Baptize in What Name?
There has been an increasing amount of discussion recently regarding the precise declaration to utter during one’s baptism. Do we baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as stated in Matthew 28:19, or in the “name of Jesus Christ” as in every example found in Scripture?
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 8:16 “For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 10:48 “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Romans 6:3 “Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” [Implied]
Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
As you can see, no one is following what Christ supposedly instructed. In every verse we find people baptized into the name of our Lord Jesus Christ only. So why the apparent disobedience of the apostles?
The following dictionary explains, “The historical riddle is not solved by Matthew 28:19, since, according to a wide scholarly consensus, it is not an authentic saying of Jesus, not even an elaboration of a Jesus-saying on baptism.” — (The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 1, 1992, p. 585). Further research revealed this to be the case as all Bible commentaries and dictionaries quoting on this issue claimed that it was added by the Church of Rome to support their Trinitarian formula. The quote below states the origin of this baptismal formula.
“The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the Catholic Church in the second century.” — (The Catholic Encyclopedia, II, p. 263)
It must be remembered that we have no known manuscripts that were written in the first, second or third centuries. There is a gap of over three hundred years between when Matthew wrote his epistle and our earliest manuscript copies. (It also took over three hundred years for the Catholic Church to evolve into what the “early church fathers” wanted it to become.) This is what further research revealed.
Eusebius (c. 260—c. 340) was the Bishop of Caesarea and is known as “the Father of Church History.” He wrote prolifically and his most celebrated work is his Ecclesiastical History, a history of the Church from the Apostolic period until his own time. Eusebius quotes many verses in his writings including Matthew 28:19 several times. But he never quotes it as it appears in modern Bibles. He always finishes the verse with the words “in my name.”
The following example comes from an unaltered book of Matthew that could have been the original or the first copy of the original. Thus Eusebius informs us of the actual words Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew 28:19 which were, “With one word and voice He said to His disciples: “Go, and make disciples of all nations in My Name, teaching them to observe all things whatsover I have commanded you,” — (Proof of the Gospel by Eusebius, Book III, ch 6, 132 (a), p. 152)
Eusebius was present at the council of Nicea and was involved in the debates over the Godhead. If the manuscripts he had in front of him read “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” he would never have quoted instead, “in my name.” So it appears that the earliest manuscripts read “in my name,” and the phrase was enlarged to reflect the orthodox position as Trinitarian influence spread.
So should Matthew 28:19 read “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” or “baptizing them in My name.” And based on your conclusion, should Colossians 2:12 therefore read “Buried with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in baptism, wherein also you are risen with them through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised them from the dead.” or “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12.
It cannot be conclusively proven if Matthew 28:19 has been altered by the Catholic Church. But Scripture certainly strongly indicates that baptism should be in the name of Christ as all examples reveal.
The reason we are baptized in the name of Christ is because we are baptized “into” Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of His death, burial and resurrection. Even if the trinity doctrine was true, only Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again. When we are baptized in the name of Christ we become Christians. Paul argued this point in 1 Corinthians 1:13 when he said, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” The obvious answer to this rhetorical question is, “No. You were baptized in the name of Christ because He was crucified for you.”
Consider also “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;” Mark 16:16. So whose name do we call on to be saved when we are baptized? “arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16. And what is the ONLY name under heaven that we can be saved? “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
I think most will agree that the weight of evidence is overwhelming that it should have read “in My name.”
The “in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost” of Matthew 28:19, together with the “ there three that bear witness in heaven, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, these three are one” of 1John 5:7,8 is a gloss.
Wednesday 19 July 2017
Wednesday 28 June 2017
Whichalendar does Yehovah use?
WHICH CALENDAR DOES YEHOVAH
USE?
One
question that does not fail to crop up in the fishers of men’s class and in
door to door evangelism is: “How do you know that the day you call Sabbath is
the seventh day? If I count from Monday my seventh day will be Sunday, so any
day can be seventh day depending when you start counting.” This question and
reasoning bothered the writer so much, that he embarked on a study and research
of the calendar in use. It is obvious that the seventh day is the seventh
according to the calendar being used, so the change or confusion in the
calendar rather than the days of the calendar will change the day of worship.
Our first task is to establish the authenticity of the calendar. When Yehovah said remember the seventh day to
keep it holy, was He using the present calendar? Didn’t the devil tamper with
the calendar? “He who controls the
calendar controls the world”, so says an ancient proverb.
The
calendar is an instrument for worship, so that the calendar you use is of the
God/god you worship. The devil says: “I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will
sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High”. Isa. 14:
13, 14. Paul says: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all
that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” The controversy has been and is about worship.
Who do you worship and how do you
worship and when do you worship? These three questions are critical now in the
time of the three angels’ messages, the first angel’s message says:” Fear God
and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him
that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters”. It is
not enough to worship, but you must worship the only God that deserves worship,
you must worship Him in the manner He has laid down and on the day He has appointed
according to His calendar.
Daniel
says:” And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall
wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and
they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of
time.” Dan. 7:25. What did the devil change? If someone wants to change time,
he can change the fixed time to a later or earlier time or he can change the
clock so that it shows a wrong time, either fast or slow. The devil could have
swapped the days or he changed the calendar and supplanted it with the wrong
calendar so that he is in control and according to the proverb, controls the
world without the world knowing; both tactics are up his street.
Let’s look at the history of the calendar: the
calendar we are using started as the, Romulus calendar, with ten months of
thirty days each, then the Numa calendar, then the Julian calendar, which had
eight day weeks. In 1 B C the eight day week was dropped and the seven day
planetary week was adopted. On this calendar Saturday was the first day of the
week followed by Sunday ending with Friday. This was the calendar in use at the
first advent of Christ. The Jews were
not using this calendar, as was later proved by William Miller. In 325 A D at
the council of Nicaea Constantine changed the calendar so as to divest it of
all Jewish influence. He also changed the sequence of days, making Sunday the
first day of the week, Saturday the last, and Friday the sixth day. Up until
then, the pagan Easter festival was celebrated at the same time as the Jewish
Passover, at the time fixed by the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. It was this
connection to Jewry that he wanted to server. This calendar was/is Solar based
whereas the Jewish one was Luna-Solar. In 1582 in order to re-align it with the
sun, pope Gregory dropped ten days from the calendar, and it was named after
him for that.
