs, Lt 38, 1906, par. 3
Satan worked through these false teachers. Under a profession of regard for the truth, they concealed base purposes, for their hearts were corrupt. Had they come disclaiming faith in Christ, they would have been rejected at once; but professing to believe in him, they gained the confidence of some, and without shame or conscience perverted the truth to suit their own unsanctified hearts. And when once these deluded souls had departed from the old landmarks of faith, they had let go their anchor, and were tossed about like the waves of the sea. These lying prophets are described in the word of God; their deeds are recorded in the register of Heaven. Their hearts and their deceptive, wicked works were not understood by men; but the Lord saw them; he read their hearts as an open book, and knew that their very thoughts and purposes were corrupt. ST March 27, 1884, par. 2
Now is the time when we should closely connect with God, that we may be hid when the fierceness of His wrath is poured upon the sons of men. We have wandered away from the old landmarks. Let us return. If the Lord be God, serve Him; if Baal, serve him. Which side will you be on? 5T 137.3
If we are the Lord’s appointed messengers, we shall not spring up with new ideas and theories to contradict the message that God has given through His servants since 1844. At that time many sought the Lord with heart and soul and voice. The men whom God raised up were diligent searchers of the Scriptures. And those who today claim to have light, and who contradict the teaching of God’s ordained messengers, who were working under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, those who get up new theories, which remove the pillars of our faith, are not doing the will of God, but are bringing in fallacies of their own invention, which, if received, will cut the church away from the anchorage of truth and set them drifting, drifting, to where they will receive any sophistries that may arise. [emphasis supplied] 20LtMs, Ms 75, 1905, par. 5
Ellen White originally titled her work The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels. That is a longer phrase to say but conveys a more meaningful description of the issue at stake. Satan is challenging Christ’s Sonship of God as a key part of his attempt to be considered divine himself. Ellen White’s materials have been manipulated in subtle ways to give the impression that she supports a trinity doctrine when a straight understanding of her original works in the right context says otherwise. This is muddy waters for most Adventists and requires some effort to dig into what the clearest, plainest understanding of what her original words intended to convey. Even in Ellen White’s lifetime people were using her words and claiming her support for things she was astonished about. Harvey Kellogg did this with her writings in the book Living Temple strongly denounced by Ellen White and it was over the nature and identity of God – the personality of God. She calls this the alpha of deadly heresies in the Adventist movement and warns of a much greater omega apostasy to come. The omega apostasy has now come.
I am instructed to speak plainly. “Meet it,” is the word spoken to me. “Meet it firmly, and without delay.” But it is not to be met by our taking our working forces from the field to investigate doctrines and points of difference. We have no such investigation to make. In the book Living Templethere is presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 200.1
In the controversy that arose among our brethren regarding the teachings of this book, those in favor of giving it a wide circulation declared: “It contains the very sentiments that Sister White has been teaching.” This assertion struck right to my heart. I felt heartbroken; for I knew that this representation of the matter was not true. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 203.1
I am compelled to speak in denial of the claim that the teachings of Living Temple can be sustained by statements from my writings. There may be in this book expressions and sentiments that are in harmony with my writings. And there may be in my writings many statements which, taken from their connection, and interpreted according to the mind of the writer of Living Temple, would seem to be in harmony with the teachings of this book. This may give apparent support to the assertion that the sentiments in Living Temple are in harmony with my writings. But God forbid that this sentiment should prevail. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 203.3
Note in his letter to G.I. Butler on October 28, 1903 that Kellogg acknowledges that his brethren, including Ellen White, are referring to the Holy Ghost with the third person pronoun ‘he’ to mean something other than a literal third person. Kellogg states that this is confusing to him, but Kellogg’s confusion is clear testimony that Kellogg recognized that Ellen White and others did not regard the Holy Ghost to be a third person as in a third being.
As far as I can fathom, the difficulty which is found in ‘The Living Temple’, the whole thing may be simmered down to the question: Is the Holy Ghost a person? You say no. I had supposed the Bible said this for the reason that the personal pronoun ‘he’ is used in speaking of the Holy Ghost. Sister White uses the pronoun ‘he’ and has said in so many words that the Holy Ghost is the third person of the Godhead. How the Holy Ghost can be the third person and not be a person at all is difficult for me to see. [emphasis supplied]
Many Adventists today accept the Trinity doctrine because Ellen White supposedly accepted it and promoted it. This is far from the truth and such a conclusion is predicated on lacking knowledge of the Spirit of Prophecy. If anyone was acquainted with the beliefs of Sister White, it was her husband James White. Here is what he has to say about the writings of his wife:
“We invite all to compare the testimonies of the Holy Spirit through Mrs. W., with the word of God. And in this we do not invite you to compare them with your creed. That is quite another thing. The trinitarian may compare them with his creed, and because they do not agree with it, condemn them. The observer of Sunday, or the man who holds eternal torment an important truth, and the minister that sprinkles infants, may each condemn the testimonies of Mrs. W. because they do not agree with their peculiar views. And a hundred more, each holding different views, may come to the same conclusion. But their genuineness can never be tested in this way.” [James S. White, The Advent Review, and Herald of the Sabbath, June 13, 1871]
James White was the closest associate of Ellen White, the person who was one with her in God’s uplifting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We have a clear and direct testimony from him that Ellen White’s writings are not trinitarian. Today, scholars put a false narrative that Ellen White grew in her understanding of the Trinity doctrine, and eventually accepted and preached it. But we see that Ellen White did not change her standpoint on the personality of God nor did she adhere to the Trinity doctrine. She was unambiguous in her claim that she never did. (Pages 109-110)
The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man. He was of as much more value than man as his noble, spotless character, and exalted office as commander of all the heavenly host, were above the work of man. He was in the express image of his Father, not in features alone, but in perfection of character. [emphasis supplied] 2SP 9.1
Satan’s position in heaven had been next to the Son of God. He was first among the angels. His power had been debasing, but God could not reveal it in its true light and carry all heaven in harmony with Him in removing him with his evil influences. His power was increasing, but the evil was yet unrecognized. It was a deadly power to the universe, but for the security of the worlds and the government of heaven, it was necessary that it should develop and be revealed in its true light. [emphasis supplied] 1SM 341.4
