LeRoy Froom and his Book Evangelism Exposed

The Deception of LeRoy Froom and his Book Evangelism

The deceived who try and convince us that Ellen White changed also have agree that God lied to her and His remnant for many decades. No one in their right mind would dare make such a claim! New light CANNOT contradict old light or the old light was a LIE from God. A change from non-Trinitarian to Trinitarian is a total backflip and can NEVER be called progressive truth.

Sadly, Froom eventually managed to convince the Seventh day Adventist Church with these misunderstood quotes that Ellen White had become a Trinitarian. But he had to wait until the death of Ellen White and all the pioneers as he could never have achieved this change while they were still alive.

The deception of Froom was so successful that most believe that the quotes called “EV” or “Evangelism” are from a book written by Ellen White. But these quotes were compiled by Froom with help in 1946, which was 30 years after the death of Ellen White. Note that the headings, subheadings and bolded texts before the quotes in his book are NOT her words, and some included the word “Trinity” which she never wrote!

These quotes are typically called EV 615-EV 617 or Evangelism 615-617.

Ellen White actually taught that the “Holy Spirit” is the “Spirit of God” coming to us through His Son, and hence she frequently wrote the Holy Spirit is the “SPIRIT OF CHRIST.” For example, “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894)

But many today are so indoctrinated with a Trinitarian mindset, that they mistakenly believe that the quotes Froom compiled and put in one place imply the Holy Spirit is a third being.

But Ellen White was referring to the “SPIRIT OF CHRIST,” not a third being.

So is the Holy Spirit a Third Being or the Spirit of Christ?

The Trinity doctrine claims the Holy Spirit is a third being, while SOP teaches that the Holy Spirit is the mind, power and personal presence of the very life of God that the Father sends through His Son to us. Or to put it another way to make sure this is clear. The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of the Father manifested through Jesus Christ His only begotten son. And hence Ellen Whites states many times that the “The Holy Spirit is the SPIRIT of CHRIST,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3)

With this in mind, answer each of the following and you will have the correct answer to this question many times over.

 

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We know the Comforter is the Holy Spirit. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“This refers to the omnipresence of the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, called the COMFORTER.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 179.2)
“As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving JESUS THE COMFORTER.” — (E.G. White, 19MR 297.3)

 

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We know the SPIRIT OF TRUTH is the Holy Spirit. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“JESUS comes to you as the SPIRIT OF TRUTH;” — (E.G. White, 2MR 337.1)
“We cannot be with CHRIST in person, as were His first disciples, but He has sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH, and through this power we too can bear witness for the Saviour. [John 16:13 quoted]” — (E.G. White, Ms30, June 18, 1900)

 

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We know the Holy Spirit is sent to REPRESENT Christ. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“CHRIST has left HIS HOLY SPIRIT to be HIS REPRESENTATIVE in the world,” — (E.G. White, Lt84, October 22, 1895)
“The Holy Spirit is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST; it is HIS REPRESENTATIVE.” — (E.G. White, 13MR 313.3, 1895)

 

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We know the Holy Spirit was breathed on the disciples. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it was the Spirit of Christ?

“He [Christ] breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ... Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, CHRIST breathed HIS SPIRIT upon them.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 805)

 

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We know the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it was the Spirit of Christ?

“CHRIST declared that the divine influence of HIS SPIRIT was to be with His followers UNTO THE END. From the DAY OF PENTECOST to the present time, the COMFORTER has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service.” — (E.G. White, AA, 49.2)

 

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We know SOP calls the Holy Spirit a person. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“Remember the words of CHRIST, remember that HE is an unseen presence in the PERSON of the Holy Spirit,” — (E.G. White, DG, 185.2, 1897)

 

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We know the Holy Spirit is the third person. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909)
“We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894)

 

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We know SOP says “SIN could be resisted and overcome ONLY through the mighty agency of the THIRD PERSON of the Godhead,” — (E.G. White, DA, 671.2). So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“There is no power in you apart from CHRIST, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and HE can OVERCOME SIN in you, when you cooperate with His efforts.” — (E.G. White, OHC, 76.5)
“With HIS SPIRIT CHRIST sends a reconciling influence and a power that TAKES AWAY SIN.” — (E.G. White, RH, May 19, 1904)

 

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We know SOP calls the Holy Spirit a POWER. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“CHRIST has given HIS SPIRIT as a divine POWER.” — (E.G. White, RH, November 19, 1908)

 

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We are told not to GRIEVE the Holy Spirit. So which lines up with SOP? A third being or the SOP which says it is the Spirit of Christ?

