By way of both Ellen G. White and the SDA Bible Commentary (Vol. 5, p. 1129), in Adventist theology Jesus isn’t the Almighty God—only the Father is. Consistent with their teaching of the kenosis heresy—that Philippians 2:6-8 says Jesus set his divine nature aside—they teach that Jesus never truly gained back all of what was bestowed upon Him in his pre-earth exaltation (another heretical SDA teaching). Because of this, Ellen White claimed that Jesus is not the Lord God Almighty.
Adventist apologists have tried a plethora of defenses to this, but there is no context in which it isn’t blasphemous, heretical, and outside the bounds of orthodox Christianity. The three standard defenses have been:
- She was differentiating between Jesus’s human and divine natures
This is problematic because saying “the man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty” isn’t a proper way to distinguish between the two natures of Christ. Both natures are ascribed to the single person of Jesus. What is called the Communication of the Attributes in Christian theology.
This defense by SDA apologists creates a division within the two natures such that the single person of Christ is not fully God and fully man (hypostatic union). - She’s right! Jesus is not the Almighty, only the Father is the Almighty
Some Adventist’s agree with the statement and affirm that God the Father alone is the Almighty. Some of these types align with classical Adventist Christology (doctrine of Christ’s nature) like the early SDA pioneers that believed Jesus had a beginning and is not the eternal God. They were arian heretics. - She was differentiating between Jesus and the Father
Like with the first defense, this is also not sound as this isn’t a valid differentiator between the Father and the Son. The Father, Son and Spirit are all the one Almighty God.
Adventist apologetic sites like EllenWhite.info assert this defense. They also wrongfully assert that Christian’s believe God is three distinct beings which is why they think this statement is perfectly fine. This is most assuredly not what Christian’s believe. Trinitarians (the historic, Christian position) believe God is three Persons, but one single Being. Three beings would be three Gods. Person and being are not the same thing. The problem is, Ellen White didn’t distinguish between person and being so Adventist’s don’t either. Which is why they make a defense like this and don’t see an issue with the statement.
The biblical evidence for Jesus being the Almighty is plentiful. There is only One God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and One Lord (Ephesians 4:5). Not one Almighty and then a lesser god. Jesus is that Lord (Romans 10:9, Revelation 19:16).
Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us that “the LORD alone made everything” (Isaiah 44:24) as well as that Yahweh made the sea and is the Maker of all (Psalm 95:4-5, Psalm 90:1-2, Proverbs 22). The Hebrew word translated LORD is Yahweh—the Almighty God. Paul and John both tell us that Jesus made everything (Colossians 1:16-18, John 1:1-4). Paul also goes on to say Jesus is the “fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). The fullness of the Godhead means He possesses all that makes God divine.
We’re also told that Yahweh (the Almighty) is the Rock of Israel (Isaiah 44:8, Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 95:1). The Rock that followed Israel (Exodus 17:6-7). Paul tells us that Rock is Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).
The Psalter tells us that “Yahweh’s Kingdom is forever and ever” (Psalm 145:13), which is exactly what we are told about Jesus’s Kingdom (Daniel 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 45:6, Hebrews 1:8, Luke 1:33).
We are told that the Almighty God alone knows the heart and thoughts of man (1 Kings 8:39, Psalm 44:21, Jeremiah 17:10) and Yahweh alone forgives sins and heals diseases (Psalm 103:2-3). In Mark 2:5-10 Jesus does all of these things in a single encounter with the Jews. He forgave the paralytics sins, healed his diseases, and knew what was in the hearts of the Jewish leaders.
Scripture tells us Yahweh’s Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8) and Jesus said His word stands forever and will never pass away (Mark 13:31).
Hosea and Moses both tell us that the Almighty God led Israel out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15; Hosea 13:4). Jude tells us that Jesus did this (Jude 5).
Isaiah says that Yahweh is the First and the Last, the only Savior (Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6-8). Hosea says the same thing (Hosea 13:4). Jesus explicitly states that He is the First and Last—the Almighty (Revelation 1:8, 17-18; 2:8). Jesus is our great God and Savior (John 20:27-28, Titus 2:13-14, 2 Timothy 1:10). If Yahweh alone is the First and the Last—the only Savior—that means Jesus is the Almighty.
We are told that Yahweh is the Bridegroom of Israel (Isaiah 54:5, 62:5). Mark tells us that Jesus is the Bridegroom (Mark 2:18-20).
The scriptures are replete and clear that Jesus Christ is the Almighty God alongside the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is only a sampling. To deny such is to affirm a false Christ that cannot save (Matthew 24:24, 2 Corinthians 11:1-4) as well as an idol—a false god.
Ellen White claimed that “whatever contradicts God’s Word, we can be sure proceeds from Satan”, that her writings never contradict God’s Word, and bear the test of investigation. We’ll let you connect the dots.
To see a comparison of orthodox Trinitarianism and the Adventist Heavenly Trio, watch our detailed breakdown.
