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 My Testimony and How God Has Led Me.

By Richard Story

The purpose of this testimony is not intended to be an all-inclusive autobiography. I’m trying to tell how I kept Jesus out of my heart, and He finally got me to listen to Him.

I was born in a Naval hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia, during a snow storm which is highly unusual for Georgia, even if it was December 12, 1944. I was 22 inches long, and weighed 6 lbs 12 oz. My initial size belied the fact that throughout my life I’ve been average height and definitely not skinny.

World War II was just about over, and I was a blissful, happy baby, and totally unaware of the Chaos of the times. When I was 2 years old, my parents, and I, moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan where we lived, in, what I knew as, the little brown house on Superior Street. I loved that house, my baby sitter, and fire trucks. I clearly remember when, one evening, the local fire department brought a fire truck to our neighborhood and demonstrated what firemen go through in combating fires. I loved every minute of it, and they even started a big fire that they quenched with their water hoses and expertise. I loved the excitement, and  the siren. I was 4 years old but I’ll never forget that night. 

Soon after this, we moved to a farm near Berrien Springs, Michigan, my tears flowed. I hated leaving the little brown house. However the move to the country was a good one that l and my siblings adjusted to easily, as there was much to do, we were never bored. We lived on a hill, in an old, 130 year old farm house with 30 acres to roam, and neighbors who didn’t mind if we wandered over on their land either, so my brother, Joe, and I explored throughout the whole township.

 Our Father, Claude Story, taught in the Benton Harbor public school system after the war was over. He had been baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church a year or 2 before I was born. Mom (L. Elizabeth Torkelson Story) had become a member of the SDA church when she was 13 years old, at a 1928 camp-meeting in Topeka, Kansas, along with her mother and 2 of her brothers, Fred & Ted. They had come into the church through the work of a colporteur who sold Grandma Torkelson a subscription to the “Signs of the Times magazine.”  It is interesting to note that “Uncle Ted”, after a 20 year stint as a missionary in India, became an assistant editor for the “Signs of the Times magazine” for many years, in California. 

My Dad was not fully converted, however, and gradually slipped out of the church, leaving Mom to keep the spiritual lamp burning, and she determined to see that all of her children would have their education in Adventist schools.  Dad refused to pay for the education so mom worked night shift at a hospital in Niles, Michigan for at least 12 years as an RN, in order to keep her promise to God, to see her children raised in the truth.

At an early age, I became interested in reading books. Mom would read our Sabbath School papers to us on Sabbath afternoons, as well as books she would obtain for us from church sources, such as biographies of historical people and of good character. As we did not have television, we learned to enjoy these reading sessions and I learned to read, early, before I started school. I would read to myself under the covers with a flashlight, at night, as I grew older, even though it was against house rules, but I got away with this most of the time, as I was very good at not getting caught. Our mother wanted us to learn to read good books, but l discovered that Berrien Springs, Michigan, which was 6 miles from our farm, and where our school was, had a library, and I had time after school before I had to take the bus home, in which I could check out books from the public library.

The books that I began to read were a mix of good and not so good, Many were classics and biographies which most people would see no wrong in them, but I began to sneak some home that I knew mom would not approve of. For example, she told me how she had read a book, in her teens, that for a time got her interested in western classics, named “Riders of the Purple Sage” by Zane Gray, and how, now, she regretted reading those books. “They were not for Christians.” Well, I found that book in the Library and read it at night and was hooked for a while on cowboy thrillers, but lost interest when I found another genre that I liked even better, “Science Fiction”. 

Reading became like a drug to me, it was an escape from reality. One of my favorite places was the shed where we kept the hay to feed our goats, we did not bale our hay, so it was cozy, and on a rainy day that was where I would go. The fact is, that my spiritual life suffered, and although I was a reasonably good student in grade school, my studies suffered some because I often was not getting enough sleep. I did excel in Bible because I did have a bent toward spiritual knowledge and we were faithful in our Bible studies, even though my mind was also filling with “garbage”. 

As previously stated, we did not have TV. Mom fought tooth and nail to keep it out of our home, her opinion was that it was a tool of the devil. I saw my first TV in 1953, and it was our neighbor across the road from us, that had the first one in the neighborhood. It was a large floor model like many of the early radios were designed, except it had a small screen, about 8 or 10 inches square, with a black and white picture, but I was hooked.  Still no TV for us, and only occasionally we were invited to the neighbors to watch a “good program”.  

When I was about 10 or 11 years old, Dad & Grandpa Story built a home for his parents to live in, just down the hill from us and easy walking distance, and guess what? They had a television. I got to see a lot of TV that I loved such as cowboy films and occasionally a Science Fiction story. Grandma didn’t mind. TV was like a drug to my mind and although I didn’t realize the effect it was having on me, the fact is, It was hypnotizing me and changing my mind. My love of books still continued, but most of all I loved fast easy reading, war stories, science fiction and things that allowed me to lose myself into other worlds to temporarily escape the one that I lived in. 

I was Baptized, into the Seventh-day Adventist church, when I was 11 years old.  It was a glorious Sabbath that I will never forget, and I felt the presence of God all day. It was like a golden glow about me. The next morning, however, the glow was gone and I slipped into my old ways. I did not understand what Baptism really meant, and I thought somehow that it would change me. I know, now, that change should come before baptism, as this beautiful event is a witness that God already began the change and has been let in to the heart to take control of the life. I really needed a mentor that could lead and guide me, and although my mom tried, she did not fulfill that need completely, and my dad was out of the question. He needed a great deal of help himself when it came to spiritual things, and he had no patience with his children, so we often walked as though on egg shells around him. In thinking back on my father’s behavior, I think that he definitely had psychological issues, but I won’t go into those, except to say that they caused problems for the whole family. My love of media was an escape from reality and it started with books.

Why am I relating this here? Because in all of this there were signs that, if people that were in the church, school, or family had understood that there were problems in our home, that were affecting our lives, there might have been someone who would have helped, pastor, teacher, extended family member, or church family member, with understanding and to, somehow, help, us as a family to be on a better track. Mom was basically raising 5 children by herself, as Dad, who did care for our physical needs, had no patience to deal with life issues or spiritual training. 

Even so, I had a desire to be a pastor someday, but I knew that I was not worthy of such an exalted position. 

My school work, In 7^th and 8^th grade, began to suffer. No more “A” and “B” student.  It was a “C” and occasional “B”, and even a “D” or 2, but I was accepted into Mount Ellis Academy in Bozeman, Montana for my freshman year when I was 14. I was a long way from home in Michigan and while it was an adventure for me, I went through home- sickness for 3 or 4 months. During that year, I discovered that my mother and father had temporarily separated, and dad was living in California.  Mom did not want me at home when this happened as dad had become more verbally violent, and she thought it would be better in Montana, where her sister, Esther, and her husband, Uncle Clare, lived, as he was a teacher at the school, and could keep a watch on how I was doing.

I really loved it in Montana. When I went home the following summer, I wanted to go back after 3 weeks at home, but mom decided that another way would be better for me.  In her nurses training at Hinsdale Sanitarium near Chicago, Illinois, in the “30”s, she met a man by the name of Ralph Martin who was involved in the Self Supporting work and especially the Education part of it. He was starting a high school level school in a wooded area about an hour from Berrien Springs and thought it would be good experience for me, so I became one of eight teen-agers for the first and only year that “Oak Haven” had an academy level school. 

We were living on almost 2 square miles of oak forest so the place was appropriately named. Except for a large house and a few out buildings there was nothing but trees. It was summer and the boys were put to work helping to build the building that we would live in for the year. I loved it.  Every building was heated by wood and we had lots of wood. When we were not building, we were cutting wood for winter heat or clearing land for the farm that, it was hoped, would produce food for the little organization. Best of all, our leader, Brother Martin, was a very interesting speaker, and I loved to hear him preach. It was there that I gained greater respect for the Word of God and The Spirit of Prophecy, and also learned how to work, but I still did not have victory over my sins because I did not understand how the process took place, and had not fallen on the “Rock”. I mention this experience because, in later life, this interest in the Spirit of Prophecy became very important to me.

I finished my Academy instruction with one year at Emanuel Missionary College Academy, and 2 years at Sunnydale Academy in Missouri, where I graduated with a D+ average. They must have been hard up for students at Union college, Lincoln Nebraska, that year (1964), for I was accepted into the Theology program on probation. I had to bring my grade point average up to at least a “C”, and I brought it up to a “C”. It wasn’t that I was dumb, I was trying, but also working full time, and even with a slightly less than full study load, was having trouble with focusing on studying. That year was the only year that mom could help me financially as I was $700 short at the end of the school year. I studied for one more year at Union College and then moved to Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tennessee. My brother, Joe, was also there.