“O, how we GRIEVE the pure, HOLY SPIRIT OF CHRIST with our defiling sins!” — (E.G. White, RH, July 5, 1898)

 

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The Trinity doctrine claims the Holy Spirit a third co-equal being. So which lines up with SOP? The Father and Son and a third being or the SOP which says it is ONLY the Father and Son?

“The Father and the Son ALONE are to be exalted.” — (E.G. White, YI, July 7, 1898)
“God and Christ ALONE know what the souls of men have cost.” — (E.G. White, ST, January 13, 1909)
“The ONLY Being who was one with God lived the law in humanity, descended to the lowly life of a common laborer, and toiled at the carpenter's bench with His earthly parent.” — (E.G. White, ST, October 14, 1897)

So Ellen White was 100% consistent in all that she wrote. Letting SOP explain SOP:

She said the Comforter is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the Spirit of truth is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the third person is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the third great power is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the third highest power is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the third living person is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost was the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the Holy Spirit Jesus breathed on His disciples was HIS own SPIRIT,
the Holy Spirit Christ sent to represent Himself was HIS own SPIRIT,
the heavenly dignitaries are the Father, Son and SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
the Heavenly trio is the Father, Son and SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
when we grieve the Holy Spirit it is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST we grieve,
and she reveals over and over again that there are only two beings.

So we find it is impossible for the Holy Spirit to be a third being. SOP identifies two beings ALONE and constantly reveals the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ in every way. Why the confusion? Because most have failed to notice that Ellen White called the Spirit of Christ a person but was not referring to a literal person.

Anyone of the above points makes Ellen White a non-Trinitarian and proves that the “EV” quotes are misunderstood. All you have to do is want the truth and to stop reading the quotes from LeRoy Froom with the mindset of a Trinitarian. See who is the Holy Spirit according to Ellen White and who is the third person according to Ellen White to see more of the quotes that confirm all of the above statements.

There are literally thousands of quotes from Ellen White that confirm the above points. I will provide just one quote to reveal how easily the truth can be seen if you let SOP explain SOP. The first covers almost all of the above points.

For instance:

Third person, Third great power, Heavenly dignitaries and Heavenly trio: “They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909)

ONE + ONE + ONE = “the SPIRIT OF CHRIST”

Third great power: “Christ has given HIS Spirit as a divine power.” — (E.G. White, RH, Nov 19, 1908)

Comforter: “This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 179.2)

Spirit of truth: “Jesus comes to you as the Spirit of Truth; study the mind of the Spirit, consult your Lord, follow His way.” — (E.G. White, 2MR 337.1)

Spirit Jesus breathed on His disciples: “And when He had said this, He [Christ] breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ... Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, Christ breathed His Spirit upon them.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 805)

Spirit given at Pentecost: “The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service.” — (E.G. White, AA, 49.2)

Spirit representing Christ: “Christ came to our world, but the world could not endure His purity. He has gone to His Father, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to represent Him in the world till he shall come again.” — (E.G. White, Ms1, Jan 11, 1897)

Two beings alone: “The Father and the Son Alone are to be exalted.” — (E.G. White, YI, July 7, 1898)

And since Ellen White wrote that the Holy Spirit is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, for any quote Froom used regarding the Holy Spirit that has been misunderstood, replace the words “HOLY SPIRIT” with “SPIRIT OF CHRIST” or “CHRIST BY HIS SPIRIT” and read it again. I quite assure you that it can no longer be mistaken as a Trinitarian quote!

For example:

“We need to realize that the holy spirit, [Christ by His Spirit], who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, unseen by human eyes.” — (E.G. White, 2SAT 136.6, [Evangelism p. 616.5], 1899)

And for further clarity, “How few realize that Jesus, unseen, is walking by their side!” — (E.G. White, 14MR 125.3)

And, “He [Christ] is an unseen presence in the PERSON of the HOLY SPIRIT,” — (E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897)

Who is UNSEEN? Christ! And why is Christ UNSEEN? Because it is by HIS Holy Spirit.

