The SDA Church’s Total, Massive State of
Apostasy Abomination
"Mark this point with care: Those who receive
the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented
by a mark by the man in linen, are those 'that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the church.' Testimonies, vol. 3, pp. 266-267.
“The incarnation of Christ
has ever been, and will ever remain, a mystery. That
which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the
ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it
cannot be.”--The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pp. 1128, 1129.
{7ABC 448.2}
If you are even tempted to think that the title of this
document is mere hyperbole, you are a person who needs this enlightenment the
most! We are to sigh and cry for all the abominations in the church, and this
document depicts the worst possible apostasy, and it has been committed by SDA
church leaders. If you believe that we can embrace Rome’s central doctrine
imperviously, you need to learn all of the implications involved if you value
salvation. Though we are counselled to sigh and cry for all the abominations in
the church, this one ALONE makes the church antichrist. There can be no worse
apostasy than one that sweeps away the entire Christian economy, and that is
what we are talking about!
It is
interesting how SDA leaders have publicly stated that there may be apostasy in
the church by way of tares, but that the church is not in apostasy! That lying
divination occurred in a publication by the church entitled: ISSUES: The Seventh-day Adventist Church and Certain Private
Ministries, hereafter referred to as the ISSUES BOOK. In the following
statements found in that publication, the church is stating the negative
effects of independent ministries that say that the church is in apostasy,
while denying that the church is not as wicked as Rome, and is not in a total,
massive state of apostasy:
“How
can a member remain loyal to the SDA Church and its leadership if it is in a
state of ‘great’ apostasy?” p. 107.
“How
can one support an organization that is rotten at its core and for all
practical purposes is in a state of apostasy? The pressure is to separate.” p.
107.
“The
SDA church is certainly not as wicked as the state of Rome!” p. 108.
Would
you believe God’s Word if it said that end-time spiritual Jerusalem, the
professing SDA church, ends up worse than all other denominations? Ezekiel 5:9
says that God is going to do something to Jerusalem that is the worse thing He
ever does. Compare with Matthew 24:21, for it is at the end-time that God does
the worst thing He ever will do. Ezekiel chapter 5 is a take on Ezekiel 9, and
Ellen White said that Ezekiel 9 will be literally fulfilled. God has said in
Ezekiel chapter 5, that the SDA church is MORE wicked than Rome! Why? Because
the SDA church should have known better than to violate the most fundamental
doctrine in all Christianity, the Godhead, because the SDA church has possessed
the gift of prophecy to instruct on this doctrine. To say this is an unfair or
wrongful charge, is to contradict God’s Word.
“It
cannot be rightly said that the total remnant church is in a total, massive
state of apostasy. That is an unfair charge.” p. 108.
“There
is no way that the SDA Church can work with such an independent group if it
cannot lay aside these positions that they have made so central to their work
and mission. Furthermore, the church can hardly expect these people to pull
with a church they consider in a state of ‘great apostasy.’ If they cannot
accept the organized church as a mix of
the wheat and tares--as it will always be--then they should separate.” p.
109.
The
direct inference of the above statement is that the church is not in apostasy,
but there is only a mix of wheat and tares as it will always be. Ellen White
defines tares as insincere believers, whose motives we would have to judge in
order to uproot them. Christ’s Object
Lessons, pp. 70-72, whereas THORNS are open, apostate sinners, who choke
out the wheat and kill it, to wit:
Tares
will be in all churches until the very end. The wheat can mature amongst tares, but it cannot mature
and remain/become pure amongst open sinning, apostate THORNS:
"Thorns sprung up.--The thorns made it impossible for the wheat to mature (see Luke 8:14). In the same way secular
interest prevent the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching
maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate position of being only one
interest among many. For lack of cultivation it withers and eventually dies.
That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is a moral transformation (COL 50). To them, justification is the
sum and substance of religion, and they fail to realize that the Christian life
consists essentially in the process known as sanctification--the process by
which evil traits and tendencies are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of
Jesus Christ." SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 405.
THORN BERRIES
“…The
Lord will not write as wise those who cannot distinguish between a tree that
bears thorn-berries and a tree that bears olives. {EGW, RH, September 7, 1897
par. 15}
"Study
the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the time is passing, and the people
are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great
while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and
important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their
individual experience. The time is short. God is calling will YOU hear? Will
YOU receive His message? Will YOU be converted before it is too late? Soon,
very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3,
5, 7. (To "The churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26,
1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 260.
Begin
at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see
that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the
wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and
who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had
betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for
miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times
have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord
will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His
people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety’ is the cry from men who will never
again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their
transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would
not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men,
maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211.
"The angel with the writer's ink horn is to place a mark upon the
foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the
destroying angel follows this angel (Letter 12, 1886). {4BC 1161.5}
Again, if all the sinners leave the professing SDA church, why does the angel with the writer’s ink horn (Ezekiel 9) begin destruction at the SDA church AFTER there has been a separation from sin and sinners. If you can’t answer the following questions in favor of the apostate SDA church, you had best continue reading.
