Content 10. Three Holiest Beings
“Putting The Pieces Together” article.
“You are born unto God, and you stand under the sanction and the power of the three holiest beings in heaven, who are able to keep you from falling. You are to reveal that you are dead to sin; your life is hid with Christ in God. Hidden “with Christ in God,”–wonderful transformation. This is a most precious promise.” {Manuscript Releases Vol. 7, p. 267} (also appearing in Sermons and Talks Volume One p. 367)
This statement is a report of a sermon preached by Mrs. White. When comparing this report with published writings we see that a slight reporting error happened (as is the case to this day). Mrs. White did not write the words “three holiest beings” at all. According to her instruction we are to examine the published writings when faced with reports that contradict. Some people use this statement to support the theory of three gods (three divine beings who are separate and coequal). It is truly alarming how people fail to do their homework properly in light of the momentous issues we are dealing with. Let it be known that Mrs. White never put pen to paper and wrote “three holiest beings”. She is not the author of these words. We shall now examine closely what the record reveals and let all men be informed of the facts of the matter.
This statement is actually a report of a sermon that Mrs. White preached on Sabbath afternoon October 20, 1906 in Oakland, California. This report was produced after she died (7MR 267). The statement also appears in the book Sermons and Talks, Book 1. In the forward of the book we are told:
“ALL THE MESSAGES REPRODUCED IN THIS VOLUME WERE DELIVERED IN PUBLIC ANDSTENOGRAPHICALLY REPORTED, OR WERE PREPARED WITH THAT PURPOSE IN VIEW. MANY OF ELLEN WHITE’S SERMONS MAY BE FOUND IN THE REVIEW AND HERALD AND SIGNS OF THE TIMES, BUT NEARLY ALL OF THOSE INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS, AS THEY APPEAR IN OUR FILES. SO, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO TAPE RECORDERS IN ELLEN WHITE’S DAY, A PERSON MAY GET THE TRUE “FEEL” OF ELLEN WHITE AS A SPEAKER BY READING THIS BOOK.” (P. i)
This is a very honest admission from the White Estate telling us that Mrs. White did not pen those words; rather they were a report of what she said. It is very obvious that a slight mistake was made in reporting this sermon. Mrs. White herself warned us of this by saying:
“And now to all who have a desire for truth I would say: Do not give credence to unauthenticated reports as to what Sister White has done or said or written. If you desire to know what the Lord has revealed through her, read her published works.” {E. G. White, Testimonies Volume 5, p. 696}
She told us to read her published works. This is very important to keep in mind. Why does she highly recommend her published works rather than reports of what she may or may have not said? It is very simple; she knew everything that was published because she read all the manuscripts prior to publication:
“I read over all that is copied, to see that everything is as it should be. I read all the book manuscript before it is sent to the printer.” {E. G. White, Selected Messages Book 3, p. 90}
Naturally, Ellen White could not check anything that was published after she died. Therefore she instructed us that we are to read her published works since she reviewed these works herself. It is interesting that this statement of “three holiest beings” only saw the light of day very recently. The date of release is noted by the White Estate as follows:
“Released March 16, 1976.” {Manuscript Releases 7, p. 273}
It would be difficult for Ellen White to check and review this report of her sermon prior to publication; she had been dead for a long time! There is no evidence that can prove that Mrs. White ever checked the words “three holiest beings”!
Now let us demonstrate why the reporter of the sermon made a mistake in claiming that Mrs. White said “three holiest beings”. All we have to do is examine her published writings as she has instructed us to do. How many divine beings are there according to Ellen White’s published writings?
“Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,–one in nature, in character, and in purpose,–the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God.” {E. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 493}
That plainly tells us that there is no other being besides Christ who enters into the counsels of God. No other being in all the universe! That makes two beings only. The Holy Spirit cannot be a being, for that would mean it cannot enter into all the counsels of God! But we knew that for the Bible made it clear long ago (Zachariah 6:12, 13). Sister White never mentions another being besides Christ who is allowed into counsel with God. How can this be if she really was a Trinitarian, as some claim on her behalf? Where is “God the Holy Spirit”? The only other being in the universe who wanted to enter into counsel with God and His Son was a proud angel by the name of Lucifer. It was he who wanted the heavenly counsel to include a third member! Let the readers read the first chapter of Patriarchs and Prophets and see if this is true or not. But there is more:
“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, Signs of the Times, October 14, 1897 par. 3}
Here she clearly and plainly says Christ is the only being who is one with God. There is no mention of anyone else being “one” with God besides Christ. That is only two beings. Just in case someone may use the strange notion of “just because God the Holy Spirit is not mentioned does not mean he is not there!” we again emphasize the word only. When using that word Mrs. White is excluding any other options or possibilities. It is impossible for her to say only and then elsewhere contradict it. Again, the same plain language and testimony is used in the following quote:
“The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” {E. G. White, The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898 par. 2}
The above statement alone should be sufficient to abolish every theory of a trinity. Honestly, how could Ellen White (if she was really a Trinitarian) make a statement like that? Let us ask again the oft repeated question: where is “God the Holy Spirit?” If the Father and the Son alone are to be exalted, then what are we to do with “God the Holy Spirit?” Surely we say aright, the servant of the Lord wasnot a believer in that doctrine which is espoused by the mother of all harlots, neither in any of its varied and multitudinous forms.
Let us look at further evidence that will confirm the above. We are counseled to go by the “weight of evidence” (DA 458) and not just by one or two statements. Let each reader consider the question: who is the third highest being in heaven? This is an important question to answer in light of the “three holiest beings” statement. We shall not attempt any guess-work in seeking an answer to this question. In the published writings we are plainly given the answer:
“God is a moral governor as well as a Father. He is the Lawgiver.” {12MR 208}
“The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver.” {2SP 9}
“The Lord has shown me that Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Jesus Christ.”{1SG 17}
“Speaking of Satan, our Lord says that “he abode not in the truth.” He was once the covering cherub, glorious in beauty and holiness. He was next to Christ in exaltation and character.” {RH, October 22, 1895 par. 1}
“Satan in Heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his countenance, and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Jesus, God’s dear Son, had the pre-eminence over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created. Satan was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved on Christ alone.” {1SP 17.1}
“Was not Satan the light-bearer, the sharer of God’s glory in heaven, and next to Jesus in power and majesty?” {RH, November 17, 1891 par. 3}
“Sin originated with him, who, next to Christ, stood highest in the favor of God, and highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of Heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was the covering cherub, holy and undefiled.” {4SP 316}
“Christ’s humiliation is not understood and not appreciated. Forty days and nights Jesus was subjected to the temptations of the enemy–the one who was once an angel next to Christ in majesty and glory in the heavenly courts. It is stated, Thou wast exalted because of thy beauty, et cetera. But he wanted to have the place of Christ, and Christ was one with the Infinite God; and because this was not accorded him, he became jealous, and he was the originator of sin.”{16MR 180.1}
Even after the fall of Lucifer, the third highest being is identified for us:
“It was Gabriel, the angel next in rank to the Son of God, who came with the divine message to Daniel.” {DA 234}
From the above plain testimonies we learn that the third highest position in heaven is occupied by a created being, both before and after the fall of Lucifer. This should be plain to any clear thinking individual. This weight of evidence cannot be set aside lightly. To insist otherwise based on just one reported statement can only betray a stubborn desire to maintain a groundless theory. These plain statements are from her published works, they are not statements that were produced long after she died. These are authentic statements that she reviewed and checked and that the whole church at the time subscribed to. On the other hand, statements that only make an appearance posthumously and which clearly contradict the authentic writings must be closely examined and studied and checked against the published writings. This is the only safe way to arrive at the truth. We cannot just grab one statement because we like what it says and ignore her published writings which she tells us are the most authentic and accurate report of her beliefs and teachings. Let those who desire to obey the prophet heed this counsel is our prayer.
“Do you ask, What shall I do to be saved? You must lay your preconceived opinions, your hereditary and cultivated ideas, at the door of investigation. If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you will never reach the truth. Search in order to learn what the Lord says. If conviction comes as you search, if you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the truth, do not misinterpret the truth in order to suit your own belief, but accept the light given. Open mind and heart that you may behold wondrous things out of God’s word.” {E. G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 112}
Book: “Putting the Pieces Together”
(1) “the heavenly Trio”
(2) “there never was a time”
(3) “life, original, unborrowed, underived”
(4) “eternal heavenly dignitaries”
(5) “as much a person”
(6) “Holy Spirit is a person”
(7) “third person of the Godhead”
(8) “three highest powers”
(9) “gave themselves”
(10) “three holiest beings”
Appendix I
(Dr. Kellogg & the Trinity)
Appendix II
(How many divine beings?)
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