The following article consists of some questions concerning the alpha and omega of apostasy, with answering quotes from Ellen White and a couple of other sources which make it very clear that there is one doctrine embraced by the SDA church today, which fulfills the specifications of the predicted Omega heresy, and that this doctrine is the doctrine of the Trinity.
"The prophet cautioned, “In the book ' Living Temple ' there is presented the alpha of deadly heresies." 1 Selected Messages page 200.
"To church members she wrote, “I must warn our brethren and sisters not to enter into controversy over the presence and personality of [Yahuwah]. The statements made in ' Living Temple' in regard to this point are incorrect. The Scripture used to substantiate the doctrine there set forth, is Scripture misapplied.
"I am compelled to speak in denial of the claim that the teachings in ' 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 thesentiments in ' Living Temple ' are in harmony with my writings. But [Yahuwah] forbid that this sentiment should prevail." 1 Selected Messages page 203.
Again the prophet gave a warning. “The Omega will be of a most startling nature.” (Series B, no. 2, page 16) “The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning [Yahuwah] has given.” “I knew that the omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people.” (Series B, no. 2, pp. 50, 53)
Today, acceptance of the 27 Fundamentals, which includes the Trinity doctrine, is necessary to be part of the corporate S. D. A. Church.
False concepts about Yahuwah constituted the “alpha” of apostasy and false concepts about Yahuwah constitute the “omega” of apostasy. As we shall below carefully examine Sister White's statements concerning the “omega” we will see that the Trinity doctrine and its acceptance within the larger body of Adventism perfectly fits her predictions.
"Some Adventists today think that our beliefs have remained unchanged over the years, or they seek to turn back the clock to some point when we had everything just right. But all attempts to recover such “historic Adventism” fail in view of the facts of our heritage.
Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of “present truth.” Most startling is the teaching regarding Yahushua, our Saviour and Master. 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, the Son at some point in time before the Creation of our world was generated by the Father.
"Likewise, the Trinitarian understanding of [Yahuwah], now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. Even today a few do not subscribe to it." (Adventist Review, January 6, 1994, page 10, 11)
LET US NOW CONSIDER THE ALPHA OF DEADLY HERESIES
1. SOME IN THE SDA CHURCH CLAIM TODAY THAT THE "GODHEAD" CONTROVERSY IS OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE. WHAT REPERCUSSION IS IT TO HAVE A FALSE CONCEPT OF YAHUWAH?
ANSWER: It is a salvation issue.
“Hath a nation changed their [elohim], which are yet no [elohim]? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.” Jeremiah 2:11
“Are we followers of [Yahuwah] as dear children, or are we servants of the prince of darkness? Are we worshipers of [Yahuwah], or of Baal? of the living [Eloah], or of idols? No outward shrines may be visible, there may be no image for the eye to rest upon, yet we may be practicing idolatry. It is as easy to make an idol of cherished ideas or objects as to fashion gods of wood or stone. Thousands have a false conception of [Yahuwah] and His attributes.They are as verily serving a false god as were the servants of Baal. Are we worshiping the true [Eloah] as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, in nature, or are we adoring some philosophical idol enshrined in His place? [Yahuwah] is a [Eloah] of truth. Justice and mercy are the attributes of His throne. He is a [Eloah] of love, of pity and tender compassion. Thus He is represented in His Son, our Saviour. He is a [Eloah] of patience and long-suffering. If such is the being whom we adore and to whose character we are seeking to assimilate, we are worshiping the true [Eloah].”- Testimonies for the church volume five, page 173.
2. The teachings of which book was referred to as “The Alpha of deadly heresies” (SelectedMessages bk.1, p.200) by Ellen White and what was the name of the author?
ANSWER: Dr. John Harvey Kellogg was the author and the title of his book that Ellen White referred to was “The Living Temple.”
To Dr Kellogg she said, “You are not definitely clear on the personality of [Yahuwah], which is everything to us as a people. You have virtually destroyed . . . [Yahuwah] Himself.” Letter 300 1903. The Early Elmshaven Years. Vol. 5. 1900-1905 by Arthur L White 1941.