I was still in the Theology program at Southern, and still taking less than a full load of schoolwork because I worked full time to pay my bills. I learned to make brooms and finally got to the place that I was making more than $2 an hour, piece work, which was slightly over the minimum wage. I met there a young lady that I married in May of 1967. Melva was a Theology major also and we met In Greek class. I will not go much in detail on this marriage, except to say that it lasted 15 years. After three months of marriage I realized that to continue in my Theology major was not going to be a good plan. I still had a problem of not finding the victory over sin, and there were issues with our marriage that I began to see would be a problem in being a pastoral couple, so I changed studies to work toward Physical Therapy as a plan for my lifework. It was the height of the Vietnam War, and this change also changed my deferment and Uncle Sam took me into the Army.  

The next 15 years would almost make a book in itself.  2 years in the Army, most of it in the “White Coat Project”, 2 years of study and graduating from Loma Linda University school of Physical Therapy with a solid B average. Moving from place to place trying to find one that satisfied both of us. (Melva was a Registered Nurse), We lived in North Carolina, Tennessee, Northern California, 5 years in Alaska, and 3 years in upstate New York. In 1982 we divorced. I did not want the divorce, and we had 3 children. At the time it seemed to me that life was not worth living, but I plugged along.

I met Kathy within the 1^st year after the divorce, but we married on January 8, 1984. We lived in Pittsfield, Massachusetts until the spring of 1988 When we moved to Wichita, Kansas area where we now live on 18+ acres 10 miles north of Wichita. We have lived here now for a little over 32 years. I’ll move on from here to tell how God finally got hold on my life to bring about the spiritual change I so badly needed in the last 17+ years.

I want to make it clear that I have never left the church and have always supported the corporate SDA church through my journey, although I was often temped to throw it all out the window several times. It is not a good feeling to know that you are a hypocrite, knowing much truth, and not doing what is right, yet appearing in the church as though you are headed for the kingdom of God. I have been both Deacon and Elder. I have preached truth that I believed, but did not practice. I had no victory! I was baptized 3 times, once at age 11, re-baptized at age 19, (at Union College), and again when I married Kathy. I wanted to be cleansed of my past and have hope for the future, but the last 2 baptisms did not have the same glow as at age 11. 

When I was 59 years old, I had some tests that uncovered the fact that I had severe, Osteoporosis of the spine. I also had a Laminectomy and after the procedure the doctor advised that I have no more surgeries on my spine, and recommended no lifting above 30 lbs for the rest of my life. I was told that my bones in the lower spine were so soft that his scalpel went through the bone like a butter knife through butter. I returned to work under lifting restrictions, but then I had a bout that was so much like a heart issue that I was put in CCU for three days of testing, of which the final outcome was that I didn’t have a heart attack, but they watched me for a, 2 year, period. The biggest problem that came out of this was that I was not received back to work because of the fact that lifting restrictions, according to the doctors, would be permanent, and I was considered a liability. Eventually I was put on Social Security Disability, which transferred to regular Social Security at age 65. Over time I have come to accept what happened as something the Lord used to get me to search for more truth and to finally get Victory in my life.

In 2005, 2006 I went on 2 mission trips.  My wife, Kathy, encouraged me to go and I finally gave in.  The first trip, to Peru, got me out of my shell, or cocoon, my comfort zone. The 2^nd one, to India, showed me evidence that there is an unseen world where a war, as the Bible says, is going on, and I began to call on the Lord for strength to handle this war as it began to even effect me personally. I had 2 experiences in India that were demonic in nature, and we saw several individuals that were possessed by evil spirits. The Lord did protect me during this trip but I came back from it realizing that I lacked the armour of God and in fact I felt that I was lost, and knew not what to do. I knew that according to Ephesians 6:11-18 victory was lacking in my life and I felt that my prayers did not go beyond the ceiling. At this point, I was desperate.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I was walking in the back yard in spring of 2007 and praying for help from the Lord to end this darkness that had settled over my mind, I didn’t want to be lost and yet it seemed my spiritual life was of no effect. I had now lived for over 62 years, I had tried to cleanse my mind many times and even threw out the television, at least 2 or 3 times from our home, and it always crept back in. A new problem was added to the old problems, I was becoming a computer game junky. Entertainment media was choking me to spiritual death, causing me to make a wasteland of my life.

Suddenly, I heard a voice. It was in my mind, but it seemed audible and loud enough to be someone walking next to me as He talked. He said:

“I can’t help you Richard because you won’t let me in.”

Those eleven words had more meaning than just to say that He couldn’t help me.  There was hope in those words. At the same time He spoke, I saw in my mind that picture of Christ standing before a door with arm raised to knock, and at the same time the view panned to my left and I saw the inside where I, myself, stood before the door that had a security chain preventing it from opening all the way.  Jesus voice could be heard but He could not enter unless I would take the chain off and open the door. My mind went immediately to Revelation 3:20-23:

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

In a moment I saw that the reason I could not have victory over sin was because we can’t do anything without Jesus, Himself, in our minds and hearts to take control of the sin problem, without His power, His victory, His righteousness to replace our lack of power, our lack of victory, and our filthy rags, which represent our righteousness, we can never overcome sin, but the Bible is clear, if we do not have victory over sin we will never sit in Christ’s throne with Him. By the way, It is Jesus that is speaking to the churches, all 7 of them. “Ye that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”.

Ellen White wrote:

The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are false teachers. It was to such a class that Jesus declared, “Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God.”[MARK 12:24.] The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed . . . If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad, and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error.  {The Great Controversy 88, 598.3}

 I had not been a deep student of scripture. I had not learned to compare scripture with scripture, and I had more than once accepted human reasoning to explain difficult passages. I wanted to be a student that would not be ashamed of haphazard Bible study, but deep, complete study, and backing it up with the messages of the prophet that the Lord gave our church.

Ellen White also wrote:

“God means that truth shall be brought to the front and become the subject of examination and discussion, even through the contempt placed upon it. The minds of the people must be agitated; every controversy, every reproach, every effort to restrict liberty of conscience, is God’s means of awakening minds that otherwise might slumber.”  {Mount of Blessing 33.2}

and:

If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of Phariseeism cherished among us. When Christ came to his own, his own received him not; and it is a matter of solemn interest to us that we should not pursue a similar course in refusing light from heaven.  {Review & Herald, June 18, 1889 par. 5}

I Knew that Jesus had manifested Himself to me personally. By faith, I opened the door, made a door- stop out of the security chain, that He might never more be kept outside of my heart’s door, and, on my knees I gave Him full control of my life. The only thing He indicated I needed to do, was to “not make provision for the flesh.”  

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Roman’s 13:14.

I immediately rounded up all the videos and games that had a hold on my life. I asked the lord that when I had gotten rid of all those things that I was hooked on, that He would take away my love of the wickedness they entertained and restore a Love for spiritual material.  It took about a week to round up all these items.

Please understand that I had been reading the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy material, but I was pushing myself to do it, I did not love it and I was still watching the devils films and playing games that were designed to take away Love for God and truth. One day I was in the basement, where my “little man cave” was and I said, “Lord, I think I’ve fulfilled my part of the bargain, and I think It’s your turn. As I spoke these words, my gaze directed to a shelf where I had a very special series that I loved to watch, having watched it at least 6 times, and was looking forward to a 7^th time. I told myself that they were good, in that they taught good morals, had no bad language in them, or impure activities, but I had forgotten that they had spiritualism throughout them, as well as much violence. You’ve probably heard of the classic known as “The Lord of the Rings”. In a moment the Holy Spirit brought forth from my heart the deception that I had held regarding these videos. I saw that I loved them more than I loved Jesus. I had cherished these films that were full of deception, fantasy, war, and violence, which had always been a problem with me. They were nothing but an escape from reality. This actually was the hardest thing that I gave up at that time, but when I did, I felt a wonderful relief. Then I said, Lord it’s your turn.  I heard another voice, “You can always get them back.” I shouted out, “I don’t ever want to go back.” Immediately I felt something in my chest, not a pain but an ache like  something had just been pulled out of me. It wasn’t that unpleasant and gradually it disappeared in a couple of hours. The next time I went by the TV in the living room, I had no desire to turn it on and start clicking through the channels.  The Lord kept His promise and I have lost my desire to watch the garbage I once filled my mind with. I love His word, both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy writings, and it has been thirteen years now since that miracle took place. The truth, I have found, is much more interesting than fiction.

I don’t claim to be perfect, however, I know that God continues to cleanse my soul temple as I cooperate with His Holy Spirit, and just imagine that Jesus had been waiting for me all that time. I knew that Jesus was the one that came to me and opened my spiritual eyes regarding my great need.  It was He that healed me of my demonic connection. I praise Him all the time and will never forget what He has done for me. I knew that this was just the start of my relationship with Christ and my desire is that it will be for eternity.

