Putting the Pieces Together Appendix II

Appendix II. Putting the Pieces Together

How many divine Beings?

Appendix II, putting the pieces togetherThe Bible and the Spirit of prophecy both emphatically instruct us that there are only two beings worthy of our worship and praise, never three. Only two beings can be worshipped, therefore they must be divine beings. Here is some plain testimony:

Bible

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23, 24

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? … And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. John 9:35, 38

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:23

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throneand unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Revelation 5:13

Here we have a scene encompassing every creature and being in heaven and earth. All these creatures give supreme homage and worship to only two beings: the Father (him that sitteth upon the throne) and the Son (the Lamb). The next verse tells us that this act of worship is finished (Amen) without acknowledging any other being besides those Two. It is clear that all the creatures in heaven (angels) know who to worship and who not to worship. This knowledge we need and must reflect here on earth.

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. V.14

Notice how this act of honoring the Father and the Son (v.13) is rendering supreme honor and worship to the Father Himself (him that liveth forever and ever). Worshipping and honoring the Son is supreme homage and glory to the Father.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10, 11

This is because the Father is the source of all being in the entire universe. The whole family in heaven and earth is named after the Father:

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named Ephesians 3:14, 15

We are never commanded anywhere in the Bible to worship the Holy Spirit. We are never commanded to worship three beings. We only worship one God, the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6), through His Son Jesus who is the only way to that one God (John 14:6). In so doing we fulfill the command of our Master in John 5:23. We should not expect the Messenger of the Lord, Sister White, to be out of harmony with the above plain testimonies of Scripture. Indeed, she is not.

Spirit of Prophecy

In heaven, before the war, before the creation of man:

The Son of God shared the Father’s throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircledboth. … Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christthe 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.{Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36}

Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,–one in nature, in character, and in purpose,–the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. {The Great Controversy, p. 493}

(There is no other being in all the universe who can enter into that counsel!)

Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. {The Desire of Ages, p. 834}

Lucifer in heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. {The Story of Redemption, p. 15}

In heaven during the war (no change):

When Satan became disaffected in heaven, he did not lay his complaint before God and Christ; but he went among the angels who thought him perfect and represented that God had done him injustice in preferring Christ to himself. {Testimonies Volume 5, p. 291}

Satan had sympathizers in heaven, and took large numbers of the angels with him. God and Christand heavenly angels were on one side, and Satan on the other. Notwithstanding the infinite power and majesty of God and Christ, angels became disaffected. The insinuations of Satan took effect, and they really came to believe that the Father and the Son were their enemies and that Satan was their benefactor. {Testimonies Volume 3, p. 328}

Satan worked in every possible way to come out victorious in standing in the highest place in the heavenly courts. How artful were his contrivances to win the game! He employed every artful intrigue and device to carry his science against God and His Son Jesus Christ. {Battle Creek Letters, p. 128}

Satan in his rebellion took a third part of the angels. They turned from the Father and from His Son, and united with the instigator of rebellion. {Testimonies Volume 3, p. 115}

On earth after the war, before man’s fall (no change):

The holy pair [Adam & Eve] united with them [angels] and raised their voices in harmonious songs of love, praise, and adoration to the Father and His dear Son for the tokens of love which surrounded them. {The Story of Redemption, p. 22}

Adam and Eve assured the angels that they would never transgress the express command of God; for it was their highest pleasure to do his will. The angels united with them in holy strains of harmonious music; and as their songs pealed forth from blissful Eden, Satan heard their joyful adoration of the Father and the Son. {Signs of the Times, January 16, 1879 par. 22}

With what intense interest the whole universe watched the conflict that was to decide the position of Adam and Eve. How attentively the angels listened to the words of Satan[…] They asked themselves, Will the holy pair transfer their faith and love from the Father and Son to Satan? Will they accept his falsehoods as truth? {Signs of the Times, May 12, 1890 par. 2}

On earth after the fall (no change):

But in the transgression of man both the Father and the Son were dishonored. {Signs of the Times, December 12, 1895 par. 7}

“The Father could not abolish nor change one precept of his law to meet man in his fallen condition.But the Son of God, who had in unison with the Father created man, could make an atonement for man acceptable to God, by giving his life a sacrifice, and bearing the wrath of his Father. Angels informed Adam that, as his transgression had brought death and wretchedness, life and immortality would be brought to light through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. {The Spirit of Prophecy Volume One, p. 50}

The human family cost God and his Son Jesus Christ an infinite price. {Special Testimonies On Education, p. 21}

No man, nor even the highest angel, can estimate the great cost; it is known only to the Father and the Son. {E. G. White, The Bible Echo, October 28, 1895 par. 4}

“Father and Son are pledged to fulfill the terms of the everlasting covenant. {E. G. White, The Youth’s Instructor, June 14, 1900 par. 5}

(The everlasting covenant is only between Two beings: the Father and Son).

