The Omega of Deadly Heresies

2
8899

“The Omega of Deadly Heresies”

Living Temple - John Harvey Kellogg
Living Temple – John Harvey Kellogg

Ellen White prophesied of what she termed “the Omega of Deadly Heresies”. In 1904 she said it was yet to come. Back in the early 1900’s a book was published by John Harvey Kellogg called “The Living Temple”. This book had what Ms. White termed as the “Alpha of Deadly Heresies”. She envisioned an “omega that would follow in a little while” she tells us that it would be in respect to the “presence and personality of God”. Here is what she wrote:

“Living Temple contains the alpha of these theories. I knew that the omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people. I knew that I must warn our brethren and sisters not to enter into controversy over the presence and personality of God…” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 203 1904)

Ms. White tells us that “the omega would follow”. She was certain of it. And she also told us that it would be in regard to the “presence and personality of God”. The first and great doctrine of the church has to do with our God according to Jesus Christ. And this is the issue in which she said the “omega” would be regarding.

The Greatest Commandent-Life Eternal

Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

There is not a greater commandment than this one. Knowledge of God and his Son Jesus is “eternal life” according to the bible.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

So it would only seem logical that a lack of this knowledge would prove eternal death to the one without it. And Ellen White seemed to agree with these words of the savior:

“A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character…This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.”…Through a knowledge of Him are given unto us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” 2 Peter 1:3. …”This is life eternal,” said Jesus, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.“[Ministry of Healing Page 409-410]

According to the above statement knowledge of God ALONE can make us like God in character. This is why it is the first and great commandment, and also why the “omega of deadly heresies” would have to do with the “presence and personality of God”.

John Harvey Kellogg, famous for his advanced research in the health field as well as the famous Kellogg brand was well known in Seventh-day Adventism, Kellogg had written a book called “The Living Temple”. A book about the body. Kellogg began promoting strange ideas in respect to the personality of God as well as God’s presence:

“Suppose now we have a boot before us–not an ordinary boot, but a living boot, and as we look at it, we see little boots crowding out at the seams, pushing out at the toes, dropping off at the heels, and leaping out at the top–scores, hundreds, thousands of boots, a swarm of boots continually issuing from our living boot–would we not be compelled to say, “There is a shoemaker in the boot”? So there is present in the tree a power which creates and maintains it, a tree-maker in the tree”.—John Harvey Kellogg, The Living Temple, p. 29

What Kellogg had come to believe was that God was in everything. Not recognizing that God is a literal being and that God’s power or Spirit is in everything. The Holy Spirit is referred to at times in the bible as “the presence of God”.

The Presence of God

Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Kellogg was promoting strange ideas, an impersonal God one that could be made up of everything, or was in everything. Ms. White explained to Kellogg following these teachings a person could eventually end up worshipping trees, stones, shoes etc.

The Personality of God

“You are not definitely clear on the personality of God, which is everything to us as a people. You have virtually destroyed the Lord God Himself.” (Ellen White to John Harvey Kellogg, Letter 300 1903.)

The personality of God was where a major mistake was made. And if this was “EVERYTHING to us as a people”, it certainly is not something that should be misunderstood.

Kellogg did not understand God as a personal being, but rather he had come to view God as three persons. Kellogg, in speaking to Elder GI Butler, the former president of the General Conference had ran into so much controversy on the issue of the Trinity and was so out of harmony that he boiled the issue down to his understanding of the Holy Spirit being a person. Clearly he was not in a agreement with Elder Butler, and clearly Butler did not believe the Holy Spirit was a person in the sense that God the Father, and Jesus His Son were person.

Misunderstanding and Misquoting Ellen White

“As far as I can fathom, the difficulty which is found in the Living Temple, the whole thing may be simmered down to this question: is the Holy Ghost a person. You say no. I had supposed the Bible said this for the reason that the personal pronoun he is used in speaking of the Holy Ghost. Sister White uses the pronoun he and has said in as many words that the Holy Ghost is the third person of the Godhead. How the Holy Ghost can be the third person and not be a person at all is difficult for me to see”.Dr. John Harvey Kellogg wrote to G. I Butler on Oct 28th 1903 concerning ‘The Living Temple’

In the quote above from Kellogg we see clearly he is not in agreement with Butler and that Butler is not on board respecting the person of the Holy Spirit.

