THE DOCTRINE OF GOD: ANTI-TRINITARIANISM AMONG SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS

THE DOCTRINE OF GOD: ANTI-TRINITARIANISM-

AN ANSWER TO TRINITARIANISM AMONG PRESENT SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

Introduction

I salute you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord,  may the mercy and grace and peace that proceeds from our God and Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ flow towards you, and may the communion of His Holy Spirit be with you always, amen. In this 80 pages manual I summarise what I have found to be the truth and the only one based on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy and the Pioneers faith. I am a student of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy and wish to express my sincere faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as He has revealed Himself through His Holy Scriptures. I chose to use the question and answer method, or the Socratic method as we call it us who are in the educational industry, because I find it to be the most convinient one to use, and the method in which I can make myself clear. I write this partly due to the pressed request on part of you for me to respond to the trinitarian documents which you availed to me for my timely response. I also chose the English language because we both understand it and the Spirit of Prophecy quotes are originally in English but also the King James Version of the Bible and other reputable ones are used along side the quotes. I am open to new God-given-light that does not contradict scriptures. But as for me my faith is founded on the old prophets, apostles and our pioneers. May God keep you and enlighten you as you go through this manual, amen.

1.      What was the pioneers of the SDA Church position on the doctrine of the Trinity?

R.F. Cottrell, Sr., and Jr., D.T. Bordeau, D.M. Canright, J.N. Andrews, Loughborough, John Matteson, A.C. Bordeau, A.T. Jones, W.W. Prescott, E.G. White, James White and Uriah Smith, were all in agreement that it was that “old Trinitarian absurdity” perpetrated from Rome. Adventist P.S. Cottrell wrote in the July 6, 1869, issue of Review and Herald, “To hold to the doctrine of the Trinity is not so much an evidence of evil intention as of intoxication from that wine of which all nations have drunk. The fact that it was one of the leading doctrines, if not the very chief, upon which the bishop of Rome was exalted to the popedom, does not say much in its favor ... This should cause men to investigate it for themselves, as when the spirits of devils working miracles undertake the advocacy of the immortality of the soul.”

2.      What did the SDA Pioneers previously believe about God?

“You are mistaken in supposing that S. D. Adventists teach that Christ was ever created. They believe, on the contrary, that he was “begotten” of the Father, and that he can properly be called God and worshiped as such. They believe, also, that the worlds, and everything which is, was created by Christ in conjunction with the Father. They believe, however, that somewhere in the eternal ages of the past there was a point at which Christ came into existence. They think that it is necessary that God should have antedated Christ in his being, in order that Christ could have been begotten of him, and sustain to him the relation of son. They hold to the distinct personality of the Father and Son, rejecting as absurd that feature of Trinitarianism which insists that God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three persons, and yet but one person. S. D. Adventists hold that God and Christ are one in the sense that Christ prayed that his disciples might be one; i. e., one in spirit, purpose, and labor. See “Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists,” published at this Office.”(RH April 17, 1883)

3.      Did Ellen G. White endose pioneers non-trinitarian position and their understanding of scriptures?:

“God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it? -- He has said that the dead are to speak. How? -- Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 25, 1905, 'The work for this time', address at the 1905 General Conference, May 16)

4.      What does the Spirit of Prophecy through Ellen G. White says about the established truth? And what are the warning against changing the established truth?

“Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary orconcerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor.” {E. G. White, Manuscript Release No.760, p. 9} 1905

“Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Bates,Father pierce, 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…. 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. . . What influence is it that would lead men at this stage of our history to work in an underhand, powerful way to tear down the foundation of our faith–the foundation that was laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the Word and revelation? Upon this foundation we have been building for the past fifty years.(Selected Messages bk.1, p. 206-7 1904)

When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were  pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals. Gather up the rays of divine light that God has given as He has led His people on step by step in the way of truth. This truth will stand the test of time and trial. Ms 62, 1905, p. 6. ("A Warning against False Theories," May 24, 1905.)  {1MR 55.1} 

Undermining Pillars of Faith The truths that have been substantiated by the manifest working of God are to stand fast. Let no one presume to move a pin or a foundation stone from the structure. Those who attempt to undermine the pillars of our faith are among those of whom the Bible says that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Letter 87, 1905, pp. 2, 3. (To Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell, February 25, 1905.)  {1MR 55.2}

The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? (1)The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. (2) Our religion would be changed. (3)The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. (4) A new organization would be established. (5) Books of a new order would be written. (6) A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. (7) The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. (8)The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. (9) Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. (10)The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but (11) God being removed, (12) they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. (13)Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.  {1SM 204.2} 

5.      What does the SDA corporate or conference church say today about the doctrine of God? Are present day SDA theologians accepting the literal sonship of Christ?

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…… the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists.” – Adventist Review, Jan 6, 1994. p.10.

“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. More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the trinity.” – Ministry, October 1993, p. 10.

Note that Angel Manuel Rodriguez is a Seventh-day Adventist theologian and is the “director” of the Adventist BRI (Biblical Research Institute).  In the November 2015 issue of “Adventist World” on page 42 he wrote the following:

“The Son is not the natural, literal Son of the Father. ... The term “Son” is used metaphorically when applied to the Godhead.”

“While no single Scripture passage states the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact... only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity.” — (Adventist Review, Vol. 158, No. 31, p. 4)

6.      What do present day SDA trinitarian theologians say about the trinity?

The well-known Adventist Trinitarian Jerry Moon who was a co-author of the book “The Trinity” wrote,

“That most of the leading SDA pioneers were non-Trinitarian in their theology has become accepted Adventist history,”He goes on to say, “either the pioneers were wrong and the present church is right, or the pioneers were right and the present Seventh-day Adventist Church has apostatized from biblical truth.” — (Jerry Moon, The Trinity, Chapter, Trinity and antitrinitarianism in Seventh-day Adventist history, p. 190)

7.      What does The Catholic Church says about its Trinity doctrine?

“The mystery of the trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the church.” — (Handbook for Today's Catholic, p. 11). So this doctrine is essential for unification of all Churches under Rome. As Roman Catholic Graham Greene wrote, “Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in scripture . . . But the Protestant Churches have themselves accepted such dogmas, as the Trinity, for which there is no such precise authority in the Gospels,” — (Assumption of Mary, Life magazine, October 30, 1950, p. 51)

8.      Who were the first, second, and third highest beings in heaven before the fall? And What were the positions in heaven Before the fall?

God is a moral governor as well as a Father. He is the Lawgiver. He makes and executes His laws. Law that has no penalty is of no force.  {12MR 208.2} 

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 in the express image of his Father, not in features alone, but in perfection of character.  {2SP 9.1 in Lift Him Up, page 24}

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.  {1SP 17.1} 

 “Satan’s position in heaven had been next to the Son of God. He was first among the angels.” (Ellen White, Selected Messages, book 1, page 341)

 “Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, once had an exalted position in Heaven. He was next in honor to Christ.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, February 24, 1874)

“Speaking of Satan, our Lord says that “he abode not in the truth.” He was once the covering cherub, glorious in beauty and holiness. He was next to Christ in exaltation and character. It was with Satan that self-exaltation had its origin. He became jealous of Christ, and falsely accused him, and then laid blame upon the Father. He was envious of the position that was held by Christ and the Father, and he turned from his allegiance to the Commander of heaven and lost his high and holy estate.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, October 22, 1895)

9.      Who were the first, second, and third highest beings in heaven after the fall? And What were the positions in heaven After the fall?

It was Gabriel, the angel next in rank to the Son of God, who came with the divine message to Daniel. It was Gabriel, "His angel," whom Christ sent to open the future to the beloved John; and a blessing is pronounced on those who read and hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein. Revelation 1:3.  {DA 234.2} 

10.  How does God reveal Himself? And, were there any other prophet that was shown the Trinity light? Is there danger in putting theories about God without his express revelation?

"The Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants and prophets." While "the secret things belong unto the Lord our God," "those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever." Amos 3:7; Deuteronomy 29:29. God has given these things to us, and His blessing will attend the reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures.  {DA 234.3}

When men feel free to choose their own way, they are in controversy with God. There is no place for gods in the heaven above. God is the only true God. He fills all heaven. Those who now submit to his will shall see his face; and his name will be in the foreheads of all who are pure and holy.  {1888 1633.2}

11.  How many beings were there since eternity? Two or three beings?

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. By Christ, the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By him were all things created, that are in Heaven, . . . whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers;” [Colossians 1:16.] and to Christ, equally with the Father, all Heaven gave allegiance. {GC88 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.  {YI, December 16, 1897 par. 5} 

In the beginning the Father and the Son had rested upon the Sabbath after Their work of creation…..Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as "from one Sabbath to another" (Isaiah 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb.  {DA 769.2} 

The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.  {YI, July 7, 1898 par. 2} 

“The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each. [Hebrews 1:1-5 quoted.] God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has beengiven an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” (Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, page 268)

I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for said He, "If you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist." Before the throne I saw the Advent people--the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory.  {EW 54.2}

I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. ….Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat…..Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, "My Father, give us Thy Spirit." Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.  {EW 55.1}

12.  What is the all time ambition of Satan? How does Satan want to occupy the position of God?

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

(Isa 14:13-14)

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. {EW 56.1}

“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, no, no; but by the power of Satan breathed upon these agents and through them to the people. Some professed Adventists who had rejected the present truth, while preaching praying or in conversation used Mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice in this influence, for they thought it was the Holy Ghost. And even some 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.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, August 1, 1849)

13.  Is Jesus Chirst the literal and only begotten Son of God? Or is He(Christ) acting as the Son of God? Or is He a Son of God because He was born of a woman on Earth?

“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,” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895)

 “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.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 51)

“O what a gift God has made to our world! The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God SENT HIS OWN SON in the likeness of sinful flesh, liable to physical infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. HE WAS THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. His personality did NOT begin with His INCARNATION in the flesh.” — (E.G. White, Lt77, August 3, 1894)

“All this holding to sentiments of infallibility is a specious device of the angel that was so exalted in the heavenly court. His beauty was so highly exalted that he thought he should be as God, and Christ must be second to him; but the Lord informed Satan this could not be possible. CHRIST WAS HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON” — (E.G. White, Lt157-1910)

14.  Did Ellen G. White believe on the Trinity Doctrine? Did she support the anti-trinitarian views of her co-pioneers and founders? Did God support the views and position of pioneers as regards to their anti-trinitarian postion? Or Did she progressively change from being anti-trinitarianism to trinitarianisms as some claim to be? Is truth changing over time? Was God changing from what He revealed to them as truth to trinitarianism?

Did Ellen White believe in the trinity?  Not one of the Adventist pioneers believed in the trinity.  Her husband James White denounced the trinity as “unscriptural”.  Why did Ellen White never correct her husband if she was a trinitarian?  All of the pioneers of the early Seventh-day Adventist church were non-trinitarian and strangely enough she never reproved them of their beliefs and none of them reproved her or said she was teaching error. This is strange indeed.  What did Ellen believe regarding the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit?  Her writings will be our witness.

“Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character.This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.“The knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. Through a knowledge of Him are given unto us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” 2 Peter 1:3.“This is life eternal,” said Jesus, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.” [Ministry of Healing Page 409-410]

The basis and standard of our faith is to be the word of God [Rom 10:17].  It is recommended of course to study the word of God, and then test the prophets to see whether they speak according to that word [Isaiah 8:20].  Plenty of scripture is quoted in this study.  “Despise not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast to that which is good” [1 Thess 5:19-21]

There are a few statements in Ms. Whites writings that seem to suggest she was trinitarian.  She spoke regarding the subject of God and his personality saying:

“There are some, who upon accepting erroneous theories, strive to establish them by collecting from my writings statements of truth, which they use, separated from their proper connection and perverted by association with error.” .[—Letter 136, April 27, 1906, to Brethren Butler, Daniels, and Irwin.]

This statement was in reference to the book “The Living Temple” written by John Harvey Kellogg which contained Pantheistic teachings. The teaching of pantheism is that God was in everything and was everything; an impersonal being.

Why is the truth about the personality of God so important?  Because “this is the first and great commandment that the Lord our God is one Lord”. [Mark 12:29]  This is eternal life that we might know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent [John 17:3-5]  And that Jesus Christ is the son of God; and this is the rock[statement] upon which the true church is built [Matt 16:13-18].  The foundation of our faith.  The foundation of the church.  The first and great commandment, eternal life to know him and his son. [John 17:3]

This is a subject which needs “study to shew thyself approved unto God” [2 Tim 2:15].  We need to be sure we are not teaching “the commandments and doctrines of men” [Col 2:22].  This doctrine is an important doctrine.  It is the foundation of our faith.[Matthew 16:13-18]

We are told:

“In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building.  Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?” (Ellen White, Review & Herald,May 25, 1905)

There are many pillars of our faith, there is also a solid platform of truth to rest our feet on.  A rock on which to rest; a foundation.  Please notice this was written in 1905.  She said that the last 50 years [1855-1905] would be accounted as error.  She also said that books of a new order would be written and that the pioneer’s books would be lightly regarded.

“Let Pioneers Identify Truth.—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. God has graciously spared their lives to repeat and repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which they passed even as did John the apostle till the very close of his life.   And the standard-bearers, who have fallen in death, are to speak through the reprinting of their writings. I am instructed that thus their voices are to be heard. They are to bear their testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time. Preach the Word,p. 5.” (Ellen White, 1905, Counsels to Writers and Editors, pages 31, 32)

Many today tell us that “Ellen White accepted the trinity doctrine late in her life”.  That she brought the doctrine into the church privily.  Is that how Ellen White rebuked error?   Did she rebuke her husband and the rest of the pioneers by bringing the trinity teaching into the church privily?  Anyone who has read her writings should know this is not the way of Ms. White.  Let us see what Ellen White says about doctrines that are brought into the church privily.

“Modern spiritualism, resting upon the same foundation, is but a revival in a new form of the witchcraft and demon worship that God condemned and prohibited of old.… Peter, describing the dangers to which the church was to be exposed in the last days, says that as there were false prophets who led Israel into sin, so there will be false teachers, “who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.… And many shall follow their pernicious ways.” 2 Peter 2:1, 2. Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualist teachers. They refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. Concerning such teachers the beloved John declares: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1 John 2:22, 23. Spiritualism, by denying Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist.” (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 686)

Spiritualism denies the “Father and Son” or “God and Christ.”  Our pioneers identified the doctrine of the trinity as spiritualism.  Her husband James White himself said “The way spiritualizers have disposed of or denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is first using the old unscriptural Trinitarian creed.” (James White, January 24, 1846, The Day Star)

15.  Where did the Trinity come from then if our pioneers didn’t believe in it and Ellen White didn’t accept it?

“Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence.”  (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, page 255)

Let’s examine her writings and then decide from the weight of the evidence.

16.  Are there three beings in heaven that are to be exalted?

“Let the brightest example the world has yet seen be your example, rather than the greatest and most learned men of the age, who know not God, nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent. The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” (Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898)

Note:  That there are only 2 beings ALONE that are to be exalted.  She uses a key word “Alone” in quoting here from [John 17:3-5].  Another significant note is the fact that it was written in 1898 which is three years after the release of the book “Desire of Ages”.  Many believe that she was trinitarian by this time, because of the use of the phrases “third person” and Christ having “unborrowed, original and underived life” and there by these some try to deny the fact that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God or that he was begotten or born of the Father for that matter. We shall explain the meaning of these phrase as we proceed and show clearly from scripture that they cannot be used to support trinitarianism.

17.  Some say there were three persons in the work of creation because the Hebrew word for “God” which is “elohim” is a plural word. And many use Genesis 1:26 to say that the title “God” is referring to three indiviaduals or beings in this verse.  Were there 3 in the work of creation? 