Sin originated with him, who, next to Christ, stood highest in the favor of God, and highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of Heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was the covering cherub, holy and undefiled. The prophet of God declares, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” [Ezekiel 28:15.] Peace and joy, in perfect submission to the will of Heaven, existed throughout the angelic host. Love to God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Such was the condition that existed for ages before the entrance of sin. 4SP 316.3
Satan in Heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his countenance, and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Jesus, God’s dear Son, had the pre-eminence over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created. Satan was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved on Christ alone. [emphasis supplied] 1SP 17.1
The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that he might in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon his Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them. The Father then made known that it was ordained by himself that Christ, his Son, should be equal with himself; so that wherever was the presence of his Son, it was as his own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son he had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was his Son to work in union with himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out his will and his purposes, but would do nothing of himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in him. [emphasis supplied] 1SP 17.2
Notice that Ellen White describes a scene in which the great Creator, God the Father, declares to all the heavenly host that Christ is His Son and He was honored and was given all the authority of God in equal measure as God. This equality is bestowed upon the Son, not inherent in the Son. Notice also that Ellen White states that Satan was next in honor as a high exalted angel next to God’s Son. There was no being more highly exalted after God and His Son than Satan before he fell. Count. That’s two who are higher in honor than was Satan before his fall. This statement would be in error if there was in fact a third god being called God the Holy Spirit. Gabriel replaced Satan in his place next in honor to God’s Son. (See DA 99.1) That would put the Holy Spirit God in fourth place behind Satan. Ellen White speaks this way because she knew full well that there was no third god being. There is only the Father and His only begotten Son who are divine. That’s it. The Holy Spirit is real and personal because it is the Spirit of God who is Holy. Both the Father and the Son have this Holy Spirit. To fashion a third god being is to make a false god. To deny the literal natural sonship of Christ is to reject the true God and His Son. Who is your God, who do you worship?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
If we deny the true Son of God, per John 3:16, we will perish. The true Son of God is the only begotten Son of God. That is a different Son of God than the son identified in the trinity doctrine. Which one will lead to eternal life? It’s up to you to choose what you will believe. The wrong choice is fatal. It’s fatal because God has given His Word to let us know His truth and the only way we can fail to understand truth is to reject it. God is a literal Father. God has a literal Son. That is not at all what the trinity doctrine professes. You will be judged, not by the heart and love of God, but by His Word. There is nothing more clear, unchanging, plain or fair. You get what you buy, not what you want. Buy gold tried in the fire. Buy truth, God’s truth, every word.
I feel my spirit stirred within me. I feel to the depth of my being that the truth must be borne to other countries and nations, and to all classes. Let the missionaries of the cross proclaim that there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, who is Jesus Christ the Son of the Infinite God. This needs to be proclaimed throughout every church in our land. Christians need to know this, and not put man where God should be, that they may no longer be worshipers of idols, but of the living God. Idolatry exists in our churches. [Means had] better be employed to save souls from death, which would be placing jewels in the crown of Jesus Christ and stars in our own crowns in the kingdom of heaven. [emphasis supplied] 1888 866.3
God’s Word is clear, unchanging and does not contradict itself. God does not lie. God’s Word does not progress to something different than it was to begin with. The only valid progression is our understanding, not God’s revealed truth. When God’s prophets receive inspired truth, truth remains the same as it has always been. We may receive enlightened understanding and more detail, but never truth that contradicts what has already been revealed. It is us who must understand God’s Word, rightly divided. It is us who must change and be reborn in the righteousness of Christ.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
How do we understand God’s Word in John 14? Trinitarians interpret it one way. Non-trinitarians understand it another way. Which way is faithful to our best guidance on proper biblical interpretation? God has not given us confusion. There is only one truth. You must decide, using your God given brain, what the words God gave mean. Your eternal life depends on it. Will you let others and tradition shape your understanding or will you think for yourself while praying earnestly for the Holy Spirit of God to give you understanding. You will know how this works out in your own head and heart. So will God.
Trinitarians note that in this passage Christ speaks of the Comforter in third person grammar using the pronoun ‘he.’ This is held to be conclusive proof that this passage is referring to a literal third being, a third person. In isolation that’s not an unreasonable conclusion. However, our biblical principle of interpretation requires that we consider all that Scripture has to say about a subject, especially the rest of the thought in the same passage. One of the principle identifying characteristics of the Comforter given in this passage is given in the phrases “the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,” “the world seeth me no more; but ye see me,” and “thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world.” Do not miss that Christ in the same passage applies these phrases to Himself in first person grammar as well as in third person grammar. Note also, and very significantly, that Judas, not Iscariot, understands clearly that it is Christ who will manifest Himself such that the world cannot see. Judas understood plainly that Christ was not speaking of a third being. Christ here is speaking about Himself. Why use third person grammar? The nature of God, the nature of the Comforter, the nature of Christ as God is what is a mystery. Third person grammar is the means by which Christ differentiated His divine nature from His human nature. It’s still the same Christ, the same Son of God but in a different capacity the nature of which is beyond our understanding. Judas acknowledges that he doesn’t understand the nature of Christ as the Comforter but simultaneously confirms that he understands the identity of the Comforter to be Christ Himself.
Note also in 1 John 2:1 that the word used for ‘Comforter’ in John 14:16, the Greek word ‘paraklētos,’ (Strong’s G3875) is translated as ‘Advocate.’ These texts are both referring to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and as our Advocate. 1 John 2:1 plainly states, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” This couldn’t be any more clear. Jesus is our Advocate, our Comforter, the Holy Spirit. This is how Jesus can be in our hearts, how Christ can be in us, our hope of glory, Colossians 1:27. To deny this, to say that the Holy Spirit is a third god being separate from Jesus, is to deny the only begotten Son of God. According to John 3:16, if you don’t believe in the only begotten Son of God you will perish. If Jesus is the Holy Spirit, the ‘paraklētos,’ then the trinity doctrine is a false doctrine – and it is indeed a false doctrine. The three being god of the trinity is no more legitimate than the Sunday sabbath of the trinity. There is only ONE way to the Father, only ONE mediator, Jesus Christ.