Why was Ms. White telling Kellogg that he isn’t clear on “the personality of God”. He did not understand her use of the word “person” and the word “Godhead” which is not the same word as “God”. Ms. White wrote to G.I. Butler and about the misuse of her writings. Please note that Ms. White was not rebuking Butler for his non-trinitarian stance. She is talking about men like Kellogg:

There are some, who upon accepting erroneous theories, strive to establish them by collecting from my writings statements of truth, which they use, separated from their proper connection and perverted by association with error.” .—Letter 136, April 27, 1906, to Brethren Butler, Daniels, and Irwin. (Ellen White, 1906, This Day with God, page 126)

She goes on to speak about this misuse and misunderstanding of her statements such as Kellogg had.

“In the controversy that arose among our brethren regarding the teachings of this book, those in favor of giving it a wide circulation declared: ‘It contains the very sentiments that Sister White has been teaching.’ This assertion struck right to my heart. I felt heartbroken; for I knew that this representation of the matter was not true.” (SM1 – 203:)

“I am compelled to speak in denial of the claim that the teachings of Living Temple can be sustained by statements from my writings. There may be in this book expressions and sentiments that are in harmony with my writings. And there may be in my writings many statements which, taken from their connection, and interpreted according to the mind of the writer of Living Temple, would seem to be in harmony with the teachings of this book. This may give apparent support to the assertion that the sentiments in Living Temple are in harmony with my writings. But God forbid that this sentiment should prevail.” (SM1 – 203:)

Ms. White was not in agreement with Kellogg’s views. She felt that John Harvey Kellogg had taken her statements out of their context. Kellogg was saying to Butler that he felt Ellen agreed with him regarding the Holy Spirit being a person like the Father and Son, but in the letters we have between Butler and Ellen, she agree’s with Butler and is out of harmony with Kellogg.

If the issue simmered down to whether or not the Holy Spirit was a person. Clearly she is not joining Kellogg, nor defending him on this issue at all. In fact, as we continue on, we will see that it goes even further than this.

Controversy Growing Regarding the Person of the Spirit

Her son Willie White had some perplexities about certain statements in Ms. White’s writings. In a conversation between H. W. Carr and Willie White they discuss the issue of how they believe some of Ellen’s writings were used against the Trinity, but now some of these very same statements had come to have been used for the Trinity. According to H.W. Carr he said he used to use Ms. Whites quotes on the “third person” to combat the trinity. However this was changing in 1935.

“It is urged by some of our leaders now that The Holy Spirit is a third person of the same nature of the Father and Son, a member of the heavenly trio, cooperative in creation and personally active with the Father and Son. For many years I have used these statements of Sr. White in combating false teachings relative to defining the Holy Spirit.” (Letter by H. W. Carr to Willie White, January 24, 1935)

Now this is quite interesting that some of our pioneers used these statements of Ms. White in combatting the false teaching regarding the Holy Spirit. Notice Willie’s clearly non-trinitarian response.

“In your letter you request me to tell you what I understand to be my mother’s position in reference to the personality of the Holy Spirit.” “This I cannot do because I never clearly understood her teachings on the matter. There always was in my mind some perplexity regarding the meaning of her utterances which to my superficial manner of thinking seemed to be somewhat confusing….The statements and the arguments of some of our ministers in their effort to prove that the Holy Spirit was an individual as are God the Father and Christ, the eternal Son, have perplexed me and sometimes they have made me sad. One popular teacher said ‘We may regard Him, (the Holy Spirit) as the fellow who is down here running things.’
My perplexities were lessened a little when I learned from the dictionary that one of the meanings of personality, was Characteristics. It is stated in such a way that I concluded that there might be personality without bodily form which is possessed by the Father and the Son.
There are many Scriptures which speak of the Father and the Son and the absence of Scripture making similar reference to the united work of the Father and the Holy Spirit or of Christ and the Holy Spirit, has led me to believe that the spirit without individuality was the representative of the Father and the Son throughout the universe, and it was through the Holy Spirit that they dwell in our hearts and make us one with the Father and with the Son….” (Letter by Willie White, April 30, 1935)

Willie didn’t see Ellen saying these things to prove a Trinity, but rather to combat the Trinity. So did H. W. Carr. Some however, today do not understand Ms. Whites view of the word “person” or “the Godhead”.

Warning Given, Many in Danger:

“Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature.” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 197 1904)

The departing of the faith on this subject would not just involve a few people but it would deceive “many” according to Ellen. In the same book on page 200 she says.

