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The Holy Spirit is not a person; only an attribute of God and Jesus.
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| SECTION 1 |
| Let us start by asking a few Questions: |
| Q1: Was Jesus a Jew? |
| A1: Yes |
| Mark Chapter 12:32-34 |
| And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: FOR THERE IS ONE GOD; and there is none other but HE: [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. |
| And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, THOU ART NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And no man after that durst ask him [any question]. |
| Q2: Now, and in the days when Jesus was on earth, who do/did the Jews worship? |
| A2: God the Father – FOR THERE IS ONE GOD; and there is none other but HE |
| Mt4.10 Then saith Jesus unto him [Satan], Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE. [de6.13, lk4.8] |
| Q3: As Jesus only worshipped His Father, SURELY WE SHOULD DO THE SAME? |
| A3: Yes – if we chose to follow Jesus. |
| Q4: Then why do we worship a NON-BIBLICAL, NON-SPIRIT OF PROPHECY 3 gods in 1 and 1 god in 3 trinity doctrine? |
| A4: ????? |
| Let’s do a KJV Bible search and then a Spirit of Prophecy search: |
| EGW Writings KJV Bible search on: |
| “God the Father” – 13 finds |
| “God the Almighty” – 0 finds |
| “Almighty God” – 3 finds |
| “Jehovah” – 4 finds |
| “Lord God” – 532 finds [includes punctuation i.e. Lord. God] |
| “God the Son” – 0 finds |
| “Son of God” – 47 finds |
| “God the Holy Spirit” – 0 finds |
| “God the Spirit” – 0 finds |
| “Spirit of God” – 26 finds |
| “Spirit of Jesus” – 1 find |
| “Spirit of Christ” – 2 finds |
| “Spirit of Truth” – 4 finds |
| “holy Spirit of Promise” – 1 find |
| “Spirit of Our” – 1 find; relating to the “Spirit of Our God” |
| Trinity – 0 finds. |
| Throne – 159 finds |
| “Throne of God” – 6 finds |
| Throne God or Jesus or Christ or Son or Father or “our Lord” – 46 finds |
| EGW Writings Spirit of Prophecy search on: |
| “God the Father” – 159 finds |
| “God the Almighty” – 6 finds |
| “God Jehovah” – 14 finds |
| “Almighty God” – 38 finds |
| “Jehovah God” – 19 finds |
| “Lord God” – 1792 finds [includes commas, full stops, etc.] |
| “God the Son” – 9 finds, but never without a full stop [i.e.“God. The Son”] or a comma [i.e.“God, the Son”] |
| “Son of God” – 4646 finds |
| “Holy Spirit” – 9210 finds |
| “God the Holy Spirit” – 62 finds, but never without a full stop [i.e.“God. The Holy Spirit”], or a comma [i.e.“God, the Holy Spirit”], etc. |
| “God the Spirit” – 84 finds, but never without a full stop [i.e.“God. The Spirit”], or a comma [i.e.“God, the Spirit”], etc. |
| “Spirit of God” – 5481 finds, of which |
| “Holy Spirit of God” – 408 finds |
| “Spirit of Jesus” – 176 finds, of which |
| “Holy Spirit of Jesus” – 0 finds |
| “Spirit of Christ” – 1363 finds, of which |
| “Holy Spirit of Christ” – 6 finds |
| “Holy Spirit of” not “Holy Spirit of God” not “Holy Spirit of Christ” – 16 finds, of which |
| “Holy Spirit of Promise” – 5 finds, and |
| “Holy Spirit of Truth” [inc. Truth and Righteousness] – 6 finds, and |
| “Holy Spirit of Love” – 2 finds |
| “His Holy Spirit” – 955 finds, of which |
| “His Holy Spirit” not God not Father not LORD not Christ not Jesus not God’s not “Infinite One” not Christ’s not Teacher – 0 finds. So, every single one of the above 955 finds relates to God or to His Only Begotten Son. |
| “Spirit of Our” – 39 finds. 16 relate to spirit; 23 relate to Spirit, where: |
| “Spirit of Our God” – 11 finds; “Spirit of Our Master” – 4 finds; “Spirit of Our Lord’s” – 3 finds; others being forgiving Master, beloved Master, divine Lord, dear Redeemer and Saviour – all 1 find. |
| Trinity – 1 find! Here is the 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, . . . would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.–Manuscript 145, 1901. {Ev 616.4} |
| As you will see, it is mentioned in a Sub-Heading and is therefore NOT part of the Inspired Writings. |
| We shall consider the Book Evangelism and these pages 615 – 617 later. |
| EGW Writings KJV Bible search on Throne and Lord or God or Father or Jesus or Christ – 77 finds |
| EGW Writings KJV Bible search on Throne and Lord or God or Father or Jesus or Christ or Saviour – 77 finds |
| EGW Writings KJV Bible search on Throne and Lord or God or Father or Jesus or Christ or Saviour or Spirit – 78 finds |
| EGW Writings KJV Bible search on Throne and Spirit – 1 find |
| This 1 find being: |
| Revelation 4:2 |
| And immediately I [John the Revelator] was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne. |
| Conclusion: According to God’s Word, the Spirit never sits upon the Heavenly Throne. Only God the Father and His Only Begotten Son sit upon the Heavenly Throne – this is confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy [as seen later] and by the Scriptures below. |
| EGW Writings KJV Bible search on Throne and Lord or God or Father AND Jesus or Christ or Saviour – 2 finds |
| Acts 2:30 |
| Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he WOULD RAISE UP CHRIST TO SIT ON HIS THRONE; |
| and |
| Hebrews 12:2 |
| Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. |
| The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. The Son of God shared the Father’s throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled BOTH. About the throne gathered the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng—“ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11.), the most exalted angels, as ministers and subjects, rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity. Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants. But in all this He would not seek power or exaltation for Himself contrary to God’s plan, but would exalt the Father’s glory and execute His purposes of beneficence and love. (PP 36.2) |
| 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. Especially was he to work in union with himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon it. His Son would carry out his will and his purposes, but would do nothing of himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in him. Satan was jealous and envious of Jesus Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to Jesus to acknowledge his supremacy and high authority and rightful rule, Satan bowed with them; but his heart was filled with envy and hatred. Christ had been taken into counsel with the Father in regard to his plans, while Satan was unacquainted with them. He did not understand, neither was he permitted to know, the purposes of God. But CHRIST WAS ACKNOWLEDGED SOVEREIGN OF HEAVEN, HIS POWER AND AUTHORITY TO BE THE SAME AS THAT OF GOD HIMSELF. Satan thought that he was himself a favorite in heaven among the angels. He had been highly exalted; but this did not call forth from him gratitude and praise to his Creator. He aspired to the height of God himself. He gloried in his loftiness. He knew that he was honored by the angels. He had a special mission to execute. He had been near the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glorious light enshrouding the eternal God, had shone especially upon him. Satan thought how angels had obeyed his command with pleasurable alacrity. Were not his garments light and beautiful? Why should Christ thus be honored before himself? {ST, January 9, 1879 par. 2} [See also The Signs of the Times, January 9, 1879 and Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, pages 18, 19]. |
| Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. The Scripture says, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Ezekiel 28:17. “Thou hast said in thine heart, . . . I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13, 14. Though all his glory was from God, this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself. Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking to make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings, it was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself. And coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone. {PP 35.2} |
| NB: Here, in the above three quotes, you have the [now worldwide] trinity doctrine starting to develop in it’s embryonic form. |
| “In February, 1845, I had a vision of events commencing with the Midnight Cry. 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.” {E. G. Harmon, Broadside1, April 6, 1846 par. 7} |
| It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the human mind. We can see the extent to which he exercises his power by the disloyalty that is in the world. Even the churches that profess to be Christian have turned from the law of Jehovah, and have erected a false standard. Satan has had his hand in all this; for by directing men to false standards, he misshapes the human character, and causes humanity to acknowledge him as supreme. He works counter to the holy law of God, and denies God’s jurisdiction. It is at his throne that every evil work finds its starting point and obtains its support.— Review and Herald, Oct. 22, 1895. {Ev 589.2} |
| Who is the supreme ruler of the universe? |
| “God, as the supreme ruler of the universe has ever required prompt and unquestioning obedience. Even Christ, IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, was obedient to the law of the Father.” {E. G. White, Signs of the Times, July 22, 1886 par. 2} |
| Who alone shared the throne of the Supreme ruler of the universe? |
| “The Son of God SHARED the Father’s throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled BOTH. About the throne gathered the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng–“ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11.), the most exalted angels, as ministers and subjects, rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36} 1890 |
| Who is the only being (in the entire universe) that was admitted to the Father’s counsels? |
| “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.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34} 1890 |
| “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.” {E. G. White, The (1888) Great Controversy, p. 493} 1888 |
| “Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36} 1890 |
| “God became one with man when, in the council between the Father and the Son in heaven it was determined that if man fell from his allegiance, the Son of God should be his Redeemer and restore in him the moral image of God.” {The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 869} 1891 |
| “Yet the Son of God was exalted above him, as one in power and authority with the Father. He shared the Father’s counsels, while Lucifer did not thus enter into the purposes of God. “Why,” questioned this mighty angel, “should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He honored above Lucifer?”” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 37} 1890 |
| “There had been no change in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer’s envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made necessary a statement of the true position of the Son of God; but this had been the same from the beginning. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer’s deceptions.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 38} 1890 |
| What was the true position of the Son of God from the beginning? |
| “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. The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly beings.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34} 1890 |
| “Christ was the Son of God; He had been one with Him before the angels were called into existence.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 38} 1890 |
| To whom was the homage and allegiance of the heavenly host due? |
| “The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants. But in all this He would not seek power or exaltation for Himself contrary to God’s plan, but would exalt the Father’s glory and execute His purposes of beneficence and love.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36} 1890 |
| “As songs of praise ascended in melodious strains, swelled by thousands of glad voices, the spirit of evil seemed vanquished; unutterable love thrilled his [Lucifer’s] entire being; his soul went out, in harmony with the sinless worshippers, in love to the Father and the Son.” {E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 37} 1890 |
| Who has an intimate knowledge and personal interest in the works of His hand? |
| “The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible. “The Lord’s throne is in heaven” (Psalm 11:4); yet by HIS Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in, all the works of His hand.” {E. G. White, Education, p. 132} 1903 |
| Who furnishes us with spiritual life? |
| “Christ is the source of all true growth, the maintainer of all life. By His Holy Spirit He communicates heavenly principles and furnishes spiritual life.” {E. G. White, Manuscript Releases Volume 20, p. 143} 1901 |
| “He 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.” {E. G. White, Review and Herald, April 30, 1901 par. 8} |
| Who is the only true God (is it a trinity)? |
| “Jehovah is the only true God, and He is to be reverenced and worshiped.” {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 6, p. 166} 1901 |
| “As Jehovah, the supreme Ruler, God could not personally communicate with sinful men, but He so loved the world that He sent Jesus to our world as a revelation of Himself.” {E. G. White, Manuscript Releases Volume 9, p. 122} 1903 |
| Who is the personification of the only true God? |
| “By rejecting the Son of God, the personification of the only true God, who possessed goodness, mercy, and untiring love, whose heart was ever touched with human woe, and choosing a murderer in his stead, the Jews showed what human nature can and will do when the restraining power of the Spirit of God is removed, and men are under the control of the apostate.” {E. G. White, Review and Herald, January 30, 1900 par. 6} |
| What is the relation between God and Christ? What has Christ been given? |
| “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.” {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 8, p. 268} 1904 |
| How is the unity between the Father and the Son described? |
| “The personality of the Father and the Son, also the unity that exists between Them, are presented in the seventeenth chapter of John, in the prayer of Christ for His disciples: “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: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”John 17:20, 21. The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” {E. G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 421, 422} |
| What is the only power that can resist and overcome sin and cleanse us? |
| “There is but one power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature. {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 8, p. 291} 1904 |
| What is the (much misunderstood) term used to describe this personal power? |
| “The Spirit was given as a regenerating agency, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of man to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fulness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress his own character upon the church.” {E. G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904 par. 3} |
| Does that make the Spirit another individual being, a different person to God and Christ? |
| “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world.” {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 7, p. 273} 1902 |
| “All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to His service will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. 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 mind and heart.” {E. G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 159} 1905 |
| We need to know two Divine Beings to have eternal life. God, who is the Father. and His Son Jesus Christ: |
| Jn17.3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Only Two Divine Beings sit on the throne: God, who is the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ: |
| Re22.1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. |
| Re22.3 And there shall be no more curse: but THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: |
| Do you see a pattern forming? Only Two Divine Beings have a kingdom. God who is the Father and His Son Jesus Christ: |
| Ep5.5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND OF GOD. |
| Please critically examine your belief about God being a unity of 3 co-eternal persons.
The Bible is NOT revealing a Trinity. The SDA pioneers including Ellen White were correct in their understanding. We didn’t have to change as a church about 40 years ago. We changed positions for the worse. It’s time to come back to the pillars of our faith. |
| Deuteronomy Chapter 6 |
| 1. Now these [are] the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do [them] in the land whither ye go to possess it: |
| 4. Hear, O Israel: THE LORD OUR GOD [IS] ONE LORD: [is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| 5. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. [de4.29, de30.2,6,10; je29.13; mt22.37; mk12.30; lk10.27] |
| Mark Chapter 12 |
| >28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? |
| 29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD: [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| 30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. [de4.29, de6.5, de30.2,6,10; je29.13; mt22.37; lk10.27] |
| 31. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [le19.18; mt5.43, mt19.19, mt22.39; lk10.27; ro13.9; ga5.14] |
| 32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: FOR THERE IS ONE GOD; and there is none other but he: [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| 33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. |
| 34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, THOU ART NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And no man after that durst ask him [any question]. |
| Mar 12:29, 32, 34 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: …. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but HE: ….. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. |
| The scribe answered Jesus “None other [God] but HE”. “HE” is singular. When the scribe answered Jesus, Jesus didn’t answer back to the scribe and say. “Actually sir, God is a trio, or a trinity and I’m part of it”. Nor did he say “it’s called a godhead, and I am the second individual of three co-eternal beings or persons that actually make up God”. |
| Instead Jesus said “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God”. So understanding that the Lord our God is a “HE” and not an “IT” or a “THEY” brings you that much closer to the kingdom of God. This is the first and great commandment. There is none greater. Not even the Sabbath is more important than this commandment. |
| 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] |
| John Chapter 17 |
| 3. AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| 1 Corinthians Chapter 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. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Ephesians Chapter 4 |
| 6. ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO [IS] ABOVE ALL, and through all, and in you all. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| 1 Timothy Chapter 2 |
| 5. FOR [THERE IS] ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS; [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; ja2.19] |
| John Chapter 15 |
| 10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. |
| [After quoting John 15:10] “Our salvation depends upon our keeping ALL of God’s commandments. Perfect obedience without hesitancy or doubt is all that God will accept. We should not even obey the commandments merely to secure heaven, but by obedience to please Him who died to save sinners from the penalty of the transgression of the Father’s law.” {Lt35-1877.25} https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/3274.2000001#0 |
| Exodus Chapter 20:1-7 The first and great commandment: |
| 1. And God spake all these words, saying, |
| 2. I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. |
| 3. THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. |
| 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: |
| 5. THOU SHALT NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF TO THEM, NOR SERVE THEM: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; |
| 6. And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. |
| 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [le19.12; mt5.33] |
| “I cannot begin to tell it all, but the latest is the THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE. It is to be proclaimed, and we are to carry the banner with the inscription, “The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” That is what we are to bear. There is no such thing as these spiritualistic ideas that must come into our mind at all, that we have no personal Christ and we have no personal God. Brethren, hold fast to the sanctuary. Hold fast to Christ Jesus; hold fast to the Father. And every point of present truth that we have heard that we have experienced, we are to proclaim whenever we shall go.” {Ms188-1905.30} |
| Summary of the 1st Angel’s Message: A world-wide final gospel of truth message proclaimed just before Christ’s Second Advent to give glory and worship to God the Father – our Creator. |
| Summary of the 2nd Angel’s Message: A world-wide final gospel of truth message proclaimed just before Christ’s Second Advent for God’s people to “come out” of Babylon – to leave the apostate churches of the world – that is Roman Catholicism as well as Protestants who have rejected the truth. By giving your allegiance to Rome – the “mother of harlots”, you have drunk “of the wine of the wrath of her fornication”. The message is “Come out” and give glory and worship to God the Father – our Creator – and not to a man-made papal institution or it’s off-spring. |
| Summary of the 3rd Angel’s Message: A world-wide final gospel of truth message proclaimed just before Christ’s Second Advent regarding the penalties for worshipping the beast and his image rather than giving the glory and your worship to God the Father – our Creator. |
| So, when we analysis the 3 Angel’s Messages we conclude that the central and most important theme that God requires us to do is to give GLORY AND WORSHIP TO GOD THE FATHER – our Creator. |
| Yes, we do this through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, but NEVER through any other source. |
| To whom did Jesus worship? |
| John Chapter 17 |
| 1. 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: |
| 2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. |
| 3. AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| 4. I HAVE GLORIFIED THEE ON THE EARTH: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. |
| 5. And now, O FATHER, GLORIFY THOU ME WITH THINE OWN SELF WITH THE GLORY WHICH I HAD WITH THEE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS. |
| Also, Jesus was a Jew; the Jews only worship God, the Father; Jews believe in 1 God – 1 Being. |
| The faith of all 1st Century Jews, including Paul, and all the Disciples, including John, was based upon 1 God who was the Father of the Messiah. |
| The trinity doctrine contradicts the faith of Jesus, all the Disciples and the Apostles. As we will also see, the trinity doctrine contradicts the faith of Ellen G. White, James S. White and every pioneer of the Seventh-day Adventist church |
| John 4:24 God [is] a SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. |
| So why does there need to be another GOD the [Holy] Spirit? There already is one in God the Father. |
| Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. HE WOULD REPRESENT HIMSELF AS PRESENT IN ALL PLACES BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AS THE OMNIPRESENT. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [THIS PHRASE WAS ADDED BY ELLEN WHITE.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” [John 14:26]. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you” [John 16:7]. {14MR 23.3} (Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, pages 23, 24; written February 18 and 19, 1895) |
| NB: Divested meaning: To strip or deprive (someone or something), esp. of property or rights; dispossess. To deprive someone of (power, rights, or possessions). Example: “men are unlikely to be divested of power without a struggle“. |
| Reader |
| In the above, we believe that you have enough evidence to already formulate a choice: |
| Joshua 24:14-15 >Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. |
| And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. |
| Do I stick with the S.D.A. church’s pagan/Catholic trinity doctrine [No.2 in Fundamental Beliefs]? |
| OR |
| Do I change to the non-trinitarian doctrine knowing that it is upheld by God’s Word [KJV Bible + Spirit of Prophecy]? |
| Will the S.D.A. church’s theology give me eternal life? |
| OR |
| Will Jesus Christ and obedience to His Word give me that eternal life? |
| Do I worship 3 gods in 1? |
| OR |
| Do I worship the One true living God? |
| John 17:3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision. |
| Yes, it’s for you to “PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good.” [1 Thessalonians 5:21] and |
| “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2 Timothy 2:15] |
| Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. |
| I CANNOT decide for you – God has given YOU the choice – YOU MUST DECIDE
and you CANNOT remain in that valley. |
| Neglect of the “Testimonies” |
| It is not alone those who openly reject the Testimonies, or who cherish doubt concerning them, that are on dangerous ground. To disregard light is to REJECT it. {5T 680.2 1882-1889} |
|
A revival and a reformation MUST take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will NOT bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work THEY MUST BLEND. {RH, February 25, 1902 par. 8} |
|
All we can do to help you decide is to give you a lot more Scriptural support so that you are fully informed when making this SALVATIONAL choice. Should you need this support, then please keep reading [SECTION 2]. |
| SECTION 2 |
| Before we examine the Scriptural texts which reject the trinity doctrine, it would be useful to understand how we, as the church chosen by God, got into the mess that we now have. |
| Rather than “re-invent the wheel”, there is already a first class document available to us via the internet and this information is greatly appreciated. |
| http://www.asitreads.com/adventist-timeline-of-change/ |
| ADVENTIST TIMELINE OF CHANGE |
| This is a step by step illustration of our early church Pioneers or “old-timers” dying off and the effects of educated scholars inserting their academic influence in changing the direction of our church to what has become now-from non-trinitarian to a decidedly a trinitarian denomination. While there are quite a few more events that have taken place, to keep the focus on the subject of change, we have elected to stay with the key events. This list was put together by As It Reads along with David Allen of Truthseeker Ministries. |
| 1860 – The remnant (Sabbath-keeping Advent believers) is given the name Seventh-day Adventists which carried Heaven’s approval. |
| 1863 – Organization of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (May 21, 1863). |
| 1872 – The “Declaration of Fundamental Principles Taught and Practiced by Seventh-day Adventists” consisting of 25 propositions largely written by James White is published as a pamphlet at Battle Creek, Michigan (To view or download the original pamphlet click HERE). This lays down a clear non-Trinitarian foundation and is not replaced or changed in any way until 1931. These propositions are based on 1 Cor. 8:6 and contain neither the term Godhead nor Trinity. First year that the Fundamental Principles were actually published in the Yearbook was 1889. Prior to 1981, the years of publish are 1905, 1909, 1913, 1914. Then it goes dark but published again until it changes in 1931. Then 1942, 1955, 1965-66, 1973-74, 1975, 1980, 1981. |
| The God of the Pioneers – 1872 Fundamental Principles |
| (25 Fundamental Principles based on 1 Corinthians 8:6) |
| As elsewhere stated, 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 we know, entire unanimity throughout the body. They believe, — |
| 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 everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 139:7 |
| 2. That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the one by whom God created all things, and by whom they do consist; that he took on him the nature of the seed of Abraham for the redemption of our fallen race; that he dwelt among men full of grace and truth, lived our example, died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification, ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where, with his own blood he makes atonement for our sins; which atonement so far from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the sacrifice, is the very last portion of his work as priest, according to the example of the Levitical priesthood, which foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our Lord in Heaven.