From this
brief history, which one can research further from a good library or internet,
it is clear that the calendar in use is not that of Yehovah. When Yehovah said
Remember the seventh day, did He give us a calendar to tell the seventh day?
What does the bible say? In Gen. 1:14, 16 we read: “And God said, Let there be
lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let
them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:” “And God made two
great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule
the night: he made the stars also.” These lights are for signs of the
end.” And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.”
Luk 21:25. On the 19 May 1780 the sun and moon were darkened unnaturally, and
on 13 November 1833 the stars fell, as fulfillment of their role as signs of
the end times. The word translated seasons is mowed in Hebrew, meaning
appointed time of assembly or worship. The
texts mean that these lights or one of these lights will tell worship times,
and also tell days and years. Something that tells what day and what year is a
calendar. These lights are Yehovah’s calendar in the sky, a good place to place
it, so that everyone has access to it. This is confirmed in Psa. 104:19 “He
appointed the moon for seasons (mowed-worship times): the sun
knoweth his going down.” Seasons are worship times, so the text may be read:”
He appointed the moon for worship times”; that is to tell worship times.
In Ezekiel 46:1 we are told: “Thus saith the
Lord GOD; the gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be
shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and in the
day of the new moon it shall be opened.” Yehovah’s calendar has three types of
days namely, working days, Sabbath and new moon day. If the calendar in use
does not have or cannot tell these three then it is a wrong calendar. The
Gregorian has two types of days, work days and holy days only. As the text says
the new moon day is treated as a Sabbath, it is a worship day and should be
observed as the Sabbath. With the Gregorian you cannot tell the new moon day,
it is possible only with the Creator’s calendar in the sky.
Isa. 66:23 speaking of worship in the new
heaven and new earth says:” And it shall come to pass, that from one new
moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to
worship before me, saith the LORD.” The redeemed will, worship on the new moon
day every month and on the Sabbath every week, as the holy ones are doing right
now. We have used this text to prove the perpetuity of the Sabbath, but ignore
new moon day, which is important to set the weekly Sabbath. Since the Sabbath
is coupled with the new moon day, ignoring this day or being unable to tell
this day makes it impossible to tell the Sabbath day. As the brief history
showed the Saturday seventh day is according to Constantine not according to
Yehovah. This places us in danger of worshipping that we know not, like the
Samaritans, and having our worship an abomination to Yehovah as the worship of
Israel was for forty years in the wilderness. In Amos we are told: “I hate, I
despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though
ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them:
neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.” Amos 5:21, 22.
He continues” Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the
wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? But ye have borne the tabernacle of
your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to
yourselves.” They were doing worship practices of Chiun for Yehovah. Who is
Chiun? Without going into much detail, it is Saturn, also known as Apis the
calf or Nimrod.
The birth,
life, death and resurrection of Yehoshua if studied carefully will approve or
disapprove many if not all our doctrines, beliefs and practices. Yehoshua was
crucified on the 14th Abib which was both preparation and Passover day.
He remained in the grave on the 15th, which was both unleavened
bread and Sabbath day. The question is what days of the Gregorian week were
these days? Sir Isaac Newton who wrote more on religion, than science went on a
quest to confirm the Friday crucifixion. He discovered that a Friday crucifixion
is impossible. Dismissing Julian years that did not align Friday with Abib 14,he
stated: “The years 31 and 35 are
excluded, because in them the Passion cannot fall on Friday, without making it
three days after the full moon, or four days before it: errors so enormous,
that they would be very conspicuous in the heavens to every vulgar eye.” Newton had earlier admitted his assumption: “I
take it for granted that the passion was on Friday the 14th day of Nisan, the
great feast of the Passover on Saturday the 15th day of Nisan, and the
resurrection on the day following.” For the same reason, Oswald Gerhardt
rejected A.D. 31 as the year of the crucifixion: “In 31 the 14 Nisan came
either on Wednesday, April 25, or on Thursday, April 26, but not on a Friday.”
Astronomer
Karl Schoch says: I now come to the year 31 A.D. when the new moon [astronomical
conjunction] for the Nisan new light came on April 10 . . . After 28 hours, on
the eve of April 11, at this time of the year, every new light is quite easily
seen in Jerusalem . . . 1 Nisan = April 12; 14 Nisan = April 25, Wednesday; 15
Nisan = April 26, Thursday.
From the
above emerge that, Yehoshua was crucified on the 14th Abib/Nisan A D
31, which was the sixth day of the week according to Yahovah’s calendar. It was
25 April A D 31, the fourth day or Wednesday, according to the Gregorian
calendar. This makes Thursday, of the Gregorian calendar, the Sabbath of that
week. This disapproves our belief and practice that Saturday is the seventh day
and Sabbath.
In
Revelation 12:1 we read:” And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman
clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars.” Revelation restores what was lost or destroyed in Genesis. In Genesis
1: 14 we are given Yahovah’s calendaring, which over the years was lost or
ignored. According to revelation, the church of the end will be guided in its
worship by the sun, moon and stars calendar of the Creator. In the light of
this sister White’s statement ,in Great Controversy page 451 assumes its full
meaning ; quote;” The work of Sabbath
reform to be accomplished in the last days is foretold in the prophecy
of Isaiah: "Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for My
salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the
man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth
the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil."
"The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone that keepeth the
Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; even them will I
bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer."