The early pioneers had no problem with these few quotes that Froom searched for because they knew who the Holy Spirit is and would never read them the wrong way. But if your belief is that the Holy Spirit is another being, then that is what you will see when you read them.

Picking out statements from Ellen White's writings that would fit into a Trinitarian concept of God while ignoring her statements that do not fit the Trinitarian concept of God is a dishonest way to use her writings. To understand correctly what God has revealed through Ellen White, and find out what her beliefs were on this topic, it is necessary to quote all that she wrote on this subject, not just be selective in what we quote to suit our own agenda. That would be tantamount to deception.

Some Adventists are putting things into her references which are not there. When Ellen White says “persons,” they say it is “beings.” When Ellen White says that the Son was with the Father “FROM” all eternity, they say it was “FOR” all eternity. Trinitarians need to see is that their mind is deceiving them. Their preconceived ideas are putting words in her writings that are not there because their old view is all they can see. That is why we so vitally need to allow the Holy Spirit to divest from us our preconceived ideas and lead us into the truth.

The Trinity doctrine teaches that Jesus is the Father which means Jesus cannot really be the Son of God and God cannot be His Father. But these quotes from Ellen White bring an end to that fallacy.

“He [Christ] was not the Father but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” — (E.G. White, Lt8a, July 7, 1890)

“The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty, yet Christ and the Father are one.” — (E.G. White, Ms140, 1903)

Since Jesus is not the Father, there is only one way that they can be one, which is one in unity as she also states.

“The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” — (E.G. White, 8T 269.4, 1904)

Thus Ellen White confirms that the Trinity doctrine is false.

Evangelism Quotes Explained

Now that you have a better understanding of what Ellen White taught, the quotes below that LeRoy Froom searched for and used to deceive the Seventh day Adventist Church should be easy to understand.

Though when trying to share truth with some Trinitarians, they pick and choose only these statements below that suit their preconceived ideas.

It is all to easy at times to misunderstand or abuse some of the things that Ellen White wrote.

So rather then speculate, we need to let SOP explain SOP in the same manner that we should let the Bible explain the BIble. Thus we should line up all SOP in the same we line up all Scripture.

To try and make the Bible or SOP say something that it does not is dishonest.

 

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(Evangelism p. 615.1)

“There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - those who receive Christ by living faith are baptised.” — (Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, pp. 62, 63, 1905) — Evangelism p. 615.1

 

The original handwriting reveals it should have been published as “here are the living three personalities” and not persons. Ellen White often borrows from other writers and borrowed from Trinitarian W. Boardman here. He wrote “three persons” and Ellen White changed it to “the living three personalities.” Note the insertion of the word “the” and “persons” changed to “personalities.”

Ellen White states that the “living three personalities” and “three great powers” are the “Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” So the identity of the third living personality which is also the third great power is the identity of the Holy Spirit. So who does she say is the Holy Spirit? “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3). She also calls the Spirit of Christ a person with a distinct personality and hence living three personalities. “Remember the words of Christ, remember that He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit,” — (E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897). Christ of course is a person with a personality even if it is by His Spirit. “The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ's name. He personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality.” — (E.G. White, 20MR 324.2). She also said, “Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, November 19, 1908). So that makes three living personalities and three great powers but the third is not another being but the Spirit of Christ.

Take careful note that Ellen White demonstrated a distinction between the words “PERSON” and “BEING.” While she speaks of three personalities and powers, she consistently identifies “ONLY” two beings -- the Father and His Son. So the words “PERSON” and “BEING” have different meanings to Ellen White. So “heavenly trio” is in fact non-Trinitarian. See W.C. White letter for example. Ellen White understood exactly what trinity means, being that the Father is God, Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God, yet there are not three gods but one God, and that's the trinity! Whereas a trio is three functioning harmoniously to effect one common goal, which is Biblical and non-Trinitarian. So we do have a heavenly trio but not a heavenly trinity. If you can count to three then you should have no trouble verifying who Ellen White said is the third person of the heavenly trio. ONE + ONE + ONE = “the Spirit of Christ.”

“They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity into their ranks.” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909)

So who is the third person in the heavenly trio? It is amazing how many people decide that in order for the heavenly trio to be three, that it must be three beings. Says who? A Trinity is always three beings. But a Trio is either three people OR three of something. In this case it is three powers. She never said trinity or three beings! Ellen White and Christ both revealed that His Spirit can function independently of Himself and so of course that makes His Spirit a third power.