Questions:
·
If all the bad are shaken out of the church militant to leave it the
purged and purified church triumphant, why does Ezekiel 9 LITERALLY begin at
His Sanctuary, His church, THE HOUSE OF JACOB?
·
Why does God’s Word say in Ezekiel 22:17-31, that in the first literal
fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, A. D. 27-70, that the dross was gathered into the
midst’s of the church (Jerusalem) for burning and melting?
·
If Ezekiel 9 is to be literally fulfilled again, the same thing must
accrue.
"It is impossible for you to unite with those
who are corrupt, and still remain pure. (II Corinthians 6:14, 15 quoted). God
and Christ and the heavenly host would have men know that if he unites with the
corrupt he will become corrupt." E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 4, p. 137.
Open Sinners to
be Separated From the Church
We don’t have to judge the motives of open sinners
in order to uproot them from the church if they will not cease to sin.
"Christ has plainly
taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the
church..." E. G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, 71.
Evidence of The SDA Church’s Total, Massive State of Apostasy -- The
History of the Trinity Doctrine in the SDA Church
Few
Adventists understand that the omega heresy apostasy involves the most
fundamental doctrine to all Christianity, the Godhead of Jesus Christ. This
issue is not even mentioned in ISSUES book of 467 pages.
·
They are totally
ignorant of the history of the acceptance of the Trinity Doctrine into the SDA
church.
·
They are ignorant of
the fact that Ellen White stated that the truth about the personality of God
and Christ constitute pillar, landmark doctrine in the true Seventh-day
Adventist church.
·
They don’t
understand how the alpha heresy of Kellogg resulted in the total eradication of
the Sanctuary Service Atonement of Christ at His Incarnation.
·
They don’t
understand how and why the Trinity Doctrine sweeps away the entire Christian
economy in one fell swoop.
·
They don’t know that
Christ retains His humanity forever.
·
They don’t
understand the simple fact that if there were three eternal persons to the
Godhead, as the Trinity Doctrine falsely teaches, there would need to be
another person added to the Godhead after the Incarnation; after Christ became
combined with humanity FOREVER.
·
They don’t
understand that the Trinity Doctrine is the prime heresy of the Catholic
Church.
The Catholic Church
considers the doctrine of the Trinity to be the "central doctrine" of
their faith:
"The mystery of
the trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based
all the other teachings of the church." Handbook for Today's Catholic, p. 16.
How did the
"central doctrine" of the Catholic Church make its way into, and end
up as a central doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist faith? Fact is, LeRoy
Froom (who some believe to be the Church's most prominent historian) was the
person who was primarily responsible for introducing the Trinitarian doctrine
to the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
In his book "Movement
of Destiny", which was published in 1971, Froom tells us how he came
to write about the Holy Spirit and how he came to believe in the
"Trinity." His account of this is very enlightening in terms of both
his history and his method. Here is what he has to say concerning this:
"May I here make
a frank, personal confession? When back between 1926 and 1928 I was asked by
our leaders to give a series of studies on "The Holy Spirit"... I
found that aside from priceless leads found in the Spirit of Prophecy, there
was practically nothing in our literature setting forth a sound, Biblical
exposition in this tremendous field of study. There were no previous
pathfinding books on the question in our literature."
"I was compelled
to search out a score of valuable books written by men outside of our
Faith….for initial clues and suggestions, and to open up beckoning vistas to
intensive personal study. Having these, I went on from there. But they were
decided early helps. And scores, if not hundreds, could confirm the same
sobering conviction that some of these other men frequently had a deeper
insight into the spiritual things of God than many of our own men had on the
Holy Spirit and the triumphant life. It was still a largely obscure
theme…."
"It was then that
I again saw the peerless pre-eminence of the Spirit of Prophecy portrayals that
not only supported but greatly enhanced the choicest gems of truth glimpsed in
part by these other writers…."
Froom then exclaims:
"Thank God, that time of reticence and misunderstanding has passed….This
is the supreme hour….Thank God, that final awakening is definitely underway. Movement of Destiny, p. 322: Review & Herald Publishing Association,
1971.
Froom makes the
personal conclusion that the "Truth of the Trinity" was an inevitable
evolution in our theology stemming from the 1888 Conference and message:
"When once the
sublime truth of the complete Deity of Christ…was affirmed by a growing number
at and after the Minneapolis session, emphasis on certain inseparably related
truths followed inevitably."
"Thus the Truth
of the Trinity was set forth in Tract form by the Pacific Press…in February,
1892….It was not written by one of our own men, but by "the late Dr.
Samuel Spear."…. This sound and helpful tract by Spear…. was simple, but
adequate, as the first step in recognition and declaration. It was the logical
aftermath of 1888."
Froom also concludes
his study by claiming that the book "The
Desire of Ages" presented an "inspired depiction" of the
trinity doctrine and because of this it has become our denominations'
"accepted position." Froom boasts that the "Desire of Ages" was even publicized in a prominent Catholic
journal (as if this adds credibility to the book). Here it is in his own words:
"...The Desire of Ages, of course, presented an
inspired depiction, and was consequently destined to become the
denominationally accepted position…. The Desire of Ages…. is one of the most
highly esteemed books of the Denomination-a recognized classic, even publicized
in such a Catholic journal as the "Universal Fatima News" for
September 1965." Movement of Destiny,
pp. 323, 324.
