Modern-day Adventist Opponents

The Eternal Existence of Christ

“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.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 7}

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There are some afoot who propose to understand the Godhead better than Ellen White did. She said that Christ was God in the highest sense, and that He existed from eternity. The Bible says that Jesus is as one brought up with the Father.

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

Ellen White said that we will be studying the subject of the Godhead and the Incarnation for eternity. Yet, there are individuals who believe they have it just about all figured out right now.

I don’t propose to know how Jesus is both God and the Son of God. I don’t propose to know how and why Jesus is referred to Jehovah and Almighty, the Alpha and Omega in Scripture. But I accept and believe what the Bible says until God further instructs us in the heavenly courts above. This document is for the purpose of demonstrating that there are contradictions to the positions taken by some who propose that Jesus was brought forth or begotten at some point in distant time, rather than existing for eternity as scripture and Ellen White attest. This document contains an email of a friend of mine to me on this issue. My friend, James Franks (alias James King) and Russell Unterschultz, propose to take positions that contradict scripture and Ellen White. They both quote some pioneers who made semi-Arian views at one time and/or believed that Christ was begotten at some time subsequent to the Father, and/or finally took sides with Kellogg in pantheism.

Jesus as Jehovah God in the Old and New Testament

http://www.abideinchrist.info/jesusjehovah.html

----- Original Message -----

From: Ron Beaulieu

To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 7:41 PM

Subject: [AdventistHotIssues] Re: Hope

It is a major mistake to quote the pioneers (except Ellen White) on the divinity and/or eternity of Christ's existence because they all erred on these issues at one time or another. What the pioneers said does not trump what Christ Himself said in Revelation. Christ said that He was the alpha and omega in Revelation 1 and 22:13 and 16. We will examine those verses. I do not always uphold the findings of the SDA Bible Commentary, but in this all important instance, it is entirely correct.

In its commentary on the first mention of Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1, the SDA Bible Commentary says that the first mention may or may not refer to Christ, but that the mention of Alpha and Omega in verses 11-18: "...the expression "Alpha and Omega" is clearly identified with Christ who also declares Himself to be 'the first and the last." In ch. 22:13 the phrase 'Alpha and Omega' refers to Christ, as is evident from v. 16. The Father and the Son share theme timeless attributes." SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 734.

Revelation 11:12-21 with special emphasis on verses 13 and 16. Those who add to these words, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. Those who take away (deny) from these words shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Any testimony that says or implies that Jesus is not the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, takes away from these words and at the same time adds to them by way of whatever interpretation should add to these words. The wise will beware.

Some men are wont to explain what they do not understand in an effort to come up with something new and thereby distinguish themselves by their own intellect and/or construe a message of their own devising. To the degree that they imbibe this stumbling block, they will aid antichrist and disqualify themselves from eternal life.

¹²And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

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

¹⁴Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

¹⁵For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

¹⁶I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

²⁰He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

²¹The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: Ron Beaulieu

To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 8:02 PM

Subject: Re: Hope

Revelation 1:11-18, with special emphasis on verses 11-18:

Revelation 1

¹The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

²Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

³Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

⁴John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

⁶And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

⁷Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

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

Note: It is Jesus who is to come. It is Jesus referring to Himself at Almighty.

⁹I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

¹¹Saying, 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.

¹²And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

¹³And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

¹⁴His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

¹⁵And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

¹⁷And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

¹⁸I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: Ron Beaulieu

To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 1:16 AM

Subject: Re: Hope

For my "Private" friend (James Franks alias James King) in the post below) and Russell Unterschultz.

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: Ron Beaulieu

To: James King (Real name James Franks)

Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 3:06 PM

Subject: Re: Hope

Hi James,

I think it interesting that you did not highlight the first sentence in the following quote in red. Eternity, my friend, is eternity any which way you slice it. We must take EVERY WORD and interpret so that NOT ONE WORD CONTRADICTS. Any diversion from that word in the first sentence of the following quote is a diversion from the truth.

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

The all simple solution to the entire issue is that the Son and the Father were of the same substance--the one eternal spirit. That spirit was eternal so both have of necessity to be eternal. And somewhere I read by Ellen White that beging begotten meant the Incarnation. That is what I deduce from the following of your quotes:

The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind. (E. G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 9,1895)

Christ was torn from the Father's bosom at the Incarnation. The begotten part was at the Incarnation when the Son was sent down to earth.

Any tampering with the eternalness of the Holy Spirit, the soul of the life of Christ, will sweep away the entire Christian economy which is as antichrist as one can get. You might not agree with this assessment, but this is what God has shown me.

All blessings,

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: Ron Beaulieu

To: James King

Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 3:06 PM

Subject: Re: Hope

Hi James,

Christ was torn from the Father's bosom at the Incarnation. The begotten part was at the Incarnation when the Son was sent down to earth.