See Lev. 16; Heb. 8:4, 5; 9:6, 7; etc. |
| Click HERE to view or download the original 1889 SDA Yearbook (Fundamental Principles are found on pages 147 to 151). |
| 1872 – Death of Elder Joseph Bates. |
| 1874 – The Fundamental Principles of 1872 are published again by James White in the first issue of the Signs of the Times (June 4, 1874), and by Uriah Smith in the Review and Herald (Nov. 24, 1874). In his introductory remarks to the fundamental principles in the Signs, James White states, “In presenting to the public this synopsis of our faith, we wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline aside from the Bible. We do not put forth this as having authority with our people, nor is designed to secure uniformity among them, as a system of faith, but is a brief statement of what is, and has been, with great unanimity, held by them.” |
| 1877 – The Biblical Institute, where Uriah Smith and James White outline the Principal Doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists, is held in Oakland, California. Covering everything from the Sanctuary to Prophecy, the nature of Sin to the nature of Christ, this Institute confirms and strengthens the teachings of Adventism, as outlined in the Fundamentals of 1872. |
| 1881 – Death of Elder James White. |
| 1883 – Death of Elder J.B. Frisbie and Elder John Nevins Andrews. |
| 1883 – At this General Conference Session, it is decided against publishing a Church Manual, as it is deemed undesirable to take any steps towards a discipline, creed or form of formalism (RH, Nov. 27). |
| 1888 – The 27th General Conference Session is held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, with 91 delegates, and approx. 475 attendees. God brings the truth of righteousness by faith to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. Built on a powerful Biblical foundation, this message of the love of God marks the beginning of the Loud Cry. But sadly, the message is resisted by a large majority of the church leadership. Ellen White writes, “The prejudices and opinions that prevailed at Minneapolis are not dead by any means. The seeds there sown are ready to spring into life and bear a like harvest, because the roots are still left…. and will bear their unholy fruit, to poison the perception and blind the understanding of those you connect with, in regard to the messengers and messages that God sends…” (Manuscript 40, 1890; 1888 Materials, ch. 115) |
| 1889 – The Fundamental Principles are expanded to 28 sections and published in the 1889 Yearbook, leaving the first two on the doctrine of God unchanged. It remains unchanged during its reprinting from 1905-1914 in the SDA Yearbook. |
| 1889 – Death of Elder Joseph Harvey Waggoner (Ellet Joseph Waggoner’s father). |
| 1890 – Leadership attempts to remove the name Seventh-day Adventist from the American Sentinel (Religious Liberty journal of the SDA Church) to make the magazine popular with other denominations, but this step is averted because a living prophet is present. Ellen White states, “This policy is the first step in a succession of wrong steps” (Counsels to Writer and Editors, p. 96) the leading brethren are taking down the road to ecumenical concessions. |
| 1891 – The General Conference sends Ellen White far away to Australia, contrary to the light given her (This Day With God, p. 61). E.J. Waggoner is sent to England as editor of The Present Truth for 10 years to separate him from A.T. Jones and E.G. White (Letter from W.C. White to A.G. Daniells, May 30, 1902). |
| 1892 – Death of Elder Roswell F. Cottrell. |
| 1892 – Bible Students’ Library series – lessons for the public. # 90
“The Bible Doctrine of the Trinity.” Reprint of article in New York Independent on November 14, 1889. Author – Samuel Spear (non-SDA). Promotes “one God subsisting and acting in three hypostases/persons,” but also in “eternal divine subordination of the Son to the Father.” The tract used terms not generally used by Adventists, but it is generally non-Trinitarian in content. |
| 1894 – Ellen White warns, “It is a grave mistake on the part of those who are children of God to seek to bridge the gulf that separate them from the children of darkness by yielding principle, by compromising the truth.” (BEcho, April 9, 1894, par. 6) “It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the papacy.” (ST Feb 19, 1894) These counsels would later be disregarded by the leadership as we shall see. |
| 1894 – Herbert Camden Lacey attends Sunday-keeping/Trinitarian meeting as a Battle Creek College delegate to Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions in Michigan. Lacey re-accepts the Trinity doctrine. |
| 1895 – Ellen White warns the leadership in Battle Creek: “The Lord has not placed any one of His human agencies under the dictation and control of those who are themselves but erring mortals… But there is a power exercised in Battle Creek that God has not given, and He will judge those who assume this authority… Brethren, leave God to rule.” (TM 347.3) |
| 1896 – H. Camden Lacey lectures on Trinity in Cooranbong, Australia. Sister Marian Davis, literary assistant to Ellen White, takes copious notes. Arthur G. Daniells does not oppose the lectures. |
| 1896 – Recommendations for essential change at General Conference session, to choose one man as president, but the brethren are advised that it is not wise to do so. Ellen White warns: “To place men where God should be placed does not honor or glorify God. Is the president of the General Conference to be the God of the people? Are the men at Battle Creek to be regarded as infinite in wisdom?… ‘Cease ye from man.’” (TM 375.2) |
| 1897 – John Harvey Kellogg presents his first concepts leading to Pantheism at a series of studies he gives at the General Conference session. |
| 1898 – The Review and Herald prints an article from “The King’s Messenger” which is Trinitarian in teaching – “The God-Man” (1898). |
| 1898 – R.A. Underwood’s view of the Holy Spirit changes from an influence to a person, thus becoming a Trinitarian. |
| 1898 – Ellen White states, “The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst.” (Ms 156, 1898 – Notebook Leaflets from Elms haven Library, Vol.1, Need of Self-Sacrificing Effort, p. 99) |
| 1900 – The Review and Herald again prints two more articles from “The King’s Messenger” both of which are Trinitarian in teaching –“The Third Person” (January 1900), and “Blended Personalities” (April 1900). |
| 1901 – The American Standard Version of the Bible is first published. This move towards a common Bible between Catholics and Protestants will influence Adventism in small steps away from truth. |
| 1901 – Recommendations for change are repeated and voted. One chairman is to head the G.C for only one year. Arthur Daniells is elected, but two years later, he is still president. General Conference Executive Committee increases its members from 13 to 25 (GCB p. 151). Ellen White warns that the church is “working upon wrong principles.” (Ms 37, p.98, 1901) “The people have lost confidence in those who have the management of the work. Yet we hear that the voice of the Conference is the voice of God. Every time I have heard this, I have thought it was ALMOST BLASPHEMY.” (Ms 37, 1901, p. 8) |
| 1902 – J.H. Kellogg prepares to publish his work, The Living Temple. He is told NOT to include his new theories, but ignores the counsel. He tries to gain approval at the Autumn Council for his book to be published but a letter from Ellen White to Daniells counsels him to have nothing to do with the book. Kellogg takes his manuscript to the Review and Herald publishing house as outside work, and they agree to print it. |
| As the result, the Battle Creek Sanitarium (February 18) headed by Kellogg and the Review and Herald printing office (December 30) burn to the ground, and with it the galley proofs of Kellogg’s book Living Temple. But he takes the manuscript to a non-Adventist printer. 23 fires would happen between 1901 and 1923. Judgment has ruled from the heavens above. |
| 1902 – Ellen White feels perplexed and frustrated with the G.C and decides to withdraw herself from all their meetings. She writes to her sons Edson and Willie, “I have but very little confidence that the Lord is giving these men in positions of responsibility, spiritual eyesight and heavenly discernment. I am thrown into perplexity over their course; and I desire now to attend to my special work, to have no part in any of their councils, and to attend no camp meetings, nigh or afar off. My mind shall not be dragged into confusion by the tendency they manifest to work directly contrary to the light that God has given me. I am done. I will preserve my God-given intelligence. My voice has been heard in the different conferences, and at camp meetings. I must now make a change… I shall therefore leave, leave them to receive word from the Bible… This is the light given me and I shall not depart from it.” (Letter W-186, 2 Dec, 1902 to Edson and Willie White, p. 4, 5) |
| 1903 – Crisis begins with Living Temple and the Alpha heresy. |
| Kellogg prints the book in which he has placed his theories. Ellen White says they are “spiritualistic” and “akin to pantheism” (Special Testimonies B, No. 6, p. 41). She says these teachings are the “alpha of deadly heresies” (1SM 200), and that “the Omega would follow in a little while. I tremble for our people. In Living Temple the assertion is made that God is in the flower, in the leaf, in the sinner. 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 does not abide in the heart of the sinner; it is the enemy who abides there.” (Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, p. 341,343) But Kellogg claims that his book is in harmony with Ellen White’s writings and can be sustained by statements from the testimonies. Ellen White tells him he has taken her statements away from their connection, and interpreted them according to his own mind. “I saw what was coming in, and I saw that our brethren were blind. They did not realize the danger.” (Sermons and Talks, vol.1, p. 344) |
| In a vision, Ellen White sees “a platform, braced by solid timbers—the truths of the Word of God. Someone high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform…” (1SM 204) |
| 1903 – Autumn Council, the understanding of the character and personality of God comes under threat. |
| A.G. Daniells is concerned that the supporters of Living Temple would cause a confrontation, and dares not call for a vote. Ellen White writes to him: “Be careful how you sustain the sentiments of this book regarding the personality of God… It has been represented to me that the writer of this book is on a false track.” (Keepers of the Flame, no.6, Dr Alan Lindsay) |
| After the council, Daniells writes to W.C. White regarding the proposed changes Kellogg has planned for the book. “Regarding Dr Kellogg’s plans for revising and republishing ‘Living Temple’…within a short time he had come to believe in the Trinity and could now see pretty clearly where all the difficulty was… 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…” (Oct 29, 1903, p. 1,2) |
| Ellen White writes to Kellogg: “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, The Elmshaven Years, Vol.5, 1900-1905. Arthur L. White, 1941) |
| She further predicts what will happen in the future. “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? 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…” (1SM 204) |
| 1903 – New Constitution is proposed to provide for the election of a G.C president who will be given a mandate from the Church. This will give the president and leading officers authority to enact what they think the people need. Daniells is made president for the next 20 years. New Constitution provides for the Exec Committee of 25 members to have full administrative power between sessions for any five members as a quorum to take steps that will involve the whole committee. |
| Ellen White writes, “These principles are so foreign to God’s principles that God cannot bless those who vote upon them.” (GCB 1903, p.152) E.J. Waggoner also objects: “It is fundamentally and diametrically opposed to the principles of organization as set forth in the Bible.” (GCB 1903) Percy Magan says, “They are the same principles and introduced in precisely the same way as they were hundreds of years ago when the Papacy was made.” (GCB Day 3, No 10, p. 150) A.T. Jones states, “This proposed constitution is subversive of the principles of organization given to us at the G.C of 1897 and that of 1901.” (GCB 1903, p. 152,153) This G.C session has rejected the 1897 and 1901 recommendations. |
| 1903 – Uriah Smith dies. |
| John Harvey Kellogg |
| 1903 – Dr. John Harvey Kellogg promotes Trinitarian doctrines in Battle Creek after converting from Pantheism. Kellogg asks Jones to teach at Battle Creek College. Waggoner moves to Battle Creek, placing him in great peril. Ellen White writes to him: “Satan is working stealthily, untiringly, to affect your downfall through his specious temptations… He hopes to lead you into the mazes of spiritualism.” (Letter 231, 1903) |
| 1904 – Ellen White has a vision in which the angel says to Jones and Waggoner, “The sentiments that you have received in harmony with the special theories presented in the book ‘Living Temple’ are not pure truth. There is a co-mingling of truth and error… Separate entirely from the bewitching, misleading sentiments that run through ‘Living Temple’.” (Letter 279, 1904) |
| For more on Kellogg and the early Adventism, check out this article by Terry Hill, |
| 1904 – Ellen White has another vision of Kellogg: “The subject upon which he was speaking was life, and the relation of God to all living things. In his presentations he cloaked the matter somewhat, but in reality he was presenting, as of the highest value, scientific theories which are akin to pantheism… I was astonished to see with what enthusiasm the sophistries and deceptive theories were received. The influence of this talk gave the speaker encouragement to call for a council of our brethren at Battle Creek, for a further examination of these seducing sentiments.” (Special Testimonies Series B, No.6, p. 210) |
| “Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe.” (2SM 58) |
| The apostasy will “develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair,” and will increase in strength until the coming of Jesus. (Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 185.1) |
| In 1904, Ellen White writes, “For the past 50 years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us… 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 prayer, study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord.” (Special Testimonies, Series B #2, p. 59) |
| Notice that in 1904, the foundation of faith has been firmly established. “Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph 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… When they came to the point in their study where they said, ‘We can do nothing more,’ the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me.” (1SM 206.4) |
| 1905 – The 28 Fundamental Principles of 1889 “Synopsis of our Faith” is inserted again in the church Yearbook, and continues until 1914. |
| Ellen White confirms these principles: “Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth” (Manuscript 129, 1905). “The past fifty years have not dimmed one jot or principle of our faith as we received the great and wonderful evidences that were made certain to us in 1844, after the passing of the time… Not a word is changed or denied.” (Letter 326, Dec. 4, 1905; The Upward Look, 352.4) |
| 1905 – Daniel Bourdeau dies. |
| 1905 – Ellen White says the writings of the pioneers should be reproduced. “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.” (RH May 25, 1905) |
| 1907 – Apostasy is here. With the apostasy of J.H. Kellogg, Ellen White warns: “The time of this apostasy is here. Every conceivable effort will be made to throw doubt upon the positions we have occupied for over half a century.” (Letter 410, 1907, p. 2 [to J.E. White, Aug 26, 1907]; 7MR 195) |
| 1912 – The Review and Herald reprints the original Principles with the first two unchanged–”one God” and “one Lord.” (August 22, 1912, p. 4) |
| 1913 – F. M. Wilcox publishes a supposed “Trinitarian tract” and a quote from Ellen White (taken from Desire of Ages) next to it from 1898 to paint a false picture of belief in the Review and Herald, Vol 6, Oct. 9, 1913, p 21. Wilcox rolls out the divine Trinity which includes the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Godhead. This sets the stage for making the Godhead (used exclusively by Ellen White) equivalent with Wilcox’s “divine Trinity.” This is apparently a response to counter the claim published by James Gray of the Moody Bible Institute that Adventists deny the Trinity (James Gray, Bible Problems Explained, 1913). |
| 1915 – Ellen White warns of great changes to take place after her death. “I am charged to tell our people, that do not realize, that the devil has device after device, and he carries them out in ways that they do not expect. Satan’s agencies will invent ways to make sinners out of saints. I tell you now, that when I am laid to rest, great changes will take place. I do not know when I shall be taken; and I desire to warn all against the devices of the devil. I want the people to know that I warned them fully before my death.” (Manuscript 1, Feb 24, 1915) |
| 1915 – Ellen G. White dies. |
| When Ellen White died in July 1915, three funerals and a graveside service memorialized her life of ministry. An estimated 5,400 people attended these services.The first funeral was held July 18 on the lawn at her home in California, known as Elmshaven. A second was held the next day in Oakland, California. The third and largest service was held on Sabbath, July 24, in Battle Creek, Michigan, where Ellen White had lived for many years and where she was to be buried beside her husband, James. |
| 1915 – The “Synopsis of Our Faith” which is the Fundamental Principles mostly written by James White in 1872 and inserted in the 1889 Yearbook and again in the 1905-1914 Yearbooks are now removed from the 1915 SDA Yearbook by a mere General Conference statistician, Edson Rogers. He obviously did it as soon as the living prophet has died. Thus the Fundamental Principles held in great unanimity by the pioneers are put out of the way. |
| 1916 – Elder E.J. Waggoner and Dr. David Paulson die. |
| 1918 – Death of Elder George I. Butler, Elder James H. Morrison and Elder W. H. Littlejohn. |
| 1919 – Bible and Teachers Conference takes place in secrecy with the discussion becoming heated at times as some in leadership positions test the waters to see if the doctrine of the Trinity can be brought in. There is enough resistance to table the conversation for another time. The recorded minutes for this five week long event (July 1-August 9) disappears for 55 years until 1974. |
| 1922 — Judson Washburn writes an open letter to Daniells saying the 1919 Bible Conference was “the most terrible thing that had ever happened in the history of this denomination.” ( J. S. Washburn, An Open Letter to Elder A. G. Daniells and an Appeal to the General Conference, 1922, p. 28,29) Another letter written by Washburn to Claude Holmes is published as a 36-page tract called The Startling Omega and its True Genealogy. It is distributed at the General Conference of 1922. In this tract he mentions that the college in Washington has become “a nest of Higher Criticism” and he blames Daniells and Prescott for all the theological problems. (Omega Tract, Washburn, p. 1, 6) |
| 1922 – Elder Stephen N. Haskell, author of many best selling books and Adventist Pioneer, dies. |
| 1923 – Elder Alonzo Trevor Jones and Elder O.A. Johnson die. |
| 1924 – John Norton Loughborough, the last of the first generation core of Pioneers, dies. |
| 1926 – LeRoy Froom (who is the first associate secretary and then made secretary of the GC Ministerial Association until 1950) is asked to present studies on the Holy Spirit at the Milwaukee General Conference Session. In preparation for his studies, Froom went to books written by authors outside of our faith (he went to Babylon for his material) to reference their writings as he could not find in our own denomination writings that would line up with his agenda. |
| Gradually the meaning of the word “divine” changed, until it meant not fully divine. We do not know how it changed, but Trinitarians were using the term “deity”, instead of “divine”. (Once divine and deity meant the same.) When Froom uses the words “all the fullness of the Godhead”, he is making two statements — an Arian or Semi-Arian belief is not true Christianity, and the Trinity has a Saviour with full deity. |
| 1926 – G.C Working Policy (075) is adopted. SDA Church becomes a part of evangelical churches. The policy states, “We recognize every agency that lifts up Christ before men as a part of the divine plan for the evangelization of the world, and we hold in high esteem the Christian men and women in other communions who are engaged in winning souls to Christ.” (“Relationship To Other Societies,” GC Exco, 1926) This would include the Jesuit Order. Ellen White has warned, “Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?” (Great Controversy, 1888, p. 571.1) This is the first “wrong step” toward ecumenical concessions taken by the G.C. |
| 1928 – Death of Elder James Edson White, son of James and Ellen White. |
| 1928 – LeRoy Froom is invited to present a series of studies on the Holy Spirit at the North American Union Ministerial Institute. After the Institute meetings he says, “You cannot imagine how I was pummeled by some of the old timers because I pressed on the personality of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Godhead.” (Letter from LeRoy Froom to Dr Otto H. Christenson, Oct 27, 1960) Ellen White has also used the term “third person of the Godhead” but with very different connotations. |
| Leroy Froom |
| 1928 – LeRoy Froom, founder of Ministry Magazine, begins promoting the American Revised Standard Version of the Bible and demotes the King James Bible to not accurate and old-fashioned status. He tours the U.S. promoting the Sunday Trinity to Adventist ministers and writes the book The Coming of the Comforter. |
| 1928 – The Coming of the Comforter, a pro-Trinity book by LeRoy Froom, is published upon urgent request of hundreds of ministers who heard him speak. In the book he emphasizes strongly the personality of the Holy Spirit as a separate being from the Father and Son. The book contains many quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy, but the interpretation is totally different than the teaching of the pioneers. More on Froom HERE. |
| 1928 – W. W. Prescott who was educated by the secular Dartmouth College, writes eleven articles in the Signs of the Times documenting the Sunday scholars’ proof of the inferiority of the King James Bible. The Bible of the Pioneers is under assault and being replaced by modern corrupt versions. |
