Vance Ferrell on the Godhead Issue
Prologue by Ron
Beaulieu:
Vance Ferrell usually
takes a boastful pride in stating that he includes the greatest number of
important Ellen White statements to back his positions, but curiously, as of
this date (20 December, 02), you can cut and paste to put all of Vance Ferrel's written material on the issue of the Godhead in
one document so you can make a search, but you will not find the following
quotes in any of his compilations on the subject of the Godhead. It is a most
serious flaw in Vance Ferrell's concept of the Godhead, that he fails to
harmonize his teachings with the following statements by Scripture and Ellen
White.
"Now the Lord is that
Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
II Cor. 3:17.
Scripture says that
there is but ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT:
Hbr 9:14 How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God?
1Cr 6:17 But he that is joined unto
the Lord is one spirit.
1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit are
we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we
be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Eph 2:18 For through
him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
"The Holy Spirit
is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit
is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the
attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who
possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life
is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of
the church." Desire of Ages, 805.
"Christ declared
that after His ascension, he would send to his church, as His CROWNING
GIFT, the comforter, who is the Holy Spirit,--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE, THE
EFFICACY OF HIS CHURCH, THE LIGHT AND LIFE OF THE WORLD. With HIS SPIRIT
Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin. In the
gift of the Spirit, [HIS LIFE--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE] Jesus gave to man the
highest good that heaven could bestow." E.G. White, Review and Herald,
May 19, 1904. Book 5, p. 42.
"Christ gives them
the breath of HIS OWN SPIRIT, the life of HIS OWN LIFE. The
HOLY SPIRIT puts forth its highest energies to work in the heart and
mind." Desire of Ages, 827.
"Christ declared
that after His ascension, He would send to His church, as His crowning gift,
the Comforter, who was to take His place. This Comforter is the Holy
Spirit--the soul of His life!" E.G. White, Review and Herald,
May 19, 1904.
Why does Vance Ferrell
not include the above facts when he writes on the Godhead? Because Vance
maintains, as do Trinitarians, that the Holy Spirit was a third person from
eternity, which totally negates the fact forced by the above statements to
the effect that:
Christ laid aside His
personal Holy Spirit at His Incarnation to become His representative after
His Incarnation. He laid aside His Holy Spirit life (blood), soul and breath
as a crowning gift for us by way of a regenerating agency. If the Holy Spirit
was the former life, soul and breath of the Son, how do we have the Holy
Spirit existing as a totally separate entity apart from the life of Christ,
and this from eternity? Vance's teachings on the Godhead simply DO NOT
harmonize with the above statements by Ellen White and Scripture.
Vance chooses the
Trinity side of the issue. William Grotheer chooses
the non-Trinitarian approach. I will be posting another study by Vance,
wherein he is critizing what he thinks Grotheer teaches, but the true of the matter is that both
Ferrell and Grotheer are not correct in their
teaching--according to the above statements by Ellen White and Scripture.
Vance chooses to ignore those statements in his criticism of Grotheer and others, while he is incorrect in his
assumptions because his conclusions do not accord with the above statements
by Ellen White. Vance is correct in teaching that there is a third person
Holy Spirit, but he does not know who that third person is in relationship to
Christ and His former life prior to His incarnation. Both Ferrell and Grotheer are credentialed ministers, and Ellen White was
certainly right when she said that the ministering brethren did not seem to
understand this issue--The Upward Look, 152, as is Isaiah in Isaiah 56:10-12.
Here is Vance's presentation:
The Holy Spirit According to Vance Ferrell
The erroneous teaching that there
is no Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit does not exist separately as the Third
Person of the Godhead) is being taught more widely, now that Bill Stringfellow has joined Fred Allebach
and William Grotheer in promoting it. But, in
addition, Bill Stringfellow is also teaching the
Arian error: that Christ is a created being, and not eternal. So, in this
present study we will focus, from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, on
replying to those two ancient errors. There is no controversy about the
nature of the Father.
In our time in history, every type
of error is being foisted on our people. At the same time that men are
teaching a false view of the human nature of Christ, other men are presenting
false concepts about the divine nature of Christ — and the existence of the
Holy Spirit!
