brent's 2nd truth

8/8/2019 Brent's 2nd Truth

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The Image of God:

Rejection of the error of Monotheism

Errors may be hoary with age; but age does not make error truth, nor trutherror. Altogether too long have the old customs and habits been followed. The Lord

would now have every idea that is false put awayfrom teachers andstudents. {6T 142.1}

Who is the author of this doctrine called Monotheism that teaches that there isliterally one God, when the Holy Scripture declares In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginningwith God. John 1:1,2

Who is the one, who inspires this type of thinking? - who opposeth and exaltethhimselfabove all that is called God , or that is worshipped; so that he as Godsitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4

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The character of God revealed in Christ

Our commission, our message, our power is in the treasure we have received fromheaven; a sacred trust to lighten the earth enshrouded in darkness. This treasure isthe knowledge of the glory of God revealed in His sacred law and in the HolyScriptures and in the life of Christ: The Character of the Living God. Gods characteris embodied in the Law of Ten Commandments, which are a transcript of Hischaracter. Gods Name, which is His character, was revealed to Moses at the top ofMount Sinai; And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, TheLORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant ingoodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity andtransgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visitingthe iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children'schildren, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

This is the character of God that through the grace of Christ, we are to attain untobefore Jesus second coming and our time of probation closes. When Christ shallcome, He will not change the character of any individual. Precious, probationarytime is given to be improved in washing our robes of character and making themwhite in the blood of the Lamb. {4T 429.2} Gods character is a perfection of thedivine attributes of Mercy and Justice; merciful and gracious -unto- will NOT clearthe guilty and visiting the iniquity

The more we study the attributes of the character of Godas revealed inChrist, the more we see thatjustice has been sustained in the sacrifice that metthe penalty of the law, and that mercy has been provided in the only begottenSon, who bore the penalty of the law in the sinner's place, in order that man mighthave another probation, another opportunityto be obedient to the law of God'sgovernment, that it might be made manifest who could be trusted to becomemembers of the Lord's family, children of the Heavenly King. {RH, March 9, 1897par. 6}


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Those who govern their families in the right way, will bring into the church aninfluence of order and reverence. They will represent the attributes of mercy and

justice as standing hand in hand. They will reveal to their children the characterof Christ. {RH, February 19, 1895 par. 3}

Worshipping a false conception of God is idolatry

In this next quote will see that it is by knowing Gods character, his Holy attributes,that we can be guarded from worshiping a false god, a philosophical idea of God inthe place of the true and living God:

Thousands have a false conception of God and His attributes. They are asverily serving a false godas were the servants of Baal. Are we worshiping thetrue God as He is revealed in His Word, in Christ, in nature, or are we adoring somephilosophical idol enshrined in His place? God is a God of truth.Justice and mercyare the attributes of His throne If such is the being whom we adore and towhose character we are seeking to assimilate, we are worshiping the trueGod. {5T 173.4}

EGW plainly stated that many are worshiping what they think to be God, but theyare worshipping an idol in His place. Because they have not yet understood theattributes of our Lords character revealed in Justice and Mercy, they have becomesubject to receive error about God in the place of a true knowledge of Him. Thevision of Habakkuk, showing that from Christs pierced side flows forth both bloodand water and at another time bright beams of light come forth, made plain uponthe two tables of the Ten Commandments also reveal the divine attributes of Godscharacter: Justice and Mercy, in a very plain and understandable way; that all maylook and behold the glory of the Lord represented in pictures, assimilate Hischaracter and thereby live.

Mercy and Justice as Personified in Spirit of Prophecy

In this next quote EGW personifies Mercy and Justice as divine Persons so that wecan understand more of the true knowledge of Gods character, and so that we canmore readily discern a counterfeit representation of Him:

We may understand the subject of the work of Christ. His object was to reconcilethe prerogatives of justice and mercy, and let each stand separate in itsdignity, yet united. His mercy was not weakness, but a terrible power to punishsin because it is sin; yet a power to draw to it the love of humanity. Through Christ

Justice is enabled to forgive without sacrificing one jot of its exalted holiness.

Justice and Mercy stood apart, in opposition to each other, separated by awide gulf. The Lord our Redeemer clothed his divinity with humanity, and wroughtout in behalf of man a character that was without spot or blemish. He planted hiscross midway between heaven and earth, and made it the object of attraction whichreached both ways, drawing both Justice and Mercy across the gulf.Justicemoved from its exalted throne, and with all the armies of heaven


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approached the cross. There it saw One equal with God bearing thepenalty for all injustice and sin. With perfect satisfaction Justice bowed inreverence at the cross, saying, It is enough. {GCB, October 1, 1899 par.21,22}

Here EGW likens Christ reconciliation of Mercy and Justice to the reconciliation of

Heaven and earth at the cross. She says Christs mercy was not weakness, andthen says, Justice moved from its exalted thronewith all the armies of heaven.

