My Vision on the Incarnation Sacrifice and The Son Being Begotten—Brought Forth, and Established

Jhn 1:14 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.

“There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was one with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory. This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light, unapproachable and incomprehensible.” {1SM 248.1}

On November 13, 2018, I had the following vision on the deeper meaning of the Incarnation sacrifice of the Son of God, and the meaning of His being begotten, brought forth and established from everlasting eternity. This vision explains Who, What, Where, When and Why the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant had to die by divesting (emptying) Himself of certain attributes in order for Christ to redeem and regenerate man back into His image. The sacrifice of the Son of God involves much more than most Christians ever envision, and this could be a prime reason they do not become elevated in their Christian experience to the level God has ordained for them to aspire to. As with any vision, truth is contingent upon itself and I try to articulate what I was shown with what I have been shown in past visions in order to present a perfect chain of truth. So some things are new and some are old:

Christ’s Human Nature Was Created—Another Proof That the Trinity Doctrine is False

“I will try to answer this important question: As God He could not be tempted: but as a man He could be tempted, and that strongly, and could yield to the temptations. His human nature must pass through the same test and trial Adam and Eve passed through. His human nature was created; it did not even possess the angelic powers. It was human, identical with our own. He was passing over the ground where Adam fell. He was now where, if He endured the test and trial in behalf of the fallen race, He would redeem Adam’s disgraceful failure and fall, in our own humanity.? {3SM 129.3}

The above statement, along with much other data in this manuscript, should solve much of the ever distorted disparity between the humanity of Christ and His Divine Nature, by which HE IS BOTH, and thus EQUAL WITH GOD THE FATHER.

This is why the three persons of the Godhead are not co-eternal. The human nature person of Christ was created, so how could it be co-eternal with the eternal Holy Spirit Divine Nature of the Son of God, and the Father? This is also the reason why many folk conflate the Bible statements about the humanity of Christ with the ones about His Divine eternal nature Holy Spirit.

“Therefore,” He said, “every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” {COL 124.1}

"New Light will ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in living connection with the Sun of Righteousness . . . The diligent seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the Word of God . . . Many gems are yet scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people of God . . . Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed . . . There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed . . . We are not safe when we take the position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have settled as truth." Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34.’

Was Christ Capable of Yielding to Temptation?

In your letter in regard to the temptations of Christ, you say: “If He was One with God He could not fall”....The point you inquire of me is, In our Lord’s great scene of conflict in the wilderness, apparently under the power of Satan and his angels, was He capable, in His human nature, of yielding to these temptations? {3SM 129.2}

Christ Had a Human Body and a Human Mind—A human body and a human mind were His. He was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. He was subjected to poverty from His first entrance into the world. He was subject to disappointment and trial in His own home, among His own brethren. He was not surrounded, as in the heavenly courts, with pure and lovely characters. He was compassed with difficulties. He came into our world to maintain a pure, sinless character, and to refute Satan’s lie that it was not possible for human beings to keep the law of God. Christ came to live the law in His human character in just that way in which all may live the law in human nature if they will do as Christ was doing. He had inspired holy men of old to write for the benefit of man: “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me” (Isaiah 27:5). {3SM 129.4}

Abundant provision has been made that finite, fallen man may so connect with God that, through the same Source by which Christ overcame in His human nature, he may stand firmly against every temptation, as did Christ. He was subject to inconveniences that human nature is subjected to. He breathed the air of the same world we breathe. He stood and traveled in the same world we inhabit, which, we have positive evidence, was no more friendly to grace and righteousness than it is today. {3SM 130.1}

His Attributes May Be Ours—The higher attributes of His being it is our privilege to have, if we will, through the provisions He has made, appropriate these blessings and diligently cultivate the good in the place of the evil. We have reason, conscience, memory, will, affections—all the attributes a human being can possess. Through the provision made when God and the Son of God made a covenant to rescue man from the bondage of Satan, every facility was provided that human nature should come into union with His divine nature. In such a nature was our Lord tempted. He could have yielded to Satan’s lying suggestions as did Adam, but we should adore and glorify the Lamb of God that He did not in a single point yield one jot or one tittle. {3SM 130.2}

Two Natures Blended in Christ—Through being partakers of the divine nature we may stand pure and holy and undefiled. The Godhead was not made human, and the human was not deified by the blending together of the two natures. Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering.—Manuscript 94, 1893. {3SM 131.1}

The Reality of Christ’s Temptations—When the follower of Christ meets with trial and perplexity, he is not to become discouraged. He is not to cast away his confidence if he does not realize all his expectations. When buffeted by the enemy, he should remember the Saviour’s life of trial and discouragement. Heavenly beings ministered to Christ in His need, yet this did not make the Saviour’s life one of freedom from conflict and temptation. He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. If His people will follow this example, they will be imbued with His Spirit, and heavenly angels will minister to them. {3SM 131.2}

The temptations to which Christ was subjected were a terrible reality. As a free agent He was placed on probation, with liberty to yield to Satan’s temptations and work at cross-purposes with God. If this were not so, if it had not been possible for Him to fall, He could not have been tempted in all points as the human family is tempted. {3SM 131.3}

The temptations of Christ, and His sufferings under them, were proportionate to His exalted, sinless character. But in every time of distress, Christ turned to His Father. He “resisted unto blood” in that hour when the fear of moral failure was as the fear of death. As He bowed in Gethsemane, in His soul agony, drops of blood fell from His pores, and moistened the sods of the earth. He prayed with strong crying and tears, and He was heard in that He feared. God strengthened Him, as He will strengthen all who will humble themselves, and throw themselves, soul, body, and spirit, into the hands of a covenant-keeping God. {3SM 131.4}

Upon the cross Christ knew, as no other can know, the awful power of Satan’s temptations, and His heart was poured out in pity and forgiveness for the dying thief, who had been ensnared by the enemy.—The Youth’s Instructor, October 26, 1899. {3SM 132.1}

Christ’s heart was pierced by a far sharper pain than that caused by the nails driven into His hands and feet. He was bearing the sins of the whole world, enduring our punishment—the wrath of God against transgression. His trial involved the fierce temptation of thinking that He was forsaken by God. His soul was tortured by the pressure of great darkness, lest He should swerve from His uprightness during the terrible ordeal. {3SM 132.2}

Unless there is a possibility of yielding, temptation is no temptation. Temptation is resisted when man is powerfully influenced to do a wrong action; and, knowing that he can do it, resists, by faith, with a firm hold upon divine power. This was the ordeal through which Christ passed.—The Youth’s Instructor, July 20, 1899. {3SM 132.3}

We May Overcome as Christ Overcame—The love and justice of God, and also the immutability of His law, are made manifest by the Saviour’s life, no less than by His death. He assumed human nature, with its infirmities, its liabilities, its temptations.... He was “in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). He exercised in His own behalf no power which man cannot exercise. As man He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him of God. He gives us an example of perfect obedience. He has provided that we may become partakers of the divine nature, and assures us that we may overcome as He overcame. His life testified that by the aid of the same divine power which Christ received, it is possible for man to obey God’s law.—Manuscript 141, 1901. {3SM 132.4}

God’s Gift to Man

Sorrow filled Heaven, as it was realized that man was lost, and the world that God created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness, and death, and there was no way of escape for the offender. The whole family of Adam must die. I saw the lovely Jesus, and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon his countenance. Soon I saw him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father. Said my accompanying angel, He is in close converse with his Father. The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with his Father. Three times he was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time he came from the Father his person could be seen. His countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and trouble, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express. He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man. He told them that he had been pleading with his Father, and had offered to give his life a ransom, and take the sentence of death upon himself, that through him man might find pardon; that through the merits of his blood, and obedience to the law of God, they could have the favor of God, and be brought into the beautiful garden, and eat of the fruit of the tree of life. {1SP 45.1}

At first the angels could not rejoice, for their commander concealed nothing from them, but opened before them the plan of salvation. Jesus told them that he would stand between the wrath of his Father and guilty man, that he would bear iniquity and scorn, and but few would receive him as the Son of God. Nearly all would hate and reject him. He would leave all his glory in Heaven, appear upon earth as a man, humble himself as a man, become acquainted by his own experience with the various temptations with which man would be beset, that he might know how to succor those who should be tempted; and that finally, after his mission as a teacher should be accomplished, he would be delivered into the hands of men, and endure almost every cruelty and suffering that Satan and his angels could inspire wicked men to inflict; that he should die the cruelest of deaths, hung up between the heavens and the earth as a guilty sinner; that he should suffer dreadful hours of agony, which even angels could not look upon, but would vail their faces from the sight. Not merely agony of body would he suffer; but mental agony, that with which bodily suffering could in no wise be compared. The weight of the sins of the whole world would be upon him. He told them he would die, and rise again the third day, and should ascend to his Father to intercede for wayward, guilty man. {1SP 45.2}