Choose yourself what you will believe. Your eternal life depends on it.
Another example of interpretation can be seen in how we understand the words of Ellen White in the following quote:
Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [This phrase was added by Ellen White.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” [John 14:26]. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you” [John 16:7]. [emphasis supplied] 14MR 23.3
Non-trinitarians read this to say that the Holy Spirit is Christ Himself. Trinitarians attempt to deny that this says that Christ is the Holy Spirit by disconnecting the first sentence from the second sentence. They argue that the word ‘Himself’ in the second sentence refers to the reference to the ‘Holy Spirit’ in the second sentence and not to ‘Christ’ in the first sentence. That defies all rationale for arranging the two sentences together as they are found. Additionally, non-trinitarians will connect the reference in the first sentence to Christ being cumbered with humanity to the reference in the second sentence that says ‘divested of the personality of humanity.’ Trinitarians cannot avoid the plain fact that the second sentence reference to being divested of the personality of humanity applies to the Holy Spirit in the same sentence but attempt to suggest a very strained definition of the word ‘divested’ to mean something more akin to never possessed or was never encumbered by humanity. Trinitarians attempt to say that this quote says that the Holy Spirit as a separate being was not cumbered with humanity as was Christ. However, the word ‘divested’ clearly refers to something one has previously possessed which means that this quote would be claiming that the Holy Spirt was Himself at some point human too. The plain reading of these words is that it is Christ who is the Holy Spirit and in His divine capacity as the Holy Spirit is not encumbered with the personality of humanity as He is in His human nature. The plain understanding of this quote destroys the trinity doctrine and the claim that Ellen White held a trinitarian understanding.
“We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ. If we commune with God, we shall have strength and grace and efficiency.” — 9LtMs, Lt 66, 1894, par. 18
The above quote says what Ellen White believes very directly, “…the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.”
Those who believe the truth should remember that they are God’s little children, that they are under His training. Let them be thankful to God for His manifold mercies and be kind to one another. They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—is to bring unity into their ranks. [emphasis supplied] 9T 289.3
Notice in the above quote from 9T 289.3 that there is semicolon separating the list of Gods in divinity which stops with just two Gods. The reference to the Holy Spirit is provided not as a third god but as a reference to the Spirit of God through Christ. There is one God, the Father. There is one Savior, the Son. There is one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ the Son. This is not three separate beings.
You must decide how you will divide the Word of God and the words of Ellen White who Adventists claim was divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. How do you interpret these words? Your eternal life depends on how you interpret these words. Will you allow these words their plain and obvious meaning or will you strain and twist to find an obscure meaning that feebly supports a doctrine based in tradition and philosophies of men?
Ellen White uses some words and phrases which have contested understandings. Some of these include “life original, unborrowed, underived,” “third person of the Godhead,” “heavenly trio,” and “three powers.” Study these carefully in full context applying rigorously right principles of biblical interpretation. Your eternal life depends on it.
Was Jesus Created?
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Trinitarians say that non-trinitarians claim that Jesus was created. They say that if Jesus had a beginning that He must have been created. This is a lie. This is a straw-man argument. This is bearing false witness which is to break God’s commandments. This is poor logic. This is deceptive. Non-trinitarians believe strongly that Jesus was not created. Non-trinitarians believe strongly that Jesus is divine possessing the nature of God. To ask if Jesus was created is an insidious red-herring. Non-trinitarians simply believe what the Bible plainly says, that Jesus was begotten. Begotten does not equate to created. It is God who says that His only Son was begotten. It is trinitarians who say that God’s Son was not literally begotten. Who’s lying?
The very words ‘Father, Son and begotten’ in their most essential meaning convey that one preceded the other in kind. There is absolutely no scriptural support for the idea that these words are used in any sense other than literal. Trinitarians are obliged to deny that these words are literal, that the Father and Son are merely metaphorical engaged in role playing. To accept these words as literal destroys any possibility that the Father and Son are co-eternal which destroys the trinity doctrine. To suggest that God and His Son used these words literally but without the truth of their literal meaning makes God and His Son liars. Do you accept God’s Word or the philosophies of men? You get to choose how gullible you will be and you will receive the consequences of your handling of God’s Word.
The Son is not the natural, literal Son of the Father.
Trinitarians assert that Proverbs 8 in speaking of wisdom is NOT speaking about Christ. Ellen White says on multiple occasions that Proverbs 8 is Christ declaring about Himself. This is a blatant contradiction. Truth is not contradictory. This can be further studied later but is noted here as an example of how we understand the Word of God. Are we interpreting God’s Word by what it says or by what tradition and philosophies of men claim? The only thing that matters is your eternal life and the eternal life of others. Treat this lightly at your own peril.
Doug Batchelor, a spokesman in good standing of the modern Adventist denomination, says directly regarding Proverbs 8, “This is just soliloquy, it’s just a Song of Solomon dealing with wisdom and the importance of wisdom. Wisdom was brought forth in the very beginning. It’s not talking about Jesus.” See Doug’s YouTube video, ‘Was Jesus Created’ at timeline 7:23 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh90pOMNXcU
Doug Batchelor is unequivocally contradicting what Ellen White says regarding Proverbs 8 when she says “And the Son of God declares concerning Himself,” and “Through Solomon Christ declared.” Either Doug Batchelor is a false teacher or Ellen White is a false prophet, or both.
There is but one way of escape for the sinner. There is but one agency whereby he may be cleansed from sin. He must accept the propitiation that has been made by the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. The shed blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”—not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father’s person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. [emphasis supplied] ST May 30, 1895, par. 3
Ellen White emphasizes that God has a Son who had a beginning by clarifying that this beginning was not by creation or adoption but was by being begotten in the express image of His Father’s person. If Jesus, the Son of God, was co-eternal with the Father without a beginning, there would be no point in making these distinctions between created, adopted and begotten. Ellen White, if she in fact believed that Jesus had no beginning as the trinity doctrine asserts, would simply have said something to that effect, that God’s Son had no beginning. She didn’t do that. She instead makes it very clear that the Son of God had a beginning by being begotten which is different from being created or adopted. Sometimes what isn’t said is as loud as what is said.