“After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose,… And now God said to His Son, “Let us make man in our image.” “(Ellen White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, pages 24, 25)

Note:  The words spoken by Elohim were spoken by the Father to his Son.  The Father and Son carried out their purpose. So the title “God” in this verse refers to the Father alone.  And the Father is speaking to His Son.

And if the Holy spirit is a third being where was he in this matter?  This is quite different than what is taught by many today.  Note and this is very significant if you real want to know that God is not the trinity or three beings, that, the title “God” is used to refer to the Father alone almost entirely throughout scripture, and there is not a single verse in the bible where the title God is used to refer to three beings. Here is a few verse to support this argument.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

(1Co 8:6)

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

(1Ti 2:5)

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.

(Joh 3:16)

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

(Joh 17:1-3)

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”(Eph 4:4-6)

In almost all epistles or letters in the new testatment, the apostles started with the salutaion that indicated that there is only one God who is the Father and almost everywhere in scripture when they say God they are refering to the Father. We shall, however notice later notice that Christ is also God as He is so correctly called by God the Father Himself in Heb. 1 and Joh. 1. But in what sense is He fully God? Well we shall see.

18.  Were there three people to lay the plan of salvation?

“The plan of redemption was arranged in the councils between the Father and the Son.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, May 28, 1908 par. 12)

“Even the angels were not permitted to share the counsels between the Father and the Son when the plan of salvation was laid. “(Ellen White, Ministry of Healing, page 429)

“The plan of salvation devised by the Father and the Son will be a grand success.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, June 17, 1903 par. 2)

“Before the fall of man, the Son of God had united with his Father in laying the plan of salvation.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, September 13, 1906 par. 4)

“The great plan of redemption was laid before the foundation of the world. And Christ, our Substitute and Surety, did not stand alone in the wondrous undertaking of the ransom of man. In the plan to save a lost world, the counsel was between them both; the covenant of peace was between the Father and the Son.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, December 23, 1897, par. 2)

“And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

(Zec 6:12-13)

Note:  Both means 2, not 3.  Why were the angels mentioned but not a third divine being?

19.  Who was the only co-worker who entered the counsel of God ?

“By Christ the work upon which the fulfillment of God’s purpose rests, was accomplished. This was the agreement in the councils of the God-head. The Father purposed in counsel with his Son that the human family should be tested and proved,…” (Ellen White, The Gospel Herald, June 11, 1902, par. 6)

“In order that the human family might have no excuse because of temptation, Christ became one with them. The only being who was one with God lived the law in humanity, descended to the lowly life of a common laborer, and toiled at the carpenter’s bench with his earthly parent.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, October 14, 1897 par. 3)

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.’ John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. ‘His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6. His “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. 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.” (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 34)

Jesus is refered in the Sriptures as “The everlasting Father” because He came in the name of His Father, to reveal the Father. She refers to Christ’s Father as “the Sovereign of the universe”. Ellen G. White does not state that Christ is the Sovereign with him.  She also quote Proverbs 8:22-30 attributing this to Christ.  Christ says of himself.   “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 prepared the heavens, I was there:…Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;” (Pro 8:22-25) ”

And he is daily our Father’s delight.  This is his “beloved Son in whom he is well pleased” [Matt 3:17].

“By the power of His love, through obedience, fallen man, a worm of the dust, is to be transformed, fitted to be a member of the heavenly family, a companion through eternal ages of God and Christ and the holy angels.…” (Manuscript 21, Feb. 16, 1900. Ellen White, The Upward Look, page 61)

“Let the brightest example the world has yet seen be your example, rather than the greatest and most learned men of the age, who know not God, nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent. The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” (Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898)

Note:  There is not a third spirit being called “God the Holy Spirit” nor is there a second being called “God the Son”.  Only one being in this universe could enter into the purposes and counsels of God and God is “The Father”.  Christ is the only begotten Son of God.  “To us there is one God the father” [1 Cor 8:6].  Jesus Christ entered his counsels.[Zech 6:13]  2Jn 1:9 says “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”  Both mean two not three.  Nowhere in scripture does it say “trinity”.  The bible does not say “One God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”, because that is what the Trinity states. John says the Father and Son dwell in us “and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”  [1 John 1:3]

20.  A doctrine is pervading in the church today that Christ became the begotten son when he took on humanity and not before that.  Was he begotten before taking human nature?

“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.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895)

Compare this with the following:

“Before Christ came in the likeness of men, he existed in the express image of his Father.” (Ellen White, Youth’s Instructor, December 20, 1900)

“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.” {Ellen White The Desire of Ages, p. 51}

“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. “(Ellen White, Review and Herald, July 9, 1895, par. 13)

“Christ is the Son of God in deed and in truth and in love, and is the representative of the Father as well as the representative of the human race.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, page 83)

“Modern spiritualism, resting upon the same foundation, is but a revival in a new form of the witchcraft and demon worship that God condemned and prohibited of old.… Peter, describing the dangers to which the church was to be exposed in the last days, says that as there were false prophets who led Israel into sin, so there will be false teachers, “who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.… And many shall follow their pernicious ways.” 2 Peter 2:1, 2. Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualist teachers. They refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God.  Concerning such teachers the beloved John declares: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1 John 2:22, 23. Spiritualism, by denying Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist. “(Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 686)

Note: what does denying the father mean? What could it mean other than attributing theories to the Father and the Son which are not theirs? For instance, the trinity doctrine denies the Father in that it assumes that there is One God who is (all three in one entity/being) Father, Son and Holy Spirit,this theory denies the individuality of the Father and the individuality of the Son, But the Bible declares that God is the Father (1Cor 8:6, 1 Tim 2:5, John 3:16, 17:3, Eph 4:4-6). The trinity theory futher assumes that the Son of God was not actually and literally born of God who is the Father, it assumes that the Son of God is role playing Son ship and that the Father is role playing Fatherhood, now that is trying to make God and His Son liars, that is saying that they are not actually Father and Son. That is denying the Father and the Son. That is the spirit of the antichrist. The Son of God is God because of His Father, that is, He is born of the Father. The Jews quickly knew what he was saying when he said that He was the Son of God.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

(Joh 10:32-36)

“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.”” {E. G. White, Review and Herald, April 5, 1906 par. 7}

Note:  Christ was in the express image of God before an angel was created.   He was begotten before the world was.  Set up from everlasting.   Many say the words from Proverbs 8:22-30 were spoken by “wisdom” [Pro 8:1].   Ms. White said Christ spoke those words.  The bible says “Christ is the wisdom of God” [1 Cor 1:24, 30].  He was the only begotten of God, therefore the conclusion is He is the only one who can say that he was “brought forth” by God.  And to deny this is antichrist doctrine. [1 John 2:22]  And it also demeans the love of God [John 3:16, 1 John 4:9].   Did God send his only begotten son, or a co-eternal, co-equal being who was only playing the part of the son.  I believe that if God said he sent his only begotten Son that He really means He did it.  Do we want to imagine that one of three beings only took the role of the Father?  And another the Son?   And another role-played a spirit being? That sounds like 3 co-eternal actors in the greatest show in history.  It makes God a liar. To see the Son is to see the Father. The devil was the first to propagate doubt and spread lies that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God. He twice started out: “If thou be the Son of God” (Mat 4:3 & 4:6) theologians and the laity at large are making similar mistakes instead of acknowledgening: “they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” (Mat 27:54)

Think about this.  If I sent my friend to die for you.  How much love would that be?  Not very much.  On the other hand my Son, who I look at, who is my express image, a little me.  Who adores me, who looks at me with his eyes and willingness to learn, and says abba, father, daddy, and is daily my delight.  For me to send him to die for you.  Would you then begin to picture my love for you?  Think about how a trinity demeans God’s love.  It is very subtle but it greatly demeans his love.  And the love of God draws men to repentance.  “This is love that he gave his only begotten son” [1 John 4:9].  He did not send His co-eternal friend.

“Satan is determined that men shall not see the love of God which led Him to give His only-begotten Son to save a lost race; for it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.” {E. G. White, Selected Messages Book 1, p. 156}

21.  Was Christ equal with God? Was He made equal with God? In which sense is He equal with God or is God?

“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 should be equal with himself; so that wherever was the presence of his Son, it was as his own presence. His word was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son he had invested with authority to command the heavenly host.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, January 9, 1879; also in Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, pages 18, 19)

Note:  Make no mistake.  Christ was MADE equal.   “All power and authority” in not just earth but heaven as well, “was given by the Father to Jesus Christ”.  He was ordained by the Father that he should be “equal”.  This takes nothing away from Christ. Christ was in all things partaker of the Godhead.  Some say for some reason that we by saying he was given authority demean the son because they believe he was co-equal and possessed all power and authority of his own self.  We should let scriptures be the judge of that.

“The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each. [Hebrews 1:1-5 quoted.] God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” (Ellen White,Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, page 268)

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

(Joh 14:9)

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

(1Ti 6:15-16)

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

(Joh 3:35)

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

(Joh 5:26)

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.

(Joh 14:28)

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

(Heb 1:1-8)

Note:  He has been MADE equal by His Father, with His Father.  When Christ speaks it is as though his Father is speaking (John 14:9, Col 2:9).  Hebrews 1:3 says “by inheritance has he obtained a name” as she quoted above.  Like the Son will inherit his Father’s name.  So is Christ able to speak on behalf of the only true God the father [John 17:3-5].  “He has declared his fathers name” [John 17:26]. By inheritance he possesses the very nature and form of God, Spirit of Spirit, Rock from Rock, just as any human by inheritance possesses the very nature and form of human. Thus he us able to say: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8) Why? You would think for a moment, wait! Is Jesus now the Alpha and Omega? Where is the Father in all this statement? Its right there He came in the name of His Father, He is the person and express image of His Father, He is given to have life in Himself, He inherited an excelent name, therefore God calls Him God. He is able to say so because he is given all….i mean all in heaven and on earth.

22.  Does Ellen White speak out about misunderstandings about God?

“There were those who were active in disseminating false ideas in regard to God. Light was given me that these men were making the truth of no effect by their false teachings. I was instructed that they were misleading souls by presenting speculative theories regarding God… This is only one of the instances in which I was called upon to rebuke those who were presenting the doctrine of an impersonal God pervading all nature, and similar errors.” (Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, pages 292, 293)

Note:  Ellen White knew who God was.  In many instances she had to rebuke those presenting false doctrines on this subject. If her husband or the other pioneers were speaking out against the trinity or “three in one or one in three God” she would have rebuked it, just as she did with John Harvey Kellogg. Ellen White would never bring in such an important doctrine quietly or privily as is being taught in the church today.

23.  Christ possessed original, unborrowed, underived life.  Does that mean he was not begotten?

“In Him [Christ] 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.” (Ellen White, Signs of the Times, April 8, 1897; also in Selected Messages, book 1, pages 296, 297)

Note:  Please note that we also will possess original, unborrowed, underived life.  This does not mean that we are not adopted sons of God.  And this does not mean Christ was not the only begotten, nor does it mean he was not given it by his father.

Joh 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

Original, unborrowed, underived life was given to him by his father.  And we also can possess original, unborrowed, underived life through Christ.  It is amazing how these quotes that have been used to support a Trinity doctrine were pulled from there natural connection to support the trinity when there is so much evidence that she did not believe in a trinity.

“All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all.” {E. G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 21}

Note the river of life. Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. God >>>to the lamb>>> to us.  And we receive that original unborrowed, underived, life.   Again notice the source, the channel, the river.

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

God is the “Of Whom”  Christ is the “By Whom”.   The life flows from God, by Christ it is given to us.

24.  Did Christ have any special power on earth?  Was he a man?

“Those who claim that it was not possible for Christ to sin, cannot believe that He really took upon Himself human nature. But was not Christ actually tempted, not only by Satan in the wilderness, but all through His life, from childhood to manhood? In all points He was tempted as we are, and because He successfully resisted temptation under every form, He gave man the perfect example, and through the ample provision Christ has made, we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust.” (Ellen White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 7, page 929).

“Christ’s overcoming and obedience is that of a true human being. In our conclusions, we make many mistakes because of our erroneous views of the human nature of our Lord. When we give to His human nature a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conflicts with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity.” (Ellen White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 7, page 929)

Note:  Jesus Christ walked on water.  He had access to the same power we do.  Some say that he came here as God, that he had power we do not.  He was in the form of God.  He was God in nature, character, and purpose.  But made like his brethren in all points.  And if Christ can overcome temptation, we certainly can.  Anyone who denies this denies Christ came in the flesh and this is the spirit of Antichrist [1 John 4:3].

“The obedience of Christ to His Father was the same obedience that is required of man. Man cannot overcome Satan’s temptations without divine power to combine with his instrumentality. So with Jesus Christ; He could lay hold of divine power.He came not to our world to give the obedience of a lesser God to a greater, but as a man to obey God’s holy law, and in this way He is our example. The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God’s power to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset.” (Ellen White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 7, page 929

Note:  Make no mistake. Jesus was not a lesser God, he is the son of the only true God.  He was not “God the son” like trinitarians believe.  Nowhere in scripture or the spirit of prophecy is that written.  He was as much a man as me and you in respect to his human nature.  We can partake of the divine nature [2 Pet 1:4] and are told to “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give”. [Matt 10:8].  And this can only happen when  we know God and Christ, and who and what the holy spirit is; as well as  it’s power, and we accept the fullness of it by faith. We read that “The same obedience of Christ to his father is REQUIRED of man”; “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”  [1 John 5:3]

“When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the “Master of earth and sea and sky” that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30.  He trusted in the Father’s might. It was in faith—faith in God’s love and care—that Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God.” (Ellen White, Desire of Ages, page 336)

Note:  We can do nothing of ourselves.   He is our example and if we have the faith of Jesus [Rev 14:12]  we will be able to calm the storm as well with the power that is from the Father alone. Note the words of Peter who had seen all in Jesus “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Act 2:22)

25.  Was Jesus Christ divine and human when he came to earth? 

“Divinity and humanity are blended in him who has the spirit of Christ.” (Youth’s Instructor, June 30, 1892 par. 3; also in Sons and Daughters of God, page 24)

Note:  Please understand that yes he possessed divinity when human, the Holy Spirit is the fullness of His divinity, yet that Spirit was placed in a human body. We also are to be partakers of divinity.  We have his spirit.  He did not have a power that we didn’t have as many today teach.  Divinity and humanity are to be blended in those who have the spirit of God.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

(Luk 4:18)

26.  Did Christ die?  If Christ is the immortal God he cannot die. 

“He humbled himself, and took mortality upon him. As a member of the human family, he was mortal.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, September 4, 1900)

“Men need to understand that Deity suffered and sank under the agonies of Calvary.…” (MS 153, 1898). (Ellen White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 7, page 907)

A divine being died.  However, it is important to understand that God is immortal, therefore the only way in which Christ could die is to come here as a man, and trust only in the power of His Father alone.

“Jesus said to Mary, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” When He closed His eyes in death upon the cross, the soul of Christ did not go at once to heaven, as many believe, or how could His words be true —“I am not yet ascended to my Father”? The spirit of Jesus slept in the tomb with His body, and did not wing its way to heaven, there to maintain a separate existence, and to look down upon the mourning disciples embalming the body from which it had taken flight. All that comprised the life and intelligence of Jesus remained with His body in the sepulcher; and when He came forth it was as a whole being; He did not have to summon His spirit from heaven.” (Ellen White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pages 1150, 1151)

Note:  Many think that only part of Christ died.  And the other part was in heaven because God cannot die.  The truth is that if the only true God the Father [John 17:3-5] could die; he would have been first to lay down His life.  He is life, and it was only His only begotten son who could come here, who could give his life back to the Father. Christ has to go and die because His Father could not die, but He could die. If the Father could die, he would come to die instead, but He is not capable of dying, thus the only thing He could do is send His only son, the one who could die for us.

