Chapter 5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:1- 4

 

The above text gives you Christ’s preexistence in a nutshell. It is clear that Christ was active here on earth throughout Biblical history. He is part of the Godhead and is our Saviour.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." Before the last developments of the work of apostasy there will be a confusion of faith. There will not be clear and definite ideas concerning the mystery of God. One truth after another will be corrupted. "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 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. Signs of the Times 05-28-94

It is our individual duty to walk humbly with God. We are not to seek any strange, new message. We are not to think that the chosen ones of God who are trying to walk in the light compose Babylon. The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the preexistence of Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God's holy, sanctified day. Ellen G. White Volume 4 The Australian Years 1891-1900 p.81

What are those four errors mentioned above by God’s messenger? 1. Natural immortality of the soul. 2. Eternal torment of the wicked. 3. The denial of the preexistence of Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem. 4. Advocating and exalting the first day of the week. Do we see these being brought into the doctrines of the ‘bibles’ being printed today? Yes! We have already seen how the first two have been introduced into them. Now let’s look at the third, the denial of the preexistence of Christ. The last one will be dealt with in a later chapter.

Old Testament

If there is any record of Christs preexistence it should be found in the Old Testament as well as the new. That would be where the apostles would have gotten their doctrine. In the book of Daniel we read of the three Hebrews that were thrown into the fiery furnace. Read carefully what king Nebuchadnezzar said when he saw the fourth person in the fire:

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Daniel 3:25 KJV

Here we have a statement from the king that he recognized Christ. He knew that this fourth person was more than another man. Christ revealed Himself to king Nebuchadnezzar.

These faithful Hebrews possessed great natural ability, they had enjoyed the highest intellectual culture, and now occupied a position of honor; but all this did not lead them to forget God. Their powers were yielded to the sanctifying influence of divine grace. By their steadfast integrity they showed forth the praises of Him who had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. In their wonderful deliverance were displayed, before that vast assembly, the power and majesty of God. Jesus placed Himself by their side in the fiery furnace, and by the glory of His presence convinced the proud king of Babylon that it could be no other than the Son of God. The light of Heaven had been shining forth from Daniel and his companions, until all their associates understood the faith which ennobled their lives and beautified their characters. By the deliverance of His faithful servants, the Lord declares that He will take His stand with the oppressed and overthrow all earthly powers that would trample upon the authority of the God of heaven. The Sanctified Life p. 39

The king was confessing that the God of the Hebrews was greater than all gods, and that he had seen Jesus.

Now look at what some of the other versions do with the king’s comment: "...and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.", is what the NIV, RSV, Reader’s Digest & NASB say. "...and the fourth looks like a god.", is what the NEB, CEV & Living Bible say. These are the two most common interpretations of the text found in modern translations. By wording it the way they did they changed Nebuchadnezzar’s confession of his respect for the true God, and have made it a comment about having seen something. The king witnessed the preexistence of Christ. But in these other versions his words are diminished, and the preexistence of Christ is called into question.

It is one of the few instances where Christ’s preexistence is directly mentioned in the Old Testament. Christ revealed Himself to the king, and the kings own words were recorded for us.

Micah 5:2 is another text that reveals Christ’s preexistence. Read it:

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2 KJV

This is a prophecy of Christ’s first advent. It states that His existence is from everlasting, that is forever. He always existed. But the RSV says, ‘from ancient days.’ Compared to today, Christ’s first advent is from ancient days. But that is not everlasting! The NIV says, ‘from ancient times.’ Again that is not everlasting. NEB says, ‘whose roots are far back in the past, in days gone by.’ My ‘roots’ go far back in the past but I am not from everlasting. My roots go back to Adam, as we understand the term ‘roots’ today. And again, ‘in days gone by’ does not express the same meaning as everlasting. Christ is infinite.

Another Old Testament text that mentions Christ directly is Psalms 2:12. When this verse is read in context with the previous text one can see more clearly that it is referring to Christ our Lord. It reads:

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalms 2:11&12 KJV

Ellen White referred to this text in this way:

Every day you remain in sin you are grieving God by your impenitence. Will you not remember that the time is just upon you when the last day of mercy will come? Then God will rise up out of his place to punish the world for its iniquity. Then the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. The clouds of wrath which have been gathering will burst with pitiless fury upon the world. I beg of you who shall read these words to hear for your soul's sake. Venture not one step further in your impenitence. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little." Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 12-01-96

But the NEB changes the word ‘son’ to ‘king’. It is written with a small ‘k’ as though it were referring to an earthly king. It is true that Christ is our King, but if we accept this textual change we are left without one of the clearest Old Testament references to Christ as the preexisting son of God. Why would we want that? The RSV says, ‘kiss his feet’.