Before passing to some of the practical lessons that are to be learned from these truths, we must dwell for a few moments upon an opinion that is honestly held by many who would not for any consideration willingly dishonor Christ, but who, through that opinion, do actually deny His Divinity. It is the idea that Christ is a created being, who, through the good pleasure of God, was elevated to His present lofty position. No one who holds this view can possibly have any just conception of the exalted position which Christ really occupies. CHR 19.2 — E.J. Waggoner
Says the true Witness, the only Begotten of the Father, “Blessed are they that do his [the Father’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City.” [emphasis supplied] Revelation 22:14. RH June 10, 1852, par. 17
Proverbs 8:22-30 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Proverbs 8:22-30 KJV
While the NIV translation of the Bible may not be the most reliable translation, even the NIV doesn’t hide the plain claims regarding Jesus in Proverbs 8. Some of the NIV translations are even more direct regarding the pre-creation origin of Jesus. For example, in verses 24 and 25, “I was given birth.”
Proverbs 8:22-30 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23 I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. 24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; 25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, 26 before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. 30 Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
Proverbs 8:22-30 NIV
And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting…. When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” Proverbs 8:22-30. [emphasis supplied] PP 34.1
“The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old,” Christ says. “When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” But the only-begotten Son of God humbled Himself to come to this earth. [emphasis supplied] ST February 22, 1899, par 5
Through Solomon Christ declared: “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth…. When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” [emphasis supplied] ST August 29, 1900, par 14
The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by him as his right. This was no robbery of God. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,” he declares, “before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.” [emphasis supplied] RH April 5, 1906, par. 7
Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. [emphasis supplied] PP 36.2
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by [or through] Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” [emphasis supplied] ST November 23, 1891, par. 2
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Before the last developments of the work of apostasy there will be a confusion of faith. There will not be clear and definite ideas concerning the mystery of God. One truth after another will be corrupted. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” There are many who deny the preexistence of Christ, and therefore deny his divinity; they do not accept him as a personal Saviour. This is a total denial of Christ. He was the only-begotten Son of God, who was one with the Father from the beginning. By him the worlds were made. [emphasis supplied] ST May 28, 1894, par. 2
Who is Christ?—He is the only begotten Son of the living God. He is to the Father as a word that expresses the thought,—as a thought made audible. Christ is the word of God. Christ said to Philip, “He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father.” His words were the echo of God’s words. Christ was the likeness of God, the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person. If men would learn to escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust, they must learn what the statement of Christ means, when he says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [emphasis supplied] YI June 28, 1894, par. 9
The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind. He is willing to do more, “more than we can ask or think.” An inspired writer asks a question which should sink deep into every heart: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Shall not every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ say, “Since God has done so much for us, how shall we not, for Christ’s sake, show our love to him by obedience to his commandments, by being doers of his word, by unreservedly consecrating ourselves to his service?” [emphasis supplied] RH July 9, 1895, par. 13
With what firmness and power he uttered these words. The Jews had never before heard such words from human lips, and a convicting influence attended them; for it seemed that divinity flashed through humanity as Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.” The words of Christ were full of deep meaning as he put forth the claim that he and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same attributes. The Jews understood his meaning, there was no reason why they should misunderstand, and they took up stones to stone him. Jesus looked upon them calmly and unshrinkingly, and said, “Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of these works do ye stone me?” [emphasis supplied] ST November 27, 1893, par. 5
Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,—one in nature, in character, and in purpose,—the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. [emphasis supplied] GC 493.1
From eternity there was a complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character. [emphasis supplied] YI December 16, 1897, par. 5
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
1 Corinthians 15:27-28 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:27-28 gives us both a straight and clear truth about the Son being subject to God the Father AND a lesson in how to interpret Scripture. Paul anticipates that some might understand the phrase “all things under his feet” to mean that there is nothing higher than him, but Paul rightly explains that this does not mean that God the Father is under his feet. We can deceive ourselves by not interpreting Scripture against other Scripture to find the harmonious understanding.
