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On the internet people have put together quotes and scriptures in an attempt to place Ellen White in the worst light possible. On this website I've taken several "supposed" contradictions posted elsewhere, to show these are simply attacks on the Seventh-day Adventist belief system. They are not founded on honest evaluation of facts.
13. CAN WE SAY WE ARE SAVED RIGHT NOW BY CHRIST'S GRACE?
EGW - NO: "Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved. Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say, I am saved, are in danger of trusting to themselves." (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 155).
BIBLE - YES: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24). "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13).
NOTE: The reason the apostle John wrote his letter was to assure the believers that they had eternal life.
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Surely people can see there is no contradiction here.
Luke 8:13
2 Peter 3:17
It is their concept that is out of step with the Bible.
Those who are truly depending on Christ can have the assurance of salvation. But no one is to believe in "once saved, always saved" concepts. Those who think they are saved by a one time experience are in danger of trusting to themselves, and not depending on Christ.
"Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
“These have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”
“Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.”
14. CAN IGNORANT SLAVES BE SAVED?
EGW - NO: "God cannot take to heaven the slave who has been kept in ignorance and degradation, knowing nothing of God or the Bible, fearing nothing but his master's lash, and holding a lower position than the brutes." (Early Writings, p.276).
BIBLE - YES: "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9).
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Here they are relying on generalizations. There is more than one question to be considered. The question, "Can slaves be saved?" is not the same question as, "Will all slaves be saved?"
EGW says YES slaves can be saved!
"There are many who can not even read the divine Word; many are slaves of superstition; and yet through divine power these poor, ignorant beings, degraded by sin, may be saved, elevated, sanctified, ennobled. And in the Lord's estimation every soul saved is worth more than the wealth of the whole world. Those who are ignorant must be educated; and this means much. Instead of making superabundant provision for educating a few, we should devise ways and means of helping the many who are neglected and oppressed. "
15. CAN WE LEGITIMATELY SAY "I HAVE CEASED TO SIN?"
EGW - YES: "Christ died to make it possible for you to cease to sin, and sin is the transgression of the law." (Review and Herald, Vol. 71, No. 35, p.1, August 28, 1894).
EGW - YES: "To be redeemed means to cease from sin." (Review and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 39, p.1, September 25, 1900).
EGW - YES: "Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God's commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all his precepts." (Manuscript 122, 1901, quoted in the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p.1118).
EGW - YES: "To every one who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the law of heaven. God requires of us perfect obedience. We are to purify ourselves, even as he is pure. By keeping his commandments, we are to reveal our love for the Supreme Ruler of the universe." (Review and Herald, September 27, 1906, p.8).
BIBLE - NO: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9).
BIBLE - NO: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9).
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These quotes don't even deal with the question. "Can we legitimately say we have ceased from sin?" We must not confuse the goal of living in perfect harmony with God's law, to self-righteous assumption of sinlessness.
EGW says NO, we can never SAY we have ceased from sin:
1 John 3:3,6,9
"The words of John came forcibly to my mind, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8. I was shown that those who triumphantly claim to be sinless, show by their very boasting that they are far from being without taint of sin. The more clearly fallen man comprehends the character of Christ, the more distrustful will he be of himself, and the more imperfect will his works appear to him, in contrast with those which marked the life of the spotless Redeemer. But those who are far from Jesus, those whose spiritual perceptions are so clouded by error that they cannot comprehend the character of the great Exemplar, conceive of Him as altogether such a one as themselves, and dare to talk of their own perfection of holiness. But they are far from God; they know little of themselves, and less of Christ."
Why don't they continue to quote 1 John and they will see that the apostle John says exactly the same thing as EGW.
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
"Every man that has this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure. Whoever commits sin transgresses the law; for sin is the transgression of the law...whoever abides in him sins not; whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him, ..whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; ..... "
16. OBEYING THE COMMANDMENTS EARN ME GOD'S FAVOR?
EGW - YES: "To obey the commandments of God is the only way to obtain (earn) His favor." (Testimonies, Vol. 4, p.28).
BIBLE - NO: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isa 64:6).
BIBLE - NO: "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." (Gal 3:11).
