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FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES vs BELIEFS - also referred to as

THE TRANS-FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL ENGINEERING OF ADVENTISM

A stark warning to the church was given by Ellen White in 1903:

"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." - Ellen White, Letter 242, October 19, 1903, Selected Messages 1, p. 204

This warning should ring loud and clear.  Because every bit of it has taken place.  This document illustrates where the church started with it’s first statement of beliefs in 1872.  The "Principles" were an outline of their belief, but not held over your head like a "creed".  They called them Principles.  They didn't want to get to where we are today.  Where if you don't entirely subscribe to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of today (no longer Principles or an outline, but a stern doctrine now), you will find yourself disfellowshipped.  Please note the quote from John Loughborough below this 1872 section.  In each part below, pay attention to the subtleness of changes. 

The God of the Pioneers – 1872 Fundamental Principles

(25 Fundamental Principles based on 1 Corinthians 8:6)

 

As elsewhere stated, Seventh-Day Adventists have no creed but the Bible; but they hold to certain well-defined points of faith, for which they feel prepared to give a reason “to every man that asketh” them.  The following propositions may be taken as a summary of the principal features of their religious faith, upon which there is, so far as we know, entire unanimity throughout the body. 

They believe, ---

 

1. 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.

Psalms 139:7 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

 

2. 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 Lev. 16; Heb. 8:4, 5; 9:6, 7; etc.

 

3. 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 of rule of faith and practice.

The founding Fathers or our faith, the Pioneers of the

Real Seventh-Day Adventist Church (1850-1930):

Joseph Bates, James White, Sister Ellen White, Hiram Edson, Joseph Harvey Waggoner, John Byington, Joseph Frisbie, George Storrs, John Andrews, Roswell F. Cottrell, Merritt E. Cornell, John G. Matteson, Uriah Smith, Thomas Preble, Owen Crosier, W.C. Gage, George Butler, Wolcott Littlejohn, Stephen Haskell, John Loughborough.

John Loughborough warned against setting up a creed.

Early Adventism – the Pioneers – 1850’s up to 1930

Doctrines were established early and held firm through Sister White’s lifetime

                God the Father                 

           Jesus Christ, the Son of God              

                                     Spirit of God also referred to as the Holy Spirit

 

We identified God as one being.  Jesus is recognized as having his own being, separate from God and he is called the Son of the Eternal Father.  We also referred to Jesus as the literal Begotten Son, just like in the Bible. That Christ had a beginning sometime in eternity past.  The Father and the Son was a real relationship and were two beings. The Holy Spirit did not have a separate definition away from the Father.

 

"From eternity there was a complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit. and heart, and character." – Ellen G. White, The Youth Instructor Dec.16, 1897, p. 310

“A complete offering has been made; for "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,"-- not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” - Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, 30th May 1895, ‘Christ our complete salvation’

 

“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind." - Ellen G. White, Review & Herald 9th July 1895 ‘The Duty of the Minister and the People’

 

Here we have clear statements that show, that Ellen White believed that Christ in His pre-existence, is literally the begotten Son of God. Here she was speaking in opposition to two heretical views of His origins (creation or a created being and adoption).  Begotten is not created.  This statement is also in keeping with what was then the denominational faith of Seventh-day Adventists.

 

We believed that Jesus redeems us and sanctifies us by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.  This is a second personality of Christ as the Spirit of Christ.  It originates from the Father as the Spirit of God.  He would have come to us in the flesh, in person, and now he comes to us in the Spirit.

 

“When trials overshadow the soul, remember the words of Christ, remember that He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit.”  — Ellen G. White, Daughters of God, p. 185.2 – 1897

 

“Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent.”  — Ellen G. White,  Manuscript Releases 14, p. 23.3

 

This was written about in “third person language”, hence Sister White’s writing, “third person of the Godhead.”  A more complete study on the identity of the Holy Spirit gives us a bigger picture and understanding of just what she meant when she wrote  “three personalities of the heavenly trio.”  (Not “God in three persons” or “three persons in the Godhead”)  Incidentally, you will not find written the “first person of the Godhead” nor a “second person of the Godhead” in the Spirit

of Prophecy or the Bible.

At the last session of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference that was held in Rome, NY on December 7, 1882, it was decided on and passed that a book entitled, “The Seventh-day Adventist Year Book” be published. In it shall be “portions of the proceedings of the General Conference, and such other matters, as the Committee may think best to insert therein.”

