SDA Open Letter - The Pentecost Problem

This continues my open letter to SDA leaders in Vanuatu.

DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PENTECOST?

     

Having talked to many SDA's recently and in researching the writings of Ellen G White and other SDA material, it seems that there is one thing that seems lacking.  I will say that this is not a lack only restricted to the SDA church.  But the thing that I have noticed is that the third person of the Trinity is hardly mentioned – The Holy Spirit.  It is as if for some reason He does not exist?  I would appreciate it if you could clarify that for me.

But then I got to thinking more about it, and I thought about Pentecost.  Pentecost is known to Jewish people as Shauvot and occurs 50 days after the Passover.  The Jewish people record Seven Sabbaths (49 days) in the synagogues then add one day to get to Shauvot (Day of Pentecost). That day was therefore the first day of the week and as we would translate it – Sunday.  Pentecost incidentally means “50.”

So the Holy Spirit was sent by God to the Church on Sunday!  I would like to know whether the SDA church downplays the Holy Spirit because he arrived and the Apostles became baptized on a Sunday.  Furthermore, on that day, Sunday, 3,000 people were baptized.  The Church began on Sunday.  So does Pentecost create a problem for you?

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So the church started on Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, The arrival of the Holy Spirit occurred on Sunday. Yet I have heard that some SDAs are being taught that Jesus rose on the Sabbath, and have never heard them mention the Holy Spirit, except in official websites such as adventist.org.  

The Holy Spirit inspires us, empowers us and guides our understanding. The Spirit touches our hearts and transforms us, renewing the image of God in which we were created.

God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ's life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. (Gen. 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:11, 12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:7-13.)

, Frank M Hasel did write an interesting article that for the most part is accurate.  

However, stating on a website is one thing.  Understanding is another.  The SDAs have always struggled with the Doctrine regarding the Trinity.   It was only after 15 years following the death of EGW that the SDAs make a statement regarding it.  Prior to that (and despite the SDAs claim otherwise) the leadership was largely non-trinitarian.  I realise that this post is about the Holy Spirit, but here are three quotes from EGW regarding Christ.

1903: "The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty" (ms 150, SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 5, p. 1129)

1904: "To Christ had been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father" (Testimonies vol. 8, p. 268)

1905: Rev 10:6 "In swearing by the creator, the angel who is Christ, swore by himself" (ms 129; Bible Commentary vol. 7, p. 798)

Also, here are some changes made to scripture by the author of the Clear Word to propagate EGW's positions on the Adventist Jesus.

1 Ths 4:16 "When Christ descends from heaven, (adds) He as Michael the Archangel will give a shout…"

Rev 12:7 "…(adds) God’s Son Michael and the loyal angels fought against the dragon…"

Jude 9 "…(adds) the Lord Jesus Christ, also called Michael the Archangel…"

John 8:58 "…before Abraham was I AM" changed to "I existed before Abraham was born"

Col 1:16 "…By Him all things were created" changed to "…through him the Father created"

Col 1:15 "He is the firstborn over all creation" changed "He has the right to be placed over all creation"

Col 1:18 ".that in all things He might have pre-eminence" changed "…therefore He is worthy to be given first place."

Col 1:18 "He is the Beginning" changed to "He existed from the beginning"

Col 1:19 "The Father acknowledged Him as fully God, (adds) in spite of his human nature"

Heb 1:10 "You, O Yhwh, in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth…" is changed to "You existed before the beginning of time. You carried out our plan and created…"

Jn 20:28 "My Lord and My God" changed "Lord, you’re alive! They were right! I believe! You are the Son of God".

Acts 2:25 "I foresaw Yhwh always before my face" changed "I have seen the presence of God in all my life"

Tit 1:3,4; 3:4-6; 2:13; 2 Pet 1:1 Takes identity of ‘God’ from Jesus Christ, sometimes gives it to the Father!

John 10:30 "I and My Father are One" changed "I and my Father are so close we’re One"

Rev 3:14 "…the beginning (source) of the creation of God" changed to "who is in charge of God’s creation"

Rom 10:9,10 omits "that Jesus is LORD (Yhwh)"; "you shall be saved" changed: "you have the relation you need"

So the Father, Son and Holy Spirit may appear to casual observers as being One God, but underneath the covers, the SDAs still hold onto the concept of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as being three separate Gods.  The Clear Word is being used by many SDAs now.  Sooner or later, what is there will reintroduce the false teachings of Ellen G White.

Recall that EGW also downplays the significance of the Holy Spirit

The enemies of God's law, from the ministers down to the least among them, have a new conception of truth and duty. Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God. (Great Controversy, p.640).

But the bible says:

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Eph 1:13).

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30).

To be continued...