 

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(Evangelism p. 615.2)

“Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God.... In speaking of his pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with Him.” — (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, August 29, 1900) — Evangelism p. 615.2)

 

Let's look at this statement from Ellen White that Froom used with intent to deceive in sections.

Pre-existence: The words pre-existent or pre-existence are not found in the Bible. However, the meaning of these words are applied to the existence of Christ before His incarnation. Wikipedia on the Pre-existence of Christ says: “The doctrine of the pre-existence (or preexistence) of Christ asserts the ontological or personal existence of Christ before his conception.”

All dictionaries state that pre-existence means to exist before something else. It does not however mean to have always existed. The word pre-existence in fact implies a beginning. The idea of pre-existence is consistent with Scripture which continually reveals Christ to have existed as the Son of God before His incarnation and before all things were created.

The trinity doctrine claims Christ has always existed and to state the obvious, that means He cannot be the Son of God. Thus it is claimed that He is only called a Son as a result of His incarnation and birth in Bethlehem. This however is contrary to Scripture which tells us that Christ “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15 NKJV

Thus we see that Paul is telling us that Christ was “Begotten First or Born Before all creation” because all of creation was by God through His Son Jesus Christ. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:9

“Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature; for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, Nov. 15, 1899)

For even further clarity on Colossians 1:15 and her statement above, she states Jesus is the first born of heaven. Christ cannot be the first born before all creation and the first born of heaven and have always existed.

“The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 51)

“Jesus was not turned aside by any influence from the faithful service expected of a son. He did not aim to do anything remarkable to distinguish himself from other youth, or to proclaim his heavenly birth.” — (E.G. White, YI, Feb 1, 1873)

Below Ellen White states that the personality of Christ as the Son of God did not begin with His incarnation. In other words He was already the Son of God before He came to Earth.

“O what a gift God has made to our world! The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, liable to physical infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. He was the Son of the living God. His personality did not begin with His incarnation in the flesh.” — (E.G. White, Lt77, August 3, 1894)

When Ellen White speaks of the pre-existence of Christ, she is not just referring to His existence before His incarnation, but also to His personality as the literal Son of God. So it is actually the Trinitarian view that denies the pre-existence of Christ in the full sense, as it denies the personality of Christ as the literal Son of God before His birth in Bethlehem.

Ellen White further confirms this in the following quote which refers to all the fallen Churches which are all Trinitarian. Hence she is stating that all these Trinitarian Churches deny the pre-existence of Jesus Christ as the literal Son of God before His incarnation. Most Trinitarians have not noticed this and have failed to realize that there is more to the pre-existence of Christ then just existing before His birth as the Son of Man on Earth.

“The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the pre-existence of Christ prior to his birth in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God's holy, sanctified day. These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various, churches, and thus the Scriptures are fulfilled that say, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, September 12, 1893)

Self-existent Son of God: Self-existent means existing independently of other beings or causes. This applies to both the Father and the Son that are not reliant on other beings to exist and so are self-existent.

Ellen White wrote. “In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as His personal Saviour.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, April 8, 1897)

Did you notice that this original, unborrowed and underived life can also be given to man? The life of Christ was original, unborrowed and underived as it was given to Him by His Father.

“For as the Father has life in Himself; so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself;” John 5:26. And since the Father gave His life to His Son, then Christ has the same self-existent life as His Father. If Jesus had always existed alongside the Father as the Trinity doctrine claims, then God could not have given life to His Son as He would have always had life. But Scripture reveals this is impossible.

Ellen White also wrote that “All things Christ received from God, but He took to give.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 21). And of course “all things” means everything! John 5:26 confirms this includes His life as you would expect.

Dateless ages: Time as we know it is measured by the spheres in the heavens. For example: A year for the earth to revolve around the sun, a month for the moon to revolve around the earth and a day for one rotation of the earth. And it is from this that our “date” is derived. Hence the time before the creation of all things is called the “dateless ages” as there was nothing in the heavens to measure time by. So phrases such as “from eternity”, “from everlasting”, “before time was”, “the days of eternity”, “from the beginning” and “before the earth was” were used to describe the period where there was nothing to measure time by. All these phrases all mean the same thing. Quite simply, before the earth and all things were created. Much confusion arises from such phrases due to a lack of understanding of these facts.