The angels prostrated themselves before him. They offered their lives. Jesus said to them that he should by his death save many; that the life of an angel could not pay the debt. His life alone could be accepted of his Father as a ransom for man. Jesus also told them that they should have a part to act, to be with him, and at different times strengthen him. That he should take man’s fallen nature, and his strength would not be even equal with theirs. And they should be witnesses of his humiliation and great sufferings. And as they should witness his sufferings, and the hate of men towards him, they would be stirred with the deepest emotions, and through their love for him, would wish to rescue and deliver him from his murderers; but that they must not interfere to prevent anything they should behold; and that they should act a part in his resurrection; that the plan of salvation was devised, and his Father had accepted the plan. {1SP 46.1}

With a holy sadness Jesus comforted and cheered the angels, and informed them that hereafter those whom he should redeem would be with him, and ever dwell with him; and that by his death he should ransom many, and destroy him who had the power of death. And his Father would give him the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, and he should possess it forever and ever. Satan and sinners should be destroyed, never more to disturb Heaven, or the purified new earth. Jesus bade the heavenly host be reconciled to the plan that his Father accepted, and rejoice that fallen man could be exalted again through his death, to obtain favor with God and enjoy Heaven. {1SP 47.1}

Then joy, inexpressible joy, filled Heaven. And the heavenly host sung a song of praise and adoration. They touched their harps and sung a note higher than they had done before, for the great mercy and condescension of God in yielding up his dearly Beloved to die for a race of rebels. Praise and adoration were poured forth for the self-denial and sacrifice of Jesus; that he would consent to leave the bosom of his Father, and choose a life of suffering and anguish, and die an ignominious death to give his life for others. {1SP 47.2}

Said the angel, Think ye that the Father yielded up his dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no. It was even a struggle with the God of Heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give his beloved Son to die for them. Angels were so interested for man’s salvation that there could be found among them those who would yield their glory, and give their life for perishing man. But, said my accompanying angel, That would avail nothing. The transgression was so great that an angel’s life would not pay the debt. Nothing but the death and intercessions of his Son would pay the debt, and save lost man from hopeless sorrow and misery. {1SP 48.1}

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 administer 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. I saw that it was impossible for God to alter or change his law, to save lost, perishing man; therefore he suffered his beloved Son to die for man’s transgression. {1SP 48.2}

Satan again rejoiced with his angels that he could, by causing man’s fall, pull down the Son of God from his exalted position. He told his angels that when Jesus should take fallen man’s nature, he could overpower him, and hinder the accomplishment of the plan of salvation. {1SP 48.3}

I was then shown Satan as he was, a happy, exalted angel. Then I was shown him as he now is. He still bears a kingly form. His features are still noble, for he is an angel fallen. But the expression of his countenance is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate, mischief, deceit, and every evil. That brow which was once so noble, I particularly noticed. His forehead commenced from his eyes to recede backward. I saw that he had demeaned himself so long that every good quality was debased, and every evil trait was developed. His eyes were cunning and sly, and showed great penetration. His frame was large; but the flesh hung loosely about his hands and face. As I beheld him, his chin was resting upon his left hand. He appeared to be in deep thought. A smile was upon his countenance, which made me tremble, it was so full of evil and Satanic slyness. This smile is the one he wears just before he makes sure of his victim; and as he fastens the victim in his snare, this smile grows horrible. {1SP 48.4}

In humility and inexpressible sadness, Adam and Eve left the lovely garden wherein they had been so happy until they disobeyed the command of God. The atmosphere was changed. It was no longer unvarying as before the transgression. God clothed them with coats of skins to protect them from the sense of chilliness and then of heat to which they were exposed. {1SP 49.1}

All Heaven mourned on account of the disobedience and fall of Adam and Eve, which brought the wrath of God upon the whole human race. They were cut off from communing with God, and were plunged in hopeless misery. The law of God could not be changed to meet man’s necessity; for in God’s arrangement it was never to lose its force, nor give up the smallest part of its claims. {1SP 49.2}

The angels of God were commissioned to visit the fallen pair and inform them that although they could no longer retain possession of their holy estate, their Eden home, because of their transgression of the law of God, yet their case was not altogether hopeless. They were then informed that the Son of God, who had conversed with them in Eden, had been moved with pity as he viewed their hopeless condition, and had volunteered to take upon himself the punishment due to them, and die for them that man might yet live, through faith in the atonement Christ proposed to make for him. Through Christ a door of hope was opened, that man, notwithstanding his great sin, should not be under the absolute control of Satan. Faith in the merits of the Son of God would so elevate man that he could resist the devices of Satan. Probation would be granted him in which, through a life of repentance, and faith in the atonement of the Son of God, he might be redeemed from his transgression of the Father’s law, and thus be elevated to a position where his efforts to keep his law could be accepted. {1SP 49.3}

The angels related to them the grief that was felt in Heaven, as it was announced that they had transgressed the law of God, which had made it expedient for Christ to make the great sacrifice of his own precious life. {1SP 50.1}

When Adam and Eve realized how exalted and sacred was the law of God, the transgression of which made so costly a sacrifice necessary to save them and their posterity from utter ruin, they plead to die themselves, or to let them and their posterity endure the penalty of their transgression, rather than that the beloved Son of God should make this great sacrifice. The anguish of Adam was increased. He saw that his sins were of so great magnitude as to involve fearful consequences. And must it be that Heaven’s honored Commander, who had walked with him, and talked with him, while in his holy innocence, whom angels honored and worshiped, must be brought down from his exalted position to die because of his transgression[?] Adam was informed that an angel’s life could not pay the debt. The law of Jehovah, the foundation of his government in Heaven and upon earth, was as sacred as God himself; and for this reason the life of an angel could not be accepted of God as a sacrifice for its transgression. His law was of more importance in his sight than the holy angels around his throne. The Father could not abolish nor change one precept of his law to meet man in his fallen condition. But the Son of God, who had in unison with the Father created man, could make an atonement for man acceptable to God, by giving his life a sacrifice, and bearing the wrath of his Father. Angels informed Adam that, as his transgression had brought death and wretchedness, life and immortality would be brought to light through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. {1SP 50.2}

To Adam were revealed future, important events, from his expulsion from Eden to the flood, and onward to the first advent of Christ upon the earth. His love for Adam and his posterity would lead the Son of God to condescend to take human nature, and thus elevate, through his own humiliation, all who would believe on him. Such a sacrifice was of sufficient value to save the whole world; but only a few would avail themselves of the salvation brought to them through such a wonderful sacrifice. The many would not comply with the conditions required of them that they might be partakers of his great salvation. They would prefer sin and transgression of the law of God, rather than repentance and obedience, relying by faith upon the merits of the sacrifice offered. This sacrifice was of such infinite value as to make a man who should avail himself of it, more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. {1SP 51.1}

Adam was carried down through successive generations, and saw the increase of crime, of guilt and defilement, because man would yield to his naturally strong inclinations to transgress the holy law of God. He was shown the curse of God resting more and more heavily upon the human race, upon the cattle, and upon the earth, because of man’s continued transgression. He was shown that iniquity and violence would steadily increase; yet amid all the tide of human misery and woe, there would ever be a few who would preserve the knowledge of God, and would remain unsullied amid the prevailing moral degeneracy. Adam was made to comprehend what sin is—the transgression of the law. He was shown that moral, mental, and physical degeneracy would result to the race, from transgression, until the world would be filled with human misery of every type. {1SP 52.1}

The days of man were shortened by his own course of sin in transgressing the righteous law of God. The race was finally so greatly depreciated that they appeared inferior, and almost valueless. They were generally incompetent to appreciate the mystery of Calvary, the grand and elevated facts of the atonement and the plan of salvation, because of the indulgence of the carnal mind. Yet, notwithstanding the weakness, and enfeebled mental, moral and physical, powers of the human race, Christ, true to the purpose for which he left Heaven, continues his interest in the feeble, depreciated, degenerate specimens of humanity, and invites them to hide their weakness and great deficiencies in him. If they will come unto him, he will supply all their needs. {1SP 52.2}

When Adam, according to God’s special directions, made an offering for sin, it was to him a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which God alone could give, and make an offering for sin. It was the first time he had witnessed death. As he looked upon the bleeding victim, writhing in the agonies of death, he was to look forward by faith to the Son of God, whom the victim prefigured, who was to die man’s sacrifice. {1SP 53.1}

This ceremonial offering, ordained of God, was to be a perpetual reminder to Adam of his guilt, and also a penitential acknowledgment of his sin. This act of taking life gave Adam a deeper and more perfect sense of his transgression, which nothing less than the death of God’s dear Son could expiate. He marveled at the infinite goodness and matchless love which would give such a ransom to save the guilty. As Adam was slaying the innocent victim, it seemed to him that he was shedding the blood of the Son of God by his own hand. He knew that if he had remained steadfast to God, and true to his holy law, there would have been no death of beast nor of man. Yet in the sacrificial offerings, pointing to the great and perfect offering of God’s dear Son, there appeared a star of hope to illuminate the dark and terrible future, and relieve it of its utter hopelessness and ruin. {1SP 53.2}

In the beginning, the head of each family was considered ruler and priest of his own household. Afterward, as the race multiplied upon the earth, men of divine appointment performed this solemn worship of sacrifice for the people. The blood of beasts was to be associated in the minds of sinners with the blood of the Son of God. The death of the victim was to evidence to all that the penalty of sin was death. By the act of sacrifice, the sinner acknowledged his guilt, and manifested his faith, looking forward to the great and perfect sacrifice of the Son of God, which the offering of beasts prefigured. Without the atonement of the Son of God there could be no communication of blessing, or salvation from God to man. God was jealous for the honor of his law. The transgression of that law caused a fearful separation between God and man. To Adam in his innocency was granted communion, direct, free and happy, with his Maker. After his transgression, God would communicate to man through Christ and angels. {1SP 53.3}

My vision on the meaning of the words: “. I saw the lovely Jesus, and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon his countenance. Soon I saw him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father. Said my accompanying angel, He is in close converse with his Father. The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with his Father. Three times he was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time he came from the Father his person could be seen. His countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and trouble, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express.

