THE OMNIPRESENCE OF THE FATHER AND OF HIS SON.

pemnewsletter@y7mail.com
November 2009.
THE SDA TRINITY DOGMA. "I [am] the LORD thy God, which have
The ‘trinity dogma” was deceptively voted into brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of
the SDA Church at the 1980 Dallas, Texas, the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no
General Conference Session. The Trinity dogma other gods before me." Exo. 20:2.
teaches the operational union of three Beings: "Cursed [be] the man that maketh [any]
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy graven or molten image, an abomination unto
Spirit; who are co-eternal, co-equal, and co- the LORD, the work of the hands of the
substantial. The spirit of the antichrist denies the craftsman, and putteth [it] in [a] secret [place].
Father and the Son relationship. And all the people shall answer and say,
Let us look at a few of the implications of this Amen." Deut. 27:15.
unscriptural dogma: IS THE TRINITY A FALSE
1. The Trinity dogma teaches that God the CONCEPTION OF GOD. “No outward
Son became the Son only at His incarnation, shrines may be visible, there may be no image
and that God the Son was NEVER the Son in for the eye to rest upon, yet we may be
heaven, where He was God. practicing idolatry. It is as easy to make an
2. They unwittingly reject and deny the many idol of cherished ideas or objects as to fashion
Scriptures that reveal that the Son was begotten in gods of wood or stone. Thousands have a false
heaven. They assert that the God the Son became conception of God and His attributes. They
the Son only at Bethlehem. are as verily serving a false god as were the
3. The Trinity asserts that it was really not servants of Baal. Are we worshiping the true
God's Son who came to die for you and me, God as He is revealed in His word, in Christ,
but a member of the Trinity God who played in nature, or are we adoring some
the role of the Son. philosophical idol enshrined in His place?
4. The Trinity tells us that because the God is a God of truth. Justice and mercy are
Trinity god is co-substantial, therefore we can the attributes of His throne. He is a God of
praise, worship, and pray to any of the three. love, of pity and tender compassion. Thus He
5. The Trinity dogma created in 481 AD is represented in His Son, our Saviour. He is a
God the Holy Spirit, a separate independent God of patience and long-suffering. If such is
third God, a sophisticated form of idolatry. the being whom we adore and to whose
THOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS character we are seeking to assimilate, we are
BEFORE ME. worshiping the true God.” {5T 173.4}
"This day the LORD thy God hath A THOUGHTFUL QUESTION.
commanded thee to do these statutes and Is the "Trinity dogma" idolatry by placing
judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do another "third independent god" called the
them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Trinity before the Most High and His Son,
17 Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to THE HEART OF THE MATTER.
be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to We recognize that Jesus is the begotten Son
keep his statutes, and his commandments, and of God, and that both have the attributes of
his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: omnipresence through the Holy Spirit that they
18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day share. The Father is omnipresent through His
to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised Spirit, which has a separate personality but not
thee, and that [thou] shouldest keep all his 1 a separate being.
commandments;” Deut. 26:16.
 1. Is the Holy Spirit a third co-equal, co- of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling
eternal co-substantial independent GOD? souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their
2. Is the Trinity dogma Scriptural or view as the Comforter, as one who reproves,
idolatry? who warns, who admonishes them, saying, "This
3. Does Sister White teach the Trinity is the way, walk ye in it."" (Review & Herald,
dogma in Evangelism p. 601? August 26, 1890)
THE THIRD PERSON OF THE "Christ declared that after his ascension, he
GODHEAD. "The prince of the power of evil would send to his church, as His crowning gift,
can only be held in check by the power of God the Comforter, who was to take his place. This
in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his life,
Spirit." (Evangelism, p. 617) the efficacy of His church, the light and life of
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CHRIST. "The the world. With His Spirit Christ sends a
Holy Spirit is Christ's representative, but reconciling influence and a power that takes
divested of the personality of humanity, and away sin." (Review & Herald, May 19, 1904)
independent thereof. Cumbered with TWO INDIVIDUALS YET ONE IN
humanity, Christ could not be in every place SPIRIT. “From eternity there was a complete
personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He unity between the Father and the Son. They
should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His were two, yet little short of being identical;
successor on earth. … By the Spirit the Saviour two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and
would be accessible to all. In this sense He would heart, and character.” {E. G. White, The
be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on Youth’s Instructor, December 16, 1897 par. 5}
high." (EGW, Desire of Ages, p. 669. 1898 edition) DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR LEADERS TO BE
"Cumbered with humanity, Christ could INFALLIBLE? Do you believe in practice, that the
not be in every place personally; therefore it "theologians" have the authority to change Scriptures, or
was altogether for their advantage that He doctrines? Is there a difference between a man made
should leave them, go to His father, and send dogma and Scriptural doctrines? Is a doctrine based on
Scripture,the same as a dogma based on tradition?
the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth.