There never was a time when Christ was not in close fellowship with His Father: There never was a time when I was not in close fellowship with my father either. But there was a time when my father was not in close fellowship with me, which was before I was born. The same applies to the Father and Son who love each other very much, and have been in close fellowship since Christ was brought forth from His Father. So while we can say that there was never a time that Jesus was not in close fellowship with His Father, you cannot say that there was never a time that the Father was not in close fellowship with His Son. And hence you will never find Ellen White writing those words.

Had been with God as one brought up with Him: The final part reveals that Ellen White is stating that Jesus was brought forth in the dateless ages and was brought up with His Father being His Son. She is quoting Proverbs 8:22-30.

“The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... 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.” Proverbs 8:22-30.” — (E.G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, 34.1)

Below Ellen White confirms that she is referring to the literal Son of God that was brought forth before all creation.

“Through Solomon Christ declared: “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.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, August 29, 1900)

 

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(Evangelism p. 615.3)

“He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent.... He is the eternal, self-existent Son.” — (E.G. White, 12MR 395.3) — Evangelism p. 615.3)

 

He was equal with God: His Father made Him equal. “God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father.” — (E.G. White, 8T 268.3). “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.” John 3:35

Infinite: Christ was brought forth from the Father and hence is the same substance of His Father. This means that everything Christ consists of has always existed as it came from the Father. And so Ellen White says that Christ “is truly God in infinity” as He came out of God. But the person of Christ had a beginning even though what Christ consists of does not. “The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” — (E.G. White, MS116, December 19, 1905)

Eternal: See eternal on Evangelism p. 616.4.

Self-existent Son: Self-existent means existing independently of other beings or causes. This applies to both the Father and the Son that are not reliant on other beings to exist and so are self-existent. “All things Christ received from God, but He took to give.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 21). And of course “all things” means everything! John 5:26 confirms this includes His life. “For as the Father has life in Himself; so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself;” John 5:26. And since the Father gave His life to His Son, then Christ has the same self-existent life as His Father. If Jesus had always existed alongside the Father as the Trinity doctrine claims, then God could not have given life to His Son as He would have always had life. But Scripture reveals this is impossible.

 

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(Evangelism p. 616.1)

“Christ shows them that, although they might reckon His life to be less than fifty years, yet His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.” — (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899) — Evangelism p. 616.1)

 

Time as we know it is measured by the spheres in the heavens. For example: A year for the earth to revolve around the sun, a month for the moon to revolve around the earth and a day for one rotation of the earth. And it is from this that our “date” is derived. Hence the time before the creation of all things there was nothing in the heavens to measure time by. So phrases such as “from eternity”, “from everlasting”, “before time was”, “the days of eternity”, “from the beginning” and “before the earth was” were used to describe the period where there was nothing to measure time by. So all these phrases mean the same thing. Quite simply, before the earth and all things were created.

And since Ellen White wrote that Christ was brought forth from the days of eternity when there was nothing to measure time by, then the existence of Christ before His incarnation cannot be measured by figures.

“Out of Bethlehem, said the prophet, “shall He come forth ... that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 44.2)

And below Ellen White explains further why His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation.

“And although we may try to reason in regard to our Creator, how long He [Christ] has had existence, where evil first entered into our world, and all these things, we may reason about them until we fall down faint and exhausted with the research when there is yet an infinity beyond.” — (E.G. White, 7BC 919.5)

 

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(Evangelism p. 616.2)

“Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life.” — (Desire of Ages, p. 530) — Evangelism p. 616.2

 

Many have assumed that this quote means Christ has always existed. But in a later writing of this quote she reveals that is not what she was saying. “I lay it down of myself” (John 10: 18), He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as His personal Saviour.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, April 8, 1897 and Selected Messages Book 1, pp. 296, 297)

Note that this original, unborrowed and underived life can also be given to man. The life of Christ was original, unborrowed and underived as it was given to Him by His Father. “For as the Father has life in Himself; so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself;” John 5:26. If Jesus had always existed alongside the Father as the Trinity doctrine claims, then God could not have given life to His Son as He would have always had life. She also wrote, “All things Christ received from God, but He took to give.” — (Desire of Ages, p. 21). And since the life of the Father has been given to His Son, then that means Christ is also self-existent. So the Father gave this life to His Son and through Christ it can be given to us also.