“In the book Living Temple there is presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given.” {Selected Messages bk 1, p. 200 1904}

The Omega will follow. This is something that she saw coming. That she said would come “in a little while”. Something that wasn’t a maybe, but a certainty. And those who did not heed the warning’s given would accept it. “Many will depart from the faith”.

“I have been instructed to warn our people; for many are in danger of receiving theories and sophistries that undermine the foundation pillars of the faith.” {Selected Messages bk. 1 p.196 1904}

She is not speaking lightly of these theories, but she is saying that they sweep away the entire foundation of the Christian faith.

“Omega of deadly heresies”not the “Omega of apostasy”

Many today refer to it as “the omega of apostasy”. However, Ms. White clearly called it a “heresy”. And “the omega of deadly heresies”. There is a difference. Apostasy is a falling away from the faith and is used in a generalized sense, whereas a heresy refers to a particular point or specific doctrine of faith.

The Alpha is the first letter of the greek alphabet. The Omega is the last letter. Ms. White seemed to be implying that what Kellogg was teaching was the Alpha. This is the primary deadly heresy, and we are going to see the last, the greatest, the ultimate heresy, the Omega.

“Living Temple contains the alpha of these theories. I knew that the omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people. I knew that I must warn our brethren and sisters not to enter into controversy over the presence and personality of God…” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 203 1904)

 

1904

All of these statements were written in 1904. All of these quotes from Selected Messages Book 1 are written in that year. Now note that the Omega would “follow”. And whatever it was had to do with “the personality and presence of God”. It would be of a “most startling nature”, and Ms. White envisioned it and she “trembled for our people”.

Platform of 1844

“. . . We must firmly refuse to be drawn away from the platform of eternal truth, which since 1844 has stood the test.” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 199-200 1904)

Ellen White in 1904 is pointing people back to 1844 when talking about Kellogg’s heresy regarding the personality and presence of God. She seems to be implying that we are going in the wrong direction here. We need to stop and look at what our early pioneers understood regarding the personality and presence of God. It seems that the early understanding was a firm and solid platform of truth for us to build on. It seems that many did not understand how firm it was:

“Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Bates, a Father pierce, Elder [Hiram] Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly…. light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me. . . What influence is it that would lead men at this stage of our history to work in an underhand, powerful way to tear down the foundation of our faith–the foundation that was laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the Word and revelation? Upon this foundation we have been building for the past fifty years. (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 206-7 1904)

Regarding the heresy about the “personality and presence of God” Ellen is pointing to the time after 1844 and to the understanding of men like her husband respecting the personality of God. And she is rebuking Kellogg for working in an underhanded way.

What foundation is Kellogg being pointed too? The faith delivered to the saints.

James White in 1846

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for THE faith which was once delivered unto the saints…” (Jude 3, 4) …The exhortation to contend for the faith delivered to the saints, is to us alone. And it is very important for us to know what for and how to contend. In the 4th verse he gives us the reason why we should contend for THE faith, a particular faith; “for there are certain men,” or a certain class who deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.… The way spiritualizers have disposed of or denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is first using the old unscriptural Trinitarian creed,viz., that Jesus Christ is the eternal God, though they have not one passage to support it, while we have plain scripture testimony in abundance that he is the Son of the eternal God.” (James White, January 24, 1846, The Day Star)

“Here we might mention the Trinity, which does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, and of sprinkling or pouring instead of being “buried with Christ in baptism,” “planted in the likeness of his death:” but we pass from these fables to notice one that is held sacred by nearly all professed Christians, both Catholic and Protestant. It is, The change of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment from the seventh to the first day of the week.” (James White, December 11, 1855,Review & Herald, vol. 7, no. 11, page 85, par. 16)

James White said that the Trinity does away with the personality of God and his Son Jesus Christ.

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” (Ellen White UL 367 )

Ellen White said that Jesus was not God in personality. In other words Christ is God with respect to what He is as the divine Son having all the attributes, nature and form of God, but yet He is not God in respect to who he is, his identity or personality.

James White was clearly non-trinitarian. Ellen White never once rebuked him. She was never told to stand up against James or any of the other leading brethren who were all non-trinitarian. If you’re a Trinitarian, do you not find this strange? That not once did she ever say “James, you are wrong?”. But when it came to Kellogg and his belief which included the Trinity. She was by a messenger told to “meet it”.