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” (Ellen White UL 367)

In other words there is only ONE being who is God in personality.  Christ and God are distinct personages.

“Christ is one with the father, but Christ and God are two distinct personages”(RH June 1, 1905)

A quick survey of the following verse will prove that sister White was inspired and was right all along in that she states that “(Christ is) not (God) in Personality”, that would mean the personality he possesses is that of God His Father. That is true because He came in His Father’s name and to reveal His Father. He is the image and express image of His Father, wisdom and strength of His Father, the brightness of His glory of His Father. But one asks, in what sense is Jesus God, sister White states “(He) is truly God in infinity”. Now it even make sense when the Bible states that there is one God who is the Father and Christ as the Mediator, Lord and Son of God begottern of the Father.

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (Joh 14:9-10)“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. “(Col 2:9) “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2Co 5:19) “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.” (2Co 4:4) “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Col 1:15) “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Col 3:10) “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Heb 1:3)“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1Co 1:24) “Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.” (Exo 23:21) “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”(Joh 5:43)

Now the image of the Father is the image of the Son. In Genesis God speaking to His Son says “And God (who is the Father) said, Let us (Father and Son) make man in our image, after our likeness: ….So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen 1:26-27). As you can see, the IMAGE or likeness is in singular not plural, which means there is only ONE image of God. That is why in Rom 8:29 Paul talks about the image or person of Christ which is the person or image of God. Jesus came to restore the image of God His Father in us, so that we may be able like Christ to reflect the image of the Father, because we were created in the image of God to begin with, we lost that image of God since our first parents sinned. Chirst came to restore that. So when we when scripture talks ONE TRUE GOD it is in that sense that God is ONE (Yoh 17:3). Thus, there is ONE personality of God, that of the FATHER ONLY.

Jesus and His Holy Spirit manifest the personality of God His Father. So than whenever there is Jesus there is the Father (John 14:9-10) and where there is the Spirit of Christ or the Holy Spirity there is the personality of Christ which is of God the Father. Thus God is ONE. Note that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and it is the manifestation of God’s personality. Thus Ellen White is able to say there are “three personalities”—the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, that would not be in terms of “personalities of God as if God has three different quality of being God” But in terms of manifestations. But at the same time you need to realise that the Father and the Son are two different personages, that is Beings, but having the same image of “Personality of being God”, that of the Father. It is in the same sense that we are “Partakers of the Divine Nature” that we reflect to God, because He Christ lives in Us, the same way His Father lived in Him. That way we are partakers of His divine nature, without actually becoming gods in a sense He is God, but His temple.

 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2Pe 1:3-4) “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Co 3:18)“ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1Co 15:49) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8:29)

Now, its Satan’s cheaf object to corrupt the image of God, the second commandment is rightly there to state that to be a sin. Thus, trying to use the Trinity theory to reflect the personality of God is no less than chaning the glory or image of God our Father. That is why sister White charges J.H.Kellogg with destroying the personality of God, which she states further that is “everything to us”.

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Rom 1:23)

“When Jesus had opened before his disciples the fact that he must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die at the hands of the chief priests and scribes, Peter had presumptuously contradicted his Master, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee.” He could not conceive it possible that the Son of God should be put to death. Satan suggested to his mind that if Jesus was the Son of God he could not die.” (Ellen White, Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, page 231)

Note:  Satan suggested to Peter that Christ could not die.  He has also suggested it to many in the churches today.

27.  Who is the Holy Spirit?

As the divine endowment--the power of the Holy Spirit--was given to the disciples, so it will today be given to all who seek aright. This power alone is able to make us wise unto salvation and to fit us for the courts above. Christ wants to give us a blessing that will make us holy. "These things have I spoken unto you," He says, "that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:11. Joy in the Holy Spirit is health-giving, life-giving joy. In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world.  {7T 273.1} 

28.  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." "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; 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" [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter. Again Jesus says, "I have yet 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].  {14MR 179.2} 

29.  "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." The divine Spirit that the world's Redeemer promised to send, is the presence and power of God. He will not leave his people in the world destitute of his grace, to be buffeted by the enemy of God, and harassed by the oppression of the world; but he will come to them…. {ST, November 23, 1891 par. 2} 

30.  “Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind.” — (Desire of Ages, p. 827)

31.  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…….{14MR 23.3}

32.   “While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church.” — (Desire of Ages, p. 166)

33.  What does the phrase “another comforter mean according to Ellen G. White?

That Christ should manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to the disciples. They could not understand the words of Christ in their spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet He be unseen by the world. They did not understand the meaning of a spiritual manifestation.  {SW, September 13, 1898 par. 2} 

As we can see, Jesus Christ has two manifestations, the “visible manifestations” which is the “man” Jesus (Acts 2:22), the “personality of humanity” and the “spiritual manifestation” where Jesus Chirst is the Holy Spirit (1Cor 15:45, 2 Cor 3:16-18). Thus, he is properly called IMANUEL which means “GOD with US” (Math 1:23, John 3:13 margin KJV). Thus the two manifestations of Christ are adding to the first manifestation of the Father, thus making three manifestations.

The great Teacher longed to give the disciples all the encouragement and comfort possible; for they were to be sorely tried. But it was difficult for them to comprehend His words. They had yet to learn of that spiritual life that could give them the spiritual power they needed.  {SW, September 13, 1898 par. 3} 

The promise of a Comforter presented a rich truth to them. It assured them that they should not lose their faith under the most trying circumstances. The Holy Spirit sent in the name of Christ was to teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance. The Holy Spirit was to be the representative of Christ, the Advocate who is constantly pleading for the fallen race. He pleads that spiritual power may be given them, that by the power, mightier than all the enemies of God and man, they may be able to overcome their spiritual foes.  {SW, September 13, 1898 par. 4}

34.  According to Ellen White who is the comforter? And what does the phrase “another comforter” means?

“The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, page 49)

“The nights are long and painful, but Jesus is my Comforter and my Hope.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, page 296)

“Christ is everything to those who receive Him. He is their Comforter, their safety, their healthfulness. Apart from Christ there is no light at all.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, page 372)

“There is no comforter like Christ, so tender and so true. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. His Spirit speaks to the heart.… The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, October 26, 1897)

If the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ then, it is Himself, separating “His life” from Him is trying to kill him, that would be absurd and an impossibility, but that’s what at least the devil is trying to do through the trinity doctrine, that keeps Christs away from the mind of believers

“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.… 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.” (Ellen White, Desire of Ages, page 671)

Note:  Ellen White used the words “third person of the Godhead”.  This must be understood in the context and language of her time.  And with the words used around her quotes.  Christ is that spirit [John 14:18, 1 Cor 3:17].  But he is obviously “Another comforter”.  This is what Ellen White says.

“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.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, pages 23, 24; written February 18 and 19, 1895)

The word “person” can be also understood to refer to manifestation.  The word “Godhead” means divinity.  The meaning of the saying can be understood the “third manifestation of divinity (the Godhead)”.   The term “God” does not mean “Godhead”.  The bible tells us that God has a Godhead.  “His…Godhead.” (Romans 1:20).  He is singular; ONE Being; and He has a “Godhead”.  He is the Father; and He is well pleased that in His Son should all the fullness of His Godhead (divinity) dwell. [Colossians 2:9]

If you consider the Holy Spirit to be a different being other than Christ Himsef, as the doctrine of the Trinity assumes, then you are robbing Jesus of His Deity, because then He cannot be the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omnscient (James 2:26), but His Holy Spirit is His Divinity, because as we shall see later, the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of the Father. As you can see the trinity destroys the “personality of God or quality of being God.” 

Note:  He is represented by the Holy Spirit, which is Christ in you, Christ in the angels, it is Jesus Christ Himself. Not a third divine holy spirit being that was a co-equal with the Father and Son.  Sister White said the Holy Spirit is Christ Himself, divested (stripped) of humanity.  “Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ came in the flesh is the “spirit of truth” [1 John 4:1-6] “He [Jesus] would represent Himself by His Holy Spirit.”   She did not say that he was another being.  She said person.  And the word person was used in a much different way.  The intent of the word is “personality” or “presence” or “power”. And the spirit is “another” different personality (manifestation) of the Godhead.  But it is none other than Christ in you himself.  Not a literal being possessing you but it is Christ is in you.  Let us go with the weight of the evidence.  He represents himself.  Joh 14:18  “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Note the careful wordings sister white uses in this particular instance, she does not say “the Holy Spirit (as a different person) represents Chirst” or “Christ is represented by (another person) the Holy Spirit” but she says “He (Christ) represents himself.” 

Note: On June 11, 1891, Ellen White wrote to Brother Chapman  in regard to his belief that the Holy Spirit is a separate being from Christ, namely, the angel Gabriel. She wrote, in part:

“Your ideas of the two subjects you mention do not harmonize with the light which God has given me. The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery not clearly revealed, and you will never be able to explain it to others because the Lord has not revealed it to you. You may gather together scriptures and put your construction upon them, but the application is not correct.… 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.” “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; 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” [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.… There are many mysteries which I do not seek to understand or to explain; they are too high for me, and too high for you. On some of these points, silence is golden.… I hope that you will seek to be in harmony with the body.… You need to come into harmony with your brethren.” (Ellen White, June 11, 1891, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, pages 175-180

Thus, we see clearly that sister White is arguing brother Chapman to teach what the other brethren like James White, Waggoner etc, were teaching at the time, that is God is not a Trinity. The Holy Spirit is Christ Himself, the Spirit of Chirst. Note: Christ is the comforter.  This she proved him to be.  Ellen White was in harmony with her brethren in 1891.

35.  What does Satan want to do in regards to the comforter?

“The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, August 26, 1890, also in Reflecting Christ, page 21)

Note:  The comforter is Christ himself and the enemy is seeking to keep us from knowing who our comforter is.  Many pray for the Spirit, but they do not know him.  So they pray but they cannot receive.  They have a misunderstanding of it.  Ellen White called the spirit a part of a “heavenly trio”.  It is a trio of power.  The father is the only God, the son is the one by whom all things are created.  The firstborn, the only begotten son of God, and the spirit is the mind, power, presence and will of our creator which proceeds from God and is the spirit of the Son, and we also have the spirit of God.[1 Cor 2:12-14] for it flows forth from God.  It is the power of God.   Which is the mind of Christ [1 Cor 2:16].  Christ in you is the hope of glory [Col 1:27].  With the seed of God in you, you will no longer commit known or willful sin, because he cannot commit sin [1 John 3:9], and Christ is that seed. 

So  let us worship God the creator of heaven and earth [Rev 14:7], the only true God [John 17:3], the one God the father[1 Cor 8:6] and honor and worship his son for in so doing you honor and worship the father.[John 5:23] because he came in his fathers name [John 5:47] and has by inheritance obtained a name [Heb 1:3]  And as the word, came forth from God as the only begotten, declared God, and therefore was God in substance, form, nature [John 1:1-18, Phi 2:5-8, Heb 1:1-8].  He was brought forth by his father before the world began [Pro 8:22-30] and before anything made was made.  He was not created, but all creatures were made by him [Col 1:15-16] Was ordained to be made equal to his Father in heaven and earth. [Matt 28:18].  And dwells in us with his Father by their spirit. [John 14:23] And freely gives us that Spirit that we can partake of the divine nature. [2 Pet1:3-4].  You are invited to have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship (companionship/ company/ friendship/ partnership/ association) is with the Father and his Son [1 John 1:3].  And the communion we have is the communion (spiritual union/ unity/ relationship) of the Holy Spirit.  A trio of power.  The Father God, His Word, the Only Begotten Son, the one who was made flesh, and His Spirit which proceed forth from Him. [1 John 5:7]  And these three bear record in heaven.   And many “Believeth not the record that God gave his son” [1 John 5:10]

Whosoever abides in the doctrine of Christ has two. Both the father and son.  [2 John 1:9].  Truly “There are certain men who crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [Jude 4].   Ellen White was not one of them.

“The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization.  Werethis reformation to take place, what would result?  The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.” [Selected Messages Book 1-Page 204, 205]

The pillars of our faith that were sustained by the pioneers over the 50 years before 1905 are now accounted as error.  Books of a new order have been written.  A new organization established.  And it is definitely a system of intellectual philosophy to believe that 1 equals 3 or 3 equals 1.  Because it is not common sense.  The foundation of this new organization and movement is built on sand as you can see denying the rock on which God’s church is built, and leaving the foundation; the true God is removed and another stands in his place.  They cannot have His spirit because they don’t know what it is. So their dependence is on human power alone, and philosophically speculative theology.   And many do not like to talk about this doctrine because Satan has sought to destroy any chance at a true understanding and “knowledge of Him” which would give us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness”.  [2 Pet 1:3, 4]  “This is eternal life to know the only true God and Jesus Christ”.[John 17:3]

36.  Answering Evangelism Page 615-617 Leroy Froom's seemingly Trinitarian Collection of EGW writings. Did she really mean what Leroy want us to believe?

How many times have we seen these quotes.  All apparently Trinitarian.   All these quotes are actually non-trinitarian.

37.  Where does the phrase “Eternal Dignitaries of the Trinity” in the book evangelism comes from?What does the original statement mean?

Quote:"The Eternal Dignitaries of the Trinity.--The eternal heavenly dignitaries--God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, . . ." {Ellen White Evangelism 616}

Firstly "the eternal dignitaries of the trinity" looks nice, it's all capitalized but it is totally uninspired. It is not the words of Ellen G. White. That is a phrase or subtittle that was added by compilers, specifically Leroy Froom, since Evangelism is not one of her original books; it’s a compilation of her writings to try to mislead believers that she taught the trinity theories. Let's re-read the quote. 

"The eternal heavenly dignitaries--God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, . . ." {Ev 616.4}.It would be great to see the entire context of this quote outside of the book Evangelism. However just from what we can see it refers to "God", "Christ" and "the Holy Spirit". "God" is distinct from His son, and His spirit in this quote or list, Paul also wrote a list which is quite the same list as that of sister White except this one is both detailed and stated in the reverse order. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph 4:4-6) This to me indicates that the title "God" in her quote refers to the father alone. The title God refers alone to the father in her quote and as far as can be seen is not Trinitarian at all. As we have seen from previous discusions, there is nothing related to the trinity in this phrase or statement.

Note, she states the word “diginitaries” in plural, but according to the trinity that word should be singular, “Diginitary that is God”, but also she name “God” first in the list implying that to be the Father, but to a trinitarian, God (singular, Diginitary) would be different from “God the Father” because to them, God the Father does not make up the totality of the Goadhead (Divinity) but instead they need to add other beings vis are “God the Son” and “God the Holy Spirit” to make up God, which she does not do, neither her statements warrant for such a conceptualization. I don't think that we can read into this quote "God the Father, God the Son and God Holy Spirit. Thus, from this very statement, she is not teaching the trinity, or even if she were trying which is not the case by any means, she would have failed 100% in stating the trinity doctrine using that phrase, because that is not a proper statement to represent the trinity. A proper statement of the trinity should be able to state that “God is one, who is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit” that is “three gods in one god” or “three persons in one person” or even numerically 1+1+1=1 which is a lie, because 1+1+1=3. To try avoid this impossibility trinitarians have tried to draw pictures or even images of three faces fused into one body or head, or even three heads into one body thus making God a monster. That is what is called in the bible “corrupting the image of God” and in Spirit of Prophecy “destroying the personality of God”.