Who can anticipate the gifts of infinite Love. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] God’s love for the world was not manifest because He sent His Son, but because He loved the world He sent His Son into the world that divinity clothed with humanity might touch humanity, while divinity lay hold of infinity. Though sin had produced a gulf between man and his God, divine benevolence provided a plan to bridge that gulf. And what material did He use? A part of Himself. The brightness of the Father’s glory came to a world all seared and marred with the curse, and in His own divine character, in His own divine body, bridged the gulf and opened a channel of communication between God and man. The windows of heaven were opened, and the showers of heavenly grace in healing streams came to our benighted world. O what love, what matchless, inexpressible love! [emphasis supplied] 6LtMs, Lt 36a, 1890, par. 11
These popular authors have not pointed out to the students the way that leads to eternal life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3. The authors of the books current in our schools are recommended and exalted as learned men; their education is in every way deficient, unless they themselves have been educated in the school of Christ, and by practical knowledge bear witness to the word of God as the most essential study for children and youth. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Books should have been prepared to place in the hands of students that would educate them to have a sincere, reverent love for truth and steadfast integrity. The class of studies which are positively essential in the formation of character to give them a preparation for the future life should be kept ever before them. Christ should be uplifted as the first great teacher, the only begotten Son of God, who was with the Father from eternal ages. [emphasis supplied] SpTEd 230.1
If God had decided, in his councils in heaven, to visit the transgressors of his law with instant death, there would have resulted a much greater restriction of the inclination to do those things that are offensive to God. The very men who seem to be dead to entreaties and warnings sent in mercy by God, those who will not be deterred from their evil course of action, would be prudent to save their lives, even if they had no love for God. But the Lord’s arrangement, made in council with his only begotten Son, was to leave men free moral agents to a certain length of probation. His eye would discern all their works, but he would compel no man’s service. If the love displayed in his long-suffering and patience could not bring them to repentance and perfect surrender to the laws of his kingdom, then they must be left to choose whom they would serve. Their life must testify of their choice. If men love transgression, and choose to disregard his laws, after sufficient test and trial their case is forever decided. God cannot have such as members of his family in heaven. Their punishment will be in accordance with the character of their defiance and rebellion against God. [emphasis supplied] RH December 21, 1897, par. 4
Christ was the only begotten Son of God, yet he became a servant. Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord declares this. He says of him: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” [emphasis supplied] RH February 15, 1898, par. 7
The Lord saw us in a sad condition, and sent to our world the only messenger that he could trust with his great treasure of pardon and grace. Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was the delegated messenger. He was ordained to do a work that even the angels of heaven could not accomplish. He alone could be trusted to do the work required for the redemption of a world all seared and marred with the curse. And in this gift the Father gave all heaven to the world. [emphasis supplied] RH February 15, 1898, par. 8
The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner. This gift was to be acknowledged in every household by the consecration of the first-born son. He was to be devoted to the priesthood, as a representative of Christ among men. [emphasis supplied] DA 51.1
The humiliation of the man Christ Jesus is incomprehensible to the human mind; but his divinity and his existence before the world was formed can never be doubted by those who believe the word of God. The apostle Paul speaks of our Mediator, the only begotten Son of God, who in a state of glory was in the form of God, the Commander of all the heavenly hosts, and who, when he clothed his divinity with humanity, took upon him the form of a servant. [emphasis supplied] YI October 13, 1898, par. 4
Christ, the only begotten Son of God, left the royal courts and came to this world, and through him God poured forth the healing flood of his grace. [emphasis supplied] YI March 30, 1899, par. 8
Before the foundations of the world were laid, Christ, the Only-begotten of God, pledged Himself to become the Redeemer of the human race, should Adam sin. [emphasis supplied] ST August 2, 1905, par. 1
Trinitarians have found it necessary to apply a historically recent and false definition to the words ‘only begotten.’ Trinitarians assert that ‘only begotten’ means ‘unique’. Let the Bible be its own expositor. Let Scripture define Scripture. The New Testament word for ‘only begotten’ is originally the Greek word ‘monogenes.’
Monogenes is a compound word – ‘mono’ and ‘genes.’ Mono means ‘only’ and does carry with it the meaning of ‘unique.’ But ‘genes’ means ‘child’ and together with ‘mono’ means ‘only born’ which certainly does not simply mean ‘unique.’ The sophisticated desperation by learned men to confuse the plain meaning of the word is frighteningly remarkable. The truly amazing thing is that so many intelligent people are willing to drink the Kool-Aid. Just try convincing people that the words ‘ice cream’ simply mean ‘cold.’ Jim Jones and Jonestown was just a test to see how gullible people can be. To believe that ‘monogenes’ simply means ‘unique’ is spiritual poison and to believe/drink it will kill you. Believing this lie will cause you to lose eternal life. You will surely die. You can’t believe the deception without choosing to do so. You are exercising your freewill. This deception is all about denying the literal only begotten Son of God. Together with claiming that Father and Son do not mean father and son, the lies are fantastically demonic. The devil really is going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. You have to let him if he’s going to succeed with you.
Seventh-day Adventists have zero excuse to believe this lie. God through His Holy Spirit sorted this one out years ago through the pioneers of the Advent Movement which include Ellen White who is still fully regarded as a true prophet of God by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. God won’t stop you from drinking the Kool-Aid, but He has removed any justification you might want to assert to blame Him for doing so. Your freewill choice is more important to God than your eternal life. You choose whether you will live or die. Go ahead, keep on believing the lie that ‘monogenes’ simply means ‘unique.’ If you believe this lie, all you will want to do when the real only begotten Son of God shows up to take His faithful people to Heaven is to crawl into caves and beg for the rocks to fall on you.
Monogenes occurs nine times in the New Testament. In each instance not referring to Christ it is plainly used to denote ‘only born,’ as in birthed. The other occasions refer to Christ with no hint of any reason to believe that it means anything other than ‘only born.’ The doctrine of the trinity is destroyed by an honest interpretation of the biblical words ‘only begotten.’ If Jesus is begotten before creation, which He is, then He is not co-eternal as the trinity doctrine asserts. Let truth prevail. Your eternal life depends on it. Study this carefully. There are many commentaries which introduce ideas about the meaning of this word ‘monogenes’ that claim, but fail to provide, biblical support. It’s what you accept as God’s truth that matters for your eternal life.
Even Wikipedia notes that the attempt to limit ‘monogenes’ to mean ‘unique’ is not accurate. “Some interpretations of the word “unique” attempt to preclude birth, yet the full Greek meaning is always in the context of a child (genes). A unique child is also a born child, hence the full meaning of the word “begotten” as found in John 3:16 (KJV), for example. In applying this to Christ’s begottenness, He is unique (virgin birth, for example), but also still the Son of God by birth.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monogen%C4%93s
See Luke 7:12, Luke 8:42, Luke 9:38, John 1:14, John 1:18, John 3:16, John 3:18, Hebrews 11:17, 1 John 4:9
begotten /biˈɡɔtɪn/
Something is begotten when it’s been generated by procreation — in other words, it’s been fathered.
A somewhat old fashioned adjective, begotten is the past participle of the verb beget, which means to father or produce as offspring. You might recognize this word from John 3:16, one of the most popular and most often quoted bible verses: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 are the last warning to a dying world.