On earth, last day remnant (no change):

In the Bible every duty is made plain. Every lesson given is comprehensible. Every lesson reveals to us the Father and the Son. The word is able to make all wise unto salvation. {Testimonies Volume 8, p. 157}

“The Fatherthe Sonand Lucifer have been revealed in their true relation to one another. God has given unmistakable evidence of His justice and His love. {Signs of the Times, August 27, 1902 par. 15}

The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted. {The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898 par. 2}

Based on these facts, we shall have open communion in heaven with those same Two Beings, not three. It is the Two Beings that we have come to know and fellowship with here on earth that we shall also fellowship with in heaven.

New earth, creation restored (no change):

The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son. {The Great Controversy, p. 676}

In your hands will be placed a golden harp, and touching its strings, you will join with the redeemed host in filling all heaven with songs of praise to God and His Son. {(Australasian) Union Conference Record, January 15, 1903 par. 14}

And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. {The Great Controversy, p. 678}

“Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. {The Desire of Ages, p. 331}

Nothing is said of what they have done or suffered; but the burden of every song, the keynote of every anthem, is, Salvation to our God and unto the Lamb. {The Spirit of Prophecy Volume Four, p. 480}

All the redeemed saints will see and appreciate as never before the love of the Father and the Son, and songs of praise will burst forth from immortal tongues. He loved us, He gave His life for us. With glorified bodies, with enlarged capacities, with hearts made pure, with lips undefiled, we shall sing the riches of redeeming love. {That I May Know Him, p. 371}

Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as “from one Sabbath to another” (Isa. 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb. {The Desire of Ages, p. 770}

The years will move on in gladness. Over the scene the morning stars will sing together, and the sons of God will shout for joy, while God and Christ will unite in proclaiming, “There shall be no more sin, neither shall there be any more death.” {Child Guidance, p. 568}

Oh, may no one who reads these words be missing on that day! No more sin, no more deception, no more darkness. We shall stand before our Father and His Son to hear that proclamation. Praise His holy name!

“The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture. {E. G. White, Selected Messages Book 1, p. 42}

In Closing:

The material presented here, while not exhaustive, serves as a demonstration of the fact that Ellen White’s “difficult” statements can indeed be harmonized so that nothing contradicts. This is possible when we follow her own recommendation in using the key to the Testimonies.

There is no reason to believe that any other “difficult” statement written by her cannot be harmonized using the same rule. More statements may be added to this work in forthcoming editions, but, for the time being, there is enough weight of evidence to convince all those who honestly could not harmonize these statements heretofore.

It is the personal duty of each person to make a decision based on the weight of evidence, despite the ever present “seeming” objections which foster unbelief.

God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence. {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 3, p. 255}

Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. … God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith. {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 5, pp. 675, 676}

A word of caution:

You who have been educating yourselves and others in a spirit of criticism and accusing, remember that you are imitating the example of Satan. When it suits your purpose, you treat the Testimonies as if you believed them, quoting from them to strengthen any statement you wish to have prevail. But how is it when light is given to correct your errors? Do you then accept the light? When the Testimonies speak contrary to your ideas, you treat them very lightly. {E. G. White, Selected Messages Book 1, pp. 42, 43}

Light from the Testimonies has indeed been here given to correct much of the popular error. Dear reader, do you accept the light?

The truth remains, after all opposition, truth.

For Further Study

The Alpha and the Omega What is the mysterious danger that awaited our church at the end of time? Ellen White saw it and she “trembled for our people.”
Building on Solid Rock The only true rock is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. A Study through the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the SDA pioneers.
The Living Voice of the Lord’s Witnesses Direct quotes from the founders of the SDA church. Read for yourself what all the SDA Pioneers believed and taught, and what Mrs. White said about them.
The Godhead in Black and White Direct quotes from Ellen G. White on the topic of the Godhead showing her consistent faith throughout her entire writing career.
Truly, This Man Is The Son of God Evidence of Jesus being the Son of God prior to Bethlehem.
How shall we Consider Christ? The true position of Christ in the 1888 message by E. J. Waggoner. Refutes the heresy that Christ is a created being.
The Altar of the Lord The restoration of God’s Altar on Mt Carmel paralleled with the final restoration of the knowledge of the true God.
The Wondrous Love of God The Love that God has for man can only be rightly understood in light of the sacrifice of the Father and the Son. A Biblical exposition suitable for all Christians. (non-SDA’s)

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Book: “Putting the Pieces Together” 

(1) “the heavenly Trio”
(2) “there never was a time”
(3) “life, original, unborrowed, underived”
(4) “eternal heavenly dignitaries”
(5) “as much a person”
(6) “Holy Spirit is a person”
(7) “third person of the Godhead”
(8) “three highest powers”
(9) “gave themselves”
(10) “three holiest beings”

Appendix I
(Dr. Kellogg & the Trinity)

Appendix II
(How many divine beings?)

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