Why am I telling this experience? Because it has everything to do with the understanding of God, His Son and the Holy Spirit, and I hope it will be clear as this narrative continues. I began to understand that God had blessed me by giving me time to Study, and learn from His word, and I saw things with different lenses. The Word began to open up to me as never before.  Prayer, Bible study, worship, and reading the books of the Spirit of Prophecy, all came alive to me. Secular media no longer had any interest for me. I found that there was a wealth of spiritual material including sermons to be found on YouTube and I took advantage of that. This was the only media that I cared for. I began to search for sermons on YouTube and found many. Most were from sites like Doug Batchelor and Stephen Bohr and other self supporting groups with evangelistic out-reach, but I began to notice that there were others, on the internet, that seemed to have a vendetta with the organized SDA church and I avoided watching those.

One day I discovered a study video on YouTube, and since I recognized one of the individuals, involved in the study, as one who had previously been at my church a couple of years, in the past, to give a weekend series on the book of Esther, as a type of last day events, which I had found very interesting. I listened in on this study and realized that I had never heard anything like this before, and it necessitated further study which included me looking up all the Spirit of Prophecy statements to see if they were in context, and correctly quoted, etc. My personal study lasted at least 8 months, and I finally decided that it was truth. The subject was “Who God is”, and what does the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy have to say about it. It sounds simple doesn’t it? The more I read and studied this, the more I found on this subject. It has changed my life. 

I will try to keep my words to a minimum as I go through this partial study, (there is much more available). First of all, Who is God? And why should it matter that we know ?

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

So if in (John 17:3), Jesus said, “There is one true God,” and Paul, in (1 Corinthians 8:6,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,

and (Ephesians 4:6), says: 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

and if Paul taught, in (1 Timothy 1:5 ): 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

If James said (In James 2:19) that the fallen angels believe that there is one God and they tremble.

If the demons knew that “Jesus was the Son of the Most High God” as it says in (Mark 3: 11-12) and (Luke 8:28).

If the scribes knew there was one God which brought commendation from Christ, Himself, (Mark 12:32-34)

And if Malachi said that One God created us. (Malachi 2:10), and if Moses agreed, laying the foundation many years before in (Deuteronomy 6:4): “4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

I think it would be fair if we would believe the same thing. There is a lot of scripture that I’ve mentioned, but this is only touching the surface of the subject. 

Why, you might say, do you even care about writing about this subject? First, I would say that, until 2018, I didn’t really care anything about it. I did not know anything about there being any issues concerning who God is, the Sonship of Christ and who is the  Holy Spirit, but in that moment I knew that, by faith, Jesus came into my heart and mind in 2007 and it was necessary, if I was ever to be victorious over the sins in my life, to be able to accept His righteousness. 

 I started this study with some texts about the one True God, which Israel believed in,  and Jesus believed in. In fact Jesus worships His Father, who is also His God. Here are several texts showing this to be a fact.

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

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

So far we’ve learned that there is one true God, the Highest, the Father of all, the fallen angels know this, the demons know this and tremble, and that Jesus is the Son of God. We know the scribes knew there was one God, and that Malachi said there is one God, Moses said there is one God. Jesus, Himself, said “This is Life eternal that they, (the disciples), might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” Jesus said that with His own mouth, in the most sacred place we could be on Earth, in prayer.  So, if all these witnesses, to the fact that there is one God, saying this in concert, what business do human beings have the right to say that God is three in one and one in three, as James White would say, scoffingly. 

Paul is one of the best sources concerning the Godhead.  Let’s look at a few texts.

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Corinthians 8:6)

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22)

All through the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy God the Father and His only begotten Son are the ones that are worshiped for ever and ever and the Father is the Almighty God.  There are many more Bible verses but lets move on. 

Testimonies for the Church volume 9. page 19.

In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.  {9T 19.1}

The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God’s people are to be true to the trust committed to them. . . . {9T 19.2}

The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God (that is Seventh-day Adventists in the context of which we are speaking) are to manifest His glory. (Christ’s Object Lessons page 415)

This is the 1^st angel’s message, which is the main message of the 3 angels. Angel 2 and 3 are warnings concerning the rejection of the messages and the result of fulfilling the purpose of the message in the 144,000.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6-7

Verse 6 tells us that verse 7 is the giving of the everlasting gospel. The message is that all on earth should fear God and give glory to Him, (The fear of God the Father is fulfilled in returning the Love, that God has, for his creation, with obedience and deep respect and honor for His name. The glory that we give Him is reflecting His Character through Christ, His only begotten Son.  Paul says it well:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  (Colossians 1:27-28)

God’s glory is His law, which is His Character, and His name. The 144,000 will reflect this glory.

18 And he (Moses) said, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory”.

 19 And he (God) said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. (Exodus 33:18-19)

5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:5-7)

Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world.{Ministry of Healing 409.1}

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (Revelation 18:1)

This commission of giving the three angels messages to the world and presenting His character, all depends upon one thing, and “that is that we must know God aright.” This is what we are told by Sister White in the “Ministry of Healing” in the chapter “The True Knowledge of God” page 409.par. 3.

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.  {MH 409.2}

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.  {MH 409.3}

“The knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10.  {MH 409.4}

This is the reason that God intervened in human history, in the 19^th century, and raised up a movement of people called Seventh-day Adventists, and this is our purpose. 

The Sonship of Christ

Next, let’s take a look at the Sonship of Christ and the part it plays in the Great Controversy.

Jesus asked these questions of His disciples.

13 . . . saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

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

 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)

Let’s look at some of the scripture verses regarding the Son of God.

John 3:16

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..

John 3:17

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved..

Matthew 3:17:

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”, and we read similarly at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:5; . . .a voice out of the cloud, which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.:

Luke 4:3..

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

In reading this verse, I saw something that I had not seen before. That this temptation was not so much about the bread and his hunger, it was about His Sonship.. Let’s read this statement from Sister White as she comments on this verse we read:

“Satan flattered himself that he could lead Christ to doubt the words spoken from heaven at His baptism.”

(Remember that these words were “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”) If he could tempt Him to question His Sonship, and to doubt the truth  of the word spoken by His Father, he would gain a great victory.” (Confrontation page 40 :2)

Daniel 3:25

He answered and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

How did the King even know about the Son of God?  Daniel and His 3 friends were witnessing to Nebuchadnezzar.

Proverbs 30:4:

. . . who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his Son’s name, if thou canst tell?

While there is not as much obvious writing about the Son of God, there are texts that indicate Christ’s Sonship before He came to earth to become the son of man as well as being the Son of God. Ellen White has a lot to say about the Sonship of Christ.

“It is the glory of the gospel that it is founded upon the principle of restoring in the fallen race the divine image by a constant manifestation of benevolence. This work began in the heavenly courts. (so here is the start of the timeline for this statement-“in the heavenly courts)There God decided to give human beings unmistakable evidence of the love with which He regarded them. He “so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ” John 3:16  . . .In order fully to carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this love?“{CH 222.1 & 2}

Note that this took place before He came to earth.  He has always been the Son of God.

God has given to the world and to angels the evidence of the changeless character of His love. He would part with His only begotten Son, send Him into the world, . . . 14 MR 86

“How can it be that the helpless babe in Bethlehem’s manger is still the divine Son of God?” (Youth’s Instructor, November 21, 1895 “child life of Jesus-1” par. 3)

While the Son of a human being, He became the Son of God in a new sense.(1 SM 226.2)

God had promised to give the first born of heaven to save the sinner. (Desire of Ages 51.1)

He moved among them with the dignity and power of a heaven-born king. (5T 253.1)

Now, why am I trying to establish the Sonship of Christ?  Isn’t that what we all believe? Well let’s look at a few statements from people with leadership in the SDA Church. 

“. . .the Father-Son image cannot be literally applied to the divine Father-Son relationship within the Godhead. The Son is not the natural, literal Son of the Father. A natural child has a beginning, while within the Godhead, the Son is eternal. The term “Son” is used metaphorically when applied to the Godhead.”  (A question of Sonship by Angel Manuel Rodriquez—BRI)

“It may be inferred from the Scriptures that when the Godhead laid out the plan of salvation at some point in eternity past, they also took certain positions or roles to carry out the provisions of the plan.”(Pastor Frank B. Holbrook, Signs of the Times, July 1985, Frank Answers) BRI

“In order to eradicate sin and rebellion from the universe and to restore harmony and peace, one of the divine Beings accepted and entered into, the role of the Father, another the role of the Son.”

(Gordon Jenson, Adventist Review, October 31, 1996. p. 12.)

“The title ‘Son’ refers to His entry into time and does not deny at all His eternal origins. There are references in the Old Testament to ‘Sonship’ but these are always in anticipation of the incarnation.” (J. R. Hoffman, Seventh-day Adventist Minister. Ministry Magazine June 1982 page 24.)

The above statements are only a few of many in the church that believe that Jesus is not  a real Son and God the Father is not a real Father. It is all just a metaphor or a role play. In other words it is just a big lie. It is an official part of our 28 fundamental Beliefs which were voted into Adventism in the General Conference session of 1980.

Here are some more statements by Ellen White.