New Testament

As we look at the New Testament on this same subject of the preexistence of Christ we will see that there are several places throughout the Bible where His preexistence is diminished in versions other than the KJV.

In Ephesians 3:9 we are told that it was through Christ that all things were created:

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Ephesians 3:9 KJV

The RSV, NEB, NASB, NIV & Living Bible omit mention of Jesus Christ and simply state that God created all things. Now it is true that God through Christ created all things but we are told in this text that Jesus Christ created all things. Again His preexistence is diminished.

The New Testament has several passages that speak of Christ being more than a mere man. The testimony of several people make that clear.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matt. 27:54 KJV

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; Mark 1:1 KJV

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Mark 15:39 KJV

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1:34 KJV

Here we see that Christ was acknowledged as more than a man He was the Son of God. Is there a difference between a son of God and the Son of God? We all can become sons of God, but we are not the Son of God. There is a difference. Christ was the only begotten of the Father. He holds a special place above us, above angels, above all creatures. He is our Saviour, Redeemer and Lord. He is not a mere man. He had no earthly father.

The above texts read different in some of the other bibles.

"Truely this was a son of God!" Matt. 27:54 RSV & NEB

"Truely this man was a son of God." Mark 15:39 RSV & NEB

"This is God’s Chosen One." John 1:34 NEB

Here we see Him as one of Gods children but the uniqueness of Christ is not stated. The witnesses to His death are no longer giving their testimony to His being the Son of God. His position has been diminished. The Phillips translation makes the same change with these texts. With John 1:34 I am reminded of the text ‘Many are called but few are chosen’. Christ was more than ‘chosen’, He is the Son of God. Again Christ is lowered to a mere man.

The eunuch that Philip studied with spoke of Christ this way:

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts 8:37 KJV

But if you have the RSV, NIV, NAB, NEB & CEV that whole text has been omitted. Why? The NASB puts the text in parenthesis, thus casting doubt on it.

Many of us are quick to reject the Jehovah Witnesses’ idea that ‘the word was a god’, but we use and defend bibles that turn the Son of God into a son of God. Why? I haven’t yet had a chance to read a Jehovah Witness bible but for all I know it may be more like the KJV yet why are we so concerned about their false interpretation and so ready to receive these other versions that have hundreds of contradictions with the KJV? I don’t understand it! We carry bibles around but how many of us are reading, carefully reading, comparing scripture with scripture. We are no longer the people of the Bible! Are we taking the word of learned men without checking these things for ourselves as we should?

In Mark 1:1 of the KJV we read, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God;" But the NEB, NIV, NASB & RSV have a footnote stating that ‘the Son of God’ is omitted in ‘most’ or ‘some’ manuscripts. By doing this they give many infidels just what they are looking for to say that Christ is not God. Another text is diminished and relegated to the doubt pile.

Who was Christ’s father? Was Joseph His father? No. He had only God as His Father. In many modern versions there is an interesting change in favor of Joseph being His father, though. The KJV reads:

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. Luke 2:33 KJV

The NIV, NEB, RSV, CEV and NASB say, ‘The childs father and mother...’. This is one more text that puts us one step closer to a bible that totally denies the divinity of Christ. How close do you want to get to that point? The same thing is repeated in verse 43 of that same chapter, the KJV states it as ‘Joseph and his mother...’ but the NIV, NEB, RSV, CEV and NASB all read, ‘...his parents...’ All of those bibles are in agreement on this point, they all deny the supreme fatherhood of God concerning Christ.

Ephesians 3:14, written by Paul, states that God the Father is the Father of Jesus Christ. He writes: ‘For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,...’ But in the NIV, NASB, RSV and CEV all omit ‘of our Lord Jesus Christ’ leaving it open to this being our father or speculation that perhaps this is a priest. Now it is true that God is our heavenly Father, but the text is talking about Him being the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At Christ’s assention it is recorded in Luke 24:51 that Christ was taken into heaven.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:51 KJV

In the KJV we see that He was not some yogi who eventually died but He had a supernatural event that concluded His work on earth and is now with His Father in heaven. In the RSV, NASB and NEB we read:

"While he blessed them, he parted from them."

