Unauthenticated Reports About Sister White
We do not use unauthenticated reports, stenographical errors, magical manuscripts, etc. to establish doctrine. We first go to the Bible and then compare our findings with the “published works” of Mrs White, and you should too!
“And now to all who have a desire for truth I would say: Do not give credence to unauthenticated reports as to what Sister White has done or said or written. If you desire to know what the Lord has revealed through her, read her published works. Are there any points of interest concerning which she has not written, do not eagerly catch up and report rumors as to what she has said.” Testimonies for the Church 5:696.1
Making the “agency of God” a “rock of offense” and of “none effect”
Those who use the Testimonies to defend trinitarianism and pantheism as did John Harvey Kellogg and LeRoy Froom are working as blind men. They are weakening the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies, which is the VERY LAST deception of Satan! Hang on tight beloved because everything that CAN be shaken WILL be shaken!
“Satan is … constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.—Letter 12, 1890.” Selected Messages Book 1, 48.3
“And now, brethren, I entreat you not to interpose between me and the people, and turn away the light which God would have come to them… For Christ’s sake do not confuse the minds of the people with human sophistry and skepticism, and make of none effect the work that the Lord would do. Do not, by your lack of spiritual discernment, make of this agency of God a rock of offense whereby many shall be caused to stumble and fall, “and be snared, and be taken.” Testimonies for the Church 5:687-691
The Scriptures our Safeguard
For the Christian, or Seventh-day Adventist for that matter, the Bible is our creed or rule of faith not the writings of Ellen White or Advent pioneers. If Christians would stick to the Bible the “triune god” of Rome would disappear.
“To the law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work, the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final, despairing struggle against Christ and his followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true, that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.”
Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4, p 411.1
“But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,—not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.”
Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4, p 413.2
[John 17:17 KJV] “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Was Ellen White a Trinitarian?
Many today are making a huge claim that Ellen White became a trinitarian. That she somehow changed the monotheistic “pillar” of the Seventh-day Adventist church into a polytheistic “trio” of co-equal and co-eternal gods. To be clear, there is no such thing as a “first person of the godhead” or “second person of the godhead” in the Bible. Yes, that’s right! They are man-made terms even as “god the son” and “god the holy spirit” are. My suggestion is that we learn to stick with Biblical terminology as to avoid any presuppositions. So then “God” and “son of God” or “spirit of God” are the proper Biblical terms. Can you see a difference? See we’re making progress already! We also won’t be debating whether or not the Father and Son are literal “persons” with a body, form, or shape, but rather we will be looking at the “third person of the Godhead” concept to see if the author meant a literal “third person” or “third god” with a body and mind (spirit) like the Father and Son.
The Order of Heaven
“The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man.” Spirit of Prophecy Vol 2, p 9.1
“That the One who spoke the law, who called Moses into the mount and talked with him, was our Lord Jesus Christ, is evident from the following considerations: Christ is the One through whom God has at all times revealed Himself to man. “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.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. “This is he [Moses], that was in the church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” Acts 7:38. This Angel was the Angel of God’s presence (Isaiah 63:9), the Angel in whom was the name of the great Jehovah (Exodus 23:20-23). The expression can refer to no other than the Son of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets p 761
So the Father says through the Son: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me…” Exodus 20:3
The word “gods” or “elohim” is used as a “plural of majesty” (not a numerical value) denoting a majestic judge or ruler, and the word “before me” is also translated as “face” 390 times and “person” 21 times and “presence” 76 times. So lets try this again…
The Father says through the Son: “Thou shalt have no other majestic person, face, or presence. Exodus 20:3
Thats right, no other majestic person, face, or presence. Period.
[Revelation 14:7 KJV] Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Fear God, and worship HIM not a trinity!
So how many “persons” are in the counsel of peace between them both?
[Zechariah 6:13 KJV] “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.”
[Genesis 22:8 KJV] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
I shouldn’t have to say this but I do: Worshipping the Son of God “before” God the Father (Exo 20:3) would be sin beloved (1Jn 3:4) so don’t put him there! He’s perfectly fine with his position. (Pro 8:30) Seriously. Besides, the Father is the “great Lawgiver” who said “have no other gods before me” through his Son, remember? (PP 761) This is super important because a true knowledge of God is the foundation of our religion!