All blessings,

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: James King

To: RonB

Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 11:22 AM

Subject: Hope

“Hi Ron,

Greetings, Brother.

As you are aware, I consider you to be a true Christian Brother. In fact, I have always thought of you as: doing the best you can in an effort to be a true and faithful defender of the Christian faith.

Personally, I feel that I have been blessed by my relationship with you. And, to be quite forthright, I sincerely hope that we will always be "in good standing" with one-another.

You may or may not be aware, but I am inclined to think that, [to the best of my knowlege], there are only about 4 or 5 "Religious Issues" that you and I are not in 100% agreement on. Fact is, I truly believe that 3 or 4 of those "Issues" (that is: all but one), are what I consider to be "Side Issues". -- Sure, anyone can turn anything into a Salvational Issue, but for the sake of simplicity, I beg you: Let's not go down that road. Let's leave those things to be "side issues", for they really are.

But what I want to discuss with you is the One "Issue", that, in my understanding, is far too important to be classified as a mere "side issue". It concerns Almighty God, the Father and His son Jesus Christ. And more specifically, it concerns the "begotten" Issue.

Now, I am willing to admit, that you and I may not be "at-odds" on this Issue after-all. That is, I realise the possibility that we are actually in agreement, but for whatever reason, we have not actually acknowledged such.

But the fact of the matter is, based on my observations, I have a notion that we may not be in agreement. -- And this has caused a tremendous burden on my soul, which I have been carrying for about three or four years. I have often prayed to God concerning this very thing, for I have been troubled intensely over this.

(Oh how I've longed to speak with you on the phone like we used to. I really miss those conversations. --- but unfortunately, due to my financial situation, that isn't currently possible. ... unless, you were to have Skype. -- www.skype.com)

About two years ago, I had an epiphany, a moment of revelation, if you will. Now don't misunderstand me, I am not claiming to have had a "vision". I simply believe that God showed me something, (via: He put a thought in my head), and, after doing a rather "deep" prayerful study, I am truly convinced that such is/was the case. (For I have personally been through this very thing before, but on other "topics/issues"). --- And thus, it is my sincere hopes that I can give all the glory/credit to God -- Amen -- for I learned these things from Him -- and no man (per se').

I am sending an attached document; (it's relatively short). In that document, you will find what I believe to be a reasonably accurate illustration of Bible Truth. --- It is my sincere prayer that you will see the same beauty that I see.

Christian Love and Blessings,

James

3 John 1:2 -- Beloved, I wish above all things that all goes well with thee and thou be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth. (James' interpretation).”

James included the following study as an attachment. My emphases within his quoted statements and my comments on those quoted statements will appear in this color print. It should be remembered that Kellogg thought that his findings on the Godhead were beautiful as well.

In a past vision, God showed me that the Son was forth brought forth (begotten) as the arch angel (before God announced that His son was to be worshipped as equal to Himself and that the angel’s should obey His Son) to prove to the fallen angels that they need not have fallen just as He was brought forth as a human to prove that we need not have fallen. I had asked the Lord to show me what He did from the time He was slain from the foundation of the earth, to His coming to this earth, to wit:

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

I kept the alias used by James Franks (James King) confidential for a long time now, but since this important disagreement has arisen, I believe it is essential to give his true identity that none will be confused over this. He has told me privately over the phone that he believes that I function as Elijah and that he will function as Elisha to succeed me. First of all, I don’t believe I function as Elijah. I believe Ellen White served that function and that no one will excel her in doing so. And I don’t believe Elisha will succeed Elijah for the Bible makes no such allusion at the end time. God has not informed me in any sense that James Franks will succeed me should I pass before Jesus comes. Rather, I would say that there are privately held indications that the exact opposite will accrue—that James Franks will never succeed me even if I do pass.

Also, I believe that when the Bible says in reference to Elijah “he” will come,” I believe this is just a literary device and does not demand that a male should fulfill the role of Elijah at the end-time. I don’t believe anyone will ever achieve the work Ellen White did in bringing the hearts of men together (unity—the purpose of the Holy Spirit gift to the church) and turning them to God. But God’s Word does indeed say in the plural that men and women will have dreams and visions at the end-time and God instructs us to “covet to prophesy.” Now here is James Franks’ study on the Godhead.

Romans 1:20 "the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made"

Long before the creation of this world, in Heaven, there was brewing a misunderstanding of God's government. Michael the archangel, (Captain of the Lord's host), and Lucifer the covering cherub, each stood next to the throne of God, and thus shared the closest position to the King of Heaven. For a time, there was perfect order.

