Who is the Third Person of the Heavenly Trio?

Who is the Third Person of the Heavenly Trio?

Most Adventists today have no idea what the real truth is that God gave His remnant in regards to the Holy Spirit. And when shown, many reject the truth because they have been indoctrinated with Catholic idea of the Holy Spirit being a third god. And even worse, the origin of this idea is from Satan so he could achieve worship.

These quotes from Waggoner and Smith state what Ellen White and the pioneers always taught in regards to the Holy Spirit very clearly. Note that Ellen White endorsed this book by Waggoner.

Please read these carefully as this is the real truth that God gave Ellen White and the pioneers.

“Finally, we know the Divine unity of the Father and the Son from the fact that both have the same Spirit. Paul, after saying that they that are in the flesh cannot please God, continues: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:9. Here we find that the Holy Spirit is both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, p. 23, 1890)

“The terms “Holy Ghost”, are a harsh and repulsive translation. It should be “Holy Spirit” (hagion pneuma) in every instance. This Spirit is the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ; the Spirit being the same whether it is spoken of as pertaining to God or Christ. But respecting this Spirit, the Bible uses expressions which cannot be harmonized with the idea that it is a person like the Father and the Son. Rather it is shown to be a divine influence from them both, the medium which represents their presence and by which they have knowledge and power through all the universe, when not personally present.” — (Uriah Smith, Review and Herald, October 28, 1890)

Ellen White wrote it this way.

“They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet ONE IN SPIRIT, and heart, and character.” — (Ellen G. White, Youth's Instructor, December 16, 1897)

The reason they are ONE in Spirit is because God gave not only His life but also HIS Spirit to HIS Son.

“The Father gave his Spirit without measure to his Son, and we also may partake of its fulness.” — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, November 5, 1908)

And so the Holy Spirit is the mind, power, character 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. This is not a separate person of the Godhead who is being sent, it is the very life of God coming to us through His Son.

Thus it is through the Spirit that we have access to the Father through Christ as they are ONE IN SPIRIT.

“For through him [Christ] we both have access by ONE SPIRIT unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

Hence Ellen White said, the SPIRIT OF GOD comes to us through His only begotten Son and why the HOLY SPIRIT can rightfully be called the SPIRIT OF CHRIST.

“The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only begotten Son of God,” — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, April 5, 1906)

Did you ever wonder how we can have the Father and Son live in us? It is because the HOLY SPIRIT is the Spirit of the FATHER AND SON. So who do we have in us when we have the HOLY SPIRIT? The FATHER AND SON!

“By the Spirit the Father and the Son will come and make their abode with you. [John 14:23 quoted]” — (Ellen G. White, The Bible Echo, January 15, 1893)

Now you know why Ellen White wrote the following.

“The HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of CHRIST, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3)

“We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (Ellen G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894)

“but it is the leaven of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, which is sent down from heaven, called the HOLY GHOST,” — (Ellen G. White, Ms36-1891)

“When God's people take the position that they are the temple of the HOLY GHOST, CHRIST HIMSELF abiding within, they will so clearly reveal Him in spirit, words and actions,” — (Ellen G. White, Ms100-1902)

While the above information is unmistakably clear, out of the 20,000,000 words and the tens of thousands of non-Trinitarian statements that Ellen White wrote, she also wrote, “third person of the Godhead” 4 times (duplicated 4 times), “living three personalities of the heavenly trio” 1 time, “the Holy Spirit is as much a person as God is a person” 1 time and that “the Holy Spirit is a divine person” 1 time.

These statements have caused much confusion because most Adventists failed to let SOP explain SOP. And so many have wrongly assumed that Ellen White was supporting the Catholic Trinitarian idea that the Holy Spirit is a third god. But that could not be further from the truth. You will note that this already contradicts what is written above, so there has to be an answer where there are no contradictions in all that she wrote on this topic.

As seen above, it is through the Holy Spirit that we have access to the Father. Or should I say, it is through Christ and His Spirit, also being His Fathers Spirit that we have access to the Father.

Consider the following quote, “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894)

Did Ellen White literally mean the physical PERSON of Jesus Christ? Of course not. If you took her literally in this case we would have a serious problem as the Holy Spirit cannot be the physical person of Jesus Christ. She obviously meant Christ by His Spirit. So let me ask you. When she called the Holy Spirit a person, did she mean that the SPIRIT OF CHRIST was a literal person? Again, of course not. That is not possible.

Many also erroneously believe that if the Holy Spirit is not a literal third being, then there cannot be three. But this wrong mindset comes from visualizing their Holy Spirit with the human limitations of our own. Their Spirit is Divine and can do what our spirit cannot.

Below Ellen White states that Christ has left HIS SPIRIT in the world to represent Him. Most respond, “how can His own Spirit represent Himself?” Quite easily in fact as Christ's Spirit can function independently of Himself like it is another. Many fail to realize that the Spirit of Christ can function like a person separate to Himself so it is like it is “another” person. This is the nature of the Holy Spirit that Ellen White said we cannot understand. So the Holy Spirit is indeed like a third person.

“CHRIST has left HIS Holy Spirit to be HIS representative in the world, to give celestial aid to every hungering, thirsting soul.” — (Ellen G. White, Lt84, October 22, 1895)

Ellen White understood that “representative” does not make a third being, but that Christ represents Himself in a different form. God and His Son have a Spirit and that is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present.

