Recent videos by anti-trinitarians Nader Mansour and Michael McCaffrey are circulating among Seventh Day Adventists and causing some confusion. In these videos they imply that the doctrine of the SDA Church on the Trinity/Godhead, is the same as the doctrine of the Trinity that the Catholic church teaches, which is not true at all. The Catholic church actually teaches the same understanding of Christ as the anti-trinitarians, that Jesus is created and not self-existing from eternity with the Father. At first glance they seem to be presenting a thorough study, but unfortunately they only present how important the Catholic trinity doctrine is for the Roman Catholic church and how through the trinity doctrine ecumenism can be established with other denominations. But they do not show what the Roman Catholic church actually teaches in their Trinity doctrine. Please do a thorough study of the teaching of the Roman Catholic church, and it will clearly be seen that their Trinity doctrine and the Trinity teaching of the SDA Church is vastly different.
In these videos they use the age old method of mentioning individuals, institutions, magazines etc. within the SDA church that go to ecumenical meetings, or that write positive articles on ecumenism etc., to discredit the entire SDA church as an organisation, that is, according to them, in apostacy. In other words they want you to leave the SDA Church!
Something to ponder: We are on the verge of the shaking that is to take place inside of the SDA church, that will shake the un-consecrated out of the church and thereby purifying the church to receive the latter rain. If you therefore leave the church because of any of these winds of doctrines, thinking that the main body is Babylon, aren’t you standing outside, meaning you have been shaken out?
It is sad to see how easily the people in the SDA church are side-tracked by these winds of doctrine blowing in the church, when we have such clear instructions in the Bible and Spirit of prophecy. If people in the SDA church are so quickly side tracked by these winds of doctrine, how on earth are they going to stand on the side of God’s commandment keeping people during the trouble that is about to hit this earth!?
These anti-trinitarians also use statements by Ellen G. White to try and prove their points, but they only use quotes that never explain the Godhead.
Below are some quotes by Ellen G. White that without a shadow of a doubt show that the doctrine on the Godhead by the SDA Church is sound and that there are three co-eternal divine persons in the Godhead namely God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
21LtMs, Ms 21, 1906, par. 8-11
(Note: This quote alone is actually sufficient to refute any argument against the Trinity/Godhead doctrine as it is taught by the SDA church.)
I am instructed to say, The sentiments of those who are searching for advanced scientific ideas are not to be trusted. Such representations as the following are made: “The Father is as the light invisible; the Son is as the light embodied; the Spirit as the light shed abroad.” “The Father is like the dew, invisible vapor; the Son is like the dew gathered in beauteous form; the Spirit is like the dew fallen to the seat of life.” Another representation: “The Father is like the invisible vapor. The Son is like the leaden cloud. The Spirit is rain fallen and working in refreshing power.”
All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect, untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthly likeness can be compared to. God cannot be compared with the things His hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of the sins of man. The Father cannot be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and is invisible to mortal sight.
The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be “the express image of His person.” [Hebrews 1:3.] “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] Here is shown the personality of the Father.
The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.
Review and Herald, April 5, 1906, par. 9
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Here the pre-existence of Christ and the purpose of his manifestation to our world are presented as living beams of light from the eternal throne.
1SP 18.2
They clearly set forth that Jesus was the Son of God, existing with him before the angels were created; and that he had ever stood at the right hand of God, and his mild, loving authority had not heretofore been questioned;
Review and Herald, April 5, 1906, par. 5,6,7
“The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God.
The world was made by him, “and without him was not anything made that was made.” If Christ made all things, he existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by him as his right. This was no robbery of God.
Letters and Manuscripts 14, Ms 66, 1899, par. 11
We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, unseen by human eyes, that the Lord God is our Keeper and Helper.
Letters and Manuscripts 21, Ms 20, 1906, par. 32
The Holy Spirit always leads to the written Word. The Holy Spirit is a person; for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. What strong evidence of the power of truth we can give to believers and unbelievers when we can voice the words of John, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” [1 John 4:16.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 31
The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. “For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him; even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” [1 Corinthians 2:11.]
Letters and Manuscripts 12, Ms 22, 1897, par. 19
The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.
Special Testimonies, Series A (1897).
In Co-operation With the Three Highest Powers—We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,—and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God.
Letters and Manuscripts 15, Ms 57, 1900, par. 11
The work is laid out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by baptism, and has become a receiver of the pledge from the three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Letters and Manuscripts 8, Ms 93, 1893, par. 8
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ’s name. He personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality. We may have the Holy Spirit if we ask for it and make it [a] habit to turn to and trust in God rather than in any finite human agent who may make mistakes.