The motive for Mr.
Froom's obvious pride in its endorsement and publicity in a "Catholic
Journal" is puzzling. One cannot reasonably conclude that this inclusion
adds anything to the credibility of the book, or proves that The Desire of Ages supports the doctrine
of the Trinity!
More than interesting
is LeRoy Froom's account of how he came to believe in the Trinity and the
methodology he obviously employed in arriving at his conclusions. Mr. Froom did
not start his study with the Bible and then move on to the writings of Ellen
White before turning to "outside" sources. Mr. Froom did his study in
the exact opposite order! He began with the writings and theologies of
"men outside our faith" and worked his way back to the writings of
Ellen White in order to find support for his conclusions.
Our denomination would
most certainly never have been brought into existence if we had begun our study
of such topics as the Sabbath, the State of the Dead, the Sanctuary, and others
if we had conducted our study of these subjects in the manner that Mr. Froom
employed! And when it comes to the Trinity doctrine the fact is that Ellen
White never used the term "Trinity" in any of her writings, and as we
will see, she NEVER supported this doctrine WHICH NEGATES THE HEAVENLY ASPECT
OF THE INCARNATION SANCTUARY/ATONEMENT, which sacrifice did indeed BEGIN in the
heavenly Sanctuary. How do we know this for sure?
In the alpha heresy
involving John Harvey Kellogg, Ellen White said that his book Living Temple rendered the Sanctuary and
the Atonement as GONE, to wit:
Sanctuary Gone Atonement Gone -- "In a representation
which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done by medical missionary
workers. Our ministering brethren were
looking on, watching what was being done, but they did not seem to understand. The foundation of our faith,
which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the
Scriptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have
nothing to rest upon--the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone." E.G. White, The Upward Look, 152.
SDA leaders were looking on when some traitors
smuggled the antichrist doctrine of the Trinity Doctrine into the SDA church,
but like the dumb-dogs described in Isaiah 56:10-12, they did not seem to
understand, and when you try to explain the abomination to them, they either
won’t listen or still don’t understand.
"Worldly policy is taking the place of
true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering
hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the covenant
be removed from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and
false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected?
Shall the true doctrines and principles given us of God, which have made us
what we are, be ignored?.... This is directly where
the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us."
E. G. White, Manuscript 29, 1890.
Anything we place before God and truth is an idol.
Kellogg’s book, The Living Temple, taught the
pantheistic teaching that God’s spirit is in all living things. He later changed
that sentiment to say that it is the Holy Spirit that is in all living things.
That teaching totally negates the Incarnation sacrifice that began in the
heavenly Sanctuary Atonement. How? Why? Because it was the Incarnation
sacrifice that made it possible for Christ to send us His Holy Spirit, and were
that Spirit already in every living thing, the Incarnation sacrifice would not
have been necessary. Thus, the Sanctuary/atonement was rendered as GONE. That
teaching thusly swept away the entire Christian economy.
Pantheism is a
spiritualistic theory regarding the personality of God, which followed to its
logical conclusion, sweeps away the whole Christian economy by obviating the
heavenly Incarnation Sanctuary Atonement sacrifice. No apostasy could be more
fundamental to Christianity! No apostasy could be a more Total, Massive State of Apostasy!
The Trinity Doctrine
Counterpart to Kellogg’s Pantheism Teaching
The Trinity Doctrine
results in the very same “rendering” of the Sanctuary Atonement by a different
process. The Trinity doctrine teaches that there have been three co-equal
persons to the Godhead from eternity. That totally negates the Incarnation,
because the Incarnation produced God (Christ) come in the likeness of human
flesh. The Son of God, Christ, did not exist eternally in human flesh before
His Incarnation. It was thus the Incarnation that produced a THIRD PERSON in
the form of Christ, the Son, united to humanity forever. Before that, there
were only TWO PERSONS to the Godhead, the Father and the Son. They were/are one
and the same SPIRIT says Scripture, and the Bible says there is only ONE
ETERNAL SPIRIT. So they have the same essence, substance, THE ONE ETERNAL
SPIRIT.
Jhn 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.
“God is a Spirit; yet He is a personal being; for so He has revealed
Himself.” {FLB 40.2}
Heb
9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?
The
eternal Spirit means ONE SPIRIT. God the Father and Christ the Son are ONE
SUBSTANCE, ONE ESSENCE, POSESSING THE SAME ATTRIBUTES:
"The Jews had never before heard such words from human lips, and a
convicting influence attended them for it seemed that divinity flashed through
humanity as Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." The words of Christ were full
of deep meaning as he put forth the claim that he and the Father were of one
substance, possessing the same attributes."--The Signs of the Times, Nov. 27,
1893, p. 54. {7ABC 437.3}.
The Trinity Doctrine
totally obfuscates the Incarnation sacrifice, for it says that there were three
co-eternal persons to the Godhead BEFORE the Incarnation--without the
Incarnation. Thus, the heavenly Sanctuary Atonement sacrifice is GONE, the same
result as Kellogg’s alpha heresy concerning the Godhead. And the entire
Christian economy is thus swept away in one fell swoop! If the Holy Spirit was
already a THIRD separate distinct person from eternity--before the Incarnation,
then the Incarnation was not necessary to produce that THIRD PERSON. But that
was not the case.