The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AND
personality of humanity and independent ACCUSATIONS THAT ARISE.
thereof. He would represent Himself as present 1. Because Jesus is the begotten Son of the
in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Most High, then He was created.
Omnipresent." (EGW, Manuscript Release, No. Answer: Jesus is the Son begotten in the
1084) bosom of His father by inheritance (genes),
"The impartation of the Spirit is the not created, not adopted.
impartation of the life of Christ." (EGW, Desire 2. Because the Holy Spirit, is spoken of as
of Ages, p. 805) the trio, the third power of the Godhead, the
THE HOLY GHOST, CHRIST HIMSELF. Spirit must be a third separate and
"When God's people take the position that they independent God.
are the temple of the Holy Ghost, Christ Answer: There is one God, the Most High;
Himself abiding within, they will so clearly two Beings, the Father and the Son; and three
reveal Him in spirit, words, and actions, that there personalities through which the Father
will be an unmistakable distinction between them manifests Himself to us, while He is physically
and Satan's followers." (EGW, Notebook Leaflets seated on the throne: Father, Son and their
Vol. 1, p. 79) Holy Spirit.
CHRIST THE COMFORTER. "The reason 3. There are many verses describing the
why the churches are weak and sickly and ready 2 Spirit in Scriptures, therefore the Holy Spirit
to die, is that the enemy has brought influences
must be a third independent and separate God. (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the
Answer: The Most High is physically seated only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
on His throne in heaven, and is omnipresent truth. No man hath seen God at any time; the
through his Spirit everywhere, yet is a Person. only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of
We reject as idolatry the trinity because it makes the Father, he hath declared [him].” John
God the Holy Spirit, a separate being, co-equal 1:14, 18.
and co-eternal. And yet, the Holy Spirit is the The apostle John declared: “For God so
third person of the Godhead, a representative loved the world, that He gave his only
of the Father and of the Son. This is a mystery. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
4. The Trinity dogma teaches that God the should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Son died. How can God die? For God sent not his Son into the world to
Answer: The Father gave life to the Son. condemn the world; but that the world
“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath through him might be saved. He that
He given to the Son to have life in Himself;” believeth on him is not condemned: but he
John 5:26. that believeth not is condemned already,
5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also because he hath not believed in the name of
in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18.
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the
God: 7 But made himself of no reputation Hebrews, wrote how the Father has “spoken
G2758 – kenoo = emptied), and took upon him unto us by [his] Son, His heir, “by whom also
the form of a servant, and was made in the he made the worlds; Who being the
likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion brightness of [his] glory, and the express
as a man, he humbled himself, and became image of his person,” who “sat down on the
obedient unto death, even the death of the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being
cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly made so much better than the angels, as he
exalted him, and given him a name which is hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent
above every name: 10 That at the name of name than they. For unto which of the angels
Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day
heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to
under the earth;” Phil. 2:5-10. him a Father, and he shall be to me a
Jesus emptied, set aside His Godhead so as to Son? And again, when he bringeth in the
die and was resurrected by the Spirit of His firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let
Father Rom. 8:11. all the angels of God worship him.” But unto
5. Because the Scriptures teach that Christ the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for
was “begotten” then the Son is not divine ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is]
(God). the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Heb. 1:1-8.
Answer: The Psalmist David declared: “I will 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the
declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto love of God toward us, because that God sent
me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I his only begotten Son into the world, that we
begotten thee…Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, might live through him.
and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath 1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that
is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every
put their trust in him.” Psalms 2:7, 12; Acts one that loveth him that begat loveth him also
13:33; Heb. 5:5.. that is begotten of him.