Letters and Manuscripts 15, Ms 27a, 1900, par. 10
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient, receive those who truly enter into covenant relation with God. They are present at every baptism, to receive the candidates who have renounced the world and have received Christ into the soul temple. These candidates have entered into the family of God, and their names are inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life.
Letters and Manuscripts 15, Ms 27a, 1900, par. 22
Three distinct agencies, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, work together for human beings. They are united in the work of making the church on earth like the church in heaven. They place the resources of heaven at the disposal of those who will appreciate and impart these spiritual treasures, multiplying them by using them to the glory of God.
Youth Instructor, January 3, 1905, par. 1
“I am the resurrection, and the life.” He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again,” came forth from the grave to life that was in himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die. In his divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. He declares that he has life in himself to quicken whom he will.
Patriarchs and Prophets p.305.4
Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship.
Education p.135.1
“When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13. Only by the aid of that Spirit who in the beginning “was brooding upon the face of the waters;” of that Word by whom “all things were made;” of that “true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,” can the testimony of science be rightly interpreted. Only by their guidance can its deepest truths be discerned.
ELLEN WHITE’S TRINITARIAN STATEMENTS: WHAT DID SHE ACTUALLY SAY:
VIEW OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH REGARDING THE TRINTY:
I would never leave our beloved SDA Church, but some pastors have been disfellowshipped after even questioning. This is wrong too. I have sent you a YouTube series from Daniel Mesa on his response to Doug Batchelor’s co – equal trinity. Our church is no longer inline with the original pioneers of 1844-1900.
I have been studying in prayer regarding our view of the H.S. and the Godhead. I would encourage to look or have someone review Daniel Mesa and Dr. Allen Davis’s YouTube videos, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzNG-fC2xKU&t=3s
; Maybe look at
THEOS series : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvawcR3wzZDuh1G9F_Lsp848iLznlP1G
and look at the
THEOS book: https://www.trsc.today/php/Books/TheosBook.pdf
I did a search through EGW’s library on the “Heavenly Guest” word study. It was quite amazing. I would never leave the church ! I question if we have gone over to the RC side with our views of the Trinity. I know you say we have a vastly different view, but it’s worth looking at these and doing more study. Thank you so much for all you do. Your videos have brought my husband and I such a blessing. I have downloaded your Total Onslaught and a few others for our Austrian spiritualists friends and they are really impressed with you. They won’t give up Rudolph Steiner for future prophecy, but have accepted your information from Creation to today. They want specifics and dates for what is happening to us today. Thank you.
Hi, Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
Nader Mansour and Michael McCaffrey I have seen and heard, although not extensively – not enough to have heard either suggesting treating the SDA church as Babylon. While that IS a problem, surely it has become increasingly difficult to deny the increasingly bold actions and statements of GC officials in kissing up to the vatican. In fact, to ignore or deny these egregious errors in judgment would seem to be unbecoming of a faithful watchman on the wall.
More to the point, though: both of these men present many SoP statements along the way that do constitute grounds for concern, and they cannot be brushed aside by denouncing any conclusions regarding SDA==Babylon. If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck…. That says NOTHING of any value about the real, true history of the trinity question within Adventism!
Without belaboring specifics, I don’t find Mansour’s arguments bullet-proof, but my worst difficulty with what I HAVE heard/seen of McCaffrey is his inability to pronounce the word “unanimity.”
Neither of these men, though, have been elected as official spokesmen for those of us who choke on the current WEAK arguments for accepting the RCC-sourced trinity doctrine into our church. Some of the best and brightest in our church do not make sound, logical arguments to try to prop up the PRO-T view, but were I to attempt to defend my non-trinitarian stance by simply pointing out their various erroneous conclusions I would not expect to gain any ground with anyone.
Similarly, I do not find it helpful to argue the semantics of the term “trinitarian” or “Arian” as if they are clearly understood by all. I cannot understand how ANY of us can be comfortable with clinging to the trinity label, given its RCC roots, and that means YOU SPECIFICALLY! I’ve spent many, MANY hours at your feet, as it were, to the point where I believe that I know you well, and that means I’ve heard LOTS of discussion of the pagan roots of the RCC heresies and symbols. Thus the very COVER of the Trinity book by Moon et al should cause YOU grief, TOO!
