“The sacrificial offerings were ordained by God to be to man a perpetual reminder and a penitential acknowledgment of his sin and a confession of his faith in the promised Redeemer. They were intended to impress upon the fallen race the solemn truth that it was sin that caused death. To Adam, the offering of the first sacrifice was a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which only God could give. It was the first time he had ever witnessed death, and he knew that had he been obedient to God, there would have been no death of man or beast. As he slew the innocent victim, he trembled at the thought that his sin must shed the blood of the spotless Lamb of God. This scene gave him a deeper and more vivid sense of the greatness of his transgression, which nothing but the death of God's dear Son could expiate. And he marveled at the infinite goodness that would give such a ransom to save the guilty. A star of hope illumined the dark and terrible future and relieved it of its utter desolation.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 67.

Mrs. White, speaking of the Cain and Abel, said that “they were to show their faith in the blood of Christ as the promised atonement by offering the firstlings of the flock in sacrifice.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 71.

We realize that men like Scott and Marco are appalled at the way God's character has been wrongly portrayed by overbearing, legalistic "Christians"; but it is a human tendency to swing the pendulum to the opposite side and present a God who is just as false as the one on the other extreme. Recall that Mrs. White predicted that a new form of spiritualism would come into the church in the very last days and would ensnare many souls. In those false theories, “Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism.” Human speculation in the church today is attempting to supersede the insight that Ellen White had regarding the character of God, and God is being presented as one who is just too nice and sweet to ever devise something as bloody as animal sacrifices. If the people at HeavenlySanctuary.com will not accept the clear words of inspiration, they should totally disassociate themselves from Seventh-day Adventists and the writings of Ellen White. Instead, they seem obsessed with converting all Adventists to their beliefs; because after all, they are more enlightened than Ellen White was on the subject of the character of God. One reason that God raised up Ellen White was to keep His people from following after every wind of doctrine. If we place our trust in His prophet's words, and do not try to change the meaning of her words or speculate that she was only expressing her opinion on matters of such grave importance as those things relating to the true character of God, then we will be safe from the deceptions that are boldly being preached from Adventist pulpits today.

Marco Belmonte participates in Good News Tours sponsored by HeavenlySanctuary.com. If his theories on the destruction of the wicked are true, then the writers of the Bible and Ellen White were all terribly deceived. Belmonte refuses to acknowledge that the lake of fire that destroys the wicked in the second death is a literal fire. In a video sermon published on the Internet, Belmonte puts down the Seventh-day Adventist understanding that the wicked are burned to ashes by a literal fire. The title of Belmonte’s sermon is “I’m Going to Hell and Looking Forward to It.” In his sermon, Belmonte takes his listeners on a journey starting with how many Christians believe that God will burn forever without end all of the wicked who are not redeemed by Christ, and ending with his concept of what the fire of hell is. He says that in between the idea of an eternally burning hell and his own concept of hell is the Adventist teaching of a literal fire burning to ashes the wicked in what we call the second death. This, he proclaims, is just a more acceptable lie than the doctrine of an eternally burning hell, but a lie nonetheless. And then he springs onto his listeners his idea of what hell is; which is that hell is nothing more or less than the glory of God. To the wicked, that glory is death, but to the righteous, that glory (hell) is eternal salvation; thus the title of the sermon: “I’m Going to Hell and Looking Forward to It.”  

Another statement about hell is posted on the HeavenlySanctuary.com website on March 5, 2004:  “According to traditional Christianity, the place reserved for sinners is Hell, but Isaiah makes it quite clear who lives in the eternal flames! It’s the righteous! Those that trust God, and love His character will dwell in the everlasting burnings. Is it possible that hell and heaven are the same place depending on who you are? If you are afraid of God, and don't know Him, His very presence will consume you. But this same fire, which is destruction to the wicked, is life giving to God’s friends. We should hope the fire never goes out since we are going to live in it!”