So in 1883, the very first “Year Book” was published. This would start out as a yearly publication but would skip the years of 1895-1903. For those years, the directories of the denomination were
issued in the G.C. Bulletin. It wouldn’t be until 1889 that the Fundamental Principles (not called Beliefs at that time) were published just as they were framed in 1872.  They had been on guard about developing a creed that would measure people and their beliefs, as previously shown by John N. Loughborough from 1861.

1889 Seventh-day Adventist Statistics
Seventh-day Adventist statement of belief in 1889
1889 Fundamental Principles notes from the Year Book
1905 Year Book
1905 Year Book
Businesses that were incorporated in 1904.

“A new organization would be established.” 

General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, established in 1904.
General Conference Corporation articles of incorporation in 1904.

Just one year later, prophecy began to be fulfilled.

Today there are lots of mistruths, misconceptions and distortion of truth about our Pioneers and what their system of beliefs were.  People became Seventh-day Adventist because of our beliefs in the early days. If they knew what was going on today, they wouldn't even recognize this denomination.  Doesn't that seem odd to you?  After all, if people in the Lutheran church changed what Martin Luther believed and taught, they couldn't call themselves Lutherans. Well today we have the modern Adventist church who are Seventh-day Adventist in name only.

                                                            

"Adventist beliefs have changed over the years...Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ....Many of the Pioneers including James White, J.N. Andrews, Uriah Smith, and J.H. Waggoner, held to an Arian or Semi-Arian view.  That is that the Son at some point in time, before the creation of our world was generated by the Father.  The Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists.  Even today, a few do not subscribe to it."  - William Johnson, editor - Adventist Review, January 6, 1994

 

The above statement by Mr. Johnson is incorrect when he tries to fit the founders of the faith into a box called Arian or Semi-Arian.  Trinitarian-ism was definitely not held by the early Adventists.

 

"Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denominations Fundamental Beliefs.  More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief #2, which deals with the doctrine of the Trinity." - George Knight, Ministry Magazine, October 1993, p. 10

 

“The fundamental principles that have

sustained the work for the last fifty years

would be accounted as error.”

 

To correct Mr. Knight, all of the founders would not be able to join the church, not just most. Imagine this being done to Martin Luther.  They wouldn't be Lutherans any more.  This should be startling to the congregation to learn this fact.  And they should be searching why, and asking why.

“That most of the leading SDA pioneers were non-Trinitarian in their theology has become accepted Adventist history, surprising as it sounded to most Adventists 40 years ago when Erwin R. Gane wrote an M.A. thesis on the topic.  More recently, a further question has arisen with increasing urgency: was the pioneer’s belief about the Godhead right or wrong?  As one line of reasoning goes, either the pioneers were wrong and the present church is right, or the pioneers were right and the present Seventh-day Adventist Church has apostatized from biblical truth.”  - Jerry Moon, The Trinity, p. 190

 

With this quote in mind, if one could say that the Pioneers were wrong, then Adventism and Sister White are a lie.  Think about that for a minute.  So in reality, it forces you to believe the Pioneers. 

 

This is a warning from Sister White where she prophesied what was coming in the near future.  Five months before she died, she stated:

“when I am laid to rest, great changes will take place.”

 

“I am charged to tell our people that they do not realize that the devil has device and device, and he carries them out in ways that they do not expect.  Satan’s agencies will invent ways to make sinners out of saints.  I tell you now, that when I am laid to rest, great changes will take place.  I do not know when I shall be taken; and I desire to warn all against the devices of the devil.  I want the people to know that I warned them fully before my death.”   - Ellen White, Manuscript 1, February 24, 1915

The Theologian and Scholar’s version of God – 1931 Yearbook

Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental beliefs from 1931 Year Book

The above statement from the 1931 Year Book, was written by one man, Francis McClellan Wilcox who was the editor of the Review & Herald. There was no vote, no committee or official church authorized document that was issued.  This was the opinion of one man who was not inspired by God as a co-founder of the denomination as was James White, Joseph Bates or Ellen White.  And this would find itself in the new Church Manual that was starting to be published in 1932.