John the Baptist bore witness: “And the 1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, 3 born of God sinneth not; but he that is
begotten of God keepeth himself, and that
wicked one toucheth him not.
6. The Trinitarians question the pre-
existence of Christ; they argue that He was
God before the incarnation.
Answer: Moses knew Christ and wrote of
him. Hebrews 11:24-26; John 5:46.
The prophets testified of Christ. Acts 10:43;
3:18; 1 Peter 1:10, 11.
A new being was not brought into existence
at the birth of Christ, but a change was made
in the order of His being. John 1:14; Phil. 2:5-
7; 2 Cor. 8:9.
Christ himself recognized that he had been
with the Father before he appeared in this
world. John 17:5, 24.
Christ declared that he came down from
heaven. John 6:38, 51; 3:13.
Christ repeatedly speaks of himself as one
who came from another place to this world.
John 16:28-30; 8:42; 17:8; 8:14; 18:37; 9:39;
12:46; Heb. 10:5-7.
Further testimony is borne to the same fact.
1 Timothy 1:15.
The Son of God existed before the world
was created. John 1:3; Heb. 1:1, 2; Col. 1:12-
16; Prov. 8:22-26.
SCRIPTURE PRESENT THAT JESUS IS
THE SON OF GOD.
1—Jesus Christ is called the "Son," or "the Son of 22—He will have a dominant role in the final
God." He was the Son before He was born into this
world (Jn 1:14, 18; Gal 4:4).
2—He is the "only begotten" Son of God (Jn 1:14,3:21; Rev 21:5).
18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn 4:9; compare 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 2:7; Lk 23. CHRIST acknowledged himself to be the Son
3:38; Jn 1:12).
3—He speaks of, and to, God as "Father" as One 27:41-43.
who bears a unique relationship to Him (Matt 6:9;
7:21; Jn 20:17).
4—He claimed a unique knowledge of God (Matt
11:27).
5—He spoke of Himself as "the Son of God" in
such a way that the Jews recognized that He was
claiming divinity, making Himself "equal to" God
(Matt 26:63; Jn 5:18; 10:36).
6—The Sonship of Christ also applies to Him as
our Messiah and Mediator (Matt 8:29; 26:63; Jn 1:49;
11:27).
7—He is the image, the very image of God (2 Cor 4
4:4; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3).
8—He is called the "firstborn" (Col 1:15; Heb
1:6), and the "only begotten" (Jn 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18;
Heb 11:17; 1 Jn 4:9). In summary, the Bible indicates
His son-ship goes back in eternity: when and how,
that has not been revealed.
9—He pre-existed and was one with the Father
before His incarnation (Micah 5:2; Jn 17:5; Col 1:16).
10—He has life in Himself given by His Father (Jn
5:26).
11—He is worthy to receive worship (Jn 1:1; Rom
9:5; Phil 2:6; Titus 2:13; 1 Jn 5:20; Jn 5:22-23; 14:1; 1
Cor 15:19; 2 Cor 13:13; Heb 1:6; Matt 28:19).
12—Divine names are applied to Him (Isa 9:6;
40:3; Jer 23:5-6; Joel 2:32; compare Acts 2:21 and 1
Tim 3:16).
13—He has eternal existence (Isa 9:6; Jn 1:1-2;
Rev 1:8; 22:13).
14—He has omniscience (Jn 2:24-25; 21:17; Rev
2:23). He has all knowledge in heaven, on earth, and
throughout the universe.
15—He has omnipotence (Isa 9:6; Phil 3:21).
16—He is immutable (Heb 1:10-12; 13:8). He is
utterly unchangeable.
17—He has every attribute that the Father has
(Col 2:9).
18—He is the Creator (Jn 1:3, 10; Col 1:16; Heb
1:2, 10).
19—Divine Providences come through Christ (Jn
3:35; 17:2; Eph 1:22; Col 1:17).
20—Only God can forgive sin, and Jesus can
forgive sin (Matt 9:2-7; Mk 2:7-10; Col 3:13).
21—The Father has given to Jesus to be our
Judge and to resurrect from the dead (Matt 25:31-32;
Jn 5:19-29; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Tim 4:1).
destruction of sin and sinners, and the renewal of the
new heavens and the new earth (Heb 1:10-12; Phil
of God. John 9:35-37; 10:36; 17:5; 5:23; Matthew
24. Christ assented to the testimony of others that
he was the Son of God. Matthew 16:15-17; John
11:27; 1:32-34, 48, 49.