Is this what inspiration teaches?—that hell is a place to be desired by the righteous? Do you see how these people are attempting to rewrite doctrine? Please do not believe men who come attempting to reinterpret the Bible with cleverly designed fables. Here is an Ellen White quote offered by those who promote the fable that hell is nothing but the glory of God: “While God is to the wicked a consuming fire, He is to His people both a sun and a shield.” The Great Controversy, p. 673. The theory might have some credibility if this were the only statement Ellen White made on the subject; but there is a far greater weight of evidence presented in both the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy that hell is a literal fire. In the very next sentence where Mrs. White stated that “God is to the wicked a consuming fire,” she wrote: “The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away.” (p. 674) Hell to our inspired prophet meant a literal, burning fire. She taught that the fire of hell that encompasses the entire earth not only burns the wicked to ashes, but goes on to purify the earth, burning up the remnants of the evil civilization that once existed on this planet.

There are multiple theories within the false character of God movement about what hell actually is. They argue and debate the issue, but all of it is mere human speculation and opinion. What does inspiration teach that hell is?

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings...You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this, says the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3.

“They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” Revelation 20:9.

“In the bowels of the earth God has in reserve the weapons that He will use to destroy the sinful race. Since the Flood, God has used, to destroy wicked cities, both the water and the fire that are concealed in the earth. In the final conflagration God will in His wrath send lightning from heaven that will unite with the fire in the earth. The mountains will burn like a furnace, and pour forth streams of lava.” Volume 7 Bible Commentary, 946-947.

 “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12.

“The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked he will destroy.” Psalms 145:20.

 “‘Upon the wicked He shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.’ Isaiah 9:5; 34:2; Psalm 11:6, margin. Fire comes down from God out of heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10. The earth's surface seems one molten mass—a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men—'the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion'" Isaiah 34:8.

“‘The wicked receive their recompense in the earth.’ Proverbs 11:31. They ‘shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.’ Malachi 4:1. Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished ‘according to their deeds.’ The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch—Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah.” The Great Controversy, pages 672,673.  

The Bible and Mrs. White taught that hell is a literal fire. False teachers today brush aside the words of inspiration by coming up with uninspired theories of how the writers of the Old Testament wrote with preconceived, and wrong, ideas about the character of God. These people are essentially claiming that they are more enlightened than the men who authored the Holy Scriptures. Ellen White was clear as to what hell will be; and her description of hell was either inspired, or she was terribly deceived. As Seventh-day Adventists, let’s stand firm on the words of inspiration, and give no heed to the modern theories spoken by professed Adventists declaring that they have come to enlighten us with the truth about hell.

The real danger in groups like HeavenlySanctuary.com is that they begin their indoctrination with the truth that it is the love and goodness of God that changes hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. But once people jump onto their bandwagon, they are imperceptibly led off into doctrinal error. If you would like to understand how the love of God changes the hearts of sinners, go read Ellen White’s books such as Ministry of Healing and Christ’s Object Lessons. If you would like to know how the wicked are destroyed, go read The Great Controversy. Be extremely cautious about listening to uninspired men expound on what the true character of God is like; for you will be exposed to a series of opinions that make of no effect the words of inspiration. Central to the counterfeit character of God message are the opinions of men who feel that their wisdom and interpretation of Scripture is above that which God has given to His people through Mrs. White’s writings.

Those leading out in the false character of God movement, in order to foster false theories that directly contradict the writings of Ellen White, seek to cast doubt on her writings. Marco Belmonte wrote: “The final problem is that of making a claim that someone’s writings are the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’…It becomes egotistical to claim that one person holds that title for themselves. In actuality the claim that Ellen White’s writings are the Spirit of Prophecy is a self fulfilling prophecy that is based upon a misreading of Bible verses.” Marco and other staff members of HeavenlySanctuary.com forum have made it clear that in their minds, the things that Mrs. White wrote about God as a destroyer of the wicked were simply her own opinion. In her day, Mrs. White had to constantly deal with Adventists of that attitude; and here is what she had to say about them:  

“I have my work to do, to meet the misconceptions of those who suppose themselves able to say what is testimony from God and what is human production. If those who have done this work continue in this course, satanic agencies will choose for them…It is discouraging to me to have them pick out portions in the testimonies that please them which they construe to justify their own course of action and give the impression that that portion they accept as the voice of God, and then when other testimonies come that bring rebuke upon their course, when words are spoken that do not coincide with their opinions and judgment, they dishonor God’s work by saying, ‘Oh, this we do not accept—it is only Sister White's opinion, and it is no better than my opinion or that of anyone else.’” 3SM 70, 81.