· Concerning the statement inferring that Jesus could not be seen until the THIRD TIME He came from the Father’s presence: I was shown that before His Incarnation, Jesus’s Divinity shared the same glorious light about the Father.

· At the THIRD meeting, the Incarnation sacrifice began in the heavenly Sanctuary. The glorious light was one of the “glories” that for awhile was divested from the humanity of Christ, to wit:

· "The apostle would call our attention from ourselves to the Author of our salvation. He presents before us His two natures, divine and human. . . . He voluntarily assumed human nature. It was His own act, and by His own consent. He clothed His divinity with humanity. He was all the while as God, but He did not appear as God. He veiled the demonstrations of Deity which had commanded the homage, and called forth the admiration of the universe of God. He was God while upon earth, but He divested Himself of the form of God, and in its stead took the form and fashion of a man. He walked the earth as a man. For our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. He laid aside His glory and His majesty. He was God, but the glories of the form of God He for awhile relinquished. . . . He bore the sins of the world, and endured the penalty which rolled like a mountain upon His divine soul. He yielded up His life a sacrifice, that man should not eternally die. He died, not through being compelled to die, but by His own free will." E.G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7a, p. 446.

· The Son’s Divinity retained the three omni’s, but in His last meeting with the Father, He laid aside the glories of the form of God, He for AWILE relinquished. The Divine Nature of the Son of God laid aside His brightness for a time during the Incarnation transformation into humanity. This is why it is said that the angel’s saw him the THIRD TIME He came from the Father. They could always see the Father and the Divine Nature of the Son, but this time they could see Him without that light of glory, which signified to them that something very serious was transpiring.

· I was shown that Satan interpreted this relinquishing of His former enshrouding of light, as a sign that He was now a lesser Being that He could conquer, just as He felt He could conquer Christ while in His humanity and taking man’s sin upon Himself. This emboldened Satan in his feelings of superiority over Christ.

· Even though “His countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and trouble, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express,” the THIRD time He came from His Father in the heavenly Sanctuary where the Incarnation sacrifice process began, He did no longer possessed the same brightness (glory) previously shared with the Father.

· The glorious light that the Son of God for awhile relinquished at His Incarnation sacrifice, was the same BRIGHTNESS that destroys the wicked when He comes again in His former GLORY. 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

· Christ’s brightness of glory that He had had, was restored to Him at His return to heaven. Jhn 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

· Satan saw a manifestation of that GLORY at Christ’s baptism: “The childhood, youth, and manhood of John, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah to do a special work in preparing the way for the world’s Redeemer, were marked with firmness and moral power. Satan could not move his integrity. When the voice of this prophet was heard in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,” Satan was afraid for his kingdom. He felt that the voice, sounding forth in trumpet tones in the wilderness, caused sinners under his control to tremble. He saw that his power over many was broken. The sinfulness of sin was revealed in such a manner that men became alarmed; and some, by repentance of their sins, found the favor of God and gained moral power to resist his temptations. {Con 28.3}

He [Satan] was on the ground at the time when Christ presented Himself to John for baptism. He heard the majestic voice resounding through heaven and echoing through the earth like peals of thunder. He saw the lightnings flash from the cloudless heavens, and heard the fearful words from Jehovah, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” He saw the brightness of the Father’s glory overshadowing the form of Jesus, thus pointing out in that crowd the One whom He acknowledged as His Son with unmistakable assurance. The circumstances connected with this baptismal scene had aroused the most intense hatred in the breast of Satan. He knew then for a certainty that unless he could overcome Christ, from thenceforth there would be a limitation of his power. He understood that the communication from the throne of God signified that heaven was more directly accessible to man. {Con 29.1}

· The anxiety of the angels was over their concern for the Son of God, when they saw that He no longer shared the shroud of light that He formerly Shared with the Father BEFORE THE WORLD WAS. John 17:5.

· This is a complex subject because of the interim transformation between the Divine Nature of the Son of God, and His God/Man person, but it sheds some additional light on the Incarnation sacrifice.

· What I was shown was the concept of the transition stages between being Divine Nature Holy Spirit ONLY, to being a God/Man. We cannot forget that the sire to the humanity of Christ was and REMAINS God—the Holy Ghost, that sired the Son of Man into Mary’s womb.

The Crowning Deception

“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. {DD 41.4}

But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false Christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out. {DD 42.1}

And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:24-27, 31; 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. This coming there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known—witnessed by the whole world. {DD 42.2}

Ellen White’s full statement on the Incarnation Sacrifice (cont)

“Then joy, inexpressible joy, filled heaven, and the heavenly choir sang a song of praise and adoration. They touched their harps and sang a note higher than they had done before, because of the great mercy and condescension of God in yielding up His dearly Beloved to die for a race of rebels. Then praise and adoration was poured forth for the self-denial and sacrifice of Jesus, in consenting to leave the bosom of His Father, and choosing a life of suffering and anguish, and an ignominious death, that He might give life to others.” {EW 126.2}

Said the angel, “Think ye that the Father yielded up His dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no.” It was even a struggle with the God of heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give His darling Son to die for them. Angels were so interested for man’s salvation that there could be found among them those who would yield their glory and give their life for perishing man. “But,” said my accompanying angel, “that would avail nothing.” The transgression was so great that an angel’s life would not pay the debt. Nothing but the death and intercession of God’s Son would pay the debt and save lost man from hopeless sorrow and misery. {EW 127.1}

“But the work which was assigned the angels was to ascend and descend with strengthening balm from glory to soothe the Son of God in His life of suffering. They administered unto Jesus. Also, their work was to guard and keep the subjects of grace from the evil angels and from the darkness which was constantly thrown around them by Satan. I saw that it was impossible for God to change His law in order to save lost, perishing man; therefore He suffered His darling Son to die for man’s transgressions.” {EW 127.2}

"There are mines of truth yet to be discovered" 5T, p. 704.

"There are bright and important truths of which we only discern the shadows." E.G. White, Letter 147, 1897.

"We have only glimmerings of the rays of the light yet to come to us." Review and Herald Articles, June 3, 1890.

I was shown the following verses relative to the Son becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us:

Pro 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Pro 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Pro 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Pro 8:24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.

Pro 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

Pro 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

Pro 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Pro 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Pro 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Pro 8:30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;

Pro 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.

Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Pro 8:34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

I was shown the clear meaning of the words “brought forth” in Proverbs 8:21-36, as well as how, why and when Jesus became flesh (human) and dwelt among us and the infinite sacrifice required to make His humanity possible.

The sacrifice began long before the earthly Incarnation of the Son of Man. It began long before the world was formed. It all began before God created anything—from everlasting; from the beginning. And this is why Jesus refers to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, Revelation 22. This is why Ellen White speaks of Jesus being the Alpha and Omega in the context of the plan of redemption, to wit:

Rev. 22:13: Christ is the Alpha & Omega, the Beginning and the End in the Plan of Redemption - Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 367.

Christ was as truly a Saviour before as after His incarnation. At the very moment of transgression and apostasy, He entered upon His work, laboring for the salvation of man with an activity equal to the activity of God. {RH March 5, 1901, par. 8}

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Again: Rev. 22:13: Christ is the Alpha & Omega, the Beginning and the End in the Plan of Redemption - Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 367.

When did the Plan of Redemption Begin?

“But while God's Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding his pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with his Father. From everlasting he was the Mediator of the covenant, the one in whom all nations of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, if they accepted him, were to be blessed. "The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 5}

"Christ would have the ideas of His disciples pure and true in every specification. They must understand, as far as possible, in regard to the cup of suffering that was apportioned to Him. He showed them that the awful conflict that they could not yet understand, but that they should understand, was the fulfillment of the covenant made before the foundation of the world was laid. Christ must die as all transgressors of the law will die if they continue in sin. All this should be, but it would not end in defeat but in glorious, eternal victory...."{CTr 296.4}

"From everlasting I was established. From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. When there were no depths I was BROUGHT FORTH. When there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills I was BROUGHT FORTH. While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the earth" (Prov. 8:23-26).

"…while God's Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding his pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with his Father. . .The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God." (RH April 5, 1906; par. 5).

"In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived….The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life." Desire of Ages, p. 530.

"The highest angel in heaven had not the power to pay the ransom for one lost soul…the reconciliation of man to God could be accomplished only through a mediator who was equal with God…" Review and Herald Articles, December 22, 1891, par. 1.

From EVERLASTING, the Son was “BROUGHT FORTH” by being slain from the foundation of all creation. Again, for important emphasis, this is why He refers to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end relative to the plan of Salvation.