“In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character.” Ministry of Healing 409
Yes, Jesus by inheritance (Heb 1:4) has been given an exalted position (Matt 28:18) and shares the Fathers throne (Rev 5:13) so we can safely praise or exalt the Father through the Son, after all He’s the ONLY WAY to the one true God (Jn 14:6, Ps 77:13, 1Ti 2:5, 1Jn 2:1), but never forget that Christ is the only begotten Son of the Eternal God and great Lawgiver (Pro 8:22-30, Jn 3:16) not the Source and Giver of all life or “one true God” of the Bible (Exo 20:1-3, Deut 6:4, Jn 17:3, 1Jn 5:20, 1Cor 8:6, Eph 4:6) who is also called the “Ancient of Days”. (Dan 7:9, 13, 22) Without THE GOD of the Bible there is no WORD OF GOD or anything else for that matter! (Jn 1:1-3, Pro 8:22-30) Beloved these things are important because if you don’t “rightly divide the word of truth” (2Tim 2:15) you may end up with a “philosophical idol” sitting on God’s throne. (4SP 399.1) To be clear, there are differences between the Father and Son so they are not “co-equal and co-eternal” like the Catholic trinity teaches but rather “greater” (Jn 14:28) and “weaker” (1Pt 3:7) in relation one to the other. You do realize there are difference’s between a man and woman or father and son, right? Or that holding “a counsel” between two beings who already know everything (co-equal omniscience) is nothing more than another trinitarian role-play, metaphor, or LIE many also believe the Father and Son relationship to be? (1Jo 2:22) More on that later but first check out this “circuit of beneficence” or “law of life” that runs the universe:
The Fathers law of life flows out to all
“I do nothing of Myself,” said Christ; “the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.” “I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life.” Desire of Ages 21.2
The law of original, unborrowed, and underived life
[John 10:17-18 KJV] “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
I might take it again = I might receive it again
[1John 5:11-12 KJV] 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
The record or agreement = God gives us eternal life through his Son
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” It is not physical life that is here specified, but immortality, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life. Physical life is something which each individual receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the lifegiver, takes it again. Man has no control over his life. But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from him. “I lay it down of myself,” he said. In him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Saviour. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” This is the open fountain of life for the world.” Signs of the Times April 8, 1897, par. 2
This “original unborrowed underived” life is the exclusive property of “the living Father” or “God” according to the testimony of Jesus. That life was in Christ because he inherited it from his Father (Col 2:9, Heb 1:3), and through Christ we have access to the very same original, unborrowed, underived life.
BUT…
There was one who didn’t like this “circuit of beneficence” or “law of life”…
Third Highest Power In Heaven
[Isaiah 14:14 KJV] “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
[Revelation 12:7-8 KJV] “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.”[Zechariah 6:13 KJV] “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.”
Michael or “one who is like the most High God” is none other than the Son of God
“The Lord has shown me that Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Jesus Christ. His countenance was mild, expressive of happiness like the other angels. His forehead was high and broad, and showed great intelligence. His form was perfect. He had a noble, majestic bearing. And I saw that when God said to his Son, Let us make man in our image, Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man. He was filled with envy, jealousy and hatred. He wished to be the highest in heaven, next to God, and receive the highest honors. Until this time all heaven was in order, harmony and perfect subjection to the government of God.” Spiritual Gifts Volume 1, p 17.1
Satan was the third highest power or being of “noble and majestic form” yet he was a created being or angel that was excluded from the counsels of the Father and his only begotten Son. He coveted Christs position and aspired to be the “third person” of these “counsels” that had hitherto been “between them both”. Did you hear that!? Wow!
The Father and Son in the work of creation
[Genesis 1:26 KJV] “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
[Corinthians 4:9 KJV] “… for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”
spectacle = a public show or theatre
So what does the “image of God” look like?
[Daniel 2:45 KJV] “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”
The Rock was “cut out” of the Mountain even as Eve was “taken out” of Adam
[Genesis 2:23 KJV] “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Two persons or beings FROM one substance EACH with a spirit IN them
[Matthew 21:42 KJV] “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”Is this truth about God marvelous in your eyes? Yes, nearly all of Christendom has REJECTED this stone that is the FOUNDATION of the church.
Whom say ye that I am?
[Matthew 16:16-18 KJV] “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [petros], and upon this rock [petra] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
[1Corinthians 10:4 KJV] “…and that Rock [petra] was Christ.”
Are you built upon the Rock of Ages?
[Matthew 10:33 KJV] “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
Hey wait a minute the Bible says Jesus is God!
[John 1:1 KJV] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
[Genesis 5:2 KJV] “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.”
The nature of God is 100% divine even as the nature of Adam is 100% human but Jesus is not the “one true God” even as Eve is not the “one true Adam”.