Revelation 14:6-12 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
There is no work in our world so great, so sacred, and so glorious, no work that God honors so much, as this gospel work. The message presented at this time is the last message of mercy for a fallen world. Those who have the privilege of hearing this message, and who persist in refusing to heed the warning, cast away their last hope of salvation. There will be no second probation. [emphasis supplied] 6T 19.2
The saints are those who in fact keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This is righteousness by faith. Man cannot by his own strength obey God’s commandments, but with Christ in us, with the righteousness and mind of Christ which we accept by faith in the only begotten Son of God, we will be made able to keep God’s commandments. This is what it means to be reborn in Christ, to eat His flesh and to drink His blood, to be connected to the vine, to forsake all things and follow Him, to make His life and righteousness our own life and righteousness. Repentance of sin is the first step to accepting Christ in us. We should repent of sin as readily as we would shake a snake or spider off of us.
The main point of the three angels’ messages is to worship the true God. In worshiping the true God we must acknowledge the everlasting gospel which is the redemption made possible through the only begotten Son of God whose righteousness is made our own thereby enabling us to keep the commandments of God. If we love Him, we will obey Him.
These angels declare the everlasting gospel, show that sin represented by Babylon is fallen, call us to worship the one true Creator God, and tell us that the only way we can be righteous is through the power of faith in Jesus whereby His righteousness is given to us to make us righteous and capable of once again obeying God’s commandments.
Many people present the three angels’ messages beginning with the biblical prophetic timeline that leads to whether people have the seal of God or the mark of the beast. This approach typically involves an emphasis on keeping the commandments of God which includes the fourth commandment regarding the seventh-day Sabbath. It is true that the Sabbath will be a significant turning point in the last events of this world, but the main point is not sufficiently emphasized. The main point of the three angels’ messages is a call to worship the one and only God who created all things – as if that were the greatest of all commandments. It turns out that the greatest commandment remains true always. By emphasizing the prophetic evidence that gives us confidence in God’s Word and promoting Sabbath as the centerpiece of commandment keeping and leaving out or minimizing the call to worship the one true Creator God, a path for deception is created that can still lead us to deny our Creator God. We are told that Satan’s last and greatest deception will be to impersonate Christ, to appear to man as God. Satan is going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and devour he will. You retain the choice and power to not be deceived, but you must act to avoid being deceived. Choose this day whom you will serve. Do what the Bible says to do. Don’t just be hearers of the Word of God, do what it says.
We are in danger of giving the third angel’s message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people. So many other interests are brought in that the very message which should be proclaimed with power becomes tame and voiceless. 6T 60.1
No church can teach the three angels’ messages faithfully while promoting a false God. No church can observe Sabbath faithfully while worshiping a false God. No one can keep the commandments of God while denying the true God. No person can accept the salvation of God through Christ while denying that God is a Father who has a literal only begotten Son who died our death for sin. If we deny the Son, we will perish – John 3:16. You will indeed have either the mark of the beast or the seal of God. Your freewill choice must submit to the truth and authority of the Word of God in every detail, with all your heart, if you expect to have eternal life. Choose this day whom you will serve. Our Creator is an all or nothing God which is the only foundation for a sinless future. There’s no time for delay.
The mystery of iniquity is a mystery indeed. Why would anyone want to hold on to any seed of selfishness and live in sin with all its suffering when we can simply accept a sinless recreated life for eternity given to us freely by our Creator God. Heaven is cheap enough. Why do so many people fail to see that? In case for some reason it’s not clear to you yet, choosing to live under the seal of One True God is the way to go.
The Seventh-day Sabbath
God created the Sabbath at Creation. The seventh-day Sabbath is not a Jewish Sabbath. Sabbath is a sign between our Creator God and His faithful people. The 10 commandments presented to God’s people through Moses and the Israelites tell us to “Remember” the Sabbath the day. The Sabbath pre-existed the Jews. Jesus told us that He is Lord of the Sabbath, and this is the only proper sense of a day of worship being the Lord’s day. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Sabbath will be a key point of contention in the last days that divides the righteous from the unrighteous. (Ezekiel 20:12,20) Satan through the Romish papal power coupled with civil power from world leaders will seek to enforce a Sunday law forcing everyone to worship on Sunday and not on Sabbath. Sunday laws will mark the close of probation when God releases Satan to work his evil upon mankind. God’s people must take their stand before these laws are made reality. This is Satan’s attempt to change the laws and times of God and to receive worship unto himself on his terms, contrary to God’s Word. God’s faithful people will be revealed by their commitment to being faithful to Him regarding Sabbath in much the same way that Daniel’s friends were tested with the command to bow down to the golden image erected by Nebuchadnezzar. In the last days, God’s people will suffer persecution and deprivation, but nothing like what the unrighteous will suffer when God releases the seven last plagues upon unrepentant mankind. God will protect His faithful people despite what they have to endure as He sustained Elijah in the wilderness.
Sabbath is important. Sabbath is important to you. Sabbath is crucial to your freewill choice to be saved and have eternal life.
Who is most at risk for missing the truth about Sabbath? It seems quite probable that Seventh-day Adventists who profess the Sabbath in the very name of the denomination will be most at risk. They will be at risk on two counts. First, they know the truth about the Sabbath and it is to grieve the Holy Spirit of God to disregard the truth and evidence we know. Second, Adventists have allowed themselves to be deceived such that they have a false confidence in attending church on the seventh-day but without honoring the Sabbath, without honoring the Lord of the Sabbath. This shallow observance of Sabbath will not guard against the deceptions of Satan and will not be acceptable to God. The Sabbath is not sacred in itself. The sacredness of Sabbath comes from the God who created Sabbath for man and established Sabbath as a seal of relationship between Him and His people. To truly honor Sabbath we must first fully honor God. To even begin honoring God requires that we identify and worship the only true God, not a false god.
Sabbath is not a distinctive belief of Seventh-day Adventists. Sabbath keepers have existed from Creation. The Sabbath truth was introduced to Adventists after they had established themselves under the quest to know God’s truth and to faithfully discharge the duty given by God to give a last day message to the world to repent, to submit to the everlasting gospel, to worship the only true Creator God, and to keep God’s commandments by the power of Christ in us through faith in Him and His righteousness given to us. The distinctive biblical truth once understood by God’s people that has been restored to understanding by Seventh-day Adventists under the influence of the Holy Spirit is that of the investigative judgement. The Bible is abundantly plain regarding God’s coming judgement to separate the wheat and the tares. Adventists do not bring any new light regarding the investigative judgement. Adventists bring a renewed awareness and urgency to the coming judgement that is essential to our knowledge of God and readiness for last day events.