25. There are other testimonies to the fact that
Christ was the Son of God. Romans 1:14; John 19:7;
20:30, 31; Acts 9:20; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Hebrews
4:14; 2 Peter 1:16, 17; Matthew 3:16, 17; John 10:37,
38; Matthew 26:63, 64.
THE HOLY GHOST OR SPIRIT IN
SCRIPTURE:
1. The Spirit of your Father Mat.10:20.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of
God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
redemption. Philippians 1:19 For I know that this shall
Spirit of God, blasphemy against the Holy turn to my salvation through your prayer, and
Ghost. Mat. 12:28, 32. the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
"The Spirit of Elohim Jehovah is upon Me 1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what
(Jesus), because YAHUWAH hath anointed manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
Me (Jesus at His baptism) to preach good in them did signify, when it testified beforehand
tidings and deliverance" Isa. 61:1. the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that
Jesus is the Branch, and the Spirit of the should follow.
Lord shall rest upon Him (Son). Isa. 11:1-5. – So Jesus Christ has a Spirit as well.
Spirit of the Jehovah Isa. 30:13. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in
The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God that the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
descended at the baptism. Mat. 3:11, 16 you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
The Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the Christ, he is none of his.
dead. Rom 8:11. 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19 Know ye not that
1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which God dwelleth in you? What? know ye not that
is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
man, but the Spirit of God. which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye
2. THE COMFORTER. are not your own?
John 14:16, 17, 26 And I will pray the Father, "When God's people take the position that
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he they are the temple of the Holy Ghost, Christ
may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of Himself abiding within, they will so clearly
truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it reveal Him in spirit, words, and actions, that
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know there will be an unmistakable distinction
him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in between them and Satan's followers."(EGW,
you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Notebook Leaflets Vol. 1, p. 79)
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your Comforter = Holy Spirit = Spirit of Christ.
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, "Christ declared that after his ascension, he
whom I will send unto you from the Father, even would send to his church, as his crowning gift,
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the the Comforter, who was to take his place. This
Father, he shall testify of me. Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his
Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life
and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a
what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: reconciling influence and a power that takes
but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, away sin."(Review & Herald, May 19, 1904)
that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the “Cumbered with humanity, Christ could
Holy Ghost. not be in every place personally; therefore it
Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, was altogether for their advantage that He
but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in should leave them, go to His father, and send
you. the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth.
3. THE SPIRIT OF THE SON. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God personality of humanity and independent
hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your 5 thereof. He would represent Himself as
present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the
Omnipresent. "But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My
name, He shall (although unseen by you),
[THIS PHRASE WAS ADDED BY ELLEN
WHITE.] teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you" [John 14:26].
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not
away, the Comforter will come not unto you;
but if I depart, I will send Him unto you"
[John 16:7]. {EGW, 14MR 24}
THE LATTER RAIN PROMISE.
“How can we stand in the day of test if we do
not understand the words of Christ? He said:
"These things have I spoken unto you, being
yet present with you. But the Comforter, which
is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you." It is the holy
Spirit that is to bring to our remembrance the
words of Christ. The theme Christ chose to dwell
upon in his last discourse to his disciples was that
of the office of the holy Spirit. He opened before
them a wide tract of truth. They were to receive
his words by faith, and the Comforter, the holy
Spirit, was to bring all things to their
remembrance. The consolation given by Christ
in this promise was found in the fact that the
divine influence was to be with his followers to
the end. But this promise is not accepted and
believed by the people today, and therefore is not
cherished by them, nor is its fulfillment seen in
the experience of the church. The promise of the
gift of the Spirit of God, is left as a matter to be
little considered by the church. It is not
impressed upon the people, and the result is
only that which might be expected,--spiritual
drouth, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension
and death. Minor matters occupy the mind and soul,
but divine power which is necessary for the growth and
prosperity of the church, which would, if possessed,
bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking,
although it is offered to us in infinite plentitude. Just 6 it carries with it its own evidence. At such
as long as the church are satisfied with small things,
they are disqualified to receive the great things of
God. But why do we not hunger and thirst after the
gift of the holy Spirit, since it is the means whereby
the heart may be kept pure? The Lord designs that
divine power shall co-operate with human effort. It is
all-essential for the Christian to understand
the meaning of the promise of the holy Spirit
just prior to the coming of our Lord Jesus the
second time. Talk of it, pray of it, preach
concerning it; for the Lord is more willing to
give the holy Spirit than parents are to give
good gifts to their children. "For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life." {RH,
November 15, 1892 par. 4}
NATURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A MYSTERY.