“Some who wish to strengthen their own position will bring forward from the Testimonies statements which they think will support their views, and will put the strongest possible construction upon them; but that which questions their course of action, or which does not coincide with their views, they pronounce Sister White’s opinion, denying its heavenly origin and placing it on a level with their own judgment.”  5T 687.

The fact that Ellen White was shown in vision how the wicked are destroyed in the second death is of no consequence to false teachers like Marco Belmonte. He would rather cling to his preconceived opinions and believe in a god conjured up in his own imagination than to accept at face value the words of God’s special messenger.

Satan would have us believe that each of us is to be our own authority in matters of doctrine. "Maggie" posted on the HeavenlySanctuary.com forum this amazing statement: "I don't take Ellen White as 'objective authority'...We don't believe God kills because our hearts tell us that, not because some authority tells us that." (Posted March 12, 2006.) Too many Adventists are underestimating the authority that Mrs. White held as God's messenger. In placing what her heart tells her above the clear words of God's messenger, Maggie has created a god in her own image. Maggie and many others need to realize that it will not be through forums where human opinions are cherished above inspiration, nor through Good News Tours which concentrate only on the "love" attributes of God that the world will come to understand the true character of God. God's character will be understood when the world sees in God's people the works of benevolence that were seen in the life of Christ. His character will be seen when it is properly balanced between love and justice.

Once again we would point out that there are people who believe that somehow the Jesus of the New Testament was different from the God revealed in the Old Testament. They offer the following Ellen White quote to defend their opinion that Jesus would never do the terrible things that the God of the Old Testament did, such as destroying those wicked who were beyond redemption:  "All that man needs to know and can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son, the Great Teacher." Now, where does this statement restrict what "has been revealed in the life and character of His Son" to the New Testament only? Christ pre-existed as the "Word" of God (John 1:1). When the LORD spoke to mankind in Old Testament days, it was Christ speaking—the One who was later to be born into the human race as both Son of God and Son of man. Pseudo-intellectual forums that speculate about God and attempt to explain things that mortal man can never understand are useless and only serve to confuse people who are seeking to know what the Bible reveals about God. We must take what the Bible in its entirety reveals about "the life and character" of God's Son if we are to properly understand the true character of God. Let's see how the above quote reads when taken in its proper context:

"Human talents and human conjecture have tried by searching to find out God. Many have trodden this pathway. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out, in conjectures regarding God, but the effort will be fruitless, and the fact will remain that man by searching cannot find out God. This problem has not been given us to solve. All that man needs to know and can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son, the Great Teacher. As we learn more and more of what man is, of what we ourselves are, in God's sight, we shall fear and tremble before Him." Medical Ministry, p. 95.

Scott and Maggie and Marco and others who focus only upon the character of Christ as revealed in the New Testament are the very ones who through "human conjecture" believe that they can rightly explain God. They offer theory after theory to explain away the fact that God did destroy the enemies of His people. If they would take into account the character of Christ as revealed in both Old and New Testaments, they would "fear and tremble before Him." Maggie and others may reject the authority of Ellen White as God's spokesperson; but our only safety in these last days is to hold fast to what God has revealed through inspiration.

"Many, very many, are questioning the verity and truth of the Scriptures. Human reasoning and the imaginings of the human heart are undermining the inspiration of the Word of God, and that which should be received as granted, is surrounded with a cloud of mysticism. Nothing stands out in clear and distinct lines, upon rock bottom. This is one of the marked signs of the last days." Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 15.

Does God Ever Punish the Wicked with Death?

It is a popular belief within the false character movement that God never brings death upon the wicked as punishment for their sins. This sentiment is expressed by Bob Rigsby in an article he wrote for HeavenlySanctuary.com. He began his article by writing: "I'm privileged to belong to a growing fellowship of believers who have been asking very pointed questions about the legitimacy and logic of the traditional Christian interpretations of the cross and the atonement..." Bob is correct that this movement is "growing" within the church; but this is what he wrote concerning punishment by God: "Death as punishment is a savage and senseless act...; for it serves no purpose to the one killed."

The Spirit of Prophecy does not agree with Bob's human reasoning.