38.  Is the Holy Spirit is a Person different from Jesus Christ and God?

Quote: Personality of the Holy Spirit.--"We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds."--Manuscript 66, 1899. {Ellen White Evangelism 616}

This quote says "God is a person". This seems to be non-trinitarian as well. Since Trinitarians teach that "God is three persons". However, let me go further. Let's say "Paul is a person as much as his spirit is a person." Would we then say Paul's spirit was someone separate and distinct from Paul? This is the same with our father in heaven. He is spirit the bible says. “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (Joh 4:21-24). And the bible further closes other posibilities of misunderstanding God by stating: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” (Eph 4:4), thus if God is a Spirit and there is one Spirit how could God and His spirit be two different beings. It is imposible both logically, numerically and even spiritually.

These verses talk about our father who is spirit, and we are to worship him in spirit and in truth. Many think that our God is a "mystery" which they call a Trinity. The words of Jesus "Ye know not what ye worship" would apply if our God is a mystery. When we get to heaven, God will not then say "Meet my spirit". We will see God face to face, and we will know him. The father of Jesus Christ. Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, thus it is true that, “The spirit is as much a person as God is a person.” Thus, the Holy Spirit is God Himself manifesting Himself through His Spirit. Thus, God can say for instance: “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.” (Gen 6:3)

39.  What does the phrase “The Three Great Powers of Heaven” –by Ellen G. White mean? Does it mean God is a Trinity?

Let’s look at this carefully, then answer my questions. I believe we are to co-operate with the "three great powers" however only one of those three entities is the eternal God. Read carefully then answer the question below. 

"It is the fulfillment of the covenant that God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, and with His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf. Doing this you will reveal to the world the principles of righteousness. {Signs of the Times, June 19, 1901 par. 4}

It says "GOD" binds us to him by "his SON". Who does the title "God" refer to?
The answer is God the father binds us to himself by his son. 1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. “Let the brightest example the world has yet seen be your example, rather than the greatest and most learned men of the age, who know not God, nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent. The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” (Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898)

40.  Does the phrase the “Heavenly Trio” by Ellen G. White teaches or was meant to teach the trinity doctrine?

As you shall see below sister White was rebuking those who were trying to explain God in a fashion different from the position they were holding then, that is a non-trinitarian position. Some erred by comparing God, His Son and His Spirit to One element that changed into different forms, viz LIGHT, DEW, VAPOUR/CLOUDS/RAIN, which are created things, but also they were trying to make God look like how the modalist defined him, that God only changed forms from Father to Son to Spirit, thereby denying the individuality of Christ. In her instructions it is clear that she makes a definitive distinction of who God is, who Christ is and who is the Holy Spirit. Note she indicates that (this is a short version) Father is the Godhead (Divinity) bodily, the Son manifest this Godhead (Divinity), and the Spirit is in the Godhead (Divinity). Or a much shorter version would be; the Father is God, the Son reveals Him, the Spirit is in the Father. Thus she is not trying to describe any trinity doctrine here, she finally simply, instead of listing them only she sums the list by using the word trio, because trio is simply three, which is not different from listing them as she does there after. “There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--"{SpTB07 62-63} Note again, she does not say there are three God, neither is she saying that these three persons are each God, or even that they make up ONE God. But she is emphatic in her language that God is the Father. Christ manifests God. The Spirit dwells in God.

"I am instructed to say, the sentiments of those who are searching for advanced scientific ideas are not to be trusted. Such representations as the following are made: "The Father is as the light invisible; the Son is as the light embodied; the Spirit is the light shed abroad." "The Father is like the dew, invisible vapor; the Son is like the dew gathered in beauteous form; the Spirit is like the dew fallen to the seat of life." Another representation: "The Father is like the invisible vapor; the Son is like the leaden cloud; the Spirit is rain fallen and working in refreshing power."

All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect, untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthly likeness can be compared to. God can not be compared with the things His hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of the sins of man. The Father can not be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be "the express image of His person." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here is shown the personality of the Father.

The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-- those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. . . ." {SpTB07 62-63}

The son is the expression of God's "person".  The father's person is seen in his son Jesus Christ as well as the Holy Spirit which is manifest through more than just the father and son.  The Father is God here and he gave his only begotten Son according to this quote.  This teaches us that we have one God.   If you look carefully here is what you see this: 

God the father, the only true God is invisible to mortal sight. No man has seen God. The son made manifest the father's Godhead (divine nature). And the Holy Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead has manifest God the father’s POWER and DIVINITY (Godhead) [Rom 1:20] or Divine grace to all who receive Christ the comforter.  

Brackets are added on this for clarity as so many today did not know that the Godhead is the father's divinity, which the father gave to his son.(Col 1:19) and was well pleased that in his Son should all the fulness of the Godhead (Divine Nature) dwell which is the manifestation of the fathers's spirit. Note: No one dwells "In the Godhead but the Spirit does, because she states that the Comfoter (Spirit) is the Spirit in the Godhead”. But also the Godhead dwells in Christ, His Son, and all who partake of the divine nature since the Spirit is fullness of the Godhead manifesting the father's POWER and DIVINITY. In all of these quotes the term God refers to the father alone.  Jesus Christ is referred to as the son of God.   

41.  Is there a difference between the beliefs in the "Godhead" vs. "the Trinity? 

Many today are using the term "godhead" to mean "God" or “Trinity”. Some have tried to replace the term "trinity" with "godhead". But the truth is: God has a "Godhead". “The Godhead” is a characteristic of “God” or His Divinity. Notice in the following verse that his "Godhead" is clearly seen in the things made. 

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

Now if the term "Godhead" is the new replacement word for "Trinity" or "three in one God" then the verse is saying "God's “three in one God” is clearly seen in the things made" or "God's trinity is clearly seen in the things made". Logically we can conclude that “Godhead” does not mean a “three in one God” or trinity, because it does not make sense.

I'd like to propose to you that the term "Godhead" actually means "divinity" or "divine nature". Here is what Ellen White wrote once. She quotes this same verse Romans 1:20. But notice that the word "Godhead" is translated "divinity". She quotes it from the American Standard Version Bible. 

"The invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity." Romans 1:20, A.R.V."(Ellen White Ministry of Healing 410). 

So the term "Godhead" refers to a characteristic of God himself. God is the father if we read the context. He is not a three in one God. Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. So if we read that carefully we see that God the father has a "Godhead" which is his "divinity". His divine nature was given to His Son. Col 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”  Col 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”

All things proceed from God and are given to Christ. Now most Trinitarians today have renamed the "Trinity" and now call it the "Godhead". It's like calling a cat a dog. It's still a cat. But in order to escape comparison to Rome they misuse the term "godhead". But as you can see "godhead" means "divinity" and not "trinity". God's divinity is clearly seen in the things made, not God's trinity.

42.  And who is the comforter?

“The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, page 49) 

“The nights are long and painful, but Jesus is my Comforter and my Hope.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, page 296) 

“Christ is everything to those who receive Him. He is their Comforter, their safety, their healthfulness. Apart from Christ there is no light at all.” (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, page 372) 

“There is no comforter like Christ, so tender and so true. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. His Spirit speaks to the heart.… The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, October 26, 1897) 

“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.” (Ellen White,Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, pages 23, 24; written February 18 and 19, 1895) 

2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

43.  What were Ellen G. White response toTrinity views of John H. Kellogg?

These quotes were written in regards to the book Living Temple by John Harvey Kellogg. Kellogg had misunderstood Ms. White’s words especially the phrase “the third person” as used by her and started teaching the Trinity.  Ms. White tells him God is a father, not a trinity. Read this heavenly trio quote in it’s context.

“I am instructed to say, the sentiments of those who are searching for advanced scientific ideas are not to be trusted. Such representations as the following are made: “The Father is as the light invisible; the Son is as the light embodied; the Spirit is the light shed abroad.” “The Father is like the dew, invisible vapor; the Son is like the dew gathered in beauteous form; the Spirit is like the dew fallen to the seat of life.” Another representation: “The Father is like the invisible vapor; the Son is like the leaden cloud; the Spirit is rain fallen and working in refreshing power.”

All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect, untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthly likeness can be compared to. God can not be compared with the things His hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of the sins of man. The Father can not be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight. The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be “the express image of His person.” “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Here is shown the personality of the Father.

The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven,  is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit– those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. . . .” {SpTB07 62-63}

Note the statements: where the statement “all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” comes from Col 2:9. She makes it plain that the Father is not only the Godhead, because that is what he possess “called His Godhead (divinity) Rom 1:20”, but that the Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Contrary to what trinitarians says, that the Godhead is the Trinity, here scriptures is clear that the “fulness of the Godhead bodily is the Father”

Compare her definitions of the three persons and decide for yourself who is cited here as being God. You will notice that God here is the Father. The Father dwells in Christ (Col 2:9), Christ manifest God, who is the Father. The Holy Spirit is in  God that is the Father who is “all the fullness of the Godhead”.

a)      The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

b)      The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested.

c)      The Comforter… is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace

That simply means that there is one Godhead (divinity), that Godhead or divinity is the divine personality (or quality of being God (Rom 1:20)) of the Father, and that God dwells in Chirst (Col 2:9) and the Spirit is in God (Jame 2:26, 1 Cor 2:10-11). Thus trying to separate the Holy Spirit from God and call him another God a being called God the Holy Spirit is trying to destroy God’s personality. Sister White quotes the bible thus: “the express image of His person.”(Heb 1:3), indicating that Jesus Christ being the imahe of the Father, is manifesting the personality of the Father which is His Divinity (Godhead). That is why he is able to say, “…Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (Joh 14:9-10). How is that possible? Christ in the Father and the Father in Chirst? It is only possible through their Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9). It is in that sense Christ is able to say that:” I and my Father are one”.  (Joh 10:30). And the same “oneness (unity)” is possible among the believers: “that they may be one, as we are”. (Joh 17:11 margin)

Now as you may have noted above, Sister White uses the words “person and personality” interchangeably to mean the “three manifestations (plural) of the personality (singular) of God”. She calls them powers. Thus, there are two beings the Father and the Son, and there are three manifestations (called by sister white “persons”). Thus when the “third person” comes to us, it is not a different being as some would like us to believe, but rather, it is the coming of the Father and the Son in the heart of the believers (John 14: 17-20, Rev 3:20). This is further confirmed by Sister White’s own testimony where she says: "That Christ should manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to the disciples. They could not understand the words of Christ in their spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet He be unseen by the world. They did not understand the meaning of a spiritual manifestation." E. G. White, The Southern Work, September 13, 1898 par. 2.

Check also the Bibel passage itself, it is very clear: 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 (present tense, Jesus Himself), and shall be in you (future tense, Holy Spirit). I will not leave you comfortless (remember Jesus is the Comforter): I (Jesus Himself) will come to you. Yet a little while (how long is that?), and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (Joh 14:17-20). That is plain as it can get. Jesus was to come again at Pentecost in a spiritual manifestation. “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Christ comes as the rain, the Holy Spiritin our hearts. (Hos 6:3). So one can say there are two beings, the Father and the Son, and there are three manifestations of God the Father, through Himself, His Son and His Spirit. And that these three are three great powers.

But, one asks, how that is so. Read John 3:13: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (Joh 3:13). Now mind you, Chirst is standing on earth with Nicodemus, and He is saying, in the margin of the verse” that “the Son of Man, that is Jesus Himself is in Heaven”, how can that be possible? Well, the answer is good enough, Jesus as the Son of God operates on two levels or two offices semoultaneusly. When He was on Earth, His Holy Spirit was in Heaven, and When He ascendend to heaven the Holy Spirit came on earth at pentocoste. That is why sister white says: “While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church.” — (Desire of Ages, p. 166) “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world.” Testimonies vol. 7, p. 273  “It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.” Desire of Ages, page 388 “They are two in individuality, yet one in spirit” Youth’s Instructor Dec 16, 1897 " 'The words that I speak are spirit and life' John 6:63. Christ is not here referring to His doctrine, but to His person, the divinity of His character.” 1Selected Messages p. 249. The only reason we now (that is after the cross) have three manifestations (called persons by Sister White) is only due to the fact that, Jesus took upon Humanity, adding to himself the Human personality on His Divine personality. Thus Christ has two personalities, the human person (Acts 2:22) and the Divine person (Acts 1:8). The two persons makes one being called Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18), while God the father’s person is invisible to mortal beings, he reveals himself through His Son and His Holy Spirit.

Now read it again with the Trinitarian view added……

Is this Heavenly trio quote really Trinitarian? Brackets added.

“All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect, untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthly likeness can be compared to. God (The father, son, and holy spirit) can not be compared with the things His (The father, son, and holy spirit’s) hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God (The father, son, and holy spirit) because of the sins of man. The Father (Hmm, I thought he was a trinity) can not be described by the things of earth. The Father (Hmm, I thought he was a trinity) is all the fulness of the Godhead (The father, son, and holy spirit) bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.

The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead (The father, son, and holy spirit) manifested. The Word of God (The father, son, and holy spirit) declares Him to be “the express image of His (The father, son, and holy spirit’s) person.” “God (The father, son, and holy spirit) so loved the world, that He (The father, son, and holy spirit) gave His (The father, son, and holy spirit’s) only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Here is shown the personality of the Father (Hmm, I thought he was a trinity).

The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead (The father, son, and holy spirit), making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit– those who receive Christ  by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. . . .”{SpTB07 62-63}

I have searched Ms. Whites writings and the scriptures and have yet to find a single instance where the title “God” is used to refer to “the father, son and holy spirit”. My faith comes by the word of God, and God expects us to believe nothing outside of that word. Therefore I cannot believe in the holy trinity. It destroys the personality of our God and his son Jesus Christ as quoted from Ms. White. It destroys the love of the father and everything he gave to his son, and to us. It makes him an actor, pretender, liar, hypocrite and selfish since he really gave nothing to his son, and he’s not even really a father if the trinity is real, so he didn’t even give a son.

1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

JS Washburn on the Trinity 1939 Letter

Letter by J. S. Washburn

The doctrine of the Trinity is a cruel heathen monstrosity, removing Jesus from his true position of Divine Savior and Mediator. It is true we can not measure or define divinity. It is beyond our finite understanding, yet on this subject of the personality of God the Bible is very simple and plain. The Father, the Ancient of Days, is from eternity. Jesus was begotten of the Father. Jesus speaking through the Psalmist says: “The Lord (Jehovah) has said unto me, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.”—Psalm 2:7.

Again in Proverbs (where Jesus is spoken of under the title of wisdom, See 1 Cor. 1:24), we read: “The Lord (Jehovah) possessed me in the beginning of his way”.—v. 22 “Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.”—v. 2

44.  Who is Our Comforter?

Jesus promised to send us a most precious gift after his glorification.  He said.  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”  (John 16:7)(See also John 7:39).

“The comforter which is the holy spirit” (John 14:26) was not sent until Jesus was glorified.  However in John 14 Jesus speaks of this comforter.  Jesus said:

Joh 14:16-17  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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.

Jesus when speaking of the comforter said “he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  Here we find a seeming contradiction since the comforter could not be sent until Jesus Christ was glorified.  We just read in John 16 that the comforter’s coming was dependent on Jesus going away.

How is it that the comforter who was yet to be sent “dwelleth with them” in John 14?  This passage explains itself.  Jesus didn’t leave off in verse 17.   He continues in the next verse by saying:

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Jesus the Comforter  Christ was dwelling with them and he was going to come back as the comforter and dwell in them.  Christ is the comforter himself.

The greek word for comforter is “parakletos”.  John uses this word 5 times in scripture.  The 5th time it is used is 1 John 2:1.  It is translated “Advocate”

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Christ is the “parakletos”.

45.  But Christ said “another“ so doesn’t that indicate he is speaking of someone else?:

The same word in Hebrew for “another” is used of Saul in the Old Testament.  Notice what it says:

1Sa 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

Saul was about to be turned into another man.  Saul had been through an experience.  He had received the Holy Spirit which also was available to those in the Old Testament.  That spirit was Jesus Christ living inside of Saul.