But if I may cut to the chase of my post: nevermind Mansour and McCaffree, and I’ll overlook Moon, Whidden & Reeve, Peterson, Knight, Gane (a personal friend, actually) and Batchelor. If you can find ANYONE on their side that can answer Terry Hill’s research I’ll be willing to take a look. I won’t be holding my breath, though. IOW – good luck with that?
I believe and accept much of what Clash of Minds teaches. But in regard to the trinity deception, first of all you should tell the truth and not lies about the non-trinitarian folks. They do not believe in an eternally generated Son, nor a 3 persons who are mysteriously one god being. I personally believe, as taught in Scripture and by EGW and the early SDA pioneers, that God is a person, an individual being with substance and form, who is the God and Father of Jesus Christ (see also 1 Cor 8:5-6). I believe that there is one true God, in personality, who is God the Father, the Source of all being. I believe that Jesus was the Son of God from all eternity, from the beginning, begotten of the Father before any creation existed. It would do you well to correctly understand the meaning of “eternity,” “everlasting,” “eternal,” and related terms from the Hebrew understanding. The words do not actually mean “without beginning,” as is so often promoted, but rather “ancient times, beyond the distant horizon (past and future), time out of mind, from of old, from the beginning.” God the Father has always been, no dispute there. According to EGW, the Son has been in the presence of the Father “from the beginning.” Scripture states, “In the beginning was the Word.” All creation was by and for the Son of God. I believe that Jesus was a true Son, before His incarnation in Bethlehem. God so loved us that He sent His Son into our world, not a metaphor or role-play. Read Patriarchs and Prophets, chapter 1, carefully. Who is mentioned there as being worshipped by the angels in heaven? Contrary to popular opinion, Ellen White, as an SDA, was never a trinitarian. The early SDA church was not a trinitarian church. The SDA church was not officially a trinitarian denomination until 1980 (red flag warning). According to Walter and Martin’s own words, when quoting EGW, we should not go where error is being taught or idolatry is being practiced. The SDA Church today is in open apostasy and is a changed religion, a new organization in comparison to the early SDA church that stood upon the original pillars of truth written down and published in 1872 and at later times. A philosophical idol has been set up in modern SDA teachings. Nader Mansour, Michael McCaffery, and others are promoting truth that will indeed cause a shaking in the SDA church and this is as God would have it. He wants His people to wake up and acknowledge that Jesus is in verity the SON OF GOD and has been God’s Son from the beginning, from of old, from ancient times, from all eternity. The truth about God and His only begotten Son is vital truth that the church of today desperately needs, but has forgotten and forsaken. Non-trinitarians fully believe in a heavenly trio—one God, the Father; one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the one true and living God; and the Holy Spirit, the omnipresent Spirit of God and of Christ. God is divine and His Son is divine + human. Both the Father and Son are spiritually represented by their Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God and of Christ. As EGW clearly states, “We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is with His people today, not in His human form, but rather in Spirit, a spiritual manifestation. The Lord is that Spirit. The second Adam was made a quickening spirit. It is Christ Himself, in the omnipresence of His Spirit, that IS COME in the flesh, the flesh of true believers in Christ. Christ in you is the hope of glory. If you are going to write about non-trinitarians, then please tell the truth and avoid promoting hearsay and oft repeated lies. Jesus as a human being had a created body and mind according to EGW, but as a divine being He was begotten, not created. He was begotten of God’s own divine substance, which always has been. The Son, as an individual personality, is from the beginning, but His divine substance, of which He was begotten, always has been. https://thestoryofredemption.org … read the first 5 chapters and tell me what you find there … a trinity … or a Father and His Son being worshipped by all the heavenly beings. We have one God and one Lord; and one Spirit—the Spirit of Christ, will bring unity into the ranks of SDA’s. Those who deny the true Sonship of Christ are denying the very foundation of the Christian religion. May God help us to see the truth in this vital matter. Yes, TRUTH MATTERS!
