John Harvey Kellogg – 1852 to 1943
John Harvey Kellogg was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas, and exercise. Kellogg was a strong advocate of circumcision and vegetarianism for health. He is best known for the invention of the breakfast cereal known as corn flakes with his brother, Will Keith Kellogg.
At age ten, he worked in his father’s broom factory in Battle Creek, Michigan. By the age of 16 he was a public school teacher. The next year he attended high school and graduated the same year.
He was personal friends for many years with Ellen and James White. They even helped fund his education in 1873 encouraging him to take a medical course.
In 1876, after finishing a two-year medical course, at age 24 he was appointed superintendent of the Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek, Michigan. It had opened ten years earlier as an answer to a call from Ellen White for Seventh-day Adventists to provide such an institution. Under Dr. Kellogg’s management it grew and prospered, achieving world-wide recognition as the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
Shortly before the turn of the century Dr. Kellogg came into conflict with church leaders over the control of all Seventh-day Adventist medical institutions. He would bump heads over the negative finances of the Sanitarium as well. He finally did gain control of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. At his peak influence, Kellogg had 2,000 people employed in his work, while employees for the rest of the entire church numbered only 1,500.
In February 1902, the Battle Creek Sanitarium burned to the ground. Ellen White wrote about this being an actual judgment from God. Ellen White did not want this Sanitarium rebuilt with the intentions Kellogg had. And he ignored her advice.
Funds were needed to be raised for the new building. So Dr. Kellogg decided to write a medical book called the Living Temple. He prepared a manuscript. It was to be a book about physiology and health. The sales of the book would go toward building a new sanitarium. A very good idea coming from a man in his position. But the General Conference Committee reviewed the manuscript and rejected it.
He began teaching strange doctrines regarding the nature of God. And Kellogg had adopted some theological understandings about God that he just couldn’t keep out that he inserted into this book. And so his theology and his understanding about God that he inserted in this book was simply this. That God is not an actual person who is a physical tangible being. That God is this essence that pervades in everything. It is what the new age believes today. That God is in everything, in the flowers and in the trees. If your taking a bath or shower, God is in the water would be one example. It is called Pantheism.
What he had done is destroy the true biblical picture God has presented about himself. And so the book was very problematic. This belief system tends to lead someone to nature worship. Because if God is in the tree and the flowers, then you can worship that.
Before the General Conference committee could report it’s findings, Kellogg submitted an order to the Review and Herald publishing house to print 5000 copies of the book. Before the book could be printed, the publishing house burned down in late December that same year. Many Adventists thought this was just a coincidence. Dr. Kellogg in his stubbornness went ahead and had the book printed by another publisher anyway.
Ellen White wrote him many personal messages of warning, but he ignored them. It must have been very difficult for Sister White later in life correcting the Doctors’ errors relating to religious matters. Ellen White warned him against separating the medical work from the church. She also was concerned that he had gathered too much power to himself. Despite Kellogg’s attempts to discredit her, she relentlessly tried to save him from apostasy.
And that is why Mrs. White put these warnings in her writings.
Loma Linda Messages, p. 293 - 1903
“The teaching regarding God that is presented in Living Temple is not such as our students need.……Those who express such sentiments regarding Him show that they are departing from the faith.”
That is a pretty serious warning. And that was written in the same year that the book was published. Here we are seeing this controversy that was happening over the publishing of this book and what was contained in it. The view that Kellogg had about God, Mrs. White clearly said this is very wrong. It’s something that we don’t need. And it’s actually “a departure from the faith.”
If you’re not familiar with this background, that is why we are looking at this. Many of us have no idea. And why would we? It happened so long ago and Modern Adventism tends to hide it.
Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 39
“He (Kellogg) has not known whither his feet were tending. But in his recent writings, his tendencies toward pantheism have been revealed.”
And that is exactly what he was teaching in that book. Some say that is true and we don’t have to worry about that today, nobody believes that today. However, we are going to see if that is true or not.