Was He leaving on a short trip? Was He just waving goodbye as He walked away? There are only two of the four gospels that speak of this event, Luke and Mark. If you take this omission and combine it with what some translators of the Bible do of omitting or discrediting the end of Mark, then you are left with a Saviour that no one witnessed leave this earth. Luke was an eyewitness of the event. If you read the account in the NIV found in Mark you will find this added above the verse as a disclaimer: (The two most reliable early manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9-20) Now tell me, who says that these are the most reliable? What makes these men think that these are more reliable? Were the printers of this bible present during the writing of the book of Mark? Of course not! Then how can they make such an absurd assertion? If you believe Ellen White to be a true prophet of God then you will understand that the KJV came from the more reliable manuscripts. She used these texts as they are in the KJV. Read Acts of the Apostles p. 32 and 1 Selected Messages p. 306.

What did Ellen White write about old forgeries?

Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity of errors that obscure the truth. Error cannot stand alone, and would soon become extinct if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth. Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a part of the truth. Through false doctrines, Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men; and as traditions pass on from age to age, they acquire a power over the human mind. But age does not make error truth, neither does its burdensome weight cause the plant of truth to become a parasite. The tree of truth bears its own genuine fruit, showing its true origin and nature. The parasite of error also bears its own fruit, and makes manifest that its character is diverse from the plant of heavenly origin. Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 10-22-95

Still the absence of scriptural authority for Sunday-keeping occasioned no little embarrassment. The people questioned the right of their teachers to deny the positive declaration of Jehovah, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," in order to honor the day of the sun. To supply the lack of Bible testimony, Satan was ready with expedients. A zealous advocate of Sunday, who about the close of the twelfth century visited the churches of England, was resisted by faithful witnesses for the truth; and so fruitless were his efforts that he departed from the country for a season, and cast about him for some means to enforce his teachings. When he returned, the lack was supplied, and in his after-labors he met with greater success. He brought with him a roll purporting to be from God himself, and containing the needed command for Sunday observance, and awful threats to terrify the disobedient. This precious document--as base a counterfeit as the institution it supported--was said to have fallen from heaven, and to have been found in Jerusalem, upon the altar of St. Simeon, in Golgotha. The pontifical palace at Rome was the source whence it proceeded. Frauds and forgeries to advance the power and prosperity of the church have in all ages been esteemed lawful by the papal hierarchy. Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 4 p. 393

He who has a knowledge of God and His word has a settled faith in the divinity of the Holy Scriptures. He does not test the Bible by man's ideas of science. He brings these ideas to the test of the unerring standard. He knows that God's word is truth, and truth can never contradict itself; whatever in the teaching of so-called science contradicts the truth of God's revelation is mere human guesswork. 8 Testimonies p. 325

Remember what the Bible says:

Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5 KJV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20 KJV

Notice, it doesn’t say, ‘there is some light in them’. You may say, "Is it all that important? It seems like such a little thing." But what does God tell us:

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10 KJV

Those who cry unto God for deliverance from the terrible spell that Satan would weave about them, will set a high estimate upon the Scriptures. Our only safety is in receiving the whole Bible, not taking merely detached portions, but believing the whole truth. Your feet are upon sliding sand if you depreciate one word that is written. The Bible is a divine communication, and is as verily a message to the soul as though a voice from heaven were heard speaking to us. With what awe and reverence and humiliation should we come to the searching of the Scriptures, that we may learn of eternal realities. When the spell of Satan is broken, and the Bible becomes to us the living word of God, we shall be safe in following our convictions of duty; for if we watch unto prayer, they will be inspired by the Spirit of God. Let everyone study the Bible, knowing that the word of God is as enduring as the eternal throne. If you come to the study of the Scriptures in humility, with earnest prayer for guidance, angels of God will open to you its living realities; and if you cherish the precepts of truth, they will be to you as a wall of fire against the temptations, delusions, and enchantments of Satan. Signs of the Times 09-18-93

Repeatedly Ellen White quoted from these texts that the publishers of those bibles claim did not belong. Why? Was she less reliable in the same way that the KJV is less reliable? I don’t see how the received text (from which the KJV is taken) and the manuscripts from which the other versions come from can both be right. Either one has added several verses or one has deleted several. The translators of one has had his name removed from the book of life. Are you willing to put your eternal salvation into the hands of someone who is not listed in the book of life? I’m not.