 

The word “Godhead” and “Trinity” both pop into view as a test to see if there is any push back.  Godhead means divinity, not trinity. To many, the word trinity is used to describe a three-some power for lack of a better description, or to simply identity 3 of something. There is no doctrine tied to it. Both of these key words are inserted into the Year Book without question or scrutiny.  Then the addition of "third person of the Godhead" is added along with the nature description of Jesus being "very God". These might seem harmless and subtle. But that is how you make changes. Now multiply this over the course of fifty years (1931-1980) and you will have the transformation of our doctrine into something else. Eventually with word changes being subtle to the point where in 1980, a full-on Trinity onslaught version would be brought in. There was very little upheaval and kickback, as the majority that had ahold of the denomination in years past have now died off years ago. There was hardly an inkling standing for the way God has shown his remnant. There wasn’t even a minority now. The people were put to sleep over time and new converts more than outnumbered any original bloodline from our Pioneers. This was not who we were as a peculiar people

The founding Fathers of the “New Organization” of Seventh-Day Adventists

(Counterfeit movement) that began with its Incorporation in 1904; introduced a Godhead doctrine of belief (1931-1980):

Herbert Camden Lacey, William Warren Prescott, Arthur Grosvenor Daniells, John Harvey Kellogg, Francis McLellan Wilcox, Milton Kern, Edwin R. Palmer, Henry Watson, Leroy Edwin Froom,

Roy Allan Anderson, Walter E. Read, T. E. Unruh, Reuben R. Figuhr,

J.N. Anderson, G.B. Thompson

 

These were “men in suits” who were actually “people with creeds”.  They worked to bring in Sunday keeper theology.  It would take decades, but they would succeed.  However they did not live long enough to see it in its full fruition when 1980 came along. 

 

The Theologian and Scholar’s version of God – 1941

A Summary of Fundamental Beliefs was approved by the General Conference Annual Council October, 1941 for inclusion in the 1942 Church Manual along with a revised Baptismal Vow.   This was the long time effort of W.W. Prescott and Leroy Froom.  Now Jesus is labeled as “Eternal” which is subtle, but it goes against the Pioneers description that Jesus had a beginning and was therefore “Begotten” of God.  The use of personhood language is just the beginning. 

 

Because now we have a first person of the Godhead, a second person of the Godhead, and third person of the Godhead for the first time. The Bible does not lay out a membership or number of persons in the "Godhead".

Seventh-day Adventist Summary of Belief from 1941

This new summary was quite different from F.M. Wilcox’s Fundamentals in 1931. It used “Godhead” and did not mention the word “Trinity.” While the Wilcox listing offered but few supporting texts, the summary provided an abundance of scripture including important ones like 1 Corinthians 8:6, Hebrews 1:1-3, Micah 5:2 which were frequently quoted by Adventist pioneers.

"Our religion would be changed."

Keep this in mind with this evolving change brought forth in 1941:

“The church studied this mystery with great care and, after four centuries of clarification, decided to state the doctrine in this way: in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…” – Handbook for Today’s Catholic, p. 11

BAPTISMAL VOWS

1874

1) Do you accept all the Bible as the inspired word of God, and do you take it as your only rule of faith? Is it your purpose to ever walk according to its teachings?  2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Acts 20:32.

 

2) Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour for salvation from sin, for a real change of heart, and will you permit Him by the Holy Spirit to live in you daily? John 1:12, 13; Gal.2:20.

 

3) Have you repented of, and confessed all known sin to God, and do you believe that He, for Christ's sake has forgiven you, and as far as possible have you tried to make matters right with
 your fellowmen? 1 John 1:9; Matt.5:23-26; Eze.33:15.

 

4) Is it your purpose, by the grace of God, to live a true Christian life, by surrendering all – soul, body, spirit – to God, to do His will in all things and keep the commandments of God? Rom. 12:1; Col. 3:17; Rev. 14:12.

 

5) Will you seek to maintain a true spiritual experience by the daily study of God's Word and prayer, and will you endeavour by your consistent life and personal effort to win souls to Christ?

 

6) Do you believe and accept the great truths of the Word of God concerning the personal, visible, literal, imminent return of Christ (Acts 1:9-11); immortality only through Christ (2 Tim. 1:10); the unconscious state of the dead (Eccl. 9:5, 6); the destruction of the wicked (Mal. 4:1-3); and the other kindred truths that comprise the special message of Revelation 14:6-12?

 

7) Is it your purpose to keep the seventh day of the week from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset as the Lord's holy day according to the fourth commandment? Luke 23:56; Ex. 20:8-11.

 

8) Will you practice the Bible plan for the support of God's work by rendering unto Him first the tithe, or one tenth of all your increase (Lev. 27:30; Mal.3:8-10); and then offerings as you may be able, according to His prospering hand? Deut. 16:17; Luke 6:38.