Yes, the Son of God “takes the Fathers name” upon himself and has the same nature but he IS the Son of God after all! Those titles and names don’t “mysteriously” turn him into his Father no more than they “mysteriously” turn Eve into Adam, or as binitarians (two gods) and trinitarians (three gods) believe a co-equal and co-eternal twin or triplet. Just because they are of the “same substance or nature” and have the “same name” it doesn’t make them “equal” in all respects or the same “person” or “god” now does it? Of course not!
SOVEREIGN, noun suv’eran.
1. A supreme lord or ruler; one who possesses the highest authority without control. Websters Dictionary 1828
The Sovereign of the universe had a co-worker
[Proverbs 30:4 KJV] “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?”
“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.” Patriarchs and Prophets 34.1
So how many associates or co-workers did the Sovereign have?
How many personal beings was it?
The Great Controversy In Heaven
Lucifer: The “coveting” cherub with a “personal” agenda
[Eze 28:14-15 KJV] “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”
[Isaiah 14:13-14 KJV] “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Lucifer was one of two “covering cherubs” or angels that stand closest to the throne of God. As a covering cherub his job was to “cover, protect, or defend” the government and law of God, but Lucifer became jealous of Christ’s position as the only begotten of God, the only being in all the universe that could enter into all of the secret purposes of the Father, and he began to conspire against the government and law of God.
KING, noun
1. The chief or sovereign of a nation – Websters 1828
“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.” Patriarchs and Prophets 36.2
True position of Jesus = the only begotten of God exercising the Father’s will
“The angels joyfully acknowledged the supremacy of Christ, and prostrating themselves before Him, poured out their love and adoration. Lucifer bowed with them, but in his heart there was a strange, fierce conflict. Truth, justice, and loyalty were struggling against envy and jealousy. The influence of the holy angels seemed for a time to carry him with them. As songs of praise ascended in melodious strains, swelled by thousands of glad voices, the spirit of evil seemed vanquished; unutterable love thrilled his entire being; his soul went out, in harmony with the sinless worshippers, in love to the Father and the Son. But again he was filled with pride in his own glory. His desire for supremacy returned, and envy of Christ was once more indulged. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as God’s special gift, and therefore, called forth no gratitude to his Creator. He gloried in his brightness and exaltation and aspired to be equal with God. He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host, angels delighted to execute his commands, and he was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all. 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?” Patriarchs and Prophets 36.3
Answer: He’s the only begotten Son and you’re a created son!
So what is the “one way of escape” for the sinner?
[John 14:6 KJV] “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
“There is but one way of escape for the sinner. There is but one agency whereby he may be cleansed from sin. He must accept the propitiation that has been made by the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. The shed blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”—not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father’s person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Signs of the Times May 30, 1895, par. 3
“They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character.” Youths Instructor December 16, 1897, par. 5
Yes, Jesus Christ REALLY is the literal Son of God! TWICE BORN!
[John 3:16 KJV] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Son of God in a new sense!
“Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this world in human form, to live a man amongst men. He assumed the liabilities of human nature, to be proved and tried. In His humanity He was a partaker of the divine nature. In His incarnation He gained in a new sense the title of the Son of God. Said the angel to Mary, “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” (Luke 1:35). While the Son of a human being, He became the Son of God in a new sense. Thus He stood in our world—the Son of God, yet allied by birth to the human race.” Selected Messages Book 1, p 226.2
[1John 3:1 KJV] “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
In regards to Christ describing his relationship with the Father the Greek verb root exerchomai (to come out from) is used six times in John. It appears in several forms depending on the grammatical tense, person, and mood of the verb.
John 8:42 Jesus proceeded forth from God
John 13:3 Jesus had come forth from God
John 16:27 Jesus came out from God
John 16:28 Jesus came forth from the Father
John 16:30 that you came forth from God
John 17:8 Jesus came out from the Father
Jesus came out from the Father even as Eve came out from Adam
Lucifer REJECTED that Christ CAME OUT from God
“Angels were expelled from heaven because they would not work in harmony with God. They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. This fact the [fallen] angels would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and they came to consider that they were not to consult Christ.” This Day with God 128.2
The mystery of the trinity obscures the fact that Christ is the only begotten Son!