This is shows us that the attributes of Mercy and Justice teach us something aboutthe relationship between Jesus and the Father; behold, earlier she stated, Hisobject was to reconcile the prerogatives of justice and mercy, and let each standseparate in its dignity, yet united.

The Image of God

To have each Divine Attribute stand SEPARATE in their dignity, yet united is theglory of the character of God and the foundation of His everlasting government.

This is also known as the image of God. Two Exalted Equals standing separate intheir dignity, yet united. In the beginning, when God created the heavens and theearth as the abode of His special, precious creatures which He would make, Godsaid, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. The Hebrew word heretranslated God is Elohyim , which is a plural rendering of God signifying morethan one God. The Word continues and declares So God created man in his ownimage, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.(Gen 1:26,27) Human beings are made in the image of God, made after Hislikeness; it took both man AND woman for mankind to bear the image of God. Thisis because the image of God consists of two equal counterparts standing separate

in their dignity, yet united in mind, purpose and character; even as God the Fatherand Jesus His Son are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It isthus that God and Christ are one. {MH 422.1}

We read that EGW asked earlier, Are we worshiping the true God as He is revealedin His Word, in Christ, in nature...? We see that everything in nature has a mate, acounterpart; even as man and woman together bear the image of God. Thefollowing is what EGW said this should mean for us in the family home: The wifeand mother should not sacrifice her strength and allow her powers to lie dormant,leaning wholly upon her husband. Her individuality cannot be merged in his.She should feel that she is her husband's equal-- to stand by his side, shefaithful at her post of duty and he at his. {AH 231.2}

God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided "an help meet for him"--ahelper corresponding to him--one who was fitted to be his companion, and whocould be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken fromthe side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to betrampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to beloved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh,she was his second self; showing the close union and the affectionate attachmentthat should exist in this relation. {AH 25.3}


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The image of God is two equal counterparts two complementary partners actingtogether, distinct in their individuality, yet united in one holy purpose; even ashusband and wife should work together as one, even the Father and Jesus are onein purpose, in mind, in character. This complementary relationship is alsodisplayed in the relationship of the law and the gospel:

Image of God represented in the Law and the Gospel

The grace ofChrist and the law ofGod are inseparable. The law and the gospel

are inperfect harmony. Each upholds the other. In all its majesty the law

confronts the conscience, causing the sinner to feel his need of Christ as the

propitiation for sin. The gospel recognizes the power and immutability of the law. "I

had not known sin, but by the law," Paul declares (Rom. 7:7). The sense of sin,

urged home by the law, drives the sinner to the Saviour.

The gospel points to the moral code as a rule of life. That law, by itsdemands for undeviating obedience, is continually pointing the sinner tothe gospel for pardon and peace. {2MCP 563.2}

Between Them Both : The Two of Them

It very evident from the Holy Scriptures that God and Christ existed together fromall eternity as two separate and equal, yet united Divine both Uncreated Beings.Each One upholding, supporting, loving the Other. In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginningwith God. (John1:1,2) And the counsel of peace shall bebetween them both.(between the Two of Them, Zech. 6:13 Hebrew).

EGW had this to say about the Two of Them: Before the Father He (Jesus) pleadedin the sinner's behalf, while the host of heaven awaited the result with an intensityof interest that words cannot express. Long continued was that mysteriouscommuning--"the counsel of peace" (Zechariah 6:13) for the fallen sons of men{PP 63.3} "And the counsel of peace shall be between Them both. The love oftheFather, no less than ofthe Son, is the fountain of salvation for the lost raceAndin the ministration in the sanctuary above, "the counsel of peace shall be between

Them both." {GC 416.4}

Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God couldmake atonement for its transgression. {PP 63.2} The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine

Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father.Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God fromall eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. {1SM 247.4,3}

Then where does the idea of Monotheism come from?


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Since it is so clear that Jesus is God and is equal in every way to the Father - wherethen, does this idea of Monotheism, the belief that there is only ONE God, comefrom?

This theory, today called Monotheism, the idea that there is only One Godis from the mind of Satan. Monotheism is the foundation upon which Lucifer

established the reasoning behind his rebellion in heaven; the rebellion that carried athird of the angels with him to ruin. Thou shalt not surely die was Satans first liein the garden of Eden and the foundation of Modern Spiritualism; but the idea ofMonotheism is the foundation upon which the rebellion against thegovernment of God is built. It is time to expose this deceptive reasoning fromthe enemy of all righteousness so that we can discover the snare Satan has laid forcenturies to keep Christians from entering into the fullness of Truth.

Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto thelowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire thefoundations of the mountains.