Kellogg’s wife was a Seventh-Day Baptist and this would perhaps create or add to his problems with his theology that he tried to express in a book he wrote called “The Living Temple”. Her pastor was a frequent visitor. If he stayed on course with this book with it’s medical focus and treatment ideas, he would have been so far better off. But he spiritualized God and went where his knowledge truly fell short on the subject.
Because the book got such negative publicity compliments of Sister White, he looked to rephrase his beliefs and consulted a few in the denomination. Sales of the book were horrible. So he was trying to appease Sister White’s criticism. Can you imagine having thousands and thousands of these books just sitting around because no one wants them?
One day he had a conversation with the General Conference President at the time, which was Arthur G. Daniels. And in this conversation, he says that he modified his views because he had caught so much heat from Mrs. White. He wanted to try and make it fit or work out.
We will share the beginning of what would follow.
We have a letter written from Conference President, A.G. Daniells to Sister Ellen White’s son, Willie about the beliefs of Dr. Kellogg. In showing this, it is very telling that the trinity doctrine was not under practice nor believed by Seventh-Day Adventists at the time of it’s writing (1903). But Kellogg will declare that he is a believer in the trinity doctrine of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Fast forward 100 years later, and we have the same thing today. Sister White called Kellogg out for his beliefs, thoughts and teachings that were not only Pantheistic, but spiritualistic in a negative way. And now using non-biblical names and/or descriptions of God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were part of the spiritualizing.
We will also share some of the writings by Sister White calling out Dr. Kellogg for being astray in his beliefs and teaching. Kellogg would use her writings to give him credibility with his. And she would rebuke him over it. This letter from A.G. Daniells is the clear cut proof that even in the year 1903, (well past the time that the modern church says Sister White became or was a trinitarian when she wrote the Desire of Ages or sometime soon thereafter), the trinity was in fact, NOT IN THE ADVENTIST CHURCH! As you can see from the letter, he now believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. This is what the church's Fundamental Beliefs say today. If there was a problem with this belief in 1903, why is it okay that the church changed what we believe in 1980 and have kept it till this very day? Here is the above mentioned letter by A.G. Daniells:
“He then stated that his former 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 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." – Dr. John Kellogg quoted in a letter from A.G. Daniells to Brother Willie White, Oct. 29, 1903
Arthur Daniells had responded to Kellogg in saying, “I placed before him the objections I found in the teaching, and tried to show him that the teaching was so utterly contrary to the gospel that I did not see how it could be revised by changing a few expressions.”
And just like what Kellogg believed a little over 100 years ago (the trinity doctrine), you have the same thing coming from the President of the General Conference, Mr. Ted Wilson in this short video below. Sadly this was brought in officially in 1980.
Within the book Living Temple, Kellogg’s views weren’t as straight as they should have been. He had borrowed from Sister White’s writings in explaining his views utilizing them for credibility. In the Review & Herald, October 22, 1903, she writes an article (24 paragraphs) calling attention to what Dr. Kellogg has been doing wrong. Here is an short excerpt from the article:
“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 represents 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. There may be in this book expressions and sentiments that are in harmony with my writings. And there may be in my writings many statements which, when taken from their connection, and interpreted according to the mind of the writer of “The Living Temple,” would seem to be in harmony with the teachings of this book. This may give apparent support to the assertion that the sentiments in “The Living Temple” are in harmony with my writings. But God forbid that this opinion should prevail." (par. 1)
"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. The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore, are not quick to discern the difference between truth and error." (par. 2)
After Sister White called him out, as a result, Kellogg wrote a letter to George Butler questioning Ellen White's usage of a term, "third person of the Godhead". Sister White did not mean it as a real literal being, but used the language in third person form. A certain grammatical usage. On purpose, she used these words in lower case form to decifer a lesser status than how a real literal being would be illustrated.
