The system of education established in Eden centered in the family. Adam was "the son of God" (Luke 3:38), and it was from their Father that the children of the Highest received instruction. Theirs, in the truest sense, was a family school. 

South Africa, a country of nearly 60 million people, was our next destination. For me personally it is the country on this trip that I was most wanting to visit.  I have never been to Africa, yet Africans were crucial in my evangelization.  When I was studying my Master’s Degree in Wales it was a Baptist woman from Nigeria and an Adventist man from Zambia who were crucial in sharing with me and whose faith I admired.  I am forever thankful to them.  South Africa is famous to outsiders in recent years for the difficult race relations here, apartheid and…

In the Discussion Questions on Friday, January 6 of the 2012 “Glimpses of Our God” Sabbath School lessons on the trinity we read the following:  "Though some early Adventists struggled with the doctrine, our church today has taken a firm and unrelenting stand on this teaching."  As a non-trinitarian I am in agreement that some early Adventists did struggle with the trinity doctrine. Allow me to share why. When I began to study the truth of the Father and Son in Scripture I also set out to discover what the pioneers of our faith wrote on the subject. I learned…

Reaching Out To a Brother In Need. This is a shorter version (last section) of "The Full South Bank Mission Report" # 6. See that blog for the recent South Bank experiences. The last experience I want to talk about was not actually at S.B. It was something that took place while travelling home.   I had just missed the train in Brisbane so I had to wait another one and a half hours for the next (6:33) one ^_^. While travelling home different thoughts flooded my mind but I reflected mostly on the wonderful experiences of the day.  …

Brisbane South Bank Street Ministry Update and Appeal Here following is an update of our experiences on the 3rd of March My friend Mark and I decided to cancel the previous week’s outreach due to the weather report predicting all-day rain. And rain it did. Although they predicted overcast weather and partly showery weather again for last Sabbath, Mark and I decided not to be deterred but to go in. Fortunately Mark had brought a plastic tarp so we could cover the books in case of rain, which was good because the rain came down around midday for an hour…

The last 3 or 4 occasions at S.B. were full of blessings. I cannot recall a single occasion where the Lord has not blessed. I usually only report every month or two.   I feel compelled to share a few special experiences from last Sabbath.   My friend Mark and I attended this time. After our display tables were up, for the first hour and a bit, things were very slow. There was little response and interest, which, had we allowed it, could have discouraged us – especially if we hadn’t done anything like this before. However, we know from…

The Conference president (in meeting that he chaired to condemn me) claimed the Fundamental Beliefs is a creed that I must subscribe to.  I was called to a disciplinary hearing (October 2015) and two days were spent to find evidence against me.  In the disciplinary meeting I refuted the charge that we have a creed with evidence from official church material that states we believe the Bible is our only creed to which all doctrine and teaching must be tested; and that the highest authority within our church is the writings of E.G. White, who also substantiates this. In addition…

I, Jonathan Otto, sign the fountarian covenant in appeal to restore our Church's belief in the literal Father and the literal Son. It is with heaviness that I put my name and my life to this cause, as I understand the social implications in the Seventh Adventist Church at present for holding this belief. I furthermore know the difficulties as a young active member in this church with goals aspirations and dreams all centered in this church. However, I am also presented with the damaging path of going against my conscience. I believe that I must follow the teachings clearly revealed…

Seventh-Day Adventists often discuss `The Latter Rain', and question whether or not the `showers of blessing' of the Latter Rain will begin to fall shortly before a National Sunday Law is proclaimed, or shortly after.  The official teaching of the Church on this subject, is that Martin Luther first proclaimed Righteousness by Faith, and it was  `rediscovered' the truth of `Righteousness by Faith', as the fourth quarter of the 2011 Sabbath School lesson pamphlet declares in its introduction to `The Gospel in Galatians': `INTRODUCTION The Gospel in Galatians Paul’s letter to the Galatians has been compared to spiritual “dynamite,” and…

  “The covenant of mercy was made before the foundation of the world. It has existed from all eternity and was called the everlasting covenant.” 7BC 934   “As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. To all men this covenant offered pardon and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ.…