| 1928 – General Conference leadership adopts the American Revised Version Bible, which is inspired by the Jesuits of Rome, above the Authorized KJV Bible of the pioneers. This version comes from scholars that rely on two manuscripts, the Vaticanus and the Sinaiticus (Constantine’s state Bibles.) This is the second “wrong step” toward ecumenism. This step is now possible with the passing of the last pioneer. |
| 1929 – Healing of the deadly wound of the Papacy. The Lateran Treaty is signed between Italy and the Vatican, settling the “Roman Question.” Italy now recognizes the Vatican City State as an independent state, and agrees to give the Church financial compensation for the loss of the Papal States. |
| 1929 – A.T. Robinson writes an article “One God and One Mediator” for the Review and Herald, quoting 1 Cor. 15:28, giving the impression that the one God is the Father only. |
| 1930 – General Conference votes to publish a Church Manual. In 1883 the G.C. session had voted NO. They have also decided it was time for a new statement of fundamental beliefs. This is the third “wrong step” toward ecumenism. Attitudes have now changed and become more liberal. Theological wounds have “healed.” The last of the pioneers has died and their voices are no longer heard. Leadership wants to change the old SDA doctrines on (1) The final atonement in heaven, (2) The human nature of Christ, (3) The place of Scripture and prophecy in the church, and (4) The doctrine of the Trinity as taught by evangelicals. Ellen White warns, “In no respect is God’s work to be circumscribed by man-made restrictions. Many of the ambitious plans and policies that have been made are not endorsed by Him.” (1MR 245) |
| 1930 – Our Authorized Bible Vindicated by B.G. Wilkinson is published, documenting the origins and history of the King James Bible. The General Conference tries to discontinue the book and Wilkinson writes a second book in defense of his position, Answers to Objections to our Authorized Bible Vindicated. |
| 1931 – Church leaders in Africa request a “statement” that will “assist in a better understanding of our work.” (27 Fundamentals Introduction) In answer to the request, a suitable Statement of Faith is placed in the 1931 Yearbook. |
| 1931 – Yearbook with new Statement of Beliefs is published without a vote or authority. The G.C President C.H. Watson is voted the authority to select a committee of four men of which he is a member, to prepare a statement for publication in the Yearbook. The four are G.C Associate Secretary M.E Kern, Review editor F.M Wilcox, manager of Review and Herald E.R. Palmer, and G.C President C.H Watson. Francis McLellan Wilcox, editor for the Review and Herald for 33 years, alone writes up the new Statement of Beliefs with 22 Fundamental Beliefs with the approval of the committee and passes it over to Edson Rogers (G.C statistician from 1903-1941) who places it in the 1931 Yearbook. LeRoy Froom would later claim there was a consensus because no one complained. He fails to mention the church was unaware of this action. President Watson knows, but does not seek to take official action. Thus the Statement of Beliefs is added not by approval of the G.C, but “by common consent” and is “accepted without challenge.” (Froom, Movement of Destiny, p. 414) |
| SDA Fundamental Beliefs-Yearbook 1889-1914 |
| SDA Fundamental Beliefs-Yearbook, 1931 |
| Click HERE to view the entire yearbook (For statement of beliefs see pgs. 377 to 380) |
| The first two fundamental principles of James White/Uriah Smith (1872/1874/1889-1914 Yearbooks) state in part, “1. That there is one God,… everywhere present by His representative, the Holy Spirit. 2. That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father… that He took on Him the nature of the seed of Abraham for the redemption of our fallen race…” The 1931 Yearbook now states, “That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father,… the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father,… the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead…” (p. 377) |
| Points that are entirely removed from the 1872/1874/1889 Fundamental Principles include: Prophecy as a part of God’s revelation to man, World history fulfills Bible prophecy, and Papacy (man of sin) changed the Sabbath. |
| The pioneer view on the post-fall human nature of Christ is changed to a pre-fall human nature, Christ’s work of final atonement in the most holy place since 1844 is omitted and now replaced with atonement being completed on the cross and Christ now lives to make intercession for us, and the cleansing of the sanctuary involving the work of blotting out sins is now replaced with only a work of judgment. |
| Now the SDA Church has a new statement on the Trinity, a new Christ with an unfallen human nature instead of a fallen (but not corrupted) human nature, and a new final atonement that was completed on the cross rather than finished in the most holy place in heaven. These doctrinal changes place the SDA Church in harmony with the Sunday-keeping churches of Babylon, and make it possible for ecumenical ties with other denominations. To substantiate these new apostate doctrines, a new Bible, the American Revised Version (now approved by the Papacy), is embraced. |
| By 1931, periodicals, tracts and books have been published “on the ‘Three Persons’ of the Godhead, the eternal pre-existence and complete Deity of Christ, and the personality of the Holy Spirit” by LeRoy Froom (Movement of Destiny, p. 418). |
| 1932 – The first Church Manual is published, with the 22 articles of Fundamental Beliefs, despite G.I Butler’s objection to having a Church Manual in 1883 (RH, Nov. 20). Now the church has an official creed for the first time. In 1861, James White warned, “Making a creed is setting the stakes, and barring up the way to all future advancement. They say virtually that the Lord must not do anything further than what has been marked out in the creed. A creed and the [spiritual] gifts thus stand in direct opposition to each other… The Bible is our creed. We reject everything in the form of a human creed.” (RH, Oct. 8, 1861) |
| 1935 – Death of Arthur Grosvenor Daniells, one of the key men in apostasy. |
| 1935 – Letter from H.W. Carr to Willie White asking about the nature of the Holy Spirit as being promoted by some of the leaders being another separate person from the Father and the Son. Ellen White explaining that the Spirit of God and of Christ (Holy Spirit) is a divine personality begins to be twisted into “someone else” other than Christ the Comforter. Part of Willie White’s response is, “The statements and the arguments of some of our ministers in their effort to prove that the Holy Spirit was 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, (the Holy Spirit) as the fellow who is down here running things.”’ (Letter Willie White, April 30, 1935) |
| 1936 – The General Conference Sabbath School Committee publishes a series of Sabbath School lesson studies (starting with the 4th quarter 1936 to the 2nd quarter 1938) for the church which is intended to show the world what Seventh-day Adventists officially believe, and purportedly to show that the church still upholds the Adventist Pioneer position on the nature of God and Christ. Six men including F.M Wilcox and M.E Kern were voted by the G.C Committee in late 1935 to sit with the Sabbath School Department Lessons Committee when they compile the studies on essential Bible doctrines. The studies apply Trinitarian language to non-Trinitarian belief, in effect subtly reinterpreting it in Trinitarian terms. In the third week of the 4th quarter 1936 lesson under the title “The Godhead”, the word Trinity is used twice, once as a heading and once as a sub-heading. Under the “Trinity” heading, they state that “three powers wrought in the work of creation,” and that “the name God is used of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit–a kind of heavenly family name. These three constitute the Godhead.” Then under the heading “Unity of the Godhead”, they state, “The Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father. The Spirit is ‘the Spirit of God’ and ‘the Spirit of Christ.’ Hence all three dwell together, and the three are one.” (Lesson 3, p.10) |
| The only other time that the word Trinity is mentioned again is in Lesson 10, which states, “Since the divine Trinity is composed of three persons, there is established a personal relationship between the Godhead and the one baptized.”(Dec. 5, p. 31) Nothing else is said about the word Trinity, and the phrase “Trinity doctrine” is not used, but intimations of it are being subtly conveyed. At this point, the begotten belief is still the official belief. Time and death is needed to change it to an unbegotten belief to support the false claim that Christ could not be begotten and yet be fully God in His pre-existence. Ellen White believed that Christ was truly begotten and still truly God, for she said in 1905, “The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” (Manuscript 116, Dec. 19, 1905) The 4th quarter lesson rightly concludes regarding the pre-existence of Christ that “He was therefore no part of creation but was ‘begotten of the Father’ in the days of eternity, and was very God Himself.” (Lesson 4, p. 13) In the section regarding the Deity of Christ, the lesson rightly recognizes that Christ as the begotten Son has inherited God’s name and therefore can rightly be called God. So it seems that as late as 1936, Ellen White’s writings have actually not changed the beliefs of the church about the pre-existence of Christ as the truly divine begotten Son of God, contrary to later claims that they have. Also at this point, the Holy Spirit is still not officially regarded as a divine person exactly like God and Christ are persons. The lesson states, “Hence the Father sends the Spirit in the name of the Son, that is, as the Son’s representative. The Spirit ‘proceedeth from the Father,’ to do His work in the earth… Hence the Father sends the Spirit, and the Son sends the Spirit. The Son speaks what the Father gives Him to speak, and the Spirit speaks what the Son gives Him to speak. The Spirit is both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ…” (Lesson 3, p. 11) Click HERE to view the original Sabbath School lesson of 1936. |
| 1936 – Benjamin Wilkinson answers a letter from Dr. T.S. Teters saying, “Replying to your letter of October 13 regarding the doctrine of the Trinity, I will say that Seventh Day Adventists do not, and never have accepted the dark, mysterious, Catholic doctrine of the Trinity.” (http://omega77.tripod.com/bivensholyspirit.htm) |
| 1937 – Death of Willie C. White, son of James and Ellen White. |
| 1939 – W.W. Prescott preaches a sermon at the Takoma Park Church, where he says that Scripture “clearly implied the doctrine of the Trinity… There are three persons in the Godhead, but they are so mysteriously and indissolubly related to each other, that the presence of one is equivalent to the presence of the other.” Elder Judson S. Washburn protests what he hears and sees happening in the church by writing a letter to the G.C president J.L. McElhany against the Trinity doctrine. It was circulated by a conference president to 32 ministers. |
| 1941 – General Conference Committee votes that the Statement of Beliefs be made available in leaflet form and officially released as our accepted Statement of Faith. The committee also approves a uniform ‘Baptismal Covenant’ or ‘Vow’ in certificate form, based on the now generally accepted Fundamental Beliefs declaration of 1931. (G.C Session in San Francisco) The Trinitarian-worded baptismal vow is formulated by 13 men led by Prescott. They call the Father the first person, Jesus the second person, and the Holy Spirit the third person. The word Trinity is not used. |
| 1941-44 – Hymnal “Christ in Song” and “Hymns and Tunes” song book copies are ordered back to the conferences for burning so that a new Church Hymnal with Trinitarian influence can replace them. This is under the guise of Roy Allan Anderson. |
| 1943 – John Harvey Kellogg dies, after seducing many to his heresy. |
| 1944 – Removal by committee of all 18 non-Trinitarian statements from Uriah Smith’s book Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation in an attempt to cover up history. They eliminate every portion that said Christ was begotten of the Father. W.W. Prescott and others change the meaning of the “daily sacrifice” in the 2300 days message. Changes are also made to Spirit of Prophecy books, such as lower case changed to capital letters for Third Person. |
| 1944 – Truth Triumphant by Benjamin G. Wilkinson is published, an exhaustive study of the history of God’s Church in the Wilderness. It contains strong statements against the Trinity doctrine. LeRoy Froom is angry, and orders the destruction of the original offset press plates so the book cannot be reprinted. |
| 1944 – Death of William Warren Prescott, one of the key men in apostasy. |
| 1945 – LeRoy Froom publishes a compilation of Ellen White quotes in Ministry Magazine to give credence to the “eternity of Christ”. Her understanding in this usage was far different than his. |
| 1946 – Leadership again calls for a committee of four to make a statement of official beliefs. However, it is again penned individually by F. M. Wilcox through a statement of beliefs on the Trinity, originally written in 1931 by him and unofficially put in the Yearbook. |
| 1946 – The compilation of Evangelism with careful, calculated use of certain Ellen White statements, many not even complete sentences, to paint a picture that she was supposedly Trinitarian, is done by LeRoy Froom, Roy Allan Anderson and Miss Louise C. Kleuser under the encouragement of Elder Branson (1966 Froom Letters). With the intent to deceive, Froom places these quotes from Ellen White in his book Evangelism under the heading “Misrepresentations of the Godhead” where she had said “third person”, “three great powers” and “Heavenly trio” etc. When reading the statements under such a heading, a subtle message is given. But all of these in fact refer to the Spirit of Christ and not another being. This is how Froom eventually managed to lead the entire Adventist Church astray because people do not take the time to research what else Ellen White wrote on these topics. They just take the one-liners like they are hypnotized. Froom’s book has persuaded many non-Trinitarians in the Columbian Union to “lay down their arms” and become Trinitarians. |
| 1946 – The General Conference Session votes that all further revisions of the Church Manual must be approved in advance by the G.C in world session. |
| 1946 – The General Conference, after being conditioned for 27 years (and a new generation of members coming into the church during those 27 years that knew nothing but the Trinity), votes to retain the 1931 Baptismal Vow officially. They then vote that “changes to the baptismal vow could only be made by the General Conference delegates in official session.” (Movement of Destiny, p. 422) The Trinity is now protected by the necessity of an entire church vote in session. The entire ministry and the world membership now believes the Trinity is true. |
| 1947 – Charles S. Longacre writes paper #17 “The Deity of Christ,” clarifying the SDA church’s original stand on the Godhead – a non-Trinitarian article, submitting it to the Bible Research Fellowship for discussion. This would be the last of any major resistance left in the church for decades to come. |
| 1948 – World Council of Churches is formally instituted in Amsterdam. |
| 1949 – Bible Readings for the Home Circle is revised by D.E. Rebok in an attempt to remove any non-Trinitarian, Arian or Semi-Arian statements. Roy Allan Anderson had his influence in this as well. |
| 1950 – Death of Herbert Camden Lacey, one of the key men in apostasy. |
| 1950 – Elders R.J. Wieland and D.K. Short write a thesis for the GC entitled “1888 Re-examined”. This is eventually rejected with ongoing discussions up until 1961. This is a form of correction for the church through self-examination and getting back to truth. |
| 1952 – A book is copyrighted called Principles of Life, and printed in 1956. It has been used by school children as their Bible Doctrines study book. One paragraph says, “While God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate and distinct beings, yet they are ‘one in nature, in character, in purpose’ (PP34.1), working in such close relationship as to be one.” (Principles of Life, p.28) |
| 1955 – Death of Elder Judson S. Washburn, one of the last of the connecting links to truth. |
| 1955-56 – Evangelical Conferences take place between the General Conference (represented by Froom, Anderson, Read, and Unruh) and Walter Martin and Donald Barnhouse, editor of Eternity magazine. Are Adventists a cult? That was the question of the Evangelicals. The Trinity doctrine is one of the first issues discussed. Concessions are made on the Atonement and the humanity of Christ. Christ’s nature was changed to that of Adam’s nature before the Fall. The teaching of the atonement was changed to “completed at the cross”, instead of “commencing at the cross”. These changes were required by the protestant denominations for the SDA church to be classified as an evangelical Christian church instead of a cult or sect. We submit to the daughters of the Harlot in fear of being labeled a cult, and reject the Spirit of Prophecy writings because they do not reflect Adventist theology. But we were previously labeled a cult for years because our beliefs stood out from the rest of Protestantism. Ellen White warned in 1894 not to bridge the gulf that separates the children of God from the children of darkness. But this is not heeded. |
| Donald Barnhouse writes in his Eternity magazine, “Immediately it was perceived that the Adventists were strenuously denying certain doctrinal positions which had been previously attributed to them…. The Adventists specifically repudiate any teachings by ministers or members of their faith who have believed, proclaimed, and written any matter which would classify them among Arians.” (Eternity. September, 1956) |
| 1957 – Questions on Doctrine is published following those meetings – a pro-Trinity book written by LeRoy Edwin Froom, W.E. Read, R.A. Anderson and T.E. Unruh. This is to match the SDA Church with the Protestant and Evangelical world, to be accepted so we would not be labeled a “cult”. |
| 1957 – The Church declares oneness with the fallen Protestant denominations. “We are one with our fellow Christian denominational groups in the great fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints.” (Questions on Doctrine, p.32) |
| 1957 – SDA Church joins the CWC – Christian World Communions. |
| 1958 – Death of Charles S. Longacre, a champion of religious liberty, an author who stood for the original Pioneer views within Adventism. |
| 1962 – The Second Vatican Council begins to be held, concluding in 1965. The Roman Church repositions itself in relation to the modern world. Major changes occur in the Catholic Church, but the intention remains the same. The final stage is set for the Jesuit Order’s Counter Reformation to take over all the Protestant churches. |
| 1962 – The World Council of Churches incorporates the Trinity doctrine in its prerequisite for membership, and becomes the foremost Ecumenical organization. |
| 1962 – The 1962 Yearbook reprints the statement of faith in substantially the same form in which it first appeared in 1931. |
| 1965 – Bernard Seton urges the General Conference to revise our Fundamental Beliefs. Several of our leaders had just traveled to Geneva Switzerland to enter into negotiations for closer contacts with the World Council of Churches headquarters. |
| 1965 – Bert Beverly Beach becomes the SDA ecumenical liaison with other denominations. |
| 1968 – Death of Elder Benjamin G. Wilkinson, Ph.D, after 76 years of active church service. This pioneer of Adventism spoke out against the new Trinity doctrine until his death. |
| 1968 – Uppsala, Sweden – World Council of Churches admits to full membership the representatives from non-member churches, which include the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Published on July 12, New York Times newspaper. |
| 1970 – Bert B. Beach is elected as the Secretary-General of the annual Conference of Secretaries of the Christian World Communions, which represents about two billion Christians and covers more churches than any other organization. He would hold this position until 2003. |
| 1971 – Movement of Destiny by LeRoy Froom gets published. Froom admits to alterations made from 1931 to “standard works” to correct “erroneous views on the Godhead” to make them Trinitarian. His historical account says “we began as Semi-Arians, but steadily rose to become a strong Movement, able to take our place among mainline Protestant denominations. Together with them we wholeheartedly profess Christendom’s doctrine of the Trinity and the full deity of Christ.” He also makes other admissions of wrongdoing which include going to Sunday-keeping authors for his material that is included in his book The Coming of the Comforter that was published in 1928. (Movement of Destiny, p. 322, 422) |
| The principles and provisions of Adventism are altered in the books Seventh-day Adventists Answer, Question on Doctrine, and Movement of Destiny. The “divine Personalities”, the pioneer Adventist position on the human nature of Christ, is also changed and omitted in SDA publications. |
| 1973 – Bert B. Beach, secretary of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division, and company begin Social Engineering of acceptance of being one with the world in joining the World Council of Churches. He co-authors a book with Lucas Visher, secretary of the WCC, titled “So Much in Common between the World Council of Churches and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church”, published by the WCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 1973, saying, “The member churches of the World Council of Churches and Seventh-Day Adventists are in agreement on the fundamental articles of the Christian faith as set forth in the three ancient symbols [creeds] (Apostolicum, Nicaeno-Constantinopolitum, Athanasium). This agreement finds expression in unqualified acceptance of the doctrines of the Trinity and the Two Natures.” (So Much in Common, p. 40) Ellen White had warned that “it is a grave mistake on the part of those who are children of God to seek to bridge the gulf that separate them from the children of darkness by yielding principle, by compromising the truth.” (BEcho, April 9, 1894, par. 6) |
| 1974 – Death of LeRoy Froom, one of the key men in apostasy. |