The conviction of Sabbath observance is derived by a method of biblical interpretation that places God’s Word as our supreme authority. We believe it because the Bible plainly says it. We let the Bible interpret itself, to be its own expositor. Sabbath will be a test for people not simply because of its truth or because of its pivotal role in distinguishing God’s people from those who are determined to reject God’s Word and continue in unrighteousness. Sabbath will be important as well because anyone who really believes the Sabbath truth must necessarily apply right principles of biblical interpretation. It is these principles of biblical interpretation that reveal a rightly divided understanding of God’s Word on many points, not the least of which is the true identity of our Creator God. There are additional biblical understandings that will strengthen and support God’s faithful people and protect them from deception including the truth about the immortality of the soul, hell, etc. True Sabbath keepers will also be true disciples of God’s Word rightly divided. True Sabbath keepers will live according to God’s Word and will not let any unscriptural philosophies of men or deceptions of Satan into their beliefs.
The Sabbath question has been touched upon, but has not been presented as the great test for this time. While the churches profess to believe in Christ, they are violating the law which Christ Himself proclaimed from Sinai. The Lord bids us: “Show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. The trumpet is to give a certain sound. 6T 60.1
These agents of Satan look upon the religious bodies with exultation, for the cloak of religion covers the greatest crime and iniquity. [emphasis supplied] EW 274.1
Fallen angels upon earth form confederations with evil men. In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God’s holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. [emphasis supplied] TM 62.1
I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was at work through ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to strong delusions to believe a lie that they might be damned. While they were preaching or praying, some would fall prostrate and helpless, not by the power of the Holy Ghost, but by the power of Satan breathed upon these agents, and through them to the people. While preaching, praying, or conversing, some professed Adventists who had rejected present truth used mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice in this influence, for they thought it was the Holy Ghost. Some even that used it were so far in the darkness and deception of the devil that they thought it was the power of God, given them to exercise. They had made God altogether such a one as themselves and had valued His power as a thing of nought. [emphasis supplied] EW 43.4 (see also The Present Truth, Vol 1, No. 3, pg. 22, par. 1 )
Then the Holy City comes down and settles on the plain. Satan then imbues the wicked with his spirit. He flatters them that the army in the city is small, and that his army is large, and that they can overcome the saints and take the city. [emphasis supplied] EW 52.2
I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children. [emphasis supplied] EW 56.1 (see also DS March 14, 1846 par. 1)
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Satan is the God of the world; his influence is to pervert the senses, control the human mind for evil, and drive his victims to violence and crime. He sows discord and darkens the intellect. The work of Christ is to break his power over the children of men. Yet how many in every department of life, in the home, in business transactions, and in the church, turn Jesus from their doors but let the hateful monster in. [emphasis supplied] 2SP 317.1
There is no greater evidence that Satan is working than that those who profess to be sanctified to God’s service persecute their fellow beings because they do not believe the same doctrine that they themselves believe. These will rush with fury against God’s people, stating as true that which they know to be untrue. Thus they show that they are inspired by him who is an accuser of the brethren, and a murderer of the saints of God. But if God permits tyrants to do with us as the priests did with His Son, shall we give up our faith, and go back to perdition? It is not because God does not care for us that He permits these things to be; for He declares, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). [emphasis supplied] RH, December 28, 1897, par. 17
Those who love God need not be surprised if those who claim to be Christians are filled with hatred because they cannot force the consciences of God’s people. Not long hence they will stand before the Judge of all the earth, to render an account for the pain they have caused to the bodies and souls of God’s heritage.—The Review and Herald, December 28, 1897. TDG 371.5
Persecution in its varied forms is the development of a principle which will exist as long as Satan exists and Christianity has vital power. No man can serve God without enlisting against himself the opposition of the hosts of darkness. Evil angels will assail him, alarmed that his influence is taking the prey from their hands. Evil men, rebuked by his example, will unite with them in seeking to separate him from God by alluring temptations. When these do not succeed, then a compelling power is employed to force the conscience. [emphasis supplied] GC 610.2
The very ones that we regard the most dear upon the earth may cause us the greatest sorrow and trial. They may view us in the wrong light. They may think us in error, and that we are deceiving and degrading ourselves because we follow the dictates of enlightened conscience in seeking for the truth as for hid treasures. [emphasis supplied] 2LtMs, Lt 9, 1873, par. 2
Your own precious child may not discern the mystery of godliness and may think you stubborn and foolish, that you will be odd and singular from the world. But faint not. If faithful to duty, God may touch the heart of your child and she may see the matchless charms of a Saviour’s love. [emphasis supplied] 2LtMs, Lt 9, 1873, par. 9
We’re still lost, but we’re making very good time!
Attributed to Buddy Blattner
Satan uses churches and pastors, yes, even Seventh-day Adventist pastors, elders and leaders, to pursue his campaign of deception. Beware of those who work for the Lord like the devil.