Down through the
centuries, the most controverted Biblical facts
have been those which directly affect our salvation, facts such as these:
Christ is fully equal
to the Father in every way. He has existed from all eternity. He became fully
man, like us. He was fully tempted, but never sinned. He really died on the
cross. He ministers for us in the Sanctuary above. It required His life,
death, and heavenly mediation to provide an atonement for us. There is a
coming judgment, and we must now obey God, by the enabling grace of Jesus
Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit
is working to bring us to repentance. There is a real devil and actual
demons. The Bible accurately instructs us in the way of salvation. Sincere
prayer is heard and answered by Heaven.
Satan
wants to eradicate from our minds any or all of the above great truths.
Two
crucial facts in the working out of the great plan of redemption — is the
truth that Christ is fully God and has existed from all eternity, and the truth
that the Holy Spirit is a distinct Personage, and the Third Person of the
Godhead.
It
is vital that you have a personal understanding of these truths, for they
affect you salvation.
SECTION TWO —THE THREE PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD
The Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit are three distinct, divine Personages. Yet they work in
such perfect unity that their objectives and activities are as one.
The
following passages will provide you with a view of the interworking of these
three distinct Persons:
THE GODHEAD IN THE BIBLE
1--Several times in the
Old Testament, God speaks of Himself as "Us." Note Genesis 1:26,
where the ones who do the creating of man are plural. Created beings do not
create, so the "Us" can only refer to the Godhead. Also see Genesis
11:7.
2--Elohim
is one of the Old Testament words for "God." This Hebrew word is a
plural ("Gods," not "God"). Jewish scholars have never
been able to explain this fact.
4--In
a similar manner, the Word, or Wisdom, is personified, indicating a divine
duality (Ps 33:4, 6; Prov 8:12-31).
5--Still elsewhere, God
is the speaker, and He mentions both the Messiah and the Spirit or, the
Messiah is the speaker who mentions both God and the Spirit (Isa 48:16;
61:1).
6--In the New Testament
we find a clearer revelation of the Godhead. In the Old Testament, the
Redeemer and Saviour is Jehovah (Job 19:25; Ps 78:35; 106:21; Isa 41:14;
43:3, 11, 14; 47:4; 49:7, 26; 60:16). In the New Testament, this individual
is clearly Jesus (Matt 1:21; Lk 1:76-79; 2:17; Jn
4:42; Gal 3:13; 4:5; Titus 2:13-14).
7--In the Old
Testament, it is Jehovah that dwells among Israel and in the hearts of those
that fear Him (Ps 135:21; Isa 8:18; 57:15; Eze 43:7-9; Joel 3:17-21; Zech
2:10-11). In the New Testament, it is the Holy Spirit that dwells among God’s
people (Rom 8:9; 11:1 Cor 3:17; Gal 4:6; Eph 2:22;
James 4:5; 57:15; Eze 43:7-9; Joel 3:17-21; Zech 2:10-11). In the New
Testament, it is the Holy Spirit that dwells among God’s people (Eph 2:22;
James 4:5). [We are not here defining whom all the "Jehovah"
passages refer to.]
8--The New Testament
represents God as sending His Son into the world (Jn
3:16; Gal 4:4; Heb 1:6; 1 Jn 4:9).
9--In the New
Testament, both the Father and the Son send the Spirit (Jn
14:26; 15:26; 16:7; Gal 4:6).
10--The Father speaks
to the Son (Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22).
11--The Son communes
with the Father (Matt 11:25-26; 26:39; Jn 11:41;
12:27-28).
12--The Holy Spirit
intercedes for believers, and through them prays to God (Rom 8:26).
13--The Father speaks
from heaven at the baptism of the Son, and the Holy Spirit descends in the
form of a dove (Matt 3:16-17).
"14—In the Great
Commission, Jesus mentions the three Persons (Matt 28:19-20).
"15—In addition,
the Three are named alongside of each other in these passages (1 Cor 12:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2).