Isaiah 56:1, 2, 6, 7. {GC 451.1}. Sabbath
reform has yet to be accomplished in these times of the end; it was not yet
accomplished in her day. Isaiah says:” And they that shall be of thee
shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many
generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer
of paths to dwell in.” This is a prophecy about reform. Daniel says:” And he
said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary
be cleansed.” Dan. 8:14. The cleansing of the temple began in heaven at the end
of the prophetic period, a similar work began also on earth, that of cleansing
the church of all spurious doctrines and practices.
As a movement we were set up for Health
reform, education reform, worship reform and evangelism, if we falter in any of
these, Yehovah cannot use us. Isaiah says:” And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh
come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” If we worship on the Sabbath,
because as the text says we will still worship on the Sabbath in the new heaven
and earth, shouldn’t we be worshipping on the new moon day, which we will do in
eternity? The work of reform involves clearing and getting rid of some long
held errors. It is not an easy work; it was not easy in Nehemiah’s time: “And
Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is
much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10. This is a type of those who will rebuild true
worship; there are too many spurious and specious doctrines and practices to
unlearn. Sister White says we have many lessons to learn and many, many lessons
to unlearn.
This
article is to lead us to investigate our position as regards the Sabbath as
presently observed. Is it indeed the
seventh day God and the unfallen worlds are keeping? Are we joining all flesh in worshipping God on
the new moon and Sabbath now, as Isaiah says we will in the new heaven and new
earth, when all is restored?
May Yehovah
lead us to the truth about His Sabbath and His calendar, and give us the
courage to embrace that truth.
Elohiym
Bless you.
Matthew 28:19
Matthew 28:19
Matthew
28:19 says: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This text is
probably used more than any other verse in the Bible to try to prove that Elohim
is a triune being or trinity. This text is typically understood to mean that when an apostle
or minister baptizes someone, he is supposed to baptize them using the
formula “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
But what is the record of the apostles who directly heard Yehushua?
Acts
2:38 records the first time this command was carried out. Peter said, “Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus(Yehushua) Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Peter instructed
these people to be baptized in the name of Yehushua Christ rather than in
the names of three separate persons.
In Acts 10:48, Peter “commanded [Cornelius
and his brethren] to be baptized in the
name of the Lord.”
From these
verses it is plain that Peter didn’t understand Christ to have commanded him
to baptize into a Trinity. Peter
must have understood the command of Yehushua differently than most
Trinitarians
understand it today.
As we continue in the book of Acts, we find
that Peter was not alone in his understanding of this command. When
Peter and John came to Samaria they found a group of people who
had
been “baptized in the name of
the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16).”
Let
us also consider Paul, who claimed he received the gospel directly from Yehushua Christ. When he visited Ephesus and met some brethren who had only
been baptized with John’s baptism, he instructed them about Christ,
and the Bible says “when they heard this, they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5).”
There
is no record in the Bible of anyone baptizing in three separate names
of three individual persons. There are a few possibilities that could explain
why the disciples always baptized in the name of Yehushua:
1)
The disciples may have been in direct rebellion against Yehushua.
2)
They may have misunderstood what he said.
3)
Matthew 28:19 may be a gloss ( an added explanation or a margin). Perhaps Yehushua never gave this command.
4)
The disciples understood the command of Yehushua differently than most Trinitarians
understand it today.
We cannot accept any of the first three possibilities, but the
fourth statement offers a reasonable solution. Yehushua was not trying to teach
us that Elohim is a Trinity or he would have been contradicting other statements
he had made and many statements made by other Bible writers.
This
verse says nothing about Elohim being three persons. However, Ephesians 4:6
says that there is “One God (Elohim) and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all.”
The Bible uses the phrase “God (Elohim) the Father” thirteen times,
but it never says “God (Elohim) the Son” or “God (Elohim) the Holy Spirit.” To
literally baptize someone in the name of a person we must know the person’s
name. Yahweh (Yehovah or other similar spellings) is the personal name of the
Father. Jesus (Yehshua or some other similar spellings) is the personal name
of the Son, but the Scripture nowhere gives a name for the Holy Spirit.
The Bible does not even hint that such a name exists, so we can see that Yehushua
was not giving a specific formula of words for the preacher to recite at a baptism.
We know this first of all because all the recorded examples of people baptizing
after this command was given show that it was done in the name of Jesus (Yehushua)
and, secondly, because it would not be possible to literally baptize in the proper
name of the Holy Spirit because the Bible makes no mention of such a name.
The
word “name” in the Bible often refers to a person’s character. Jacob’s name
was changed to Israel because his character had changed. The word
“name” in Matthew 28:19 has reference to the character rather than the
proper names of individuals. Once we realize that Christ was commissioning
his
disciples to baptize into the character of the Father, of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, it is easier for us to understand his words. This command is
closely connected with the command to teach. Christ wants his disciples
to understand the truth about Elohim, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. All three
of these are vital in a Christian’s life. The Father loves us so much that he
gave his Son to die for our sins, and he gives his Spirit (Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him. Joh.14:23) , to guide us in our lives.
If a person lacks the knowledge and experience of any of these aspects, his
relationship with Elohim will suffer. This is why Christ specifically mentioned
all three. Elohim and His Son come in their nature which is
spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit is the Father and Son. In
Revelation Yehushua tells John to write letters to the seven churches,
then He says: "He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches." Rev.2:7. Please note Yehushua is the dictator of the
letters, it is He who is talking to the churches, meaning He is the
Spirit according to the text quoted above.
From
this we can see that Matthew 28:19 certainly does not prove a Trinity nor
does it prove that the Holy Spirit is a separate being from the Father and
his Son. If we are to find proof of these doctrines in the Bible, we must look
somewhere else. Interestingly, there is evidence that a portion of this
verse, like portions of 1 John 5:7, 8 is a gloss. What a blessing that even if
there are legitimate concerns about these verses they have not been distorted
so as to teach error.
Elohim Bless You !