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Now here they not only take a sentence out of context, but they even had to ADD their own word to put their false twist on the passage, and do their undermining. Obtain means to "come into possession of", whereas to "earn" means "to gain or get in return for one's labor".
Now let's take it in context:
Read the chapter on FAITH in Hebrews 11:
"Without faith, it is impossible to please Him; for He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
"Obtain" does not mean the same as "earn".
By faith Abel offered to God the more excellent sacrifice, by which he OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS."
By faith Noah, ...moved with fear, prepared an ark...by which he BECAME heir of righteousness which is by faith.
By faith Abraham, ...obeyed...
By faith Moses...chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
"Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone...faith is shown by our works...You believe that there is one God? That's good, but the devils also believe and tremble. Don't you know, Oh foolish man, that faith apart from works is dead?
Wasn't Abraham justified by works...see how faith operated with works, and by those works his faith was made perfect?
And Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness; and he was called the Friend of God.
For as the body with breath is dead, so faith without wrks is dead as well.
17. DOES OUR OBEDIENCE AND FAITH RECONCILE US TO GOD?
EGW - YES: "Man, who has defaced the image of God in his soul by a corrupt life, cannot, by mere human effort, effect a radical change in himself. He must accept the provisions of the gospel; he must be reconciled to God through obedience to his law and faith in Jesus Christ." (Testimonies, Vol. 4, p.294).
BIBLE - NO: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9).
BIBLE - NO: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" (Col 1:21-22).
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Hebrews 5.8-9
Then in verse 8:13 "For if you live after the flesh, you shall die, but if you through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body you shall live."
EGW does not say we earn salvation by works, but those who are saved will be obedient to the ways of God. They will place their will on the side of Christ. Never trusting in self, but totally trusting in Christ. Those continuing in wilfull disobedience after they have received the truth will not receive the gifts of salvation.
2T.291.002
BIBLE:
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Therefore the modern Christian must come to the conclusion that salvation and disobedience must also be synonymous. This is the reason the last days are characterized as a time when people "have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof."
But notice the above text in Hebrews 5:8-9. It says Christ is the author of eternal salvation unto all them THAT OBEY HIM.
"Don't you know that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness."
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you; immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
On account of these things the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience:
Once you also walked and lived in them.
But now, put off all these things...”
See Hebrews 10:26-30.
No matter who you are or what your life has been, you can be saved only in God's appointed way. You must repent; you must fall helpless on the Rock, Christ Jesus. You must feel your need of a physician and of the one only remedy for sin, the blood of Christ. This remedy can be secured only by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Here the work is yet to be begun by many who profess to be Christians and even to be ministers of Christ. Like the Pharisees of old many of you feel no need of a Saviour. You are self-sufficient, self-exalted. Said Christ: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The blood of Christ will avail for none but those who feel their need of its cleansing power.
You did not view sin as heinous in the sight of God, and put it away; you failed to make thorough work; and when the enemy came in with his temptations, you did not resist him. Had you seen how offensive sin was in the sight of God, you would not have so readily yielded to temptation. You were not so thoroughly converted as to abhor your life of sin and folly. Sin yet seemed pleasant to you, and you were loath to yield up its delusive pleasures. Your inmost soul was not converted, and you soon lost that which you had gained.
Matt. 7.24-27
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:"
18. DID JESUS ENTER THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE BEFORE OCTOBER 22, 1844?
EGW - NO: "I was shown that…the door was opened in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary, where the ark is, in which are contained the ten commandments. This door was not opened until the mediation of Jesus was finished in the holy place of the sanctuary in 1844. Then Jesus rose up and shut the door of the holy place, and opened the door into the most holy, and passed within the second veil, where he now stands by the ark." (Early Writings, p.42).
BIBLE - YES: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12 written in 60 AD).
NOTE: This Bible text was written in 60 AD, and it states that Jesus was already ministering in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary at least 1,824 years before 1844. Ellen White's 1844 scenario simply contradicts the clearest Scriptures!
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Interesting-- the verse says "holy place" not "most holy place"!