16--We find
"I," "Thou," and "He" in several passages which
indicate separate Persons, yet interpersonal relations between them (Matt
3:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15).
17--In 1 John 5:7, in
the King James Version, the Three are also mentioned. But there are those who
question the validity of this passage (whether or not it really is genuine).
Yet, as we are observing elsewhere in this present study, the great truth of
the triune Godhead stands sure, regardless of the validity of 1 John 5:7.
THE GODHEAD IN THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
The following quotations speak of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:
"The Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit" are "the Godhead," "the three Persons of the
Godhead," "the three powers of the Godhead," "the three
highest powers in heaven" or "in the universe," "the
eternal Godhead," "the three holy dignitaries of heaven,"
"the three living Persons of the heavenly Trio," "the three holiest
Beings in heaven," "the three great Worthies in heaven."
Here now are these
statements:
"The three powers of the
Godhead have pledged Their might to carry out the purpose that God
had in mind when He gave to the world the unspeakable gift of His Son."—EGW, 5 Review, 341.
The Godhead was
stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to carry out
this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, should
give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this
love?"—Counsels on Health, 222.
Note by Ron Beaulieu on the above
quote: If we interpret so that the above quote does not contradict other
statements by Ellen White to the effect that the Holy Spirit is the life
(blood), breath and soul of Christ, we are forced to interpret that the
Father and Son shared the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT mentioned in Scripture, and it
was pledged by the Father and the Son at the working out of the plan of
redemption that the ONE SHARED ETERNAL SPIRIT, would be laid aside by Christ,
and given to us as His "crowing gift" as a regenerating agency. Of
course the Holy Spirit was eternal in the sense that it was the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT
shared by the Father and the Son eternally.
A third person should not be denied, but that "third person" of the
Godhead is clearly the Holy Spirit former life of the Son when He laid off
that life at His Incarnation, at which time that life became His successor:
“Cumbered with humanity
Christ could not be in every place personally, therefore it was altogether
for their advantage that He should leave them to 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.” E.G. White,
(Manuscript Releases Volume 14 (No’s 1081-1135) MR No.1084.
End Ron Beaulieu's note.
Now back to Vance's
Critique of Grotheer
"The three
powers of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, are pledged
to be their strength and their efficiency in their new life in Christ
Jesus."—Australian Union Conference Record, October 7, 1907.
"We are to
co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,—the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost,—and these powers will work through us, making us workers
together with God."—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 51 and
(Evangelism, 617).
B>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. (Evangelism,
616).
"The work of
salvation is not a small matter, but so vast that the highest authorities are
taken hold of by the expressed faith of the human
agent. The eternal Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—is
involved in the action required to make assurance to the human
agent."—Upward Look, 148.
"The Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three holy dignitaries of heaven, have
declared that they will strengthen men to overcome the powers of darkness.
All the facilities of heaven are pledged to those who by their baptismal vows
have entered into a covenant with God."—5 Bible Commentary, 1110.
(Manuscript 92,1901).
"The Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient, receive those
who truly enter into covenant relation with God. They are present at
every baptism, to receive the candidates who have renounced the world and
have received Christ into the soul temple. These candidates have entered into
the family of God, and their names are inscribed in the Lamb’s book of
life."—6 Bible Commentary, 1075. (Manuscript 27, 1900).
"When we have
accepted Christ, and in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit have pledged ourselves to serve God, the Father, Christ, and the
Holy Spirit—the three dignitaries and powers of heaven—pledge themselves that
every facility shall be given to us if we carry out our baptismal vows to
"come out from among them, and be . . separate . . and touch not the
unclean thing."— 6 Bible Commentary, 1075. (Manuscript 85, 1901).
"Our
sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit .
. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then
cooperate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in
your behalf."—7 Bible Commentary, 908; Signs, June 19, 1091 (Manuscript
11, 1901).
"The work is laid
out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by
baptism, and has become a receiver of the pledge from the three
Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."—6 Bible
Commentary, 1074.
"The prince of the
power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third
Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit."—Series A, no. 10, 37
(Evangelism, 617).