"Herod was acquainted with the law of God, which says, ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before Me’ (Exodus 20:3); and he knew that in accepting the worship of the people he had filled up the measure of his iniquity and brought upon himself the just wrath of Jehovah. The same angel who had come from the royal courts to rescue Peter, had been the messenger of wrath and judgment to Herod. The angel smote Peter to arouse him from slumber; it was with a different stroke that he smote the wicked king, laying low his pride and bringing upon him the punishment of the Almighty. Herod died in great agony of mind and body, under the retributive judgment of God.” The Acts of the Apostles, p. 151.

“The Amalekites had been the first to make war upon Israel in the wilderness; and for this sin, together with their defiance of God and their debasing idolatry, the Lord, through Moses, had pronounced sentence upon them. . . . For four hundred years the execution of this sentence had been deferred; but the Amalekites had not turned from their sins. The Lord knew that this wicked people would, if it were possible, blot out His people and His worship from the earth. Now the time had come for the sentence, so long delayed, to be executed. The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked, emboldens men in transgression; but their punishment will be none the less certain and terrible for being long delayed. . . . While He does not delight in vengeance, He will execute judgment upon the transgressors of His law. He is forced to do this, to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from utter depravity and ruin. In order to save some He must cut off those who become hardened in sin. . . . And the very fact of His reluctance to execute justice testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor.” Conflict and Courage, p. 155.

“Then I saw thrones, and Jesus and the redeemed saints sat upon them; and the saints reigned as kings and priests unto God. Christ, in union with His people, judged the wicked dead, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Word of God, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then they meted out to the wicked the portion which they must suffer, according to their works; and it was written against their names in the book of death. Satan also and his angels were judged by Jesus and the saints. Satan's punishment was to be far greater than that of those whom he had deceived. His suffering would so far exceed theirs as to bear no comparison with it. After all those whom he had deceived had perished, Satan was still to live and suffer on much longer.” Early Writings, p. 290.

Pouring Contempt Upon the Old Testament

One does not have to read for very long in the HeavenlySanctuary.com forum to realize that it is their avowed purpose to drive a wedge between the Old and New Testaments. Unabashed human speculation is offered there to make it appear as though the Jesus of the New Testament is different from the God revealed in the Old Testament. Ellen White is presented as one of the unenlightened who held to the "penal" model that she learned as a Methodist. But those who believe that the writings of Ellen White are an inspired commentary of Scripture will see in the following statements that the Old Testament is not to be seen as containing separate views of God than those views presented in the New Testament:

"The typical sacrifices and offerings of that dispensation represented Christ, who was to become the perfect offering for sinful man. Besides these mystic symbols and shadowy types pointing to a Saviour to come, there was a present Saviour to the Israelites. He it was, who, enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, led them in their travels; and he it was who gave direct words to Moses to be repeated to the people. Those who sneer at the old dispensation, and professedly accept Christ in the new, do not discern that this same Christ was the ancient leader of Israel, and that from his lips came all the commands, all the rules and regulations, to govern more than a million of people. He who was equal with the Father in the creation of man was commander, lawgiver, and guide to his ancient people...As time has rolled on from creation and the cross of Calvary, as prophecy has been and is still fulfilling, light and knowledge have greatly increased. But it does not become believers in God or the Bible to pour contempt on the age that has led step by step to the present. In the life and death of Christ, a light flashes back upon the past, giving significance to the whole Jewish economy, and making of the old and the new dispensations a complete whole. Nothing that God has ordained in the plan of redemption can be dispensed with. It is the working out of the divine will in the salvation of man. The sacrificial offerings were established by infinite wisdom to impress upon the fallen race the solemn truth that it was sin which caused death. Every time the life of a sacrificial offering was taken, they were reminded that if there had been no sin, there would have been no death. 'The wages of sin is death.' The word of God covers a period of history reaching from the creation to the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven. Yea, more; it carries the mind forward to the future life, and opens before it the glories of paradise restored. Through all these centuries the truth of God has remained the same. That which was truth in the beginning is truth now. Although new and important truths appropriate for succeeding generations have been opened to the understanding, the present revealings do not contradict those of the past. Every new truth understood only makes more significant the old...Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all the patriarchs and prophets, heard the gospel through Christ; they saw the salvation of the race through the substitute and surety, Jesus, the world's Redeemer. They saw a Saviour to come to the world in human flesh, and communed with him in his divine majesty. Abraham walked and talked with the heavenly angels who came to him in the garb of humanity. Jacob talked with Christ and angels. Moses held converse with Jesus face to face as one who speaketh with a friend. While we rejoice today that our Saviour has come, that the sacrifices of the former dispensation have given place to the perfect offering for sin, we are not excusable in showing contempt for that period. Those who make slurring remarks concerning the old Jewish age, show that they are ignorant of the Scriptures, and of the power of God. Amid the moral darkness of the idolatrous nations of that time are seen burning traces of the great I AM." The Review & Herald, March 2, 1886.