If God could have changed this law to meet man in his fallen condition, would He not have done this, and retained His only begotten Son in heaven?—He certainly would. (BEcho  February 8,1897 Par. 3)

“Well, Lucifer, he was striving; he had glory in the heavenly courts, but he was striving for Christ’s place next to God. Next he wanted to be God, but he could not obtain that. (here’s why)  Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and Lucifer, that glorious angel, got up a warfare over the matter, until he had to be thrust down to the earth.”  Ms86-1910 (August 21, 1910) par. 30.

“Angels were expelled from heaven because they would not work in harmony with God. They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. This fact the angel’s would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and they came to consider that they were not to consult Christ. One angel began the controversy and carried it on until there was rebellion in the heavenly courts among the angels. They were lifted up because of their beauty.”  Lt42-1910.3

Now in these statements the Sonship of Christ is not metaphorical, it is a fact. “This fact, (she says) the angels would obscure”.  The fact being that “Christ was the only begotten Son of God.“  Not only was the Sonship of Christ a fact, but it was a fact then. It was not a future application to be fulfilled when Christ would become human, He already was the Son of God, in heaven, when Lucifer and his angels rebelled against God. And we see the reality of Christ’s Sonship again expressed in another statement where Sister White says:

“When Christ first announced to the heavenly host His mission and work in the world, He declared that He was to leave His position of dignity and disguise His holy mission by assuming the likeness of a man when in reality He was the Son of the infinite God.”  (Ellen G. White Letter to J.H. Kellogg- Letter No. K-303 August 29, 1903)

To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God, thus impeaching the wisdom and love of the Creator, had become the purpose of this prince of angels. To this object he was about to bend the energies of that master mind, which, next to Christ’s, was first among the hosts of God. But He who would have the will of all His creatures free, left none unguarded to the bewildering sophistry by which rebellion would seek to justify itself. Before the great contest should open, all were to have a clear presentation of His will, ( that is of God’s will)  whose wisdom and goodness were the spring of all their joy.  {Patriarchs & Prophets 36.1}

“The King of the universe (God) summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. The Son of God shared the Father’s throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled both. About the throne gathered the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng–“ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11.), the most exalted angels, as ministers and subjects, rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity. {PP 36.2}

Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants. But in all this He would not seek power or exaltation for Himself contrary to God’s plan, but would exalt the Father’s glory and execute His purposes of beneficence and love.”  {PP 36.2}

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:9 & 10)

“In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright.

We must know Him as He reveals Himself.”   (Ministry of Healing, p. 409)

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” “

The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.”  Special Testimonies, Series A, 10:37

Is the Holy Spirit a part of the Father’s divinity or a third person, as part of a Trinity? Keep reading to see.

The Holy Spirit

We want that complete and perfect understanding which the Lord alone can give. It is not safe to catch the spirit from another. We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.”  (Letter 66, April 10, 1894, par. 17-18)

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Christ)  was made a quickening spirit. (A Life giving spirit) (1 Corinthians 15:45)

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ( 2 Corinthians 3:17)

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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:9-10)

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?(John 14:16-22)

That Christ should manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to the disciples. They could not understand the words of Christ in their spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet He be unseen by the world. They did not understand the meaning of a spiritual manifestation.  {SW, September 13, 1898 par. 2}

Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of Christ. He is the Comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full. (R & H, Jan. 27, Art. A , par. 13.}

“As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wonderful love in giving Jesus the comforter. “ (19MR 297.3)

“Christ is to be known by the blessed name of Comforter.”  (Ms7-1902.10)

“The Savior is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be.”  (Ms334-1892.30)

But no; the Father himself will minister to his Son. Direct from the throne proceeded the light of the glory of God. The heavens were opened, and beams of light and glory proceeded there from and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The dove-like form was emblematical of the meekness and gentleness of Christ.    (YI, March 1, 1874, par. 4)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, . . . John 14:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 15:26

. . . for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  John 16:7

. . . And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1John 2:1

“Parakletos” is translated Comforter in all except in 1John 2:1.  There it is translated as Advocate. It is the same Greek word but translated differently. It is the same John writing in a different letter and in the context we see that it is the same person He writes about. “Jesus Christ the righteous. He is our Comforter and Advocate.

The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”. .  {RH, August 26, 1890 par. 10}

This fact the angel’s would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God, . . .  Lt42-1910.3  He had sought to shut Jesus from my view as the Comforter, . . . {RH, August 26, 1890 par. 10}

I then realized that I was asking the same question as Judas asked Christ. He said, “how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?”  (John 14:22)

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16-17.  “This refers to the Omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” 14MR 179.

If the Trinity doctrine is not correct then it is time that we knew it. We must be careful that we are not rejecting light from heaven.

“It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, “the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father.” It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit that, in His work of guiding men into all truth, “he shall not speak of Himself.” (John 15:26)  16;13.)

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 pp. 51. 3 –52.1

“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 His humanity, and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. “ Lt 119-1895.18

“He laid aside His glory and majesty. He was God, but the glories of the form of God He for a while relinquished.”  ( 7ABC 446:1)

. . .the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)

But when Jesus ascended, after His resurrection, He was glorified and the glories of the form of God that He for a time had relinquished in becoming a human, after His ascension He took them up once more and this is why John wrote:(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet 

given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:39

And this is why Jesus, speaking of ascending for the Comforter said, “I go away, and come again unto you.”  (John 14:28)

God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Galatians 4:6

“Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. “  DA 671

 ‘There is no power in you apart from Christ, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and He can overcome sin in you, when you cooperate with His efforts.” (Our High Calling 76.5)

“Jesus alone has power to save from sin, to free from the power of evil.” (R & H Feb. 10, 1891, Par. 5.)

And speaking of the individual:

There is but one agency whereby he may be cleansed from sin. He must accept the propitiation that has been made by the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.  {ST, May 30, 1895 par. 3}

“Christ is withdrawn only from the eye of sense, but he is as truly present by his Spirit as when he was visibly present on earth.” {ST, April 7, 1890 par. 6}

Jesus invites his own presence to your soul. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Shall we not open the door of our hearts to the divine guest?  {ST, November 30, 1888 par. 7}

‘We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history.” Ms 139-1901.28

“The concept of the Trinity, namely the idea that the three are one, is not explicitly stated but only assumed.” Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, volume 12, p. 138)

“The Role of the trinity in a doctrine of God always raises questions. One reason is that the word itself does not appear in the Bible, nor is there any clear statement of the idea. But the Bible does set the stage for its formulation, and the concept represents a development of Biblical claims and concepts. So even though the doctrine of the trinity is not part of what the Bible itself says about God, it is part of what the church must say to safeguard the Biblical view of God.” ( In An Introduction to Christian Theology, From a Seventh-day Adventist perspective.” P. 83)

The above statements, about the Trinity, do not make any sense and it goes against the belief we once held that our beliefs are to be from the Word of God.

“While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact by Bible writers. . . Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity.” (Adventist Review, July 30^th, 1981, p. 4)

The above was printed 1 year after making it a part of the Fundamental Beliefs. “The Bible’s clear allusions to the Trinity are enough for Adventists”. (From the General Conference website.)

Ellen White writes:

But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,— not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.  {4SP 413.2}

No outward shrines may be visible, there may be no image for the eye to rest upon, yet we may be practicing idolatry. It is as easy to make an idol of cherished ideas or objects as to fashion gods of wood or stone. Thousands have a false conception of God and His attributes. They are as verily serving a false god as were the servants of Baal. Are we worshiping the true God as He is revealed in His Word, in Christ, in nature, or are we adoring some philosophical idol enshrined in His place? God is a God of truth. Justice and mercy are the attributes of His throne. He is a God of love, of pity and tender compassion. Thus He is represented in His Son, our Saviour. He is a God of patience and long-suffering. If such is the being whom we adore and to whose character we are seeking to assimilate, we are worshiping the true God.  {LHU 143.4}

In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Law-giver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. By misrepresenting the attributes of God, Satan leads men to conceive of Him in a false character. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few. Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists–the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions—is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia. (The Great Controversy p. 583)

“Three became the most universal number of deity. Sun worship is one of the most primitive forms of religion, and early man sometimes distinguished between rising, midday, and setting sun. The Egyptians, for example, divided the sun god into three deities: Horus , rising sun, Ra or re, midday Sun, Osiris, old setting sun.”   (Egyptian Deities, New International Encyclopedia. NY, Dodd. 1917. Volume 7. p. 559)

“The ancient Babylonians recognized the doctrine of a trinity, or three persons in one god-as appears from a composite god with three heads forming part of their mythology, and the use of the equilateral triangle, also, as an emblem of such trinity in unity.”

(Thomas Dennis Rock. The Mystical Woman and the Cities of the Nations. 1867. pp. 22,23)

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”  (Galatians 1:8).

Paul was consistent throughout all of his writings. He knew the One True God and Jesus Christ His only begotten Son.