 

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(Evangelism p. 616.4)

The Eternal Dignitaries of the Trinity—“The eternal heavenly dignitaries—God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit—arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, ... would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.” — (Ellen G. White, 16MR 204.4) — Evangelism p. 616.4)

 

Note that the text “The Eternal Dignitaries of the Trinity” that is found in front of this quote in Froom's book was not written by Ellen White but was added by Froom to aid his deception.

God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit: Ellen White says, “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3). So the three are God, and Christ (Saviour) and the Holy Spirit of Christ. Thus the third is not another literal being. “They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909)

Eternal: Ellen Whites use of the word “eternal” has also confused many people such as used in the quote in question. For instance, what did she mean when she said Christ existed FROM eternity in the quote below?

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by him as his right. This was no robbery of God. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,” he declares, “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.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, April 5, 1906)

Ellen White quotes Proverbs 8:23-26 above which equates “from eternity”, “from everlasting”, “from the beginning”, “before the earth was” and “the days of eternity” with the time before all things were created. Proverbs 8:23 says, “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or before the earth was.” The Septuagint, which Christ and His Apostles always quoted says, “He established me in the beginning, before time was, before He made the earth.” Solomon used Hebrew parallelism in verse 23 which expresses a thought one way, and then uses a complementary thought to express it another way. So the last two phrases of this verse mean the same thing as the first phrase. Time as we know it is measured by the spheres in the heavens. For example: A year for the earth to revolve around the sun, a month for the moon to revolve around the earth and a day for one rotation of the earth. And it is from this that our “date” is derived. And so the time before the creation of all things there was nothing in the heavens to measure time by. So all the above phrases mean the same thing. Quite simply, before the earth and all things were created. Not without beginning as many erroneously believe today. So when Ellen White said from eternity, she did not mean that Christ had always existed. She also confirms this when she twice says that Christ was “brought forth,” which means she is saying that Christ's personality had a beginning.

Let's give even more detail. Ellen White endorsed Waggoner's book Christ and His Righteousness, so we will be comparing Waggoner with Ellen White just for clarity since Waggoner uses clearer wording and more detail. Compare Ellen White and Waggoner below as they quote Micah 5:2 stating that Christ was brought forth in “the days of eternity” or “ages of eternity.”

“Out of Bethlehem, said the prophet, “shall He come forth ... that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 44.2)

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. We know that Christ “proceeded forth and came from God” (John 8:42), but it was so far back in the ages of eternity as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, p. 9, 1890)

Waggoner says Christ was brought forth so long ago that it is beyond the grasp of the mind of man. And Ellen White below states that to try and find the time before Christ had an existence that you would fall down faint and exhausted trying.

“And although we may try to reason in regard to our Creator, how long He [Christ] has had existence, where evil first entered into our world, and all these things, we may reason about them until we fall down faint and exhausted with the research when there is yet an infinity beyond.” — (E.G. White, 7BC 919.5)

Comparing Ellen White and Waggoner we find that Christ “is truly God in infinity” but His personality had a beginning when He was brought forth from the Father.

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” — (E.G. White, MS116, December 19, 1905)

“While both are of the same nature, the Father is first in point of time. He is also greater in that he had no beginning, while Christ's personality had a beginning.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Signs of the Times, April 8, 1889)

Comparing Ellen White and Waggoner again we find that Christ was tore from the bosom of His Father in “the days of eternity” which is far back in time it is practically without beginning.

“There was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God, from the bosom of the Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, p. 21, 1890)

“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, July 9, 1895)

So Christ was tore from the bosom of His Father and hence was part of Himself, which is something a Trinitarian can never say. The Son of God was brought forth from the Father and hence is the same substance of His Father. This means that everything Christ consists of has always existed as it came from the Father. This is what Ellen White means when she says that Christ “is truly God in infinity” as He came out of God. But the person of Christ had a beginning even though what Christ consists of does not. Thus it would not necessarily be incorrect to say that Christ has always existed before he was born from the perspective that He existed in the bosom of His Father, and in that respect Christ is eternal in the same manner as His Father. This could also be what Ellen White meant when she said Christ was eternal in a two of her quotes.

And of course, Christ cannot be the first born before all creation and the first born of heaven and have always existed.

“Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature; for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, Nov. 15, 1899)

“The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 51)

“Jesus was not turned aside by any influence from the faithful service expected of a son. He did not aim to do anything remarkable to distinguish himself from other youth, or to proclaim his heavenly birth.” — (E.G. White, YI, Feb 1, 1873)

 

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(Evangelism p. 616.5)

“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.” — (Ellen G. White, Sermons and Talks Volume 2, pp. 136, 137, 1899) — Evangelism p. 616.5

The first thing to note is that this quote was not written by her hand but was taken in shorthand by another person from a sermon she preached, and transcribed decades later. So it requires looking at the entire quote carefully to see who she is referring to. Because you will find the entire quote refers to Christ by His Holy Spirit which is easily seen if you let SOP explain SOP rather than assuming.

Here is the entire quote to see the context.

“The Lord [Jesus] says this because He knows it is for our good. He would build a wall around us, to keep us from transgression, so that His blessing and love may be bestowed on us in rich measure. This is the reason we have established a school here. The Lord [Jesus] instructed us that this was the place in which we should locate, and we have had every reason to think that we are in the right place. We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, unseen by human eyes; that the Lord God is our Keeper and Helper. He hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the mind.” — (Ellen G. White, Sermons and Talks Volume 2, pp. 136, 137, 1899)

We now know that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ who is as much a person as God is a person but what else reveals this? The context also shows it is the Lord Jesus Christ through His Spirit who walks through these grounds as our Keeper and Helper. He is the one who hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the mind. He is the only one who can renew our mind and transform us into His image through the power of His Spirit. Thus the close unity between God, who is a person, and the Holy Spirit of Christ, who is as much as a person, is clearly demonstrated.

Who does Ellen White say is walking through our streets unseen by human eyes by His Holy Spirit? “Christ walks unseen through our streets. With messages of mercy He comes to our homes.” — (E.G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 107). And who does Ellen White say hears every word we utter? “Remember that Jesus is beside you wherever you go, noting your actions and listening to your words.” — (E.G. White, The Youth's Instructor, February 4, 1897). The answer is Christ through His Spirit. And considering a Spirit cannot be seen, why does she state the obvious by saying unseen by human eyes? Because it is Christ who is an actual being that by His physical presence can be seen just as people can but by His Spirit cannot be. “The human agent, the seen instrument, is to preach the Word, and the Lord Jesus, the unseen, agency, by His Holy Spirit is to make the Word efficacious and powerful.—Letter 105, 1900.” — (E.G. White, 2SM 18.3)

So how does Christ walk unseen through our streets? By His Holy Spirit. And how was Christ walking unseen through the Avondale school grounds? By His Holy Spirit. So we need to realize that it is Christ, who is as much a person as God is a person, walking through these grounds, unseen by human eyes. Why is He unseen? Because He is doing so by His Holy Spirit. Ellen White was explaining omnipresence to the students at the Avondale School in this talk.

So Ellen White says it is Christ who hears every word we utter and is walking unseen by our side and He is unseen because it is by His Holy Spirit. “How few realize that Jesus, unseen, is walking by their side! How ashamed many would be to hear His voice speaking to them, and to know that He heard all their foolish, common talk!” — (E.G. White, 14MR 125.3). We also know it is Christ as she said that, “He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit,” — (E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897) and that “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3)

So is Christ as the unseen person of the Holy Spirit as much a person as God is a person? Of course! So this quote could also be written as, “We need to realize that Christ, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds by His Holy Spirit, unseen by human eyes.”

 

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(Evangelism 616.6 and 617.1)

“The Holy Spirit is a person; for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. ... The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God.” — (Ellen G. White, MS 20, 1906) — Evangelism 616.6 and 617.1

 

The only quote we need is one where Ellen White says, “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency, that through His grace we might be complete in Him.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3)

Because this alone reveals that the above quote to be referring to the Spirit of Christ and not another literal being. But I will go further and provide quotes that reveal Ellen White used these phrases in reference to the Holy Spirit of Christ.