"The Old and New Testaments are linked together by the golden clasp of God. We need to become familiar with the Old-Testament Scriptures. The unchangeableness of God should be clearly seen; the similarity of his dealings with his people of the past dispensation and of the present, should be studied." The Review & Herald, March 2, 1886.

We may be thankful that God, through the words of Mrs. White, will save many from the human conjecture and false theories that are so rampant in the church in these last days:  

“Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken by Sister White and, has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in these last days.” Selected Messages Book 3, pages 83, 84.

Dr. Graham Maxwell Promotes False Theories about God’s Character

One of the leading proponents within the Seventh-day Adventist Church of theories proclaiming to be the truth about God’s character is Dr. Graham Maxwell, emeritus professor of Biblical Studies at Loma Linda University.  For over forty years, Dr. Maxwell exposed countless thousands of Seventh-day Adventists to his unique theories regarding the plan of salvation and the character of God.  

Dr. Graham places great emphasis on the belief that God just wants to be our friend. His theories downplay any Christian teaching that he thinks may negatively impact that central theme of his teachings. Dr. Graham would have us believe that it goes against the concept of being friends with God to think that we may also be His servants. His theory is based upon these words spoken by Jesus: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15.  

After quoting this text, Dr. Maxwell begins to drive a wedge between being God’s servant and being His friend.

Notice the distinction Jesus drew between being a servant and being a friend. It’s not the privilege of the servant to understand his master’s business. It’s just for him to do what he’s told. No questions. No reasons. Just “Very good, sir. If you say so, sir.” Servants Or Friends? Chapter titled “I’d Rather You Be My Friends.”

Is this the concept found in inspiration of being a servant of God—that servants grovel before the Lord? What does inspiration say about being a servant of God?

“And the LORD appeared unto him [Isaac] the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.” Gen. 26:24  

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel .” Josh. 1:2.

“Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?” 2 Sam. 7:5.  

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Job 2:3.  

“And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia.” Isaiah 20:3.

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.” Zech. 3:8.  

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.” Romans 1:1.

“But the self-sacrificing servant of God labors for them in word and doctrine; he carries the heavy burden of the work on his soul; he patiently shows from the word of God the dangerous errors which are hurtful to the soul; he enforces the necessity of immediately tearing up the weeds which choke the good seed sown; he brings out of the storehouse of God’s word things new and old to feed the flock of God.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, p. 236.  

Abraham was not only God’s friend, but His servant as well. God called Moses, David, Job, and Isaiah His servants. Paul considered himself to be a servant of Christ. Even the BRANCH, the prophesied Redeemer, is called by the Lord “my servant.” There are dozens of other texts and quotes that confirm that being a servant of God is a desirable thing. Dr. Maxwell tries to make it appear as though a servant of God is one who merely grovels by saying, “Very good, sir. If you say so, sir.” Do not allow any theologian to drive a wedge between being God’s friend and being His servant.  

It is a worthy desire to be friends with God, but there is also danger of presumption if this desire is not placed in its proper context. In the verse just prior to the one that Dr. Maxwell uses so frequently, Jesus taught that “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14. Why doesn’t Dr. Maxwell start with that verse? Because someone might ask: “What does Jesus command us?” Then he would have to deal with the requirements of God’s law. But he doesn’t want to do that, because somehow in his mind, Graham Maxwell thinks that God telling us what to do pours cold water on his theory that God only wants to be friends with us. Dr. Maxwell is promoting a righteousness-by-friendship model of salvation that places the Decalogue as of secondary importance.  

A Subtle Attack on the Law

In an interview published on the Internet titled “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?” Graham Maxwell said, “You see, with so many, what’s gone wrong is that we have broken the rules and we’re in legal trouble.” Is that all the Ten Commandments are—a set of rules? The Ten Commandments are a written transcript of God’s character. Anyone who professes to be defending God’s character that does not give the moral law its proper place in the plan of salvation is teaching a counterfeit message.