The foundation for Babylon was laid by Lucifer in heaven, by framing a lie.Jeremiah 51:25 Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD,which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, androll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

To study this, God has provided for our limited understanding by giving us the Spiritof Prophecy to prepare an end of time people, a people prepared for Jesus secondcoming. These people who perfectly reflect Christs character will also be purgedfrom every remaining vestige of error by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Letsus now learn and receive the Spirit of Prophecy

Satans rebellion based on his supposition of Monotheism, as revealed inthe Spirit of Prophecy

The following is a summary of the events recorded in the first chapter of EGWsbook Patriarchs and Prophets, called Why was sin permitted; and werecommend that you also read the first chapter in its entirety.

Selected quotes from Patriarchs and Prophets pages 34-42 (my comments inparentheses):

The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had anassociate--a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy

in giving happiness to created beings. "In the beginning was the Word, and theWord was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning withGod." John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with theeternal Father--one in nature, in character, in purpose--the only being that couldenter into all the counsels and purposes of God.

(EGW here begins by showing that the Father and Jesus existed together for alleternity; both equally God, separate, yet one in nature, in character, in purpose)


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The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly beings. By Him wereall things created . . .

(Jesus is the hand which created all things, He is God; the Father worked throughJesus in creation, they are equal.)

Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God andwas highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Lucifer, "son ofthe morning," was firstof the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled Little by littleLucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation Not content with his position,though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to covet homage duealone to the Creator.

(Lucifer, though an honored angel created by Christ, came to desire the worship(homage) which was due only to The Creator)

Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more determined.

To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God, thus impeaching

the wisdom and love of the Creator, had become the purpose of this prince ofangels.

Yet the Son of God was exalted above him (Lucifer), as one in power and authoritywith the Father. He (Jesus) shared the Father's counsels, while Lucifer did not thusenter into the purposes of God. "Why," questioned this mighty angel, "should Christhave the supremacy? Whyis He honored above Lucifer?"

(Here EGW shows that Lucifer clearly questioned WHY Jesus was shown to be equalwith the Father. Lucifer questioned why had God said that to Him (Jesus), as wellas to God, their (the angles) homage and allegiance were due?)

Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer went forth to

diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels.

(Now lets see the lies Lucifer spread among the angels)

The exaltation of the Son of God as equalwith the Father wasrepresentedas an injustice to Lucifer, who, it was claimed, was also entitled toreverence and honor (Lucifer claimed) now even the liberty which they (theangels) had hitherto enjoyed was at an end; for an absolute Ruler had beenappointed them, and to His authority all must pay homage. Such were thesubtle deceptions that through the wiles of Lucifer were fast obtaining in theheavenly courts.

(Lucifer worked to insinuate that God conferred upon Jesus honors which were notalready His. He is saying that if God should thus arbitrarily give glory and honor to

Jesus, then Lucifer should have it as well, being that he was firstof the coveringcherubs. In saying these things, Lucifer ispurposely denying the fact that Jesuscreated Lucifer and all the angels; Lucifer was falsely wondering why Jesus shouldbe worshipped equally as the Father is worshiped. Lucifer then crowned hisargument by saying that in Jesus being exalted to equality with God the Father,another God (Ruler) has been newlyappointed over thembut Jesus was alwaysGod, the Father had already said so. Lucifer was lying to the angels about Jesus.)


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There had been no change in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer'senvy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had madenecessary a statement of the true position of the Son of God; but this had been thesame from the beginning. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer'sdeceptions.

Lucifer had presented the purposes of God in a false light--misconstruing anddistorting them to excite dissent and dissatisfaction There were some who lookedwith favor upon Lucifer's insinuations against the government of God. Although theyhad heretofore been in perfect harmony with the order which God had established,they were now discontented and unhappy because they could not penetrate Hisunsearchable counsels; they were dissatisfied with His purpose in exaltingChrist. These stood ready to second Lucifer's demand for equal authority with theSon of God.

The preference shown to Christ he declared an act of injustice both tohimself and to all the heavenly host, and announced that he would no longer submitto this invasion of his rights and theirs. He would never again acknowledge the

supremacyof Christ. He had determined to claim the honor which should havebeen given him, and take command of all who would become his followers; and hepromised those who would enter his ranks a new and better government,under which all would enjoy freedom. Great numbers of the angels signified their

purpose to accepthim as their leader.

(Here we see whither Satans denial of Christ as God was drifting. When heinsinuated that Jesus should not be honored as God, he was inferring that he wouldacknowledge the Father, but not Christ, as God. If God the Father should contradictthis Monotheistic idea Satan spread among the angels, then this rebel leader toldthem he would form a new government where he would be their sole leader; andthen, as he insinuated, there wouldnt be this confusion of having two Rulers.)