But Lucifer eventually noticed that Michael had certain "special privileges" with God. For example, God and Michael would often commune alone in private counsel, (ie: just the two of them, no-one else). Lucifer began to feel jealous and left out. "And coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone." (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 34 and 35).

Because Lucifer eventually refused to accept God's "chain of command" in the order of Heaven, he began disputing the authority of Michael over him, and then, he demanded equality! That is, Lucifer wanted to be co-equal with Christ. --- But this could never be; because Lucifer and Michael were in fact, two very different kinds of beings! --- In short, Lucifer did not understand that he was a son of God by creation; and Michael/Christ was "a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person". (Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895, and numerous other SOP references).

As this rebellion grew it became apparent that many of the other angels did not completely understand this either. God then called everyone together for a special meeting, so He could resolve the misunderstanding.

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

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 himselff; 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." (SOP vol. 1, p. 17, par. 1-2).

In "Patriarchs and Prophets" we find additional clarification of the account:

"The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. The Son of God shared the Father's throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled both. About the throne gathered the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng--"ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" (Revelation 5:11.), the most exalted angels, as ministers and subjects, rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity. Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. The Son of God had wrought the Father's will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants. But in all this He would not seek power or exaltation for Himself contrary to God's plan, but would exalt the Father's glory and execute His purposes of beneficence and love." (PP; p. 36, par. 2).

Note by Ron: Christ was also begotten of God to be the Arch Angel over the angelic host.

In the aftermath of this "meeting", the angels became divided. Some sided with Lucifer and "They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. This fact the [fallen] angels would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God" (EGW, Letter 42, April 29, 1910, to Elder D.A. Parsons in California).

Adam and Eve

To further demonstrate before the angels the proper relation between God the Father and His Son, (The Godhead), the creation of man was made. "For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels" 1 Cor 4:9. -- that is: The Godhead agreed to make man just like themselves, in order to demonstrate to the universe their own relationship.

Adam and Eve were to be the most sublime model of the Father and Son. "And God said, Let us make man in our own image" Gen 1:26; "In the day that God created man, He made him in His likeness" Gen 5:1; "Men have been made in the likeness of God" James 3:9; "So God created man in his image...male and female" Gen 1:27; "At the beginning he made them male and female" Matt 19:4; "Adam was first formed, then Eve" 1 Tim 2:13; "For the husband is the head of the wife" Eph 5:23; "... the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" 1 Cor 11:3.

Mankind was thus made in the image of Godkind in that there are two distinct individuals with the same nature that become united in a bond of cooperative fellowship based on love and respect, and, operating under authority and submission.

Begotten

At the end of each day of creation, God said, "It is good". But then He made Adam in His own image and God said, "It is not good - that man should be alone" Gen 2:18. Adam was alone. And it was not good. So woman was brought forth "out of man" from a part of his very own body -- to exist as part of his very own body.

"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made (Hebrew: builded) he a woman, and brought her unto the man." Gen 2:21,22

"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ... and they shall be one flesh." Gen 2:23,24

Adam and Eve were two very unique human beings. There has never been another two like them -- both were indeed "one of a kind".

Adam: the only human not begotten - in any sense of the word.

Eve: the only human begotten from another human's side. --- That is: She was not created ex nihilo - from nothing - nor was she born as all other humans since have been born - from a mother --- but rather - she was literally taken out of Adam's bosom. --- One could even say that she existed in Adam, an inherent part of him, before she was taken out and brought forth.

"Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam… to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation." (Patriarchs and Prophets p. 46)

Though equal in nature and substance, Eve came from Adam. In essence, Adam gave a part of himself so that Eve could be formed. She was dependent on him for her substance and nature. She was to be "a help meet for him" Gen 2:20. An assistant fit for him, suitable for him -- just like him, per se'.

So also the Word, (aka: Michael, aka, Jesus), is the unique Son of God begotten of the Father, taken from His bosom, His side, to be the Father's Second Self, that is: "an associate—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy" (Patriarchs and Prophets p. 34).

Note by Ron: The following statement is taken from the same page as the above statement in Patriarchs and Prophets:

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate--a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father--one in nature, in character, in purpose--the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. His "goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting. . . . When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him." Proverbs 8:22-30. {PP 34.1}

Note by Ron: The above quote is a direct mention of the Incarnation—nothing more, nothing less. Ron

Jesus, talking about himself, said that he "... came forth from the Father ..." John 16:28; and then, just a few minutes later in that same scene, while Jesus was praying to His Father, Jesus said that the disciples "... have known surely that I came out from Thee, ..." John 17:8.

Note by Ron: Another direct reference to the “begotten” state of Christ at His Incarnation. Ron

Eve was the same substance as Adam. They were both equal in nature. She was just as human as he was. But Eve was begotten in a different manner than all other humans.