The quote in question says the Holy Spirit is a person and in the quote below she calls “Christ” the person of the Holy Spirit. So we have no conflict. She is referring to Christ by His Spirit, not another literal being. And the Spirit of Christ is a divine person of course. “When trials overshadow the soul, remember the words of Christ, remember that He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit,” — (E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897)

Christ of course is a person and hence one of the reasons she calls Christ the person of the Holy Spirit since it is His presence by His Spirit. Note that she often uses the word unseen when referring to Christ by His Spirit. So if she is calling Christ or the Holy Spirit unseen it is because she means it is Christ by His Spirit as in this form He cannot be seen. For example: “The human agent, the seen instrument, is to preach the Word, and the Lord Jesus, the unseen, agency, by His Holy Spirit is to make the Word efficacious and powerful.—Letter 105, 1900.” — (E.G. White, 2SM 18.3)

Christ through His Spirit is also the Comforter. “The holy Spirit is the comforter, as the personal presence of Christ to the soul.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, November 29, 1892). “This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 179.3)

So the Comforter is the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of Christ. The quote in question says The Holy Spirit has a personality and below she effectively says the Holy Spirit of Christ has a distinct personality. So there is no conflict here either. The entire quote is referring to Christ by His Spirit and not another literal being. “The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ's name. He personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality.” — (E.G. White, 20MR 324.2)

 

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(Evangelism p. 617.2)

“The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” — (Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, p. 37, 1897) — Evangelism p. 617.2

 

Note she said ONLY. So who is the “third person” who alone and hence only can hold in check the “power of evil?” “Jesus alone has power to save from sin, to free from the power of evil;” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, February 10, 1891). She also wrote, “The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 324.1). It is Jesus Christ that holds in check the prince of the power of evil.

Ellen White also says the third person of the Godhead [is] the Holy Spirit. Therefore the third person is whoever she calls the Holy Spirit is. She said, “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3). So the Spirit of Christ is the third person and we also find that she calls the Spirit of Christ a person. “When trials overshadow the soul, remember the words of Christ, remember that He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit,” — (E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897)

We also find the answer in the following, “Christ gave His representative, the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” — (E.G. White, CTr 301.4). Compare the grey underlined phrases to see who is Christ's representative which is the Holy Spirit and the third person of the Godhead. “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ; it is His [Christ] representative.” — (E.G. White, 13MR 313.3, 1895)

She also wrote that, “Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead,” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 671.2). So who is that we can only overcome sin and evil? The answer is found in the same quote. “Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.” — (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, 671.2). And also, “There is no power in you apart from Christ, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and He can overcome sin in you, when you cooperate with His efforts.” — (E.G. White, Our High Calling, 76.5). And “With His Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin.” — (E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904)

Ellen White said only the “third person” can overcome sin in you and she tells us that person is the “Spirit of Christ.” Why would we think it was anyone else other than the One who conquered and overcame sin on the cross?

Here is the Godhead according to Ellen White. Count to see who the third person is. “They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity into their ranks.” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909)

Ellen White also used lower case to show that she did not mean a literal divine being, but after her death, others were responsible for capitalizing “Third Person” in her writings giving the reader the wrong idea. It is dishonest and wrong to misrepresent the thoughts of a writer.

 

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(Evangelism p. 617.3)

“We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,--and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God.” — (Ellen G. White, Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 51) — Evangelism p. 617.3

 

In regards to “three highest powers” or “three great powers,” Ellen White says powers, not beings. The third power is the Holy Spirit which many interpret to mean another literal being. But this is incorrect as she says the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, not another being. “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (14MR 84.3)

As for the Holy Spirit being referred to as a power, she called the Spirit of Christ a divine “power” which is also the presence and “power” of God. “Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power.” — (Review and Herald, November 19, 1908). “The divine Spirit that the world's Redeemer promised to send, is the presence and power of God.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, November 23, 1891). The world's Redeemer of course is Christ and the divine Spirit He promised to send is His own Spirit to be our Comforter. “Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself, divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent.” — (E.G. White, Lt119, February 18, 1895)

In the following quote we find once again that God, His Son, and His Son's Spirit are the “three great powers” in Heaven. “Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the covenant that God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, and with HIS SPIRIT in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf.” — (E.G. White, Signs of the Times, June 19, 1901)

So who are the “three great powers?” The third is not another literal being, it is the Spirit of Christ. “They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909)

So here are the “three highest POWERS” in heaven but who are the “three highest BEINGS?” Ellen White tells us the third highest Being in Heaven before sin was Lucifer. (E.G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 35). And after the fall she revealed Gabriel was the third highest Being in Heaven. (E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 234)

The following two PDF's can be used for evangelism. “Ellen White and the Comforter” and “Evangelism quotes explained.”