I was shown that most have not seen that the transition of Christ from His former Divinity state ONLY, to His becoming human flesh to dwell among us, began long before His actual earthly Incarnation, as Proverbs 8:23-26 attests.

I was shown exactly what it means when it says “He was brought forth.” Many interpret this to mean that Christ was somehow derived from the Father, but that concept is not found either in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy. It will be seen that such a notion does great despite by way of injustice to the sacrifice of the person and personality of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Jesus Christ was/is God and existed as God from eternity. The Bible and Ellen White make that very clear. He existed as God from eternity and before the creation of any other life forms including intelligent life creatures. So why the confusion with some? Here are some serious facts that I was shown:

When God created intelligent life forms such as the angels and humans, He needed a way of communicating with them in light of the fact that His DIVINE ONLY presence would be as a consuming fire to fallen angels and man as soon as sin accrued amongst either. So always remember the empirical (self evident fact), self evident once you learn of the concept, is that the Son was God in His original state with God as the Word, and He had to be in a reduced state of Being to be in the presence of sinful angels or men lest His very DIVINE ONLY presence would consume them by the brightness of His glory! It was thereby totally imperative that His state of being fully God ONLY, needed to be emptied, divested, BEFORE He could communicate with sinful beings, angel or men LEST THEY BE INSTANTLY CONSUMED. This is an irrefutable truth.

Exd 24:17 To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the LORD appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.

Isa 29:6 I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, will act for you with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm and consuming fire.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Terror seizes the godless. "Who can live with this devouring fire?" they cry. "Who can survive this all-consuming fire?"

Being omniscient, from eternity God knew that He was going to create angels and humans with the power of freedom of choice. He knew they would sin and make mistakes. He had to have a mode of communicating and interacting with angels and men that would prevent them from being consumed by the brightness emitted by His pure and Holy presence.

I was shown that the only way God could achieve this communication with His intelligent creatures was for Christ to voluntarily consent to be begotten (become), brought forth, established, after the likeness of the creatures He intended to create. This provided a representative of God that could communicate the Will of God to His created beings who should sin, all the while being capable of communicating directly with God Himself—being able to abide in the presence of God. It was confirmed to me thrice that the following document is correct on the issue of the begotteness, establishment, and being brought forth of the Son: https://omega77.tripod.com/begottenbroughtforth.htm

To achieve His objective in communicating with men and angels who would sin, and whom He would provide a way of redemption from sin, the Son of God would have to undergo a most drastic transition involving the nature of His being. He would be required to empty and divest Himself of His Divine attributes in order to co-exist with and communicate with His created subjects. Without this provision, the purity of His Divinity and Omnipotence would consume any of His intelligent creatures as soon as they sinned.

Before sin, the unfallen angels had direct access and communication with the Father:

Angels See God the Father Angels see the Father

“A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said: “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” Job 1:9, 10. The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7. Said the Saviour, speaking of those that believe in Him: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father.” Matthew 18:10. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to His presence.” {GC 512.2}

"Christ was the medium through which He [the Father] could pour out His infinite love upon a fallen world. . . . Jesus, the only medium of communication between God and man." Steps to Christ, pp. 13, 20.

"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.

To resolve this concern, the Son volunteered to be “brought forth” by being divested from the bosom (presence) of the Father, with whom from eternity He had existed with as “brought up together” with the Father, that He might:

· Be the mediator and communicator between God and His created beings. This decision involved the Son in taking on the nature of the intelligent beings He desired to create. He was able to do this in a way that maintained His fully divine character and origin, while consenting to accept most of the limitations of the intelligent beings He wished to create. I say most of the limitations because Christ did not have the propensities to sin that we have by sinning because He never sinned, but all our sins were laid upon Him, and He felt the temptation of those sins. This is one of the reasons why He is depicted as being the “Firstborn of all Creation,” (Col. 1:15).

· Fulfill the Testator’s Covenant (Testament) of some form of death of the Testator and the Testator was DIVINE ONLY when the Everlasting Covenant was formed from the beginning.

· Fulfill His plan to provide a remedy for sin and a means to regenerate man back into His image.

· To demonstrate the self-sacrificing love character of the Godhead.

“God’s government included not only the inhabitants of heaven but of all the created worlds; and Satan thought that if he could carry the intelligences of heaven with him in rebellion, he could also carry with him the other worlds.”—RH March 9, 1886. {TA 36.3}^{^[1]}

I was shown that the Son of God had to be slain from (before) the foundation of the creation of other world’s as well, which were already extant at the time of the rebellion of Lucifer. Recall that this was absolutely necessary to visibly commune with created beings like man, for otherwise, since the Son theretofore possessed all the brightness of the Father, He would have consumed the created beings of the other worlds just as the humans of this world would have been consumed by the brightness of the Divinity of the Father and the Son. So the purpose of the sacrifice of the Son of Man extends beyond this world to the worlds of other galaxies.

I say again:

It should never be forgotten that in light of the fact that the Son voluntarily accepted this greatest of all sacrifices involving humiliating limitations, He was nontheless the Son of God, endowed with all the title, honor, and authority of God in the highest sense from eternity.

I was shown something that greatly adds to the Mystery of Godliness; that the Son made this same transition from His pure Divinity to become an angel, the Arch Angel Michael, in order to communicate God’s purposes to the angels. Verily, it was because of the divestments incurred in being begotten into an angel that Lucifer mistook the station of the Son of God, and thought himself even superior to the self-effacing, self-sacrificing spirit of the Son. He interpreted the Son’s humility as weakness. He really didn’t know that Christ was God in the highest sense. But that was communicated to him in a manner that made it inexcusable in persisting to believe that he was better than Christ and should thus be included in all the councils of God. His persistence in that blasphemous endeavor was the cause of his ultimate fall, and the fall of all the angels who agree with him.

I asked my angel how Jesus could be both angel and man, yet fully Divine at the same time, and I was told that is part of the mystery of Godliness that we will study for all eternity, but that the Father never thought of the Son as any less God, but EVEN MORE REPRESENTIVE OF THE CHARACTER OF GOD, because of the “highest good, crowning sacrificial gift” He voluntarily provided for sinful humans. The Father loved the Son and bestows upon Him the highest name because of what He did in demonstrating the character of God, which is based on self-sacrificing love.

I was shown in no uncertain terms that it was absolutely necessary for Christ to be emptied from His DIVINITY ONLY to the station and status of an angel in order to converse with them after the great controversy of Satan’s rebellion became open to all the angels, for this constituted sin and the presence of Divinity only, cannot co-dwell with sin, for it is unalterably a consuming fire to sin, because God’s purity is so innate as to be a transcript of His very character and personality.

I was shown that before the rebellion involving Lucifer and the angel’s that mutinied with him, they had direct communion with the Father and saw Him face to face, but that after the rebellion they could neither see Him nor commune directly with Him. The faithful angels gathered about the throne of the Father can view His countenance, for they are pure and righteous, and those attributes are not consumed by the presence of God. I saw that God does not destroy any man, but the laser-like light of His purity and Holiness automatically consumes unrepentant sin and sinners. Likewise, Ellen White said God destroys no man. It is sin that the presence of God cannot abide. It is sin that separates one from God and seeing Him:

"God destroys no one." Testimonies, Vol. 5, 120.

"God destroys no man. Everyone who is destroyed will have destroyed himself." Christ's Object Lessons, 84.

“I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then, if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course, independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan’s decided attacks upon them.” {LDE 242.1}

“It is Satan’s power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and distress and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey.”—Manuscript Releases 14:3 (1883). {LDE 242.2}

“God will use His enemies as instruments to punish those who have followed their own pernicious ways whereby the truth of God has been misrepresented, misjudged, and dishonored.”—The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters, 136 (1894). {LDE 242.3}

"God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejecters of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown. Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown, which yields its unfailing harvest. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protections from the malice and enmity of Satan." The Great Controversy, p. 36.

“I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. …[After] repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan's decided attacks upon them. {LDE 242.1}

“The apostle John in vision heard a loud voice in Heaven exclaiming, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." [Revelation 12:12.] Fearful are the scenes which call forth this exclamation from the heavenly voice. The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction reaches its culmination in the time of trouble. God's long-suffering has ended.”

The world has rejected his mercy, despised his love, and trampled upon his law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation, and the Lord withdraws his protection, and leaves them to the mercy of the leader they have chosen. Satan will have power over those who have yielded themselves to his control, and he will plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.” {4SP 440, 441}

Relative to the highest good, crowning sacrifice that was involved in the Son’s volunteering to be the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant and fulfill all that Testament demanded, man stands unable to fathom why the Son of God, a purely DIVINE ONLY BEING, would consent and even volunteer to forever sacrifice His Divine only state of being to become begotten into the inferior state of the created beings. What prompted Him to do such a thing? I was shown that all man can fathom concerning this greatest of all sacrifices is that it was the agape self-sacrificing love of God’s character that moved Him to His eternal decision to become combined with mankind forever.

"Christ did not make believe to take human nature; He did verily take it: He did in reality possess human nature." Review and Herald Articles, April 5, 1906, par. 4.

