Concerning Christ, the divine Son of God and His pre-existence, many refuse to accept the idea that He could be both “eternal” and “begotten” (have a beginning).  In support of their theory of a “co-eternal” Christ many will use the following statement by Sister White.

“In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God.” ST August 29, 1900, par. 15

There are two ways to try to comprehend what she meant. These two ways of looking at it have vastly different outcomes or implications. One implies that Jesus is not literally and truly the Son of God pre-incarnate and the other does. Here they are.

#1. Christ was always in close fellowship with His Father and therefore never had a beginning.

#2. Christ was always in close fellowship with the Father from His beginning.

In order to understand what she actually meant from this statement and which interpretation is correct,  we need to add in additional pieces of information from Sister White. I believe the following quotation settles any doubt that #2 is the correct understanding.

The following statement was originally written in 1895 and was used again in 1905 in the book Ministry of Healing. I want you to notice the similarity to the Signs of the Times statement written in 1900 and also the additional information given.

“He who had been in the presence of the Father from the beginning, He who was the express image of the invisible God, was alone able to reveal the character of the Deity to mankind.” MH 422

Jesus was in the presence of the Father (close fellowship) from the beginning. The logical question that each of should ask is, “What beginning?”.

Is it the creation of the World?

The answer would have to be no because He was in the presence of the Father before that beginning.

Is it the creation of all worlds and creatures?

This would also have to be a no because He was in the presence of the Father before the beginning of those.

When we compare the two statements the conclusion that should be drawn is that in the “dateless ages” (timeless?) there was a beginning. Does the Bible corroborate this interpretation?

“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,

before his works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth;

when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled,

before the hills was I brought forth:”

Proverbs 8:22-25

Some do not want proverbs 8 to refer to Christ and so they will make any interpretation or allegorize it in order to avoid a plain truth. That is that proverbs 8 points to “the beginning” of His (the Fathers) way as being the same as when Christ was “Brought Forth” or “begotten”. In other words, The beginning of the Father’s way is Christ’s beginning.

Unbeknownst to many,  Ellen White applies Proverbs 8 to Christ and therefore supports the idea of Christ having a beginning. The most notable references to Proverbs 8 in her writings  is in Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 1. A lesser known reference is in…..

Are You ready for this?

The same article in Sings of the Times, August 29, 1900 that people use to “prove” Christ does not have a beginning!  Here it is as it was originally printed.

“Through Solomon Christ declared: “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth…. When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.”

In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God.”  ST August 29, 1900

According to Sister White, Proverbs 8 is speaking of Christ’s pre-existence. This should be a wake up call for all who desire the truth on this topic. The blatant and obvious “cherry-picking” of this statement is very revealing.

Let’s call it for what it is. When men in leadership within the SDA Church use the “never was a time” quote without quoting Proverbs 8, which gives context to His “pre-existence”,  they are practicing a deception and it is bearing a false witness against Sister White. All the while giving the pretense of honor to her writings. It reminds me of something Christ said to the Pharisees.

“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:6-9