Take the idea that the moral law is simply a set of rules and carry it further. It reduces the results of breaking God’s law. Breaking a few rules can’t be all that important; and therefore the transgression of the law has little to do with the death of Christ on the cross. Trivialize the law and you trivialize sin and the cross.

“The sinner must be made to feel that he is a transgressor. Christ dying upon the cross of Calvary is drawing his attention. Why did Christ die? Because it was the only means for man to be saved.” Our High Calling, p. 141.

Notice that the sinner must be made to feel that he has transgressed the holy law, and that the only way for him to be saved was by the death of Christ. In one brief expression—that the law and its transgression is merely breaking a set of rules—Maxwell degrades the Ten Commandment law, the Biblical concept of sin (which is the transgression of the law), and the death of Christ on the cross.

If you are not convinced that Dr. Maxwell’s theories undermine the Ten Commandments, the following statement he made should be more convincing. Here he summarizes what he thinks that God said to the ancient Israelites:

At first when I brought you out of Egypt I didn’t give you all those things [the Ceremonial Law and the Decalogue]. I just said let me be your God, and you be my people. But you were so stubborn I had to use these other measures. I had you build the Tabernacle, and I had you build the sacred box, but someday when you have pastors who will give you the truth (Jeremiah 3), you won’t remember the box, you’ll never make another one, it’ll never come to mind, because you’ll really know me then, and I’ll have written my Law in your hearts and in your minds, and I’ll be your God and you’ll be my people. Maxwell interview titled “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?”

Dr. Maxwell insinuates that God would have never given His people the Ten Commandments if they had only gone along with His request that they be His people and that He be their God—in other words, let’s strike up a friendship. The theory is that it was only their stubbornness that led God to give the people His law in the first place. Dr. Maxwell then puts forth the idea that if we only had the right pastors we would have no need for the law—indeed “it’ll never come to mind.” Somehow right pastors could magically place the law directly into our hearts without us having to first admit that we are helpless sinners who have violated the law, and that we are dismal failures in our efforts to keep the law.

This theory that if we only had right pastors, the law would no longer come to mind goes directly against something that Ellen White taught:

“And to complete his work [of destroying souls], he [Satan] declares, through the spirits that ‘true knowledge places man above all law.’” The Great Controversy, p. 555.

Dr. Maxwell’s theory is nothing but a subtle attack on the law spoken at Sinai. The theory put forth here is that right pastors are more effective in converting the soul than the law. That idea is foreign to Scripture, for inspiration teaches that “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalms 19:7.

“That the law which was spoken by God’s own voice is faulty, that some specification has been set aside, is the claim which Satan now puts forward.  It is the last great deception that he will bring upon the world.” The Desire of Ages, p. 763.

The False Character Message Has a Similarity to New Age Spiritualistic “Theology”

Over the past few decades there has arisen a new form of spiritualism that is quickly being accepted by even those who profess to be Christians. This more appealing form of spiritualism is best represented by a book that has gained rapid popularity over the past 40 years. The book is titled A Course in Miracles, and was written by a former atheist who claimed that Jesus channeled the contents of the book through her. Endorsements by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have catapulted this book to best seller status, especially in America. In this article we will be drawing parallels between theories found in books like A Course in Miracles and the teachings found in the church that we hope to expose.

As we examine the words of Dr. Maxwell and others, be aware of the fact that they do not have to be out there reading tea leaves in order to be promoting spiritualistic ideas; for spiritualism has changed its form.

“It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise...While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. God's justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight.” The Great Controversy, pp. 557-558.

In the next few sections we will draw some parallels between New Age theology and the theories of those within the church claiming to be teaching the truth about God’s character.

False Ideas of the Atonement

The theories on the atonement being taught by both New Age theology and Dr. Graham Maxwell bear a striking similarity. In an interview with Dr. Maxwell, he stated that “This idea of atonement as payment of penalty is a modern perversion of the original idea, and I’m interested that so many forensic folk will say that this is a lot of nonsense, this business of ‘at-one-ment’.”