And yet some still respond, “How can Jesus be the Holy Spirit? Jesus is in the heavenly sanctuary!” Some seem to have a lot of trouble grasping this for some reason. Below Ellen White explains that while Christ ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by HIS Spirit ministering on earth. So again we find that the Spirit of Christ can function like a separate person.

“While JESUS ministers in the sanctuary above, HE is still by HIS SPIRIT the minister of the church on earth. HE is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but HIS parting promise is fulfilled, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. While HE delegates HIS power to inferior ministers, HIS energizing presence is still with HIS church.” — (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 166)

Did you get that? Christ is physically ministering in the heavenly sanctuary and by His Spirit He is also ministering on earth.

And so whose Spirit did Christ send to represent Him and guide us into all truth? It was HIS very own Spirit! Hence yet again we find His Spirit can function like a separate person even though it is His own Spirit.

“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)

Thus Ellen White taught that there is the one true God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit which is Christ's very own Spirit that proceeds from the Father, which was given to Him by His Father, and can function like a third person, though not a literal third person. So why not call the Holy Spirit the third person which Ellen White did four times? But is it a literal person and a third god as per the Trinity doctrine? Of course not! She made it very clear that it is the Spirit of Christ.

Those who conclude that Ellen White meant a literal person have failed to let SOP explain SOP and did NOT look at what else she wrote. For instance, note below who Ellen White revealed to be the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Is this consistent with her calling the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Christ? It most certainly is!

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

And who did she reveal to be the third person? ONE + ONE + ONE = “the SPIRIT OF CHRIST.”

It is NOT hard to see why Ellen White called the Spirit of Christ the third person. And it's not hard to see that she did not mean a literal person, but the person of Christ by HIS Spirit which can function like a separate person, though not a literal person.

Let's continue to reveal this truth from SOP so there can be no doubt.

The identity of who Ellen White called the third person can also be found by comparing the following two quotes. Who is Christ's representative which is also the Holy Spirit and the third person of the Godhead? Hence the grey underlined texts are the same entity. Christ's representative the Holy Spirit which is the third person of the Godhead is the Spirit of Christ.

“Christ gave His representative, the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” — (Ellen G. White, CTr 301.4)

“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ; it is His [Christ] representative.” — (Ellen G. White, 13MR 313.3, 1895)

The following is also often quoted, but once again we find it is Christ by His Spirit.

“Sin could be resisted and overcome ONLY through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead,” — (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, 671.2)

Now if Ellen White states sin can be overcome ONLY through the third person, and also states that it is by Christ in us that we overcome sin, who is she calling the third person?

“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.” — (Ellen G. White, Our High Calling, 76.5)

“With HIS SPIRIT CHRIST sends a reconciling influence and a power that TAKES away SIN.” — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904)

It cannot be someone else as well as she wrote ONLY! Why would we think it was anyone else other than the One who conquered and overcame sin on the cross?

So once again Ellen White identified Christ as the third person and has called Christ by His Spirit a person. But it is not some third god! How can anyone without prejudice and an open heart and mind get this wrong?

The Holy Spirit is also the Comforter and Spirit of truth. So we also know who she is calling the third person by looking to see who she says is the Comforter and Spirit of truth.

If what Ellen White called the third person is the Spirit of Christ, then she will also state the Spirit of Christ is the Comforter.

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

“Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of CHRIST. HE is THE Comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full.” — (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, January 27, 1903)

The same applies to the Spirit of truth.

“The SPIRIT of TRUTH is the only effectual teacher of divine truth; those who are taught of Him have entered the school of CHRIST. How must God esteem the race, that He gave His Son to die for them, and appoints HIS SPIRIT to be man's teacher and continual guide.” — (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, October 24, 1906)

“JESUS comes to you as the SPIRIT of TRUTH; study the mind of the Spirit, consult your Lord, follow His way.” — (Ellen G. White, 2MR 337.1)

In fact 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 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.

There is no escaping Ellen White was calling Christ by His Spirit the third person because His Spirit is like a person.

So can we effectively call the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) a divine person? Sure! Why not?
Is the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) as much a person as God is a person? Of course!
Can we call the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) the third person? Again, why not?
Is the Spirit of Christ a LITERAL person? No! This is clearly not so and impossible.

And while Ellen White taught that the Spirit of Christ is the third person, she only ever revealed two beings.

“The Father and the Son ALONE are to be exalted.” — (Ellen G. White, The Youth's Instructor, July 7, 1898) --- ONLY TWO BEINGS.

Did she say the Father, Son and Holy Spirit ALONE are to be exalted? No she did not.

And again, “God and Christ ALONE know what the souls of men have cost.” — (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, January 13, 1909) --- ONLY TWO BEINGS.

Most agree there are three persons. The problem is with how we define “persons.” The original definition and the one used by Ellen White does not mean “beings.” It means that Deity has three main offices of work in the plan of redemption, and this is the way Ellen White often described it in her writings. As we have seen above, her statements that clearly identify who the Holy Spirit is disqualify her definition of “persons” as meaning “individuals” or “beings.” And she says that “two beings” alone are to be exalted--the Father and the Son. So we need to take all quotes into consideration when dealing with this subject.

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 remove from us our preconceived ideas and lead us into the truth.

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.

Since the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ, Satan dethrones Christ when he poses as the Holy Spirit. He knows this but those who he has deceived don't. How tragic is this deception.