 

9) Is it your purpose to obey the command to eat and drink to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31) by abstaining from all intoxicating liquors (Pro.23:29-32), tobacco in all its forms (1 Cor. 3:16, 17) swine's flesh (Isa. 66:15, 17), narcotics, tea, coffee, and other harmful things?

 

10) Are you willing to follow the Bible rule of modesty and simplicity of dress, refraining from the wearing of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, beads, rings, etc., and from any lack of dress that is out of keeping with the Bible rule of modesty? 1 Tim. 2:9,10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4; Ex. 33:5, 6; Gen. 35:2-4.

 

11) Do you believe in and have you accepted the ordinance of humility (John 13:1-17), and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper? 1 Cor. 11:23-33.

 

12) Is it your purpose to come out from the world and be separate in obedience to God's command in 2 Cor. 6:17, by refraining from following the sinful practices of the world, such as dancing, card-playing, theatre-going, novel reading, etc. and by shunning all questionable worldly amusements? 1 John 2:15; James 1:27; 4:4.

 

13) Will you seek to build up the interests of the church by giving the Sabbath School your hearty and practical support and attending, as far as possible, all services of the church? And will you endeavour by God's help to do your part in the work of the church? Luke 4:16; Rom. 12:4-8.

 

14) Do you recognize that the remnant church has the Spirit of Prophecy, and that this has been manifested to this church through the writings of Ellen G. White? Rev. 12:17; 19:10.

Baptismal Vow

1941

The following questions should be answered in the affirmative before the church by candidates for baptism:

  1. Do you believe in God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit?

 

 

In the 1942 Church Manual, there was mass confusion.  You see there were three different versions of a belief in God printed in that book. There was the above Summary of Fundamental Beliefs from October 1941, there was the 1941 Baptismal Vows, and then way back in the book, they included F.M. Wilcox’s statement of beliefs from 1931.  Here is the short version of the three published:

  1. God the Father

  2. true and living God, the first person of the Godhead

  3. The Eternal Father

 

Baptismal Vows – 1974 (still the same as 1941)

I believe in God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit.

Baptismal Vows – Today  (compare this with 1941-1974)

I believe there is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of co-eternal Persons.

 

In 1980, the full-blown trinity doctrine was brought into the church.  So the Pioneers who left the fallen churches of Babylon from 1844, now have a false lineage that returns to the doctrine of the wine of Babylon.  Eighty years of purity from 1850-1930, gone.  Fifty years of reeling us to a daughter of the Mother Harlot, and now 37 years under the umbrella of the Mother Harlot (1980-today). 

 

Ex-Jesuit Alberto Rivera stated “all the mainstream churches were taken over (under control of Rome) by 1980.” (Bill Hughes, Secret Terrorists, p. 108)  This is so true.

 

Fundamental Beliefs – 1980

Prior to the Dallas General Conference in 1980

Note: There was not an actual real Trinity doctrine yet even though the word was used. 

It was similar language from 1931.

It did not lay out three Gods in name as in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

 

#2 That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father, a personal spiritual Being, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, infinite in wisdom and love; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, through whom all things were created and through whom the salvation of the redeemed hosts will be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, the great regenerating power in the work of redemption.

 

What is interesting to note is the elimination of first and second person of the Godhead.  Jesus is also listed as the Son of the Eternal Father instead of the Eternal Son of God.  Son of the Eternal Father is the way the Pioneers worded the belief as Christ having a beginning.  If he is labeled as Eternal Son, then it leaves less for conversation about his pre-existence and allows for the next belief that he is co-eternal, co-equal along with a third being which is coming in the next change of beliefs for 1981 and beyond.

 

What does the Spirit of Prophecy say?

“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.” – Ellen G. White, Manuscript Release 62 - 1905.14

 

“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.” - Ellen G. White, Life Sketches, p. 196

“By conforming to the practices of paganism, to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen….During the lives of the apostles the church remained comparatively pure.  But “toward the latter end of the second century most of the churches assumed a new form; the first simplicity disappeared, and insensibly, as the old disciples retired to their graves, their children, along with new converts…came forward and new modeled the cause…To secure converts, the exalted standard of the Christian faith was lowered, and as the result “a pagan flood, flowing into the church, carried with it its customs, practices, and idols….”  Has not the same process been repeated in nearly every church calling itself Protestant?”  - Ellen White, Great Controversy, 384.5

All of this has taken place along the way!