“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history.” (Ms 139-1901.28)

Ellen White was accused in the last part of her life to have changed her beliefs regarding who God is. She writes:

“In this time, when false doctrines are being taught, we are to teach the same truth that we have taught for the past half century. I have not changed my faith one jot or one tittle. . . “ (Lt150-1906.9)

Now, this is important because even today many are saying that Ellen White changed her view of God, that the pioneers changed their view of God, that under the guise of present truth their ideas evolved and they came into a new understanding of who God is.

But Sister White completely contradicts this idea, that this is a false notion, so let us lay to rest the lie that Sister White has changed her idea of who God is. She, herself said, “I have not changed my faith one jot or one tittle. . . “(Lt150-1906.9)

“In previous research I have traced the development of the Adventist doctrine of God from opposition to the Trinity doctrine as traditionally formulated to acceptance of the Biblical concept of one God in three persons. I have also traced the clear progression in Ellen White’s visions from 1850 onward, showing that her visions gradually formed her concept of God until by 1898, when she published Desire of Ages, she held a trinitarian concept.” (Jerry A Moon  “THE ADVENTIST TRINITY DEBATE” Andrews University Seminary Studies, No 2, (Autumn 2003) 275-2992)

Again She says”

“I appreciate the truth, every jot of it, just as it has been given to me by the Holy Spirit for the last fifty years. I desire everyone to know that I stand on the same platform of truth that we have maintained for more than half a century. That is the testimony I desire to bear on the day that I am seventy-eight years of age.” (Manuscript 142. 1905. 1.2. 4MR 44.5

“The truth that we proclaim today is the same truth that we have proclaimed for the last fifty years.” (Ms 140-1905.6)

And now, after half a century of clear light from the word as to what is truth, there are arising many false theories to unsettle minds. But the evidence given in our early experience has the same force that it had then. The truth is the same as it ever has been, and not a pin or a pillar can be moved from the structure of truth. That which was sought for out of the Word in 1844, 1845, and 1846 remains the truth today in every particular.” (Lt38-1906.3)

Let none seek to tear away the foundations of our faith–the foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for the last fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a new way and that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid. But this is a great deception. Other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid.  {8T 297.1}

“Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years? (Counsels to Writers and Editors 53.  CIHS 11.2)

‘How dangerous it is so to exalt any man that he becomes confused, and confuses the minds of others in regard to the truths that for the last fifty years the Lord has been giving His people.”  (SptB07 36-37)

“I entreat our medical missionary workers to be afraid to trust the suppositions and devising of any human being who entertains the thought that the path over which the people of God have been led for the last fifty years is a wrong path. Beware of those who, not having had any decided experience in leading of the Lord’s Spirit, would suppose that this leading is all a fallacy; that we have not the truth: that we are not the people of the Lord, gathered by Him from all countries and nations. Beware of those who would tear down the foundation, upon which we have been building for the last fifty years, to establish a new doctrine. I know that these new theories are from the enemy.”  (Ms 137-1903.10)

“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. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.  {1SM 204.2}

 “The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error.” And upon this basis, “A new organization would be established.”

The structure of this new organization would be built on rejecting the truths given to the Advent people and the result would be that built on sand, “storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.”  (The Fundamental Principles brought into the church in the first fifty years would be rejected)

Here is a copy of the 1872 fundamental Principles that the Seventh-day Adventist Pioneers including Ellen G. White believed and practiced as the Foundation of the church that God had brought out of the 1844 movement.

Fundamental Principles 1872

 In presenting to the public this synopsis of our faith, we wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline, aside from the Bible. We do not put forth this as having any authority with our people, nor is it designed to secure uniformity among them, as a system of faith, but is a brief 

statement of what is, and has been, with great unanimity, held by them. We often find it necessary to meet inquiries on this subject, and sometimes to correct false statements circulated against us, and to remove erroneous impressions which have obtained with those who have not had an opportunity to become acquainted with our faith and practice. Our only object is to meet this necessity. 

As Seventh-day Adventists we desire simply that our position shall be understood; and we are the more solicitous for this because there are many who call themselves Adventists who hold views with which we can have no sympathy, some of which, we think, are subversive of the plainest and most important principles set forth in the word of God.

As compared with other Adventists, Seventh-day Adventists differ from one class in believing in the unconscious state of the dead, and the final destruction of the unrepentant wicked; from another, in believing in the perpetuity of the law of God as summarily contained in the ten commandments, in the operation of the Holy Spirit in the church, and in setting no times for the advent to occur; from all, in the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord, and in many applications of the prophetic scriptures. With these remarks, we ask the attention of the reader to the following propositions, which aim to be a concise statement of the more prominent features of our faith. 

—I— 

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.  

Psalm 139:7. 

—II— 

That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the one by whom God created all things, and by whom they do consist; that he took on him the nature of the seed of Abraham for the redemption of our fallen race; that he dwelt among men full of grace and truth, lived our example, died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification, ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where, with his own blood he makes atonement for our sins; which atonement so far from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the sacrifice, is the very last portion of his work as priest, according to the example of the Levitical priesthood, which foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our Lord in Heaven. 

See Leviticus 16; Hebrews 8:4, 5; 9:6, 7; etc. 

—III— 

That the Holy Scriptures, of the Old and New Testaments, were given by inspiration of God, contain a full revelation of his will to man, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. 

—IV— 

That Baptism is an ordinance of the Christian church, to follow faith and repentance, an ordinance by which we commemorate the resurrection of Christ, as by this act we show our faith in his burial and resurrection, and through that, of the resurrection of all the saints at the last day; and that no other mode fitly represents these facts than that which the Scriptures prescribe, namely, immersion. Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12. 

-V- 

That the new birth comprises the entire change necessary to fit us for the kingdom of God, and consists of two parts: first, a moral change, wrought by conversion and a Christian life; second, a physical change at the second coming of Christ, whereby, if dead, we are raised incorruptible, and if living, are changed to immortality in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. John 3:3, 5; Luke 20:36. 

-VI- 

We believe that prophecy is a part of God’s revelation to man; that it is included in that scripture which is profitable for instruction, 2 Timothy 3;16; that is designed for us and our children. Deuteronomy 29:29; that so far from being enshrouded in impenetrable mystery, it is that which especially constitutes the word of God a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, Psalm 119:105, 2 Peter 2:19; that a blessing is pronounced upon those who study it, Revelation 1:1-3; and that, consequently, it is to be understood by the people of God sufficiently to show them their position in the world’s history, and the special duties required at their hands. 

-VII- 

That the world’s history from specified dates in the past, the rise and fall of empires, and chronological succession of events down to the setting up of God’s everlasting kingdom, are outlined in numerous great chains of prophecy; and that these prophecies are now all fulfilled except the closing scenes. 

-VIII- 

That the doctrine of the world’s conversion and temporal millennium is a fable of these last days, calculated to lull men into a state of carnal security, and cause them to be overtaken by the great day of the Lord as by a thief in the night; that the second coming of Christ is to precede, not follow, the millennium; for until the Lord appears the papal power, with all its abominations, is to continue, the wheat and tares grow together, and evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, as the word of God declares. 

-IX- 

That the mistake of Adventists in 1844 pertained to the nature of the event then to transpire, not to the time; that no prophetic period is given to reach to the second advent, but that the longest one, the two thousand and three hundred days of Daniel 8:14, terminated in that year, and  brought us to an event called the cleansing of the sanctuary. 

-X- 

That the sanctuary of the new covenant is the tabernacle of God in Heaven, of which Paul speaks in Hebrews 8, and onward, of which our Lord, as great High Priest, is minister; that this sanctuary is the antitype of the Mosaic tabernacle, and that the priestly work of our Lord, connected therewith, is the antitype of the work of the Jewish priests of the former dispensation. Hebrews 8:1-5, etc.; that this is the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days, what is termed its cleansing being in this case, as in the type, simply the entrance of the high priest into the most holy place, to finish the round of service connected therewith, by blotting out and removing from the sanctuary the sins which had been transferred to it by means of the ministration in the first apartment, Hebrews 9:22, 23; and that this work, in the antitype, commencing in 1844, occupies a brief but indefinite space, at the conclusion of which the work of mercy for the world is finished. 

-XI- 

That God’s moral requirements are the same upon all men in all dispensations; that these are summarily contained in the commandments spoken by Jehovah from Sinai, engraven on the tables of  stone, and deposited in the ark, which was in consequence called the “ark of the covenant,” or testament. Numbers 10:33, Hebrews 9:4, etc.; that this law is immutable and perpetual, being a transcript of the tables deposited in the ark in the true sanctuary on high, which is also, for the same reason, called the ark of God’s testament; for under the sounding of the seventh trumpet we are told that “the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” Revelation 11:19. 

-XII- 

That the fourth commandment of this law requires that we devote the seventh day of each week, commonly called Saturday, to abstinence from our own labor, and to the performance of sacred and religious duties; that this is the only weekly Sabbath known to the Bible, being the day that was set apart before paradise was lost, Genesis 2:2, 3, and which will be observed in paradise restored, Isaiah 66:22, 23; that the facts upon which the Sabbath institution is based confine it to the seventh day, as they are not true of any other day; and that the terms, Jewish Sabbath and Christian Sabbath, as applied to the weekly rest-day, are names of human invention, unscriptural in fact, and false in meaning. 