So, too, the Son of God was begotten of his Father. They both had the same divine substance, both equal in nature. Christ was just as divine as his Father. But the Son was begotten in a different manner in eternity past than when he was later born of a virgin named Mary.

Note by Ron: This does not equate with Jesus calling Himself the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end. It does not equate with Christ saying it was as thought He was brought up together with the Father. Ron.

Adam and Eve were essentially the same age; both appeared on day six.

Father and Son are essentially of the same age; both are from eternity.

As Adam begat Eve, the Father begat Christ, (and Christ begets us, giving us His spirit, as Adam gave his rib to Eve).

As Adam and Eve were one flesh, so also the Father and Son are one spirit, (so also are we the body of Christ when we partake of that same spirit).

Clearly then, we can understand something of the relationship between the Father and the Son by studying the creation of our earthly parents: Adam and Eve.

Note: There are more beautiful Truths (plural) to be understood from pursuing such study. But I will reserve those for another "meal".

Blessings,

James

JF alias JK

*******

A Few Additional Notes:

Our Seventh Day Adventist pioneers testify:

"The Scriptures declare that Christ is “the only begotten son of God.” He is begotten, not created" (E. J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, p. 21).

Note by Ron: The following statement is a direct reference to Christ’s Incarnation, not any begotten status before the Incarnation.

"He was born of the Holy Ghost. In other words, Jesus Christ was born again. He came from heaven, God’s first-born, to the earth, and was born again. But all in Christ’s work goes by opposites for us: He, the sinless one, was made to be sin in order that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. He, the living One, the Prince and Author of life, died that we might live. He whose goings forth have been from the days of eternity, the first-born of God, was born again in order that we might be born again" (A. T. Jones, Christian Perfection, paragraph 53). (This is also found in Lessons on Faith, p.154.)

"He who was born in the form of God took the form of man" (A. T. Jones, The General Conference Bulletin, 1895, p. 449).

"Christ is the only literal Son of God. “The only begotten of the Father.” John 1:14. He is God because he is the Son of God; not by virtue of His resurrection. If Christ is the only begotten of the Father, then we cannot be begotten of the Father in a literal sense. It can only be in a secondary sense of the word" (John Matteson, The Review & Herald, October 12, 1869).

"The Scriptures nowhere speak of Christ as a created being, but on the contrary plainly state that he was begotten of the Father." (Uriah Smith, Daniel and Revelation, p. 430)

"God alone is without beginning. At the earliest epoch when a beginning could be, - a period so remote that to finite minds it is essentially eternity, - appeared the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. This uncreated Word was the Being, who, in the fulness of time, was made flesh, and dwelt among us. His beginning was not like that of any other being in the universe. It is set forth in the mysterious expressions, “his [God’s] only begotten Son” (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9), “the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14), and, “I proceeded forth and came from God.” John 8:42" (Uriah Smith, Looking Unto Jesus, p.10).

Ron’s note: The above quote by Uriah Smith was used by him in a deceptive way to imply something it does not address. In the full context of the verse, Jesus was referring to His Incarnation coming to this earth. Both James King and Uriah Smith are using this reference erroneously. This is not indicative of receiving a message from God as James attests. Therefore James, I rebuke you and Uriah Smith alike. The Holy Spirit does not so err.

“42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” John 8:42.

"The rainbow in the clouds is but a symbol of the rainbow which has encircled the throne from eternity. Back in the ages, which finite mind cannot fathom, the Father and Son were alone in the universe. Christ was the first begotten of the Father, and to Him Jehovah made known the divine plan of Creation" (Stephen Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos, pp. 93, 94).

Note by Ron: Again, Haskell is referring DIRECTLY TO THE INCARNATION as it pertains to the divine plan of creation. The everlasting covenant was just that—EVERLASTING. The Father and the Son agreed upon that Covenant from Everlasting. Thus, the Son is referred to as “begotten” of the Father by the act of His Incarnation. The following statement is a direct reference to the Incarnation as well and unmistakeably so:

"Christ was the firstborn in heaven; He was likewise the firstborn of God upon earth, and heir to the Father’s throne. Christ, the firstborn, though the Son of God, was clothed in humanity, and was made perfect through suffering" (Stephen Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos, p. 98).

"But if I am asked what I think of Jesus Christ, my reply is, I believe all that the Scriptures say of him. If the testimony represents him as being in glory with the Father before the world was, I believe it. If it is said that he was in the beginning with God, that he was God, that all things were made by him and for him, and that without him was not anything made that was made, I believe it. If the Scriptures say he is the Son of God, I believe it. If it is declared that the Father sent his Son into the world, I believe he had a Son to send. … Children inherit the name of their father. The Son of God “hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than” the angels" (R. F. Cottrell, The Review & Herald, June 1 1869, emphasis in the original).