1Pe 1:10-11  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Saul was still Saul, but yet after his experience he was now “another” man.

In the same sense the Holy Spirit was still the holy spirit, but yet it was now after Christ’s glorification called “another” comforter.   Jesus had to first endure an experience in order that he was much more able to say “I have been there, I have done that”.

The greek word used here is “Allos” which means”else” that is “another of the same kind”

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another (allos) Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (Joh 14:16)

Another instance that can help illustrate this point of difference is Paul’s use of the word “another” in Greek. For instance Gal 1:6-7, Pauls says:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (heteros) gospel: Which is not another (allos); but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal 1:6-7)

Now this verse if read without reviwing the original language is not clear, but if you know what were the original words (supplied in the brackets) the meaning comes clear. Here is actually telling the Galatians that, they are now following a “different gospel” other than that of Christ, by using the words another (heteros) gospel. But he as the same time does not want to be misunderstood; he stresses what he means using the words Which is not another (allos); he is practically saying: that gospel they are now receiving which he called “another (heteros) gospel” is infact not “another Gospel of the same kind” that is another (allos) gospel, for instance the gospel or mark, john, mathew and luke may be considered “allos gospels” but are they different (heteros) gospels? No, not at all, actually they are preaching the same gospel in different styles. That is why Paul in his explanations hastens to say that it is not “another of the same kind” supposedely he is leaving rooms for other appostles gospel preaching to also be called “another of the same kind” and  not “another of a different kind”.

So, the words “another (allos) Comforter” could not mean another person coming, but the same Jesus in a different manifestation. It could not mean another comforter of a different kind, which is God the Holy Spirit. It could only mean another comfoter of the same kind that is Jesus Christ in His Spirit form. Now, as in the Galatian passage, Paul contrasts between same Gospel having different styles versus different Gospels. Similarly Jesus talks of the same Being (Hmself) in two different manifestations; the visible human manifestation of Jesus and the invisible spiritual manifestation of Jesus.

Let’s say that you had just been through an experience.  Your family just died in a plane crash.  Your wife and your beautiful children.   And I came to you and said “Well brother, I know exactly what you are going through” even though I had never been through that experience.  That wouldn’t be very comforting would it?

Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor(help) them that are tempted.

The bible says that now that Jesus has been through the experience he can now say to you and me “I’ve been through it, I’ve been tempted in all points like you have and I will help you overcome, I will come to you, I will help you”.

There is only one being in this universe who can truly “comfort” us like that.  Only one who is able to “succor” them that are tempted. It is a great comfort to me to know that Jesus himself will not leave me comfortless, but comes to me himself and dwells in me by his spirit whereby I can truly cry “abba, father”(Galations 4:6).  Only a son can cry “Abba, father”.

1Jn 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Does that sound familiar? Who did Christ say the world knew not in John 14:17, it was the Spirit of Truth. “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”  (1Jn 3:24) “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”  (1Jn 4:13) “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”  (1Jn 5:20)

46.  Didn’t Jesus call the comforter a “he” and speak of the spirit in the third person?

Yes, it was very common in those days to speak of yourself in that sense.   Notice the following passage where Christ speaks of himself as “the son” and also calls himself “he, him, and himself”.

Joh 5:19-23  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

So it was very common for Jesus to speak of himself in the third person.It was in the same sense Ellen G.White calls the Spirit, “the third person”

So who is the Holy Spirit?

The bible says “The comforter which is the holy spirit” (John 14:26) is that spirit.  And we just learned that it is Jesus who said that he wouldn’t leave us comfortless, that he would come to us and comfort us.  He says further in John 14:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

The father is the source of that spirit.  When we look at the sanctuary in heaven we see that the father is the source of living water and all things come through his son Jesus.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. So that river of living water flows from the source. Water sysmbol of Holy Spirit

Joh 7:38-39  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

That living water that flows from the throne of God is the spirit.  It flows through his son Jesus Christ and out through all of the children of God.  As Jesus said it will even proceed out of you.  But the source is none other than the father.

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

All things proceed from our “One God the father” and come by his son and our “Lord Jesus Christ”.  And Paul says we have “One Lord”(Eph 4:5).

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Christ is that spirit and he has come to deliver the captives and give them liberty and freedom from the bondage and captivity to sin.

47.  What is the spirit?:

Many today have come to believe that the spirit is a body less phantom or ghost that flies around and takes possession of others.  This concept of the spirit however is not correct and is actually very deceptive. Gods children are given free will to accept his spirit and the only service that they will give is a willing service of love and not of forced will.

So what is the spirit?  Let me ask you:  If I said to you “Hi, my name is David, I’d like you to meet my spirit, he is standing over there, let me get him”.  Would you think that I had an incorrect understanding of my spirit?  Yes, right.  My spirit is not someone else separate and distinct from me.  My spirit is me, it’s my personality, my mind my character.

Same with God.  God has a spirit.  The bible calls it “the holy spirit of God”(Eph 4:30).   His spirit is described by the adjective “Holy”.   His spirit is not someone distinct and separate from him, his spirit is him, it is his personality, his mind, his character.

Notice the following verses:

Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

 Isa 40:13  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

The words “spirit” and “mind” are often interchanged.  Notice how the following verse from Ezekiel uses the same Hebrew word “Ruwach” but translates it in one instance “mind” and the next instance “spirit”.

“And the Spirit [Hebrew: j^Wr –  ruwach #7307 in Strong’s Concordance] 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 [ruwach],every one of them.” (Ezekiel 11:5)

The holy spirit is the mind of Christ.  We are to receive the mind of Christ.  Look at the following passage and notice how it is speaking of the spirit, then finally closes with receiving the mind of Christ.

1Co 2:11-16  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. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Who hath known the spirit of the Lord?  Who hath known the mind of the Lord?  The same words and question as asked in the previous verses from Romans 11:34 and Isaiah 40:13 which we just read, however in this instance Paul clarifies that the “Spirit of the Lord” is the “mind of Christ”.

Now let me ask you.  Would you say that the mind of Christ is a separate and distinct being from Christ himself.  I don’t believe Christ will say to us when we meet him “I’d like you to meet my mind, he’s standing over there”.

Notice in the above passage from 1 Corinthians 2 that it compares God’s spirit to man’s spirit.  Man has a spirit that is in him.  In the same sense God has a spirit that is in him.  Man is not divided into co-equal beings called the man and his spirit.

48.  Does the spirit has a personality different from the person himself?

Many people have come to the understanding that the spirit is someone other than Christ because it has characteristics and personality. 

For instance the spirit can be grieved.

Dan 7:15  I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Daniel was grieved in his spirit in the midst of his body.  Daniel was sorrowful.  He had the spirit of Christ (1 Pet 1:11) which is also the spirit of God. (Romans 8:9).  And he was grieved, but it was not someone else particularly, but it was he himself who was grieved in the midst of his body.   Daniel’s spirit belongs to Daniel, just as Gods spirit belongs to God.

The spirit can perceive things.

Mar 2:8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Notice, Jesus perceived things in his spirit.  Again Jesus is not perceiving things in someone else who is separate and distinct from him.  His spirit is his mind.

The spirit can be troubled.

Dan 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

Nebuchadnezzar’s spirit was troubled.  This is not teaching us that someone else separate and distinct from Nebuchadnezzar was troubled.  This is teaching us that he himself was troubled. If I said to you “meet Nebuchadnezzar, he has a wonderful spirit” you would not think that I was talking of someone separate and distinct from Nebuchadnezzar.

The spirit serves

Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

The spirit can be overwhelmed

Psa_77:3  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

The spirit can make dilligent search

Psa_77:6  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

The spirit can seek

Isa_26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The spirit can pray

1Co_14:14  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

The spirit can be refreshed

1Co_16:18  For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

The spirit can be restless and so does a man

2Co_2:13  I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

The spirit is the part of someone including God and Christ themselves that can be troubled, it also refers to the person himself, it can perceive things, it can be grieved and it has personality.   The bible teaches us that “there is one spirit” (Eph 4:4).  As we have learned that spirit is the mind of Christ.  It is also the spirit of God.  Notice how the “spirit of God” and the “spirit of Christ” are interchanged in the following passage.  Also note that this spirit is actually “Christ in you”.  That one spirit is the “Holy Spirit”.

Rom 8:9-10  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  “It is…Christ who liveth in me…” (Gal 2:20) “..Christ in you, the hope of glory”(Col 1:27)

Jesus said in John 14 that it was “the father that dwelleth in me (Christ)” (John 14:10).  He also said when speaking of his father “I speak not of myself” (John 14:10).   Jesus is explaining that his father dwells in him by his spirit.  He continues this chapter by saying that “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.”(John 14:23).

Christ states that in the same sense that his father dwells in him, he and his father will come and dwell in us.  They will come spiritually.  The spirit of God is the spirit of Christ.  And so the father and son share a kindred spirit.  In the same sense we are to share of that spirit and be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4).

The father anointed the son with his own spirit. (See Heb 1:9, Luke 4:18).

Joh 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Now we understand that the father has a spirit.  We also know that son has a spirit.  Does the Holy spirit have a spirit?   We know the father has a throne and also that the son has a throne, does the holy spirit have a throne?   The Bible mentions several different types of Spirit. We read about “foul spirit,” “evil spirit,” “unclean spirit,” “dumb spirit,” “excellent spirit,” “humble spirit,” “wounded spirit,” “broken spirit,” “haughty spirit,” “faithful spirit,” “good spirit.” All these spirits are distinguishable by the adjective that describes them.

The father has a name.  His name is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”.  The son has a name.  His name is “Yahshua” or “Jesus”.  What is the name of the Holy spirit?

49.  The father and son alone are to be exalted

Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

In reading the bible we find many times where the father and son are exalted.

Php 2:10-11  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Every knee will confess that Christ is “Lord” to the glory of “God the father”.  The bible speaks to us about  “One God the father, and one Lord Jesus Christ”.  In fact almost all of the epistle salutations start with a greeting similar to this:

Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

2Pe 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2Jn 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Now why is it that only two beings are mentioned in this passage.  One of which is called God and that is the father of Jesus Christ.  There is no mention of any third divine being in any of the greetings whether it be Paul, Peter, James, John, or Jude.

John stated:

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John knew only of the father and his son Jesus and he invites us to have fellowship with him and them.  Surely he wouldn’t leave out the Holy Spirit if it was a third divine being.  Jesus when speaking of those who could testify of him said:

Joh 8:17-18  It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Where in this passage is the mention of the Holy Spirit if the spirit is a separate and distinct divine being aside from God and Christ.

Regarding the cousel in heaven which took place before the foundations of the world it is written that there were two beings involved in this counsel of peace.

Zec 6:12-13 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

Jesus Christ is the only being who entered the counsels of God.  He was equal with God and in all points like his father.  When Jesus spoke of the Jews who hated him, he spoke also of his father.

Joh 15:23-24  He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

If the spirit is a divine being why would Jesus leave him out here?  Wouldn’t the Jews hate all three of them?  Why does he only mention “both me and my father”.

Paul called all heaven to witness a solemn charge to Timothy.

1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

God is mentioned, Christ and the elect angels even, but yet no mention of a third divine being.  The bible talks about the father and his love for us in giving his only begotten son having his beloved son torn from his bosom because we sinned.  It also tells us of the love of Jesus Christ in counting it not a thing to be equal with his father, but giving this up and leaving this behind and being made in the likeness of men, in all points made like unto his brothers.  

Act 20:28  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.

Interestingly, the bible tells us that the Holy Spirit purchased us with his own blood.   The bible teaches us that we have “One Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 8:6) and “The Lord is that spirit” (2 Cor 3:17).  Christ is that spirit and he shed his own blood to purchase us at the cross of calvary.

A perusal of the following verses which serve as a summary of the call of Paul and his call to ministry will indicate that Jesus called him, but which confirms the fact that when the Holy Spirit called him it was Jesus himself who called him and not a different person.

For I (Jesus) will shew him how great things he (Paul/Saul) must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (Act 9:16-17)

And he (Ananias) said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One (Jesus), and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (Act 22:14-15)

And saw him (Jesus) saying unto me (Paul), Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me (Jesus). (Act 22:18)

And he (Jesus) said unto me, Depart: for I(Jesus) will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.  (Act 22:21)

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. (Act 13:2)

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2Co 3:17)

The comforter is none other than Jesus Christ himself and Satan is doing everything he can to keep us from realizing our “hope of glory which is Christ in you”(Col 1:27).

A perusal of the warnings and admonitions that Christ gave to the seven churches, it is interesting to note that, it is Christ who is speaking but it is the Spirit that is said to have said what Christ said. That clearly indicates the Spirit is Christ Himself speaking and not another being.

First chruch: Ephesus

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he (Jesus) that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (Rev 2:1)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I (Jesus) give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev 2:7)

Second church: Smyrna

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last (Jesus), which was dead, and is alive; (Rev 2:8)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:11)

Third church: Pergamos

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he (Jesus) which hath the sharp sword with two edges; (Rev 2:12)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I (Jesus) give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Rev 2:17)

Fourth church: Thyatira

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; (Rev 2:18)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(Rev 2:29)

Fifth church: Sardis

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he (Jesus) that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Rev 3:1)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(Rev 3:6)

Sixth church: Philadelphia

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he (Jesus) that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Rev 3:7)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(Rev 3:13)

Seventh church: Laodiceans

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

(Rev 3:14)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(Rev 3:22)

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2Co 3:17)

Rev 3:20-22  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Jesus wants to come into you and comfort you.  Hear what the spirit is saying to this seventh church in Laodicea.  He wants to grant you the opportunity to sit on a throne with him even as he sits on a throne with his father.

50.  What was Kellogg's New Theology of God? And what were the responses from Ellen G. White?

During the life of Ellen G. White, John Harvey Kellogg began entertaining new ideas about the nature of God.

He emphasized the indwelling nature of God, not only as Spirit but power; and not only in humanity, but all living cells in nature.

We get a glimpse of these concepts within the book he later published, the Living Temple. Some of Kellogg's ideas indeed realized the presence of God in everything and drifted toward an impersonal universal power.

Sunlight is divine energy and the presence of God because John said "God is light." p. 64, 87.

God is the very substance of the food we eat; we absorb from our food the very substance of His body. p. 88

The Creator is himself present in our blood because He is life, and the life of the flesh is in the blood. p. 252

The divine Intelligence thinks and wills within the white blood cells of our body. p. 261

God is ever present within us acting through our instincts which way we should go. p. 437

The great Designer is a personal being yet an all-pervading, all-controlling personality within nature. p. 451

There is a universal unity of being, an infinite indwelling presence. p. 459
Every meal is a sacrament, a partaking of God's substance sacrificed for our sustenance. p. 459

But he also presented a theology that equated the indwelling Spirit of God with Christ:

Because the Creator dwells in our body temple He bears all the pain, sorrow that we suffer. p. 441

The Spirit of God is the Lord, the Christ, that made us and dwells in us (Job 33:4; 32:8; 2Cor 3:16,17) p. 457

We must put our wills into harmony with God's ever-present intelligence and will. p. 485

We can believe that God is ever present within us and feel a mighty power working within. p. 486

Ellen White would later point out that some of Kellogg's expressions and sentiments were in harmony with her writings. But she refused to allow this alone to support all the teachings in the book:

"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." EGW, 1SM 203

She does not here identify which expressions and sentiments were at fault and which were in harmony. In 1881, however, Ellen White was forced to send him a warning

"Those theories are wrong. I have met them before." Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 278, 279.

Which theories was Ellen White referring to?

 
Was she objecting to the view that God Himself dwells within us? This is the teaching of Scripture.

Or to the conclusion that the Spirit of God is Jesus Christ? The Bible speaks of the Spirit of Christ, and that the Spirit is the Lord, that is Jesus. This is the teaching of Scripture and her own writings.