-XIII- 

That as the man of sin, the papacy, has thought to change times and laws (the laws of God), Daniel 7:25, and has misled almost all Christendom in regard to the fourth commandment, we find a prophecy of a reform in this respect to be wrought among believers just before the coming of Christ. Isaiah 56:1, 2; 1 Peter 1:5, Revelation 14:12, etc. 

-XIV- 

That as the natural or carnal heart is at enmity with God and his law, this enmity can be subdued only by a radical transformation of the affections, the exchange of unholy for holy principles; that this transformation follows repentance and faith, is the special work of the Holy Spirit, and constitutes regeneration or conversion. 

-XV- 

That as all have violated the law of God, and cannot of themselves render obedience to his just requirements, we are dependent on Christ, first, for justification from our past offences, and, secondly, for grace whereby to render acceptable obedience to his holy law in time to come. 

-XVI- 

That the Spirit of God was promised to manifest itself in the church through certain gifts, enumerated especially in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4; that these gifts are not designed to supersede, or take the place of, the Bible, which is sufficient to make us wise unto salvation, any more than the Bible can take the place of the Holy Spirit; that in specifying the various channels of its operation, that Spirit has simply made provision for its own existence and presence with the people of God to the end of time, to lead to an understanding of that word which it had inspired, to convince of sin, 

and work a transformation in the heart and life; and that those who deny to the Spirit its place and operation, do plainly deny that part of the Bible which assigns to it this work and position. 

-XVII- 

That God, in accordance with his uniform dealings with the race, sends forth a proclamation of the approach of the second advent of Christ; that this work is symbolized by the three messages of Revelation 14, the last one bringing to view the work of reform on the law of God, that his people may acquire a complete readiness for that event. 

-XVIII- 

That the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary (see proposition X), synchronizing with the time of the proclamation of the third message, is a time of investigative judgment, first with reference to the dead, and at the close of probation with reference to the living, to determine who of the myriads now sleeping in the dust of the earth are worthy of a part in the first resurrection, and who of its living multitudes are worthy of translation-points which must be determined before the Lord appears. 

-XIX- 

That the grave, whither we all tend, expressed by the Hebrew  sheol , and the Greek  hades , is a place of darkness in which there is no work, device, wisdom, or knowledge. Ecclesiastes 9:10. 

-XX- 

That the state to which we are reduced by death is one of silence, inactivity, and entire unconsciousness. Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Daniel 12:2, etc. 

-XXI- 

That out of this prison house of the grave mankind are to be brought by a bodily resurrection;  the righteous having part in the first resurrection, which takes place at the second advent of Christ, the wicked in the second resurrection, which takes place a thousand years thereafter. Revelation 20:4-6. 

-XXII- 

That at the last trump, the living righteous are to be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and with the resurrected righteous are to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, so forever to be with the Lord. 

-XXIII- 

That these immortalized ones are then taken to Heaven, to the New Jerusalem, the Father’s house in which there are many mansions, John 14:1-3, where they reign with Christ a thousand years, judging the world and fallen angels, that is, apportioning the punishment to be executed upon them at the close of the one thousand years; Revelation 20:4; 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3; that during this time the earth lies in a desolate and chaotic condition, Jeremiah 4:20-27, described, as in the beginning by the Greek term  abussos  ( õóó ïò ) bottomless pit (Septuagint of Genesis 1:2); and that here Satan is confined during the thousand years, Revelation 20:1, 2, and here finally destroyed, Revelation 20:10; Malachi 4:1; the theater of the ruin he has wrought in the universe, being appropriately made  for a time his gloomy prison house, and then the place of his final execution. 

-XXIV- 

That at the end of the thousand years, the Lord descends with his people and the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:2, the wicked dead are raised and come up upon the surface of the yet un-renewed earth, and gather about the city, the camp of the saints, Revelation 20:9, and fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. They are then consumed root and branch, Malachi 4:1, becoming as though they had not been. Obadiah 15, 16. In this everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, the wicked meet the everlasting punishment threatened against them, Matthew 25:46. This is the perdition of ungodly men, the fire which consumes them being the fire for which “the heavens and the earth which are now” are kept in store, which shall melt even the elements with its intensity, and purge the earth from the deepest stains of the curse of sin. 2 Peter 3:7-12.  

-XXV- 

That a new heavens and earth shall spring by the power of God from the ashes of the old, to be, with the New Jerusalem for its metropolis and capital, the eternal inheritance of the saints, the place where the righteous shall evermore dwell. 2 Peter 3:13; Psalm 37:11, 29; Matthew 5:5 FP1872 3.1 – FP1872 14.2 

__________ 

These Principles consist of the understanding that our Pioneers, and including Sister White, held concerning God and other doctrines. When you take these Principles and compare them with the present church’s 28 Fundamental Beliefs, these two sets of beliefs consist of two different religions.

The Fundamental Principles of 1872 consisted of the Beliefs that God gave to the church during that first fifty years Ellen White speaks of. 

The new view of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs, which incorporates and includes the Trinity doctrine, came into the church, starting to edge its way in during the 1890s, and this carried on in the early 1900s with a crisis in 1903 that nearly split the church concerning which view of God was correct. I want to share a statement with you from the “Adventist Review” of 1994.

“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 a few today do not subscribe to it.”  (William Johnson. ‘Present Truth: Walking in God’s Light: Adventist Review, January 6, 1994. p. 1)

I also agree that the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our Fundamental Beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists, except to my knowledge, none of them held this view, at least until about the 1890s after the first fifty years of the movement, and it was not until 1980 that the Trinity doctrine was officially voted in as a doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist church, sixty five years after the death of Ellen White. 

“. . . such ideas would lead the people into spiritualism.”  (Letter 271a. 1903. 5BIO 302.7)

It was a turbulent time in the history of our church. This controversy had swelled to a crisis point that culminated at the Autumn counsel of 1903 held in Washington, D.C.

At this time Sister White had written some letters to the church and they arrived during the last weekend of the counsel before it ended, received by the Conference President, Elder A. G. Daniells. He read these to the Counsel Sunday morning. At the time emotions were high, opinions were heated, because of the debate concerning the presence and personality of God. It was a crisis that called for the guidance of God to settle things and get the church on track. (One of those times that God led His people in the past)

This letter from the prophet to the counsel, was read by Elder Daniells:

“I have some things to say to our teachers in reference to the new book The Living Temple. Be careful how you sustain the sentiments of this book regarding the personality of God. As the Lord presents matters to me, these sentiments do not bear the endorsement of God. They are a snare that the enemy has prepared for these last days. I thought that this would surely be discerned, and that it would not be necessary for me to say anything about it. But since the claim has been made that the teachings of this book can be sustained by statements from my writings, I am compelled to speak in denial of this claim, This may give apparent support to the assertion that the sentiments in “The Living Temple” are in harmony with my writings. But God forbid that this opinion should prevail.

We need not the mysticism that is in this book. Those who entertain these sophistries will soon find themselves in a position where the enemy can talk with them, and lead them away from God. It is represented to me that the writer of this book is on a false track. He has lost sight of the distinguishing

truths for this time. He knows not whither his steps are tending. I am placed under the necessity of bearing the heavy burden of showing the evil of the plans that I know are not born of heaven. This is the burden that many times in the past the Lord has laid upon me, in order that His work might be advanced along right lines. How much care and anxiety, how much mental anguish and wearing physical labor, might be saved me in my old age! But still I am under the necessity of going into the battle, and of discharging in the presence of important assemblies the duty that the Lord has laid upon me—the duty of correcting the wrong course of men who profess to be Christians, but who are doing a work that will have to be undone at a great loss, both financially and in the shaking of the confidence of the people.”{Letter 216. 1903.  5BIO 297.6}

Elder Daniells wrote concerning the effect this message had on the assembly:

“As I read to the assembly statement after statement setting forth the falsity of the teachings in the book, ‘The Living Temple,’ many loud ‘Amens’ broke forth, and tears flowed freely. From that hour light came into the council, and the presence of God was clearly felt through the day.