However, many newer verses have translated the word "ta hagia" as "most holy place". Now EGW does not contradict the words written in 60 A.D. at all. The words written in 60 A,D, mention that Jesus entered into the "hagia" which is the plural "HOLY PLACES". It is very interesting when one looks at the original, that the word "Most Holy Place" "hagia hagion" is specifically referred to only ONCE in Hebrews. It is to be ound ONLY in Hebrews 9:3 where the author describes the things beyond the SECOND VEIL, where the ark of the covenant is.
Note again that the original Greek word used throughout Hebrews says "HOLY PLACES" (plural), except in the one instance in Hebrews 9:3 where it speaks of the Holiest of all --
Hebrews 9 begins by talking about the earthly sanctuary which had two parts.
Hebrews is speaking of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as a whole. It is only through reinterpreting and retranslating that those who oppose the two phase ministry can support their theory.
In Hebrews nine it identifies the two apartments, it identifies the work of the priests in both the daily and the yearly. It then says Christ is ministering in the heavenly Holy Places (plural).
As we consider the earthly sanctuary we realize that the common people could only see the courtyard. They could not enter the sanctuary itself. Thus when the priest disappeared from their view he was entering through the first veil.
The verses of Hebrews 9, discuss all the services of the priests in their daily rounds, as well as that once a year the High Priest goes into the second apartment. The people could not see the priest in ANY of the work done in the holy places of the sanctuary, whether it was in the holy place OR most holy. In the same way, when Christ ascended to heaven we could no longer physically see Him. We must follow Him in faith as He ministers for us in the Holy Places in the sanctuary of heaven.
In the whole argument in Hebrews, although we see the powerful contrast between the better heavenly ministry as against the pattern of the earthly, there is no indication at all that the pattern is not followed, or that there is no two part ministry in the holy places. In fact the plural "holy places" and the emphases of the second veil in the only place the Most Holy is mentioned, seems to give very clear evidence that indeed Christ had a work in both places.
The interpreters have re-interpreted and rewritten Hebrews to suit their own interpretation.
(vs 9:2) describes the holy place. (Here the word is "hagia" "holy" with the article "ta")
(vs 9: 3, 4) describes the most holy place. (Here the word is “Holiest of all“ "hagia hagion")
( then the author says he wouldn't go into detail on the these things)
He then refers to the earthly priest's daily and yearly ministry.
The author makes the statement that while the earthly sanctuary was in operation the way into heavenly was not yet opened--
It was begun when Christ entered into the Holy Places (plural) with His own precious, saving blood.
-- The original is clear enough.
19. DID PAUL LEARN THE GOSPEL FROM MEN IN THE CHURCH?
EGW - YES: "Paul must receive instruction in the Christian faith and move accordingly. Christ sends him to His very disciples whom he had been so bitterly persecuting, to learn of them. Now Paul was in a condition to learn of those whom God had ordained to teach the truth. Christ directs Paul to His chosen servants, thus placing him in connection with His church. The very men whom Paul was purposing to destroy were to be his instructors in the very religion that he had despised and persecuted." (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p.430).
BIBLE - NO: "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not." (Gal. 1:11-12, 16-20).
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Read the story in Acts 9. Saul (Paul) meets Christ in a miraculous fashion on the road to Damascus. He is blinded. He asks "Lord, what do you want me to do?" The Lord tells him to go on into Damascus and he'd be told what to do.
God sends a disciple named Ananias to pray for Saul, to restore his sight and baptize him.
Acts 9:26-28
AA.128-129
The marvellous light given Paul upon that occasion astonished and confounded him. He was wholly subdued. This part of the work man could not do for Paul, but there was a work still to be accomplished which the servants of Christ could do. Jesus directs him to His agents in the church for a further knowledge of duty. Thus He gives authority and sanction to His organized church. Christ had done the work of revelation and conviction, and now Paul was in a condition to learn of those whom God had ordained to teach the truth. Christ directs Paul to His chosen servants, thus placing him in connection with His church."
And when he (Saul) had received food, he was strengthened. Then was Saul several days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God....
"And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem,
As Paul preached Christ in Damascus, all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?" Paul declared that his change of faith had not been prompted by impulse or fanaticism, but had been brought about by overwhelming evidence. ....
The opposition grew so fierce that Paul was not allowed to continue his labors at Damascus. A messenger from heaven bade him leave for a time and he went to Arabia.