3. WHAT WAS THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE ALPHA HERESY?
ANSWER: The main issue was the doctrine of Yahuwah as she called it "the personality of [Yahuwah]”.
“I have been instructed by the heavenly messenger that some of the reasoning in the book Living Temple is unsound...It introduces that which is nought but speculation in regard to the personality of [Yahuwah] and where His presence is. . . One and another come to me, asking me to explain the positions taken in Living Temple . I reply, 'They are unexplainable.' The sentiments expressed do not give a true knowledge of [Yahuwah]. All through the book are passages of Scripture. These scriptures are brought in in such a way that error is made to appear as truth.”(Selected Messages bk.1, p. 201)
“The spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of [Yahuwah], followed to their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy.” (Selected Messages bk.1, p. 204)
“These theories regarding [Yahuwah] make His word of no effect, and those who accept them are in great danger of being led finally to look upon the whole Bible as a fiction. . .” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, page 291)
4. What did Dr Kellogg really believe when he wrote his book 'The Living Temple '?
ANSWER: “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: J H Kellogg to G. I.
“I believe this Spirit of God to be a personality you don't. But this is purely a question of definition. I believe the Spirit of God is a personality; you say, No, it is not a personality. Now the only reason why we differ is because we differ in our ideas as to what a personality is. Your idea of personality is perhaps that of semblance to a person or a human being. (Letter from J. H. Kellogg to G. I. Butler, February 21, 1904)
5. what did Brother Butler say to Dr Kellogg?
ANSWER: Elder
"God dwells in us by His Holy Spirit, as a Comforter, as a Reprover, especially the former. When we come to Him we partake of Him in that sense, because the Spirit comes forth from him; it comes forth from the Father and the Son. It is not a person walking around on foot, or flying as a literal being, in any such sense as Christ and the Father are - at least, if it is, it is utterly beyond my comprehension of the meaning of language or words." (Letter from G. I. Butler to J. H. Kellogg, April 5, 1904)
6. What did he say when he wrote to Brother Prescott?
ANSWER: In 1903, the Autumn Council was held in
“You, Elder Daniells, and others have spoken about a fine line of distinction, but I could not quite see what it was, but this statement by Sister White makes it clear to me. The difference is this: When we say God is in the tree, the word 'God' is understood in that the Godhead is in the tree, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, whereas the proper understanding in order that wholesome conceptions should be preserved in our minds, is that God the Father sits upon his throne in heaven where God the Son is also; while God's life, or Spirit or presence is the all-pervading power which is carrying out the will of God in all the universe.” Letter: J H Kellogg to W. W. Prescott. Oct 25. 1903.
7. REGARDING CHANGES TO THE BOOK, “ LIVING TEMPLE ”, WHAT DID BROTHER DANIELLS WRITE TO W.C. WHITE?
ANSWER: "Ever since the council closed I have felt that I should write you confidentially regarding Dr Kellogg's plans for revising and republishing 'The Living Temple'…. He (Kellogg) said that some days before coming to the council, he had been thinking the matter over, and began to see that he had made a slight mistake in expressing his views. He said that all the way along he had been troubled to know how to state the character of God and his relation to his creation works… 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 could clear the matter up satisfactorily.
"He told me that he now believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and his view was that it was God the Holy Ghost, and not God the Father, that filled all space, and every living thing. He said if he had believed this before writing the book, he could have expressed his views without giving the wrong impression the book now gives.
"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.
"We argued the matter at some length in a friendly way; but I felt sure that when we parted, the doctor did not understand himself, nor the character of his teaching. And I could not see how it would be possible for him to flop over, and in the course of a few days fix the books up so that it would be all right."
(Letter: A G Daniells to W C White. Oct 29. 1903 page 1.2.)
8. Did Sister White change her own understanding of the doctrines given at the beginning?
ANSWER: Speaking of herself in the third person, Ellen White wrote,
“I understood that some were anxious to
know if Mrs. White still held the same views that she did years ago when they
had heard her speak in the sanitarium grove, in the Tabernacle, and at the camp
meetings held in the suburbs of
“The greatness of [Yahuwah] is to us incomprehensible. '[Yahuwah]'s throne is in heaven' (Psalm 11:4); yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in, all the works of His hand.” (Education, page 132, 1903.)