| 1974 – The 1919 Bible Conference transcript is discovered by Don Yost and Don Mansell at the G.C Archives. |
| 1975 – A non-Trinitarian paper by Edward Edstrom is printed at the request of the Board of Walla Walla Valley Academy in book form called Human Spirit – Divine Spirit. Edstrom’s belief in the Trinity had been challenged in 1954 when fellow pastors and workers in Central Africa were confronted by Moslems “who claimed ONE God Allah, while Christianity appeared to have THREE separate, distinct Gods that were called ONE.” (Human Spirit – Divine Spirit, Introd. iv) |
| 1976 – Neal Wilson, President of the North American Division of SDA, gives this sworn statement in the Silver-Tobler legal case involving the Seventh-day Adventist Church: “Although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint, and the term hierarchy was used in a perjorative sense to refer to the papal form of church governance, that attitude on the Church’s part was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned.” (Merikay McLeod lawsuit, p. 4, footnote #2, Docket Entry #84: EEOC vs PPPA C-74-2025 CBR, Sworn statement dated Feb.6, 1976) Ellen White warned in 1894, “It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the papacy.” (ST, Feb 19, 1894) |
| 1977 – Pope Paul VI rewards Bert B. Beach for his book with a private audience in the Vatican. Beach presents the pope with a book and a gold medallion confirming friendship of the SDA Church with the Vatican. “The medallion is an engraved witness to the validity of the Ten Commandments. While the other commandments are represented simply as Roman numerals, the words of the fourth—‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy’—are written out.” (W.D Eva, Adventist Review, “Book, Medallion Presented to Pope”, August 11, 1977, (849) p.23) However, the Seventh day was removed from the text, and quoted in the same way as it is quoted in any Roman Catholic catechism. Beach represents the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church in an interview over Vatican radio referring to the pope as “Holy Father,” when Ellen White has clearly warned, “The pope is not regarded by God as anything more than a man who is acting out in our world the character of the man of sin, representing in his claims that power and authority which Satan claimed in the heavenly courts.” (5MR 102) |
| 1979 – W. Duncan Eva and Bernard Seton are working behind the scenes in moving an agenda to adopt a new Statement of Fundamental Beliefs. The revision draft is sent to the “theologians” at Andrews University to ready it for prime time at the World Session in April 1980. Back in 1946 a committee had put forth an action making it almost impossible to change any Belief statement. But that hurdle was overcome and now moving forward. |
| 1980 – World General Conference in session (Dallas, TX), officially votes to accept the Trinity doctrine, as part of 27 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. |
| By officially approving the Trinity doctrine as a fundamental belief of Seventh-day Adventists, the denomination has publicly declared to the world that she is following in the steps of the daughters (fallen churches) of the mother of harlots (the Roman Catholic church) whose central pillar doctrine is the Trinity. Therefore the SDA church has left the original mission (of proclaiming the three angels’ messages) of God’s calling and the firm foundation of our faith (Fundamental Principles) that are based upon unquestionable authority. No longer can the present SDA Church be considered as the “remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”, but now simply a Counterfeit New Movement as prophesied in 1903 by Ellen White. |
| 1980 – Ex-Jesuit priest Alberto Rivera states that “all the mainstream churches were taken over (under control of Rome) by 1980.” (Secret Terrorists, p. 108) |
| 1981 – Neal C. Wilson, now General Conference President, announces that the Church has officially adopted the Trinity doctrine, which is now number 2 in the Church’s 27 Fundamental Beliefs. He declares before the Seventh-day Adventist Church that: “…there is another universal and truly catholic organization, the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” (Adventist Review, March 5, 1981, p. 3) |
| 1981 – Adventist Review 7-30-1981 Special Issue on Bible Doctrines—The Trinity doctrine is explained one year after it was voted as an official doctrine (which was in 1980). It states, “While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several times… Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity.” (p. 4) “The concept of the Trinity, namely the idea that the three are one, is not explicitly stated but only assumed.” – (Fernando L. Canale, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, vol. 12, p. 138, ‘Doctrine of God’) |
| 1984 – Baptismal vow is reformatted again – pro-Trinity. |
| 1985 – A new SDA Hymnal takes the place of the older Church Hymnal of 1941. It is decided that there are even more songs that can be replaced or changed to fit the new 1980’s Fundamental Beliefs. Catholic terms are used in headings and responsive readings. |
| 1986 – The official doctrine of the church is stated in the Church Manual: “There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal persons.” – (SDA Church Manual, chapter 2, p. 23. Refer also to the book – Seventh-day Adventists Believe 27 Fundamental Beliefs, “The Trinity”) |
| 1988 – “Seventh-day Adventists Believe” 27 Fundamental Belief book is published (strongly Trinitarian). |
| 1993 – George Knight, a professor and prominent SDA theologian, makes this startling confession in Ministry Magazine, October 1993: “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.” In all actuality, this would have included ALL of the founders and Pioneers of the early SDA Church and it should be alarming to today’s members. |
| 1994 – William Johnsson, editor of the Adventist Review, writes, “Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of present truth. Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.” (Adventist Review, January 6, 1994) While the pre-existence of Christ is held, the divine begotten Sonship of Christ as held by the official world church up to the 1940’s is denied as a “false doctrine” as Johnsson puts it. |
| 1995 – G.C World Session in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Vatican flag is carried through the meeting hall in a singular fashion amidst an unusually loud ovation. |
| 1996 – Devotional ‘Ye Shall Receive Power’ is printed, in which the prophet’s words are changed. Back in 1899, Ellen White wrote, “Why should we not prostrate ourselves at the throne of divine grace, praying that God’s Spirit may be poured out upon us as it was upon the disciples? Its presence will soften our hard hearts, and fill us with joy and rejoicing, transforming us into channels of blessing. The Lord would have every one of His children rich in faith, and this faith is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit upon the mind. It dwells with each soul who will receive it, speaking to the impenitent in words of warning, and pointing them to Jesus, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. It causes light to shine into the minds of those who are seeking to cooperate with God, giving them efficiency and wisdom to do His work.” (Signs of the Times, Sep. 27, 1899) If you look carefully, you will see that Ellen White has used the word ‘it’ four times, and one ‘its’ when speaking of the Holy Spirit. But in the devotional ‘Ye Shall Receive Power’ p.59, ‘it’ has been changed to ‘He’ or ‘His’ and ‘Him’. (See also ‘Ye Shall Receive Power’ p.93, 151, 164, 183, 303, 318, 319, 321, 323, 325, 344 for other changes.) |
| 1996 – Merlin Burt writes, “During the 1930’s there continued to be statements teaching the ‘old view’… This largely changed during the 1940’s. The fourth quarter of 1936 Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly was prepared by T.M. French. French concluded regarding Christ’s pre-existence with these words: ‘He was therefore no part of creation but was “begotten of the Father” in the days of eternity, and was very God Himself.’ It seems that French was mixing Wilcox’s fundamental beliefs reference to Christ as ‘very God’ with the ‘old view’ of a ‘begotten’ Christ.” (Merlin D. Burt, Demise of Semi-Arianism and anti-trinitarianism in Adventist theology, 1888-1957, p. 40) So the belief in a begotten Christ has become the “old view”, while an unbegotten Christ is now the new officially accepted doctrine. |
| 1997 – SDA logo is changed from the three angels to flames and cross, becoming Catholic friendly. |
| 1999 – B.T. Rice, pastor of the St. Louis SDA Northside Church addresses the Pope in a Vatican mass held locally as “Pope, your Holiness, your historic visit to St. Louis…” |
| 2003 – John R. Graz (GC director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty since 1995) is elected as Secretary-General of the annual Conference of Secretaries of the Christian World Communions, succeeding Bert B. Beach. Graz would hold this position until 2014. |
| 2003 – Questions on Doctrine is republished and circulated by Andrews University– pro-Trinitarian, pro-unfallen human nature of Christ. |
| 2005 – Baptismal Vow is revised to the Trinity creed to read: “Do you accept the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and do you pledge to live your life by God’s grace in harmony with these teachings?” For the first time in Adventist history, the Church has based its membership on a creed. The prophet had told us 95 years earlier, “The Bible, and the Bible alone, is to be our creed.” (RH, Dec 15, 1885) |
| 2008 – In contrast to the 1936 Sabbath School lesson, the 2nd quarter lesson in 2008 teaches that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not really a father or a son or a holy spirit but are three divine beings who are just role-playing these parts. Here is a quote from the lesson: “But imagine a situation in which the Being we have come to know as God the Father came to die for us, and the One we have come to know as Jesus stayed back in heaven (we are speaking in human terms to make a point). Nothing would have changed, except that we would have been calling Each by the name we now use for the Other. That is what equality in the Deity means.” (April 10, 2008, p. 19) As J.N. Andrews said, “This [Trinity] doctrine destroys the personality of God and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (RH, March 6, 1855) |
| 2012 – The White Estate database is hacked by an anonymous party. Their concern is for public access to all of Ellen White’s documents and that they have been restricted and it is public domain at this point as they should belong to the people. The meaning and context of her writings is hampered by not being able to view everything in its entirety. The hacker is pushing for full digitized access to anyone wanting them, not just a handful of privileged people. The White Estate attempts to sue for damages. The hacker threatens to release all of Sister White’s writings. Their request is that the White Estate does it to save their reputation. |
| 2013 – Revision is made on the fundamental belief in the Gift of Prophecy. Ellen White’s authority is diminished. The phrases “as the Lord’s messenger” and “a continuing authoritative source of truth” are removed. Arthur Stele would later say, “The suggested changes seek to avoid giving the impression that Ellen G. White and the Bible are equivalent sources of truth.” |
| 2014 – Ganoune Diop (GC director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty since 2011) is elected as the new Secretary-General at the annual conference of secretaries of the Christian World Communions. |
| 2015 – Ellen White Symposium is held at Andrews University and spread worldwide, denies the Spirit of Prophecy’s inspired authority to define doctrinal faith and practice, but only as theological and practical guidance and end time application. |
| 2015 – The White Estate reaches a settlement with the hacker and releases the rest of Sister White’s unpublished writings that they have been holding back for years. The collection contains approx. 8,300 typed documents, letters and manuscripts dating from 1845 to 1915. Honest Adventists now fully know that Sister White wrote over and over that Jesus is their Comforter coming to them in spirit form as the Holy Spirit, not some other mystery person or Ghost. The dogma of the denomination’s teaching has been shown to be in error for those who want to know and are paying attention. |
| Download the PDF version with updated information HERE. |
| Original 1905 SDA Yearbook ( Fundamental Beliefs on p. 188-192) View/Download HERE. |
| Original 1909 SDA Yearbook ( Fundamental Beliefs on p. 220-224) View/Download HERE. |
| Original 1913 SDA Yearbook ( Fundamental Beliefs on p. 281-285) View/Download HERE. |
| Original 1914 SDA Yearbook ( Fundamental Beliefs on p. 293-297) View/Download HERE. |
| Original 1931 SDA Yearbook ( Fundamental Beliefs on p. 377-380) View/Download HERE. |
| Original 1942 SDA Yearbook ( Fundamental Beliefs on p. 4-6) View/Download HERE. |
| For a full archive of the SDA Yearbooks click HERE. |
| In addition to the above, the following web-page is considered of use and likewise appreciated: |
| https://www.truthseeker.church/fundamentals-compared-short-version |
| STATEMENT OF BELIEFS – the short version for sake of easy comparison |
| This is a quick summary of the statement of beliefs over time. It was originally labeled as Fundamental Principles. You would not be removed if you differed on it. You would even still be baptized. The founders of the faith were against setting up a creed and measuring people by it. This began in 1872 and remained thru 1930 with the same statement of beliefs. That would be for 58 years! The last of the core of the Pioneers died in 1924. |
| Then in 1931, one man, Francis McLellan Wilcox executed what was published in the 1931 yearbook. This would be the beginning of educated academic Theologians and Scholars having a dramatic effect on our church and bringing in change. Subtle at first. |
| In 1941, a committee of Scholars and Theologians was set up to formulate a further change in our beliefs. Now the term Godhead along with a doctrine that is made official even thou the Bible does not detail this information in that language. This is now the God of the Theologians and Scholars. |
| And then in 1980 under the guidance and influence of Neal Wilson (current President Ted Wilson’s father), the trinity god arrives. This is now the God of the General Conference. |
| God, the Father: |
| 1872 – That there is one God, a personal, spiritual being, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal, infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. |
| 1931 – That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father, a personal, spiritual Being, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, infinite in wisdom and love; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, through whom all things were created and through whom the salvation of the redeemed hosts will be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, the great regenerating power in the work of redemption. |
| 1941 – The true and living God, the First Person of the Godhead, is our Heavenly Father, and by His Son, Christ Jesus, created all things. |
| 1980 – God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father. |
| Jesus Christ, the Son of God: |
| 1872 – That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the one by whom God created all things, and by whom they do consist; that he took on him the nature of the seed of Abraham for the redemption of our fallen race; that he dwelt among men full of grace and truth, lived our example, died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification, ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where, with his own blood he makes atonement for our sins; which atonement so far from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the sacrifice, is the very last portion of his work as priest, according to the example of the Levitical priesthood, which foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our Lord in Heaven. |
| 1931 – That Jesus Christ, is very God, being of the same nature and essence as the Eternal Father. While retaining Hs divine nature He took upon Himself the nature of the human family, lived on the earth as a man, exemplified in His life as our Example the principles of righteousness, attested His relationship to God by many mighty miracles, died for our sins on the cross, was raised from the dead, and ascended to the Father, where He lives to make intercession for us. |
| 1941 – Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead, and the eternal Son of God, is the only Savior from sin; and man’s salvation is by grace through faith in Him. |
| 1980 – God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived an experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God’s power and was attested as God’s promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things. |
| NOTE: In regards to the use of the words Godhead and Trinity interchangeably in 1931, they do not have the same meaning. Godhead refers to “Deity” or “Divinity”. Trinity before you add a doctrine or dogma to it, simply means three. |
| The Holy Spirit: |
| 1872 – no definition given separate from the Father. |
| 1931 – no separate listing. However used under the Father’s listing, it is detailed as the “third person of the Godhead”. |
| 1941 – The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead is Christ’s representative on earth, and leads sinners to repentance and to obedience of all God’s requirements. |
| 1980 – God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. |
| There is the additional paragraph from the 1980 Fundamentals. |
| It is #2, then follows the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit as #3, 4 and 5: |
| “#2 The Trinity |
| There is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.” |
| Compare the last 1980 version to 1872. Look carefully at the subtle changes in 1931 and 1941 vs 1872. Changes are really gradually, until they are not noticed any longer. |
| Now we can see why people are praying and want to worship a third being. It is even carried out and illustrated on 3ABN television (Adventist TV network). It is being done in some of the churches. |
| It is included in belief #2 as a division of God in three persons or parts. This third god now is given credit for creation, redemption (salvation), inspiring the writers of scripture, fills Christ’s life with power, etc. Not the Spirit of God, but a new being called god the holy spirit. |
| That is not what real Adventists believed back in time. This was brought in with the changes in 1980. That is verifiable with a deeper study of the Spirit of Prophecy. See Patriarchs and Prophets p. 34.1, Early Writings p. 145, Desire of Ages p. 769. |
| Study Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:12-18, and Ellen White’s Early Writings pages 54-56 to see who was jealous, wanted to be worshiped and couldn’t enter into the counsels of God. |
| There you will discover the author of such a doctrine. It doesn’t get revealed any plainer than that. |
| To view a longer version of this with more information, please visit: |
| https://www.truthseeker.church/fundamental-principles-vs-beliefs |
| Now, as a conclusion to this section, regarding the following Tithe and Systematic Benevolence articles, these ended with the words that follow: |
| http://www.godswordexplained.com/?page_id=221 |
| [for study you may wish to see the later, shorter, more concise: |
| http://www.godswordexplained.com/?page_id=971 ] |
| “Finally, as a result of undertaking this research, it is apparent that there are many documents (e.g. Review & Herald publications) which have not been released by the Ellen G. White Estate – they obviously exist because extracts have be used by Arthur L. White.” |
| When these words were typed around the end of 2012
[First Published: 02.10.13], it was not known that the White Estate had been hacked. |
| Do Google search on: |
| White Estate database is hacked |
| and read the magazine articles. |
| Also do Google search on: |
| E.G.White Estates 2015 unpublished |
| This leads to: |
| https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3054-ellen-white-letters-and-manuscripts-to-be-released |
| JULY 14, 2015 |
| Ellen White Letters and Manuscripts to Be Released |
| The materials are being published online on the 100th anniversary of White’s death. |
| Related news commentary: “Remembering July 16, 1915” |
| By Andrew McChesney, news editor, Adventist Review |
| A collection of letters and manuscripts of Seventh-day Adventist Church cofounder Ellen G. White is being released on the Ellen G. White Estate website on Thursday, the 100th anniversary of her death. |
| The collection, previously only available to researchers at White research centers, contains about 50,000 pages of materials dating from 1845 to the months before White’s death on July 16, 1915. |
| The materials, which are not expected to contain any surprises, were not made widely available earlier because many are of a personal nature and make reference, sometimes in strong terms, to individuals by name, said James R. Nix, director of the White Estate. |
| But those people and their close relatives are no longer alive today, prompting the White Estate to decide in 2013 that the value of the materials outweigh those sensitivities and to release them during centennial commemorations of White’s life and ministry. |
| “Other archives will hold materials for 50 years or 100 years and then release them, so why shouldn’t we?” Nix said in an interview Tuesday. “Now it seems natural to put them on the website where everyone can have access to them 100 years after her death.” |
| A prominent link to the materials will be placed at the top of the homepage of the White Estate’s website, ellenwhite.org, from Thursday. |
| Upon her death, White placed the care of her unpublished writings in the hands of five life trustees. But her estate soon faced financial challenges, leading the General Conference, the administrative body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to purchase it outright. The church promptly returned the literary portion of the estate to the trustees in accordance with Ellen White’s written instructions in her Will. |
| Among the trustees was the General Conference president and other individuals whom White mentioned by name in unpublished, personal correspondence. |
| “Ellen G. White had written especially strong counsel to some of them, so they were not excited about the materials being released,” Nix said. “If you were the president of the General Conference, why would you want some pastor in the middle of the United States reading about you from the pulpit in church?” |