For himself (Satan), he was determined never again to acknowledge theauthorityof Christ He had artfully presented his side of the question, employingsophistry and fraud to secure his objects. His power to deceive was very great. Bydisguising himself in a cloak of falsehood, he had gained an advantage. All his actswere so clothed with mystery that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the truenature of his work. Until fully developed, it could not be made to appear the evilthing it was; his disaffection would not be seen to be rebellion. Even the loyal angelscould not fully discern his character or see to what his work was leading And hishigh position, so closely connected with the divine government, gave greater forceto his representations.

The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon thegovernment of God. All evil he declared to be the result of the divine administration.He claimed that it was his own object to improve upon the statutes of Jehovah.

Therefore God permitted him to demonstrate the nature of his claims, to show theworking out of his proposed changes in the divine law. His own work mustcondemn him.

For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, he (Satan) must morefully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might


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be seen in their true light by all created beings, and that the justice and mercyof Godand the immutability of His law might be forever placed beyond allquestion. {PP 42.3}

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EGW sums up what the rebellion of Lucifer was truly about in heaven in her bookSpirit of Prophecy Vol. 1 in the following simple words:

He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related thepreference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself. He told them thathenceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end. For had nota ruler been appointed over them, to whom they from henceforth mustyield servile honor? He stated to them that he had called them together to assurethem that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs; thatnever would he again bow down to Christ; that he would take the honoruponhimself which should have been conferred upon him, and would be thecommander of allwho would submit to follow him and obey his voice. There

was contention among the angels. Satan and his sympathizers were striving toreform the government of God. They were discontented and unhappy because theycould not look into his unsearchable wisdom and ascertain his purposes in exaltinghis Son Jesus, and endowing him with such unlimited power and command. Theyrebelled against the authority of the Son. {1SP 18.2}

Monotheism, the belief that there is only one God, is a lie of Satan. Herebelled against Gods government, where there were two Rulers Who were equal,united and loving, each upholding the Other. Lucifers loyalty was tested and hefailed, by showing jealousy and coveting what was not his. Satan built his rebellionby insinuating his deceptions and getting his hearers to accept the idea that there isonly one God, and that that is how it should be. His deception ends with himenticing his hearers to follow him and accept him as their one god.

Jews believed error that their own scriptures taught Monotheism

Satan inspired the Jews to misinterpret their own scriptures, according to his lie ofMonotheism; but it is only because of back-sliding and sin that Satan was successfulin doing this. Had the Jews been faithful to God, they would not have come to thisconclusion. God revealed Himself as Elohyim (a plural expression of Deity) and Godsaid let US make man in our own image. The Jews consistently understood theword elohyim as gods when it was used to describe the gods of other nations. Yetthey taught that Elohyim means God in a singular sense, according to their

traditional understanding, when it applied to Elohyim their God; when they did this,they were not explaining it according to the proper use of their own language. Itwas not Gods will that the Jews should be thus deceived.

All error must be removed to receive the fullness of the latter rain ofChrists Spirit


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Now, at the end of the world, it is time we proclaim the truth so that we mightreceive the fullness of the latter rain of Gods Spirit: The Spirit of Truth. The latterrain will be poured out without measure into new bottles, not old bottles still holdingonto vain ideas received by tradition from (our) fathers of the flesh. We have aduty not only to reject error, but lift up the message of truth unto those still coveredin the rubbish of error.

I saw that the Man with the "dirt brush" has entered, and that some are indanger of being swept away. {EW 48.2}

I remembered God, and earnestly prayed that He would send me help.Immediately the door opened, and a Man entered the room, when the people allleft it; and He, having a dirt brush in His hand, opened the windows, andbegan to brush the dirt and rubbish from the room. {EW 83.1,2}

Errors may be hoary with age; but age does not make error truth, nor trutherror. Altogether too long have the old customs and habits been followed. The Lordwould now have every idea that is false put awayfrom teachers and

students. {6T 142.1}

Every error is sin from Satan

Every error is sin, and every sin has its origin with Satan. Wrong practices haveblinded the eyes and blighted the perceptive faculties of men and women. We neednow to be guarded on every point. . . . {TDG 163.2}

I was shown that if God's people make no efforts on their part, but wait for therefreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors;if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and

fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting. Therefreshing or power of God comes only on those who have preparedthemselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely,cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfectingholiness in the fear of God. {1T 619.1}

Additional information and studies under this topic:

- Places in Old Testament where Jews should have seen error of Monotheism.(some examples: Ps. 45:7 and Ps. 110.1 was God talking to Himself?)

- Satan led Jews to believe that Messiah, would be a man and not God. (Jesussilences His critics Matt. 22:41-46)

- The major world religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity) promote theirMonotheistic belief as foundation for future unity.

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