“All the heavenly host were summoned to appear before the Father, to have each case determined. Satan unblushingly made known his dissatisfaction that Christ should be preferred before him. He stood up proudly and urged that he should be equal with God, and should be taken into conference with the Father and understand his purposes. God informed Satan that to his Son alone he would reveal his secret purposes, and he required all the family in Heaven, even Satan, to yield him implicit, unquestioned obedience; but that he (Satan) had proved himself unworthy a place in Heaven. Then Satan exultingly pointed to his sympathizers, comprising nearly one half of all the angels, and exclaimed, These are with me! Will you expel these also, and make such a void in Heaven? He then declared that he was prepared to resist the authority of Christ, and to defend his place in Heaven by force of might, strength against strength.” Spirit of Prophecy Volume 1, p 22.2
Did you know the Father reveals his secret purposes to his Son?
REVE’AL, verb transitive [Latin revelo; re and velo, to veil.]
1. To disclose; to discover; to show; to make known something before unknown or concealed; as, to reveal secrets. – Websters Dictionary 1828
And let me tell you Satan got up a warfare over it!
[Revelation 12:7-9 KJV] “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
The mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead
[Genesis 28:12 KJV] “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”
“But the work of the angels was assigned them, to ascend and descend with strengthening balm from glory to soothe the Son of God in His sufferings, and minister unto Him. Also, their work would be to guard and keep the subjects of grace from the evil angels and the darkness constantly thrown around them by Satan. ” Early Writings p 152.1
[John 1:51 KJV] “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
The “son of man” is the “third person of the Godhead”
“There is but one way of escape for the sinner. There is but one agency whereby he may be cleansed from sin. He must accept the propitiation that has been made by the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. The shed blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” Signs of the Times May 30, 1895, par. 3
[John 14:6, 11, 16-18 KJV] “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. … 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. … 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [parakletos], that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Who will come to you? A mysterious “person” with no body, no name, and no throne?
[1John 2:1 KJV] “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate [parakletos] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
Another Comforter = Jesus Christ the Righteous
[Rom 8:3-5 KJV] 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: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
the spirit of God = the mind of God
[Philippians 2:5 KJV] “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
[John 14:10 KJV] “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.”
Believest thou not?
[Romans 8:5-6 KJV] “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
the flesh = the carnal mind
[Rom 7:25 KJV] “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
“In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.” Desire of Ages 671.2
No one here believes in “disembodied spirits” or “ghosts” floating around, right?
Just say NO to spiritualism!
[James 2:26 KJV] “For as the body without the spirit IS DEAD…”
Office work of the holy spirit
The office work of the holy spirit = The mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead
[Zechariah 4:6, 12-14 KJV] “This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. … 12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
Angels emptying oil out of themselves = Spirit (mind) of God imparted in the earth
Have you ever wondered about the “eyes” of the Lord?
[2Chronicles 16:9 KJV] “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”
[Proverbs 15:3 KJV] “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
[Psalm 139:7 KJV] “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”
[Psalm 51:11 KJV] “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
[Hebrews 1:14 KJV] “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
[John 1:51 KJV] “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
Did you know a person can be defined as a character or office?
PERSON, noun per’sn. [Latin persona; said to be compounded of per, through or by, and sonus, sound; a Latin word signifying primarily a mask used by actors on the stage.]
1. An individual human being consisting of body and soul. We apply the word to living beings only, possessed of a rational nature; the body when dead is not called a person It is applied alike to a man, woman or child.
A person is a thinking intelligent being.
6. Character of office.
How different is the same man from himself, as he sustains the person of a magistrate and that of a friend.
7. In grammar, the nominative to a verb; the agent that performs or the patient that suffers any thing affirmed by a verb; as, I write; he is smitten; she is beloved; the rain descends in torrents. I, thou or you, he, she or it, are called the first, second and third persons. Hence we apply the word person to the termination or modified form of the verb used in connection with the persons; as the first or the third person of the verb; the verb is in the second person
Websters Dictionary 1828
So a “person” can be a literal person or apply to a character of office. For example, I’m the “person” of a father, son, husband, etc. Now let’s see how this applies to the “third person of the Godhead”.
The third person of the Godhead in the gospels
[John 10:11 KJV] “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
[Matthew 18:11 KJV] “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
Interestingly enough, Christ almost exclusively spoke of himself in the grammatical third person. Yes, you heard that right! Just start checking out how he almost always referenced himself in the grammatical third person as “the son of man”, “the good shepherd”, “the sower”, etc instead of “I, me, myself, etc.” Pretty neat, huh? Yeah, this isn’t rocket science but some people want us to believe God is a “mysterious trinity” or “philosophical idol”.