| The White Estate released the first book of previously unpublished material in 1932, a compilation titled Medical Ministry. |
| Researchers began to gain access to the unpublished materials in the 1930s with the understanding that any cited information had to first be approved jointly by the White Estate and the General Conference. |
| The rules were softened in the 1980s, and all unpublished materials are available at White research centers in all the divisions of the world church. |
| Nix said the unpublished collection includes family letters, letters addressed to individuals and institutions, diary materials, and manuscripts written for publication in books and periodicals such as the Review and Herald (now the Adventist Review). |
| The collection will only be available on the website for now but may be included on the Ellen G. White app in the future. |
| Nix said he didn’t expect any surprises to emerge from the documents. |
| “The materials have been gone over by researchers for years,” he said. “The portions that I have read were fascinating but not surprising.” |
| This leads to: |
| Letters and Manuscripts Folio Infobase Released |
| Users who own our EGW Writings Research Edition CD-ROM can now download the LtMs Folio Infobase for free. |
| This leads to: |
| http://ellenwhite.org/content/news/letters-and-manuscripts-folio-infobase |
| Letters and Manuscripts Folio Infobase |
| The Ellen G. White letters and manuscripts collection comprising of over 8300 documents is now available as a free download to users of our Ellen G. White Writings Comprehensive Research Edition CD-ROM software. Users who own the EGW Writings Comprehensive Research CD can download the 117MB file and open the infobase using Folio Views software that is part ofthe CD software. Users of our CD-ROM can enjoy the EGW Letters and Manuscripts collection and read and study while offline. See: http://ellenwhite.org/content/letters-and-manuscripts-collection |
| Users who do not own the Ellen G. White Writings Comprehensive Research Edition can purchase and download the software from our partner.egwwritings.org website. |
| This leads to: |
| http://ellenwhite.org/content/letters-and-manuscripts-collection |
| Letters and Manuscripts Collection |
| Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts (Folio Views Infobase) |
| The Ellen G. White letters and manuscripts collection comprising of over 8300 documents is available as a free download to users of our CD-ROM software Ellen G. White Writings Comprehensive Research Edition. Users can download the 117MB file and open the infobase using our EGW CD-ROM software, Folio Views and use it to read and search the collection offline. Download: LtMs.nfo (117MB) |
| The collection, previously only available to researchers at White research centers, contains about 50,000 pages of materials dating from 1845 to the months before White’s death on July 16, 1915. |
| The materials, which are not expected to contain any surprises, were not made widely available earlier because many are of a personal nature and make reference, sometimes in strong terms, to individuals by name, said James R. Nix, director of the White Estate. |
| But those people and their close relatives are no longer alive today, prompting the White Estate to decide in 2013 that the value of the materials outweigh those sensitivities and to release them during centennial commemorations of White’s life and ministry. |
| Upon her death, White placed the care of her unpublished writings in the hands of five life trustees. But her estate soon faced financial challenges, leading the General Conference, the administrative body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to purchase it outright. The church promptly returned the literary portion of the estate to the trustees in accordance with Ellen White’s written instructions in her Will. |
| Among the trustees was the General Conference president and other individuals whom White mentioned by name in unpublished, personal correspondence. |
| “Ellen G. White had written especially strong counsel to some of them, so they were not excited about the materials being released,” Nix said. “If you were the president of the General Conference, why would you want some pastor in the middle of the United States reading about you from the pulpit in church?” |
| The White Estate released the first book of previously unpublished material in 1932, a compilation titled Medical Ministry. |
| Researchers began to gain access to the unpublished materials in the 1930s with the understanding that any cited information had to first be approved jointly by the White Estate and the General Conference. |
| The rules were softened in the 1980s, and all unpublished materials are available at White research centers in all the divisions of the world church. |
| The unpublished collection includes family letters, letters addressed to individuals and institutions, diary materials, and manuscripts written for publication in books and periodicals. |
| By making the infobase available as a free download to users of our CD-ROM software we hope you enjoy reading the many letters and manuscripts Ellen G. White wrote during her lifetime. |
| Download: LtMs.nfo (File Size 117MB) |
| This is the one that you want – assuming that you have the EGW Writings upon your computer. |
| It then opens & operates in exactly the same way as the original works. |
| Not a dicky-bird is mentioned about the hacker – Just note the way that the The Ellen G. White Estate eat their humble pie! |
| Also note: |
| http://ellenwhite.org/correspondence/incoming-correspondence |
| 589 pages also all of 100 bits of correspondence – well over half a million items – just needs to be searchable-friendly! |
| Any offers? |
|
All we can do to help you decide is to give you a lot more Scriptural support so that you are fully informed as to what GOD has said / not said about the trinity doctrine. You can then [1th5.21-22] “PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” when you are making this SALVATIONAL choice. Should you need this support, then please keep reading [SECTION 3]. |
| SECTION 3 |
| Only TWO on the THRONE – GOD the Father AND HIS Only Begotten SON – not a “God the Spirit” person in sight. |
| WHO SAYS? – Well, actually, GOD’S WORD says. |
| So, if you decide to stick with the trinity doctrine, then you are |
| refusing God’s Word, God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of God. |
| A disastrous action to take – yet many in the church will do so. |
| KJV Bible search on “Throne” |
| Ge41.38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]? |
| Ge41.39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]: |
| Ge41.40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the THRONE will I be greater than thou. |
| NB: Note the parallels between Pharaoh/God the Father, Joseph/Jesus the Only Begotten Son of God, and the Spirit of God. |
| For Joseph/Jesus parallels, see http://www.godswordexplained.com/?page_id=990 |
| 1k1.13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly SOLOMON thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? |
| NB: Note the parallels between David/God the Father, Solomon/Jesus the Only Begotten Son of God, and Satan as Adonijah/the Spirit of God. |
| In the trinity doctrine, Satan as Adonijah acts as ‘God the Spirit’. Adonijah attempts to seize the throne and reign despite David’s earlier promise that Solomon would reign after him. |
| 1K2.45 And king Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the THRONE of David shall be established before the LORD for ever. |
| 1K8.20 And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the THRONE of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. |
| 1K10.9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the THRONE of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. |
| 1K22.19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. |
| 1Ch17.11 >And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go [to be] with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. |
| 1Ch17.12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his THRONE for ever. |
| 1Ch17.13 I will be his father, and he SHALL BE my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took [it] from [him] that was before thee: |
| 1Ch17.14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his THRONE shall be established for evermore. |
| 1Ch17.15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. |
| Jb26.9 He holdeth back the face of his THRONE, [and] spreadeth his cloud upon it. |
| Ps9.7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his THRONE for judgment. |
| Ps9.8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. |
| Ps9.9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. |
| Ps9.10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. |
| Ps9.11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. |
| Ps9.12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. |
| Ps9.13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble [which I suffer] of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: |
| Ps9.14 That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. |
| Ps11.4 The LORD [is] in his holy temple, the LORD’S THRONE [is] in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. |
| Ps11.5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. |
| Ps11.6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup. |
| Ps11.7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. |
| Ps45.6 Thy THRONE, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre. |
| Ps47.8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the THRONE of his holiness. |
| Ps89.14 Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of THY THRONE: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. |
| Ps93.1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. |
| Ps93.2 Thy THRONE [is] established of old: thou [art] from everlasting. |
| Ps97.2 Clouds and darkness [are] round about him: righteousness and judgment [are] the habitation of his THRONE. |
| Ps103.19 The LORD hath prepared his THRONE in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. |
| Pr30.4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? WHAT [IS] HIS NAME, AND WHAT [IS] HIS SON’S NAME, if thou canst tell? |
| Pr30.5 Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him. |
| Pr30.6 ADD THOU NOT UNTO HIS WORDS, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. |
| La5.19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. |
| Zc6.12 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: |
| Zc6.13 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. |
| Mt5.34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s THRONE: |
| Mt19.28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the THRONE of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| Mt23.22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the THRONE of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. |
| Mt24.36 >But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. [Mk13.32] |
| Mt25.31 >When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the THRONE of his glory: |
| Mt27.46 And about the ninth hour JESUS CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? |
| Mk13.32 >But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the SON, but the FATHER. [Mt24.36] |
| Lk1.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. |
| Lk1.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord GOD shall give unto him the THRONE of his father David: |
| Lk1.33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. |
| Lk1.34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? |
| Lk1.35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the POWER of the HIGHEST shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called THE SON OF GOD. |
| NB: The “POWER of the HIGHEST” is GOD the Father; the Spirit of Christ (the Comforter) had not yet been given. The FATHER of JESUS was GOD. |
| NB: As today’s leaders give co-credit to the Holy Spirit for creation as a third divine being, then, with the trinity doctrine, Christ would have two fathers [God the Father and the Holy Spirit] – the LGBTQIAP+ community would have got it right! |
| Lesbian refers to a woman who loves other women. Gay refers to a person, often a man, who loves members or their own gender. Bisexual, or Bi, refers to a person who loves both or all genders. Transgender, or Trans, refers to a person who identifies as a different gender then what her/his birth certificate says. Queer refers to anyone who loves people of their own gender, either a gay person or a bisexual person. Intersex refers to anyone born with any of several variations in sex characteristics. Asexual/Aromantic, or Ace/Aro, refers to a person who does not experience sexual/romantic attraction. Pansexual refers to a person who loves any person for their personality, regardless of their gender. The “+” is for anything else “Abnormal” that is still to transpire. Praise God that there still remains a Normal category. |
| Also, with Jesus Christ [being the Holy Spirit] impregnating the virgin Mary, then He [Jesus] becomes the Biological Father of Himself! |
| God’s Word – the KJV Bible, and the Spirit of Prophecy, confirm that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father. |
| There were TWO divine beings at creation, NOT THREE. |
| Jn1.14 And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER,) full of grace and truth. |
| Jn1.18 No man hath seen God at any time; THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, which is in the BOSOM OF THE FATHER, he hath declared [him]. |
| Jn3.16 >For GOD so loved the world, that he GAVE his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| NB: The cost of our souls is only known to TWO DIVINE BEINGS: GOD and HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS CHRIST. |
| Jn3.18 >He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. |
| Jn5.26 For as the FATHER hath life in himself; so hath he GIVEN to the SON to have life in himself; |
| Jn8.16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the FATHER that sent me. |
| Jn8.28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the SON OF MAN, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my FATHER hath taught me, I speak these things. |
| Jn8.42 Jesus said unto them, If GOD were your FATHER, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from GOD; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. |
| Jn8.43 Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. |
| Jn10.30 I and [my] FATHER are one. |
| Jn12.44 >JESUS cried and said, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, BELIEVETH NOT ON ME, BUT ON HIM THAT SENT ME. |
| NB: Jesus elects NOT to have the focus of our belief upon HIMSELF BUT UPON HIS FATHER. [Compare the ‘Lord’s Prayer’] |
| Jn12.45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. |
| Jn12.49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the FATHER which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. |
| Jn14.10 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. |
| Jn14.20 At that day ye shall know that I [AM] IN MY FATHER, and ye in me, and I in you. |
| Jn14.23 JESUS answered and said unto him, If a man love ME, he will keep my words: and my FATHER will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him. |
| NB: WE and OUR. Notice it’s the Father and the Son who makes their home INSIDE US; NOT THREE, only TWO beings live inside us by their Spirit. |
| Jn14.24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the FATHER‘s which sent ME. |
| Jn17.3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Jn17.8 For I have given unto them the words which THOU gavest ME; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I CAME OUT FROM THEE, and they have believed that THOU didst send ME. |
| Jn20.17 JESUS saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to MY FATHER: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto MY FATHER, and your Father; and [to] MY GOD, and your God. |
| Ac2.29 Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. |
| Ac2.30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he WOULD RAISE UP CHRIST TO SIT ON HIS THRONE; |
| Ro1.7 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. |
| Ro8.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD sending his own SON in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: |
| 1co1.9 GOD [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of HIS SON Jesus Christ our Lord. |
| 1co8.6 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. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| NB: You must worship the one true God, who is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [see 2Co11.31; Ep1.3; 1P1.3; etc.],by exalting His Son. You worship God the Father by worshipping the Only Begotten Son of God. |
| 1Co11.3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is CHRIST; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] GOD. |
| 2Co5.18 And all things [are] of GOD, who hath reconciled us to himself by JESUS CHRIST, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; |
| 2Co5.19 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. |
| 2co11.31 The GOD and Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. |
| Ep1.3 Blessed [be] the GOD and Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: |
| Ep3.9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in GOD, who created all things by JESUS CHRIST: |
| Ep5.5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND OF GOD. |
| NB: TWO Divine Beings have a kingdom. GOD, who is THE FATHER, and His Only Begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST. Having a kingdom means that there is a king – who sits on a throne. Here, in this very powerful verse, we see that only TWO Divine Beings have a throne. The throne is a 2 seater not a 3 seater; there is NO HOLY SPIRIT. Note also Re22.1 & Re22.3 below: |
| Re22.1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. |
| Re22.3 And there shall be no more curse: but THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: |
| Cl1.16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: |
| 1Ti1.1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of GOD our saviour, and LORD JESUS CHRIST, [which is] our hope; |
| 1ti5.21 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. |
| He1.1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, |
| He1.2 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; |
| Cp.: Jn1.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. |
| He1.3 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; |
| He1.8 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. |
| He4.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the THRONE of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. |
| He8.1 Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the THRONE of the Majesty in the heavens; |
| He8.2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. |
| He12.2 Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD. |
| 1P1.3 Blessed [be] the GOD and Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, |
| 1P3.18 For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: |
| 1P3.19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; |
| 1J1.3 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. |
| 1J2.22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the FATHER and the SON. |
| 1J2.23 Whosoever denieth the SON, the same hath not the FATHER: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the SON hath the FATHER also]. |
| 1J5.10 He that believeth on the SON OF GOD hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not GOD hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that GOD GAVE of HIS SON. |
| 1J5.11 And this is the record, that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his SON. |
| 1J5.12 He that hath the SON hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of GOD hath not life. |
| Re1.1 The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, which GOD gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John: |
| Re3.21 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. |
| Re3.22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT saith unto the churches. |
| Re5.13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] UNTO HIM that sitteth upon the throne, AND UNTO THE LAMB for ever and ever. |
| Re6.16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of HIM that sitteth on the throne, AND from the wrath of THE LAMB: |
| Re7.11 And all the angels stood round about the THRONE, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, |
| Re14.3 And they sung as it were a new song before the THRONE, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. |
| Re19.4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the THRONE, saying, Amen; Alleluia. |
| Re20.4 And I saw THRONES, and THEY sat upon THEM, and judgment was given unto THEM: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of GOD, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with CHRIST a thousand years. |
| Re22.1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. |
| NB: As we have previously stated, TWO Divine [Not three] Beings sit on the throne. GOD, who is THE FATHER, and His Only Begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST. Only TWO Divine Beings have this kingdom [See Ep5.5]. |
| Re22.2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. |
| Re22.3 And there shall be no more curse: but THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: |
| Re22.4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. |
| Please search the Scriptures whether these things are so. Please re-read the passages above and notice that GOD does not equal a plurality but a personal Being, and JESUS CHRIST is the Son of the personal Being we call God. TWO DIVINE BEINGS. |
| Let’s give you a challenge: |
| Can you find ANYTHING in the Bible or even the Spirit of Prophecy that indicates that the 3 Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are an “only being” or “one Divine trinitarian being” and that They are “indivisible” and “one substance” or, again, have “one indivisible nature” and are “inseparably connected” to each Other or, yet again, are all “inextricably bound together in one Divine substance”? |
| Should you find anything, then please tell me; but far more importantly tell the whole world – especially the Catholic church. They would welcome you with open arms; it is just what they need. |
| The answer is: You will NOT find such statements anywhere in the Bible nor even in the inspired Spirit of Prophecy writings. |
| Brother/Sister/Reader: Please turn your back on the trinity – it is a SALVATIONAL issue – we can only serve ONE GOD to get to the KINGDOM OF GOD. |