"Evil had been
accumulating for centuries, and could only be restrained and resisted by the
mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, who
would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine
power."—10 Manuscript Releases, 63 (Letter 8, February 6, 1896; Series
A, No. 10, 25; Testimonies to Ministers, 392,) "There are three
living Persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great
powers—The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—Those who receive Christ by
living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient
subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ."—Special
Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, 63. (Evangelism, 615.
" ‘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."—Fundamentals of Christian
Education, 125. (Manuscript Releases, 19, 153).
"Keep yourselves
where the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, can be your efficiency. These powers work with the one who gives
himself unreservedly to God. The strength of heaven is at the command of
God’s believing ones."—In Heavenly Places, 176 (4 Signs, 512; Southern
Watchman, February 23, 1904 ).
"The Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost supply the power that makes him victorious in
every conflict with the prince of darkness."—6 Manuscript Releases, 167
(Letter 200, December 15, 1902).
"They pledge
themselves to devote their lives to God’s service; and the three great
powers in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledge Themselves
to cooperate with them, to work in and through them."—6 Manuscript
Releases, 166 (Manuscript 118, October 6, 1902).
"The three
highest powers in the universe are pledged to labor with those who will
seek to save the lost."—5 Review, 533, col. 2.
"In the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, man is laid in his watery
grave, buried with Christ in baptism, and raised from the water to live the
new life of loyalty to God The three great powers in heaven are
witnesses; they are invisible but present."—Manuscript 57, 1900 (6 Bible
Commentary, 1074).
"If man, in
acquiring the Christian graces, works on the plan of addition, God has
pledged Himself to work in his behalf upon the plan of multiplication.
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord." The work is laid out before every soul that has
acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by baptism, and has become a receiver
of the pledge from the three persons—The Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit."—Manuscript 57, 1900 (6 Bible Commentary, 1074).
"At our baptism we
pledged ourselves to break all connection with Satan and his agencies, and to
put heart and mind and soul into the work of extending the kingdom of God.
All heaven is working for this object. The Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit are pledged to cooperate with sanctified human instrumentalities.
If we are true to our vow, there is opened to us a door of communication with
heaven—a door that no human hand or satanic agency can close."—Review
May 17, 1906. (6 Bible Commentary, 1075.
"On that occasion
[baptism] we pledge ourselves, in the presence of the three great heavenly
Powers, to come out from the world and be separate."—6 Manuscript
Release 167 (Manuscript 130, October 27, 1902).
"When you took
these vows, you pledged yourself, in the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, that you would live unto God, and you have no right to
break this pledge. The help of the three great Powers is placed at
your disposal."—5 Review, 143 (Receiving Christ, 178).
"Baptized into the
threefold name . . at the very entrance of their Christian life . .
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient,
receive those who truly enter into covenant relation with God. They are
present at every baptism."—6 Bible Commentary, 1075.
"Those who submit
to the solemn rite of baptism pledge themselves to devote their lives to
God’s service; and the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, pledge themselves to cooperate with them, to
work in and through them."—4 Signs, 282 (March 11, 1903).
"The three
great powers of heaven pledged Themselves to cooperate with you in
your efforts to live the new life in Christ."—5 Review, 142.
"As a Christian
submits to the solemn rite of baptism, the three highest powers in the
universe,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,—place Their approval
on this act, pledging Themselves to exert Their power in his
behalf as he strives to honor God."—6 Manuscript Release, 26 (Letter 53,
January 26, 1904; 4 Signs, 399, August 16, 1905).
"The presence
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three highest powers in the
universe and those in whose name the believer is baptized, is pledged to
be with every striving soul."—Pacific Union Recorder, September 2, 1908.
"The rite of
baptism is administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. These three great powers of heaven pledge Themselves
to be the efficiency of all who submit to this ordinance, and who faithfully
keep the vow they then make."—6 Manuscript Release, 27 (Manuscript 78,
1905).
"When you went
down into the water and were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, these three great powers of heaven pledged Themselves
to give you power and grace to resist every temptation to dishonor
God."—19 Manuscript Releases, 235.