THE DOCTRINE OF ELOHIM
THE DOCTRINE OF ELOHIYM
Sister White says: “We are not safe when we take a position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have settled as truth. We should take the Bible, and investigate it closely for ourselves. We should dig in the mine of God’s word for truth. “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” Some have asked me if I thought there was any more light for the people of God. Our minds have become so narrow that we do not seem to understand that the Lord has a mighty work to do for us. Increasing light is to shine upon us; for “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” CW 34
When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with suspicion and prejudice. We should never permit the spirit to be manifested that arraigned the priests and rulers against the Redeemer of the world. They complained that He disturbed the people, and they wished He would let them alone; for He caused perplexity and dissension. The Lord sends light to us to prove what manner of spirit we are of. We are not to deceive ourselves. GW 301
It is God’s (Elohiym’s) method. He designed our brains; He knows the best way to teach us. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little,” Isaiah 28: 9, 10. Perhaps our attitudes and beliefs are only established by varied repetition; perhaps it provides time for the Holy Spirit to impress the mind, but “here a little and there a little” is a method of Bible study that increases the probability of finding truth unmingled with error. Seventh-day Adventists have long advocated this way to teach difficult doctrines like the state of the dead and the Sabbath. However, we are much less inclined to allow this type of study to effectually establish truth when a subject is unfamiliar or unpopular. Then, we want a plain “thus saith the Lord” or Ellen G. White. We tend to demand a clear, single statement rather than the process of digging for truth as for hidden treasure scattered throughout text and time.
The life death and resurrection of Yehoshua approves or disapproves almost all our doctrines and practices; for example the state of the dead: when Yehoshua was resurrected on the first day of the week, He was met by Mary, who when she identified Him wanted to embrace Him, He said : “Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” Yehoshua had not gone to heaven at death as some teach, but remained in the grave, and for the period between the ninth hour of preparation day and the morning of the first day He said nothing of it, as He knew nothing as scripture says: “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything.” Ecc. 9:5. When Christ died, His spirit did not have a state of consciousness all of its own. That incident with Mary on resurrection morning confirms our belief on the state of the dead. If the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ is carefully studied, it will approve many of our beliefs and practices, and also disapprove many of our beliefs and practices. In this study we will look at the doctrine of Yehovah (God).
The doctrine of Yehovah: “ Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 409). The exchange between Mary and Yehoshua on resurrection morning sets the doctrine of Yehovah: Yehoshua says, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” This statement of Yehoshua establishes Yehovah as the Father and Elohiym (God) of Yehoshua. Yehoshua does not mention another to whom He had to appear first. This clearly establishes Yehovah as Elohiym and Yehoshua as His Son, making what is called the Godhead or Theotes, this term appears three times in the Bible, all of them in the New Testament only, in Ac. 17:29; Ro. 1:20 and Col.2:9; it does not appear in the Old Testament. What does the rest of the Bible say about the Theotes? In our study we shall proceed as Yehoshua did, when opening the scriptures to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27.
Moses establishes the plurality of the Theotes early:” And Elohiym said; Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:26. Clearly in this statement Elohiym is talking to another. The prophetess says: “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 (Elohiym), and the Word was God (Elohiym).” . . . Christ, the
Word, the only begotten of God (Elohiym), 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 (Elohiym)”. Please note what the prophetess says: Elohiym had an associate, not associates, a co-worker not co-workers, and that this associate is the only being that could enter in all the counsels and purposes of Elohiym, clearly this makes Elohiym and His associate/ co-worker the only beings of the Theotes. Before the world was, the Bible says of the Theotes: “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth, When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” Prov. 8:22-30. These texts refer to a single being, who was with Elohiym before creation, if there were another wouldn’t it be in the plural e.g. instead of “I was set up from everlasting” but” we were set up from everlasting.” The scripture refers to Yehovah and His associate/ co-worker, single, who is the Word, the Elohiym, Yehoshua His Son. In Zechariah 6:12-13 we are told:” And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD(YAHWEH) of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD( YAHWEH). Even he shall build the temple of the LORD (YAHWEH); and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” This man called the Branch is a priest-king, just like Melchizedek King of Salem and Priest of the Most High Elohiym. Jeremiah says: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD( YAHWEH), that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD (YAHWEH) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jer. 23:5-6. Zechariah says the counsel of peace shall be between them both. The word translated both is shenayim in Hebrew, meaning two. That is Yehovah and Yehoshua; Elohiym and the Associate/ Co-worker; Yehovah and the Branch; Yehovah and the Priest-King, after the order of Melchizedek. In the work of creation it was Yehovah and His associate, only two. In the work of redemption it was/is Yehovah and the Branch, the Priest –King who is THE LORD (YEHOVAH) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, the Word of Elohiym, and the Son of Elohiym, Yehoshua; only two. If there were a third he would have been mentioned as taking part in creation and the counsel of peace, apparently the third one was
neither an associate /co-worker of Yehovah at creation nor a part to the counsel of peace, therefore cannot be co-eternal and co-equal with Elohiym and Yehoshua. Elohiym speaking to the children of Israel assembled at the foot of mountain of Sinai says: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Note before me not plural.
Moses says:” Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YEHOVAH) our God (Elohiym) is one LORD (YEHOVAH):” Duet. 6:4.that the Father is the only Elohiym (God) is confirmed by Yehoshua:” And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohiym (God), and Yehoshua Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Joh. 17:3. Speaking of His relationship with Elohiym, He says:” I and my Father are one.” Joh 10:30. If there were a third, He would have mentioned him, as being one with Him and the Father. He mentions only Himself and Yehovah; if there were a third He would have mentioned Him, that He did not, does not mean He forgot, but there is no third one. Eternal life is knowing the only true Elohiym (God) and Yehoshua, the only two who have been together since eternity past, if there were a third, eternal life will also be knowing him. Yehoshua is the sent/ angel of Elohiym (God), the Angel of Elohiym of the Old Testament, who accompanied and guided the Israelites on the exodus. In the camp of Israel there was the Father in the holy of holies, and the Angel over the camp, as the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, throughout the wanderings they remained with Israel:” In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Isa. 63:9. If there were a third it is clear that he is not co-equal with Yehovah and Yehoshua nor is he co-eternal, for he is not mentioned as defining eternal life, nor is he mentioned as being with Yehovah from eternity past, as the Branch, who is Yehoshua is mentioned.