https://1God1Lord1Spirit.org | https://trinitydoctrine.org
https://GodsOnlyBegottenSon.org | https://godheadtruth.com
https://Vaccines.Exposed | https://Back2Eden.org (health)
“… There are many who deny the preexistence of Christ, and therefore deny his divinity; they do not accept him as a personal Saviour. This is a total denial of Christ. He was the only-begotten Son of God, who was one with the Father from the beginning. By him the worlds were made.” — Ellen White, Signs of the Times, May 28, 1894, par. 1
I would like to repeat here the words of Hitler: “Tell a lie loud enough and long enough and people will believe it.” That is exactly what is happening with non-trinitarians. People heard so many times that non-trinitarians believe that Christ was created and that they say there is no Holy Spirit, that they believe the lie without investigating if it is true. I am here to attest in behalf of all non-trinitarians, that we don’t believe Christ is a created being or that the Holy Spirit does not exist. We believe that Christ is a fully divine being, same as His Father and the Holy Spirit exists and is the third personality of divinity, or Their omnipresence as the SOP confirms. “Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, “the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name.” “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” Letter 7, 1891— 14MR 180.4
As far as the SDA and Catholic trinity, McCaffrey and Mansour show the actual quotes side by side and anyone that wants to see can attest that they are the same with some minor differences.
I will state below both the Catholic trinity doctrine and the Adventist one. As you can see, in the Catholic version you have a mixture of truth and error, on one hand saying that the Son is begotten, but they make a mockery of it by saying it is by “eternal generation”. Same about the Spirit. But there is a part that the adventists adopted:
“Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: “the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God.” In this Trinity of Persons the Son is begotten of the Father by an eternal generation, and the Holy Spirit proceeds by an eternal procession from the Father and the Son. Yet, notwithstanding this difference as to origin, the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent. This, the Church teaches, is the revelation regarding God’s nature which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came upon earth to deliver to the world: and which she proposes to man as the foundation of her whole dogmatic system.” (Catholic Encyclopedia — The Blessed Trinity)
“Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son’s is another, the Holy Spirit’s another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal” — Catechism of the Catholic Church #266
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“There is only one God (Deut. 6:4), however, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all called God (Matthew 27:46, John 20:28: Acts 5:3-4). Consequently, we do not worship three Gods, but one God who reveals Himself in and consists of three ‘persons.’ The three persons share one indivisible nature. Each person of the Godhead is by nature and essence God, and the fullness of the deity dwells in each of them. On the other hand, each person of the Godhead is inseparably connected to the other two. This concept of God surpasses our experiences and our intellect. ¶ We do not believe in three Gods but one God in three persons. These three personalities participate in one substance. In the divine unity there are three coeternal and coequal persons, who, though distinct, are the one undivided God.” (Ekkehardt Mueller, Biblical Research Institute, Reflections newsletter, July 2008, Page 9, ‘Scripture Applied, – A Bible Study’)
“Immortal, all-powerful and all-loving, God is a relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. …There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. (https://www.adventist.org/en/beliefs/god/trinity/)
“The core elements of the doctrine of the Trinity are oneness and distinctiveness. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, yet three. To express this conviction, words and expressions came into use that are not explicitly used in the Bible. THE ONENESS OF GOD WE CONFESS BY CLAIMING THAT GOD IS ONE IN BEING; the distinctiveness we confess by teaching that there are three persons.” (Paul Petersen, Andrews University, May 2015, page 3, ‘God in 3 Persons — in the New Testament’)
“Therefore, we must confess that the Trinity IS ONE INDIVISIBLE GOD and that the distinctions of the persons do not destroy the divine unity. THIS UNITY OF GOD IS EXPRESSED BY SAYING THAT HE IS ONE SUBSTANCE. Nevertheless, in the divine unity there are three co-eternal and co-equal persons, who, though distinct, are the One undivided and adorable God. This is the doctrine of Scripture.” (Raoul Dederen, Reflections on the Doctrine of the Trinity, page 16, Andrews University Seminar Studies)
“The three persons of the Trinity, however, must be inclusive and not independent of one another. Because there is but one true God, by nature we have to conclude that HE IS PLURAL AS TO PERSONS BUT SINGLE AS TO SUBSTANCE.” (Max Hatton, Understanding the Trinity’, page 20, 2001)
“In Scripture God has revealed His transcendent nature as Trinity, namely three distinct divine Persons who act directly and historically in history AND CONSTITUTING THE ONE DIVINE TRINITARIAN BEING.” (Dr Fernando Canale, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, SDA Bible Commentary series, Volume 12, page 138)
“Trinitarianism is the orthodox belief that there is but one living and true God. Nevertheless this one God is a unity of three persons, WHO ARE OF ONE SUBSTANCE, power and eternity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Gerhard Pfandl, Associate Director, Seventh-day Adventist Biblical Research Institute, ‘The Doctrine of the Trinity among Adventists’, 1999)
I want to start by repeating the words of Hitler: “Tell a lie loud enough and long enough and people will believe it.” This is very true today in this discussion about non-trinitarians. They are accused of believing that Christ is a created being and that there is no Holy Spirit. This cannot be further from the truth. As one that has studied this issue from all angles, I can attest that non-trinitarians believe in the full deity of Christ and in the Holy Spirit as the third personality of Divinity, as the omnipresence of the spirit of Christ, as we are told in the Spirit of Prophecy: “Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, “the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name.” “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” Letter 7, 1891— 14MR 180.4
Regarding the SDA and Catholic trinity, I have evidence that they are the same with minor differences. I will state below both the Catholic trinity doctrine and the Adventist one. As you will see, in the Catholic version you have a mixture of truth and error, on one hand saying that the Son is begotten, but they make a mockery of it by saying it is by “eternal generation”. Non-trinitarians believe in Christ as the begotten Son of God, but not in the “eternal generation” dogma. Catholics believe the tree gods are co-eternal, co-equal and they make up one triune god. Same in the SDA doctrine.