Here, in the solitude of the desert, Paul had ample opportunity for quiet study and meditation. He calmly reviewed his past experience and made sure work of repentance. He sought God with all his heart, resting not until he knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted and his sin pardoned.
He longed for the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming ministry. He emptied his soul of the prejudices and traditions that had hitherto shaped his life, and received instruction from the Source of truth. ..... The greatness of the work before him led him to give much study to the Holy Scriptures, in order that he might preach the gospel
From Arabia Paul "returned again unto Damascus" (Galatians 1:17), and "preached boldly . . . in the name of Jesus." Unable to withstand the wisdom of his arguments, "the Jews took counsel to kill him." ...
After his escape from Damascus, Paul went to Jerusalem, about three years having passed since his conversion. His chief object in making this visit, as he himself declared afterward, was "to see Peter." Galatians 1:18. Upon arriving in the city where he had once been well known as "Saul the persecutor," "he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him,
"The light of heavenly illumination had taken away Paul's eyesight; but Jesus, the Great Healer of the blind, does not restore it. He answers the question of Paul in these words: Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Jesus could not only have healed Paul of his blindness, but He could have forgiven his sins and told him his duty by marking out his future course. From Christ all power and mercies were to flow; but He did not give Paul an experience, in his conversion to truth, independent of His church recently organized upon the earth.
EGW - SABBATH: "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).
BIBLE - HOLY SPIRIT: "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).
BIBLE - HOLY SPIRIT: "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Eph 4:30).
NOTE: This is a crucial contradiction. The Bible is certain that God's seal is the Holy Spirit. But EGW denies this Bible truth, claiming that the seventh-day Sabbath is God's seal. Thus Sabbath-keeping is promoted as the great determiner of who is lost and who is saved. In this, EGW proclaims that it is the Sabbath which saves, rather than Jesus Christ who saves! This is heresy, claiming salvation by works. EGW makes the Sabbath the greatest commandment of all.
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The Sabbath is the greatest commandment of all because it is the seal of the covenant relationship.
See Isaiah
The Sabbath is a relationship issues between the person and his/her GOD. Without us being in a covenant relationship with Christ, there is no salvation. The blood of Christ doesn’t free us to walk our own ways, we are to walk with CHRIST in the light. The Sabbath is a sign that we let go of “our things” “our pleasures” and jobs, and delight ourselves in the Lord, calling His holy day a delight. (Is. 58)
The Sabbath is a sign that it is God that sanctifies us, that He is our God, and we are His people.
This concept that people accuse us of thinking we earn heaven by not working on the Sabbath is totally missing the issue. The Sabbath is far more than just stopping our work. It is keeping it holy--- the only way to keep anything holy is to be with the ONE Who is holy. It is a sign of loyalty to our CREATOR.
The Holy Spirit changes our natures so we delight ourselves in the things of God. The Sabbath doesn't seal us, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and changes our natures so we delight to do God's will. The Sabbath is a sign that we are in covenant relationship with Christ. The sabbath is the sign of the seal, the Holy Spirit DOES the sealing.
To read more on: "The Seal, the Sealing, and the Sabbath," click here.
Isaiah 58 tells us if we take away our foot from the Sabbath and stop trampling on it, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shall honour him...delighting ourselves in the Lord; then HE will cause us to ride upon the high places and receive the heritage of Jacob....
Isaiah 53 is the great chapter on Christ the Lamb of God slain as a Lamb for our sins.
Isaiah 54 speaks of restoration
Isaiah 55 speaks of Christ making an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (55:3)
And calling a nation that knew not, and nations that knew not . (55:5)
Then Isaiah 56 speaks of the (new) covenant, when the sons of strangers and the eunuchs shall have a name better than of sons and of daughters. (These were not given such honor under the old covenant.)
In this covenant Isaiah places the SABBATH as central indication of “taking hold“ of God‘s covenant.
21. WILL WE KNOW THE EXACT DAY AND HOUR OF CHRIST'S COMING?
EGW - YES: "As God has shown me in holy vision…we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming." (Early Writings, pp.15,34,285).
BIBLE - NO: "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mat 25:13).
BIBLE - NO: "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mark 13:32).