"The Son of God, now at the Father's right hand, still pleads as man's intercessor. He still retains His human nature, is still the Saviour of mankind." Signs of the Times, July 15, 1908, par. 7.

“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. 1 John 3:1.” {FLB 43.1}

“Love is the principle that underlies God's government in heaven and on earth, and this love must be interwoven in the life of the Christian. . . . The heart that is influenced by this holy principle will be carried above everything of a selfish nature.” {FLB 43.2}

“When we seek for appropriate language in which to describe the love of God, we find words too tame, too weak, too far beneath the theme, and we lay down our pen and say, ‘No, it cannot be described. We can only do as did the beloved disciple, and say, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1. In attempting any description of this love, we feel that we are as infants lisping their first words. Silently we may adore; for silence in this matter is the only eloquence. This love is past all language to describe.” {FLB 43.3}

“All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it. Yet as we study the Bible and meditate upon the life of Christ and the plan of redemption, these great themes will open to our understanding more and more.” {FLB 43.4}

In an effort to better appreciate the unfathomable sacrifice Jesus incurred, let us consider the options. If the Son had not made the sacrifices involved, the angel’s and man could never have been created for any lasting worth, nor could they have been created in the first place, because if the Son had retained His original state of the One Eternal Spirit, that Spirit would have consumed man and angels as soon as they sinned. There would have been neither mediator nor representative of the Godhead to instruct man as to how to avoid sin and instruct in righteousness. Both humans and angels because of their sin would have been forever destroyed as soon as they sinned.

God wanted subjects who were free to choose to obey Him out of a motive of love, or not. Automaton obedience would never satisfy an all wise, just and loving God, whose very character is self-sacrificing love. They had to grow in a knowledge of God and His Son. Self-sacrificing love is a choice that all of God’s subjects must choose if they are saved.

Remember that the Bible says that Lucifer was created perfect: "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Eze. 28:15). In other words, Lucifer was a perfect being until he chose to become proud, selfish and envious (covetous).

That God might be fair and just to all intelligent created beings with the power of choice, He provided the means for them to be reclaimed, redeemed and CURED from sin. This required the absolute necessity of a Mediator between the Pure God and the beings He wanted to create. Christ volunteered for that position in the redemption plan of God.

I was shown that most professing Christians don’t have a clue as to the huge sacrifices involved in order that Christ lay aside, empty, divest Himself of His original Divine Nature to partake of the nature of angels and men that He might be the Mediator and communicator between them and God.

“Humility and reverence should characterize the deportment of all who come into the presence of God. In the name of Jesus we may come before Him with confidence, but we must not approach Him with the boldness of presumption, as though He were on a level with ourselves. There are those who address the great and all-powerful and holy God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable, as they would address an equal, or even an inferior. There are those who conduct themselves in His house as they would not presume to do in the audience chamber of an earthly ruler. These should remember that they are in His sight whom seraphim adore, before whom angels veil their faces. God is greatly to be reverenced; all who truly realize His presence will bow in humility before Him, and, like Jacob beholding the vision of God, they will cry out, “How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” {PP 252.1}

My attention was called to the following verse as well as Genesis 35:13 to the affect that these represent Jacob literally seeing God Almighty. I was shown that the angels around the throne can see God, but in worshipful respect they veil their faces when in His presence. The SDA Bible Commentary says on Genesis 35:13: “God went up. These words clearly suggest that this experience at Bethel was neither a vision nor a strong mental impression of the divine presence, but a literal manifestation of God.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 418.

Genesis 48:3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 35:13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

I was shown that the act of the Son in laying aside or divesting Himself of His Divine Only Nature, was entirely necessary as a requisite to His partaking of the nature of the creatures He desired to create. According to the Testator’s Testament (Everlasting Covenant) He had to die to the self that was His before the creation of the angels and mankind, and that this included the creation of all human inhabitants of all worlds.

Hbr 1:2 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;

Hbr 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The Son of God forsook the life that WAS His—His Divine Nature indwelling the soul of repentant mankind. The Son thus demonstrated the self-renouncing, self-sacrificing character of the Father.

"He (Christ) suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which WAS His." Desire of Ages, p. 25 1 Cor. 11:24-265, cf. John 6:53, 54, Titus 3:5, 6.

The Son, of absolute necessity, had to forfeit His original first estate of existence as GOD ONLY, for three distinct purposes:

1. To proffer His Divine Nature as empowerment to us for overcoming the lusts of the world.

2. To regenerate man back into the image of God.

3. To mediate between God and His intelligent creatures—angels and mankind.

The Son was thus “brought forth” (sent forth) from the bosom (being seated at the right hand of the Father on the Throne), as God’s representative to mankind in all the worlds and to minister to the angels in the form of Michael the Arch Angel and Messenger of the Everlasting Covenant. In so doing, the Son in no degree was a lesser God, for He was mysteriously still fully God and fully human, but the prime sacrifice (death of the Testator) was relative to the fact that He was no longer DIVINE ONLY. That is the all important distinction to remember. He still was fully divine, but not DIVINE ONLY.

Though He reduced Himself to the servitude of humanity and took upon Himself the likeness of humans, He was still fully God, but He could not use the power of His Divinity for His own purposes in working miracles for Himself. Despite His voluntary servitude, He was regarded by the Father with more love than before His highest good, crowning sacrifice for man, because He thereby evinced the character of God’s self-sacrificing love based on the principle of agape love which provided for the best welfare of all His creations.

I was counselled to enumerate some of Ellen White’s uses of the term “brought forth,” “begotten,” along with the eternal existence of the Son, to wit:

"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. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. . . . 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." {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 1}

The Word, the Son of God, was begotten and dwelt among us by being begotten into humanity—being combined with humanity forever. But as stated previously, this process began from everlasting, when the angel’s were created. Because they would sin, the Son must be begotten in their level of existence in order to commune with them after sin broke out amongst them. I was shown that this measure was absolutely necessary because pure divinity cannot exist amongst sin. Pure divinity will annihilate sin by its very brightness as a consuming fire.

The Word was begotten of the Father when He was slain from the foundation of the worlds and later dwelt among us.

“The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ in human flesh is a mystery, "even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations." It is the great and profound mystery of godliness. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Christ took upon himself human nature, a nature inferior to his heavenly nature. Nothing so shows the wonderful condescension of God as this. He "so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." John presents this wonderful subject with such simplicity that all may grasp the ideas set forth, and be enlightened.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 3}

“This chapter delineates the character and importance of the work of Christ. As one who understands his subject, John ascribes all power to Christ, and speaks of his greatness and majesty. He flashes forth divine rays of precious truth, as light from the sun. He presents Christ as the only Mediator between God and humanity.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 2}

“Christ did not make believe take human nature; he did verily take it. He did in reality possess human nature. "As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." He was the son of Mary; he was of the seed of David according to human descent. He is declared to be a man, even the Man Christ Jesus. "This Man," writes Paul, "was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 4}

“But while God's Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding his pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with his Father. From everlasting he was the Mediator of the covenant, the one in whom all nations of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, if they accepted him, were to be blessed. "The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 5}

“The world was made by him, "and without him was not anything made that was made." If Christ made all things, he existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 6}

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by him as his right. This was no robbery of God. "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way," he declares, "before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 7}

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." Here the pre-existence of Christ and the purpose of his manifestation to our world are presented as living beams of light from the eternal throne. "Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." "We preach Christ crucified," declares Paul, "unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 9}

“The law of love is the foundation of God's government, and the service of love the only service acceptable to Heaven. God has granted freedom of will to all, endowed men with capacity to appreciate His character, and therefore with ability to love Him and to choose His service. So long as created beings worshiped God they were in harmony throughout the universe. While love to God was supreme, love to others abounded. As there was no transgression of the law, which is the transcript of God's character, no note of discord jarred the celestial harmonies.” {TMK 366.2}

“But known unto God are all His works, and from eternal ages the covenant of grace (unmerited favor) existed in the mind of God. It is called the everlasting covenant, for the plan of salvation was not conceived after the fall of man, but it was that which was "kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and . . . made known unto all the nations . . ." (Rom. 16:25, 26, R.V.). . . . {TMK 366.3}

Jesus Expounded on His “Coming Forth”

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25. {CSA 4.3}

Why Some are Deluded About the Eternal Equality of Jesus With the Father

I was shown that the Father/Son relationship is to connote the filial as well as the agape love shared between the Father and the Son, and that this modality was not to covey that the Son in any way was derived from the Father. It was made most clear to me that the words begotten and came forth etc., refer to the time the Son was slain from the foundation of the world.

I was shown that it is negligence and slovenly effort that causes some to err in interpreting statements like the following from GC 479. They mistakenly conclude that because a Kingdom is “given” to the Son by the Father at the end of the ages, that the Son is a lesser God. That is blasphemy in light of the fact that the only reason that a Kingdom is given to the Son is because of His volunteering to be slain from the foundation of the worlds to a state of complete servitude as servant to man; as a sacrifice that fully represents the self-sacrificing love and character of God. The Kingdom is given to the Son for His totally self-less sacrifice for sinful man who was loved so much that he was created in the image of God.