Or, more likely, to the pantheistic notions that God was in sunlight, in water, in food, in our blood?

In 1897 Kellogg began to express his ideas publically.

"What a wonderful thought, that this mighty God that keeps the whole universe in order, is in us! ...What an amazing thing that this almighty, all-powerful, and all-wise God should make Himself a servant of man by giving man a free will-power to direct the energy within his body!" General Conference Daily Bulletin 1897, p. 83.

God in us. Sounds biblical. The Holy Spirit dwells in us; Christ in us, the hope of glory. But these sentiments are different: Not a personal indwelling, abiding, Spirit of Christ, but the focus is on a "power" an "energy" within. This was actually the precursor of what has become present day New Age spiritualism. More than this, Ellen White objected to the thought that God would dwell in the sinner.

"In Living Temple the assertion is made that God is in the flower, in the leaf, in the sinner." Ellen White, Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1 Manuscript 46, 1904, MR 900, p 343.

"But God does not live in the sinner. The Word declares that He abides only in the hearts of those who love Him and do righteousness. God des not abide in the heart of the sinner; it is the enemy who abides there." Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1 Manuscript 46, 1904, MR 900, p 343.

"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." Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 291, 1904.

Mrs White continued sending warnings from Australia. But when the Battle Creek Sanitarium burned down in early 1902, Dr. Kellogg proposed to sell 500,000 copies of the book he was writing on health called the Living Temple to finance the rebuilding of a new facility.

General Conference President, A.G.Daniels, counselled Kellogg to not include any of his "new ideas" in the book.

"Now look here, Doctor, that book must not contain a single argument of this new theory you are teaching, because there are a lot of people all over the States who do not accept it. I know from what they say, and if it has any of what they consider pantheism they will never touch it." (Arthur L. White, The Early Elmshaven Years Vol. 5 chapter 21 page 288)

However, Kellogg introduced a considerable amount of his fanciful ideas anyway-- ideas on the all pervasive nature of God which he saw in every aspect of creation: light, clouds, rain, circles, sound, etc, etc. Ellen white responded by forcefully expounding the Personality and Personhood of God and His Spirit.

Person or Personalitiy

Ellen White explained the nature of her objections:

"I have been instructed to say, the sentiments of those who are searching
for advanced scientific ideas are not to be trusted. Such representations as the following are made:  'The Father is as the light invisible: the Son is as the light embodied; the Spirit is the light shed abroad.' 'The Father is like the dew, invisible vapor; the Son is like the dew gathered in beauteous form; the Spirit is like the dew fallen to the seat of life.' Another representation:  'The Father is like the invisible vapor; the Son is like the leaden cloud; the Spirit is rain fallen and working in refreshing power.' All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect, untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthy likeness can be compared to. God cannot be compared with the things His hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of the sins of man. The Father cannot be described by the things of earth." Evangelism p. 614

Notice, she cites various analogies used to illustrate the Trinity, but concludes "God cannot be compared…The Father cannot be described by the things of earth." Two issues appear to be addressed: 1) the notion of a trinity, and 2) "spiritualistic representations" of God. She did not denounce the truth that God dwells within us by His Spirit nor that the Spirit of God is the Lord Jesus Christ. She is, in fact, taking issue with the characterization of the Godhead by then popular Pentecostals such as William Boardman.

Popular in England during the 1870's was the 'Higher Life' movement. William Boardman, who teamed up with Dwight L. Moody, wrote a 100,000 copy best-seller called "The Higher Christian Life" in 1858. Coincidentaly, He had used the same examples cited above by Ellen White to illustrate what he called "the triune God."

"The Father is as the light invisible. The Son is as the light embodied. The Spirit is as the light shed down." "The Father is like the dew in invisible vapor. The Son is like the dew gathered in beauteous form. The Spirit is like the dew fallen to the seat of life." "The Father is like to the invisible vapor. The Son is as the laden cloud and palling rain. The Spirit is the rain — fallen and working in refreshing power." (W. Boardman, The Higher Christian life, part 2, chapter 1, pp. 201-203)

Sound familiar? Ellen White was essentially quoting Boardman, rejecting his examples as "untrue" "spiritualistic representations." But then Boardman continued.

"They may also illustrate the truth that all the fulness of Him who filleth all in all, dwells in each person of the Triune God." Ibid.

Ellen White was thus rejecting the physical world metaphors used by both Boardman and Kellogg to promote belief in a "Triune God."

Boardman also wrote another famous trinitarian statement:

"The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead invisible.

The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested.

The Spirit is all the fulness of the Godhead making manifest.”

(William Boardman, The Higher Christian Life, part ii, chapter 1)

Ellen White took Boardman's statement and corrected it point by point.

"The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.

The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be “the express image of His person." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here is shown the personality of the Father.

 
The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour."
(Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies Series B No.7, page 62 1906) (Ev 1946 p. 615) (In Heavenly Places 1967 Chapter 330) (SDABC 1970 Vol 7A p. 441) (Bible Training School March 1, 1906)

While Boardman concludes with three "persons of the living God"
i.e., three personalities united in one indivisible God.

Ellen White changes it to three "living personalities of the heavenly trio." i.e She does not treat them as a single Being.

Boardman's living God is composed of three persons--an orthodox trinitarian statement. White's Godhead is a trio of three living personalitiess--clearly nontrinitarian as of 1906.

Those who note that Ellen White's printed statement is "three living persons" not "personalities" will shortly see that her handwritten edited and thus corrected version was indeed "personalities." While she was making a conscious effort to quote Boardman, she did not do so exactly, but rather to correct the errors in his version. Boardman's statement is "living persons," and although Ellen initially wrote this, she appears to see in this expression room for improvement and adjusted in her own handwriting the word to "personalities."

An official photocopy of the original Ellen White manuscript obtained from the E.G.White Estate shows that many words in the original were adjusted by Mrs White herself: Significantly, "persons" was changed to "personalities." APPENDIX E.

It seems to follow nearly the same structure as the Boardman quote, but it diverges with the third stanza:

"The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead invisible...

The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested...

The Spirit....is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead making manifest"

The expected symmetry would have been "The Spirit is all the fullness of the Godhead..." This awkward expression is the result of changing an initial thought. In this middle section we see that the original wording was: "The Spirit, the Comforter whom Christ promised to send after he ascended to heaven, is Christ." This would have avoided the circular redundancy of the subsequent correction.

Boardman summarizes by using the standard trinitarian construct--three persons of the one God:

"The persons are not mere offices, or modes of revelation, but living persons of the living God."

(William Boardman, The Higher Christian Life, part ii, chapter 1)

Ellen modifies this statement as well, replacing the one God with a trio:

There are three living personalitiess of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-those who receive Christ by living faith are baptised, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ." (Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies Series B No.7, page 62 1906) (Ev 1946 p. 615) (In Heavenly Places 1967 Chapter 330) (SDABC 1970 Vol 7A p. 441) (Bible Training School March 1, 1906)

Her change of "persons” to "personality" is significant. However, for whatever reason, the adjusted reading in her own handwriting was not captured in the printed version. If it had, then it would have provided consistency with the other statements that clearly express the personality of the Father and the Son.

"The Father and the Son each have a personality. Christ declared, "I and My Father are one." Yet it was the Son of God who came to the world in human form." Evangelism p. 614 T9 p. 68 (1909)

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us." These words present God and Christ as two distinct personalities. (Notebook Leaflets, p. 124)

"On Sabbath, April 27, many of our brethren and sisters from neighboring churches gathered in the parlors with the sanitarium family, and I spoke to them there. I read the first chapter of Hebrews as the basis of my discourse. This chapter clearly indicates the individual personalities of the Father and the Son. (R&H, Aug. 1, 1907)

"In this Scripture [John 1:1-4, 14-16: 3:34-36] God and Christ are spoken of as two distinct personalities, each acting in their own individuality. (MR 760, p. 18)

But when speaking of the Holy Spirit she appears to interchange the use of words person and personality

"The Holy Spirit is Christ's representative, but divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof." DA p. 669

"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. [which is in Him]" Manuscript 20, 1906. Evangelism p. 617

"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." Evangelism p. 616;

This last quote, originally found in Manuscript 20, pages 64-69 and written in 1906, is shown below. APPENDIX F

Only a few words were changed in the final published text.

The Holy Spirit has no personality, and has a personality, and is a person.
If the identity of the Spirit, however, is understood to be Christ Himself, the confusion is resolved.

The Holy Spirit is Christ without (divested of) His [Christ's] human personality.
Christ is the only divine being with a human personality. Thus, the Spirit of Christ has a divine personality and is a divine person--Christ. This perspective is also consistent with the following statement regarding God's designated channel of communication with the fallen human race:

"To Adam in his innocence was granted communion, direct, free, and happy, with his Maker. After his transgression, God would communicate to man only through Christ and angels." Signs of the Times, Jan. 30, 1879

“All the communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ."  Patriarchs & Prophets p. 366

The Holy Spirit is a distinct personification of Christ, but not distinct from Christ.

"The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ's name. He personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality." 20MR p. 324.2 Taken from Manuscript 93, 1893.

“After His ascension He [Jesus] was to be absent in person; but through the Comforter He would still be with them, and they were not to spend their time in mourning." Desire of Ages p. 277

“The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be.” 8MR p. 49 July 16, 1892

“As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter.” 19MR No. 1405 Preston, Melbourne, July 26, 1892 p. 297; Sons and Daughters of God p.124

“There is no comforter like Christ, so tender and so true. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. His Spirit speaks to the heart.” Review and Herald Oct 26, 1897

“He (Jesus) is coming to us by His Holy Spirit today. Let us recognize Him now; then we shall recognize Him when He comes in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” Review and Herald, April 30, 1901

"While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth." Desire of Ages p. 166

He gives them His Holy Spirit, the manifestation of His presence and favor.” Testimonies Vol 9, p. 230 1909

"Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, Christ breathed His Spirit upon them." Desire of Ages p. 805

“Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of his sanctifying spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from himself to his people… Christ is to live in his human agents.” Signs of the Times Oct 3, 1892

“The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only begotten Son of God, binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of Christ." Review & Herald April 5, 1906

" 'The words that I speak are spirit and life' John 6:63. Christ is not here referring to His doctrine, but to His person, the divinity of His character.” 1Selected Messages p. 249

Romans 8:9 speaks of the Father and Son as sharing the same Spirit referred to as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ.

“It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.” Desire of Ages, page 388

“They are two in individuality, yet one in spirit” Youth’s Instructor Dec 16, 1897

“What saith our Saviour? ‘I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.’ ‘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’ When trials overshadow the soul, remember the words of Christ, remember that He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, and He will be the peace and comfort given you, manifesting to you that He is with you, the Sun of Righteousness, chasing away your darkness. 'If a man love me,' Christ said, 'he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him'” Letter 124, 1897 (Daughters of God p.185), John 14:16, 18, 23 Review and Herald Sept 23, 1902

“In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world.” Testimonies vol. 7, p. 273

"That He [the Father] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Ephesians 4:14-17

"God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts." Galatians 4:6

"For I know that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:19

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." Revelation 5:6 (NOTE: The seven Spirits are organs (horns/eyes) of the Lamb)

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God." Revelation 3:1 [note: Jesus possesses the omnipresent Spirit of God]

“The reasons why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter” Review and Herald, August 26, 1890

“Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of Christ. He is the Comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full.” E.G. White, Review and Herald, January 27, 1903

Therefore, the Holy Spirit is a distinct (real, not different) personality because it is Christ himself personified, but not a being other than Christ.

51.  What are issues in John H. Kellog's Living Temple?

But despite Ellen White's words of caution, Kellogg persisted undeterred and the Review and Herald printing house, which was printing his book, burned to the ground in December that same year.

Kellogg claimed to have had a conversion experience in the months following this disaster. He felt that he had been rejected because of his treatement of the Holy Spirit as a "force" rather than a person. So he now plainly indicated that he has accepted a belief in the trinity which others pioneers did not. Writing to G.I.Butler, then President of the Southern Union Conference, Kellogg said,

"As far as I can fatham (sic), the difficulty which is found in the Living Temple, the whole thing may be simmered down to this 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 as 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." (Letter, Kellogg to G. I. Butler, October 28, 1903)

The last statement on the quote indicates the problem Kellogg had, he failed to understand why the Holy Spirit is not considered by Ellen White and Others as a different person/individual separate from the Father and the Son and yet be called “a third person” this is the same problem that is haunting many today. Kellogg was essentially saying that the church did not share his new conviction that the Holy Spirit was an individual person separate from the Father and Son. Technically, he was proposing three gods, or tritheism. He did not emphasize or insist on the typical trinitarian "oneness." However, he felt justified in taking this position because "Sister White uses the pronoun he" and referred to the Holy Ghost as "the third person of the Godhead." She indeed had made such statements 5-6 years earlier:

"…the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit." Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, p. 37. (1897) Evangelism p. 617

"The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail...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." DA p. 671 1898

Subsequent editions of The Desire of Ages demonstrate a capitalization of the words "Third Person" which is further evidence of intentional efforts to legitimize a trinitarian position.

In fact, Ellen White had originally written this phrase two years before the initial publication of The Desire of Ages in a letter dated February 6, 1896 from Sunnyside Cooranbong, Australia and addressed 'To my brethren in America.' Again, no capitalization for the 'third person.'

“Evil had been accumulating for centuries, and could only be restrained and resisted by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fulness of divine power."

The following day A.G. Daniells, then GC president, confronted Kellogg with the "objections" in his material:

"He [Kellogg] then stated that his former views regarding the trinity had stood in his way of making a clear and absolutely correct statement; but that in a short time he had come to believe in the trinity and could now see pretty clearly where the difficulty was, and believed that he could clear the matter up satisfactorily.

He told me that he now believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and his view was that it was God the Holy Ghost, and not God the Father, that filled all space and every living thing. He said that if he had believed this before writing the book, he could have expressed his views without giving the wrong impression the book now gives.

I placed before him the objections I found in the teaching, and tried to show him that the teaching was so utterly contrary to the gospel that I did not see how it could be revised by changing a few expressions." Letter: A. G. Daniells to W. C. White. Oct 29. 1903, p1.2.

Six months later G.I Butler again attempted to convince Dr. Kellogg of his error.

"God dwells in us by His Holy Spirit, as a Comforter, as a Reprover, especially the former. When we come to Him, we partake of Him in that sense, because the Spirit comes forth from him; it comes forth from the Father and the Son" "It is not a person walking around on foot, or flying, as a literal being, in any such sense as Christ and the Father are--at least, if it is, it is utterly beyond my comprehension or the meaning of language or words." (G. I Butler, letter to J. H. Kellogg April 5th 1904)

This was the prevailing view of the Holy Spirit among Seventh-day Adventists in the early 1900s, contrary to the now popular revisionist teaching that Ellen White by this time had "matured" into a full trinitarian understanding of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit at this late date (6 years after the publication of The Desire of Ages) was still believed to be the personal presence of the "Father and the Son" because it comes from them both.

The following month Ellen White commented on her dismay regarding the teachings presented in Kellogg's The Living Temple:

"I am so sorry that Living Temple came out as it did, and was circulated, and the worst of it -- that which struck right to my heart -- was the assertion made regarding the book: 'It contains the very sentiments that Sister White has been teaching.' When I heard this, I felt so heartbroken that it seemed as if I could not say anything. Had I said anything, I would have been obliged to speak the truth as it was." "Living Temple contains the Alpha of these theories. The Omega would follow in a little while. I tremble for our people. These beautiful representations are similar to the temptation that the enemy brought to Adam and Eve in Eden." (Ellen G. White, Talk given on May 18th 1904, Sermons and talks, Volume one, page 341, Manuscript 46, 1904, ‘The Foundation of our Faith’)

Kellogg was promoting the trinity and now embraced the trinitarian formula of "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost." And Ellen White urged caution in this matter.