How and When a Third Person Accrued to the Godhead
Here is the Spirit of Prophecy’s rendition of how and
when a THIRD PERSON accrued to the Godhead:
"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.
·
At His Incarnation,
the humanity of Christ cumbered His ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT, HIS HOLY SPIRIT, so
that He could not be omnipresent personally.
·
At His Incarnation,
Christ divested His Holy Spirit personality from the personality of His
humanity, and both were independent PERSONS.
·
Prior to the
Incarnation, the essence and substance of the Son of God, WAS HIS PERSON--THE
ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT. The Father had the same ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT. That is
what made/makes them ONE GOD--their ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT.
·
It was at the
time of His Incarnation when Christ divested His Holy Spirit HIMSELF from
the personality of His humanity, making His Holy Spirit INDEPENDENT from His
humanity that another person accrued to the Godhead.
·
If we say that there
were three co-eternal persons to the Godhead before the Incarnation, then we
would have to have FOUR PERSONS after the Incarnation, and that is not the
case.
What About Ministries That Teach That There
are Only Two Persons to the Godhead?
There
are a number of “Adventist” independent ministries that teach that there are
only two persons to the Godhead. That teaching totally denies the
Incarnation--that God came in the likeness of sinful flesh. That totally denies
that the Son, at His Incarnation, made His Holy Spirit an independent person
from His humanity--thus denying the Incarnation sacrifice. The Sanctuary
Atonement sacrifice per the Incarnation is rendered as GONE! This results in a
totally antichrist position on the Godhead, because the Bible says that whoever
does not believe that Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh is
antichrist. To say that there are only two persons to the Godhead, denies the
fact that the Son of God made His Holy Spirit person independent of His
humanity person as Ellen White says that He did. That is tantamount to saying
there was no humanity person called Christ, as produced by the Incarnation.
That is just as much a Total, Massive State of Apostasy as the SDA church and the Catholic church
imbibes via the Trinity Doctrine, because the end result is the same--THE
HEAVENLY SANCTUARY ATONEMENT WHEREBY A THIRD PERSON ACCRUED TO THE GODHEAD IS
GONE by teaching that there are only TWO PERSONS to the Godhead. Why do some
ministries do that? Because they don’t understand what is really wrong with the
Trinity Doctrine, so ironically, in their attempt to distance themselves from
the Trinity Doctrine, they imbibe a teaching that is all as evil--a teaching
that obfuscates the THIRD PERSON of the Godhead.
The Third Person Humanity of Christ Endures Forever
"By His life and His death, Christ has
achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was
Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man but in
Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound himself
to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is
linked with us. 'God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son.' [John 3:16]. He gave Him not only to bear our
sins, and to die as our sacrifice He gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God
gave His only Begotten Son to become one of the human family forever to retain
His human nature. This is the pledge that God will
fulfill His word. 'Unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the
government shall be upon His shoulder.' God has adopted human nature in the
person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. It is the
'Son of man' who shares the throne of the universe. It is the 'Son of man'
whose name shall be called, 'Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the
everlasting Father, the prince of Peace.' [Isa. 9:6]. The I Am is the Daysman
between God and humanity, laying His hand upon both. HE who is 'holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners,' is not ashamed to call us brethren. [Heb.
7:26 2:11.] In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound
together. Christ glorified is our brother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and
humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite love." The Desire of
Ages, 25.
Bible on Christ,
“this man” a priest forever
22By so much was Jesus made a
surety of a better testament.
23And they truly were many
priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24But this man, because he
continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25Wherefore he is able also to
save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them.
26For such an high priest became
us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher
than the heavens;
27Who needeth not daily, as
those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for
the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28For the law maketh men high
priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the
law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. Hebrews 7:22-28.
The
above is why Christ told His disciples that He would pray the Father that He
would send His (Christ’s) Holy Spirit. They are still independent of one
another FOREVER.
All
the errors cited above regarding the Godhead, are spiritualistic theories
regarding the personality of God, and followed to their logical conclusion,
they sweep away the whole Christian economy by negating the THIRD PERSON that
accrued at the Incarnation of the Son of God.
"The spiritualistic theories regarding the
personality of God [the Godhead], followed to their logical conclusion, sweep
away the whole Christian economy. They estimate as nothing the light that
Christ came from heaven to give John to give to His people. They teach that the
scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to be given special
attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the
people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false
science." E.G. White, Selected Messages, Bk.1, p. 204.
More History on the Trinity Doctrine Entering the SDA
Church
The REASON LeRoy Froom
could not find anything he considered "Pathfinding" written by any of
our Pioneers - or by men within our faith on the subject of the Holy Spirit; is
NOT because there had been nothing written on the subject, but because NONE of
our pioneers were "Trinitarians" and therefore did not agree with
Elder Froom's conclusions or opinions!