"When you gave
yourself to Christ, you made a pledge in the presence of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit,—the three great personal dignitaries of
heaven."—7 Bible Commentary, 959 (Sons and Daughters of God, 351).
"No requirement is
laid upon man that Christ has not obeyed. We can overcome as He overcame, if
we will avail ourselves of the help of the three great powers of heaven,
who are waiting to answer the demand made upon Them by God’s people
for power to defeat satanic agencies."—Notebook Leaflets, 124.
"Let us not forget
our baptismal vow. In the presence of the three highest powers of the
heaven,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,—we have pledged
ourselves to do the will of Him who, over the rent sepulcher of Joseph,
declared, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ "—5 Review, 45.
"There is to be
the imprint of the . . threefold powers in the heavenly world . . The
three great and glorious heavenly characters are present on the occasion
of baptism. All the human capabilities are to be henceforth consecrated
powers to do service for God in representing the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost upon whom they depend. All heaven is represented by these
three in covenant relation with the new life."—6 Manuscript
Releases, 389.
"I am instructed
to say, The sentiments of those who are searching for advanced scientific
ideas are not to be trusted. Such representations as the following are made:
‘The Father is as the light invisible; the Son is as the light embodied; the
Spirit is the light shed abroad.’ ‘The Father is like the dew, invisible vapor; the Son is like the dew gathered in beauteous
form; the Spirit is like the dew fallen to the seat of life.’ Another
representation: ‘The Father is like the invisible vapor;
the Son is like the leaden cloud; the Spirit is rain fallen and working in
refreshing power.’
All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect,
untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthly likeness can be
compared to. God cannot be compared with the things His hands have made.
These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of
the sins of man. The Father cannot be described by the things of earth.
The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to
mortal sight.
The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God
declares Him to be ‘the express image of His person.’ ‘God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Here is shown the personality
of the Father.
The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is
the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of
divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour."—Evangelism,
614-615.
"God is a
spirit; yet He is a personal being,
for man was made in His image . . 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."—Education, 132.
The following
statements were transcribed as Ellen White spoke them in sermons.
"You are baptized in the
name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. You are raised up
out of the water to live henceforth in newness of life—to live a new life.
You are born unto God, and you stand under the sanction and the power of the
three holiest Beings in heaven, who are able to keep you from
falling."—Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 367.
"We are ordained
unto God to bear fruit. Was this not our experience when we were led down
into the water and baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost? What did that mean? —It meant that the three great
Powers in heaven were pledged to keep us so long as we remain one with
Christ, united to the vine."—6 Manuscript Releases, 29 (Sermon given
March 10, 1908).
"Those who have
been baptized can claim the help of the three great Worthies in heaven,—the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."—Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, 366.
"When I feel
oppressed, and hardy know how to relate myself toward the work that God has
given me to do, I just call upon the three great Worthies."—7
Manuscript Releases, 267-268; Manuscript Release 307, 2, 4 (Sermon given
October 20, 1906).
"In whose name are
we baptized? In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost—the three highest powers in the heavenly courts."—Manuscript
Release 135, 4 (Camp meeting sermon given June 27, 1907).
"We are baptized
in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three
great, infinite powers are unitedly pledged to
work in our behalf if we cooperate with them."—1901 General Conference
Bulletin, 36-37 (Lift Him Up, 109).
Note by Ron Beaulieu: Of course
the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost are infinite powers, because they all
existed from eternity, because the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT existed from all
eternity AS THE ESSENCE OR SUBSTANCE OF THE FATHER AND THE SON. God is a
Spirit, says Scripture.
"At our baptism we
pledged ourselves to Him [Jesus], and received the ordinance in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. These three great powers of
heaven pledged Themselves to work in our behalf, not only to begin, but
to finish our faith."—1901 General Conference Bulletin, 215 (talk given
April 14, 1901).
Do Not Discard the Bible!
The teachers of this
false doctrine declare that Christ is not God and the Holy Spirit does not
exist. In view of such clear statements from the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy, quoted above, it appears that these false teachers do not believe
in the Bible, much less the Spirit of Prophecy.