"Our ministers must be very careful not to enter into controversy in regard to the personality of God. This is a subject that they are not to touch. It is a mystery, and the enemy will surely lead astray those who enter into it. We know that Christ came in person to reveal God to the world. God is a person and Christ is a person. Christ is spoken of in the Word as "the brightness of His Father's glory, and the express image of His person." Ibid p. 343

Just two months later, Ellen White wrote "To Leading Physicians":

"Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature.” (Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies Series B, No. 2 page 16, ‘To Leading Physicians’, ‘Teach the Word’ Nashville, Tennessee, July 24th 1904)

While many have debated what "the omega" would be, in the context of the prevailing controversy over the identity of the Holy Spirit between Dr. Kellogg and the Adventist leadership including Ellen White, the "alpha" should be clearly recognized. Kellogg was promoting a three person trinity and it was causing a denominational crisis.

Kellogg's conception of the Holy Spirit remained dramatically different from the rest of the Seventh-day Adventist leadership at that time. He swung from God being in everything to God being three persons with "God the Holy Spirit" being in everything. But bringing two more gods into the picture and confessing a fully developed belief in the trinity did not address Daniells' objections nor Butler's counsel.

Kellogg's error lay in making the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit to transform our characters into the image of God, simply an all pervasive energy field that could restore the physical body, change gray hair back to its youthful color, and even grant men the prospect of never dying! See General Conference Daily Bulletin 1899, pp. 53-58, 119, 120; Gilbert M. Valentine, The Shaping of Adventism (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University, 1992), pp. 159-163,

To counter Kellogg's aberrant teachings, Ellen White began to emphasize the Spirit as a real person (as Christ is a real person) to offset the temptation to view "it" as a mystical, spiritualistic force. After the Living Temple was finally printed, she pronounced her own critique on Dr. Kellogg's masterpiece:

"The new theories in regard to God and Christ as brought out in 'The Living Temple', are not in harmony with the teaching of Christ. The Lord Jesus came to this world to represent the Father. He did not represent God as an essence pervading nature, but as a personal being. Christians should bear in mind that God has a personality as verily as has Christ." Letter 212 to teachers at Emmanuel Missionary College, 1903 in SpM p. 324

"Ministers and people are deceived by these sophistries. They lead to making God a nonentity and Christ a nonentity. We are to rebuke these theories in the name of the Lord." Manuscript 70, 1905 'To the delegates at the 1905 General Conference', pp. 3,4 "A Message of Warning."

52.  What was the Kellogg Climax in 1905?

This period of crisis dealing with Kellogg's Living Temple theology climaxed with the 1905 General Conference. Ellen White, now nearing age 78, having been God's messenger for over 60 years, reminded the delegates during her pre-conference address on May 16 that God had directed the "light" of their understanding in regards to "Christ, his mission and his priesthood." The faith given to them would extend until "the time when we shall enter the city of God."

"God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it? -- He has said that the dead are to speak. How? -- Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced.

"Let the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the people. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

"We are now to understand what the pillars of our faith are, -- the truths that have made us as a people what we are, leading us on step by step.

"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.

"During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God. The brethren knew that, when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted, as light directly from heaven, the revelations given." EGW, Review and Herald May 25, 1905

The following day, in a message entitled "A Warning Against False Theories," she counselled her listeners to keep the pillars of faith, the landmarks that made us what we are.

"Let not any man enter upon the work of tearing down the foundations of the truth that have made us what we are. God has led His people forward step by step, though there are pitfalls of error on every side. Under the wonderful guidance of a plain "Thus saith the Lord," a truth has been established that has stood the test of trial. When men arise and attempt to draw away disciples after them, meet them with the truths that have been tried as by fire."

"Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor." (Manuscript Releases 760)

Certainly by this time, now 7 years after the publication of the Desire of Ages, if Ellen White was now fully informed by God of His triune nature, she would not recommend the reprinting of the pioneer's words so universally anti-trinitarian. Today, the general concensus is that these "misguided" pioneers actually taught error regarding the Godhead, that Ellen White in her advanced years came to a "mature" and "correct" understanding of the trinity.

Only a few months earlier, in March of 1905 she said

"We are God's commandment-keeping people. For the past fifty years [1855-1905] every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the word,--especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of heaven for these last days, as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation.”

"Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord."

"But the way-marks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His word and the testimony of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority." (Ellen White, Letter 95, 1905, To Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Kress, March 14, 1905, sea also Special Testimonies Series B. No. 2 page 59)

If The Desire of Ages was really the "continental divide", "paradigm shift" exposition of Ellen White's new trinitarian understanding as some theologians claim to be, then why would she maintain that for 50 years Seventh-day Adventists have preserved the truth, the way-marks that had been established point by point by prayerful study?

In fact, the General Conference Yearbook for 1905 contained (the first time since 1889) a statement of fundamental beliefs.

"Seventh-day Adventists have no creed but the Bible; but they hold to certain well-defined points of faith, for which they feel prepared to give a reason" to every man that asketh" them. The following propositions may be taken as a summary of the principal features of their religious faith, upon which there is, so far as is known, entire unanimity throughout the body.

1. 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 every where present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Ps. 139: 7.

2. That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the one by whom he created all thing's, and by whom they do consist;"

If these sound familiar, it is because they are entirely unchanged from those first published in 1874. They were reprinted without change every subsequent year until 1914. Ellen White died in 1915. They were not printed again until 1931 when for the first time in our church history the term "trinity" appeared.

In 1905 it was the trinitarian conversion of John Harvey Kellogg and his need to make the "all pervasive Spirit" acceptable to the brethren that threatened the foundations of Adventist faith. Later she identified the satanic nature of these pillar-threatening "theories" that rendered God and Christ as "nonentities."

"Again and again we shall be called to meet the influence of men who are studying sciences of satanic origin, through which Satan is working to make a nonentity of God and of Christ." Testimonies Vol 9 p. 68, 1909.

It should be noted that she does not feature the need to include the Holy Spirit "as a personal being" nor among those that are made "a nonentity." This silence strongly indicates her understanding that the Holy Spirit is not a separate person like the Father and Son.

"You are not definitely clear on the personality of God, which is everything to us as a people. You have virtually destroyed the Lord God Himself." Letter 300, 1903.

"We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds." Manuscript 66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.) Evangelism p. 616 compiled post-humously by LeRoy E. Froom.

This selectively edited excerpt when seen in its full context demonstrates that it is "the Lord God" who knows, who hears, who is our Keeper and Helper, who walks unseen by human eyes:

"The Lord says this because He knows it is for our good. He would build a wall around us, to keep us from transgression, so that His blessing and love may be bestowed on us in rich measure. This is the reason we have established a school here. The Lord instructed us that this was the place in which we should locate, and we have had every reason to think that we are in the right place. We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, unseen by human eyes; that the Lord God is our Keeper and Helper. He hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the mind." EG White, Sermons and Talks Volume Two, pp. 136, 137 Also in Manuscript Releases Vol. 7, p. 299

Even though the Lord God is unseen, He is personally present in His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person because He is the personal presence of Jesus Himself. The messenger didn't say "they" she says "He". She is speaking of only one person, the Lord God, Jesus Christ.

We may notice that the section from which this and other quotes are take is titled "The Trinity." Just remember, the unauthorized subheadings added to compilations such as the book Evangelism are just one example of the direction Ellen White warned would happen:

"There will be those once united with us in the faith who will search for new, strange doctrines, for something odd and sensational to present to the people. They will bring in all conceivable fallacies, and will present them as coming from Mrs. White, that they may beguile souls." EG White, Selected Messages Book 1, p. 41

Who, then, is it that walks unseen among us?

"Christ walks unseen through our streets. With messages of mercy He comes to our homes. With all who are seeking to minister in His name, He waits to co-operate. He is in the midst of us, to heal and to bless, if we will receive Him." E. G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 107

"Remember that Jesus is beside you wherever you go, noting your actions and listening to your words. Would you be ashamed to hear his voice speaking to you, and to know that he hears your conversation?" EG White, The Youth's Instructor, February 4, 1897 par. 3

"The Lord Jesus standing by the side of the canvasser, walking with them, is the chief worker. If we recognize Christ as the One who is with us to prepare the way, the Holy Spirit by our side will make impressions in just the lines needed." E. G. White, Colporteur Ministry, p. 107

This is the same thought also expressed in The Desire of Ages page 671 where the "third person of the Godhead" is clearly identified:

"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."

Thus the two positions have been presented and are contrasted thus:

Trinity-Tritheism Christ is eternal by himself Christ is one of three divine Beings Christ is equal to the Father

Biblical Christ is eternal through divine inheritance Christ as the Son of God receives all authority and power from His Father Christ is equal in nature with the Father but not in position or person

To destroy the personality of God has to do with making the Father as a non-entity and making the Son a non-entity, which is done through the trinity doctrine, the three in one and one in three doctrine.

"Again and again we shall be called to meet the influence of men who are studying sciences of satanic origin, through which Satan is working to make a nonentity of God and of Christ." Testimonies Vol 9 p. 68, 1909.

The mystery of God is not that there is a three-in-one God, but that God can be a personal being yet invisibly with us:

"That Christ should manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to the disciples. They could not understand the words of Christ in their spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet He be unseen by the world. They did not understand the meaning of a spiritual manifestation." E. G. White, The Southern Work, September 13, 1898 par. 2

53.   What is a heavenlyTrio according to Ellen G. White?

 
Ellen White described not a Trinity but a heavenly trio of three living personalities, eternal heavenly dignitaries, the three highest powers in heaven:

"The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption." Amazing Grace 1906; Review and Herald, May 2, 1912

"The work is laid out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by baptism, and has become a receiver of the pledge from the three persons--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." (MS 57, 1900 in SDABC V6 p. 1074).

"The eternal heavenly dignitaries-God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit-arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy" Manuscript 145, 1901; Ev 616

"We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost-and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God." Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 51. (1905); Evangelism p. 617

"Christ made baptism the entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost...Baptized into the threefold name." 6SDABC p. 1075.

Things that we need to note from these quotes are that 1) Ellen G. White does not try to say the trio are one God as the trinitarian claims 2) she does not say that these three are co-eternal as the trinitarian claims them to be 3) she does not say that these three are each Gods as the trinitarian would like to claim 4) she does not say that these three are one as the father and Son and Holy Spirit are one God 5) she does not say that the Godhead is the trinity, as trinitarian claims. It is however important to note what she is saying, which is biblical, that   1) the Godhead which is the Divinity, not God himself, is made up of God who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit 2) she is saying that the Godhead is the trio, a trio is a group of three, and not three in one 3) she calls the three living, a trio or group of three: personalities, persons, highest powers and diginitaries in plural 4) the threefold name may be equated to the Godhead or Divinity (Rom 1:20) (this is my opinion) 5) she characterises these three as heavenly. 6) she identify them as eternal but not co-eternal 7) She does not in any sense teach the trinity. She does not say the three are in one and one in three as the trinitarins claim.

54.  Did Ellen G. White use the terms Persons and Beings interchangeably? Did she make any distinctions?

Mrs White demonstrated a distinction between the words "person" and "being". She did not use them interchangeably. While Ellen White speaks of multiple personalities in the Godhead or Divinity, she consistently identifies only two beings: The Father and His Son. Notice the years in which these quotes were writen by her.

"The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each. [Hebrews 1:1-5 quoted] God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son." EGW, 8T 268.3, 1904

"The only being who was one with God lived the law in humanity, descended to the lowly life of a common laborer, and toiled at the carpenter's bench with his earthly parent." EGW, Signs of the Times, October 14, 1897 par. 3

"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." EGW, Great Controversy 493. 1888, Patriarchs and Prophets, p.34

"There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son."
Review & Herald, Nov. 8, 1898.

"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. Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895

This is mentioned in Scripture:

Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zec 6:13)

How can such statements as these be consistent with a belief in the trinity?
This is blasphemy to trinitarians. And when the Spirit is identified it is the Spirit of Christ.

"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." EGW, 9T 189 1906

Again, notice there is only one relationship between two beings: that of Father and Son:

"Christ is one with the Father, but Christ and God are two distinct personages. Read the prayer of Christ in the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will find this point clearly brought out.” (Ellen G. White to the delegates at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Takoma Park Washington D. C., May 19, 1905 in Review and Herald, June 1, 1905)

"By the power of His love, through obedience, fallen man, a worm of the dust, is to be transformed, fitted to be a member of the heavenly family, a companion through eternal ages of God and Christ and the holy angels.…-Manuscript 21, Feb. 16, 1900. (The Upward Look, page 61).

"The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted." Youth's Instructor, July 7, 1898, par. 2.

"The human family cost God and his Son Jesus Christ an infinite price." Special Testimonies On Education, p. 21

"No man, nor even the highest angel, can estimate the great cost; it is known only to the Father and the Son." E. G. White, The Bible Echo, October 28, 1895 par. 4.

Did we not cost the Spirit anything? Is this great cost not known to the Spirit? There is only one apparent exception to Ellen White's consistent use of persons/personalities and beings. The following was not actually written by Ellen White, but reported by someone listening to a sermon which she gave in Oakland, California, Sabbath afternoon, October 20, 1906:

"You are born unto God, and you stand under the sanction and the power of the three holiest beings in heaven, who are able to keep you from falling . . . When I feel oppressed, and hardly know how to relate myself toward the work that God has given me to do, I just call upon the three great Worthies, and say; You know I cannot do this work in my own strength." 7 Manuscript Release 267.2

Even if you take this for granted and call the three as three beings or three individuals and existing each on their own seperately, that does not make such statements trinitarian, but rather simply complecate her writings for those who do not want to take the weight of evidence in account. Anyhow, for her statement to be trinitarian she would have to say that the three are not only beings but God, and that all three make the one God. But she does not say so. She simply identify them as beings.

The use of the term "beings" differs from all her other published statements where she uses "persons". The fact that this isolated comment alleged to have been made by her contradicts her other written and published statements, makes it applicable to the following words of caution from Ellen herself:

"And now to all who have a desire for truth I would say: Do not give credence to unauthenticated reports as to what Sister White has done or said or written. If you desire to know what the Lord has revealed through her, read her published works." 5T 696.1

Note: It is interesting that this statement of "three holiest beings" was only revealed very recently. The date of release is noted by the White Estate as "Released March 16, 1976." 7MR 273.

Ellen White emphasized the threeness of the Godhead in terms of thinking persons with manifested personalities (not impersonal force fields). She explained the oneness of the Godhead in terms of having the same divine nature, character, purpose and love. But she never speaks of three in one person; she recognizes only two beings.

Because of these changes in Ellen White's explicit statements after 1888, some contend that an understanding of the Godhead was a late development that matured over time into a fully orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. But Ellen White stood firm on maintaining the original "pillars of the faith" established in those early years after 1844.

"When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals." EG White, Manuscript Releases Volume 1, p. 55

Ellen White's sons followed her advice and did not change their belief in either the literal Sonship or the separate individuality of the Spirit:

"Christ is the only being begotten of the Father." James Edson White, Past, Present and Future, p. 52. 1909

Her son Willie C. White wrote as late as 1935:

"As I read the Bible, I find that the risen Saviour breathed on the disciples 'and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' The conception received from this Scripture, seems to be in harmony with the statement in 'Desire of Ages', page 669 [The Holy Spirit is Christ's representative, but divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof.], also Gen. 1:2 [the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters]; with Luke 1:4 [that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed]; with Acts 2:4 [and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak] and also 8:15 [Peter and John prayed for those in Samaria that they might receive the Holy Spirit] and 10:44 [while Peter spoke the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word]. Many other texts might be referred to which seem to be in harmony with this statement in 'Desire of Ages.'