LET US NOW CONSIDER THE OMEGA OF DEADLY HERESY
9. WHEN WOULD THE OMEGA HERESY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE SDA CHURCH ?
ANSWER: In a little while, shortly after the time of the Kellogg apostasy (shortly after 1904). Let us note that the Trinity was introduced into the Church in the 1920s by Leroy Froom.
“Living Temple contains the alpha of these theories. I knew that the omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people.” (Selected Messages bk.1, page 203)
10. WHAT WOULD BE THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE OMEGA HERESY?
ANSWER: The doctrine of Yahuwah. “Living Temple contains the alpha of these theories. I knew that the omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people. I knew that I must warn our brethren and sisters not to enter into controversy over the presence and personality of [Yahuwah]...” (Selected Messages bk.1, page 203)
11. WOULD IT BE RECEIVED?
ANSWER: It would be received by those who did not heed the warning.
“In the book Living Temple there is presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning [Yahuwah] has given.(Selected Messages bk.1, page 200)
12. WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULT OF THE CHURCH'S ACCEPTING THE OMEGA HERESY?
ANSWER: It would result in a change of our religion. This change consists of the rejection of the pioneer concept of Yahuwah and the acceptance of the Trinity.
“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 [Yahuwah] in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamentalprinciples 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. (Selected Messages bk.1, page 204)
13. HAS THE CURRENT SDA CHURCH ACCEPTED THE OMEGA OF DEADLY HERESY?
ANSWER: Yes. There has
been a change in the doctrine of the S. D. A. Church. The General
Conference of SDA church at
"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." (Ministry magazine of October 1993, page 10.)
“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: "Found wanting." By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.” {8T, p 247}.
“Of
those who boast of their light, and yet fail to walk in it, Christ says, 'but I
say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for
14. WHAT SHOULD BE THE ONLY SAFETY FOR TRUE AND HONEST SOULS IN THE SDA CHURCH AS OMEGA IS NOW FULFILLING RIGHT BEFORE THEM?
ANSWER: "Our holy faith cries out separation."- {ST, February 19, 1880 par. 1}
“As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of [Yahuwah], they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of [Yahuwah], and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of [Yahuwah]. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.” {DA, p 232}.
“You are exhorted to touch not the unclean thing; for in touching this, you will yourself become unclean. It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure”. {RH, January 2, 1900}.
“We have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people, "Unify, unify." But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils”. Manuscript 31, 1906. {3SM, p 412}.
“As in
the days of Noah and
Lot
, there must be a
marked separation from sin and sinners… There was a coming out, a decided (Dict: Decided :
clearly marked, distinct, vigorous and determined.) separation FROM the wicked, and escape for life. So it was in
the days of Noah, so with Lot; So with the disciples prior to the destruction
of
15. Has Ellen White ever prophesied that YAHUWAH's people just before the falling of the plagues will be called out of the SDA churches?
ANSWER: YES!
“One thing it is certain is soon to be realized, – the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until [Yahuwah] shall descend from heaven with a shout. . . . ”(Special Testimonies, Series B7, p. 57-8)
“I saw that [Yahuwah] has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that [Yahuwah] is with them.” {EW, p 261}.
"The most fearful news here is the prophecy that those who will reject the call to come out of the SDA churches and the fallen churches will experience an 'excitement', coming from Satan to deceive them into thinking that '[Yahuwah] is with them.
"I was shown the
necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new
errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings;
for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly
poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good.
If [Yahuwah] has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in
the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. [Yahuwah] is
displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go;
for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the
people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us,
and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by
him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes
contaminated with the darkness." {EW 124.3}
We have taken out from the original quotations (with the exception of some of the apostate quotations) all pagan names and titles of the Father and Son, and have replaced them with the original given names. Furthermore, we have restored in the Scriptures quoted the names of the Father and Son, as they were originally written by the inspired authors of the Bible. -WLC Team