The Father says through the Son: “Thou shalt have no others gods before me…”
“In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Lawgiver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. Satan leads men to conceive of God in a false character, as having attributes which he does not possess. A philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the true God, as he is revealed in his word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few.” Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4, p 399.1
“The terms “Holy Ghost”, are a harsh and repulsive translation. It should be “Holy Spirit” (hagion pneuma) in every instance. This Spirit is the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ; the Spirit being the same whether it is spoken of as pertaining to God or Christ. But respecting this Spirit, the Bible uses expressions which cannot be harmonized with the idea that it is a person like the Father and the Son. Rather it is shown to be a divine influence from them both, the medium which represents their presence and by which they have knowledge and power through all the universe, when not personally present.” — (Uriah Smith, Review and Herald, October 28, 1890)
A pure river of water of life coming out of the throne of God and the Lamb
[Revelation 5:13 KJV] 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.
[Revelation 22:1 KJV] “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. “
[Exodus 17:6 KJV] 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.
[1Corinthians 10:4 KJV] 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
[John 4:10 KJV] “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
[John 7:38-39 KJV] “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
[John 14:6, 17-18, 23 KJV] “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. … 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. … 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.”
[John 1:51 KJV] “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
[John 3:8 KJV] “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
[Act 2:2-3 KJV] “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
The rushing mighty wind of the quickening spirit of Christ
[Genesis 2:7 KJV] “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
[1Corinthians 15:45 KJV] “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
quickening spirit = life giving spirit
“Before offering Himself as the sacrificial victim, Christ sought for the most essential and complete gift to bestow upon His followers, a gift that would bring within their reach the boundless resources of grace. “I will pray the Father,” He said, “and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you.” John 14:16-18, margin. DA 668.5
Who is the “He” and “Him” according to the context? Some invisible mysterious person called “god the holy spirit”?
“The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative, but divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense He would be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on high.” Desire of Ages p 669.2
The Comforter = Spirit (mind) of Christ not limited by physical location
Never forget there is no such thing as “floaty things” or disembodied spirits! If you “see floaty things” then you better LOOK AGAIN so you can SEE –> “the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man”.
“The Comforter is called “the Spirit of truth.” His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort and peace in the truth, but no real peace or comfort can be found in falsehood. It is through false theories and traditions that Satan gains his power over the mind. By directing men to false standards, he misshapes the character. Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.” — Desire of Ages, 671.1
[John 16:8 KJV] “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
Never forget that disembodied spirits are a figment of Rome’s imagination…
[John 20:21-22 KJV] “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
Did our Lord just breathe another “co-equal person” onto the disciples? God forbid!
[Romans 8:16 KJV] “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
A spirit is the mind, character, personality, or presence of a person. It’s what makes you you. If you take away God’s spirit and make it a co-equal and co-eternal “whatever” then what did you just do? You just KILLED God beloved! Is that REALLY what you want to do? Then PLEASE don’t do that. Okay? As a convert to Adventism in 2009 I was completely shocked to find myself caught up into spiritualism. Yeah, the guys who brag about knowing the “state of the dead” yet at the same time tell me how important it is to worship “god the holy spirit”! I was duped into believing in some sort of invisible “floaty thing” or disembodied spirit that has no body, no name, and no throne except in the “minds” of those who believe such nonsense, and as it turns out all of space and matter too! I mean where else can a disembodied spirit “hang out” besides in someone else’s head? He’s homeless for crying out loud! I know, floaty things and ghosts… Crazy stuff for sure! We are no doubt living in the last days…
Don’t forget about the agency of evil spirits or angels either….
“The connection of the visible with the invisible world, the ministration of angels of God, and the agency of evil spirits, are plainly revealed in the Scriptures, and inseparably interwoven with human history. There is a growing tendency to disbelief in the existence of evil spirits, while the holy angels that “minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation,” [Hebrews 1:14.] are regarded by many as the spirits of the dead. But the Scriptures not only teach the existence of angels, both good and evil, but present unquestionable proof that these are not the disembodied spirits of dead men.” The Great Controversy p 511.1 (1888)
The Government of God
Authors preface to The 1888 Great Controversy
“In his Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of his will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, Revised Version. GC88 d.4
“Yet the fact that God has revealed his will to men through his Word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised by our Saviour, to open the Word to his servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings. And since it was the Spirit of God that inspired the Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit should ever be contrary to that of the Word.” GC88 d.5
“The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. Says the apostle John, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. And Isaiah declares, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.” GC88 e.1
THE SINS OF BABYLON WILL BE LAID OPEN
“The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of a union of Church and State, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power,—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands have never listened to words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven. The people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? The ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears, and quiet the awakened conscience. But many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men, and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” The popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, are filled with anger as their authority is questioned; they denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.” Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4, p 424.1