Defacing the Image of God in the Human Race
All Clues Point to Rome ‑ Part 1
All Clues Point to Rome ‑ Part 2
Page 2: An Enigma Among the Remnant
Page 3: To the Law and to the Testimony
Page 4: A Simplified Example
Principle 1: The Ten Commandments
Principle 2: The Firm Foundation of our Faith
Principle 4: The Origin of a Doctrine
Page 9: Words Of The Adventist Pioneers
Page 10: Pinpointing the Omega: Part 1
Page 11: Pinpointing the Omega: Part 2
Page 12: Epilogue
Page 4
By using the four eternal principles to prove a doctrine true or false, you can bypass all of man's guesswork, suppositions and opinions (minefield/quagmire). You don't have to be a theologian or Bible scholar to use these principles.
As stated earlier, you don't have to wade through a theological quagmire to prove or disprove anything related to our salvation. All you need to do is find enough facts about a given doctrine, teaching or philosophy that you can compare these facts to one or more of the four eternal principles. Anyone can use the principles if they will just devote a little time to find a few basics facts about the subject under question.
To give an example how these principles work, take a doctrine that has been introduced into the church in recent years, or perhaps a statement you heard from the pulpit, or any doctrine/philosophy you want to examine.
It makes no difference which one of the four principles you start your search with because if a teaching or philosophy fails the test with one, it will fail the test with all. Therefore, if the doctrine you are studying fails the test with just one principle, it is a false doctrine and you don't have to investigate any further. However, just make sure your investigation is thorough and accurate.
If you know some facts about a doctrine and how these facts relate to one of the four principles, start with that principle. Since principles 3 and 4 are dealing with the history of a doctrine, they are inseparable linked together. If you can find one, you can probably find the other, and in some cases it will be quicker and easer to start your search with one, or both of these.
In the following illustration, I will use all four principles, starting with principle 1.
Suppose you research a doctrine and find that by accepting this doctrine, it will cause you to violate one of the Ten Commandments as given in Exodus chapter 20, it needs to be rejected outright.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4 KJV)
Since the Seventh‑day Adventist people have been given the last message of truth to proclaim to the world, the last deceptions of Satan will be his most stealthy and seductive ever conceived. Therefore, if you are not able to tell if a teaching will cause you to violate one of the Ten Commandments, compare it to one of the other three principles to see if it is in harmony with the testimony. Again, it makes no difference which one of the three principles you start with, but let's use principle 2.
To use principle 2, all we need to do is compare a doctrine/teaching with what the Bible and Ellen White teaches about this subject, and in some cases it may be necessary to consult the pioneer writers for support and/or verification. This principle is usually a little more involved than the other three and it could take a little time to do the research, but with the electronic Bible tools that are now available, it is not difficult. If you do your research properly and earnestly pray for guidance, you will find the truth.
If you do not have a computer, most public libraries have computers plus Internet access you can use free of charge. If this is not an option, find yourself a good reference Bible and an exhaustive concordance. You will also need access to Mrs. White's major works, plus the four volume index.
WE ARE NOT TO RECEIVE THE WORDS OF THOSE WHO COME WITH A MESSAGE THAT CONTRADICTS THE SPECIAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH. They gather together a mass of scripture, and pile it as proof around their asserted theories. This has been done over and over again during the past fifty years... And while the Scriptures are God's word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application moves one pillar from the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake... (Selected Messages, Book 1, pg. 161.2, Ellen G. White)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18, 19)
While doing your research, you find that the doctrine under question is nowhere taught in the Bible and was rejected by Ellen White and the pioneers, it is certainly a false doctrine and needs to be rejected.
The principles explained in the following boxed area should be committed to memory.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOR EVER. (Isaiah 40:8)
For I am the Lord, I CHANGE NOT... (Malachi 3:6)
YE SHALL NOT ADD UNTO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH OUGHT FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)
THUS SAITH THE LORD, STAND YE IN THE WAYS, AND SEE, AND ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS, WHERE IS THE GOOD WAY, AND WALK THEREIN, AND YE SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. BUT THEY SAID, WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN. (Jeremiah 6:16)
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOR EVER... (1 Peter 1:25)
The Lord will not lead minds now to set aside the truth that the Holy Spirit has moved upon His servants [the Seventh‑day Adventist pioneers] in the past to proclaim. (Selected Messages Book 2 110.3)
BIBLE DOCTRINE THAT WAS TRUE YESTERDAY, (OR EVEN IN JESUS' DAY), IS JUST AS TRUE TODAY,
AND YESTERDAY'S FALSE DOCTRINES (OR FALSE IN 1915, THE YEAR ELLEN WHITE DIED), ARE JUST AS FALSE TODAY!
The pioneers were not infallible in all their interpretations, but if they studied a precept or doctrine, and if the Lord gave a revelation to Mrs. White that either confirmed or rejected their conclusion, it is absolute. It is concrete. There is no changing it. Don't allow anyone to convince you otherwise. This precept needs to be shouted from the housetops to every Seventh‑day Adventist.
There could be precepts/doctrines the pioneers did not study and Mrs. White was not given any light upon. Naturally, these are open for evaluation.
But the ones they studied and were either confirmed or rejected by the Spirit of the Lord through Ellen White are off limits for reevaluation, reversal or abrogation. How can you know which is which? Only by thoroughly studying the Bible and Mrs. White's writings.
In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. 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. (Last Day Events 72.1, Life Sketches 196.2, Ellen G. White) (1915)
In the above paragraph, the expression "His teaching in our past history" is just another way of saying "The Firm Foundation of our Faith." Notice the year this statement was published—the same year Ellen White died. Any attempt to alter established doctrine is invoking the death decree.