Catholic:
“Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: “the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God.” In this Trinity of Persons the Son is begotten of the Father by an eternal generation, and the Holy Spirit proceeds by an eternal procession from the Father and the Son. Yet, notwithstanding this difference as to origin, the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent. This, the Church teaches, is the revelation regarding God’s nature which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came upon earth to deliver to the world: and which she proposes to man as the foundation of her whole dogmatic system.” (Catholic Encyclopedia — The Blessed Trinity)
“Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son’s is another, the Holy Spirit’s another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal” — Catechism of the Catholic Church #266
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SDA:
“There is only one God (Deut. 6:4), however, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all called God (Matthew 27:46, John 20:28: Acts 5:3-4). Consequently, we do not worship three Gods, but one God who reveals Himself in and consists of three ‘persons.’ The three persons share one indivisible nature. Each person of the Godhead is by nature and essence God, and the fullness of the deity dwells in each of them. On the other hand, each person of the Godhead is inseparably connected to the other two. This concept of God surpasses our experiences and our intellect. ¶ We do not believe in three Gods but one God in three persons. These three personalities participate in one substance. In the divine unity there are three coeternal and coequal persons, who, though distinct, are the one undivided God.” (Ekkehardt Mueller, Biblical Research Institute, Reflections newsletter, July 2008, Page 9, ‘Scripture Applied, – A Bible Study’)
“Immortal, all-powerful and all-loving, God is a relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. …There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons.
“The core elements of the doctrine of the Trinity are oneness and distinctiveness. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, yet three. To express this conviction, words and expressions came into use that are not explicitly used in the Bible. THE ONENESS OF GOD WE CONFESS BY CLAIMING THAT GOD IS ONE IN BEING; the distinctiveness we confess by teaching that there are three persons.” (Paul Petersen, Andrews University, May 2015, page 3, ‘God in 3 Persons — in the New Testament’)
“Therefore, we must confess that the Trinity IS ONE INDIVISIBLE GOD and that the distinctions of the persons do not destroy the divine unity. THIS UNITY OF GOD IS EXPRESSED BY SAYING THAT HE IS ONE SUBSTANCE. Nevertheless, in the divine unity there are three co-eternal and co-equal persons, who, though distinct, are the One undivided and adorable God. This is the doctrine of Scripture.” (Raoul Dederen, Reflections on the Doctrine of the Trinity, page 16, Andrews University Seminar Studies)
“The three persons of the Trinity, however, must be inclusive and not independent of one another. Because there is but one true God, by nature we have to conclude that HE IS PLURAL AS TO PERSONS BUT SINGLE AS TO SUBSTANCE.” (Max Hatton, Understanding the Trinity’, page 20, 2001)
“In Scripture God has revealed His transcendent nature as Trinity, namely three distinct divine Persons who act directly and historically in history AND CONSTITUTING THE ONE DIVINE TRINITARIAN BEING.” (Dr Fernando Canale, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, SDA Bible Commentary series, Volume 12, page 138)
“Trinitarianism is the orthodox belief that there is but one living and true God. Nevertheless this one God is a unity of three persons, WHO ARE OF ONE SUBSTANCE, power and eternity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Gerhard Pfandl, Associate Director, Seventh-day Adventist Biblical Research Institute, ‘The Doctrine of the Trinity among Adventists’, 1999)
John14:16,17,18
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seethhim not, neither know him; but ye know him for HE DWELLETH with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Our LORD at this point was talking directly to to his disciples