When I had finished reading, the brethren immediately began to express their gratitude to God for this clear voice that had spoken to us. So precisely did these messages point out the situation that everyone who spoke at all was obliged to say that it was the voice of God speaking to us.  Before the council closed, the author of the book stated that he would take it from the market.” (A. G. Daniels “The Abiding Gift of Prophecy p.p. 336-339)

At the close of this reading one of the ministers arose and stated that he felt impressed to ask all who proposed to take a firm stand with Sister White in this great struggle to arise to their feet. Nearly every person in the room arose.”  (5BIO 300.2

This event was an momentous victory for God, the church and the truth, but sadly it was short lived, because Dr. Kellogg, the main advocate for these “new views,

concerning the presence and personality of God, could see that due to this defeat, at the 1903 Autumn counsel, he could not continue his present course and expect the support of his brethren. So, just nine days later he had come up with a plan. It would be a new approach, one that would present his views about the presence and personality of God in new light, in such a way, that it would be accepted by the church.  Kellogg says it himself:

“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.”  (Letter, J.H. Kellogg to G.I. Butler, Oct. 28, 1903 )

And still today most Adventists, like Kellogg, understand Sister Whites statements in the same way he did, not realizing that it was in references to statements like this that Sister White said this:

“The messages that the Lord has been giving me for the past half century have never, never sanctioned the cherishing of these erroneous sentiments. And yet the assertion of some is that Sister White teaches these very things. I say in the name of the Lord that the truth has been misinterpreted and misapplied.” (1CMR 47.3)

Now, It’s important to note that, when we look at this crisis in 1903, most Seventh-day Adventists think that it doesn’t have anything to do with the Trinity. And for a while I was wrestling with, how does Kellogg’s book, “The Living Temple”, have anything to do with this controversy? Well, here is what it has to do with the Trinity.  As Kellogg, himself said:

“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.” (Letter, J.H. Kellogg to G.I. Butler, Oct. 28, 1903 ) (See above for the full quote.)

The answer to this question has everything to do with the Trinity! Whether or not the Holy Spirit is a person, an individual being like the Father and the Son. Or “This refers to the Omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter” has everything to do with the Trinity belief,

As the plot thickens, the very day that Kellogg said, “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.”  Elder A. G. Daniells wrote to Willy C. White about a conversation he had with Dr. Kellogg. “He then stated that his former views (his former views had been non-trinitarian views) regarding the trinity had stood in his way of making a clear and absolutely correct statement, but that within a short time he had come to believe in the trinity, and could now see pretty clearly where all the difficulty was, and believed that he could clear up the matter satisfactorily. . . He told me that he now believed in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and his view was that it was God the Holy Ghost and not God the Father that filled all space and every living thing. He said that if he had believed this before writing the book, he could have expressed his views without giving the wrong impression the book now gives.” (Letter, A.G. Daniells to W.C. White Oct. 29 1903)

So, in Kellogg’s mind, adopting the Trinity doctrine, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, believing that the Holy Spirit is a Third Person like the Father and the Son, that this view would solve the entire crisis over his book, “The Living Temple.” In his mind, this new understanding of adopting the Trinity, as stated, was a way out of the persecution of being in a bad light with the church. So the idea that  this crisis over Pantheism and Kellogg’s book had nothing to do with the Trinity really comes from a lack of understanding the core of the controversy. 

Kellogg professed that He believed in the Trinity. Remember the date, October 29, 1903. Now I want to look at some statements that Ellen White made concerning Kellogg’s “beliefs and sentiments” after October 29, 1903, and after he had accepted the Trinity doctrine, for example this statement concerning Dr. Kellogg January 20,1904.

. . . his mind is being worked by the very one who seduced the angels of God in the heavenly courts.  {13MR 378.2}

The efforts that Dr. Kellogg makes to call the youth to Battle Creek, notwithstanding the plain testimonies that have been given, show that he is working under the advice of the one who talked with Eve. Through this subtle reasoning the future of the cause is imperiled. I shall now have to be far more explicit than I have been in the past. I shall be compelled to make statements that I have not wanted to make, but I must be more explicit in order save the flock of God from deceptive influences.  {13MR 378.3}

In accepting the Trinity, was not his mind being worked by the “very one that seduced the Angel’s of God in the heavenly courts”?

On July 14, 1904 she wrote:

We are to refuse to listen to the sophistries that have been brought in to make of no effect the truth for this time. Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth—not a pillar moved. . . The time has come when even in the church and in our institutions, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” (7MF 188.1)

Again, this is in light of the controversy of these new ideas that were being advanced by Dr. Kellogg, and we see that the end result of accepting these new ideas is that they would remove the foundation of the truth God had given in the first fifty years of the movement. 

Just 10 days later, she wrote (July 24, 1904) “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.” (Lt 263-1904.15)

Now pause for a moment, what will the omega do? It will lead people to depart from the faith, to depart from what faith? To depart from the faith that God had given them in the first fifty years of the movement, from the Fundamental Principles that had guided them through those first fifty years. The omega would lead people to depart from this foundation, and to stand upon a new foundation. Again on July 24, 1904 this warning:

“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. We cannot accept as present truth the theories and explanations made by Dr. Kellogg: for it is not a true presentation.” (Lt 263-1904.13)

Let me ask you this, in 1904 what was the theories and explanations being made by Dr. Kellogg? They were the Trinity doctrine!  “ He told me that he now believed in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost,”  (Letter, A.G. Daniells to W.C. White Oct. 29 1903)

What was it that Ellen White was warning us against that embracing Kellogg’s Trinity doctrine would do?  She said that if we embraced these theories and explanations being made by Dr. Kellogg, including the Trinity, “that they would undermine the foundation pillars of our faith.” (Lt 263-1904.13) The Fundamental Principles of the first fifty years of the Seventh-day Adventist movement.

Another thing these statements tell us is that these false doctrines were being heralded, at the time, as “present truth.”  Sister White was combating this sentiment, and today Seventh-day Adventist theologians and historians maintain that position that the Trinity doctrine that was brought into the church in the early 1900s was “present truth”.  For example lets take another look at this statement from the 1994 Advent Review.

“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 a few today do not subscribe to it.”  (William Johnson. ‘Present Truth: Walking in God’s Light: Adventist Review, January 6, 1994. p. 1)

But in less than a year after the Dr. Kellogg crisis began, Ellen White wrote:

It will be said that Living Temple has been revised. But the Lord has shown me that the writer has not changed, and that there can be no unity between him and the ministers of the gospel while he continues to cherish his present sentiments. I am bidden to lift my voice in warning to our people, saying, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked” (Gal. 6:7). . .  While the misleading theories of this book are entertained by our physicians, there cannot be union between them and the ministers who are bearing the gospel message. There should be no union until there is a change.  {1SM 199.4} {1SM 199.3}

So even today, Seventh-day Adventists are maintaining that the Trinity doctrine was brought into the Seventh-day Adventist movement as present truth. And this was the very sentiment that Sister White was warning against. So significant is the difference in the theology concerning God that Ellen White tells us that there can be no unity between him, Kellogg, and the ministers of the Gospel, while he continues to cherish his present sentiments. Now what were, Dr. Kellogg’s sentiments in 1904? We saw that he had come to believe in the Trinity; that now he believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holly Ghost, that solved the crisis over his book, in his thinking, concerning Pantheism. 

Bringing that warning into our present day it would tell us that there could be no unity between those who hold a trinitarian view of God and the ministers of the gospel until there is a change.

This is why God is trying to revive the truth that existed in the first 50 years of the Seventh-day Adventist church and known by the Pioneers and Ellen G. White.  He wants to restore the foundation of the Fundamental Principles and bring His people back to this foundation so that the commission that He gave to the Seventh-day Adventist church can be carried out and fulfilled. So does it follow that those advocating the Trinity, today, must not have a union with the ministers of the gospel?  We saw that Kellogg’s sentiments and theories that he had were a product of Satan, and we are told that she said this after he accepted the Trinity doctrine.

On April 22, 1905 Ellen White wrote:

I have seen that Satan’s power over him has not been broken. Those who choose to sustain the man who so greatly dishonors God and has stood directly in the way of His work, will themselves become so deceived that their work will not be accepted by God. I have felt reluctant to say these things, but I know the Lord would not have souls endangered any longer by Dr. Kellogg. Letter 116, 1905, pp. 1,3,10. (To J. H. Kellogg, April 22, 1905.)

In 1905, Dr. Kellogg was still holding to these Trinitarian concepts and views, and Sister White tells us that Satan’s power, over him, had not been broken, and that those who embraced his ideas, would themselves become so deceived that their work would not be accepted by God. I would not wish for any of my brothers and sisters in the faith to find themselves in that position.

May 24, 1905 Ellen White wrote:

“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.”  (Ms62-1905.14)

It was while teaching these things about the Trinity and the Holy Ghost being a person or being other than Christ, that Sister White said “that Dr. Kellogg was being led, by Satan, and that Satan’s power over him had not been broken, and that we cannot accept as present truth the theories, and explanations made by Dr. Kellogg.

Yet, today, those theories and explanations, made by Dr. Kellogg, are embraced by almost every minister in the Seventh-day Adventist church. And I am still bewildered that the same view held by Dr. Kellogg, at the same time Sister White said, “his mind is being worked by the very one who seduced the angels of God in the heavenly courts” (Letter 116. 1905 pp. 1.3. 10) today it is a requirement for church membership.

“we are to refuse to listen to the sophistries that have been brought in to make of no effect the truth for this time. Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth-not a pillar moved.” (Letter 237. 1904.pp. 5,6)

And yet, that which we warned that we should not do, is exactly what this Trinity doctrine has done. It is a sneer concerning the presence and personality of God that the enemy has prepared for these last days, and Jesus through Ellen White has warned us that this would take place.