The New Covenant is primarily about better promises God has given His people. However, there is one tenet of the New Covenant that can be used to detect false doctrine.
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. FOR A TESTAMENT IS OF FORCE AFTER MEN ARE DEAD : otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (Hebrews 9:16-17 KJV)
The New Covenant went into effect the moment Jesus died in the spring of 31 AD—not a moment before, or a moment after. From that moment onward, no new doctrine can be added to the New Testament, and none of the doctrines that Jesus endorsed can be altered or deleted. Even the apostles had no authority to add new doctrine or to alter or abrogate the old. Any attempted additions or alterations after Jesus ratified the New Covenant are unscriptural; therefore, impossible.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. (Galatians 3:15 KJV)
Let's use Sunday worship for this example. Many Christians keep Sunday as a holy day in honor of Christ's resurrection. But since Jesus never mentioned a word about Sunday worship in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, and since His resurrection took place three days after He ratified the New Covenant by His death, Sunday worship came three days too late to be included in the New Covenant. Do you see how simple this can be?
If the only piece of evidence you have about a doctrine is that it was never taught in the Christian Church until 325 AD, you can start and end your search with principle 3: "The New Covenant."
It might take a little digging to find the historical facts surrounding a doctrine, but separating error from truth can be just this simple.
Principles 3 and 4 are somewhat like two sides of a coin, where you find one you will find the other. Principle 4 is similar to principle 3, but instead of finding when a doctrine was introduced into the church, principle 4 is investigating who introduced it.
Everything that originates from the Bible can be trusted. Conversely, nothing that originates form the Devil, or those he is controlling can be trusted—nothing.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: FOR HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF IT. (John 8:44)
Every so-called Bible doctrine that originates outside the Bible, just like a counterfeit, must be rejected. If you do your research and find that the doctrine under question came into the Christian Church via the Antichrist instead of the Bible, it is surely a counterfeit.
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? SO CAN NO FOUNTAIN BOTH YIELD SALT WATER AND FRESH. (James 3:12)
Since visiting your house Sabbath afternoon, August 23, some things have rested on my mind to say to you. I have no hesitancy in saying that Anna's visions are not of God. The dreams that the members of your family have had are a deception of Satan. Will the Lord give light through an impure, corrupt channel? NO. (15 Manuscript Release, pg. 12.2, Ellen G. White)
All false religions teach some truth. Even the First Church of Satan teaches some truth. Therefore, when researching the history of a doctrine, you may find that it was taught in paganism. But this, by itself, does not necessarily mean its origin is pagan. Its origin could have been the Bible and the pagan's borrowed it. Just don't make a mistake by cutting your investigation short.
There is one misconception that needs to be addressed in connection with all false doctrine. No false doctrine can ever be converted into the truth. But always keep in mind, false doctrine is always intermingled with the truth. Therefore, be careful not to trash any truth along with the false.
We read on page 2 how every wind of false doctrine will be blowing in the Seventh‑day Adventist Church. That time is not future. They are blowing in the church this very moment. Some of these un-Biblical teachings originated before Jesus ratified the New Covenant, and some after. Some of the false doctrines that are now being taught in the Seventh‑day Adventist Church originated with the Roman Catholic Church.
Adventist theologians claim their revisions of some Catholic doctrines are Scriptural because they have altered some objectionable features of them; thus, making them safe to accept. This can never be!
Our Creator is the Originator of all truth, and He has revealed the truth we need to know and understand in the Holy Bible. God is the One that has defined all truth. He is truth! Conversely, the Devil is the originator of all false doctrine, and God never works in co-partnership with His archenemy. He never uses false doctrine as a platform to build truth upon—never.
In Selected Messages Book 2, 56.1 (Quoted on page 2 of this site) Mrs. White stated "...No error is truth, OR CAN BE MADE TRUTH..." If a doctrine was false yesterday it is false today. If it was false in Ellen White's day, it is just as false today.
What the brethren apparently don't realize, that by removing or altering the objectionable features of a doctrine to make it safe, they have openly admitted that something was wrong with the original. If the original came from below, no amount of altering can make it come from above.
Not only that, but instead of making the error safe, they have actually made the error harder to detect; thus, making it more dangerous.
BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST. (Colossians 2:8)
You may not be able to find the information you need to confirm or refute a doctrine using one of these principles in a reasonable amount of time. If so, go to one of the others and see what you can find. All that is necessary to prove a doctrine true or false is for it to pass or fail the test with just one of the four principles.
When searching for information that pertains to a certain principle, quite often you will come across information or clues that apply to one of the other principles. When I research a subject I usually bounce back and forth from one principle to another, then back again. You do whatever works best for you. JUST MAKE SURE YOU ASSEMBLE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT AS TO THE CONCLUSION REACHED.
If you overlook something, it could be a very costly overlook. Therefore, even though one principle is all that is needed to prove or disprove a doctrine, to be absolutely sure, it is in your best interest to compare the doctrines/teachings to all four principles.
Also, just about every Bible doctrine has one or more unique Bible principle/s (theology) that pertains to it. When researching a doctrine, you may need to use some of these. In fact, you may even want to start your search with one of these.
Our Creator is the One who gave us "The Law and the Testimony;" therefore, it is absolute and as unchangeable as He is. Any philosophy or teaching that cannot be found in the Bible, even if it is true, can never become a Bible doctrine.
This has been a simplified explanation of how these principles/testimonies work, but on the next four pages I have expounded upon each principle with more Scripture and Ellen White statements.