It surprises me how many professedly SDA Trinitarians still argue for the mutability (capable of change), and peccability (capable of sin), of the incarnated Son of God.  Don't they know these positions are anti-Trinitarian by definition?  Although these two beliefs are "remnants" of  early SDA's non-Trinitarianism, it has still NOT been formally acknowledged as such.  Therefore, those still espousing such opinions are unknowingly promoting ant-Trinitarian sentiments.  How long before they find out? Just ran across this Baptist article about "impeccability" and thought it might be helpful education in an Adventist context.  It's a little wordy, but does emphasize the major…

On March 17, 2012 a friend hosted a fellowship dinner after church.  Because March 17th is often observed as St. Patrick’s Day, was asked to share something about Patrick. I knew a little from reading “Truth Triumphant, the Church in the Wilderness” by B.G. Wilkinson.  My friend Philip recommend “The Celtic Church in Britain” by Leslie Hardinge.” Both these sources make up the majority of this presentation.  Was also blessed with the article “Should You Wear Green on St. Patrick's Day?” by B. Thiel.  Encyclopedia excerpts and some text were taken from that article.

The Apostolic Church kept Passover in honor of Jesus death and resurrection, and his telling us to eat bread and wine to commemorate what He has done for us until He comes again. The Roman Empire had a way of doing annual celebrations, and it was in opposition to the Jewish reckoning of dates, and these two differing timings for Passover would clash in what is known as the Quartodeciman Controversy

A. Questioning the Plain Statements of Scripture From the beginning of time Satan has tried to confuse the human race about the meaning of God’s statements. Satan’s first statement to Eve was not a direct attack on what God had said but rather an insertion of doubt as to what God really meant. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The implication and manner of question assumes a completely different framework of understanding. Satan’s question suggests that there must be some kind of mistake here.[1] Satan does not seek to establish any reason…

Section 6 – Restoration of Relational-Based-Thinking by Elijah A. Definitions of Image and Likeness Gen 1:26-27  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God made man in His image. Let us unpack these two verses…

God's people, whom He calls His peculiar treasure, were privileged with a two-fold system of law; the moral and the ceremonial. The one, pointing back to creation to keep in remembrance the living God who made the world, whose claims are binding upon all men in every dispensation, and which will exist through all time and eternity. The other, given because of man's transgression of the moral law, the obedience to which consisted in sacrifices and offerings pointing to the future redemption.

"A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine." Proverbs 17:22. Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God's love and care--these are health's greatest safeguard. To the Israelites they were to be the very keynote of life.  The journey made three times a year to the annual feasts at Jerusalem, the week's sojourn in booths during the Feast of Tabernacles, were opportunities for outdoor recreation and social life. These feasts were occasions of rejoicing, made sweeter and more tender by the hospitable welcome given to the stranger, the Levite, and the poor. 

From the beginning of time Satan has tried to confuse the human race about the meaning of God’s statements. Satan’s first statement to Eve was not a direct attack on what God had said but rather an insertion of doubt as to what God really meant. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The implication and manner of question assumes a completely different framework of understanding. Satan’s question suggests that there must be some kind of mistake here.[1] Satan does not seek to establish any reason why he thinks there is a mistake…

 All the world are invited to come to the gospel feast. Jesus has called all sinners to himself. "Many are called, but few are chosen." The voice of entreaty comes to the careless and the impenitent, saying, "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" The Lord has sent forth his entreating invitation. It is the same invitation that he gave to the Samaritan woman while seated upon Jacob's well. Jesus said to her: "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest…

 Superseding Natural Law! Introduction: Welcome to part two of three in the study of the Covenants. Part 1 is available HERE. At face value glancing at the title and subtitle one could easily think, this study is promoting infidelity, and rebellion to law and order! If you read the first study you will know it is certainly not! In this study we will consider how to be delivered from the law of sin and death, how to be free from condemnation to walk in the liberty of Christ. We will examine the purpose of the 10 Commandment law and what…