| Mk12.32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: FOR THERE IS ONE GOD; and there is none other but HE: [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Mk12.34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, THOU ART NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And no man after that durst ask him [any question]. |
| Ex20.3 THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. |
| SECTION 4 |
| The Trinity |
| Most people in Christendom believe in the Trinity; it has been the central doctrine of the churches for centuries – but is this correct? Jesus said: |
| Jn17.3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Our eternal life depends upon our knowing the true nature of God and that means getting to the root of the Trinity controversy. It is a SALVATIONAL issue. |
|
Various trinitarian concepts exist. But generally the trinity teaching is that in the Godhead there are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; yet, together they are but one God. |
| The trinity doctrine says that the three are coequal, almighty and uncreated, having existed eternally in the Godhead. |
|
God the Father is not God the Son is not God the Holy Spirit [Ghost] is not God the Father. also The Father is a God, the Son is a God and the Holy Spirit [Ghost] is a God. |
| Supporters of the Trinity say that it is founded not only on religious tradition but also on the Bible. Critics of the doctrine say that it is NOT a Biblical teaching, one history source even declaring: “The origin of the [Trinity] is entirely pagan.”—The Paganism in Our Christianity. |
| With Trinity as truth: There is an unexplainable mystery – how can we explain that 1 God = 3 Gods while at the same time state that 3 Gods are just 1 God. |
| With Trinity as false: Almighty God reigns Supreme; no-one is His equal, not even Mary the “Mother of God.” |
| As noted in the book Catholicism: “Unless [people] keep this Faith whole and undefiled, without doubt [they] shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this: we worship one God in Trinity. |
| The Trinity Explained |
| The Roman Catholic Church states: “The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion . . . Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: ‘the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God and yet there are not three Gods but one God.’ In this Trinity . . . the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent.”—The Catholic Encyclopedia. |
| Nearly all other churches in Christendom agree. For example, the Greek Orthodox Church also calls the Trinity “the fundamental doctrine of Christianity,” even saying: “Christians are those who accept Christ as God.” In the book Our Orthodox Christian Faith, the same church declares: “God is triune. . . . The Father is totally God. The Son is totally God. The Holy Spirit is totally God.” |
| Thus, the Trinity is considered to be “one God in three Persons.” Each is said to be without beginning, having existed for eternity. Each is said to be almighty, with each neither greater nor lesser than the others. |
| Hard to follow? Many sincere believers have found it to be confusing, contrary to normal reason, unlike anything in their experience. How, they ask, could the Father be God, Jesus be God and the Holy Spirit be God, yet there be not three Gods but only one God? |
| Widespread confusion |
| The Encyclopedia Americana notes that the doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be “beyond the grasp of human reason.” |
| Many who accept the Trinity view it that same way. Monsignor Eugene Clark says: “God is one and God is three. Since there is nothing like this in creation, we cannot understand it, but only accept it.” Cardinal John O’Connor states: “We know that it is a very profound mystery, which we don’t begin to understand.” And Pope John Paul II speaks of “the inscrutable mystery of God the Trinity.” |
| Thus, A Dictionary of Religious Knowledge says: “Precisely what that doctrine is, or rather precisely how it is to be explained, Trinitarians are not agreed among themselves.” |
| 1co14.33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. |
| How could such a Confusing Doctrine Originate? |
| The Catholic Encyclopedia claims: “A dogma so mysterious presupposes a Divine revelation.” Catholic scholars Karl Rahner and Herbert Vorgrimler state in their Theological Dictionary: “The Trinity is a mystery . . . in the strict sense . . . , which could not be known without revelation and even after revelation cannot become wholly intelligible.” |
| Is It Clearly a Bible Teaching? |
| With the Trinity as truth, it should be clearly and consistently presented in the Bible. Why? Because, as the apostles affirmed, the Bible is God’s revelation of himself to mankind. God speaks to us through His Word; therefore our worship requirements to God HAVE to be found in the Bible. |
| First-century believers accepted the Scriptures as the authentic revelation of God. It was the basis for their beliefs, the final authority: |
| Ac17.10 >And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews. |
| Ac17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. |
| What did prominent men of God at that time use as their authority?: |
| Ac17.2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, |
| Ac17.3 Opening and alleging [explaining and proving by Scriptural references], that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. |
| The Scriptures were used by Jesus as the basis for His teaching, repeatedly saying: “It is written.” “He interpreted to them things pertaining to Himself: |
| Mt4.4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [de8.3, lk4.4] |
| Mt4.7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. [de6.16] |
| Lk24.27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. |
| Jesus, Paul and first-century believers all used the Scriptures as the foundation for their teaching. They knew that: |
| 2ti3.16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: |
| 2ti3.17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. |
| See 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20, 21. |
| The Bible should clearly reveal information about the Trinity so do theologians and historians themselves say that it is clearly a Bible teaching? |
| “Trinity” in the Bible? |
| A Protestant publication states: “The word Trinity is not found in the Bible . . . It did not find a place formally in the theology of the church till the 4th century.” [The Illustrated Bible Dictionary] And a Catholic authority says that the Trinity “is not . . . directly and immediately [the] word of God.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia. |
| The Catholic Encyclopedia also comments: “In Scripture there is as yet no single term by which the Three Divine Persons are denoted together. The word [tri’as] [of which the Latin trinitas is a translation] is first found in Theophilus of Antioch about A. D. 180. . . . Shortly afterwards it appears in its Latin form of trinitas in Tertullian.” |
| However, this is no proof in itself that Tertullian taught the Trinity. The Catholic work Trinitas—A Theological Encyclopedia of the Holy Trinity, for example, notes that some of Tertullian’s words were later used by others to describe the Trinity. Then it cautions: “But hasty conclusions cannot be drawn from usage, for he does not apply the words to Trinitarian theology.” |
| Testimony of the Hebrew Scriptures |
| While the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, is at least the idea of the Trinity taught clearly in it? For instance, what do the Hebrew Scriptures [“Old Testament”] reveal? |
| The Encyclopedia of Religion admits: “Theologians today are in agreement that the Hebrew Bible does not contain a doctrine of the Trinity.” And the New Catholic Encyclopedia also says: “The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not taught in the O[ld] T[estament].” |
| Similarly, in his book The Triune God, Jesuit Edmund Fortman admits: “The Old Testament . . . tells us nothing explicitly or by necessary implication of a Triune God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. . . . There is no evidence that any sacred writer even suspected the existence of a [Trinity] within the Godhead. . . . Even to see in [the “Old Testament”] suggestions or foreshadowings or ‘veiled signs’ of the trinity of persons, is to go beyond the words and intent of the sacred writers.” |
| An examination of the Hebrew Scriptures themselves will bear out these comments. Thus, there is no clear teaching of a Trinity in the first 39 books of the Bible that make up the true canon of the inspired Hebrew Scriptures. |
| Testimony of the Greek Scriptures |
| Do the Christian Greek Scriptures [“New Testament”] speak clearly of a Trinity? |
| The Encyclopedia of Religion says: “Theologians agree that the New Testament also does not contain an explicit doctrine of the Trinity.” |
| The New Encyclopædia Britannica observes: “Neither the word Trinity nor the explicit doctrine appears in the New Testament.” |
| Thus, neither the 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures nor the canon of 27 inspired books of the Christian Greek Scriptures provide any clear teaching of the Trinity. |
| Taught by Early Christians? |
| Did the early Christians teach the Trinity? Note the following comments by historians and theologians: |
| “Primitive Christianity did not have an explicit doctrine of the Trinity such as was subsequently elaborated in the creeds.”—The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. |
| “The early Christians, however, did not at first think of applying the [Trinity] idea to their own faith. They paid their devotions to God the Father and to Jesus Christ, the Son of God and they recognised the . . . Holy Spirit; but there was no thought of these three being an actual Trinity, co-equal and united in One.”—The Paganism in Our Christianity. |
| “At first the Christian faith was not Trinitarian . . . It was not so in the apostolic and sub-apostolic ages, as reflected in the N[ew] T[estament] and other early Christian writings.”—Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics. |
| “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. . . . Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia. |
| What the Ante-Nicene Fathers Taught |
| Irenaeus, who died about 200 AD, said that the prehuman Jesus had a separate existence from God and was inferior to him. He showed that Jesus is not equal to the “One true and only God,” who is “supreme over all and besides whom there is no other.” |
| Tertullian, who died about 230 AD, taught the supremacy of God. He observed: “The Father is different from the Son [another], as he is greater; as he who begets is different from him who is begotten; he who sends, different from him who is sent.” He also said: “There was a time when the Son was not. . . . Before all things, God was alone.” |
| Origen, who died about 250 AD, said that “the Father and Son are two substances . . . two things as to their essence,” and that “compared with the Father, [the Son] is a very small light.” |
| The testimony of the Bible and of history makes clear that the Trinity was unknown throughout Biblical times and for several centuries thereafter. |
| How Did the Trinity Doctrine Develop? |
| As the Trinity is not a Biblical teaching, how did it become a doctrine of Christendom? Many think that it was formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. |
| That is partially correct. The Council of Nicaea did assert that Christ was of the same substance as God, which laid the groundwork for later Trinitarian theology. But it did not establish the Trinity, for at that council there was no mention of the Holy Spirit as the third person of a triune Godhead. |
| Constantine’s Role at Nicaea |
| For many years, there had been much opposition on Biblical grounds to the developing idea that Jesus was God. To try to solve the dispute, Roman emperor Constantine summoned all bishops to Nicaea. About 300, a fraction of the total, actually attended. |
| Constantine was not a Christian. Supposedly, he converted later in life, but he was not baptized until he lay dying. Regarding him, Henry Chadwick says in The Early Church: “Constantine, like his father, worshipped the Unconquered Sun; . . . his conversion should not be interpreted as an inward experience of grace . . . It was a military matter. His comprehension of Christian doctrine was never very clear, but he was sure that victory in battle lay in the gift of the God of the Christians.” |
| What role did this unbaptized emperor play at the Council of Nicaea? The Encyclopædia Britannica relates: “Constantine himself presided, actively guiding the discussions and personally proposed . . . the crucial formula expressing the relation of Christ to God in the creed issued by the council, ‘of one substance with the Father’ . . . Overawed by the emperor, the bishops, with two exceptions only, signed the creed, many of them much against their inclination.” |
| Hence, Constantine’s role was crucial. After two months of furious religious debate, this pagan politician intervened and decided in favor of those who said that Jesus was God. But why? Certainly not because of any Biblical conviction. “Constantine had basically no understanding whatsoever of the questions that were being asked in Greek theology,” says A Short History of Christian Doctrine. What he did understand was that religious division was a threat to his empire and he wanted to solidify his domain. |
| None of the bishops at Nicaea promoted a Trinity, however. They decided only the nature of Jesus but not the role of the Holy Spirit. If a Trinity had been a clear Bible truth, should they not have proposed it at that time? |
| Further Development |
| After Nicaea, debates on the subject continued for decades. Those who believed that Jesus was not equal to God even came back into favor for a time. But later Emperor Theodosius decided against them. He established the creed of the Council of Nicaea as the standard for his realm and convened the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD to clarify the formula. |
| That council agreed to place the Holy Spirit on the same level as God and Christ. For the first time, Christendom’s Trinity began to come into focus. |
| Yet, even after the Council of Constantinople, the Trinity did not become a widely accepted creed. Many opposed it and thus brought on themselves violent persecution. It was only in later centuries that the Trinity was formulated into set creeds. The Encyclopedia Americana notes: “The full development of Trinitarianism took place in the West, in the Scholasticism of the Middle Ages, when an explanation was undertaken in terms of philosophy and psychology.” |
| The Athanasian Creed |
| The Trinity was defined more fully in the Athanasian Creed. Athanasius was a clergyman who supported Constantine at Nicaea. The creed that bears his name declares: “We worship one God in Trinity . . . The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three gods, but one God.” |
| Well-informed scholars agree, however, that Athanasius did not compose this creed. The New Encyclopædia Britannica comments: “The creed was unknown to the Eastern Church until the 12th century. Since the 17th century, scholars have generally agreed that the Athanasian Creed was not written by Athanasius [died 373] but was probably composed in southern France during the 5th century. . . . The creed’s influence seems to have been primarily in southern France and Spain in the 6th and 7th centuries. It was used in the liturgy of the church in Germany in the 9th century and somewhat later in Rome.” |
| So it took centuries from the time of Christ for the Trinity to become widely accepted in Christendom. And in all of this, what guided the decisions? Was it the Word of God, or was it clerical and political considerations? In Origin and Evolution of Religion, E. W. Hopkins answers: “The final orthodox definition of the trinity was largely a matter of church politics.” |
| Apostasy Foretold |
| This disreputable history of the Trinity fits in with what Jesus and His apostles foretold would follow their time. They said that there would be an apostasy, a deviation, a falling away from true worship until Christ’s return, when true worship would be restored before God’s day of destruction of this system of things. |
| Regarding that “day,” the apostle Paul said: |
| 2th2.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; |
| 2th2.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. |
| Later, Paul foretold: |
| Ac20.29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. |
| Ac20.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. |
| Other disciples of Jesus also wrote of this apostasy with its ‘lawless’ clergy class. Note 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1-3; Jude 3, 4. |
| Paul also wrote: |
| 2ti4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; |
| 2ti4.4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. |
| Jesus himself explained [Matthew 13:24-43] what was behind this falling away from true worship. He said that He had sowed good seeds but that the enemy, Satan, would oversow the field with weeds. So along with the first blades of wheat, the weeds appeared also. Thus, a deviation from pure Christianity was to be expected until the harvest, when Christ would set matters right. |
| The Encyclopedia Americana comments: “Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.” Where, then, did this deviation originate? |
| 1ti1.6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; |
| What Influenced It |
| Throughout the ancient world, as far back as Babylonia, the worship of pagan gods grouped in threes, or triads, was common. That influence was also prevalent in Egypt, Greece and Rome in the centuries before, during and after Christ. And after the death of the apostles, such pagan beliefs began to invade Christianity. |
| Historian Will Durant observed: “Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. . . . From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity.” And in the book Egyptian Religion, Siegfried Morenz notes: “The trinity was a major preoccupation of Egyptian theologians . . . Three gods are combined and treated as a single being, addressed in the singular. In this way the spiritual force of Egyptian religion shows a direct link with Christian theology.” |
| Thus, in Alexandria, Egypt, churchmen of the late third and early fourth centuries, such as Athanasius, reflected this influence as they formulated ideas that led to the Trinity. Their own influence spread, so that Morenz considers “Alexandrian theology as the intermediary between the Egyptian religious heritage and Christianity.” |
| A Dictionary of Religious Knowledge notes that many say that the Trinity “is a corruption borrowed from the heathen religions and ingrafted on the Christian faith.” And The Paganism in Our Christianity declares: “The origin of the [Trinity] is entirely pagan.” |
| That is why, in the Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics, James Hastings wrote: “In Indian religion, e.g., we meet with the trinitarian group of Brahma, Siva and Visnu; and in Egyptian religion with the trinitarian group of Osiris, Isis and Horus . . . Nor is it only in historical religions that we find God viewed as a Trinity. One recalls in particular the Neo-Platonic view of the Supreme or Ultimate Reality,” which is “triadically represented.” What does the Greek philosopher Plato have to do with the Trinity? |
| Platonism |
| Plato lived from c.428 to c.347 BC. While he did not teach the Trinity in its present form, his philosophies paved the way for it. Later, philosophical movements that included triadic beliefs sprang up and these were influenced by Plato’s ideas of God and nature. |
| The Church of the First Three Centuries says: “The doctrine of the Trinity was of gradual and comparatively late formation; . . . it had its origin in a source entirely foreign from that of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures; . . . it grew up and was ingrafted on Christianity, through the hands of the Platonizing Fathers.” |
| By the end of the third century AD, “Christianity” and the new Platonic philosophies became inseparably united. As Adolf Harnack states in Outlines of the History of Dogma, church doctrine became “firmly rooted in the soil of Hellenism [pagan Greek thought]. Thereby it became a mystery to the great majority of Christians.” |
| In the book A Statement of Reasons, Andrews Norton says of the Trinity: “We can trace the history of this doctrine and discover its source, not in the Christian revelation, but in the Platonic philosophy . . . The Trinity is not a doctrine of Christ and his Apostles, but a fiction of the school of the later Platonists.” |
| Thus, in the fourth century AD, the apostasy foretold by Jesus and the apostles came into full bloom. Development of the Trinity was just one evidence of this. The apostate churches also began embracing other pagan ideas, such as hellfire, immortality of the soul and idolatry. Spiritually speaking, Christendom had entered its foretold dark ages, dominated by a growing “man of lawlessness” clergy class. See 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7 above. |
| Why Did God’s Prophets Not Teach It? |
| Why, for thousands of years, did none of God’s prophets teach His people about the Trinity? At the latest, would Jesus not use His ability as the Great Teacher to make the Trinity clear to His followers? Would God inspire hundreds of pages of Scripture and yet not use any of this instruction to teach the Trinity if it were the “central doctrine” of faith? |
| Are Christians to believe that centuries after Christ and after having inspired the writing of the Bible, God would back the formulation of a doctrine that was unknown to His servants for thousands of years, one that is an “inscrutable mystery” “beyond the grasp of human reason,” one that admittedly had a pagan background and was “largely a matter of church politics”? |
| The testimony of history is clear: The Trinity teaching is a deviation from the truth, an apostatizing from it. |
| “The Triad of the Great Gods” |
| Many centuries before the time of Christ, there were triads, or trinities, of gods in ancient Babylonia and Assyria. The French “Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology” notes one such triad in that Mesopotamian area: “The universe was divided into three regions each of which became the domain of a god. Anu’s share was the sky. The earth was given to Enlil. Ea became the ruler of the waters. Together they constituted the triad of the Great Gods.” |
| Hindu Trinity |
| The book “The Symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals” says regarding a Hindu trinity that existed centuries before Christ: “Siva is one of the gods of the Trinity. He is said to be the god of destruction. The other two gods are Brahma, the god of creation and Vishnu, the god of maintenance. . . . To indicate that these three processes are one and the same the three gods are combined in one form.”—Published by A. Parthasarathy, Bombay. |