What is in those verses that Satan doesn’t want people to know? That Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father. That Christ is divine. That Christ is our only Saviour.

There are many in this age of the world who act as if they were at liberty to question the words of the Infinite, to review His decisions and statutes, endorsing, revising, reshaping, and annulling at their pleasure. We are never safe while we are guided by human opinions, but we are safe when we are guided by a "Thus saith the Lord". We cannot trust the salvation of our souls to any lower standard than the decisions of an infallible Judge. In Heavenly Places p. 132

If men could realize the blighting influence of doubt upon their minds, if they could but see into the future, they would realize the imperative need of cultivating firm trust in God and implicit confidence in his promises. They would not sow one grain of unbelief; for every single grain blossoms into fruit. Satan is a living, active agent. It is his business to encourage skepticism, and every word of doubt is carefully nourished by the adversary of souls. While men sleep in indifference, suggestions that weaken faith are insinuated into the heart. Influences that confuse the perception of truth are brought to bear upon the life. In every way possible, Satan strives to turn souls from the narrow path that leads to heaven; and because men love darkness they follow the voice of strangers, and reject the call of the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep. The plain, authoritative "Thus saith the Lord," is refused for some winding sophistry of error. Infidelity has increased in proportion as men have questioned the word and requirements of their Maker. They have taken up the work of cheapening character, and lessening faith in the inspiration of the Bible. Men claiming great wisdom have presumed to criticise and cut and cull the words of the living God, and have started questions to make shipwreck of the happiness of their fellow-men and to ruin their hopes of heaven. This is a work that is pleasing to the enemy of all righteousness. The arguments that men bring against the Bible are the result of the counsels of the evil one. The door of their minds was opened to his suggestions, and the more they drifted into error, the greater grew their desire to draw other souls into the same channel of darkness.

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 01-10-88

Has anyone been cutting and culling the words in your Bible? Have they been creating doubt about the reliability of your Bible?

Again on the subject of His assention Christ stated that it would happen. In John 16:16 we read:

A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. John 16:16 KJV

But if you read this same passage in the RSV, NASB, NEB or Living Bible you won’t find the statement ‘because I go to the Father’. I ask you, where was He going? On a short trip? God says, ‘diminish not a word’.

Is Christ in heaven now? Yes! John 3:13 tells us so.

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. KJV

But read the RSV: ‘No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.’. The fact that He is in heaven is omitted. The NASB and NIV also omit mention of Christ being in heaven. So where is the Son of man of your bible?

1 John 5:7 clearly identifies who the Trinity is composed of:

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7 KJV

When you view this in the light of John 1:1-3 you see clearly that Jesus is the Word mentioned here. Now look at what the NIV, RSV, NEB, NASB and the Living Bible do with that text. They remove the entire text. But the way they do it reminds me of what the Romanists do with the Ten Commandments in their catechism. They divide verse 8 to keep the numbering.

‘For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.’ 1 John 5:7 & 8 NIV

1 John 5:7 in the KJV gives us a definition of the Godhead. It is specific and clear who makes up the Godhead. The term Godhead is used three times in the KJV Bible. However, if you were to try to find the term ‘Godhead’ in the RSV you won’t find it you will find the word, ‘diety’ with a small ‘d’. In the NASB it has, ‘Divine Nature’ or ‘divine nature’ or ‘Diety’. By putting diety or even divine nature in its place you blur the concept of the Godhead. Christ has a divine nature but He is not the total of the Godhead, there is also the Father and the Holy Spirit. The NIV goes further and says, ‘the divine being’ in two of those places and ‘Diety’ in the other.

What about this text?

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16 KJV

Who does it say was manifest in the flesh? God! Now if your bible has eliminated so many of the verses that prove Christ is God what do you do with their interpretation of this text? NIV says, ‘He appeared in a body...’ What kind of body and who is ‘he’? RSV reads, ‘Great indeed is the mystery of our religion: He was...’ Our religion? The KJV says that the mystery is about godliness, not a religion! And who is ‘he’ referring to? The NASB reads, ‘by common confession...He who was revealed...’ What is this common confession? And he who? The NEB reads, ‘...mystery of our religion: He who was manifested..." CEV reads, ‘Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human...’ Now if in the four gospels we have already lowered Christ to a mere man, as this book has done, what is so mysterious about Him coming as a human? The mystery of God being made flesh like us is totally gone here!

Christ’s Human Nature