Jesus spoke about himself all thru the New Testament as a third person. Example: Matthew 16:28 - "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
And it confuses Kellogg as he wrote the following:
“As far as I can fathom, the difficulty which is found in ‘The Living Temple’, the whole thing may be simmered down to the 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 so 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 from John Harvey Kellogg to G. I. Butler. Oct 28. 1903.
So according to Kellogg, he says the whole issue is over this belief that I have about the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit. I believe it to be a person, a person different than to the Father and the Son, because he believed it to be God the Holy Ghost. Remember, he said that he had accepted the doctrine of the Trinity.
He believed this God the Holy Ghost was everywhere, this person, it’s not the Father, it’s not the Son, this person, this being is pure Spirit and it pervades everything. God the Holy Spirit.
Those claims and connection to Sister White’s teachings is completely and utterly false. You had some people on Kellogg’s side that liked his book, and some people that did not. And the people who are promoting the book that are his fans are saying, ‘hey you know what, what Kellogg is teaching is actually exactly what Mrs. White says.
He was using statements from the Spirit of Prophecy to support his belief in God the Holy Spirit. A person, besides the Father and the Son; according to his own admission. This is the whole issue that he is trying to express.
Do we see this clearly? Most people don’t realize this issue when it comes to the Alpha of Deadly Heresies. All the focus is on the Pantheism part. We are going to see what the connection between what Kellogg is saying here and what Pantheism really is.
“In the controversy that arose among our brethren regarding the teachings of this book, those in favor of giving it a wide circulation declared: “It contains the very sentiments that Sister White has been teaching.” This assertion struck right to my heart. I felt heartbroken; for I knew that this representation of the matter was not true.” - Ellen White, SpTB02 53.1; Selected Messages book 1, p. 203.1
“I am compelled to speak in denial of the claim that the teachings of “Living Temple” can be sustained by statements from my writings. There may be in this book expressions and sentiments that are in harmony with my writings. And there may be in my writings many statements which, taken from their connection, and interpreted according to the mind of the writer of “Living Temple,” would seem to be in harmony with the teachings of this book. This may give apparent support to the assertion that the sentiments in “Living Temple” are in harmony with my writings. But God forbid that this sentiment should prevail.” - SpTB02 53.3; Review & Herald, Oct. 22, 1903, par. 1; Letter 211, Sept. 22, 1903, par. 1; Selected Messages book 1, p. 203.3
In other words she is saying, ‘I know there are some statements that are taken out of context and interpreted by Kellogg to support his teaching, but that is not the case.
"God forbid!" Now which statement was Kellogg using to support his belief in the Trinity and God the Holy Spirit? The statement that says "the third person of the Godhead". Does that sound familiar? Do you know anyone who is doing that today? It’s a lot of people.
That was exactly what Kellogg was doing. Mrs. White says, ‘that is not what I mean. That is not what I’m trying to say.’ Well, what does she mean, what is she trying to say?
What did she mean by the “third person”?
“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. It is the Spirit that makes effectual, what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.“ - Desire of Ages, p. 671.2
"Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead." So many today will tell you, that right there is God the Holy Spirit, he is the third person.
And yet from the same statement it actually says that the third person of the Godhead is referred to the Spirit of Christ. "Christ has given His Spirit". And the key here she says, this is the only way that sin could be resisted thru the agency of the third person of the Godhead.
If we allow her to explain what she means rather than interpreting it in our own way, then she makes it very easy, very plain.
What did she mean by the “third person?”
“The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.” - E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 324
On one side she says sin could only be resisted by the third person of the Godhead, and then the only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ. In other words, the third person of the Godhead according to Ellen White is the indwelling of Christ. That is according to her own explanation.
That’s not what Kellogg was doing. He was saying the third person is God the Holy Spirit. Not Christ and not the Father. Do you see the problem?
Mrs. White says, ‘when you do that, you destroy what I’m trying to say. Don’t use my writings to make your statements look full and credible.'
“Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, “the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name.”…..This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” - E. G. White, Manuscript Releases, Vol 14, p. 179
So the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, or the third person of the Godhead is the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ. That is different than what Kellogg had come to believe. And this is why Mrs. White said, ‘no this is a problem here. My writings do not support what this man is trying to say.’
Manuscript 10, January 29, 1904, par. 1
“It is not safe to trust in Dr. Kellogg. I dare not do it. I have not written him much, recently, but I may have to send something soon. I have not the least confidence in his present attitude toward many things. I learn that notwithstanding all I have written regarding The Living Temple, a book that was written under the inspiration of the arch-deceiver; notwithstanding the many plain messages that I have delivered in the Review and Herald and in letters to our brethren in responsibility, Dr. Kellogg now admits only a few of the mistakes he has made and still supposes that in former years I taught the same errors. This reveals a blindness beyond conception.”
That’s very serious, isn’t it? She said Satan was inspiring Kellogg in what he was writing and teaching. And even thou Kellogg changed, and he said no, now I believe in the Trinity and God the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son. Mrs. White says the writer has not changed. In other words, he is still under the same source of inspiration. Kellogg was using the Spirit of Prophecy, twisting some of the statements to try and support some of his teachings.
Sister White to Dr. Kellogg, Letter 300, March 16, 1903
“….your heart is not right with God. The Spirit of God is not working you. You need now not to rush and drive, but to be converted. You are not sound in the faith. (par. 3) You are not sound in the truth. Your statements made to believers and unbelievers misrepresent us as a people who have not changed the truth for error. (par. 4) The sanctuary question is a clear and definite doctrine as we have held it as a people. You are not definitely clear on the personality of God, which is everything to us as a people. You have virtually destroyed the Lord God Himself. (par. 7) We cannot for a moment have any misrepresentation upon these solemn and important subjects of truth which have been the faith of our people since 1844. This means much to us. The Lord would have me say to you that the enemy has, through his specious deceptions, placed his unbelief in your mind, and you have been working it out. All who receive your presentations will enter upon strange paths if they connect with you. You are bringing in strange, common fire, but not the fire of God’s own kindling; and now I must speak plainly to our people that the Lord has led us step by step and shown us clear light upon the heavenly sanctuary in the most holy of holies where God revealed Himself to His appointed ones." (par. 9)
Since Kellogg's Living Temple was having holes punched in it in regards to his statements about God, Kellogg wanted to change his book and republish it with his newer founded views. He wanted to re-word things in a way he thought would be smooth saying. That was what the above letter from A. G. Daniells to Willie White was all about. His views of the trinity and belief in it stood in his way of expressing himself properly. But Sister White said no! Don’t do it.
Letter 253, November 20, 1903 to Dr. Kellogg from Sister White (select paragraphs included below)
"I must tell you that your ideas in regard to some things have been decidedly wrong. I would that you could see your errors. The book Living Temple is not to be patched up, a few changes made in it, and then advertised and praised as a valuable production. It would be better to present the physiological parts in another book under another title. When you wrote that book, you were not under the inspiration of God. There was by your side the one who inspired Adam to look at God in a false light. Your whole heart needs to be changed, thoroughly and entirely cleansed. (par. 1) My brother, do not allow yourself to be alienated from your ministering brethren who tell you of your dangers. Those who faithfully and frankly tell you of your errors are your best friends. (par. 2) My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, and many others who were keen, noble, and true were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for truth. At our important meetings, these men would meet together and search for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly; for we felt that we must learn God’s truth. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. As we fasted and prayed, great power came upon us. But I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend what we were studying. Then the Spirit of God would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me with instruction as to the position we were to take regarding truth and duty. Again and again this happened. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God was plainly marked out before me, and I gave my brethren and sisters the instruction that the Lord had given me. They knew that when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from heaven the revelations given me. Thus the leading points of our faith as we hold them today were firmly established. Point after point was clearly defined, and all the brethren came into harmony.