“And, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.” Daniel 7:13, 14. The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given Him at the close of His work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man—to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.” {GC 479.3}

The Son emptied Himself of the three omni’s in His “brought forth nature” which is proven by the facts that:

· The prescribed limit of the Testator’s Testament stipulated that the Testator must die to something eternally, because while He should live, the Testament would be of no strength. (See your Bible on the word Testator). Without this heavenly Sanctuary/Atonement sacrifice, there would be no cure for sin and no opportunity to thereafter redeem man from His sin, by Christ taking them upon Himself on the cross.

· The prescribed limit of a sacrifice of the Testator (eternal death to His Divine ONLY state of being), is what mainline Christianity has missed in its knowledge of the Godhead. I was shown distinctly that no ministry that omits this sacrifice is teaching the truth on the Godhead.

· He did not know the day and hour of His coming. (No omniscience)

· He said He could do nothing in His divested (emptied) state without the aid of His Father. (No omnipotence).

· He said that He had to return to the Father in order to send His Holy Spirit. (No omnipresence).

· Had the son retained all the attributes of His past eternal existence with the Father, like the Father, His very brightness would have been a consuming fire to His creations as soon as they chose to sin.

· The Son had to interact as Mediator with His subjects after they sinned, and He counselled with them in an effort to persuade them into all righteousness before they sinned.

For all of the above reasons, Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of a bond servant (Phil. 2:7).

All of the above constitutes the necessary sacrifices to atone for sin, for God knew from the beginning that man would sin and separate himself from God. He loved mankind so much that He made it possible for man to overcome sin and be regenerated back into the image of his Maker. The discerning mind will see that it was entirely necessary for the Son to be brought forth prior to the creation of the worlds and prior to the creation of the angels in order for God to communicate with, and mediate the cause of sinful man and deal with the mutinous angels and provide a redemptive sacrifice for man. I asked my angel Gabriel why Jesus could not redeem the fallen angels, and he said that some were redeemed from near eternal loss by being convinced of the consequences of their rebellion, but that the rest were as incorrigible as those who participated in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

What measureless love the highest good, crowing sacrificial gift of Christ demonstrates! Try to imagine a DIVINE ONLY person, volunteering to combine with humanity forever.

Christ’s death on the cross made forgiveness possible. That sacrifice redeemed us from our sins by way of pardoning those sins. But the cross provided no CURE for sin. It was the death of the Testator to His Divine Only Life, so that He could proffer it to us as a bequeathed gift that provides the cure for sin by the indwelling of that Divine Nature Holy Spirit in the souls of men. When we are truly born again, we receive that Divine Nature as the last will and Testament of Jesus.

Christ combined Himself with humanity to prove that we can overcome all sin just as He did—by moment to moment reliance on His Holy Spirit, just as He relied on His Father’s Spirit moment by moment. This involved complete surrender of the will and complete dependence upon God. Many misinterpret Jesus’ total dependence upon the Father in His humanity as evidence that He was not equal to God the Father, but that error is exposed by many statements by the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Jesus Himself stated that He thought it not robbery to be equal with the Father. And only one equal to the Father could be the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant.

In our sinful degraded state, Ellen White said it is impossible for us to keep the commandments without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Christ made His soul an offering for sin and His Holy Spirit Divine ONLY life is the soul of His life. So He had to die to that DIVINE ONLY life to offer His divine soul for sin, because the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant was DIVINE ONLY. His Divinity did not die on the cross says Ellen White, and His humanity could not meet the prescribed limit of a sacrifice per the Testator’s Testament (Covenant) which was death of the Testator, and that would have to be eternal because the penalty for sin is eternal death. But since Divinity cannot die, He died to living a DIVINE ONLY life forever! That was/is His forever sacrifice. That is the high price He was willing to pay for sinful humanity!

“Christ had stooped to take upon Himself man's nature; He was to bear an infinite weight of woe as He should make His soul an offering for sin; yet angels desired that even in His humiliation the Son of the Highest might appear before men with a dignity and glory befitting His character. Would the great men of earth assemble at Israel's capital to greet His coming? Would legions of angels present Him to the expectant company?” The Great Controversy, pp. 313, 314.

Imagine the God of the Universes reducing Himself voluntarily to a state where He could say: "I can of mine own self do nothing" (Jn. 5:30). He was referring to His humanity and His Divinity? How so? He could not use His Divinity else He would be no example for us. Satan would have cried foul and justly so, because we are not divine.

Jesus sacrificed living in His Divine only nature, so that He could give us the soul of that life, His Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost—the Ghost of the life that WAS HIS:

"He (Christ) suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which WAS His." Desire of Ages, p. 25 1 Cor. 11:24-265, cf. John 6:53, 54, Titus 3:5, 6.

We need that Divine Power as grace (His Holy Spirit) given for obedience and apostleship, Rom. 1:5.

“They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him, just as we are—sinful, helpless, dependent.” Faith and Works, p. 38.

“There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before man can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace [the Spirit of Christ] alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.” (ST, May 28, 1902, par. 3).

Our Dispositions Unchanged

If you would be a saint in heaven you must first be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in this probationary state, that we may be fitted for the mansions above.--13MR 82 (1891). {LDE 295.1}

The Glory that the Father gave to Christ is given to us:

“Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of his sanctifying spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from himself to his people . . . Christ is to live in his human agents, and work through their faculties, and act through their capabilities. Their will must be submitted to His will, they must act with His Spirit, that it may be no more they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the thought that in giving His Holy Spirit He is giving to them the glory which the Father has given Him, that He and His people may be one in God.” Signs of the Times, October 3, 1892, par. 4.

“Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own Life.” Desire of Ages, p. 827, par. 3.

“The Holy Spirit is the breath of 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.” Desire of Ages, p. 805.

“They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—is to bring unity into their ranks.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 189.

Jesus died to being DIVINE ONLY and to be combined with humanity forever, that we might inherit His DIVINE NATURE Holy Spirit indwelling our souls.

Hbr 7:24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

By partaking of His Father’s nature, the same ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT that was His former DIVINE ONLY LIFE, Jesus was enabled to live a life of perfect obedience. We can do the same thing by availing ourselves of His Divine Nature which He bequeathed to us. Thus, He paid the eternal penalty for our sins and at the same time gave to us a remedy for sin.

"The Incarnation of Christ was an act of self-sacrifice; His life was one of continual self-denial. The highest glory of the love of God to man was manifested in the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son, who was the express image of His person. This is the great mystery of godliness. It is the privilege and the duty of every professed follower of Christ to have the mind of Christ. Without self-denial and cross bearing we cannot be His disciples." E.G. White, Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 185.

"Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away 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....

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

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 Articles, May 19, 1904, vol. 5, p. 42.

God in the flesh: (Exodus 3:5.) Christ’s Humanity a Golden Chain—To redeem man, Christ became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden linked chain which binds our souls to Christ and through Christ to God. This is to be our study. Christ was a real man, and He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. And He was God in the flesh. {7BC 904.10}

I have said that only one equal to God could be the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant:

(John 1:1-3, 14; see EGW comment on John 1:1-3; Revelation 12:10). Equality Between Christ and the Father—Christ’s position with His Father is one of equality. This enabled Him to become a sin-offering for transgressors. He was fully sufficient to magnify the law and make it honorable (Manuscript 48, 1893). {7BC 905.1}

Jhn 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

Jhn 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jhn 1:14 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.

Jhn 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Jhn 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Jhn 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Jhn 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

“From light to light God is leading His people. He liveth in light unapproachable, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of holy, happy beings, every one of them waiting to do His bidding. They are not inactive, but in communication with other worlds, in all God’s vast dominion. This little world is but an atom of the Lord’s dominion. Through various agencies, divine and human, He is seeking to save. He is actually stooping from His throne and observing the movements of every living being, and in His books are recorded every transaction; and through heavenly agencies He is lifting up the oppressed and pointing the way before every soul,—the way to reach the mansions above.” {MR311 41.1}

“If men would co-operate with God, light from His throne would be penetrating all the highways and byways of life. All things are possible to those who are connected with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.”—Letter 36a, 1890. {MR311 41.2}

“The Son of God, undertaking to become the Redeemer of the race, placed Adam in a new relation to his Creator. He was still fallen; but a door of hope was opened to him. The wrath of God still hung over Adam, but the execution of the sentence of death was delayed, and the indignation of God was restrained, because Christ had entered upon the work of becoming man’s Redeemer. Christ was to take the wrath of God, which in justice should fall upon man. He became a refuge for man, and, although man was indeed a criminal, deserving the wrath of God, yet he could, by faith in Christ, run into the refuge provided and be safe. In the midst of death there was life if man chose to accept it. The holy and infinite God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable, could no longer talk with man. No communication could now exist directly between man and his Maker.” {Con 19.3}

Angels in Heaven, Before the Rebellion

Christ as Creator-God

“Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God.” {TA 23.1}

“The world was made by Him, ‘and without Him was not anything made that was made.’ If Christ made all things, He existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore.” {TA 23.2}

Through Solomon Christ declared: "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. . . . When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him." [Prov. 8:22-25, 29, 30.] {TA 23.4}

The Son was “set up” in His state of being slain from the foundation of the earth and the worlds.