Mr. Froom states that
even the Spirit of Prophecy had only "priceless leads" to offer him
as he began his study. Yet he later declares that the Desire of Ages set forth an "inspired depiction" of the
Trinity. If the Desire of Ages truly
sets forth an inspired depiction of the "Trinity" and was the
"Denominationally accepted position" of the Trinity, why didn't Mr.
Froom acknowledge this to start with as he began his study of this subject in
1926? And if Mrs. White had truly set forth an inspired depiction of the
Trinity as far back as 1898, why couldn't He find much more material to support
his position within the rest of the pages of the Spirit of Prophecy? If Mrs.
White truly believed in the doctrine of the Trinity, why is it that she NEVER
used the term "Trinity" to describe the Godhead in any of her
writings?
The fact is that LeRoy
Froom "discovered" what he believed was the "truth of the
Trinity" and the Holy Spirit from writers "not of our faith",
and then set out to support it with statements from the Spirit of Prophecy.
LeRoy Froom wrote a book called, "The
Coming of the Comforter" as a result of, and shortly following his
study during 1926-1928.
Mr. Froom, talking
about the publication of his book in a letter to Dr. Otto H. Christiansen on
October 27, 1960; stated that:
"May I state that
my book, The Coming of The Comforter, was the result of a series of studies
that I gave in 1927 - 28, to Ministerial institutes throughout North America.
You cannot imagine how I was pummeled by some of the old-timers…" and
speaking of his Trinitarian views he states: "Some men denied that...still
deny it, but the book has come to be generally accepted as standard." It
should be noted that this book is still widely used and is available in our ABC
bookstores.
In 1969, Russel Holt,
in a term paper entitled "The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Seventh-day Adventist
Denomination: Its Rejection and Acceptance" (Seventh-day Adventist
Theological Seminary), divides our denominational history on the subject of the
Trinity into three periods: During the first period, which he delineates as
1844-1890, he says: "the field was dominated by those who saw the trinity
as illogical, unscriptural, pagan and subversive of the atonement. ....
anti-trinitarianism is the evident denominational stance."
He next refers to the
time period of 1890-1900, saying: "Roughly within this period, the course
of the denomination on the trinity was decided by statements from Ellen G.
White." (Ibid.)
Finally, He states of
the period between 1900-1930: "This period saw
the death of most of those pioneers who had championed and held the anti-Trinitarian
position. Their places were being taken by men who were changing their
thinking, or had never opposed the doctrine...."
(see--http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity1.htm
Russell Holt,
commenting on Froom's publication of "The Coming of the Comforter (and the
subsequent writing of other's) states that: ‘The trinity began to be published,
until by 1931 it had triumphed, and had become the standard denominational
position. Isolated stalwarts remained who refused to yield, but the outcome had
been decided.’
In 1931, F.M. Wilcox
included the term "trinity" in the S.D.A. Yearbook's 22-point
"Statement of Beliefs" and this was the first time that this term was
seen in any Adventist Statement of Beliefs. Immediately following, in 1932, this
pro-trinitarian Statement of Beliefs was added to the first "Church
Manual" and all succeeding "Adventist Yearbooks" and began to
appear in nearly all the Church books. It had not been voted on by the Church
at large, by the General Conference, nor even by a representative body of the
leaders of the S.D.A. Church. The 1931 Statement of Beliefs read as follows:
"That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father, a personal,
spiritual Being, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, infinite in wisdom and
love; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, through whom all
things were created and through whom the salvation of the redeemed hosts will
be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, the great
regenerating power in the work of redemption. Matt. 28:19." Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day
Adventists, "Seventh-day Adventist Year Book", [Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1931], 377).
Holt comments on this
change in our fundamental beliefs by noting: "A comparison of statements
of faith issued at various times by the denomination shows a marked change in
the opinion of the church concerning the trinity...." He observes that:
"... Separate statements appeared in 1874, 1889, 1894 and 1931. The first
three of these are, for all practical purposes, identical in the articles
dealing with the deity. A comparison of the statements of 1874 and 1931 shows
the change."
Please note that there
was no change in the Statement of Beliefs in regard to the
"Trinitarian" viewpoint while Ellen White was alive.
J. S. Washburn
(1863-1955; a retired Adventist minister and contemporary of Ellen White -- He
was converted by J. N. Andrews at 11, baptized by James White at 12 and began
preaching Adventism at 21), opposed this change in the strongest possible terms
writing: "The doctrine of the trinity is a cruel, heathen monstrosity,
removing Jesus from His true position of Divine Saviour and mediator….This
monstrous doctrine transplanted from heathenism into the Roman, papal church is
seeking to intrude its evil presence into the teachings of the Third Angel's
Message."
Washburn goes on to
say: "If we should go back to the immortality of the soul, purgatory,
eternal torment and the Sunday Sabbath, would that be anything less than
apostasy? If however we leap over all these minor, secondary doctrines and
accept and teach the very central, root doctrine of Romanism, the trinity, and
teach that the Son of God did not die, even though our words seemed to be
spiritual, is this anything else and anything less than apostasy and the very
omega of apostasy?" (See Judson
Washburn, "The Trinity," 1939.