“The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery.
Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has
not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful
views may bring together passages of
Scripture and put a human construction on
them, but the acceptance of these views will
not strengthen the church. Regarding such
mysteries, which are too deep for human
understanding, silence is golden. (Acts of the
Apostles, p. 52)
THE FATHER AND HIS SON SHARE
THE SAME SPIRIT.
“From eternity there was a complete unity
between the Father and the Son. They were two,
yet little short of being identical; two in
individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and
character.” {E. G. White, The Youth’s
Instructor, December 16, 1897 par. 5}
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE THIRD
PERSON OF THE GODHEAD.
“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit,
who is as much a person as God is a person, is
walking through these grounds. Manuscript
66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the
Avondale School.) {Ev 616.5}
“The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth
witness with our spirits that we are the
children of God. When this witness is borne,
times we believe and are sure that we are the This letter was written when Ellen White was in
children of God. . . . Ms 20, 1906. {Ev 616.6} Australia, 7 years after the Minneapolis General
Conference (1888), and 5 years after Waggoner had
“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He
published his book (1890).
could not bear witness to our spirits and with Sister White wrote:
our spirits that we are the children of God." “Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed
Manuscript 20, 1906. {Ev 617.1} to have their eyes directed to his divine person,
“The prince of the power of evil can only be his merits, and his changeless love for the human
held in check by the power of God in the third family. All power is given into his hands, that
person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. Special he may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting
Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, p. 37. (1897) {Ev the priceless gift of his own righteousness to the
617.2} helpless human agent.” (Ibid)
“The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in “This is the message that God commanded
Christ's name. He personifies Christ, yet is a to be given to the world. It is the third angel's
distinct personality. 20MR 324.2 Taken from message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud
Ms 93, 1893. voice, and attended with the outpouring of his
“There are three living persons of the Spirit in a large measure.” (Ibid)
heavenly trio [GODHEAD]; in the name of Waggoner showed that Christ is truly God. To this
these three great powers --the Father, the Son, end he made such statements as (referring to John 1:1)
and the Holy Spirit--those who receive Christ “It is not given to men to know when or how
by living faith are baptized, and these powers the Son was begotten; but we know that He was
will co-operate with the obedient subjects of the Divine Word, not simply before He came to
heaven in their efforts to live the new life in this earth to die, but even before the world was
Christ.-- Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, created.” (E. J. Waggoner, ‘Christ and His
pp. 62, 63.. (1905) {Ev 615.1} Righteousness’, page 9, 1890).
“The eternal heavenly dignitaries--God, and “There was a time when Christ proceeded
Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them [the forth and came from God, from the bosom of
disciples] with more than mortal energy, . . . the Father (John 8:42 and 1:18) but that time
would advance with them to the work and was so far back in the days of eternity that to
convince the world of sin.-- Manuscript 145, finite comprehension it is practically without
1901. {Ev 616.4} beginning. But the point is that Christ is a
“We are to co-operate with the three highest begotten Son and not a created subject.” (Ibid
powers in heaven, --the Father, the Son, and the pages 21-22)
Holy Ghost,--and these powers will work “But the point is that Christ is a begotten Son and not a
created subject. He has by inheritance a more excellent
through us, making us workers together with name than the angels. He is “a Son over His own house.” Heb.
God.-- Ibid.., p. 617. {7ABC 442.5} 1:4; 3:6. And since He is the only-begotten Son of God, He is
THE 1888 MESSAGE. of the very substance and nature of God, and possesses by
“The Lord in his great mercy sent a most birth all the attributes of God; for the Father was pleased
that His Son should be the express image of His person, the
precious message to his people through Elders brightness of His glory, and filled with all the fullness of the
Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring Godhead.” (Ibid page 22)
more prominently before the world the uplifted “Christ “is in the bosom of the Father;” being by
Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole nature the very substance of God and having life in
world.” (Ellen G. White, Testimony to Battle Himself, He is properly called Jehovah, the self
existing one and is thus styled in Jer. 23:56, where it is
Creek 1st May 1895 written from Hobart, said that the righteous Branch, who shall execute
Tasmania, Australia to O. A. Olsen, MR 1100 Vol. judgment and justice in the earth, shall be known by the
14, see also Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel name of JAHUWAH-tsidekenu -- THE LORD, OUR
Workers page 91). 7 RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Ibid page 23-24)
 “Finally, we know the Divine unity of the Father and
the Son from the fact that both have the same Spirit.