In fact, it happened before many of you were even born.

The God of the General Conference Corporation

New Theology – the Trinity God arrives

 

The Founding Fathers returning us to Babylonian worship:

Neal C. Wilson, W. Duncan Eva, Bernard Seton, Fritz Guy, Desmond Ford, Willis Hackett,

Richard Hammill, Alf Lohne, Clyde Franz, Charles Bradford, Gordon Hyde, N.R. Dower

Fundamental Beliefs – 1981 – (Now after the Dallas Conference of August 1980, 

the Trinity doctrine is brought into the church; everything has changed now)

#2 The Trinity –There is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons...

#3 The FatherGod the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger....

#4 The SonGod the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ.....

#5 The Holy Spirit God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father, and the Son in creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power...

“The Principles of truth that God in His wisdom

has given to the remnant church,

would be discarded.”

Neal C. Wilson, General Conference President, declared before the Seventh Day Adventist conference church that: "...there is another universal and truly catholic organization, the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Adventist Review, March 5, 1981, p 3.

"The concept of the Trinity, namely the idea that the three are one, is not explicitly stated but only assumed." - Fernando L. Canale, the Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology, Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia volume 12, page 138, 'Doctrine of God'

 

So what is this Trinity doctrine suppose to mean?  The trinity doctrine states that…

 

  1. There is one and only one God.

  2. God eternally exists in three distinct divine persons.

  3. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.  They are called God the Father, god the son, god the holy spirit.  [use of lower case lettering done on purpose]

  4. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Father, the Father is not the Holy Spirit, the Son is not the Holy Spirit.

 

The trinity doctrine further states:

God exist as three distinct divine persons who are identical in essence that are co-eternal and co-equal in power.

 

To unravel this would require perhaps more and more web pages. It is easier to check out the booklet on the Book Resource Page, "Trinity Doctrine Exposed." But for starters, just compare the differences between 1872 and 1981. Then keep in mind the following scriptures:

 

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.

 

Revelation 3:12 - 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.

 

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

 

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

 

We have become far removed from the days of James and Ellen White.  Consider what James White said after their experience in the Great Disappointment as he points back to the 1844 time frame.

“God called us out of Babylon. If we had stayed there, bound down by ministers and creeds, the glorious light of the Holy Sabbath never would have reached us, but glory to God, the second angel's message called us out from the fallen churches where we are now free to think, and act for ourselves in the fear of God.”- James White, The Third Angels Message, p. 11.3, 1850

What’s the point you might ask?  Well, if you came into the church in the last 15 years, even in the 1990’s, or how about the 1980’s, you would have no clue what our church believed and what has happened since. The men that made the changes, came from a Trinitarian church or belief background.  They rubbed shoulders with Sunday keepers and that influence has had significant results in their actions and beliefs. They acted like they needed to fix something.

 

Yet as the Pioneers died, there would be little resistance to fight.   This was done by scholars and theologians, not the founders of the denomination.  Therefore, the religion has been changed as prophesied by Sister White.

"Our religion would be changed."

George Knight, a professor, and prominent SDA theologian makes this startling confession in Ministry Magazine, October 1993 - "Most of the founders of Seventh-Day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination's fundamental beliefs. More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2 which deals with the doctrine of the Trinity."  In all actuality, this would have included ALL of the founders and Pioneers of the early SDA church. 

Modern Adventism today now has a God the Father, god the son, and god the holy spirit.  This is another gospel not in the Bible.

"Books of a new order would be written."

 

Books of a new order, we were warned about this in 1903.

Just some of the books written to reprogram our people and their beliefs from  1928 - 2002

“I was compelled to search out a score of valuable books written by men outside of our faith.  The next logical and inevitable step…involved revision of certain standard works, so as to eliminate statements that taught, and thus perpetuated erroneous views on the Godhead.” – LeRoy Froom, church historian and key player in the church’s apostasy.

LeRoy Froom went to authors of Babylon, Sunday keepers to get their views on the Holy Spirit and the apostasy started when he brought that into our church with his book, “The Coming of the Comforter” in 1928.  And things have never been the same.