| What Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus? |
| If people were to read the Bible from cover to cover without any preconceived idea of a Trinity, would they arrive at such a concept on their own? Not at all. |
| What comes through very clearly to an impartial reader is that God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, separate and distinct from anyone else and that Jesus, even in His prehuman existence, is also separate and distinct, the only begotten Son of God and from the bosom of the Father, and always subordinate to God the Father. |
| God Is One, Not Three |
| The Bible teaching that God is one is called monotheism. And L. L. Paine, professor of ecclesiastical history, indicates that monotheism in its purest form does not allow for a Trinity: “The Old Testament is strictly monotheistic. God is a single personal being. The idea that a trinity is to be found there . . . is utterly without foundation.” |
| Was there any change from monotheism after Jesus came to the earth? Paine answers: “On this point there is no break between the Old Testament and the New. The monotheistic tradition is continued. Jesus was a Jew, trained by Jewish parents in the Old Testament scriptures. His teaching was Jewish to the core; a new gospel indeed, but not a new theology. . . . And he accepted as his own belief the great text of Jewish monotheism: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God.’” |
| Thousands of times throughout the Bible, God is spoken of as one person. When He speaks, it is as one undivided individual. The Bible could not be any clearer on this. As God states: |
| Is42.8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. [de6.4; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| Ex20.2 I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. |
| Ex20.3 THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. |
| Why would all the God-inspired Bible writers speak of God as one person if He were actually three persons? What purpose would that serve, except to mislead people? Surely, if God were composed of three persons, He would have had His Bible writers make it abundantly clear so that there could be no doubt about it. At least the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures who had personal contact with God’s own Son would have done so. But they did not. |
| Instead, what the Bible writers did make abundantly clear is that God is one Person—a unique, unpartitioned Being who has no equal: |
| Is45.5 >I [am] the LORD and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: |
| Ps83.18 That [men] may know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth. |
| Not a Plural God |
| JESUS called God “the only true God.” [See John 17:3 above]. Never did he refer to God as a deity of plural persons. That is why nowhere in the Bible is anyone but Jehovah called Almighty. Otherwise, it voids the meaning of the word “almighty.” Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit is ever called that, for Jehovah alone is supreme. |
| Ge17.1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram and said unto him, I [AM] THE ALMIGHTY GOD; walk before me and be thou perfect. |
| Ex18.11 Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly [he was] above them. |
| In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word ‘eloh’ah [god] has two plural forms, namely, ‘elo·him’ [gods] and ‘elo·heh’ [gods of]. These plural forms generally refer to Jehovah, in which case they are translated in the singular as “God.” Do these plural forms indicate a Trinity? No, they do not. In A Dictionary of the Bible, William Smith says: “The fanciful idea that [‘elo·him’] referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God.” |
| The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures says of ‘elo·him’: “It is almost invariably construed with a singular verbal predicate and takes a singular adjectival attribute.” To illustrate this, the title ‘elo·him’ appears 35 times by itself in the account of creation and every time the verb describing what God said and did is singular. [Genesis 1:1–2:4] Thus, that publication concludes: “[‘Elo·him’] must rather be explained as an intensive plural, denoting greatness and majesty.” |
| ‘Elo·him’ means, not “persons,” but “gods.” So those who argue that this word implies a Trinity make themselves polytheists, worshipers of more than one God. Why? Because it would mean that there were three gods in the Trinity. But nearly all Trinity supporters reject the view that the Trinity is made up of three separate gods. |
| The Bible also uses the words ‘elo·him’ and ‘elo·heh’ when referring to a number of false idol gods. [see Exodus 12:12; 20:23] But at other times it may refer to just a single false god, as when the Philistines referred to “Dagon their god [‘elo·heh’].” [see Judges 16:23, 24] Baal is called “a god [‘elo·him’].” [see 1 Kings 18:27] In addition, the term is used for humans. [see Psalm 82:1, 6] Moses was told that he was to serve as “God” [‘elo·him’] to Aaron and to Pharaoh: |
| Ex4.16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, [even] he shall be to thee instead of a mouth and thou shalt be to him instead of God. |
| Ex7.1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. |
| Obviously, using the titles ‘elo·him’ and ‘elo·heh’ for false gods and even humans, did not imply that each was a plurality of gods; neither does applying ‘elo·him’ or ‘elo·heh’ to Jehovah mean that He is more than one person, especially when we consider the testimony of the rest of the Bible on this subject. |
| How the “Only-Begotten Son”? |
| The Bible calls Jesus the “only-begotten Son” of God. [See John 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9.] Trinitarians say that since God is eternal, so the Son of God is eternal. But how can a person be a son and at the same time be as old as His father? |
| Trinitarians claim that in the case of Jesus, “only-begotten” is not the same as the dictionary definition of “begetting,” which is “to procreate as the father.” [Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary] They say that in Jesus’ case it means “the sense of unoriginated relationship,” a sort of only son relationship without the begetting. [Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words] Does that sound logical to you? Can a man father a son without begetting him? |
| Furthermore, why does the Bible use the very same Greek word for “only-begotten” [as Vine admits without any explanation] to describe the relationship of Isaac to Abraham? Hebrews 11:17 speaks of Isaac as Abraham’s “only-begotten son.” There can be no question that in Isaac’s case, he was only-begotten in the normal sense, not equal in time or position to his father. |
| The basic Greek word for “only-begotten” used for Jesus and Isaac is mo·no·ge·nes’, from mo’nos, meaning “only,” and gi’no·mai, a root word meaning “to generate,” “to become [come into being],” states Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Hence, mo·no·ge·nes’ is defined as: “Only born, only begotten, i.e. an only child.”—A Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament, by E. Robinson. |
| The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by Gerhard Kittel, says: “[Mo·no·ge·nes’] means ‘of sole descent,’ i.e., without brothers or sisters.” This book also states that at John 1:18; 3:16, 18; and 1 John 4:9, “the relation of Jesus is not just compared to that of an only child to its father. It is the relation of the only-begotten to the Father.” |
| So Jesus, the only-begotten Son, had a beginning to His life. And Almighty God can rightly be called His Begetter, or Father, in the same sense that an earthly father, like Abraham, begets a son. [Hebrews 11:17] Hence, when the Bible speaks of God as the “Father” of Jesus, it means what it says—that they are two separate individuals. God is the Father. Jesus is His Son – in time, position, power and knowledge. |
| Countless other created spirit beings, angels, are also called “sons of God,” in the same sense that Adam was, because their life-force originated with Jehovah God, the Fountain, or Source, of life. [see Job 38:7; Psalm 36:9; Luke 3:38] But these were all created through the “only-begotten Son,” who was the only one directly begotten by God, being torn from the bosom of the Father. |
| Cl1.15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: |
| Cl1.16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him: |
| Cl1.17 And he is before all things and by him all things consist. |
| Was Jesus Considered to Be God? |
| While Jesus is often called the Son of God in the Bible, nobody in the first century ever thought of Him as being God the Son. Even the demons, who “believe there is one God,” knew from their experience in the spirit realm that Jesus was not God. So, correctly, they addressed Jesus as the separate “Son of God.” [see James 2:19; Matthew 8:29] And when Jesus died, the pagan Roman soldiers standing by knew enough to say that what they had heard from His followers must be right, not that Jesus was God, but that “Truly this was the Son of God.” |
| Mt27.54 Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. |
| Hence, the phrase “Son of God” refers to Jesus who is not part of a Trinity. As the Son of God, He could not be God Himself, as “No man hath seen God at any time”. |
| Jn1.18 No man hath seen God at any time; THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, which is in the BOSOM OF THE FATHER, he hath declared [him]. |
| The disciples viewed Jesus as the “one mediator between God and men,” not as God himself. [see 1 Timothy 2:5] |
| 1ti2.5 FOR [THERE IS] ONE GOD and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS; [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; ja2.19] |
| Since by definition a mediator is someone separate from those who need mediation, it would be a contradiction for Jesus to be one entity with either of the parties He is trying to reconcile. That would not be impartial and would be pretending to be something he is not. |
| The Bible is clear and consistent about the relationship of God to Jesus. Jehovah God alone is Almighty. Jesus being torn from His bosom. Thus, Jesus had a beginning and could never be coequal with God in power or eternity. |
| Is God Always Superior to Jesus? |
| Jesus never claimed to be God. Everything He said about Himself indicates that He did not consider Himself equal to God in any way—not in position, not in power, not in knowledge, not in age. God is the senior and originator of all. |
| In every period of His existence, whether in heaven or on earth, His speech and conduct reflect subordination to God. God is always the superior; Jesus being the lesser. |
| Jesus Distinguished From God |
| Time and again, Jesus showed that He was a creature separate from God and that He, Jesus, had a God above Him, a God whom He worshipped, a God whom He called “Father.” In prayer to God, that is, the Father, Jesus said: |
| Jn17.3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| And to Mary Magdalene: |
| Jn20.17 JESUS saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to MY FATHER: but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto MY FATHER and your Father; and [to] MY GOD and your God. |
| The apostle Paul confirms this relationship: |
| 2co1.3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; |
| Since Jesus had a God, His Father, He could not at the same time be that God. |
| The apostle Paul had no reservations about speaking of Jesus and God as distinctly separate: |
| 1co8.6 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. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| The apostle shows the distinction when he says: |
| 1ti5.21 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. |
| Just as Paul speaks of Jesus and the angels as being distinct from one another in heaven, so too are Jesus and God. |
| These words of Jesus are also significant: |
| Jn8.17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. |
| Jn8.18 I am one that bear witness of myself and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. |
| Here Jesus shows that He and the Father, that is, Almighty God, must be two distinct entities, for how else could there truly be two witnesses? |
| Jesus further showed that He was a separate being from God by saying: |
| Mk10.18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God. |
| So Jesus was saying that no one is as good as God is, not even Jesus Himself. God is good in a way that separates Him from Jesus. |
| God’s Submissive Servant |
| Time and again, Jesus made statements such as: |
| Jn5.19 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. |
| Jn6.38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. |
| Jn7.16 Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. |
| Is not the sender superior to the one sent? |
| This relationship is evident in Jesus’ illustration of the vineyard. He likened God, His Father, to the owner of the vineyard, who travelled abroad and left it in the charge of cultivators, who represented the Jewish clergy. When the owner later sent a slave to get some of the fruit of the vineyard, the cultivators beat the slave and sent him away empty-handed. Then the owner sent a second slave and later a third, both of whom got the same treatment. Finally, the owner said: “I will send my beloved son [Jesus]: it may be they will reverence [him] when they see him.” But the corrupt cultivators said: “This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.” “So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed [him].” See Luke 20:9-16 |
| Thus Jesus illustrated His own position as one being sent by God to do God’s will, just as a father sends a submissive son. |
| The followers of Jesus always viewed Him as a submissive servant of God, not as God’s equal. They prayed to God about “thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, . . . signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” [See Acts 4:23, 27, 30]. |
| God Superior at All Times |
| At the very outset of Jesus’ ministry, when he came up out of the baptismal water, God’s voice from heaven said: |
| Mt3.16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him: |
| Mt3.17 And lo a VOICE from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. |
| Was God saying that He was His own son, that He approved Himself, that He sent Himself? No, God the Creator was saying that He, as the superior, was approving a lesser one, His Son Jesus, for the work ahead. |
| Jesus indicated His Father’s superiority when He said: |
| Lk4.18 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, |
| Anointing is the giving of authority or a commission by a superior to someone who does not already have authority. Here God is plainly the superior, for He anointed Jesus, giving Him authority that He did not previously have. |
| Jesus made His Father’s superiority clear when the mother of two disciples asked that her sons sit one at the right and one at the left of Jesus when He came into His Kingdom. Jesus answered: |
| Mt20.23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father. |
| Had Jesus been Almighty God, those positions would have been His to give. But Jesus could not give them, for they were God’s to give and Jesus was not God. |
| Jesus’ own prayers are a powerful example of His inferior position. When Jesus was about to die, He showed who His superior was by praying: |
| Lk22.42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. |
| To whom was He praying? To a part of Himself? No, He was praying to someone entirely separate, His Father, God, whose will was superior and could be different from His own, the only One able to “remove this cup.” |
| Then, as He neared death, Jesus cried out: |
| Mk15.34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? |
| To whom was Jesus crying out? To Himself or to part of Himself? Surely, that cry, “My God,” was not from someone who considered Himself to be God. And if Jesus were God, then by whom was He deserted? Himself? That would not make sense. Finally, Jesus usage of “thou” signifies singularity, not plurality [no Holy Spirit person]. Jesus also said: |
| Lk23.46 >And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. |
| If Jesus were God, for what reason should He commend His spirit to the Father? |
| The Bible says that Jesus did die and was unconscious [asleep] in the tomb. Who resurrected Jesus from the dead? |
| Ac2.24 Whom GOD hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. |
| Ac2.30 Therefore being a prophet and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he WOULD RAISE UP CHRIST TO SIT ON HIS THRONE; |
| Ac2.32 This Jesus hath GOD raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. |
| Jesus died – paid in full the requirements for sin – and then was raised up by His Father. |
| Does Jesus’ ability to perform miracles, such as resurrecting people, indicate that He was God? Well, the apostles and the prophets Elijah and Elisha had that power too, but that did not make them more than men. God gave the power to perform miracles to the prophets, Jesus and the apostles to show that He was backing them. But it did not make any of them part of a plural Godhead. |
| Jesus Continues Subordinate |
| In His prehuman existence and also when He was on earth, Jesus was subordinate to God. After His resurrection, He continues to be in a subordinate, secondary position. |
| Speaking of the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and those with him told the Jewish Sanhedrin: “God exalted this one [Jesus] . . . to his right hand.” [Acts 5:31] Paul said: “God exalted him to a superior position.” [Philippians 2:9] |
| Ac5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. |
| Paul said: |
| Ph2.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: |
| If Jesus had been God, how could Jesus have been exalted, that is, raised to a higher position than He had previously enjoyed? He would already have been an exalted part of the Trinity. If, before His exaltation, Jesus had been equal to God, exalting Him any further would have made Him superior to God. |
| Paul also said that Christ entered: |
| He9.24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: |
| If you appear in someone else’s presence, how can you be that person? You cannot. You must be different and separate. |
| Similarly, just before being stoned to death, the martyr Stephen recalled: |
| Ac7.55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, |
| Clearly, He saw two separate individuals—but no Holy Spirit, no Trinity Godhead. |
| In the account at Revelation 4:8 – 5:7, God is shown seated on His heavenly throne, but Jesus is not. He has to approach God to take a scroll from God’s right hand. This shows that in heaven Jesus is not God but is separate from Him. |
| In the everlasting future in heaven, Jesus will continue to be a separate, subordinate servant of God. The Bible expresses it this way: |
| 1co15.24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. |
| 1co15.28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. |
| Jesus Never Claimed to Be God |
| The Bible’s position is clear. Not only is Almighty God, Jehovah, a personality separate from Jesus but He is at all times His superior. Jesus is always presented as separate and lesser, as a humble servant of God. That is why the Bible plainly says: |
| 1co11.3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is CHRIST; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] GOD. |
| And this is why Jesus Himself said: |
| Jn14.28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. |
| The Holy Spirit – the abiding presence of Jesus and God |
| According to the Trinity doctrine, the Holy Spirit is the third person of a Godhead, equal to the Father and to the Son. As the book Our Orthodox Christian Faith says: “The Holy Spirit is totally God.” |
| In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word most frequently used for “spirit” is ru’ach, meaning “breath; wind; spirit.” In the Greek Scriptures, the word is pneu’ma, having a similar meaning. Do these words indicate that the Holy Spirit is part of a Trinity? |
| The Holy Spirit of God |
| The Bible’s use of “Holy Spirit” indicates that it is a controlled force that Jehovah God uses to accomplish a variety of His purposes. To a certain extent, it can be likened to electricity, a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations. |
| Ge1.2 And the earth was without form and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. |
| Here, the Spirit of God [“spirit” [Hebrew, ru’ach]] was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.” The Spirit of God was His active presence working to shape the earth. |
| God uses His spirit to enlighten those who serve Him. David prayed: |
| Ps143.10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou [art] my God: thy spirit [ru’ach] [is] good; lead me into the land of uprightness. |
| When 70 capable men were appointed to help Moses, God said to him: |
| Nu11.17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit [ru’ach] which [is] upon thee and will put [it] upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear [it] not thyself alone. |
| Bible prophecy was recorded when men of God were “borne along by Holy Spirit [Greek, from pneu’ma].” [2 Peter 1:20, 21] In this way the Bible was “inspired of God,” the Greek word for which is The·o’pneu·stos, meaning “God-breathed.” [2 Timothy 3:16] And Holy Spirit guided certain people to see visions or to have prophetic dreams. See 2 Samuel 23:2;Joel 2:28, 29; Luke 1:67; Acts 1:16; 2:32, 33. |
| The Holy Spirit impelled Jesus to go into the wilderness after His baptism. [Mark 1:12] The Spirit of God was like a fire within God’s servants, causing them to be energized by His presence. And it enabled them to speak out boldly and courageously. – See Micah 3:8; Acts 7:55-60; 18:25; Romans 12:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:19. |
| By His Spirit, God carries out His judgments on men and nations. [See Isaiah 30:27, 28;59:18, 19] And God’s Spirit can reach everywhere, acting for people or against them. – See Psalm 139:7-12. |
| Power Beyond Normal |
| God’s Spirit can also supply abnormal power to those who serve Him: |
| 2co4.7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. |
| This enables them to endure trials of faith or to do things they could not otherwise do. |
| For example, regarding Samson: |
| Ju14.6 And the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him and he [Samson] rent him as he would have rent a kid and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. |
| Did a divine person actually enter or seize Samson, manipulating his body to do what he did? No, it was the power of the LORD [that] made Samson strong. |