“In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He . . . had been with God as one brought up with Him.--ST Aug. 29, 1900. {TA 24.1}

“What is the work of angels in comparison with His [Christ’s] condescension? His throne is from everlasting. He has reared every arch and pillar in nature’s great temple.”--HP 40. {TA 24.2}

“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.”—GC 493. {TA 24.3} ^{^[2]}

Before Sin Arose, God Had a Plan

“God and Christ knew from the beginning of the apostasy of Satan and of the fall of Adam through the deceptive power of the apostate. The plan of salvation was designed to redeem the fallen race, to give them another trial. Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator from the creation of God, set up from everlasting to be our substitute and surety.”--1SM 250. {TA 24.4}

“Known unto God are all His works, and from eternal ages the covenant of grace (unmerited favor) existed in the mind of God. It is called the everlasting covenant; for the plan of salvation was not conceived after the fall of man, but it was that which was "kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith.” Rom. 16:25, 26, A.R.V.--ST Dec. 5, 1914. {TA 25.1}

The Everlasting Covenant was eternal and the Son was the Testator of that eternal Covenant, so He had to be eternal.

“The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of "the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal." Rom. 16:25, R.V. It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne. . . . God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency.--DA 22. {TA 25.2} ^{^[3]}

Lucifer’s High Position

Lucifer in heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his countenance and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Christ, God’s dear Son, had the pre-eminence over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created.--SR 13. {TA 27.2}

Some Adventist Jewish Messianic “reformers,” and some Adventist non-Jews, in their misrepresentation of Christ as a lesser God than the Father, are teaching that Jesus was “given” His authority after Satan rebelled. That is not true as the above statement attests. They make their erroneous deductive conclusion from the following statement which “appears” to suggest that it was only at the rebellion of Lucifer that the Father conferred special honor upon His Son, but that is not true. As the above statement says, the Son was ONE WITH THE FATHER before the angels were created.

“Satan thought that he was himself a favorite in heaven among the angels. He had been highly exalted; but . . . 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?”--1SP 17, 18. {TA 33.2}

“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. . . . But again he was filled with pride in his own glory. His desire for supremacy returned, and envy of Christ was once more indulged”.--PP 36, 37. {TA 34.1} ^{^[4]}

“Lucifer was the covering cherub, the most exalted of the heavenly created beings; he stood nearest the throne of God, and was most closely connected and identified with the administration of God’s government, most richly endowed with the glory of His majesty and power.”--ST April 28, 1890. {TA 27.3}

“The Lord Himself gave to Satan his glory and wisdom, and made him the covering cherub, good, noble, and exceeding lovely.”--ST Sept. 18, 1893. {TA 28.1}

“Among the inhabitants of heaven, Satan, next to Christ, was at one time most honored of God, and highest in power and glory.”--ST July 23, 1902. {TA 28.2}

“Lucifer, the "son of the morning," in glory surpassing all the angels that surround the throne, . . . [was] united in closest ties to the Son of God.”--DA 435. {TA 28.3}

“Lucifer, "son of the morning," was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. He stood in the presence of the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glory enshrouding the eternal God rested upon him.”--PP 35. {TA 28.4}

“He [Lucifer] had been the highest of all created beings, and had been foremost in revealing God’s purposes to the universe.”--DA 758. {TA 28.5}^{^[5]}

Incarnation Taxes Highest Powers of Mind

"This earth has been honored and blessed with presence of the Son of God. In the Scriptures we read of His INCARNATION, His teaching, His miracles, His death, and His resurrection. The effort to understand these wonderful subjects puts to the tax the highest powers of the mind, and then there is an infinity beyond which cannot be exhausted. The oftener the mind is called to this study, the stronger and clearer it will become. In the daily life will be revealed the mysteries of godliness, which may be experienced, but cannot be explained. Throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity the redeemed will study these subjects, ever gaining from them a deeper and clearer knowledge of God and of Christ." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, 04-26-05, Pr. 01.

"It requires considerable effort to climb hills, to get upon the rock. And so we find that it will require the exercise of all our abilities, of every spiritual nerve and muscle, to get upon the Living Rock, the Saviour of mankind. It will require all our mental and spiritual power to understand the Word of God, to understand the INCARNATION of Christ, to understand the great plan of redemption. The mind may faint beneath the effort, and yet, there is an infinity beyond. You have only then touched the surface." E.G. White, Manuscript Releases Volume Nine, pr. 3, P. 68.

The Self-Existent Son of God

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58. {LHU 17.1}

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” {LHU 17.2}

“Here Christ shows them that, although they might reckon His life to be less than 50 years, yet His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.” (The Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899). {LHU 17.3}

“Before Abraham was, I am.” Christ is the preexistent, self-existent Son of God. The message He gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel was, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” {LHU 17.4}

The prophet Micah writes of Him, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” {LHU 17.5}

Through Solomon Christ declared: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.... When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” {LHU 17.6}

“In speaking of His preexistence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with Him.” {LHU 17.7}

“He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent.... He is the eternal, self-existent Son.” (Manuscript 101, 1897). {LHU 17.9}

“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:12). The divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. “He that believeth in me,” said Jesus, “though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”.... Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming (The Desire of Ages, 530). {LHU 17.10}

Equal With the Father

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Philippians 2:5, 6. {LHU 18.1}

“Lucifer in heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his countenance and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Christ, God’s dear Son, had the preeminence over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created. Lucifer was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved on Christ alone.” {LHU 18.2}

“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, His Son, should be equal with Himself; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out His will and His purposes but would do nothing of Himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in Him. {LHU 18.3}

Lucifer was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to Jesus to acknowledge His supremacy and high authority and rightful rule, he bowed with them; but his heart was filled with envy and hatred.... {LHU 18.4}

Angels that were loyal and true sought to reconcile this mighty, rebellious angel to the will of his Creator. They justified the act of God in conferring honor upon Christ, and with forcible reasoning sought to convince Lucifer that no less honor was his now than before the Father had proclaimed the honor which He had conferred upon His Son. They clearly set forth that Christ was the Son of God, existing with Him before the angels were created; and that He had ever stood at the right hand of God, and His mild, loving authority had not heretofore been questioned; and that He had given no commands but what it was joy for the heavenly host to execute. They urged that Christ’s receiving special honor from the Father, in the presence of the angels, did not detract from the honor that Lucifer had heretofore received. The angels wept. They anxiously sought to move him to renounce his wicked design and yield submission to their Creator; for all had heretofore been peace and harmony.... Lucifer refused to listen.” (The Story of Redemption, 13-16). {LHU 18.5}

Note by Ron: The above passage from The Story of Redemption, p. 13, is used by some to try to prove that this was the FIRST time that honor was CONFERRED upon Chirst, thus, that He was not equal with the Father, but had only CONFERRED HONOR beginning from this time forward. That is not true. Read the rest of the story in Patriarch and Prophets, p. 38 in context with Story of Redemption p. 13, below:

"There had be NO CHANGE in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer's envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made the 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." Patriarch and Prophets, p. 38.

Mental Progress

“No other creature that God has made is capable of such improvement, such refinement, such nobility as man. . . . Man cannot conceive what he may be and what he may become. Through the grace of Christ, he is capable of constant mental progress.” (Maranatha, p. 229).

Let us oft meditate upon the unfathomable love of our Creator God for us as demonstrated by His willingness to cease the estate of DIVINITY ONLY, forever, and to be combined with humanity forever, that we might have the life that WAS HIS, as a CURE for sin and to regenerate us into the image of God we were created in. This is my prayer for all who study this great theme we will be learning more of for eternity.

Other Issues I Asked My Angel About

I was shown that the attempt by some, even some Adventists, to make the Holy Spirit a feminine person, is a direct effort by Satanic agencies to paganize the Godhead. That teaching sweeps away the entire economy of the heavenly Sacrifice/Atonement of the Son of God.

I asked my angel Gabriel if the Lunar reckoning of the Sabbath was correct and he responded with a resolute nay, adding that Satan is making an effort to make the Sabbath more unpopular and harder to observe so the masses will regard it as a fanatical, unreasonable legalism, rather than its intended purpose to be a rest day in memorial of creation and resting from our own works of attempts at self-righteousness. God specified one day of every week. Jesus Himself worshipped on the Seventh-day of Creation week, and not according to any Lunar calendar reckoning. I saw that if God had intended us to worship according to the Lunar calendar, He surely would have stated such in His Law which specifies the Sabbath to be kept and when it is to be kept. God knew that most of us would have to work for others to make a living, and I was shown it would make the Sabbath that much more hated if we had to ask for different days of the week off for Sabbath observance. God is not that unreasonable.

I asked about the Feasts and it was confirmed to me that Ellen White was correct in her teachings on what was nailed to the cross, and that if she was not correct, nothing would have been nailed to the cross. I was told that Satan is doing all he possibly can to make Christianity hated more than it already is, by making it appear fanatical, legalistic and loveless.