(par. 4) The whole company of believers were united in the truth. There were those who came in with strange doctrines, but we were never afraid to meet them. Our experience was wonderfully established by the revelations of the Holy Spirit. (par. 5) After the passing of the time, we were opposed and cruelly falsified. Erroneous theories were pressed in upon us by men and women who had gone into fanaticism. I was directed to go to the places where these people were advocating these erroneous theories, and as I went, the power of the Spirit was wonderfully displayed in rebuking the errors that were creeping in. Satan himself, in the person of a man, was working to make of no effect my testimony regarding the position that we now know to be substantiated by Scripture. (par. 8) Just such theories as you have presented in Living Temple were presented then. These subtle, deceiving sophistries have again and again sought to find place amongst us. But I have ever had the same testimony to bear which I now bear regarding the personality of God." (par. 9)
Letter 55, April 15, 1903 – Sister White to Dr. Kellogg
“Your religious teachings are not to be depended on or accepted as a “Thus saith the Lord.” It has been unwise for the people to rely upon you as they have done; for you are not a safe guide in spiritual matters.” (par. 12)
Decided Action to be Taken Now – Chapter 9, Testimonies for the Church – SpTB07
October 1903 – St. Helena, CA
“These words were spoken to me in the night season. The sentiments in “Living Temple” regarding the personality of God have been received even by men who have had a long experience in the truth. When such men consent to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, we are no longer to regard the subject as a matter to be treated with the greatest delicacy. That those whom we thought sound in the faith should have failed to discern the specious, deadly influence of this science of evil, should alarm us as nothing else has alarmed us. (p. 37.2)
It is something that can not be treated as a small matter that men who have had so much light, and such clear evidence as to the genuineness of the truth we hold, should become unsettled, and led to accept spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of God. Those doctrines, followed to their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy. They estimate as nothing the light that Christ came from heaven to give John to give to His people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to be given special attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experiences, giving them instead a false science.“ (p. 37.3)
Additional quotes from Sister White about Dr. Kellogg and his teachings.
“In Living Temple the assertion is made that God is in the flower, in the leaf, in the sinner. But God does not live in the sinner. The Word declares that He abides only in the hearts of those who love Him and do righteousness. God does not abide in the heart of the sinner; it is the enemy who abides there."
- Sermons and Talks, vol. 1; Ms. 46, 1904; MR 900, p. 343
“Let not the theory be presented that God would dwell in the soul-temple of a wicked man. No greater falsehood could be presented.” - EGW, Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, ‘Be Earnest and Steadfast’
“Already there are coming in among our people spiritualistic teachings that will undermine the faith of those who give heed to them. The theory that God is an essence pervading all nature is one of Satan’s most subtle devices. It misrepresents God and is a dishonor to His greatness and majesty.
Pantheistic theories are not sustained by the word of God. The light of His truth shows that these theories are soul-destroying agencies. Darkness is their element, sensuality their sphere. They gratify the natural heart and give license to inclination. Separation from God is the result of accepting them.”