We were warned from the writings of Sister White that 'changes would be made'.  A great work would be done, but the truths that were well established would be cast aside.  All the work of the Pioneers would be called error.  Wasn't Sister White a Pioneer?  She was literally a co-founder of the denomination.  So if you call the Pioneers or refer to them as being in error, then you don’t honestly adhere to the counsel of God's messenger.  Theology and scholars have now replaced the detail and inspiration of bible study.  Our people have become dumbed down to pew warmers attending church like a spectator sport.  God has now been placed into the spiritual realm of a mystery and we can't understand it.  Spiritual formation and contemplative player have been brought in by the enemy.  WAKE UP FOLKS!  We are looking for the enemy from in front of us when we have already been taken from behind decades ago.

Todays leaders give co-credit to the Holy Spirit for creation as a third divine being.  Under this doctrine, the father of Christ is actually this God the Holy Spirit.  Some would even say that Christ has two Fathers now.  Sounds kind of LGBT doesn’t it?  The Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible do not teach this as you will see it is all about the Father and the Son.  Two divine beings at creation, not three.

After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God says to his Son, "Let us make man in our image.” – Ellen G. White, 1SP, pp. 24, 25

“In the beginning the Father and the Son had rested upon the Sabbath after their work of creation.” - Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 769, 1898

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God." – Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34.1

 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.  It already is His own Spirit.  It is sent through Christ as the Spirit of Christ.  But the church today teaches it is now a whole different being called God the Holy Spirit.  It is now someone else.  As a result, the church teaches adamantly that Jesus is not our Comforter and that Jesus does not come to us in the Spirit.  It teaches He is not the Spirit of Truth.  But here is what the Spirit of Prophecy says:

 

“Christ was the Spirit of Truth.”  - Ellen G. White, The Southern Review, October 25, 1898, par. 2

“Jesus comes to you as the Spirit of truth.” – Ellen G. White, Ms 8c, July 26, 1891, 2MR p.337.1

 

“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.” – Ellen G. White Review & Herald, Aug. 26, 1890, par. 10

 

Does Ellen White say that the churches are healthy and strong? No!   Sadly she says they are sick and ready to die.  Why?

 

Because they have allowed a spirit from another to guide them.  This other spirit has sought to shut Jesus from their view as their Comforter.

“Christ is to be known by the blessed name of Comforter….whom the Father will send in My name.” – Ellen G. White, Manuscript Release 7, par. 10, January 26, 1902

 

Sister White pointed out who the third rank in heaven was, and it was Lucifer before his fall.  Now he enters the picture under a false trinity doctrine to get worship.  He wanted to by like the most-High, God (Isaiah 14:12-14). “Satan in Heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son.” - Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 17.1  

 

Change in heavenly rank came after the fall of Lucifer in Heaven:  “It was Gabriel, the angel next in rank to the Son of God, who came with the divine message to Daniel.” - Desire of Ages,  p. 234

Sister White says he wanted to be apart of the counsels of God, but that was just the Father and Son.  “And I saw that when God said to his Son, Let us make man in our own image, Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man. He was filled with envy, jealousy and hatred.  He wished to be the highest in heaven, next to God, and receive the highest honors.” - Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, p. 17; Early Writings, p. 145

 

People do not know the identity of the Holy Spirit today.  They are taught it is “another”, or “someone else”.  Sister White said it was the Spirit of Christ coming to us. 

“He (Jesus) is coming to us by His Holy Spirit today. Let us recognize Him now; then we shall recognize Him when He comes in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”

- Ellen G. White, Review & Herald, April 30, 1901, par. 8

"They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit—the Spirit of Christ—is to bring unity into their ranks.” – Ellen G. White, Testimonies vol. 9, p. 189.3, 1909

Keep in mind that these terms “God in Three persons”, “Co-equal, Co-eternal” or “Three Persons in the Godhead” is Sunday keeper language.   Whether it is 3 in 1 or 1 in 3, this mirrors Rome’s belief system now.   Please note these quotes from the SDA Church Manual and then from a Catholic Catechism:

“There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal persons.”

 – 1986 SDA Church Manual, chapter 2, p 23 (Refer also to the book -  Seventh-day Adventists Believe 27 Fundamental Beliefs, “The Trinity”)

 

“In God there are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, equal in all perfections.” – The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 31 by Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., Imprimatur – September 16, 1957

"While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is ASSUMED as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several times. Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity." - Adventist Review, vol. 158, no. 31, Special Edition, July 30, 1981, p. 4

 

FACT: The words, “God the Son”, “God the Holy Spirit”, “God in three persons” “three persons” “trinity”, “triune”, CANNOT be found in the Bible or Sister White’s writings. Yet this is ignored.   Is adding to the word of God acceptable to you?   How about worshiping the same god as Rome?