In fact James said plainly that Ellen Wasn’t a trinitarian, and that the creed of the trinity could not line up with her writings, nor to the bible.

“We invite all to compare the testimonies of the Holy Spirit through Mrs. W., with the word of God. And in this we do not invite you to compare them with your creed. That is quite another thing. The trinitarian may compare them with his creed, and because they do not agree with it, condemn them. The observer of Sunday, or the man who holds eternal torment an important truth, and the minister that sprinkles infants, may each condemn the testimonies’ of Mrs. W. because they do not agree with their peculiar views. And a hundred more, each holding different views, may come to the same conclusion. But their genuineness can never be tested in this way.”Mutual Obligation by James White (Review and Herald, June 13,1871)

Regarding James she was never told to speak up. But God specifically told her to meet this. Was she being guided by God to lead Kellogg and other men to the writings of pioneers like her husband James White with respect to these issues? One would have to say either she is not trinitarian, or she isn’t a prophet.

To say that God has told you to “meet it” and then tell someone to read error could only be from the devil. And if it is from the devil than we must set aside these words. Here is her instruction.

“I am instructed to speak plainly. ‘Meet it,’ is the word spoken to me. ‘Meet it firmly, and without delay.’ …In the book Living Temple there is presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given.” (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 200)

Who was speaking to her? Who told her to tell Kellogg turn back. Not only that, but she said that those who didn’t heed the warnings to Kellogg would be deceived about the Omega. When understanding what Ms. White’s quotes meant and understanding the true context of her writings, you cannot help but know she was a prophet sent by God to warn us of a most DEADLY heresy. And that heresy is the Trinity.

“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. (Ellen White Selected Messages bk.1, p. 204)

What did she understand about God and Christ:

“Let the brightest example the world has yet seen be your example, rather than the greatest and most learned men of the age, who know not God, nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent. The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” (Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898)

The very primary fundamental principle while Ms. White was alive was about God being a single divine being, the Father, and having a Son Jesus Christ whom the Father gave to save humanity. The primary fundamental principle of our faith had to do with God being a “personal, spiritual being”:

1.That there is one God, a personal, spiritual being, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal; infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Ps. 139:7. [1872,1889, Fundamental Principles of our faith]

Also quoted in that passage is Psalm 139:7 having to do with His “presence” which I quoted earlier. God is a singular being. Ms. White say’s the scriptures are clear about who God is and she also tells us that Christ was given his equality. That he did not possess it of himself until it was given.

“The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each. [Hebrews 1:1-5 quoted.] God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has beengiven an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” (Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, page 268)

God is a person, Christ is a person. They are separate individuals. Christ is not God, God is not Christ. “God is the Father of Christ” not “The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”.

We need to “heed the warnings given”. This means going back and searching what our pioneers believed. Ellen White has said that what Kellogg taught is spiritualistic. She points Kellogg back to 1844 where James and herself ran into spiritualizers who deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ by the unscriptural Trinity.

After the passing of the time in 1844, we had fanaticism of every kind to meet. Testimonies of reproof were given me to bear to some holding spiritualistic theories. There were those who were active in disseminating false ideas in regard to God. Light was given me that these men were making the truth of no effect by their false teachings. I was instructed that they were misleading souls by presenting speculative theories regarding God.” {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 8, pp. 292, 293} 1904

She is not pointing to 1895 when Desire of Ages was written. She is pointing to 1844. James White talks about those “false ideas in regard to God” two years after 1844 which is the time Ellen was referring to. James called these “spiritualistic theories” in “regard to God” trinitarians.

“The way spiritualizers have disposed of or denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is first using the old unscriptural Trinitarian creed”(James White, January 24, 1846, The Day Star)

Ellen White also says that Kellogg “destroyed the personality of God”. What doctrine does James say “destroys the personality of God”?

“Here we might mention the Trinity, which does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ.” (James White, December 11, 1855, Review & Herald, vol. 7, no. 11, page 85, par. 16)

The Trinity destroys the personality of God. Kellogg had come to believe in a trinity.

“He [Kellogg] told me that he now believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; (Letter by A. G. Daniells to W. C. White on October 29, 1903)

Famous Adventist J.N. Andrews wrote about the trinity and how it destroyed the personality of God as well.