- Testimonies for the church, Vol. 8, p 291, par. 1 & 2
"I am so sorry that Living Temple came out as it did, and was circulated, and the worst of it—that which struck right to my heart—was the assertion made regarding the book: “It contains the very sentiments that Sister White has been teaching.” When I heard this, I felt so heartbroken that it seemed as if I could not say anything. Had I said anything, I would have been obliged to speak the truth as it was. (par. 7)
Representations had been shown me that some danger was approaching and that I must prepare for it. I must write out the things God had given me in order to prepare for it. (par. 8)
I did not read Living Temple, though I had it in my library. At last my son said to me, “Mother, you ought to read at least some parts of the book, that you may see whether they are in harmony with the light hat God has given you.” He sat down beside me, and we read the paragraphs to which he referred. When we had finished, I turned to him, and said, “These are the very sentiments against which I was bidden to speak in warning at the very beginning of my public work. When I first left the state of Maine, it was to go through Vermont and Massachusetts, to bear a testimony against these sentiments. Living Temple contains the Alpha of these theories. The Omega would follow in a little while. I tremble for our people. These beautiful representations are similar to the temptation that the enemy brought to Adam and Eve in Eden. (par. 9)
In Living Temple the assertion is made that God is in the flower, in the leaf, in the sinner. But God does not live in the sinner. The Word declares that He abides only in the hearts of those who love Him and do righteousness. God does not abide in the heart of the sinner; it is the enemy who abides there. (par. 13)
Our ministers must be very careful not to enter into controversy in regard to the personality of God. This is a subject that they are not to touch. It is a mystery, and the enemy will surely lead astray those who enter into it. We know that Christ came in person to reveal God to the world. God is a person, and Christ is a person. Christ is spoken of in the Word as “the brightness of His Father’s glory, and the express image of His person.” (par. 15)
I was forbidden to talk with Dr. Kellogg on this subject, because it is not a subject to be talked about.
And I was instructed that certain sentiments in Living Temple were the Alpha of a long list of deceptive theories. (par.16)
These sentiments have had an effect on our people everywhere. Some think it strange that I write, “Do not send your children to Battle Creek.” I was instructed in regard to the danger of the worldly influence in Battle Creek. I have written hundreds of pages regarding the danger of having so large a sanitarium, and of calling so many young people together in one place. The young people in Battle Creek are in danger. They will come in contact with error. Years ago I did not think that they would meet these errors right in the sanitariums; but when Living Temple came out, and some of our ministers told me that there was in it nothing but what I had been teaching all my life, I saw how great the danger was. I saw that blindness had fallen upon some who had long known the truth. I pray that the Lord will open the eyes of these ministers, that they may see the difference between light and darkness, and between truth and error." (par.17)
- Manuscript 46, May 18, 1904
Satan will continue to bring in his erroneous theories and to claim that his sentiments are true. Seducing spirits are at work. I am to meet the danger positively, denying the right of anyone to use my writings to serve the devil’s purpose to allure and deceive the people of God. God has spared my life that I may present the testimonies given me, to vindicate that which God vindicates, and to denounce every vestige of Satan’s sophistry. One thing will follow another in spiritual sophistry, to deceive if possible the very elect. - Manuscript 126-November 28, 1903
Here we have a writing from Sister White calling out members in the Battle Creek community, the Battle Creek church in fact. The Sanitarium was burned to the ground in February 1902, and then the Review and Herald Publishing House on December 30, 1902.
You see, Kellogg had revised his book and went against Ellen White’s counsel. He approached the Review & Herald to review his book. The General Conference committee rejected printing the book after the review of it. So Kellogg decided to circumvent the General Conference and pay the Review and Herald directly to print it. Thousands of copies.
The biggest Sanitarium in the world burned to the ground and Kellogg didn’t get the message. “I don’t want you teaching the trinity”. None of our books say that, but that was the issue.
Firemen in Battle Creek have been noted to say that they never rush to an Adventist fire in Battle Creek. Simply because, they can’t put them out. They can’t put out Adventist fires. God uses judgments of fire when need be.
God passed judgment on the Adventist community and the leaders there stood in public and denounced any wrong doing or that this was the hand of God passing judgment on them. Sister White had warned Kellogg of his trespasses and the Review and Herald in their works of printing the type of books and material that was not the purpose of it’s beginnings.
Ellen White, SpTB07 – November 20, 1905
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the judgment of the Lord.”