First of all, who in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has ever stated that the concept of ‘at-one-ment’ is nonsense? The atonement certainly does involve returning fallen man to oneness with God. The danger lies in focusing only upon this concept of at-one-ment to the exclusion of a broader definition of the word atonement. Secondly, note Maxwell’s statement that “This idea of atonement as payment of penalty is a modern perversion of the original idea.” Go search the Spirit of Prophecy on the subject of the atonement and discover that the “idea of atonement as payment of penalty” is found there—in abundance and in clear, precise words! Just a few quotes (with emphasis supplied) should establish this point.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son to go through humiliation, suffering, and death to pay the debt of man’s sin.” The Signs of the Times, 7-11-1895.

“Christ bore the penalty that would have fallen upon the transgressor; and through faith the helpless, hopeless sinner becomes a partaker of the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Review and Herald, 5-23-1899.

“It was only through the suffering and death of Christ that he [man] could be restored to the favor of God. For our sakes, He who knew no sin was made an offering for sin. He was afflicted, insulted, oppressed. Arraigned as a criminal, he suffered shame, insult, mockery, and pain.” The Signs of the Times, 4-3-1884.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son to go through humiliation, suffering, and death to pay the debt of man’s sin, and to purchase for the repenting transgressor the righteousness of his spotless life, in order that iniquity might not be perpetuated, but that through the condescension of Christ, the transgressor might be brought back to allegiance to God.” Signs of the Times, 7/11/95.

“While we dwell upon the paternal character of God, and His love expressed for man in the gift of His only begotten Son, we must tell people why such a costly sacrifice was necessary. It was because of sin. What is sin? The transgression of the law. Only the Son of God could pay the penalty, and that by His own humiliation and death.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 781.

“Christ died because there was no other hope for the transgressor. He might try to keep God’s law in the future; but the debt which he had incurred in the past remained, and the law must condemn him to death. Christ came to pay that debt for the sinner which it was impossible for him to pay for himself. Thus, through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, sinful man was granted another trial.” Faith and Works, p. 20.

“By dying in our behalf, He gave an equivalent for our debt. Thus He removed from God all charge of lessening the guilt of sin. By virtue of My oneness with the Father, He says, My suffering and death enable Me to pay the penalty of sin.” That I May Know Him, p. 69.

These quotes represent what Seventh-day Adventists teach about the atonement. We could offer several pages of quotes that totally contradict Maxwell’s assertion that “the idea of atonement as payment of penalty is a modern perversion of the original idea.”

The idea that atonement is merely to be understood in terms of at-one-ment is the same theme presented in modern day spiritualism.

“Healing means to make whole. Healing leads to unification and enlightenment and implies atonement, which in this context should be read as ‘at-one-ment.’” From a New Age website called ZAADZbeta.

Maxwell’s Theory That There Is No Power in the Blood of Christ

In the same interview with Dr. Maxwell that we have already quoted from is a statement that should make any Christian cringe. Here is a portion of that interview dealing with the subject of Christ’s blood:

[The interviewer asks…]

So what about the blood in the making of the atonement which is so often spoken of in that audio-visual system, as you describe it? What role does the “blood of Christ” play in this atoning?

[Maxwell answers…]

The emphasis on blood itself—if only we could rediscover what it meant to them in the beginning…I saw an advertisement for a book this week—I was tempted to get it—it’s a whole history of blood atonement in paganism, and other religions as well as Christianity. Blood has been used all through history, “in many and various ways.” The Bible refers to the blood; I just want the truth about it. What is the meaning of his shedding of his blood? It really means he died. He died. So we want to talk about his death. It’s interesting that if we talk and talk and talk about the significance of his death and don’t use the word “blood,” some say you don’t believe in a “blood atonement.” That’s extraordinary to me. It’s as if there really was “power in the blood,” which is haematolatry.

The word haematolatry is not to be found in the English language, but we may deduce what Dr. Maxwell means by that term. Haematology is the branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the blood. Maxwell’s made up word haematolatry is made up from the two words haema + idolatry, which would mean “blood idolatry.” In other words, any who believe that there is power in the blood of Jesus worships blood. There are many Seventh-day Adventists who would strongly disagree with Dr. Maxwell. Here are a few words of inspiration that positively indicate that there is power in the blood of Christ:

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Rev. 1:5.

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Eph. 1:7.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

“The promise is, ‘Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.’ There is power in the blood of Christ to remove sin. Poor, trembling sinner, today you are the prisoner of hope. Jesus lives, and because He lives you may live also.” The Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885.