Benjamin Wilkinson,
the man who wrote the book entitled "Truth Triumphant", wrote a
letter to Dr. T.S. Teters in 1936, saying: "Replying to your letter of
October 13 regarding the doctrine of the Trinity, I will say that Seventh Day
Adventists do not, and never have accepted the dark, mysterious, Catholic
doctrine of the Trinity."
In 1941, the Baptismal
Vow was revised to include the Trinitarian statement (Mr. Froom was involved in
this action as well). So that, NOW, in order to become a Seventh-day Adventist,
you have to agree to belief in the trinity.
In a letter written to
Roy Allan Anderson, J.L. Schuler, Denton Reebok, A.W. Peterson, W.G. Turner and
J.E. Weaver; November 22,1966; LeRoy Froom says: "I am writing to you
brethren as a group for you are the only living members of the original
committee of 13, appointed in 1931 to frame a uniform baptismal covenant. Elder
Branson was the chairman and I was Secretary. The task of this committee was to
formulate a uniform baptismal covenant and vow based on the 1931 Fundamental
Beliefs statement in the yearbook and Manual…to point up a bit more sharply,
the first, second and third persons of the Godhead."
In 1945, all the
standard Adventist books were edited, and all the anti-Trinitarian statements
taken from them. In his book Movement of Destiny, LeRoy Froom states: "The
next logical and inevitable step in the implementing of our unified fundamental
beliefs, involved revision of certain standard works, so as to eliminate
statements that taught, and thus perpetuated erroneous views on the Godhead.
Such sentiments were now sharply at variance with the accepted fundamental
beliefs set forth in the Church Manual." Movement of Destiny, page 422.
The
"official" acceptance of the "Trinity" into our fundamental
beliefs did not come until 1946. According to Dr. Jerry A. Moon (in
"Andrews University Seminary Studies, Vol. 41, No. 1, 113-129"):
"when the statement had gained general acceptance, the General Conference
session of 1946 made it official, voting that "no revision of this
Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, as it now appears in the [Church] Manual, shall
be made at any time except at a General Conference session." [see Fifteenth Meeting, General Conference Report
No. 8, Review and Herald, June 14, 1946]
In 1946 the book
Evangelism was compiled from the writings of Ellen White. LeRoy Froom (along
with others) was instrumental in the choice and compilation of statements from
Ellen White's writings, which seemed to support the Trinitarian viewpoint. This
book contains the quotes most often used now (from the writings of Ellen
White), to support the Trinitarian doctrine within our denomination.
Here's what Froom had
to say about this in a letter he wrote to Roy Allan Anderson on January 18,
1966: "I am sure that we are agreed, in evaluating the book Evangelism, as
one of the great contributions in which the Ministerial Association had a part
back in those days. You know what it did with men in the Columbia Union who
came face-to-face with the clear, unequivocal statements of the Spirit of
Prophecy on the deity of Christ, the personality of the Holy Spirit, the
trinity and the like." ‘They either had to lay down their arms and accept
those statements, or else they had to reject the Spirit of Prophecy. I know
that you and Miss Cluser and I had considerable to do with the selection of
those things under the encouragement of men like Elder Branson, who felt that
the earlier concept of the White Estate brethren on this book on evangelism was
not adequate.’
In 1955 there were
meetings of the leaders of the Adventist Church (primarily Roy Allan Anderson
and LeRoy Froom) with Dr. Walter Martin and Dr. Barnhouse, two evangelical
theologians who felt that the Seventh-day Adventist Church was a cult, and as a
result of these meetings the book "Questions on Doctrine" (a book in
which LeRoy Froom played a leading role) was produced in 1957 in an attempt to
show that SDA's were NOT a cult and that we were quite "mainstream"
in our beliefs - including the doctrine of the Trinity. [This book,
unfortunately, also contained statements that we do not believe the atonement
is taking place in Heaven right now, that Christ came with an
"unfallen" human nature, and other untrue and misleading statements
regarding Seventh-day Adventist beliefs].
In 1980, the General
Conference voted on a new set of "27 Fundamental Beliefs" in which
the Trinity doctrine was upheld. Fundamental belief number 2 now read: "2.
The Trinity.] There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three
co-eternal Persons." The concept delineated here, that there are
"three co-eternal Persons", is in complete harmony with the Catholic
Church's teaching regarding the "Trinity" and, as we shall see, is
incorrect.
In 1988 the book
"Seventh-day Adventists Believe…A
Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Beliefs" was published and
included the doctrine of the Trinity. This book was highly promoted for use as
an evangelistic tool to explain to non-Adventists what we believe our core
doctrines to be.
Obviously, the SDA
church is in an omega heresy, Total, Massive State
of Apostasy that renders
the heavenly Incarnation Sanctuary Atonement as GONE, and thereby sweeps away
the entire Christian economy. How? Why? Because the Trinity Doctrine teaches an
error tantamount to teaching that THERE WAS NO INCARNATION SANCTUARY ATONEMENT
that resulted in a THIRD PERSON--THAT THREE CO-ETERNAL PERSON EXISTED BEFORE
THE INCARNATION--thus the antichrist teaching that the humanity of Christ AS A
DISTINCT INDEPENDENT THIRD PERSON; did not come in the likeness of sinful
flesh. No apostasy could be worse or more serious.