Paul, after saying that they that are in the flesh cannot
please God, continues: “But ye are not in the flesh, but
in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.” Rom. 8:9. Here we find that the Holy
Spirit is both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of
Christ.” (Ibid page 23)
This is that the Holy Spirit “is both the Spirit of God and
the Spirit of Christ”.
Ellen White’s letter endorsing Waggoner’s message was
written in 1895 whilst her letter condemning Chapman’s view
was 4 years earlier in 1891. Unlike the beliefs of Chapman,
Ellen White did not consider Waggoner’s beliefs as error or
being divisive. This means that in 1895, she did not regard
Waggoner’s Minneapolis message concerning Christ or the
Holy Spirit as being error. She only saw it as uniting God’s
people. In fact by saying it was a message commanded to have
been given by God, she endorsed it as being the truth.
Waggoner’s views of Christ and the Holy Spirit were those
that were then being taught by Seventh-day Adventists. This is
why it did not produce any objections at Minneapolis. Note too
that this was the same time period that ‘The Desire of Ages’
was nearing completion. Unlike she did with Kellogg’s book
(‘The Living Temple’), Ellen White never condemned
Waggoner’s book, neither did she condemn his views of God,
Christ or the Holy Spirit found therein. She wrote
“Cumbered with humanity, Christ could
not be in every place personally; therefore it
was altogether for their advantage that He
should leave them, 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, as the
Omnipresent. "But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My
name, He shall (although unseen by you), [THIS
PHRASE WAS ADDED BY ELLEN WHITE.]
teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you"
[John 14:26]. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It
is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not
away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but
if I depart, I will send Him unto you" [John 16:7].
{14MR 24}
In agreement with Waggoner
We know that Ellen White agreed with this part of
Waggoner’s reasoning because in May 1895, which was only a
matter of 9 or 10 weeks after she had written that letter to the 8
General Conference endorsing his message at Minneapolis
(see above), she echoed Waggoner’s thoughts in an article she
wrote.
Waggoner had said in his book
“It is true that there are many sons of God, but Christ
is the “only begotten Son of God,” and therefore the
Son of God in a sense in which no other being ever
was or ever can be.” (E. J. Waggoner, ‘Christ and His
Righteousness’, page 12, 1890)
He then added
“The angels are sons of God, as was Adam (Job 38:7;
Luke 3:38), by creation; Christians are the sons of God
by adoption (Rom. 8:14, 15), but Christ is the Son of
God by birth. The writer to the Hebrews further shows
that the position of the Son of God is not one to which
Christ has been elevated but that it is one which He has
by right.” (Ibid)
Now note how ‘near’ to Waggoner’s latter words are
these from Ellen White (this was 5 years later in 1895)
“A complete offering has been made; for
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only-
begotten Son,"-- not a son by creation, as were
the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the
forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the
express image of the Father's person, and in
all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one
equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine
perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily.” (Ellen G. White, Signs of the
Times, 30th May 1895, ‘Christ our complete
salvation’)
Ellen White repeated Waggoner ‘thought for thought’.
She also said just 6 weeks later
“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one,
gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom
Him who was made in the express image of his
person, and sent him down to earth to reveal
how greatly he loved mankind." (Ellen G. White,
Review & Herald 9th July 1895 ‘The Duty of the
Minister and the People’)
In 1895, Ellen White’s views of God, Christ
and the Holy Spirit were no different than what
was then being taught by Seventh-day
Adventists. That Christ is begotten (brought forth)
of God therefore because of this He is truly the Son
of God. It was also that the Holy Spirit is the
presence of them both (the Father and the Son)
whilst they were not bodily present. She did not
recognise these views as peculiar or divisive but in
keeping with the Scriptures.