So far we have heard the testimony of Moses and the prophets and Yehoshua (Christ) Himself; we will proceed to hear the testimony of the apostles. Paul says: “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.” Note he does not say one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit but one God, the Father only. Paul also says there is one Lord Jesus Christ, whereas the trinity doctrine states that: “the Father is Lord: the Son is Lord: the Holy Spirit is Lord” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Student’s Source Book, p. 299).” He continues: “For there is one God (Elohiym), and one mediator between God (Elohiym) and men, the man Christ Jesus Yehoshua).” 1Tim. 2:5. Here are seen two distinct beings, there is one God who is the Father and one Mediator, the one Lord Yehoshua the Christ between the one God the Father and man. “Blessed be God (Elohiym), even the Father of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God (Elohiym) of all comfort.” 2Co.1:3 “Now our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ himself, and God (Elohiym), even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.” 2The. 2:16. “That the God (Elohiym), of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” Eph. 1:17. “Blessed be the God (Elohiym) and Father of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Eph. 1:3. In these texts and many others Paul addresses the Father and Christ, the Father being Elohiym and Christ the Son; this is in agreement with Moses, the prophets and Yehoshua.
James says: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19).” James says we do well to believe “that there is one God.” In his salutation he says: “James, a servant of God (Elohiym) and of the Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1, this greeting of James’s, mentions the Father and Son only, no mention of the third. Peter in like manner says:” Elect according to the foreknowledge of God ( Elohiym) the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God (Elohiym) and Father of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ from the dead.” 1Pt. 1:2,3. He continues:” Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God (Elohiym) by Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ.” 1Pt. 4:14. “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God (Elohiym) and our Saviour Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God Elohiym), and of Jesus (Yehoshua) our Lord.” 2Pt 1:1,2. Peter addresses himself as a servant and an apostle of Yehoshua and Yehovah the Father of Yehoshua. He says Grace and peace be multiplied through the Knowledge of Yehovah and Yehoshua; the knowledge of Yehovah and Yehoshua is enough to give one grace and peace that leads to salvation. Peter mentions the Spirit, some will say this proves the third member of Theotes, John says:” And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” Yahushua says: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” In 1 John 4:12 we are told: “No man hath seen God (Elohiym) at any time. If we love one another, God (Elohiym) dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” The Father has given us His Spirit, the Spirit is the Father and the Son, living in us. The beloved apostle John continues in the same vein: “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 (Yehoshua) Christ. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God (Elohiym) is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1John 1:3, 5-7. Clearly this passage says our fellowship is with the Father and the Son. He continues: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus (Yehoshua) is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.” If we deny that there is only the Father and the Son and add a third, we are liars and antichrist. “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he
that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 1 John 1:22-24. We have heard from the beginning that there was Elohiym and His Son only.” In this was manifested the love of God (Elohiym) toward us, because that God (Elohiym) sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” 1John 4:9. God (Elohiym) is the source of everything, man’s redemption could not be accomplished by any creature but by Him who in nature was God (Elohiym), and scripture says, He is the only begotten Son of God, so if there is a third who is in the nature of God, i.e. co-eternal with God and co-equal with God, he must be begotten of God, making the statement, only begotten of God, false: “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;” Ro. 3:4. So God is true, there is no other begotten of Him except His Son, Yehoshua the Messiah.
Jude says of himself: “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God (Elohiym) the Father, and preserved in Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ.” Jude 1:1. He continues giving a warning:” Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God (Elohiym) into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God(Elohiym), and our Lord Jesus(Yehoshua) Christ. Jude 1:3,4. He advises us: Keep yourselves in the love of God (Elohiym), looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ unto eternal life.” Jude: 21. Jude is warning us that specious doctrines will creep into the church unawares; this calls us to be vigilant in prayer and study of the word. Tertullian is the first to teach the doctrine of the trinity in the fourth century, this period coincides with the church period of Pergamos, to which Christ wrote:” I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” What Yahushua is saying is that Satan has entered the church of Pergamos; could it be by the doctrine of the trinity, which clearly is not supported by scripture?
The last word comes from John on the Island of Patmos: he sees the new heaven and new earth, and the New Jerusalem and God (Elohiym) taking residence among His people: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God (Elohiym) out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God (Elohiym).” God (Elohiym) dwells with His people, He (singular) is their God (Elohiym) and they (plural) people will be His people.
John is further carried away and shown the New Jerusalem, he proceeds to describe its beauty, and he notices there is no temple:” And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God (Yehovah Elohiym) Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Rev.
21:22. God (Elohiym) and the Lamb (Yehoshua) are the temple of it. He continues:” And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God (Yehovah) did lighten it, and the Lamb (Yehoshua) is the light thereof.” Rev. 21:23. “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God (Elohiym) and of the Lamb (Yehoshua). And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God (Elohiym) and of the Lamb (Yehoshua) shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:” Rev.22:1, 2. In the new heaven and new earth and in the New Jerusalem after sin has been eradicated, there will be God (Elohiym) and the Lamb (Yehoshua) being the temple, light, source of life and rulers of them, which means in eternity future as in eternity past there will be just two, God (Elohiym) the Father and the Son (Yehoshua).
From this study emerges that the Godhead (Theotes), is composed of one God (Elohiym) the Father, one Being with the tittle God (Elohiym): Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YEHOVAH) our God (Elohiym) is one LORD (YEHOVAH), and the Son who is also the Angel of YEHOVAH (LORD), the Branch and the Priest-King, who with the Father YEHOVAH make up the counsel of peace : and the counsel of peace shall be between them both(shenayim-two). Zec.6:13. In the new heaven and earth there will be YEHOVAH and the Lamb (Yehoshua), only two.