God has Adopted the THIRD PERSON, His Son’s Humanity,
INTO HEAVEN FOREVER
"By His life and His death, Christ has
achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was
Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man but in
Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound himself
to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is
linked with us. 'God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son.' [John 3:16]. He gave Him not only to bear our
sins, and to die as our sacrifice He gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God
gave His only Begotten Son to become one of the human family forever to retain
His human nature. This is the pledge that God will
fulfill His word. 'Unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the
government shall be upon His shoulder.' God has
adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into
the highest heaven. It is the 'Son
of man' who shares the throne of the universe. It is the 'Son of man' whose
name shall be called, 'Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting
Father, the prince of Peace.' [Isa. 9:6]. The I Am is the Daysman between God and humanity, laying His hand upon both. HE who is 'holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,' is not ashamed to call us
brethren. [Heb. 7:26 2:11.] In Christ the family of earth and the family of
heaven are bound together. Christ glorified is our brother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom
of Infinite love." The Desire of Ages, 25.
One of the prime reasons we came out and separated
from apostate Rome and her apostate Protestant daughters is because of their
antichrist teaching on the Godhead. Nothing could be worse--not even Sunday
keeping! Why? Because we are talking about the HIGHEST GOOD, CROWING GIFT that God gave to man:
"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.
The
reason that apostasy on the Godhead is the worst possible abomination is
because it involves the HIGHEST GOOD, CROWNING GIFT that heaven can bestow. It
involves the greatest sacrifice Christ made for us.
The Reason God’s People Come Out From Apostate Churches
If you
tell me we can dwell in apostate churches, you are negating God’s call to come
out of them! You are saying that it is POSSIBLE to unite with the corrupt and
remain/become pure. You are contradicting God’s Word, saying that the THORNS
won’t choke the wheat and kill it. You are saying that we can be joined to
corrupt apostates without being CORPORATELY RESPONSIBLE for their apostasy:
"The
plain straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest
upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins.
God holds His people, as a body [corporately], responsible for the sins
existing in individuals among them." Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 269.
"The
names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the
church books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds.
Those who pursue a course of transgression should be visited and labored with, and
if they then refuse to repent, they should be separated from church fellowship,
in accordance with the rules laid down in the Word of God." {11MR
208.3}
"The headquarters of our church, affect the whole
body of believers. If the physical heart is healthy, the blood that is sent
from it through the system is also healthy; but if this fountain is impure, the
whole organism becomes diseased by the poison of the vital fluid. So it is with
us. If the heart of the work becomes corrupt, the whole church, in its various
branches and interests, scattered abroad over the face of the earth, suffers in
consequence." Testimonies, vol.
4, p. 210.
“Achan’s sin brought disaster upon the whole nation. For one man’s sin the displeasure of God
will rest upon His church till the transgression is searched out and put away.
The influence most to be feared by the church is not that of open opposers,
infidels, and blasphemers, but of inconsistent professors of Christ. These are
the ones that keep back the blessing of the God of Israel and bring weakness
upon His people.” {PP 497.2}
The
only way to avoid corporate responsibility for open sinning apostates is to
leave them:
"Even though you may not be able to speak a
word to those who are working on wrong principles, leave them. Your withdrawal and silence
may do more than words. Nehemiah refused to associate with those who were
untrue to principle, and he would not permit his workmen to associate with
them. The love and fear of God were his safeguard-Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to
stand alone. Thus as did Moses, you will endure the seeing of Him who is
invisible. But a cowardly and silent reserve before evil associates, while you
listen to their devices makes you one with them Come out from among them and be
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty." Review & Herald Vol. 4, p. 42.
Do all you
can to warn and then separate:
"Some who have received warning and instruction from God have
deliberately turned from the messages sent them. They have, as it were, walked
blindfolded into Satan's prepared snares. Satan is playing the game of life for
their souls. And some who might be in a position to help these ensnared souls
have themselves become ensnared as captives to the arch deceiver. . . l am
instructed to say that we must do all we can for these deceived ones. Their
minds must be freed from the delusions of the enemy, and if we fail in our efforts to save these erring ones, we must 'come
out from among them' and be separate. . . For years the backward tendencies of many
have greatly hindered the work of God. Now, just now, the Lord's people are to
show their loyalty. The time has come when the Lord would have all who will
honor Him take their stand firmly on the side of truth and righteousness. No
longer are we to be a mixed multitude.” E. G. White, Manuscript 106,
11/20/05.
The Omega Heresy New Movement Was to Change
Pillar Doctrines
“The enemy of souls has
sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place
among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which
stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of
reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His
wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that
have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A
new organization would be
established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of
intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders
of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath, of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created
it. Nothing would be allowed to stand
in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that
virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their
dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless."- Selected
Messages, Book 1, pp. 204, 205.
· NOTHING WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAND IN THE WAY OF THE NEW MOVEMENT! You and all the kings horses
are not going to stave off or change the apostasy! Some say they are going to
stay and turn the tide of the apostasy, but the gift of the Holy Spirit to the
church says that NOTHING WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAND IN THE WAY!