Note by Ron: The time at which the Son was brought forth from the bosom of the Father was at His Incarnation. We don’t have to wonder about that. Micah 5:2 say Christ’s goings forth have been from eternity. Eternity is eternity is eternity! The time that Christ proceeded forth anc came from the bosom of the Father was at His Incarnation. There is no cause for wonderment over that fact, as does Waggoner in the following quote of James by Waggoner. Christ was slain from the foundation of the earth.

"As to when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told. The prophet Micah tells us all that we can know about it in these words, “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 the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. There was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God, from the bosom of the Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning" (E. J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, pp. 21, 22).

Note by Ron: That is as foolish as saying that there was a time when the Holy Spirit proceeded forth and came from God—from the bosom of the Father. What Micha 5:2 really means is that Christ, whose going forth were from eternity, at His Incarnation, came forth from the bosom of the Father where the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT and the three persons to the Godhead were ONE. Prior to His Incarnation, Christ was the Holy Spirit. So the Father, the Holy Spirit and Christ have always existed, but not as three distinct and separate persons until the Incarnation. To some this will appear to be a contradiction of Ellen White’s statement that there are three heavenly dignitaries, but it is not. All three always existed, but the Holy Spirit was divested from Christ’s human personality when He was combined with humanity.

"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.

Definition of Holy Spirit

"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, 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.

Divested

Eternal Sacrifice Divine Soul

"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.

"In arguing the perfect equality of the Father and the Son, and the fact that Christ is in very nature God, we do not design to be understood as teaching that the Father was not before the Son. It should not be necessary to guard this point, lest some should think that the Son existed as soon as the Father; yet some go to that extreme, which adds nothing to the dignity of Christ, but rather detracts from the honor due him, since many throw the whole thing away rather than accept a theory so obviously out of harmony with the language of Scripture, that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He was begotten, not created. He is of the substance of the Father, so that in his very nature he is God; and since this is so “it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” Col. 1:19 … While both are of the same nature, the Father is first in point of time. He is also greater in that he had no beginning, while Christ’s personality had a beginning" (E. J. Waggoner, The Signs of the Times, April 8, 1889).

Note by Ron: Ellen White said that there are three eternal heavenly dignitaries. Christ’s personality as God combined with humanity had a beginning—at the Incarnation. Prior to that, His personality was the Holy Spirit. Ellen White expressly stated that the Holy Spirit was the soul of His life. Did the ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT exist from eternity? Indeed it did, and to say that Christ did not exist eternally and was at some later time brought forth, is to say that the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, God, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WAS AT SOME LATER TIME BROUGHT FORTH.

"The Father was greater than the Son in that he was first. The Son was equal with the Father in that he had received all things from the Father" (James White, The Review & Herald, January 4, 1881).

Note by Ron: James White and the pioneers at one time did not believe Christ was divine. He was an Arian at one time. We thus cannot quote James White and the pioneers (except Ellen White) as an authority. Arianism and/or semi-Arianism is alive and well today via the teachings of such men as James Franks (Alias James King) and Russell Unterschultz and many others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism

"Arianism" is also often used to refer to other nontrinitarian theological systems of the 4th century, which regarded Jesus Christ—the Son of God, the Logos—as either a created being (as in Arianism proper and Anomoeanism), or as neither uncreated nor created in the sense other beings are created (as in Semi-Arianism).

Arius taught that God the Father and the Son did not exist together eternally. He taught that the pre-incarnate Jesus was a divine being created by (and therefore inferior to) God the Father at some point, before which the Son did not exist.^[4] In English-language works, it is sometimes said that Arians believe that Jesus is or was a "creature"; in the sense of "created being". Arius and his followers appealed to Bible verses such as John 14:28 where Jesus says that the father is "greater than I", and to Proverbs 8:22 which states "The Lord created me at the beginning of his work"^[5] although this verse is now generally held to refer to some concept of "wisdom" rather than to the Son of God.^[6]

Of all the various disagreements within the Christian Church, the Arian controversy has held the greatest force and power of theological and political conflict, with the possible exception of the Protestant Reformation. The conflict between Arianism and Trinitarian beliefs was the first major doctrinal confrontation in the Church after the legalization of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine I.^[7]

“The controversy over Arianism began to rise in the late 3rd century and extended over the greater part of the 4th century and involved most church members, simple believers, priests and monks as well as bishops, emperors and members of Rome's imperial family. Yet, such a deep controversy within the Church could not have materialized in the 3rd and 4th centuries without some significant historical influences providing the basis for the Arian doctrines. Many historians define and minimize the Arian conflict as the exclusive construct of Arius and a handful of rogue bishops engaging in heresy. Of the roughly three hundred bishops in attendance at the Council of Nicea, only three bishops did not sign the Nicene Creed. However, to minimize the extent of Arianism ignores the fact that extremely prominent Emperors such as Constantius II, and Valens were Arians, as well as prominent Gothic, Vandal and Lombard warlords both before and after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and that none of these groups was out of the mainstream of the Roman Empire in the 4th century.”
End note by Ron.