Trinity – born out of Romanism and prior to that, Pagan influence

The Holy Spirit in the Trinity doctrine is someone else, some other third being. There are three centers of intelligence that are co-equal, co-eternal and are role-playing.  Just read what the Adventist scholars and authors write today.  They say the Father and Son are not literal, but just a metaphor.  That is dangerous theology.

"The divine beings entered into the roles they had agreed upon before the foundations of the world were laid” – Gordon Jensen – Adventist Review October 31, 1996 p.12

 

“The Father-Son relationship in the God head should be understood in a metaphorical sense, not in a literal sense.” – Max Hatton – Understanding the Trinity p.97

“The Father seems to act as source, the Son (act) as mediator, and the Spirit (act) as actualizer or applier." – Seventh-day Adventists Believe… A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines 1988 – p. 24

“The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. This declaration made by the Roman Catholic Church is embraced universally by every Christian community which is not designated a cult. (If you don’t agree with this, then you are labeled a cult.) Acceptance of the Trinity is therefore regarded as the foremost test of Christian orthodoxy. The Roman Catholic Church declares that it is the foundation doctrine for all the other teachings of the church. “

– Handbook for Today’s Catholic

Do you see that? All teachings are based on the Trinity as the foundation. This would include Sunday observance and worship! Wake up people! When you think of the mystery of the Trinity, connect the dots to the “Mystery Babylon” of Revelation 17. It’s the religion of the Beast power.

 

It doesn’t matter how you slice it, one God in three persons, three persons make up one person, three persons labeled three gods..

 

The Seventh-Day Adventist Fundamental Beliefs – Today

(concerning the Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

1981 Seventh-day Adventist church statement of belief

“There is no place for gods in the heaven above. God is the only true God. He fills all heaven. Those who now submit to His will shall see His face; His name will be in the foreheads of all who are pure and holy.” – Ellen G. White, Letter 5-1896.14 – December 18, 1896

Point to ponder: The Bible teaches us that the knowledge of God is important, and that we must know who God is in order to have eternal life. 

 

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

 

The bible tells us that truly our fellowship is only with the Father and the Son.

 

1 John 1:3 - "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

STATEMENT OF BELIEFS

The short version for sake of easy comparison

 

This is a quick summary of the statement of beliefs over time.  It was originally labeled as Fundamental Principles.  You would not be removed if you differed on it.  You would even still be baptized. The founders of the faith were against setting up a creed and measuring people by it.  This began in 1872 and remained thru 1930 with the same statement of beliefs. That would be for 58 years!  The last of the core of the Pioneers died in 1924.

 

Then in 1931, one man, Francis McLellan Wilcox executed what was published in the 1931 yearbook.  This would be the beginning of educated academic Theologians and Scholars having a dramatic effect on our church and bringing in change.  Subtle at first.

 

In 1941, a committee of Scholars and Theologians was set up to formulate a further change in our beliefs.  Now the term Godhead along with a doctrine that is made official even thou the Bible does not detail this information in that language.  This is now the God of the Theologians and Scholars.

 

And then in 1980 under the guidance and influence of Neal Wilson (current President Ted Wilson’s father), the trinity god arrives. This is now the God of the General Conference.

 

 

God, the Father:

 

1872 - 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.                   

 

1931 - That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father, a personal, spiritual Being, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, infinite in wisdom and love; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, through whom all things were created and through whom the salvation of the redeemed hosts will be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, the great regenerating power in the work of redemption.

 

1941 - The true and living God, the First Person of the Godhead, is our Heavenly Father, and by His Son, Christ Jesus, created all things.

 

1980 - God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation.  He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.  The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father.

 

Jesus Christ, the Son of God:

 

1872 - 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.

 

1931 - That Jesus Christ, is very God, being of the same nature and essence as the Eternal Father. While retaining Hs divine nature He took upon Himself the nature of the human family, lived on the earth as a man, exemplified in His life as our Example the principles of righteousness, attested His relationship to God by many mighty miracles, died for our sins on the cross, was raised from the dead, and ascended to the Father, where He lives to make intercession for us.

 

1941 - Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead, and the eternal Son of God, is the only Savior from sin; and man’s salvation is by grace through faith in Him. 