(par. 9.1)
How true is the solemn statement, “My people know not the judgment of the Lord.” Has not this been repeatedly demonstrated in Battle Creek? Have not men stood up in public assemblies and ridiculed the idea that the burning of our two largest institutions was a reproof and a judgment from God? Could they have seen the presentation given me of what will be in the future, their ridicule would suddenly have turned to mourning. (par. 9.2)
The burning of these two institutions was verily a judgment from God. And yet men who have been given wonderful advantages and opportunities, and who are capable of understanding the dealings of God with His people of old, have stood up to defy, as it were, the Holy One of Israel, and to make of none effect the working of God’s providence in His dealings with His people. (par. 9.3)
Unbelief has led many in Battle Creek to the doing of evil works and to the carrying out of wrong principles. It has led them to strengthen themselves in a wrong course. (par.10.4)
His judgments came upon the two largest of our institutions. Before all the world His displeasure was shown by stern judgments. And yet, there are those who, since these terrible experiences, have refused correction and have followed a course of determined obstinacy. Some seem determined to continue doing those things that brought the expression of the displeasure of God upon those who would not heed admonition and warnings. They have kept up a continual defiance against God, and warfare against the testimonies of reproof that He has sent. (par. 11.2) But the time is drawing nigh when the judgments of God will be more signally seen in Battle Creek. Many claiming to be believers have dishonored the truth of God. They have diverted His money into wrong channels, to carry out worldly plans. But because of the righteous who are among them the Lord has waited and shown patience. The cause of God has suffered great hindrance because the talents entrusted to His people have not been used in the work of proclaiming the truth, and on every hand we see unworked fields. Saith the Lord, When I visit them for their iniquity, I will punish them for all their greed, and their worldliness, as the Gentiles. I will not spare, unless they repent. (par. 11.3) The sentiments of unbelief that were expressed after the judgments of God had come, showed that some would keep up their rebellion until the hour of God’s patience is exhausted. Those who have acted as the Gentiles act, will be punished as the Gentiles, only with as much greater severity as the abundance of light given them makes their sin against God the greater. He will not spare, neither will He have mercy, unless there is a thorough conversion of soul, and that repentance which needeth not to be repented of. (par. 12.1)
Something to ponder on and to note here with the sharing of these writings from (SpTB) Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers and Special Testimonies to the Battle Creek Church that have been included on this webpage. These writings almost did not survive. Men within the General Conference were so angry at Ellen White that they got together many of these testimonies of hers in regards to Battle Creek. Over a 100 of them. And a pair of men went to a man named Brother Holmes. And they said to him, “burn these”. And he said, “WHAT?”. They said, “Yes, burn these.”
Holmes knew furnaces and was a faithful Seventh-Day Adventist. So he stoked the fire good and hot, but it was a superficial hot. He knew it would go out rather quick. He said to the two men from the G.C., “okay, it’s hot”. They threw the writings in and shut the door. They saw the flames and they waited a bit, and then they finally left.
What they didn’t know, was Holmes had shut off the air vent. So pretty quickly. the flames would die out and extinguish. And he saved the material with a little smoldering. And eventually he died and had left the writings to a friend. And eventually that person died and the writings ended up in an auction. And the word got around and people started talking about these lost Ellen White writings. And people came and were there to bid on it and so was the General Conference.
Problem is, they couldn’t really bid on it as too many people were there bidding on them.
Series B is what they managed to save and put into two books. Series B #2 and #7. Only because Brother Holmes did a heroic act.
In the past, ministers and Kellogg quoted Sister White to further their views and teachings. They can't see the difference between truth and error, between reality and spiritualism. And they quote Ellen White to borrow some quotes to prove their right, just like Kellogg did. And with Dr. Kellogg's belief in three Gods in name, today we have come full circle to the error of spiritualism. Since him, many have caught the disease and it finally took the church in 1980 when the fundamental beliefs took on a radical change. Refer to "Fundamental Principles vs Beliefs" under the header "The Issues". And this is why this website exists today. To educate our brothers and sisters as to what has happened within our church.
Just like what Kellogg believed a little over 100 years ago (the trinity doctrine), pantheistic ideas, you have the same thing that has come into our church. Please review these videos for yourself in regards to the personality and presence of God. The problems Sister White had called out have come full circle to today.