"The statements and the arguments of some of our ministers, in their effort to prove that the Holy Spirit is an individual as are God the Father and Christ, the eternal Son, have perplexed me, and sometimes they have made me sad. One popular teacher said 'We may regard Him, as the fellow who is down here running things.' My perplexities were lessened a little when I learned from the dictionary that one of the meanings of personality, was characteristics. It is stated in such a way that I concluded that there might be personality without bodily form which is possessed by the Father and the Son. There are many Scriptures which speak of the Father and the Son and the absence of Scripture making similar reference to the united work of the Father and the Holy Spirit or of Christ and the Holy Spirit, has led me to believe that the spirit without individuality was the representative of the Father and the Son throughout the universe, and it was through the Holy Spirit that they dwell in our hearts and make us one with the Father and with the Son." Letter, W. C. White to H. W. Carr, April 30, 1935

55.   What does the phrase “the Father and Son” are ONE mean? Are they one God with two persons, or one in two and two in one? Does God mean Father and Son combined?

 
The 1905 General Conference dealt with the crisis that new theology in Kellogg's Living Temple presented to the separate personalities of Christ and his Father (see Spirit Personality 3a). In that context she spoke of theories that threaten the "pillars of our faith" such as the personality of God" and making Christ "a nonentity."

"Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor." Ellen G. White to the delegates at the 1905 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Takoma Park, Washington D. C., May 24, 1905, "A Warning against False Theories," MR 760

"All through the Scriptures, the Father and the Son are spoken of as two distinct personages. You will hear men endeavoring to make the Son of God a nonentity. He and the Father are one, but they are two personages." "Wrong sentiments regarding this are coming in, and we shall all have to meet them." Ellen G. White to the delegates at the 1905 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Takoma Park Washington D. C., May 25, 1905 Review and Herald July 13, 1905, 'Lessons from the first Epistle of John'

These statements were being made after John Harvey Kellogg confessed his new found belief in the Trinity. Ellen White urged the church to remain faithful to their original beliefs about the Father and Son. Note the year in which it was writen.

"He who denies the personality of God and of his Son Jesus Christ, is denying God and Christ. "If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father." If you continue to believe and obey the truths you first embraced regarding the personality of the Father and the Son, you will be joined together with him in love. There will be seen that union for which Christ prayed just before his trial and crucifixion." Ellen White, Review and Herald, March 8, 1906

Ellen White's use of "denies the personality of God and of his Son Jesus Christ" is actually borrowed from a statement James White made nearly 50 years earlier.

"Here we might mention the Trinity, which does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, and of sprinkling or pouring instead of being " buried with Christ in baptism," "planted in the likeness of his death:" but we pass from these fables to notice one that is held sacred by nearly all professed Christians, both Catholic and Protestant [the Sabbath]." James White, Review and Herald, December 11, 1855

This was the conviction of many early Adventist pioneers. The Trinity was viewed as directly contradicting the distinct personhood of the Father and Son. The consubstantial, indivisible mystical three-faced concept of the orthodox Trinitarians rendered the Godhead but an amorphous, inconceivable Deity without form.

"The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nice A. D. 325. This doctrine destroys the personality of God and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous, measures by which it was forced upon the church which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush." (J. N. Andrews, Review and Herald, March 6th 1855, 'The Fall of Babylon')

"It is not very consonant with common sense to talk of three being one, and one being three. Or as some express it, calling God "the Triune God," or "the three-one-God"." "If Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are each God, it would be three Gods; for three times one is not one, but three. There is a sense in which they are one, but not one person, as claimed by Trinitarians. It is contrary to Scripture. Almost any portion of the New Testament we may open which has occasion to speak of the Father and Son, represents them as two distinct persons." John Loughborough, Review and Herald, November 5, 1861

"That God is an infinite and eternal Spirit, without person, body, shape, or parts; is everywhere and nowhere present; or, is everywhere as a Spirit, and nowhere as a tangible being. I ask, Is not this making God almost a mere nothing?" "That Jesus Christ is God himself; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are one identical being; hence in describing one, we describe the other. Certainly this is doing no better by the Son than by the Father." "Is this not spiritualizing away God, Christ, angels, saints, and Heaven?" A. C. Bourdeau, Review and Herald, June 8, 1869

56.  How was the Formation of the Heavenly Trio happened?

The Father is Spirit. He is eternal. His Spirit is eternal (John 4:24; Heb 9:14).
His Spirit is life (His Spirit gives us life- Job 33:4; John 6:63) As the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son to have life in himself (John 5:26) The Father has given all things to His Son (Matt 11:27; 28:18; John 3:35; Heb 1:2; 1Cor 15:24,27) The Father's life dwells within His Son (John 6:57; 14:10) The Father begets the Son (both have the same divine Spirit, from the Father to the Son). They are one. God and the Son of God are a heavenly duo.

 

In order to save us from sin and restore in us the image of God, God must both take upon himself the consequences of sin (eternal death and separation)
and remove sin from our lives so we can live in His presence. So...The Son lays aside his divine immortal-omnipotent-omnipresent life (the form of God - Phil 2:6)
but keeps his holy "mind of Christ" (Phil 2:5) which is one with his Father
and empties Himself (Phil 2:7) to become flesh (John 1:14), in order to live and die for us.

The Son sacrifices his purely divine form in order to become one with fallen humanity. The Son's sacrifice was made "before the foundation of the world" Eph 1:4 & Rev 13:8. But in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4) The Son of God becomes a unique human being, the Son of man. The Family in heaven (Eph 3:14,15) now has a new person who never existed before. The Son becomes the third "person" of the heavenly trio.

The Spirit (power of the most High - Luke 1:35) comes upon Mary and conceives Jesus. Son retains his original mind/character/soul (psuche life) and now a human (bios) life. Son receives the Spirit from the Father (without measure).
The indwelling of his Father's Spirit is how he could live a perfect life without sin.
The indwelling of Christ's Spirit is how we can overcome sin as Jesus overcame.
Father is in the Son (Father's Spirit, omnipotence, omniscience)
Father speaks (omniscience), and works (omnipotence) through the Son (Matt 10:20, Acts 2:22) Son performs mighty miracles by power (omnipotence) of the Father's Spirit (Acts 2:22) Son offers his holy, sinless Spirit (commends it into his Father's hands) on the cross (Luke 23:46) Son pours out his soul (psuche) unto death. Without the Spirit, the Son dies (human bios life) Son sacrifices his purely divine form irrevocably, an eternal sacrifice for us.

Father raises his Son giving back his immortal (zoe) life (Gal 1:1; Acts 13:37)
and divine powers (Matt 28:18) Son ascends to the Heavenly Sanctuary to pray for the Gift of his divine soul (psuche life - Acts 2:32,33)  This is represented by the living bird of Leviticus 14:4-8. Two birds are presented in the sacrifice for the cleansing of leprosy, the symbol of sin. One bird is slain and one bird is set free to live on. The Son (slain bird) brings his blood, that the soul of his life, the living bird, may be given to us. Father sends the Son's divine Self, his soul/character, the Spirit of His Son to dwell in us (Gal 4:6).

The original Holy Spirit-living bird life of Christ bearing his blood is set free.
His Spirit, the Comforter, is Christ's soul (psuche life), the mind of Christ, dwelling in us. Father and Son come and abide in us through in Spirit form (omnipresence of Christ and God - John 14:23) Son's Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (omnipotence of Christ) Because only the Son has been touched with the feeling of our infirmaties (Heb 4:15) Son will be re-united with his Spirit in us at the marriage supper of the Lamb."They have one God and one Saviour, and one Spirit--the Spirit of Christ" 9T p. 189, The Son returns to receive us unto himself and give us his eternal life (zoe immortality) Christ who is "our life" appears and we "also appear with him in glory" Col. 3:4, Lamb forever divested of his original divine self is made whole in his Bride. Lamb again has omnipotence (7 horns), omniscience (7 eyes - Rev 5:6). Bride has the omnipresence of his Spirit in them.
Lamb and the Bride are one flesh, and sit together on the throne. (Rev 3:21)
Father and Son (God and the Lamb) are restored to the original heavenly duo.
But now, Christ has brought "many sons into glory" with him.

57.  What was the Eternal Sacrifice of the Everlasting Covenant?

Christ was born twice:

1. Once in eternity, coming forth from the Father as the Son of God, and
2.  At the incarnation when he was born in human flesh as the Son of man

So also Christ died twice:

1. Once at the incarnation (when?) when he died to his former purely divine existence, laying aside his own personal Holy Spirit life into the hands of his Father;
2. and again on the cross when he accepted the cup of eternal separation from his original purely divine existence, a second death from which there was no return. (Heb 9:14, Rev 13:8, Eph 1:4, Zech 6:12,13).

The Trinity doctrine only acknowledges a single atonement: Christ's death on the cross. There is no appreciation of the sacrifice made before the foundation of the world when Christ laid aside his Holy Spirit life, so that the Word could become flesh, God with us, and then make his second sacrifice, to die for us.

58.  What was the significance of The Two Birds?

Leviticus 14 describes the offering for the cleansing of Leprosy, the symbol of sin. It involves two birds. Christ indeed died on the cross to atone for our sins, but he lived a perfect life through the indwelling of his Father's Spirit to overcome sin "to condemn sin in the flesh" (Rom 8:3) that we may be cleansed by his blood sacrificed for us as typified by the slain bird of Leviticus 14.

Jesus returned to heaven to present his blood (life) "who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God" his Father (Heb 9:14, Rev 13:8, Eph 1:4, Zech 6:12,13). It was only through the indwelling of his Father's eternal Spirit that Jesus could live a life "without spot" This spotless life he offered to God his Father, so that the Father can give it to us.

This is typified by dipping the live bird in the blood of the slain bird. The living bird is then set free, bearing the blood, the life of the slain bird. So also, the Spirit life powers which Christ agreed to lay aside in the counsel of peace (Zech 6:12,13). while his Spirit life mind learned obedience by depending on the power of his Father (Heb 5:8,9) he commended again into the hand of his Father at his death on the cross, and was then sent from the Father bearing the overcoming life, the character and soul, of the Lamb, empowered (the Lamb's 7 horns) and enabled (the Lamb's 7 eyes) to "transform" our minds, and cleanse our soul temples
because the Father "has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts" Gal 4:6.

"In the twelfth chapter of Romans we read, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.' Much is comprehended in this." E.G. White, Review and Herald, 01-07-1902, par. 2.

Jesus presented himself a living sacrifice. Before his death on the cross, before his coming to this world, he gave up his divine body for us. His sacrifice began in heaven long before his death.

"Here the apostle beseeches us to reach the high standard that it is possible to attain. Christ made it possible when He laid aside His royal robes, His royal crown, stepped down from His royal throne, clothed His divinity with humanity that humanity might touch humanity. He could not with His glory and majesty take His position among men." Ibid.

Jesus made our redemption possible when he laid aside his royalty: robes, crown and throne, so that he could be clothed with humanity and take his position among men. He laid aside his omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence.

"The glory must be laid aside. He must take the rude garments of humanity that He might be afflicted with all the afflictions of humanity, that He might understand their temptations. He would become a faithful judge of how much they had to contend with in the conflict with satanic agencies. Through this experience Christ was enabled to give power to His people, for to 'as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.' See where our power is. It is not in ourselves." Ibid.

Jesus volunteered to lay aside his glory. But it was necessary in order to save us. God had to become one of us in order to “understand” and experience the human condition. This experience enabled him to give power to us so that we might become sons of God. The power that he gives is his very own life, his Spirit, his soul.

"The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church." Desire of Ages, p. 805.

"Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in the heart and mind." Desire of Ages, 827.

"Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away [cleanses] sin. In the gift of the Spirit [the soul of his life], Jesus gave to man the highest good that heaven could bestow." E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904, vol. 5, p. 42.

Jesus overcame sin in human flesh (Rom 8:3). He "learned obedience by the things that he suffered" (Heb 5:8). He was "in all points tempted like as we are" so that he can give us "mercy and grace to help in time of need" Heb 4:15,16. He gives us his life, his Holy Spirit, because only he knows how to live a perfect life as a human being.

"The Spirit was given as a regenerating [cleansing] agency, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail." Ibid.

Jesus' death on the cross was not enough; he must also give up his divine life, and give it to us, to dwell in us, to transform our minds, to change us into his image. Without receiving this power from him, we can never become the sons of God. His death on Calvary would have been of no avail, of no benefit to us. It was, however, the manifestation of God's love that secured forever the affections of all heavenly beings who had never sinned. But we, sinners, need more.

"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 the church." Ibid. (Desire of Ages p. 671)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20)

Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem twice. Only he could restore it. He demonstrated a clean temple within his own human body; and he will demonstrate a clean temple within his people "that he might present it [the church he loved] to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph 5:27.

Only Christ can cleanse our temples. While he is still cumbered with our humanity in heaven serving before his Father, the "one God" as the "one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1Tim 2:5, he is also dwelling in us "in the person of his Holy Spirit" to be the Source of our power to overcome sin.

"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." E.G. White, Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.

"The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.--E.G. White, Evangelism, p. 617.

His first "death" is like our "dying" to sin. It was dying to a way of life. He gave up his omnipresence, his omnipotence, his omniscience to become a man. "Cumbered with humanity" he no longer had these attributes of divinity. He gave these powers, his former way of life, into the hands of his Father for safe keeping. He "laid down" his life as a commandment which he received from his Father (John 10).

And like our first death, he could have returned to his first life. But like the Hebrew slave, he found a wife and children, and chose to be a slave forever. To save us from sin, the wages of which is eternal death, Christ forfeited his Spirit life forever. Jesus said the Comforter that his Father would give will "abide with you forever" John 14:16 His sacrifice is an eternal sacrifice. He will forever remain the Lamb of God. Since divinity cannot die, the Son of God became the Son of man in order to die. He didn't just die for three days after living 33½ years as a human being. Being dead for only three days in a tomb was not the penalty for sin. He chose to forever die to his first life as Michael the Archangel, the purely divine Son of God uncumbered by the limitations of humanity.

He was able to die for us because of what he was: the human Son of man;
He made an infinite sacrifice because of who he was: the divine Son of God.

He then later was able to give this life, the breath of his soul, to us.
In the upper room after his resurrection, he breathed on the disciples his own Holy Spirit. This is the fulfillment of the New Covenant which is tied inseparably to the Everlasting Covenant and the Ten Commandment Law of God. As Christ wrote the Ten Commandment Law with his own finger of tables of stone, So he writes his law, his character on the tables of our hearts with his own finger, and the finger of God is the Spirit of God. 2Cor 3:3 We are the epistle of Christ, written with the Spirit of the living God. 2Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit.

Scripture and inspiration clearly identify who the Holy Spirit, the Comforter is.
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:23 My Father (and I) we will come and make our abode with you.

The issue at the end will be over worship. To misidentify the Holy Spirit, the life and soul of Christ, as someone different from Christ is to worship another god, different from the Son of God. Satan's aspiration is to be worshiped as God. Isa 14. He tried to get Christ to bow and worship before him in his third and final temptation.

The last church, Laodicea, cannot see its condition. It is blind and poor and naked. Satan, "the god of this world, has blinded the minds of them which believe not" 2Cor 4:4 He has transformed himself into an angel of light (2Cor 11:14), a heavenly imposter, masquerading as another third person of the Godhead, so that "he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2Thes 2:4 "Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you?" 1Cor 6:19.

When we open the door of our heart, we must be extremely careful. Do we know who it is we are inviting in? Jesus says he stands at the door and knocks.
If we open the door for him, Jesus says he will come in. Rev 3:20
Jesus said he would not leave us comfortless orphans, "I will come to you" John 14:18.

Thank you!

Ev. Saganga Kapaya

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