· When God is removed, who is
the only other master? You know the answer! When Israel committed apostasy,
Jesus told them they were of their father the Devil and that their “church” was
the Synagogue of Satan.
· Books of a new order have been
written defending the Trinity Doctrine, the doctrine of the antichrist.
· Books of a new order have been
written concerning the human nature of Christ--that He did not come in sinful
flesh.
· Books have been written
defending the SDA church’s ecumenical liaison with Babylon, which is strictly
forbidden in Isaiah 8:9-12.
The Godhead a
Pillar, Landmark Doctrine of Adventism
Personality of God and of Christ--PILLARS, LANDMARK
DOCTRINES:
"Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not
holding fast they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those
who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars
of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or
of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in
uncertainties and to set the people
of God adrift without an anchor." {MR760 9.5}
Will the Church be Purged of the Apostates?
Men
like Ron Spear, Vance Ferrell, James Tierney, Ernie Knoll, the Standish
brothers and others, have taught or still teach that the bad will be purged out
of the church at the time of the National Sunday Law. Many believe that lie.
God’s Word says that the bad are gathered into the midst’s of Jerusalem,
Ezekiel 22:17-31, and Ellen White says that the church is the field and the
tares are burned in the field:
"The 'field,' Christ
said, 'is the world.' But we must understand this as signifying the church of
Christ in the world. The parable is a description of that which pertains to the kingdom of
God, His work of salvation of men and this work is accomplished through the
church. True, the Holy Spirit has gone out into all the world everywhere it is
moving upon the hearts of men but it is in the church that
we are to grow and ripen for the garner of God." Christ's Object
Lessons, p. 70.
What is the church? What constitutes a
church?
“God has
a church. It is not the great cathedrals, neither is it the national
establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His
commandments. ‘Where two or three are
gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them’. Matthew 18:20.
Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the
presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute
a church.”
Upward Look, 315.
Where did
the Disciples and all True Christians Ripen for the Garner of God When Their
Organized Church Apostatized?
Scripture on Home Churches
Act
16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house.
Act
16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and
rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Act
16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia:
and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Act
18:7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain [man's] house, named
Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Rom
16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved
Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
1Cr
1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are
of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Cr
16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted themselves to the ministry
of the saints,)
1Cr
16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in
the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Ellen White on Home Churches
in the Alpha of Apostasy
When
the young men and women were kept away from the Alpha of apostasy in the
church, what did they do and where did they meet for worship?
"There
is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them
where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that
the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their
ideas of what it means to be a Christian." E.G. White, Manuscript
Release #995, p. 5.
"Brother
and sister Haskell have rented a house in one of the best parts of the city,
and have gathered round them a family of helpers, who day by day go out giving
Bible readings, selling our papers, and doing medical missionary work. During
the hour of worship, the workers relate their experiences. Bible studies are
regularly conducted in the home, and THE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN connected
with the mission receive a practical, thorough training in holding Bible
readings and in selling our publications. The Lord has blessed their labors, a
number have embraced the truth, and many others are deeply interested." Review and
Herald,
September 7, 1905, Evangelism, p. 108.
"For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them." Matthew 18:20.
"I
would encourage those who assemble in little companies to worship God. Brethren
and sisters, be not disheartened because you are so few in number." Life
Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 259.
"I
was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last
message of mercy, being separate from those who
are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend
their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error
that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of
men. The
influence of such gatherings is not good. … God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being
obliged to go; for unless He sends
us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of
the will, He will not keep us. The
angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of
the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels;
and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness." Early
Writings, pp. 124-125.
"On
the Sabbath the few friends here assembled in Edson's parlor for a
Sabbath-school. There are four families--twelve persons in all--who usually
meet for worship. Edson conducts the Sabbath-school when he is at home. After
Sabbath-school they either have a Bible-reading or a prayer and social meeting.
This is as it should be. The family altar should be established in every home;
and if in any locality there are no more than two or three of like precious
faith, they should meet together." John 7:43 The
Review and Herald, October 14, 1884.
Suppose
ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather
division...Luke 12:51 There was a division among the people because of him
[Jesus].
"If
unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then
let there be difference, and even war." The Great Controversy, p.
45.
“God requires his people to separate themselves from sin and sinners, choosing their society
only when there is an opportunity to do them good. We cannot be too decided in
shunning the company of all who have in any way exerted an influence to draw us
into sin. None will be punished with greater severity than those who have
enticed God's people from their integrity.” E. G. White, The Signs of the
Times, January 13, 1881.
"Christ
was a protestant...The Reformers date back to Christ and the apostles. They came out and separated themselves from a religion of forms and ceremonies. Luther and his
followers did not invent the reformed religion. They simply accepted it as
presented by Christ and the apostles." E.G. White, Review and
Herald, vol.
2, 48, col. 2.
Paul left
"And
as they persisted in their rejection of the gospel the apostle (Paul) went into
the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and
persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were
hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he
departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school
of one Tyrannus." Acts, 19:8, 9.
"Fearing
that the faith of the believers would be endangered by continued association
with these opposers of the truth, Paul separated from them, and gathered the
disciples into a distinct body." E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles,
p. 286.
~rwb