I appeal to you: Do not
abandon either! You need both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy in order
to stay on the pathway to eternal life! Do not abandon the clear teaching of
God’s books, in order to please these false teachers! Satan summoned all his
forces, and at every step contested the work of Christ. So it will be in the
great final conflict of the controversy between righteousness and sin.
"While new life
and light and power are descending from on high upon the disciples of Christ,
a new life is springing up from beneath, and energizing the agencies of
Satan. Intensity is taking possession of every earthly element. With a
subtlety gained through centuries of conflict, the prince of evil works under
a disguise. He appears clothed as an angel of light, and multitudes are
‘giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.’ 1 Timothy
4:1.
"In the days of
Christ the leaders were powerless to resist the work of Satan. They were
neglecting the only means by which they could have withstood evil spriits. It was by the Word of God that Christ overcame
the wicked one."—Desire of Ages, 257.
That is clear enough,
is it not? But there is more to that passage:
"By their interpretation they
made it [the Bible] express sentiments that God had never given. Their
mystical construction made indistinct that which He had made plain. They
disputed over insigificant technicalities, and
practically denied the most essential truths. Thus infidelity was sown
broadcast. God’s Word was robbed of its power, and evil spirits worked their
will.
History is repeating. With the open Bible before them, and professing to
reverence its teachings, many of the religious leaders of our time are
destroying faith in it as the Word of God. They busy themselves with
dissecting the Word, and set their own opinions above its plainest
statements. In their hands God’s Word loses its regenerating power. This is
why infidelity runs riot, and inquity is rife.
When Satan has undermined faith in the Bible, he directs men to other
sources for light and power. Thus he insinuates himself. Those who
turn from the plain teaching of Scripture and the convicting power of God’s
Holy Spirit are inviting the control of demons."—Desire of Ages,
257-258.
"These false
teachers are trying to get you to place your highest faith in their words
instead of the plain teachings of the Bible. If you are willing to do it, you
invite the control of demons.
Too wise in their own conceit to search the Scriptures with contrition of
soul and earnest prayer for divine guidance, they have no shield from
delusion. Satan is ready to supply the heart’s desire, and he palms off his
deceptions in the place of truth. It was thus that the papacy gained its
power over the minds of men . . Every conceivable form of error will be
accepted by those who willfully reject the truth."—Great
Controversy, 523.
Do you see? This is exactly how
Rome gained control of men’s minds! It sent out false teachers with beguiling
fables. Once believed, the minds of the hearers were locked into an enchanted
mind control. It is dangerous to toy with error. Flee from it! Get away, and
take your loved ones with you! Do not attend the meetings of those traveling preachers!
How important it is
that we stay close to God’s Word! Please, my friend, do not forsake it!
DO NOT DISCARD THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
Just as you should not
discard the Bible, you dare not set aside the precious Spirit of Prophecy
writings.
"What is it to
lose life? It is when the truth is clearly set before us and we refuse to accept because a cross is
involved."—3 Manuscript Release, 95 (Manuscript #44, October 22, 1886).
"The devil may
lock arms with the sinner, and say, ‘Better let things go as they are. If you
confess, your dignity will be hurt, your influence lost.’ Thus he has
gained the victory over and over again."—Series B, No. 7, 23.
"It is Satan’s
plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith,
the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then
the downward march to perdition.
When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up,
Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his
efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable
and ends in destruction."—4 Testimonies, 211.
"When the power
of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the
truth. No after
suppositions contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained. Men
will arise with interpretations of Scripture which are to them truth, but
which are not truth . . One will arise, and still another, with new
light, which contradicts the light that God has given under the demonstration
of His Holy Spirit."—1 Selected Messages, 161.
"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.’ "—1 Selected Messages, 48.
"It will be one
of the great evils that will come to our people to have the Scriptures taken
out of their true place and so interpreted as to substantiate error that contradicts the light and
the testimonies that God has been giving us for the past half
century."—Review, August 14, 1894 (Manuscript 760).