“During the past few months, I have had so much writing to do in regard to the personality of God, and other matters of grave importance. That I have worked very steadily, early and late. I have endeavored to warn our people against the delusions of the last days.” (Lt27-1904.2)

So, in the last days there will be delusions, one of which will be in regard to the personality of God, so why can’t the ministers in any Adventist church discern the deception. It has to do with the many deceptions that will be in the last days that will cause many to depart from the faith. And it is only after understanding how the Trinity doctrine played a role in the 1903 crisis, over the presence and personality of God, that  

I began to see more clearly the significance of the warnings in Scripture regarding the same subject. For example, in the book “Eternity Past” we read:     

“In the last days there will be false teachers. (2 Peter 2:1-2) Spiritualist teachers that refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. Concerning such teachers the beloved John declares: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1John 2:22, 23. Spiritualism, by denying Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist.” (Eternity Past 497.3)

So how can the Adventist church give the First, Second or Third Angel’s Messages while in its teachings it refuses to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. Ellen White warned against this Spiritualism coming into the church and yet that is exactly what has happened. The Fatherhood of God and the Sonship of Christ have been spiritualized away into metaphors or role-plays or symbols, and these teachings are bringing into the Adventist movement that which the Bible declared to be “a manifestation of antichrist.” 

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (1 Peter 2:1)

Even Peter has warned us that in the later days Spiritualist teachers would come bringing a doctrine or understanding that would deny the Lord, that would deny Him as the Son of God. Denying the Sonship of Christ that He is in reality the only begotten Son of God is Spiritualism. It is a deception that Satan prepared for the last days and God warned us that this is where Kellogg’s ideas would lead.

“The Lord presented this matter to me, revealing that the result of such teaching was a subtle beguiling of the mind, and that the doctor himself did not foresee this result of his extreme views in regard to God in nature. . . I told him that the Lord was greatly dishonored by being thus represented, and that such ideas would lead the people into spiritualism.” (Letter 271a. 1903. 5BIO 302.7)

So today we have arrived, the Seventh-day Adventist church is now fully persuaded that Jesus’ Sonship is metaphorical, In this way the church has spiritualized away the Sonship of Christ, and as a result of accepting these ideas many would depart from the faith. It was only as I studied these things for myself and began to understand the “Alpha” crisis that I could see that the “Omega”, like the “Alpha”, would be a crises concerning the presence and personality of God, and it would be one that would embrace spiritualism and lead the church to deny the divine Sonship of it’s savior. 

Ellen White said: 

“We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature. . .” (tL263-19004-15)

She said this in 1904, and what did Dr. Kellogg believe in 1904? He believed in the Trinity as we heard from Elder Daniells earlier. However, I will tell you that we have before us the omega of this danger, and the corporate church, as we know it has been taken in by this deception.

“The teachers of spiritualism come in a pleasing, bewitching manner to deceive you, and if you listen to their fables you are beguiled by the enemy of righteousness and will surely lose your reward. When once the fascinating influence of the arch-deceiver overcomes you, you are poisoned, and its deadly influence adulterates and destroys your faith in Christ’s being the Son of God, and you cease to rely on the merits of His blood. (1T 297)

We need to understand the significance of this crisis, still, many today say that it is no big deal, that it is a side issue, that it’s not important, or that it can’t be understood. Various views are out there about this subject of who God is, but so few understand the significance of this beguiling deception, and that “its deadly influence adulterates and destroys your faith in Christ’s being the Son of God.”  That is exactly what has happened in our church.

In embracing the new “Fundamental Beliefs”, they maintained that Christ’s Sonship, is metaphorical, and if Christ’s Sonship is metaphorical, then God is not really a Father either, and thus the presence and personality of God are destroyed. Sister White warns us that, if we are beguiled, by the enemy of righteousness, we shall surely lose our reward, Spiritualism is deadly, it is something that we must study and understand so that we are not taken by this deception. Now perhaps you can begin to understand why this last day deception made the prophet tremble when she said that: 

“the Omega would follow in a little while. I tremble for our people.” (Ms46-1904.9)

Today, the Trinity doctrine, embraced and advocated by Dr. Kellogg under the working of the advice and power of Satan, has become the Number 2 Fundamental Belief of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and it is time that God’s people realize that our faith has been hijacked by the enemy of souls. We are now entering the time when:

“the duty of correcting the wrong course of men who profess to be Christians, but who are doing a work that will have to be undone at a great loss, both financially and in the shaking of the confidence of the people.” (Lt216-1903.17)

This work must be done.

Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself.  {MH 409.1}

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.  {MH 409.2}

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. (Ministry of Healing p. 409). It is this alone that can make us like God in character. . . all depend upon a right knowledge of God. (Ministry of Healing p. 409)

Therefore this understanding of who God is not a side issue, it is not a distraction, it is the most important subject with which we must wrestle right now in these last days, and delusions have come into the church to spiritualize away the Sonship of Christ. If we are to be “like God in Character.” “We must know Him as He reveals Himself”, and the present Seventh-day Adventist Church, I’m sorry to say, has lost this knowledge. Yes, they did have it, God did give the Seventh-day Adventist Church a correct view of God, but this view of God given to the church through His Holy Spirit, has been counted as error. “The Fundamental Principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error.” (Lt 242-1903.13)  Just as Ellen White said Satan would do. 

To this end, I want to share one last warning from Sister White regarding the history of this controversy over the presence and personality of God as it relates to the Seventh-day Adventist movement. Sister White writes:

“One thing it is certain is soon to be realized—the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the first Principles of our denominated faith and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever we are to keep the faith that has been substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the present time. We need now larger breadth and deeper, more earnest, unwavering faith in the leadings of the Holy Spirit. If we needed the manifest proof of the Holy Spirit’s power to confirm truth in the beginning, after the passing of the time, we need today all the evidence in the confirmation of the truth, when souls are departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. There must not be any languishing of soul now. If ever there was a period of time when we needed the Holy Spirit’s power in our discourses, in our prayers, in every action proposed. It is now. We are not to stop at the first experience, but while we bear the same message to the people, this message is to be strengthened and enlarged. We are to see and realize the importance of the message made certain by its divine origin. We are to follow on to know the Lord that we may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. Our souls need the quickening from the Source of all power. We may be strengthened and confirmed in the past experience that holds us to the essential points of truth which have made us what we are—Seventh-day Adventists.” (Lt325.1906.2)

In this statement, Sister White is telling us that when souls are departing from the faith, they were departing from the Principles of our denominated faith that were given to us in our first fifty years. Today the Seventh-day Adventist Church has abandoned these essential points of truth. As a result, our identity as Seventh-day Adventists has been lost, but it must be restored, and it will be restored, it is being restored.

For years I tried to gain victory without Christ being invited into my heart. I thought that I could reach the level that God wanted me to attain if somehow I could have just a little help from Him, but I couldn’t tap into that power. When I finally saw Jesus and heard the words from Him, everything became clear to me and I let Him in to my heart.

Jeremiah 17:9    “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

We cannot have change of heart until we let Jesus in.  Only He can give us His victory, His Righteousness and His Love, by faith. (Ephesians 2:17)

As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart.  {COL 97.1}

A profession of faith and the possession of truth in the soul are two different things. The mere knowledge of truth is not enough. We may possess this, but the tenor of our thoughts may not be changed. The heart must be converted and sanctified.  {COL 97.2}

The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely–because he is required to do so–will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right–because right doing is pleasing to God.  {COL 97.3}

The great truth of the conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit is presented in Christ’s words to Nicodemus: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God. . . . That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8, margin.  {COL 98.1}

Yes, we have a church that says;” I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that they art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Jesus’ counsel is: to “buy of me gold (faith) tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,(Christ’s righteousness) that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, (discernment) that thou mayest see.

 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:17-19)

However, we are given an opportunity to open our heart’s door and let Jesus in to make us into a Philadelphian, individually. For Jesus says, “If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him and he with me.”

We have no reason to believe that the devil has left us alone, as a people, any more than individually. He has been trying to destroy God’s people because they are the final witness regarding God’s plan to prove that a people can be saved from sin, and made safe to become a part of the heavenly kingdom, and Jesus is the only one that can fulfill the plan in us. Not someone else that has no experience as Christ Jesus has. He did not come to this world to go through what He went through, just to leave us to another being that cannot duplicate the human experience of Christ or His sacrifice for our sins. There is only one mediator between God & man, our Comforter, Christ Jesus our Lord.

I believe that the Lord has been saving me, as a brand, from the burning. May the Lord awaken all of His people soon, is my prayer. Time is short and the judgment will soon be over. Christ’s coming is imminent. 

May God & Christ Jesus bless all God’s people everywhere by their presence, the agency of their Holy Spirit, by faith. 

In God the Father and His only begotten Son.

Richard Story