"And as to the Son of God, he would be excluded also, for he had God for his Father, and did, some point at the eternity of the past, have beginning of days. So that if we use Paul’s language in an absolute sense, it would be impossible to find but one being in the universe, and that is God the Father, who is without father, or mother, or descent, or beginning of days, or end of life" (J. N. Andrews, The Review & Herald, September 7, 1869).

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

Note by Ron: I would advise a study of the many different usages of the words “brought forth” in Scripture.

The above statement is a classic example of how surface study can result in an erroneous position. Go to this link: http://bible.worthwhile.com/bible.php?b=prov&c=8&v=0&d=8&w=0

Click on Proverbs 8:24 for the following meaning of “brought forth.” Consider that Scripture says that Christ was slain from the foundation of the earth. That would be before ever the earth was. Now notice the meaning of the words “brought forth” in Proverbs 8:24. Was Christ “brought forth” (begotten—slain) from the foundation of the earth to suffer all the things I have highlighted in this color in the following definition of “brought forth?”

Number 2342

Transliteration:

chuwl {khool} or chiyl {kheel}

Word Origin:

a primitive root

TWOT:

623

Part of Speech:

verb

Usage in the KJV:

pain 6, formed 5, bring forth 4, pained 4, tremble 4, travail 4, dance 2, calve 2, grieved 2, grievous 2, wounded 2, shake 2, misc 23

Total: 62

Definition:

1. to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained

A. (Qal)

a. to dance

b. to twist, writhe

c. to whirl, whirl about

B. (Polel)

a. to dance

b. to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth

c. to wait anxiously

C. (Pulal)

a. to be made to writhe, be made to bear

b. to be brought forth

D.(Hophal) to be born

E. (Hithpolel)

a. whirling (participle)

b. writhing, suffering torture (participle)

c. to wait longingly

F. (Hithpalpel) to be distressed

TDNT - Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TWOT - Theological Word Book of the Old Testament

In Revelation 12:5, the man child that was to rule all nations, Christ, was “brought forth.”

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.

Note by Ron: The following statement is a direct reference to the Incarnation.

Ron’s note: Yes, Christ was torn from the Father’s bosom when He was Incarnated and sent down to earth.

"In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history" (Ellen G. White, Life Sketches, p. 196).

---------

We can understand how God can bless human beings. We can even understand how He can bless animals and give them their work to do in carrying out God’s purpose; but how can God bless a day, a division of time, neither animate nor inanimate, not alive nor dead, a thing without substance, a conception rather than a reality; time, which defies definition, though all mankind is aware of its existence and reality? How can time be blessed so as to be a blessing to man?

The answer is that time does not have any virtue or power in itself to be a blessing or a help to others. Time is as impersonal as space, and equally inconceivable. One difference between the two is noticeable: space extends in all directions, while time might be compared to a one-way road, permitting traffic in one direction only. Man has no power over time, to hasten or retard it. Whether he will or not, he is carried along with it, and despite all protests is one day older tomorrow than he is today. He cannot reverse the process, however much he may wish to do so. Time is superior to him, and he obeys its mandates.

There are those who believe that God did not create time, but that in some way He found it already existing. But this cannot be. Time and space are not self-existent entities, operating apart from God and independent of Him. If that were true, they would be equal with God, or even His superior; for that which is coeval with God or exists prior to God must at least be equal with Him; and that which is not created by God is self-existent and is God. The Christian believes that “without Him was not anything made that was made,” and that time and space are created by God as verily as anything else He has made. John 1:3.

Though the two conceptions of time and space are beyond human comprehension, each is helpful in understanding the other. Our conception of space, for example, helps us to understand time better, and how it is possible for God to bless time. (M. L. Andreasen, The Sabbath, pp. 54,55)

******************

John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Note by Ron: Yes, Jesus came forth from the Father at the Incarnation, to come into the world. This does not in any way prove that Christ came forth in any other way. At best, it would be evidence that could be interpreted in more than one way.

John 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Note by Ron: Another direct reference to the Incarnation coming of Christ and being sent of Him. This is a dishonest and/or a very erroneous attempt at proffering as “evidence,” something it does not in any way refer to or support!

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Note by Ron: The above verse is a direct reference to the Incarnation and Christ being sent of God by that means. Spiritual discernment on the part of the writer (James) would have recognized this fact of truth.