If we support the Trinity doctrine or tritheism, we shall be out of harmony with the Bible as demonstrated in this article .One of the most basic truths of the Bible is the truth that there is one supreme Being. Jesus taught us to address this being as “Our Father.” Because this truth is so basic to the Scriptures and to the plan of salvation (John 17:3), Satan has sought to counterfeit it with the Trinitarian doctrine that produces a position for himself in the counsel of God. This he did in the fourth century, during the church period of Pergamos, to which Christ wrote: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”
As a summary in Zechariah we are told: “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zechariah 6:12, 13). The “man whose name is The BRANCH” is acknowledged by all Bible students, including Trinitarians as the Son of God. Of interest is the word “both” in verse 13. It is the Hebrew plural for exactly two! Thus, the picture portrayed in Zechariah is that of two Beings: God and his Son. This concept is taught by Paul and the other writers of the New Testament epistles. It is at the beginning of nearly every book of the New Testament, for example: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia (2 Corinthians 1:1).
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:3).
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:2).
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
(Colossians 1:1, 2).
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting (James 1:1).
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love (2 John 3).
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called (Jude 1).
The Father who is God is mentioned with the Son who is the Lord, only two no third one.
The prophetess says:” God does not compel men to give up their unbelief. Before them are light and darkness, truth and error. It is for them to decide which they will accept. The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men shall not decide from impulse, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture. Had the Jews laid by their prejudice and compared written prophecy with the facts characterizing the life of Jesus, they would have perceived a beautiful harmony between the prophecies and their fulfillment in the life and ministry of the lowly Galilean. {DA 458.3}. She continues: Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence. God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe. {CCh. 93:4}
Shall we ignore this cloud of witnesses and evidences and believe one statement, which we might be misunderstanding? Brothers and sisters, from the weight of evidence in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, there is no trinity. In these last days we are called to worship God who made heaven and earth the sea and fountains of waters, which clearly is a work of worship reform, entailing our fundamental beliefs. Christ says: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”
Matt.24:15-18. The abomination of desolation is something that does not belong to the Holy place. Could it be the trinity now taught and preached from our pulpits since 1980 after creeping in unnoticed since 1950? It was not part of our foundation beliefs laid down with the guidance of the Holy Spirit between 1844 and 1850.
The prophetess says:” It is the duty of ministers to respect the judgment of their brethren; but their relations to one another, as well as the doctrines they teach, should be brought to the test of the law and the testimony; then, if hearts are teachable, there will be no divisions among us. Some are inclined to be disorderly, and are drifting away from the great landmarks of the faith; but God is moving upon His ministers to be one in doctrine and in spirit. {CET 203.1} It is necessary that our unity today be of a character that will bear the test of trial. . . . We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and Heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed.” {CET 203.2}. Let us pray for learning and teachable spirit, for it is the word that sanctifies us; and ask for the spirit of discernment to distinguish truth from error.
Elohiym bless you!
Sister White says: “We are not safe when we take a position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have settled as truth. We should take the Bible, and investigate it closely for ourselves. We should dig in the mine of God’s word for truth. “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” Some have asked me if I thought there was any more light for the people of God. Our minds have become so narrow that we do not seem to understand that the Lord has a mighty work to do for us. Increasing light is to shine upon us; for “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” CW 34
When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with suspicion and prejudice. We should never permit the spirit to be manifested that arraigned the priests and rulers against the Redeemer of the world. They complained that He disturbed the people, and they wished He would let them alone; for He caused perplexity and dissension. The Lord sends light to us to prove what manner of spirit we are of. We are not to deceive ourselves. GW 301
It is God’s (Elohiym’s) method. He designed our brains; He knows the best way to teach us. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little,” Isaiah 28: 9, 10. Perhaps our attitudes and beliefs are only established by varied repetition; perhaps it provides time for the Holy Spirit to impress the mind, but “here a little and there a little” is a method of Bible study that increases the probability of finding truth unmingled with error. Seventh-day Adventists have long advocated this way to teach difficult doctrines like the state of the dead and the Sabbath. However, we are much less inclined to allow this type of study to effectually establish truth when a subject is unfamiliar or unpopular. Then, we want a plain “thus saith the Lord” or Ellen G. White. We tend to demand a clear, single statement rather than the process of digging for truth as for hidden treasure scattered throughout text and time.
The life death and resurrection of Yehoshua approves or disapproves almost all our doctrines and practices; for example the state of the dead: when Yehoshua was resurrected on the first day of the week, He was met by Mary, who when she identified Him wanted to embrace Him, He said : “Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” Yehoshua had not gone to heaven at death as some teach, but remained in the grave, and for the period between the ninth hour of preparation day and the morning of the first day He said nothing of it, as He knew nothing as scripture says: “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything.” Ecc. 9:5. When Christ died, His spirit did not have a state of consciousness all of its own. That incident with Mary on resurrection morning confirms our belief on the state of the dead. If the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ is carefully studied, it will approve many of our beliefs and practices, and also disapprove many of our beliefs and practices. In this study we will look at the doctrine of Yehovah (God).
The doctrine of Yehovah: “ Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 409). The exchange between Mary and Yehoshua on resurrection morning sets the doctrine of Yehovah: Yehoshua says, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” This statement of Yehoshua establishes Yehovah as the Father and Elohiym (God) of Yehoshua. Yehoshua does not mention another to whom He had to appear first. This clearly establishes Yehovah as Elohiym and Yehoshua as His Son, making what is called the Godhead or Theotes, this term appears three times in the Bible, all of them in the New Testament only, in Ac. 17:29; Ro. 1:20 and Col.2:9; it does not appear in the Old Testament. What does the rest of the Bible say about the Theotes? In our study we shall proceed as Yehoshua did, when opening the scriptures to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27.