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Lewis Carroll
The minister who has sacrificed truth to gain the favor of men now discerns the character and influence of his teachings. It is apparent that the omniscient eye was following him as he stood in the desk, as he walked the streets, as he mingled with men in the various scenes of life. Every emotion of the soul, every line written, every word uttered, every act that led men to rest in a refuge of falsehood, has been scattering seed; and now, in the wretched, lost souls around him, he beholds the harvest. [emphasis supplied] GC 654.4
Saith the Lord: “They have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” “With lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.” Jeremiah 8:11; Ezekiel 13:22. [emphasis supplied] GC 655.1
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! … Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings.” “Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for your days for slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; … and the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.” Jeremiah 23:1, 2; 25:34, 35, margin. [emphasis supplied] GC 655.2
What can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers who stand before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their hearts are corrupt, their hands unclean. Yet many are crying, “Peace, peace;” and the workers of iniquity are not alarmed. The Lord’s hand is not shortened that He cannot save, nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear; but it is our sins that have separated us from God. The church is corrupt because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls. 5T 78.4
I saw that many of these shepherds had denied the past teachings of God; they had denied and rejected the glorious truths which they once zealously advocated and had covered themselves with mesmerism and all kinds of delusions. I saw that they were drunken with error and were leading on their flock to death. Many of the opposers of God’s truth devise mischief in their heads upon their beds, and in the day they carry out their wicked devices to put down the truth and to get something new to interest the people and divert their minds from the precious, all-important truth. EW 123.2
False teachers are just as active in our day as they were in the days of the apostles. Satan has many agents, and they are ready to present any and every kind of theory to deceive souls,—heresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and capacities of those whom he would ruin. There are cheap fallacies for those who are easily led into error, and who desire something new, odd, or fanciful, which they cannot explain intelligently, or even understand themselves. A mysterious, disconnected set of ideas is more in accordance with their minds than the plain truth, which has a “Thus saith the Lord” for its foundation. He has other heresies,—intellectual poisons,—which he has concocted for another class of minds in this age of skepticism and proud reasoning. These sophistries have a bewitching power over minds, and thousands are deceived by them. ST March 27, 1884, par. 3
But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support. [emphasis supplied] GC 595.1
Satan has no new tricks to manipulate men, only a more desperate desire to deceive. False teachers and leaders today function in essentially the same character as those who led God’s people in Christ’s days on earth. These leaders seek personal gain and power as the promised blessings for doing the will of Satan and actively work to deny the legitimate and literal only begotten Son of God. God says He’s a father. Satan says that God is not really a father, that God’s fatherhood is nothing more than a metaphor. Jesus died to give you the freedom to choose what you will believe. Is God a father, or not? The trinity doctrine denies that God is really a father. Most pastors in the SDA church defend the trinity doctrine with force and as much violence as they can get away with including disfellowshipping believers, removing ministerial credentials, termination of employment and letters demanding that certain individuals not attend church services because of their belief in the literal only begotten Son of God. These leaders would cast stones and crucify people if possible. These leaders operate in the spirit of inquisition. Jesus called such leaders in His day serpents and vipers. These same leaders do little to nothing in response to known sins such as theft, bearing false witness, adultery, and disregard for the Sabbath.
I saw that many souls will sink in darkness because of their covetousness. The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body, responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them. If the leaders of the church neglect to diligently search out the sins which bring the displeasure of God upon the body, they become responsible for these sins.[emphasis supplied] 3T 269.2
I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventistsand the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant. [emphasis supplied] EW 261.1
1 Peter 4:16-19 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Isaiah 8:13-15,20 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. … 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Last Day Events
The last days of this world’s history are so close we must consider them imminent. There is no time to waste in being ready. Christ will come as a thief in the night and we must be ready at all times. The evidence that this world is coming to a rapid end is quickly piling up.
All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His Word, for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil.—The Acts of the Apostles, 431, 432 (1911). LDE 147.1
The “time of trouble such as never was,” is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess, and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal.—The Great Controversy, 621, 622 (1911). LDE 254.3
There is much to learn from what has been revealed about the last days. There’s not much left unfulfilled of prophetic knowledge. The most important prophesied events yet to take place are the enforcement of a global Sunday law which marks the close of probation when Christ finishes His work in the heavenly Sanctuary. Sunday law will be enforced by a combination of church and state. Satan forces his agenda upon the world through civil authority. Laws are made and enforced by civil authority according to the direction and agenda of the papal church. It will be the mainstream Protestant churches following false doctrine who orchestrate and support the enactment of civil laws against God’s faithful people. Protestantism will be joined with the papacy to usher in these days of persecution, this great time of trouble.
As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example. Our people are not half awake to do all in their power, with the facilities within their reach, to extend the message of warning. [emphasis supplied] 6T 18.2
Sadly, a large contingency of Seventh-day Adventists will stand with these Protestant churches in persecuting their professed brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not a denominational battle. This is a battle over who we worship, who we obey. Satan will be released from restrictions to work his evil upon mankind. At this time the angels holding back the four winds will let go and the seven last plagues will be released upon the world. These plagues will bring tremendous suffering to the unrighteous who will blame God’s faithful people principally identified by Sabbath allegiance who will then be targeted for destruction by the world. This will usher in the great time of trouble through which God’s people must endure. God’s people will suffer persecution, rejection, isolation from buying and selling, hunger, imprisonment, living in the wilderness and all manner of trials, but God will sustain His people and they will not be killed. They will be protected by angels of God such that the plans of the unrighteous to kill them will not succeed. God’s people will suffer, but the unrighteous who experience the seven last plagues will suffer more.
The last days are coming, very soon. We will each have to stand alone as if we are the only faithful person to God left. We must be prepared with both knowledge of God and the determination to withstand persecution. The reward is to be made new and have eternal life free of sin. Heaven is cheap enough. This is not a spectator event. This is not something to watch on TV from a distance. This will impact every person on earth. You cannot avoid this experience if you are living in the last days. As hard as these times will be, it is this time that God’s people have been looking forward to with great anticipation. This is the time when Jesus returns a second time to take His people home.
Be ready. Get ready NOW.
Other Resources
Other people have done much to understand and teach on these subjects. Here you will find additional resources that explain much more.
Disclaimer: Use these websites at your own discretion. These websites are not presented in any particular order and are not a comprehensive list of relevant websites. They may be changed following their inclusion here. They have not been fully evaluated for accuracy. They are provided here as-is as potential starting points for additional investigation as a convenience. No endorsement of these websites is made here.
https://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/ (annoying pop ups but some good info – much good info, but some questionable positions such as a belief that “Jesus is an extraordinary human being who was conceived in the bosom of the Father before the foundation of the world.” Jesus was not human before the foundation of the world. Jesus was divine before He sacrificed Himself to become human, but now has a dual nature, divine and human. The divine nature of Jesus was veiled when He became human, but not given up. Read this and all information from other people carefully. There is much good information here, just verify yourself with God’s Word. )