EGW's statement concerning: "... life, original, unborrowed, underived ...".

"In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as His personal Saviour. 'This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent' (John 17:3). This is the open fountain of life for the world." (1SM 296)

This 1SM-296 quote is often used as "the absolute proof" that Jesus did not inherit His divinity -- to the complete exclusion of all other clear evidence to the contrary.

Ron’s note: Ellen White refers to three eternal beings. If Christ was later “inherited,” He was not eternal nor could He refer to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the Almighty.

The Bible clearly states that Jesus is the express image of the Father (Heb 1:2-4) and that He was given to have life in Himself as the Father did (John 5:26).

Note by Ron: In His Incarnated form, He was given to have life in Himself as the Father did, for He said He could raise Himself in three days.

The remainder is by Ron:

Note by Ron: Jesus was given to have life in Himself when He was incarnated, and not before. Before Christ was appointed as the arch angel and later the sacrifice for man’s sin, He was not given to have life in Himself. He HAD THE LIFE OF THE ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit, the soul of His life which was eternal. This entire study by James Franks and similar ones given by Russell Unterschultz, do total despite to the “highest good, crowning gift that heaven can bestow,” but they do not have the spiritual discernment to see how this accrues-- to wit:

"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, 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....

If the Holy Spirit, THE ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, is the soul of the life of Christ, that He possessed before His Incarnation, and which gift He bestowed to us at His Incarnation, then He had to be ETERNAL, for that ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT IS INDEED ETERNAL.

The grave error of James Franks, Russell Unterschultz and others they quote, is to undermine and sweep away the entire Christian economy, by saying that the Son of God, and THE HOLY SPIRIT person He was before His Incarnation, was begotten rather than eternal. Scripture says that Christ offered Himself up through the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT.

9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the [ONE] eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit which was His eternal Holy Spirit from everlasting—His previous estate of BEING before His Incarnation. To say that ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, the very essence and substance of God, was brought forth at some subsequent time to eternity, does total despite to the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT essence and substance of the Holy Spirit, the soul of the life of Christ. What such men are saying is that the Holy Spirit, THE ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT did not exist at some point in time. This is tantamount to saying that God did not exist at some point in time.

Jesus was the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant. As Testator for any violation of the Law of God Almighty, He had to be the Alpha and Omega God, for only God could Atone for any breach in His Law. Also, if we are to worship only one God, as the law of God commands, the three persons to the Godhead must all have the same substance –the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, with the emphasis on ETERNAL, lest we worship the greater God (Father) and a lesser God, His son, and attribute the highest good, crowning gift of heaven, to a lesser Being than God Himself!

Using SOP's Rules For Interpretation and allowing all inspiration to speak equally to this passage, it becomes very clear that the Life IN Christ which He inherited from His Father was unborrowed and underived. --- The 1SM296 statement speaks of the quality of the inheritance, not the source of the life. --- The passage says "IN Christ" not "OF Christ - independent of the Father".

Ron’s note: The Holy Spirit, the soul of the life of Christ, was the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT that was of necessity ETERNAL. God is a Spirit and there is ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT—“THE” ETERNAL SPIRIT. Christ could not be God in the highest sense if He inherited that position at some time future to all eternity. If THE ETERNAL SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit is the soul of the life of Christ, He is of necessity eternal. Ellen White speaks of the three eternal dignitaries.

It is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) to even suggest that any aspect of the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT was begotten. God in the highest sense, is not any “begotten” or “brought forth” entity except as such applies to the Son in His Incarnated sense.

Holy Ghost – Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. End note.

If the Father has life original and unborrowed and He shares it with His Son AS He Himself has it - then it is the same unborrowed life. -- This is what John 5:26 says. AS the Father has life in Himself SO He has given to the Son to have life in Himself. -- The "AS" and "SO" tell us that it is the same life, the same quality.

Note by Ron: As the Father has inherent eternal life in Himself, so He “gave” this to the Son as well when He was incarnated into a human. This is why Jesus said: Destroy this body and in three day I will raise it up.

Jhn 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. End note.

Interestingly, the Trinitarian view actually creates the situation that the Father's inheritance is something that would damage the Son's divinity, it presents inheritance as a negative and destructive thing. -- Yet inheritance is the very heart of the identity of Christ in Hebrews 1 and 2. The inheritance is the centre of the Christian's joy and confidence, the very heart of Righteousness by Faith.

Ron’s note: If Jesus is God in the highest sense, the Alpha and Omega—even Jehovah, (which we do not understand), how did He inherit that position? If the Son’s past estate is the One Eternal Holy Spirit, as the soul of His life, how die He inherit that position? However, when the Son was Incarnated and combined with humanity, He did inherit His divinity from God and his humanity from His human parents. That is when the Son became an inheritor—when He was begotten into the womb of Mary. Before that, He was as very God as the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT was God.