The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nice, A. D. 325. This doctrine destroys the personality of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous, measures by which it was forced upon the church which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history might well cause every believer in that doctrine to blush.{J. N. Andrews,Review & Herald, March 6, 1855}

Ellen spoke further about this matter saying:

“It is something that cannot be treated as a small matter that men who have had so much light, and such clear evidence as to the genuineness of the truth we hold, should become unsettled, and led to accept spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of God.” (Special Testimonies, Series B7, p. 37)

Spiritualistic theories which destroy the personality of God. Spiritualizing away the relationship of our literal father and his son, denying that love of the Father for us by teaching a co-eternal relationship.

Kellogg was being pointed to the establishment of our faith. Have Adventists today heeded the warning given to Kellogg? Have they took the advice of Ms. White and went back to the faith that was delivered to the saints such as our pioneers? Today as Adventists we answer: “No we have not”. Let’s read it for ourselves from our own publications

“Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth.’ Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Many of the pioneers, including James White, J.N. Andrews, Uriah Smith, and J.H. Waggoner, held to an Arian or semi-Arian view … that is, the Son at some point in time before the Creation of our world was generated by the Father … the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. Even today a few do not subscribe to it.” (William G. Johnsson in the Adventist Review, Jan. 6, 1994 p.10)

Our early pioneers subscribed to a view that Jesus was literally the Son of God and this was not just a metaphor, or acting.

“When the power of God testifies as to what is truth that truth is to stand forever as the truth. No after-suppositions, contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained. Men will arise with interpretations of Scripture which are to them truth, but which are not truth. The truth for this time, God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. One will arise, and still another, with new light which contradicts the light that God has given under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit.

A few are still alive who passed through the experience gained in the establishment of this truth. God has graciously spared their lives to repeat and repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which they passed even as did John the apostle till the very close of his life. And the standard-bearers, who have fallen in death, are to speak through the reprinting of their writings. I am instructed that thus their voices are to be heard. They are to bear their testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time. Preach the Word, p. 5. (Ellen White, 1905, Counsels to Writers and Editors, pages 31, 32)

New light does not contradict old light. The pioneers voices are to be heard. Again, has the church heeded this warning. Clearly not. They say “Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of present truth”. But present truth does not contradict old truth.

“The past fifty years have not dimmed one jot or principle of our faith as we received the great and wonderful evidences that were made certain to us in 1844, after the passing of the time. . . Not a word is changed or denied. That which the Holy Spirit testified to as truth after the passing of the time, in our great disappointment, is the solid foundation of truth. (Special Testimonies, Series B7, p. 57-8)

She speaks alot about the foundation of our faith. Jesus spoke about building his Church on the rock in Matthew 16 when speaking to Peter.

“In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new.” (The Signs of the Times, June 20, 1902)

First we must understand the “old truth”. Then we can understand new truth. Present truth will not contradict old truth. So the people today if they will heed the warnings given to Kellogg will be able to understand the present truth and something that is so deadly that it was considered the omega of deadly heresies. Kellogg was warned to turn back to the truth about God which was established in 1844. So therefore the people today are to heed that warning. What does the church today think about turning back to the belief in God that the pioneers believed?

“Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination’s Fundamental Beliefs. More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the trinity.” – Ministry, October 1993, p. 10.

So, basically what has happened is a “New organization was established”. Our pioneers cannot join the church. And neither can we. The General Conference body has strayed from the faith delivered to the saints. The Lord did warn us about stepping off the foundation and forming a new organization.

‘The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now [1905] step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now [1905] enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth.’ Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 390.

The history of the past is merely repeating itself. A new organization has been formed, it is established on a foundation of sand, but it looks much like the organization that is built on the rock.

“What we want now is a reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation and to build upon a different principle.” [Last Day Events, page 53]

Our foundation is built on the rock. We need to establish what that rock is.

When she said a great reformation would come in that would involve giving up the pillars of our faith it seems that some things were seen from afar.

“In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, May 25, 1905)

The last 50 years she says. She says not one pin is to be removed. Some have said this doesn’t include the doctrine regarding “the personality of God”. However Ellen White tells us differently.

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 orconcerning 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.” {E. G. White, Manuscript Release No.760, p. 9} 1905
There is obviously much to be said on this topic.

“Most Startling”

Ellen said the omega would be “most startling”

“Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature.” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 197)

William Johnson in 1894 regarding the denial of the son-ship of Christ and understanding respecting the Trinity, he calls it “most startling”.

“Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth.’ Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord… the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. Even today a few do not subscribe to it.” (Adventist Review, Jan. 6, 1994 p.10)
It is most startling and the answer by William Johnson, a trinitarian should rather be:

“What influence is it that would lead men at this stage of our history to work in an underhand, powerful way to tear down the foundation of our faith–the foundation that was laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the Word and revelation? Upon this foundation we have been building for the past fifty years. (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 206-7)

This is the primary pillar of our faith.

“In a vision of the night I was shown distinctly that these sentiments have been looked upon by some as the grand truths that are to be brought in and made prominent at the present time I was shown a platform braced by solid timbers–the truths of the Word of God. Some one high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform Then I heard a voice saying, ‘Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep! This foundation was built by the Master Worker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God? The time has come to take decided action.” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 204-5)

Time has come to take decided action. Are we asleep?

A Most Precious Message

“The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour,… This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 91-2

Now how was this message to bring forth more prominently the uplifted saviour. What was one of the understandings about Christ? EJ Waggoner wrote a book about “Christ our righteousness”. This message has been rejected by the church for 120 years.

“We know that Christ “proceeded forth and came from God” (John 8:42), but it was so far back in the ages of b eternity as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man. “(E. J. Waggoner, 1890,Christ and His Righteousness, page 9)

“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. But the point is that Christ is a begotten Son and not a created subject. He has by inheritance a more excellent name than the angels; He is “a Son over His own house.” Heb. 1:4; 3:6. And since He is the only-begotten son of God, He is of the very substance and nature of God and possesses by birth all the attributes of God, for the Father was pleased that His Son should be the express image of His Person, the brightness of His glory, and filled with all the fullness of the Godhead. “(E. J. Waggoner, 1890, Christ and His Righteousness, pages 19-22)

What he believed was that Christ was begotten in times past. But lwhat if this is the foundation? The literal son-ship of Christ? Ms. White believed exactly the same thing.

Ellen White - The omega of deadly heresies - personality and presence of God

“The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” {The Desire of Ages, p. 51}

Now from the quote above you can clearly see that Christ was the firstborn in heaven from earliest times. As to when it was she does not say. Ellen White says that our minds can’t grasp it:

“Angels of God looked with amazement upon Christ, who took upon Himself the form of man and humbly united His divinity with humanity in order that He might minister to fallen man. It is a marvel among the heavenly angels. God has told us that He did do it, and we are to accept the Word of God just as it reads. And although we may try to reason in regard to our Creator, how long He has had existence, where evil first entered into our world, and all these things, we may reason about them until we fall down faint and exhausted with the research when there is yet an infinity beyond.” {E. G. White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7, p. 919} 1888

The Foundation of our Faith

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Peter had expressed the truth which is the foundation of the church’s faith” (DA 413).

The identity of Christ as the only begotten Son is the stone which the builders rejected, the rock, the foundation of our faith, the foundation of the true church.

The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” {Ellen White The Desire of Ages, p. 51}

“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}

This is clearly non-trinitarian doctrine. But this does not deny that “God gave his son”. The Trinity does deny God gave his son. Ms. White’s sons were non-trinitarian, Jones and Waggoner were non-trinitarian, Her husband, Joseph Bates, J. H. Waggoner, J. N Andrews, R. F. Cotrell. Why did she not rebuke any of them? Why did she point men like Kellogg to their writings when they erred concerning the “presence and personality of God”. These circumstances should help you see that she could never have been a Trinitarian and that the trinity is without doubt is the “Omega of deadly heresies”. The time has come to “take decided action”.

“Few can see the meaning of the present apostasy. But the Lord has lifted the curtain, and has shown me its meaning, and the result that it will have if allowed to continue. We must now lift our voices in warning. Will our people acknowledge God as the supreme Ruler, or will they choose the misleading arguments and views that, when fully developed, make Him, in the minds of those who accept them, as nothingness? . . .It is something that cannot be treated as a small matter that men who have had so much light, and such clear evidence as to the genuineness of the truth we hold, should become unsettled, and led to accept spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of God.” (Special Testimonies, Series B7, p. 37)

The doctrine of God accepted by the church today is the same God that is the God of Babylon. Something to consider. The deadliest heresy in Seventh-day Adventism, the Omega of deadly heresies. d

Leave a comment