Moses establishes the plurality of the Theotes early:” And Elohiym said; Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:26. Clearly in this statement Elohiym is talking to another. The prophetess says: “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 (Elohiym), and the Word was God (Elohiym).” . . . Christ, the
Word, the only begotten of God (Elohiym), 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 (Elohiym)”. Please note what the prophetess says: Elohiym had an associate, not associates, a co-worker not co-workers, and that this associate is the only being that could enter in all the counsels and purposes of Elohiym, clearly this makes Elohiym and His associate/ co-worker the only beings of the Theotes. Before the world was, the Bible says of the Theotes: “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth, When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” Prov. 8:22-30. These texts refer to a single being, who was with Elohiym before creation, if there were another wouldn’t it be in the plural e.g. instead of “I was set up from everlasting” but” we were set up from everlasting.” The scripture refers to Yehovah and His associate/ co-worker, single, who is the Word, the Elohiym, Yehoshua His Son. In Zechariah 6:12-13 we are told:” And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD(YAHWEH) of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD( YAHWEH). Even he shall build the temple of the LORD (YAHWEH); and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” This man called the Branch is a priest-king, just like Melchizedek King of Salem and Priest of the Most High Elohiym. Jeremiah says: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD( YAHWEH), that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD (YAHWEH) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jer. 23:5-6. Zechariah says the counsel of peace shall be between them both. The word translated both is shenayim in Hebrew, meaning two. That is Yehovah and Yehoshua; Elohiym and the Associate/ Co-worker; Yehovah and the Branch; Yehovah and the Priest-King, after the order of Melchizedek. In the work of creation it was Yehovah and His associate, only two. In the work of redemption it was/is Yehovah and the Branch, the Priest –King who is THE LORD (YEHOVAH) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, the Word of Elohiym, and the Son of Elohiym, Yehoshua; only two. If there were a third he would have been mentioned as taking part in creation and the counsel of peace, apparently the third one was
neither an associate /co-worker of Yehovah at creation nor a part to the counsel of peace, therefore cannot be co-eternal and co-equal with Elohiym and Yehoshua. Elohiym speaking to the children of Israel assembled at the foot of mountain of Sinai says: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Note before me not plural.
Moses says:” Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YEHOVAH) our God (Elohiym) is one LORD (YEHOVAH):” Duet. 6:4.that the Father is the only Elohiym (God) is confirmed by Yehoshua:” And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohiym (God), and Yehoshua Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Joh. 17:3. Speaking of His relationship with Elohiym, He says:” I and my Father are one.” Joh 10:30. If there were a third, He would have mentioned him, as being one with Him and the Father. He mentions only Himself and Yehovah; if there were a third He would have mentioned Him, that He did not, does not mean He forgot, but there is no third one. Eternal life is knowing the only true Elohiym (God) and Yehoshua, the only two who have been together since eternity past, if there were a third, eternal life will also be knowing him. Yehoshua is the sent/ angel of Elohiym (God), the Angel of Elohiym of the Old Testament, who accompanied and guided the Israelites on the exodus. In the camp of Israel there was the Father in the holy of holies, and the Angel over the camp, as the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, throughout the wanderings they remained with Israel:” In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Isa. 63:9. If there were a third it is clear that he is not co-equal with Yehovah and Yehoshua nor is he co-eternal, for he is not mentioned as defining eternal life, nor is he mentioned as being with Yehovah from eternity past, as the Branch, who is Yehoshua is mentioned.
So far we have heard the testimony of Moses and the prophets and Yehoshua (Christ) Himself; we will proceed to hear the testimony of the apostles. Paul says: “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.” Note he does not say one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit but one God, the Father only. Paul also says there is one Lord Jesus Christ, whereas the trinity doctrine states that: “the Father is Lord: the Son is Lord: the Holy Spirit is Lord” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Student’s Source Book, p. 299).” He continues: “For there is one God (Elohiym), and one mediator between God (Elohiym) and men, the man Christ Jesus Yehoshua).” 1Tim. 2:5. Here are seen two distinct beings, there is one God who is the Father and one Mediator, the one Lord Yehoshua the Christ between the one God the Father and man. “Blessed be God (Elohiym), even the Father of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God (Elohiym) of all comfort.” 2Co.1:3 “Now our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ himself, and God (Elohiym), even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.” 2The. 2:16. “That the God (Elohiym), of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” Eph. 1:17. “Blessed be the God (Elohiym) and Father of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Eph. 1:3. In these texts and many others Paul addresses the Father and Christ, the Father being Elohiym and Christ the Son; this is in agreement with Moses, the prophets and Yehoshua.
James says: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19).” James says we do well to believe “that there is one God.” In his salutation he says: “James, a servant of God (Elohiym) and of the Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1, this greeting of James’s, mentions the Father and Son only, no mention of the third. Peter in like manner says:” Elect according to the foreknowledge of God ( Elohiym) the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God (Elohiym) and Father of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ from the dead.” 1Pt. 1:2,3. He continues:” Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God (Elohiym) by Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ.” 1Pt. 4:14. “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God (Elohiym) and our Saviour Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God Elohiym), and of Jesus (Yehoshua) our Lord.” 2Pt 1:1,2. Peter addresses himself as a servant and an apostle of Yehoshua and Yehovah the Father of Yehoshua. He says Grace and peace be multiplied through the Knowledge of Yehovah and Yehoshua; the knowledge of Yehovah and Yehoshua is enough to give one grace and peace that leads to salvation. Peter mentions the Spirit, some will say this proves the third member of Theotes, John says:” And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” Yahushua says: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” In 1 John 4:12 we are told: “No man hath seen God (Elohiym) at any time. If we love one another, God (Elohiym) dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” The Father has given us His Spirit, the Spirit is the Father and the Son, living in us. The beloved apostle John continues in the same vein: “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 (Yehoshua) Christ. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God (Elohiym) is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1John 1:3, 5-7. Clearly this passage says our fellowship is with the Father and the Son. He continues: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus (Yehoshua) is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.” If we deny that there is only the Father and the Son and add a third, we are liars and antichrist. “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he
that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 1 John 1:22-24. We have heard from the beginning that there was Elohiym and His Son only.” In this was manifested the love of God (Elohiym) toward us, because that God (Elohiym) sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” 1John 4:9. God (Elohiym) is the source of everything, man’s redemption could not be accomplished by any creature but by Him who in nature was God (Elohiym), and scripture says, He is the only begotten Son of God, so if there is a third who is in the nature of God, i.e. co-eternal with God and co-equal with God, he must be begotten of God, making the statement, only begotten of God, false: “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;” Ro. 3:4. So God is true, there is no other begotten of Him except His Son, Yehoshua the Messiah.