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Does EGW say we now KNOW the day and hour?
No she most certainly does not!
It is at this point that God calls: “ENOUGH“, and moves to deliver His saints, “everyone that is written in the book of life.” (Daniel 12:1) And there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering, and an earthquake” (Rev. 11:19)
"If you are wearing the yoke of Christ, if you are lifting his burden, you will see that there is plenty to do in the same lines wherein the servants of God are laboring,--in preaching Christ and him crucified. But any one who shall start up to proclaim a message to announce the hour, day, or year of Christ's appearing, has taken up a yoke and is proclaiming a message that the Lord has never given him.
This context is at the very end of the world, when the great time of trouble spoken of by Daniel the prophet in (12:1) has commenced, and the plagues have been falling, and the death degree of Rev. 13:15 has gone forth to kill those who refuse to worship the beast and His image.
In the time of trouble we all fled from the cities and villages, but were pursued by the wicked….we all cried day and night for deliverance, and the cry came up before God. The sun came up, and the moon stood still. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, which shook the heavens and the earth. The sky opened and shut and was in commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind, and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones upon the land. And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus' coming and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with their eyes fixed upward, listening to the words as they came from the mouth of Jehovah, and rolled through the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. And at the end of every sentence the saints shouted, "Glory! Alleluia!" Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God; and they shone with the glory, as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked could not look on them for the glory. And when the never-ending blessing was pronounced on those who had honored God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image.
..confusion…for the wicked could not understand the words of the voice of God. Soon appeared the great white cloud.
Rev. 19:5-11
“Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And she was arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. …Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…..And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse…..”
EGW - YES: "We gathered about Jesus, and just as He closed the gates of the city, the curse was pronounced upon the wicked. The gates were shut. Then the saints used their wings and mounted to the top of the wall of the city." (Early Writings, p.53).
BIBLE - NO: "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Phil 3:21).
NOTE: The Bible says the resurrected saints will have a body like Christ's resurrected body. Nowhere in scripture is there even a hint that Jesus had wings.
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Isaiah 40.31
Matt. 22.30
Luke 20.36
Ez. 10.19
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight
23. ADAM WAS MORE THAN TWICE AS TALL AS MEN TODAY.
EGW - YES: "As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator…He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth…Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders." (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3 p.34).
"Adam's height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature;" (Patriarchs and Prophets, p.45).
Note: Not Biblical. The Bible does not tell us the height of Adam and Eve, but Ellen does not leave us in doubt as to their height.
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This statement by EGW, of course goes directly against the “educated” assumption of evolution. Evolution is now almost universally taught in contradiction to the Bible. It promotes the concept that man is progressing, rather then degenerating. I won’t be surprised if the antagonist would declare the Genesis story as an account not to be taken literally, thereby being the one in great contradiction to the Biblical truths.
However, even the fossil record affirms that ancient men were tall and noble in built. Cast aside all the “bones of contention” and you come to the Cro-Magnon Man. This is the earliest truly human peoples we have records of. He was well over six feet tall and all had a cranial volume slightly larger than man today. Pictures, preserved on cave walls, show Cro-Magnon people as wearing clothes (not skins), standing straight and upright, and living at the same time as the mammoth elephants!
Now turn to the Bible and see how many “giants” there were in the ancient world.
In Noah’s day:
Duet. 3.11
Then we’ve all heard of Goliath who was 9 feet and 9 inches tall.
With these Biblical examples it seems only logical that the first people were much taller then we are today!
There were giants in the earth in those days.
When Israel went to conquer Canaan, there were people living there that made them feel “like grasshoppers.” (Numbers 13:3, Duet. 2:10)
“It was known as a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; ..
A people great, and many, and tall.”
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
24. IN THE FIRES OF HELL,
The teaching of annihilation is not Biblical.
The concept of the immortal soul is one of the great errors of modern Christianity. It has opened the door of spiritualism for them. The Bible plainly states that the soul that sins, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4.
The issues of salvation are LIFE and DEATH issues. The choice is Eternal Life, or Eternal DEATH.
Yet the deceiver has brought in the supposition that EVERYONE has eternal life, there are just different ways of living it. and
What is death? Is it life?