Any other application of inheritance in regard to Christ as God, is a totally negative and destructive thing because if He was not eternal God, He could not atone for any breach in the eternal law of God. Thus, the Sanctuary would be GONE, the Atonement would be GONE. Thus, the entire Christian economy would be GONE—swept away!

Again, the Ten Commandment Law is the law of God. Only He could atone for any breach in that law. Thus His Son must be God in the highest sense to qualify to atone for any breach of that law. If He was a lesser God by not being eternal and was not the manifest Holy Spirit of the Eternal God—the ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, then He could not function as the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant.

To say that Christ was begotten in any other sense than the Incarnation into angelic being or human being, is to say that the Holy Spirit was begotten, because Ellen White says that the Holy Spirit is the soul of the life of Christ. Where does Scripture says that the Holy Spirit was begotten? When someone, anyone, will provide that evidence, I will be forced to reconsider my position.

I would not appeal to the testimony of Jones’ and Waggoner in this regard when both converted to Kellogg’s pantheism.

Now it lies in the nature of things, as an everlasting truth, that the only name any person can possibly inherit is his father's name. This name, then, of Christ's, which is more excellent than that of the angels, is the name of His Father, and His Father's name is God. The Son's name, therefore, which He has by inheritance, is God. (A.T Jones, Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, Page 14)

The remainder is by Ron:

From Everlasting.--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

616

God, and was God.--Review and Herald, April 5, 1906. {Ev 615.4}

Christ shows them that, although they might reckon His life to be less than fifty years, yet His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.--Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899. {Ev 616.1}

With the Father at Sinai.--When they [Israel] came to Sinai, He took occasion to refresh their minds in regard to His requirements. Christ and the Father, standing side by side upon the mount, with solemn majesty proclaimed the Ten Commandments.--Historical Sketches, p. 231. (1866) {Ev 616.3}

The Eternal Dignitaries of the Trinity.--The eternal heavenly dignitaries--God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, . . . would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.--Manuscript 145, 1901. {Ev 616.4}

Personality of the Holy Spirit.--We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.--Manuscript 66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.) {Ev 616.5}

The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. . . .

617

{Ev 616.6}

The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."--Manuscript 20, 1906. {Ev 617.1}

The Power of God in the Third Person.--The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.--Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, p. 37. (1897) {Ev 617.2}

In Co-operation With the Three Highest Powers.-- We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, --and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God.--Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 51. (1905) {Ev 617.3}

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

24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

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

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

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

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

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

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

To come full circle by way of important conclusion, the men mentioned in this document and any who teach likewise, are willing to directly contradict Ellen White’s following clear statements as though they know more than the Holy Spirit gift to the church. Essentially, these men and those who teach as they do are calling Ellen White a false prophet. That is speaking against the Holy Spirit:

“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.” {RH, April 5, 1906 par. 7}

To some this issue might not seem important, as to whether or not Christ existed eternally or not. But it is very important in light of the fact that if He is not equal to God in every way, He could not be the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant making atonement for any breach in God’s law. The importance of this is further enhanced by the fact that both Christ and the Father were present at the giving of the law on Sinai:

“Christ was the leader of the Hebrews as they marched from Egypt to Canaan. In union with the Father, Christ proclaimed the law amid the thunders of Sinai to the Jews, and when he appeared on earth as a man among men, he came as a descendant of Abraham. Shall we use the same argument concerning the Bible and Christ, and reject them as Jewish, as is done in rejecting the Sabbath of the Lord our God? The Sabbath institution is as closely identified with the Jews as is the Bible, and there is the same reason for the rejection of one as of the other. But the Sabbath is not Jewish in its origin. It was instituted in Eden before there were such a people known as the Jews. The Sabbath was made for all mankind, and was instituted in Eden before the fall of man. The Creator called it "my holy day." Christ announced himself as "the Lord of the Sabbath." Beginning with creation, it is as old as the human race, and having been made for man it will exist as long as man shall exist. Hallowed by the Creator's rest and blessing, the Sabbath was kept by Adam in his innocence in holy Eden, by Adam fallen, yet repentant, when he was driven from his happy estate. It was kept by all the patriarchs from Abel to Noah, to Abraham, to Jacob. When the chosen people were in bondage in Egypt, many, in the midst of the prevailing idolatry, lost their knowledge of God's law; but when the Lord delivered Israel, he proclaimed his law in awful grandeur to the assembled multitude, that they might know his will, and fear and obey him forever.” {ST, November 12, 1894 par. 7}

—rwb