The Foundation and Pillars of the Seventh Day Adventist Faith Changed? The Pillars Removed Before your Eyes
Have the pillars of our Seventh Day Adventist faith been changed? Many when they think of the pillars of the Seventh Day Adventist faith think of the Sanctuary and the three angels messages. These are the pillars of our faith. There is a truth that is seen in the sanctuary.
Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
The truth about God and his son are seen in the sanctuary.
Pillar of our faith – The personality of God or of Christ
“Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor.” {E. G. White, Manuscript Release No.760, p. 9} 1905
Ellen White said plainly that the pillars of our faith included an understanding of the personality of God or of Christ. This has to do with “identity”. It has to do with who Christ is, and who God is. This is major pillar in the Adventist faith.
“The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” (Ellen White UL 367 )
Christ is not God in personality. Christ is identified as “The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father.” The identity of Christ is a pillar of our faith and she makes it clear in that quote that Christ is:
- Lord
- The only begotten son of the father
- Not God in personality
“Christ is one with the father, but Christ and God are two distinct personages”(RH June 1, 1905)
Regarding what Christ is in respect to his form and nature, he was fully God in respect to his attributes which he possessed as his inheritance by birth as the only begotten son of God. But we are not to call him “God”. He is not the Lord God almighty.
We are to confess Christ as “Lord” and that he is “the son of God”
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
That’s his identity. That’s who Christ is in personality. He is “The Lord Jesus Christ”, the “only begotten Son of the Father.”
Now this is about to get very interesting if you are a Seventh Day Adventist. Ms. White said clearly that Christ and God are two distinct personages, furthermore she really clarifies who the “personality of God” is and who “the personality of Christ” is. She tells us what the “scriptures clearly indicate”.
“The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each.
That is very clear regarding the distinct personality and individuality of God and Christ. God is not Christ in respect to his personality. Every knee is not to confess that “Christ is God” in respect to his personality and individuality. Christ is not God himself.
“The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty, yet Christ and the Father are one.” (Ellen White SDA Bible Commentary, vol.5 p.1129)
A doctrine that destroys the personality of God and Christ – The Trinity
If you look at the book fundamental beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists it teaches us that God is or has three personalities. That God is a unity of three co-equal persons. This removes the pillar regarding the personality of God since it is telling us that God is not the father of Christ a single personality. But rather it teaches us that God is a father, son and holy spirit, three personalities.
James White put it plainly:
“Here we might mention the Trinity, which does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ”(James White, December 11, 1855,
Or in other words “The book Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists does away with the personality of God and of his Son Jesus Christ.” Or in other words “The book Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists does away with the pillars of our faith concerning the personality of God and of Christ.”
JN Andrews whom the famous university called “Andrews University” was named after and where the Trinity is strongly proclaimed also saw that the trinity destroys the personality of God and Christ.
“The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nice, A. D. 325. This doctrine
These agree with Ms. White. Christ is our “Lord” the “Only begotten son of God” and not God in personality. God is his father, and our father.
John 20:17 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.
1 Corinthians 8:6 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.
God is not three personalities… But one personality….Christ the only begotten son of God is a distinct personality and is not God in personality.
Removing the pillars, the foundation, the rock on which the true church is built
A house normally has a foundation. That foundation can include pillars which support that house. The house in scripture is sometimes referred to as “God’s church”.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house;
Jesus spoke to Peter and his disciples about building his church and about that foundation. There was something that specifically identified God’s true church. It had a specific foundation. In Desire of Ages Ellen White wrote about this foundation.
Peter said something regarding “the personality of Christ” and Christ’s identity in Matthew 16. But before looking at that passage, here is what Ellen White said about Peter’s statement.
“Peter had expressed the truth which is the foundation of the church’s faith” (DA 413).
What is that foundation? What is the rock upon which the true church is built. What did Peter say?
Matthew 16:15 He(Jesus) saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter expressed the truth which is the foundation of our faith. That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of The living God. This is rock on which the true church is built. This is the solid pillars and true foundation of the true Seventh Day Adventist church.
Jesus did not answer and say “Actually Peter, I am the Lord God almighty”.
Mat 16:17 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.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Upon this rock is the true church built. The rock is the foundation. And Peter had expressed the truth which is the foundation of our faith. That “Jesus is the Christ, the son of living God”.
This doctrine is the declaration of God’s love to us.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
If there is a doctrine that Satan would like to destroy. It is the doctrine regarding the personalities of God and Christ, because it would hide from us the truth of God giving his only begotten son. By removing these truths, he can remove “the foundation of our faith”.
A Church Built on Sand – “A NEW Organization” – A false foundation
I’m sure most of us have heard the parable about the wise man building his house upon the rock. What did the foolish man build his house on?
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand;
The true church is built on rock, so the false churches that will be swept away will be built on sand.
To summarize what we’ve learned:
- The Personalities of God and Christ are pillars of our faith
- This refers to the identity of each.
- God is the Father of Christ
- Christ is the “Lord” or the “Son of God”
- Christ is not “God” in personality
- To remove these Pillars is to remove the Rock or Foundation of the church
- The Trinity destroys the personality of God and of Christ
- The church that teaches Christ is the Son of God is built on a rock
- The church that teaches Christ is God himself is built on sand
- God is one personality not three personalities
So understanding all of this. Let us read and understand how the following has been fulfilled in every point.
“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.” Selected Messages Book 1-Page 204, 205
After reading that, I ask the questions which you should be able to answer if you’ve read all of the above carefully.
The questions are:
- Have the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith been given up?
- Has there been a reorganization or reformation of this sort?
- Have the principles which sustained the first 50 years of our faith been discarded?
- Has the first 50 years of our faith been accounted as error?
- Has their foundation been built on sand?
- Have books of a new order been written?
- Have they established a system of intellectual philosophy such as (1+1+1=1)?
- Has the God who created the Sabbath been removed?
- Have the people had to place dependence on human power? (such as trademarking the name Seventh Day Adventist) ?
- Will storm and tempest sweep away this structure(the General Conference) that is built on sand?
Every point in that quote has been fulfilled. Are you understanding the “present truth” yet? If not I suggest you study the old truths that were given to our founders. Flesh and blood will not reveal it to you, but our father in heaven will.
Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
“the personality of God… is everything to us as a people. .” {Ellen White Letter 300 1903.}
See also:
The General Conference was “NEVER” the Seventh Day Adventist Church