The concept that a person will not REALLY die, is a lie that comes straight from the serpent's mouth. See Gen. 2:17, 3:4 Like Eve, modern Christians believe the deceiver.
God says the transgressor will die.
Satan says, God is lying they will not die.
EGW - (1898) YES: "When the Saviour's hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin." (Desire of Ages p.645).
EGW - (1902) NO: "As Christ celebrated this ordinance with His disciples, conviction came to the hearts of all save Judas." (Evangelism p.275).
Note: Mrs. White said yes in 1898 and God and Ellen changed their minds in 1902 and said no. This kind of inspiration is very hard to keep up with. I am thankful that the prophets of the Bible did not have this problem.
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It is this type of reasoning that is hard to understand.
Does the antagonist not know the difference between the “call” and the “response”? The Savior’s act was the last call to Judas to repent. Judas was influenced by the call, but REFUSED to yield.
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Jesus said to the disciples, "Ye are clean, but not all." He had washed the feet of Judas, but the heart had not been yielded to Him. It was not purified. Judas had not submitted himself to Christ.
But Judas was not yet wholly hardened. Even after he had twice pledged himself to betray the Saviour, there was opportunity for repentance. At the Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity by revealing the traitor's purpose. He tenderly included Judas in the ministry to the disciples. But the last appeal of love was unheeded. Then the case of Judas was decided, and the feet that Jesus had washed went forth to the betrayer's work.
Christ washed the feet of Judas. This was the time for Judas to confess his sin, and ask the forgiveness of Christ. This was his opportunity to accept Christ, or to shut the door of his heart against the light. The promptings of the Spirit were repressed. Judas partook of the broken body and spilled blood of his Lord, and went out from the table to betray his Master.
Infinite Love could do no more to bring Judas to repentance, and save him from taking this fatal step. If this service of his Master, in humbling himself to wash the feet of the worst sinner, did not break his heart, what more could be done? It was the last act of love that Jesus could evidence in behalf of Judas.
When Jesus' precious hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with an impulse there and then to confess. He was the first one whose feet were washed. The way Christ treated his disciples, and especially poor, deluded Judas, was a sample of his treatment of them all through his association with them. … But while the disciples were subdued and broken, and felt their hearts go out to Jesus .. Judas was rejecting Jesus.
26. JESUS' BROTHERS WERE OLDER THAN HE AND THEY WERE THE SONS OF JOSEPH AND SIDED WITH THE RABBIS.
EGW - YES: "All this displeased His brothers. Being older than Jesus, they felt that He should be under their dictation. His brothers, as the sons of Joseph were called, sided with the rabbis. They insisted that the traditions must be heeded, as if they were the requirements of God." (Desire of Ages, p.86,87).
Note: Not Biblical. EGW adds to the Bible the same way that Joseph Smith does in the Book of Mormon. How can Adventists claim that the Bible is the source of their faith and accept this as the truth, and do it with a straight face? The Bible clearly states that Jesus was the firstborn of Mary. (And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.) How can the firstborn have older brothers? (Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7).
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“His brothers, as the sons of Joseph were called”.
How does this contradict the fact that Jesus was the first born of MARY?
We know there were brothers:
EGW consistently refers to Jesus’ brothers and sisters as “the children of Joseph”.
And also consider: why did Jesus ask His disciple, John, to take care of His mother, after His death? If all those other children were Mary‘s, it would have been their responsibility to take care of their mother.
(John 19.26-27)
See also Mark 3:31-35
"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?"
We also see that Joseph is no longer part of the scene after the account of Jesus visit to the temple at the age of twelve. One infers that he died before Jesus began His ministry.
Was he an older man, widowed perhaps, with a family. It was not at all unusual for an older man to take a young wife.
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
The life of Christ was marked with respect and love for His mother. … The sons and daughters of Joseph knew this, and by appealing to her anxiety, they tried to correct the practices of Jesus according to their standard.
The sons of Joseph, his brethren, enlisted Mary to go with them; for they knew that his love for her would add to their influence in seeking to prevail upon him to be more prudent.
So these were some of the "supposed" contradictions. What do they contradict? They do not contradict the Bible, but they DO contradict many errors in the modern Christian world.
Return to Page One, Contradictions explored.