Further explanation: This is what I meant by the Lunar Sabbath:

http://www.eliyah.com/lunarsabbath.html

This is what I mean by Feast Keeping https://omega77.tripod.com/feastkeepornot.htm

In the blessed name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

Ronald William Beaulieu

“It requires considerable effort to climb hills, to get upon the rock. And so we find that it will require the exercise of all our abilities, of every spiritual nerve and muscle, to get upon the Living Rock, the Saviour of mankind. It will require all our mental and spiritual powers to understand the Word of God, to understand the incarnation of Christ, to understand the great plan of redemption. The mind may faint beneath the effort, and yet, there is an infinity beyond. You have only then touched the surface.” {9MR 68.3}”

“Those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ, will be dwelling upon the themes of the great salvation. The Bible is the storehouse that supplies their souls with nourishing food. They meditate upon the incarnation of Christ, they contemplate the great sacrifice made to save them from perdition, to bring in pardon, peace, and everlasting righteousness. The soul is aglow with these grand and elevating themes. Holiness and truth, grace and righteousness, occupy the thoughts. Self dies, and Christ lives in his servants. In contemplation of the word, their hearts burn within them, as did the hearts of the two disciples while they went to Emmaus, and Christ walked with them by the way, and opened to them the scriptures concerning himself.” {PH154 31.2}

“How few realize that Jesus, unseen, is walking by their side! How ashamed many would be to hear his voice speaking to them, and to know that he heard all their foolish, common talk! And how many hearts would burn with holy joy if they only knew that the Saviour was by their side, that the holy atmosphere of his presence was surrounding them, and they were feeding on the bread of life! {PH154 32.1}

MR No. 708—Insights Concerning the Incarnation

The Sinner’s Only Hope—“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God is our creator, benefactor, preserver. The author of all good, He is able to fulfill the purpose that He had in the creation of human beings. {9MR 121.1}

The wickedness that fills our world is the result of Adam’s refusal to take God’s word as supreme. He disobeyed, and fell under the temptation of the enemy. “Sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). {9MR 121.2}

God declared, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). And apart from the plan of redemption human beings are doomed to death. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But Christ gave His life to save the sinner from the death sentence. He died that we might live. To those who receive Him He gives power that enables them to separate from that which, unless they return to their loyalty, will place them where they must be condemned and punished. {9MR 121.3}

Christ is the sinner’s only hope. By His death He brought salvation within the reach of all. Through His grace all may become loyal subjects of God’s kingdom. Only by His sacrifice could salvation be brought within man’s reach. This sacrifice has made it possible for men and women to fulfill the conditions laid down in the councils of heaven. {9MR 121.4}

Ellen White defined grace as The Holy Spirit. In Romans 1:5, GRACE IS GIVEN FOR OBEDIENCE. This is the all important aspect of the gospel which mainstream Christianity omits from the FULL GOSPEL OF GRACE.

Christ came to this earth and lived a life of perfect obedience, that men and women, through His grace, might also live lives of perfect obedience. This is necessary to their salvation. “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (See Hebrews 12:14).—Manuscript 80, 1900, pp. 2-4. (“A Holy People,” July 4, 1900.) {9MR 122.1}

A Personal God Revealed in Christ—As a personal being, God has revealed Himself in His Son. Jesus, the outshining of the Father’s glory, “and the express image of His person,” was on earth found in fashion as a man. As a personal Saviour, He came to the world. As a personal Saviour, He ascended on high. As a personal Saviour, He intercedes in the heavenly courts. Before the throne of God in our behalf ministers “One like the Son of man.” {9MR 122.2}

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. “I and My Father are one,” Christ declared. No man knoweth “the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him” (Matthew 11:27). And Christ is also the revealer of the hearts of men. He is the exposer of sin. By Him the characters of all are to be tested. To Him all judgment has been committed, “because He is the Son of man.” {9MR 122.3}

Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity, and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of men, and yet he was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth—in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from spot or stain of sin. “We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). In His strength men and women can live the life of purity and nobility that He lived. {9MR 122.4}

Christ came to teach human beings what God desires them to know. Just before His trial and crucifixion, He said to His disciples, [John 16:24-33 quoted]. {9MR 123.1}

The disciples had asked many questions that revealed their ignorance of God’s relation to them and to their present and future interests. Christ desired them to have a clearer, more distinct knowledge of God. “I will show you the Father, and will make you better acquainted with Him,” He said. It is this knowledge that Christians need today. This knowledge, which Christ alone can give, is the highest of all education. {9MR 123.2}

When, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples, they understood the truths that Christ had spoken in proverbs. The teachings that had been mysteries to them were made clear. The understanding that came to them with the outpouring of the Spirit made them ashamed of their fanciful theories. Their suppositions and interpretations were foolishness compared with the knowledge of heavenly things that now came to them. Their confused ideas were gone; they were led of the Spirit; and light shone into their once-darkened understanding. {9MR 123.3}

While with the disciples, Christ had revealed to them all the knowledge of God that they could bear. The complete fulfillment of the promise that He would show them plainly of the Father, was yet to come. Thus it is today. Now we know in part only. When the conflict is ended, and the Man Christ Jesus acknowledges before the Father His faithful workers, who in a world of sin have borne true witness for Him, they will understand clearly what now are mysteries to them. {9MR 123.4}

Christ took with Him to the heavenly courts His glorified humanity. To those who receive Him, He gives power to become the sons of God, that at last God may receive them as His, to dwell with Him throughout all eternity. If during this life they are loyal to God, they will at last “see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads.” And what is the happiness of heaven but to see God? What greater joy could come to the sinner, saved by the grace of Christ, than to look upon the face of God, and know Him as Father? “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). {9MR 124.1}

Some today are coming to hold false ideas of the invisible God [Reference to certain pantheistic teachings advocated by certain SDA medical leaders around the turn of the century.], and are presenting these ideas to others. Let those who do this know that their childish portrayal of God is a misconception. They know not God. Before the world, before angels, and before men, they are giving a false representation of Him. {9MR 124.2}

To those to whom these fanciful interpretations are presented, I would say, “Let not these sentiments charm your senses, and lead you into paths of Satan’s making. Beware, beware, of spiritualistic [Spiritualism, a system of interpretation that spiritualizes the teachings of the Scriptures.] ideas of God. Those who entertain such ideas greatly dishonor Him. Let everyone humble His heart before God.”—Manuscript 124, 1903, pp. 1-6. (“A Personal God,” October 14, 1903). {9MR 124.3}

Christ a Sinless Being Sent From Heaven—God did for us the very best thing that He could do when He sent from heaven a sinless Being to manifest to this world of sin what those who are saved must be in character—pure, holy, and undefiled, having Christ formed within. He sent His ideal in His Son, and bade men build characters in harmony with this ideal. And in all His ministry, all His self-denial and self-sacrifice, Christ’s object was to reveal God to the world. It was not merely a theory of the excellence of divine mercy that was to be presented to the world. Christ came, and in the likeness of man wrought out before the world a perfect character, that the world may be without excuse.—Letter 58, 1906, p. 3. (To Brethren Washburn, Prescott, Daniells, and Colcord, January 16, 1900.) {9MR 125.1}

Christ Employed the Human Faculties to Comprehend Humanity—Oh, what great privileges are granted to all who are not only professors, but doers of the words of Christ! The knowledge of Christ as the Sin-Bearer, the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, enables us to live a life of holiness. This is the only safeguard to preserve the happiness of the human family. Satan realizes that without this knowledge we should be thrown into confusion, divested of our strength, our faith weakened, and thus we should be deceived by every artifice he might choose to practice upon us. His plans have been wisely made to carry out his purpose to destroy man. He endeavors to throw his hellish shadow, like the pall of death, between God and man, that he may hide Jesus from our view, that we may forget His ministry of love and mercy, and that he may prevent further disclosures of God’s great love and power to usward. He would intercept every ray of light from heaven. {9MR 125.2}

It is Satan speaking through any man who intimates that we cannot overcome as Jesus did and by the same means. Such men divest us of our strength which comes through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit as GRACE POWER for obedience. Romans 1:5.

Christ alone was able to represent the Deity. He who had been in the presence of the Father from the beginning, He who was the express image of the invisible God, was alone sufficient to accomplish this work. No verbal description could reveal God to the world. Through a life of purity, a life of perfect trust and submission to the will of God, a life of humiliation such as even the highest seraph in heaven would have shrunk from, God Himself must be revealed to humanity. In order to do this, our Saviour clothed His divinity with humanity. He employed the human faculties, for only by adopting these could He be comprehended by humanity. Only humanity could reach humanity. He lived out the character of God through the body which God had prepared for Him. He blessed the world by living out in human flesh the life of God, thus showing that He had the power to unite humanity to divinity.—Manuscript 44, 1895, pp. 1-2. (“A Great Work to Be Done.”) {9MR 126.1}

White Estate

Washington, D. C.,

March 19, 1979.

^{^[1]}White, Ellen Gould: The Truth About Angels. Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1996; 2002, S. 36

^{^[2]}White, Ellen Gould: The Truth About Angels. Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1996; 2002, S. 22

^{^[3]}White, Ellen Gould: The Truth About Angels. Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1996; 2002, S. 24

^{^[4]}White, Ellen Gould: The Truth About Angels. Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1996; 2002, S. 32

^{^[5]}White, Ellen Gould: The Truth About Angels. Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1996; 2002, S. 27