"My brethren seem
to judge me as taking positions that are not necessary. They do not see that
God in His own wisdom has made revelations to me which cannot successfully be
contradicted or disputed. All the oppositions or gainsayings
to make my testimony of none effect only compels from me, by the urgency of
the Spirit of God, a more decided repetition, and to stand on the light
revealed with all the force of the strength God has given me. All the
arguments of men, all their opposing influence, is of no force to me. Whatever
may be the position or the doctrines of these men, and however firm may have
been my confidence in them heretofore, when they take false positions all
their arguments against what I know the Lord has shown me to be truth are
vain . . Let God be true and every man a liar.
Every word spoken is in harmony with the living Oracles, and it is only
wresting the Scriptures from their true meaning, by misapplying and misinterpreting
them and the Testimonies which God has given me, that this can be gainsaid.
Those who do this are like the impenitent Jews, who had eyes, but saw not,
ears they had, but they heard not, neither would they understand. Why?
Lest they should be converted and have to acknowledge that not all their
ideas were correct. This they were too proud to do, and therefore persisted
in rejecting God’s counsel and the light and evidence which had been given.
Thus they deluded their own souls and the souls of others."—Manuscript
13, 239).
"When strong
minded men once set their will against God’s will, it is not easy for them to
admit that they have erred in judgment. It is very difficult for such men to come fully
into the light by honestly confessing their sins; for Satan has great power
over minds of many to whom God has granted evidence sufficient to encourage
faith and inspire confidence. Many will not be convinced, because they are
not inclined to confess. To resist and reject even one ray of light from
heaven because of pride and stubbornness of heart, makes it easier to refuse
the light the second time. Thus men form the habit of rejecting light . .
The light of truth is constantly shining, but many men and women comprehend
it not, and why?—Because selfishness, egotism, pride blind their spiritual
eyesight. Standing between them and the true light, is the idol of their
own opinion."—Manuscript Releases 9, 298.
"Hear ye, and
give ear; be not proud—for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to the Lord your
God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark
mountains, and while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death,
and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep
in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run
down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away
captive."—Jeremiah 13:15-17.
"There are some
in these last days who will cry: ‘Speak unto us smooth things, prophesy
deceits.’ But this is not my work.
God has set me as a reprover of His people; and just so surely as He has laid
upon me the heavy burden, He will make those to whom this message is given
responsible for the manner in which they treat it. God will not be trifled
with, and those who despise His work will receive according to their deeds."—4
Testimonies, 231-232.
"Let ministers and
people remember that gospel truth ruins when it does not save. ‘The
soul that refuses to listen to the invitations of mercy from day to day can
soon listen to the most urgent appeals without an emotion stirring his soul.
As laborers with God we need more fervent piety and
less self-exaltation. The more self is exalted, the more will faith in the
Testimonies of the Spirit of God be lessened . . Those who trust wholly
in themselves will see less and less of God in the Testimonies of His
Spirit.’ "—5 Testimonies, 134.
"Those who have
treated the light that the Lord has given as a common thing will not be
benefited by the instruction presented.
There are those
who will misinterpret the messages that God has given, in accordance with
their spiritual blindness.
Some will yield their faith, and will deny the truth of the messages,
pointing to them as falsehoods.
Some will hold them up to ridicule, working against the light that God has
been giving for years, and some who are weak in the faith will thus be led
astray.
But others will be greatly helped by the messages. Though not personally
addressed, they will be corrected, and will be led to shun the evils
specified . . The Spirit of the Lord will be in the instruction, and doubts
existing in many minds will be swept away. The testimonies themselves will
be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is
explained by scripture. Many will read with eagerness the messages reproving
wrong, that they may learn what they may do to be saved . . Light will
dawn upon the understanding, and the Spirit will make an impression on minds,
as Bible truth is clearly and simply presented in the messages that since
1846 God has been sending His people. These messages are to find their place
in hearts, and transformations will take place."—1 Selected Messages,
41-42.
"In ancient times
God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He
speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time
when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now
concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue."--4
Testimonies, 147, 148.
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