 

1980 - God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ.  Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged.  Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ.  He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He lived an experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God.  By His miracles He manifested God’s power and was attested as God’s promised Messiah.  He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf.  He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things.

NOTE: In regards to the use of the words Godhead and Trinity interchangeably in 1931, they do not have the same meaning.  Godhead refers to “Deity” or “Divinity”.  Trinity before you add a doctrine or dogma to it, simply means three.

The Holy Spirit:

 

1872 - no definition given separate from the Father.

 

1931 - no separate listing.  However used under the Father’s listing, it is detailed as the “third person of the Godhead”.

 

1941 - The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead is Christ’s representative on earth, and leads sinners to repentance and to obedience of all God’s requirements.

 

1980 - God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in creation, incarnation, and redemption.  He inspired the writers of Scripture.  He filled Christ’s life with power.  He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. 

 

There is the additional paragraph from the 1980 Fundamentals.  It is #2, then follows the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit as #3, 4 and 5:

 

“#2 The Trinity

There is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons.  God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present.  He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation.  He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.”

 

Compare the last 1980 version to 1872.  Look carefully at the subtle changes in 1931 and 1941 vs 1872.  Changes are really gradually, until they are not noticed any longer. 

 

Now we can see why people are praying and want to worship a third being.  It is even carried out and illustrated on 3ABN television (Adventist TV network).  It is being done in some of the churches. 

 

It is included in belief #2 as a division of God in three persons or parts. This third god now is given credit for creation, redemption (salvation), inspiring the writers of scripture, fills Christ's life with power, etc.  Not the Spirit of God, but a new being called god the holy spirit. That is not what real Adventists believed back in time.  This was brought in with the changes in 1980.  That is verifiable with a deeper study of the Spirit of Prophecy.  See Patriarchs and Prophets p. 34.1, Early Writings p. 145, Desire of Ages p. 769.

 

Study Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:12-18, and Ellen White's Early Writings pages 54-56 to see who was jealous, wanted to be worshiped and couldn't enter into the counsels of God.  There you will discover the author of such a doctrine.   It doesn’t get revealed any plainer than that.

 

My Father is the only one God.jpg

In the years to follow, these Fundamental “Principles” were republished in their exact same form in the following Year Books: 1905, 1909, 1913 and 1914. They would not show up again until a change was made in 1931. It is in 1931 that for the first time any change or attempt to change our beliefs would happen.

Lets now review a stark warning from Sister White in 1903.  Her prophecy didn’t take long to unfold.

 

“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 (1853 onward to 1903) 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.   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.” – Ellen White, Letter 242, October 19, 1903; SpTB02 p. 54.3, 1904; SM book 1, p. 204

 

She stated:

1) A reformation would take place 

2) Our doctrines / pillars of faith would be given up 

3) Engage in Reorganization

4) What was given to the remnant church by God, the Principles of Truth, would be discarded 

5) Our religion would be changed 

6) the Fundamental Principles for the last fifty years would be called error  (1853-1903)

7) A New Organization would be established (a counterfeit or the original SDA church, today’s General Conference Corporation)

8) Books of a new order would be written   

- “The Coming of the Comforter” – LeRoy Froom;

- “Questions on Doctrine” – LeRoy Froom, Roy Allan Anderson, W. E. Read, T. E. Unruh;

- “Movement of Destiny” – LeRoy Froom;

- “Seventh-Day Adventists Believe…27, A Biblical Exposition of  Fundamental Doctrines”;

- “Understanding the Trinity” – Max Hatton;

- “The Trinity” – Woodrow Whidden, Jerry Moon, John Reeve)

7) Intellectual Philosophy would be introduced (Scholars and Theologians took over-only those with academic degrees)

8) Nothing would stand in the way of this new movement

Keep this prophecy quote in mind as you go through this booklet.  Sister White had been in some turmoil with the General Conference in recent years leading up to this besides the Dr. Kellogg crisis.  She had stated the following:

 

“It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God.”

- Ellen White, Manuscript Releases 17, p. 216, 1898; Last Day Events, p.  50.3

 

This is not exactly what you will hear from the church leaders today, ignoring the call for correction and repentance along the way.

 

“That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be—THAT IS PAST.” - Ellen White, The General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901, p. 25; Last Day Events, p. 50.

 

 And then in 1904, the General Conference officially forms a “New Organization” as it “Reorganizes” itself into a CORPORATION.  This would now be called the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.  This can be found in the 1905 Year Book.

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