Jude says of himself: “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God (Elohiym) the Father, and preserved in Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ.” Jude 1:1. He continues giving a warning:” Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God (Elohiym) into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God(Elohiym), and our Lord Jesus(Yehoshua) Christ. Jude 1:3,4. He advises us: Keep yourselves in the love of God (Elohiym), looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus (Yehoshua) Christ unto eternal life.” Jude: 21. Jude is warning us that specious doctrines will creep into the church unawares; this calls us to be vigilant in prayer and study of the word. Tertullian is the first to teach the doctrine of the trinity in the fourth century, this period coincides with the church period of Pergamos, to which Christ wrote:” I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” What Yahushua is saying is that Satan has entered the church of Pergamos; could it be by the doctrine of the trinity, which clearly is not supported by scripture?
The last word comes from John on the Island of Patmos: he sees the new heaven and new earth, and the New Jerusalem and God (Elohiym) taking residence among His people: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God (Elohiym) out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God (Elohiym).” God (Elohiym) dwells with His people, He (singular) is their God (Elohiym) and they (plural) people will be His people.
John is further carried away and shown the New Jerusalem, he proceeds to describe its beauty, and he notices there is no temple:” And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God (Yehovah Elohiym) Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Rev.
21:22. God (Elohiym) and the Lamb (Yehoshua) are the temple of it. He continues:” And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God (Yehovah) did lighten it, and the Lamb (Yehoshua) is the light thereof.” Rev. 21:23. “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God (Elohiym) and of the Lamb (Yehoshua). And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God (Elohiym) and of the Lamb (Yehoshua) shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:” Rev.22:1, 2. In the new heaven and new earth and in the New Jerusalem after sin has been eradicated, there will be God (Elohiym) and the Lamb (Yehoshua) being the temple, light, source of life and rulers of them, which means in eternity future as in eternity past there will be just two, God (Elohiym) the Father and the Son (Yehoshua).
From this study emerges that the Godhead (Theotes), is composed of one God (Elohiym) the Father, one Being with the tittle God (Elohiym): Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YEHOVAH) our God (Elohiym) is one LORD (YEHOVAH), and the Son who is also the Angel of YEHOVAH (LORD), the Branch and the Priest-King, who with the Father YEHOVAH make up the counsel of peace : and the counsel of peace shall be between them both(shenayim-two). Zec.6:13. In the new heaven and earth there will be YEHOVAH and the Lamb (Yehoshua), only two.
If we support the Trinity doctrine or tritheism, we shall be out of harmony with the Bible as demonstrated in this article .One of the most basic truths of the Bible is the truth that there is one supreme Being. Jesus taught us to address this being as “Our Father.” Because this truth is so basic to the Scriptures and to the plan of salvation (John 17:3), Satan has sought to counterfeit it with the Trinitarian doctrine that produces a position for himself in the counsel of God. This he did in the fourth century, during the church period of Pergamos, to which Christ wrote: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”
As a summary in Zechariah we are told: “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zechariah 6:12, 13). The “man whose name is The BRANCH” is acknowledged by all Bible students, including Trinitarians as the Son of God. Of interest is the word “both” in verse 13. It is the Hebrew plural for exactly two! Thus, the picture portrayed in Zechariah is that of two Beings: God and his Son. This concept is taught by Paul and the other writers of the New Testament epistles. It is at the beginning of nearly every book of the New Testament, for example: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia (2 Corinthians 1:1).
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:3).
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:2).
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
(Colossians 1:1, 2).
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting (James 1:1).
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love (2 John 3).
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called (Jude 1).
The Father who is God is mentioned with the Son who is the Lord, only two no third one.
The prophetess says:” God does not compel men to give up their unbelief. Before them are light and darkness, truth and error. It is for them to decide which they will accept. The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men shall not decide from impulse, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture. Had the Jews laid by their prejudice and compared written prophecy with the facts characterizing the life of Jesus, they would have perceived a beautiful harmony between the prophecies and their fulfillment in the life and ministry of the lowly Galilean. {DA 458.3}. She continues: Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence. God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe. {CCh. 93:4}
Shall we ignore this cloud of witnesses and evidences and believe one statement, which we might be misunderstanding? Brothers and sisters, from the weight of evidence in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, there is no trinity. In these last days we are called to worship God who made heaven and earth the sea and fountains of waters, which clearly is a work of worship reform, entailing our fundamental beliefs. Christ says: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”
Matt.24:15-18. The abomination of desolation is something that does not belong to the Holy place. Could it be the trinity now taught and preached from our pulpits since 1980 after creeping in unnoticed since 1950? It was not part of our foundation beliefs laid down with the guidance of the Holy Spirit between 1844 and 1850.
The prophetess says:” It is the duty of ministers to respect the judgment of their brethren; but their relations to one another, as well as the doctrines they teach, should be brought to the test of the law and the testimony; then, if hearts are teachable, there will be no divisions among us. Some are inclined to be disorderly, and are drifting away from the great landmarks of the faith; but God is moving upon His ministers to be one in doctrine and in spirit. {CET 203.1} It is necessary that our unity today be of a character that will bear the test of trial. . . . We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and Heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed.” {CET 203.2}. Let us pray for learning and teachable spirit, for it is the word that sanctifies us; and ask for the spirit of discernment to distinguish truth from error.
Elohiym bless you!
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