| The Bible says that when Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came down upon Him appearing like a dove: |
| Mk1.10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: |
| This Spirit of God enabled Jesus to heal the sick and raise the dead. |
| Lk5.17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was [present] to heal them. |
| The Spirit of God also empowered the disciples of Jesus to do miraculous things: |
| Ac2.1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. |
| Ac2.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. |
| Ac2.3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. |
| Ac2.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. |
| So God’s Holy Spirit gave Jesus and other servants of God the power to do what humans ordinarily could not do. |
| Not a Person |
| Are there not, however, Bible verses that speak of the Holy Spirit in personal terms? Yes, but note what Catholic theologian Edmund Fortman says about this in The Triune God: “Although this spirit is often described in personal terms, it seems quite clear that the sacred writers [of the Hebrew Scriptures] NEVER conceived or presented this spirit as a distinct person.” |
| In the Scriptures it is not unusual for something to be personified. Wisdom is said to have children [Luke 7:35]; Sin and death are called kings [Romans 5:14, 21]; Sin lieth at the door [Genesis 4:7]. Of course, sin is not a spirit person; nor does personifying the Holy Spirit make it a spirit person. |
| Below, the spirit, the water and the blood are said to be “witnesses.” The water and the blood are obviously not persons and neither is the Holy Spirit a person. |
| 1j5.6 This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. |
| 1j5.7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. |
| 1j5.8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Sspirit and the water and the blood: and these three agree in one. |
| In harmony with this is the Bible’s general usage of “Holy Spirit” in an impersonal way, such as paralleling it with water and fire. [See Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8] People are urged to become filled with Holy Spirit instead of with wine. [Ephesians 5:18] They are spoken of as being filled with Holy Spirit in the same way they are filled with such qualities as wisdom, faith and joy [See Acts 6:3; 11:24; 13:52]. At 2 Corinthians 6:6 the Holy Spirit is included among a number of qualities. Such expressions would not be so common if the Holy Spirit were actually a person. |
| Also, some Bible texts say that the spirit speaks, other texts show that this was actually done through humans or angels. [See Matthew 10:19, 20; Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Hebrews 2:2] The action of the spirit in such instances is like that of radio waves transmitting messages from one person to another far away. |
| At Matthew 28:19 reference is made to “the name . . . of the Holy Ghost.” But the word “name” does not always mean a personal name, either in Greek or in English. When we say “in the name of the law,” we are not referring to a person. We mean that which the law stands for; its authority. Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament says: “The use of name [onoma] here is a common one in the Septuagint and the papyri for power or authority.” So baptism ‘in the name of the Holy Spirit’ recognizes the authority of the spirit, that it is from God and functions by His divine will. |
| The Comforter |
| Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as a “Comforter” and He said it would teach, guide and speak. [See John 14:16, 26; 16:13] The Greek word used for Comforter [pa·ra’kle·tos] is in the masculine gender. So when Jesus referred to what the helper would do, He used masculine personal pronouns [See John 16:7, 8]. On the other hand, when the neuter Greek word for spirit [pneu’ma] is used, the neuter pronoun “it” is properly employed. |
| Most Trinitarian translators hide this fact, as the Catholic New American Bible admits regarding John 14:17: “The Greek word for ‘Spirit’ is neuter and while we use personal pronouns in English [‘he,’ ‘his,’ ‘him’], most Greek MSS [manuscripts] employ ‘it.’” |
| So when the Bible uses masculine personal pronouns in connection with pa·ra’kle·tos at John 16:7, 8, it is conforming to rules of grammar, not expressing a doctrine. |
| No Part of a Trinity |
| Various sources acknowledge that the Bible does not support the idea that the Holy Spirit is the third person of a Trinity. For example: |
| The Catholic Encyclopedia: “Nowhere in the Old Testament do we find any clear indication of a Third Person.” |
| A Catholic Dictionary: “On the whole, the New Testament, like the Old, speaks of the spirit as a divine energy or power.” |
| Hence, neither the Jews nor the early Christians viewed the Holy Spirit as part of a Trinity. That teaching came centuries later. As A Catholic Dictionary notes: “The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362 . . . and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381”—some three and a half centuries after Holy Spirit filled the disciples at Pentecost! |
| No, the Holy Spirit is not a person and it is not part of a Trinity. The Holy Spirit is God’s active presence that He uses to accomplish His will. It is an attribute of God and is always at His disposition. |
| What About Trinity “Proof Texts”? |
| It is said that some Bible texts offer proof in support of the Trinity. However, when reading such texts, we should keep in mind that the Biblical and historical evidence does not support the Trinity. |
| Any Bible reference offered as proof must be understood in the context of the consistent teaching of the entire Bible. Very often the true meaning of such a text is clarified by the context of surrounding verses. |
| Three in One |
| The New Catholic Encyclopedia offers three such “proof texts” but also admits: “The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not taught in the O[ld] T[estament]. In the N[ew] T[estament] the oldest evidence is in the Pauline epistles, especially 2 Cor 13.13 [verse 14 in some Bibles], and 1 Cor 12.4-6. In the Gospels evidence of the Trinity is found explicitly only in the baptismal formula of Mt 28.19.” |
| In those verses the three “persons” are listed as follows: |
| 2co13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says: |
| 1co12.4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. |
| 1co12.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. |
| 1co12.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. |
| Matthew 28:19 reads: |
| Mt28.19 >Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: |
| Do those verses say that God, Christ and the Holy Spirit constitute a Trinitarian Godhead, that the three are equal in substance, power and eternity? No, they do not, no more than listing three people, such as Tom, Dick and Harry, means that they are three in one. |
| “I and the Father Are One” |
| Jn10.30 I and [my] FATHER are one. |
| This text is often cited to support the Trinity, even though no third person is mentioned there. But Jesus Himself showed what He meant by His being “one” with the Father: |
| Jn17.21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. |
| Jn17.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: |
| Was Jesus praying that all His disciples would become a single entity? No, obviously Jesus was praying that they would be united in thought and purpose, as He and God were. Note also: |
| 1co1.10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. |
| “Making Himself Equal with God”? |
| Jn5.18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. |
| Another scripture offered as support for the Trinity is John 5:18. It says that the Jews [as at John 10:31-36] wanted to kill Jesus because “because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God” and “making himself equal with God”. |
| But who said that Jesus was making himself equal to God? Not Jesus. He defended himself against this false charge in the very next verse: |
| Jn5.19 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. |
| By this, Jesus showed the Jews that He was not equal to God and therefore could not act on His own initiative. Can we imagine someone equal to Almighty God saying that He could “do nothing of himself”? [Compare Daniel 4:34-35]. Interestingly, the context of both John 5:18 and John 10:30 shows that Jesus defended Himself against false charges from Jews who, like the Trinitarians, are drawing wrong conclusions! |
| “The Word Was God” |
| Jn1.1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
| Some Trinitarians claim that this means that “the Word” [Greek, ho lo’gos] who came to earth as Jesus Christ was Almighty God Himself. |
| Note, however, that here again the context lays the groundwork for an accurate understanding. God’s Word says, “The Word was with God.” Someone who is “with” another person cannot be the same as that other person. In agreement with this, the Journal of Biblical Literature, edited by Jesuit Joseph A. Fitzmyer, notes that if the latter part of John 1:1 were interpreted to mean “the” God, this “would then contradict the preceding clause,” which says that the Word was with God. |
| At John 1:1 there are two occurrences of the Greek noun the·os’ [god]. The first occurrence refers to Almighty God, with whom the Word was [“and the Word [lo’gos] was with God [a form of the·os’]”]. This first the·os’ is preceded by the word ton [the], a form of the Greek definite article that points to a distinct identity, in this case Almighty God [“and the Word was with [the] God”]. |
| On the other hand, there is no article before the second the·os’ at John 1:1. So a literal translation would read, “and god was the Word.” Yet we have seen that many translations render this second the·os’ [a predicate noun] as “divine,” “godlike,” or “a god.” On what authority do they do this? |
| The Koine Greek language had a definite article [“the”], but it did not have an indefinite article [“a” or “an”]. So when a predicate noun is not preceded by the definite article, it may be indefinite, depending on the context. |
| The Journal of Biblical Literature says that expressions “with an anarthrous [no article] predicate preceding the verb, are primarily qualitative in meaning.” As the Journal notes, this indicates that the lo’gos can be likened to a god. It also says of John 1:1: “The qualitative force of the predicate is so prominent that the noun [the·os’] cannot be regarded as definite.” |
| So John 1:1 highlights the quality of the Word, that He was “divine,” “godlike,” “a god,” but not Almighty God. This harmonizes with the rest of the Bible, which shows that Jesus, here called “the Word” in His role as God’s Spokesman, was an obedient subordinate sent to earth by His Superior, Almighty God. |
| Violating a Rule? |
| Some claim, however, that such renderings violate a rule of Koine Greek grammar published by Greek scholar E. C. Colwell back in 1933. He asserted that in Greek a predicate noun “has the [definite] article when it follows the verb; it does not have the [definite] article when it precedes the verb.” By this he meant that a predicate noun preceding the verb should be understood as though it did have the definite article [“the”] in front of it. At John 1:1 the second noun [the·os’], the predicate, precedes the verb—“and [the·os’] was the Word.” So, Colwell claimed, John 1:1 should read “and [the] God was the Word.” |
| But consider just two examples found at John 8:44. There Jesus says of the Devil: “He was a murderer” and “he is a liar”. Just as at John 1:1, the predicate nouns [“murderer” and “liar”] precede the verbs [“was” and “is”] in the Greek. There is no indefinite article in front of either noun because there was no indefinite article in Koine Greek. But most translations insert the word “a” because Greek grammar and the context require it.—See also Mark 11:32; John 4:19; 6:70; 9:17; 10:1; 12:6. |
| Colwell had to acknowledge this regarding the predicate noun, for he said: “It is indefinite [“a” or “an”] in this position only when the context demands it.” So even he admits that when the context requires it, translators may insert an indefinite article in front of the noun in this type of sentence structure. |
| Does the context require an indefinite article at John 1:1? Yes, for the testimony of the entire Bible is that Jesus is not Almighty God. Thus, not Colwell’s questionable rule of grammar, but context should guide the translator in such cases. And it is apparent from the many translations that insert the indefinite article “a” at John 1:1 and in other places that many scholars disagree with such an artificial rule and so does God’s Word. |
| No Conflict |
| Does saying that Jesus Christ is “a god” conflict with the Bible’s teaching that there is only one God? No, for at times the Bible employs that term to refer to mighty creatures. Psalm 8:5 reads: |
| Ps8.5 For thou hast made him [man] a little lower than the angels [godlike ones [Hebrew, ‘elo·him’]], and hast crowned him with glory and honour. |
| In Jesus’ defense against the charge of the Jews, that He claimed to be God, He noted that the Law uses the word gods of those to whom the word of God was addressed, that is, human judges. [See John 10:34-35; Psalm 82:1-6]. Even Satan is called “the god of this world” at 2 Corinthians 4:4. |
| Jesus has a position far higher than angels, imperfect men, or Satan. Since these are referred to as “gods,” mighty ones, surely Jesus can be and is “a god.” Because of his unique position in relation to Jehovah, Jesus is a “Mighty God.” See John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6. |
| But does not “Mighty God” with its capital letters indicate that Jesus is in some way equal to Jehovah God? Not at all. Isaiah merely prophesied this to be one of four names that Jesus would be called and in the English language such names are capitalized. Still, even though Jesus was called “Mighty,” there can be only one who is “Almighty.” To call Jehovah God “Almighty” would have little significance unless there existed others who were also called gods but who occupied a lesser or inferior position. |
| Jn20.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. |
| Thomas cast himself at the feet of his Master in deep affection and devotion, crying, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas did not think that Jesus was Almighty God, for he and all the other apostles knew that Jesus never claimed to be God but taught that Jehovah alone is “the only true God.” – John 17:3. |
| Again, the context helps us to understand this. A few days earlier the resurrected Jesus had told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples: |
| Jn20.17 JESUS saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to MY FATHER: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto MY FATHER, and your Father; and [to] MY GOD, and your God. |
| Even though Jesus was already resurrected, Jehovah was still His God. And Jesus continued to refer to Him as such even in the last book of the Bible, after He was glorified. See Revelation 1:5, 6;3:2, 12. |
| Just three verses after Thomas’ exclamation the Bible further clarifies the matter by stating: |
| Jn20.31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. |
| “these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;” not that He was Almighty God. And it meant “Son” in a literal way, as with a natural father and son, not as some mysterious part of a Trinity Godhead. |
| Must Harmonize With the Bible |
| It is claimed that several other scriptures support the Trinity. But these are similar to those discussed above in that, when carefully examined, they offer no actual support. Such texts only illustrate that when considering any claimed support for the Trinity, one must ask: Does the interpretation harmonize with the consistent teaching of the entire Bible—that Jehovah God alone is Supreme? If not, then the interpretation must be in error. |
| We also need to keep in mind that not even so much as one “proof text” says that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one in some mysterious Godhead. Not one scripture anywhere in the Bible says that all three are the same in substance, power and eternity. The Bible is consistent in revealing Almighty God, Jehovah, as alone Supreme, Jesus as His only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit as God’s omnipresence. |
| Worship God on His Terms |
| Jn17.3 AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent. [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; 1ti2.5; ja2.19] |
| To KNOW something or, in this case, someone you need related knowledge. What kind of knowledge? |
| 1ti2.4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. |
| So God wants us to know Him and His purposes accurately, in conformity with divine truth. And God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is the source of that truth. [See John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17] When people learn accurately what the Bible says about God, then they will avoid being like those mentioned at: |
| Ro10.2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. |
| Ro10.3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. |
| Or like the Samaritans, to whom Jesus said: |
| Jn4.22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. |
| Therefore, if we want God’s approval, we need to ask ourselves: What does God say about Himself? How does He want to be worshipped? What are His purposes and how should we fit in with them? An accurate knowledge of the truth gives us the right answers to such questions. Then we can worship God on His terms. |
| Dishonoring God |
| 1s2.30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed [that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. |
| Does it honour God to call anyone His equal? Does it honor Him to call Mary “the mother of God” and the “Mediatrix . . . between the Creator and His creatures,” as does the New Catholic Encyclopedia? No, those ideas insult God. No one is His equal; nor did He have a fleshly mother, since Jesus was not God. And there is no “Mediatrix,” for God has appointed only one mediator: |
| 1ti2.5 FOR [THERE IS] ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS; [de6.4; is42.8; ml2.10; mk12.29-30,32; jn17.3; ro3.30; 1co8.4&6; ep4.6; ja2.19] [A mediator is an impartial person] |
| 1j2.1 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: |
| 1j2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. |
| Beyond all doubt, the Trinity doctrine has confused and diluted people’s understanding of God’s true position. It prevents people from accurately knowing the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah God and from worshipping Him on His terms. As theologian Hans Küng said: “Why should anyone want to add anything to the notion of God’s oneness and uniqueness that can only dilute or nullify that oneness and uniqueness?” But that is what belief in the Trinity has done. |
| Those who believe in the Trinity equate to: |
| Ro1.28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; |
| Rom 1 Verses 29 to 31 list some of those ‘unfitting’ things, such as ‘murder, strife, being false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless.’ Those very things have been practised by religions that accept the Trinity. |
| For instance, Trinitarians have often persecuted and even killed those who rejected the Trinity doctrine. And they have gone even further. They have killed their fellow Trinitarians in wartime. What could be more ‘unfitting’ than Catholics killing Catholics, Orthodox killing Orthodox, Protestants killing Protestants—all in the name of the same Trinitarian God? |
| Yet, Jesus plainly said: |
| Jn13.35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. |
| God’s Word expands on this, saying: |
| 1j3.10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. |
| It likens those who kill their spiritual brothers to: |
| 1j3.11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. |
| 1j3.12 Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. |
| Thus, the teaching of confusing doctrines about God has led to actions that violate His laws. Indeed, what has happened throughout Christendom is what Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard described: “Christendom has done away with Christianity without being quite aware of it.” |
| Christendom’s spiritual condition fits what the apostle Paul wrote: |
| Tt1.16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. |
| Soon, when God brings this present wicked system of things to its end, Trinitarian Christendom will be called to account. And she will be judged adversely for her God-dishonouring actions and doctrines. See Matthew 24:14, 34; 25:31-34, 41, 46; Revelation 17:1-6, 16; 18:1-8, 20, 24; 19:17-21. |
| Reject the Trinity |
| There can be NO COMPROMISE with God’s truths. Hence, to worship God on His terms means to REJECT the Trinity doctrine. It contradicts what the prophets, Jesus, the apostles and the early Christians believed and taught. It also contradicts what God says about Himself in His own inspired Word. Thus, He counsels: |
| Is46.9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, |
| God’s interests are not served by making Him confusing and mysterious. Instead, the more that people become confused about God and His purposes, the better it suits God’s Adversary, Satan the Devil, the ‘god of this world.’ It is he who promotes such false doctrines to: |
| 2co4.4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. |
| And the Trinity doctrine also serves the interests of clergymen who want to maintain their hold on people, for they make it appear as though only theologians can understand it. |
| Accurate knowledge of God brings great relief. It frees us from teachings that are in conflict with God’s Word and from organizations that have apostatized. As Jesus said: |
| Jn8.32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. |
| By honoring God as supreme and worshipping Him on His terms, we can avoid the judgment that He will soon bring on apostate Christendom. Instead, we can look forward to God’s favour when this world ends: |
| 1j2.17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. |
| Live Forever in Paradise on Earth |
| God promises eternal life to those who honour him: |
| Ps37.29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. |
| Yet, to be counted among “The righteous” you need to do more than just become informed about the Trinity teaching. You need to progress in your knowledge about God. Should you wish, we are happy to help you. Just Contact Us accordingly. |
| Document to be continued – please be patient and check at weekly / fortnightly intervals while we finish it off. |
| For continuation of this document click also the link below: |
| http://www.godswordexplained.com/?page_id=1108 |