When it comes to finding Jesus in the pages of the Old Testament, Jesus Himself have said in John 5:39,

“Search the scriptures [namely the Old Testament]; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

After His resurrection, Jesus further added, as He walked along the road to Emmaus with un-named disciples,

“. . . O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)

As Christ has alluded, the stories in the Old Testament not only patterned Christ’s life and death in shadows and figures within the events, the ceremonies and in the lives of the God’s faithful but it also looked forward to the fulfillment of these types in the actual Person of Jesus Christ.

That said, too many miss Christ’s real presence in the Old Testament narrative. Or many are unclear as to how to properly distinguish the theophanies, whether they are of the Father or the Son. Thus, the focus of this article is to provide some clarity on the matter.

Did the Father actually vacate heaven and came down to earth in order to communicate with men or was it someone else, be it angels or Christ, acting in His stead?

To remedy this, let us first turn to those places where we find examples of theophanies in the Old Testament times.

Below is one of the first passages where the “Almighty God” made a personal appearance and spoke directly to one of the patriarchs:

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1)

Above passage is the first of 48 occurrences in the Old Testament where the expression “Almighty” was used to describe God. On a side note, of the 48 in the Old Testament, 31 appears in the Book of Job. Of the 48 mentioned in the Old Testament, below are just a few examples where the “Almighty” or “God” or “LORD” either made personal appearance or spoke to men directly:

Genesis 18:1, 2 “And the Lord appeared unto him [Abram] in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,”

Compare: “Two of the heavenly messengers departed, leaving Abraham alone with Him whom he now knew to be the Son of God. And the man of faith pleaded for the inhabitants of Sodom. Once he had saved them by his sword, now he endeavored to save them by prayer. Lot and his household were still dwellers there; and the unselfish love that prompted Abraham to their rescue from the Elamites, now sought to save them, if it were God’s will, from the storm of divine judgment. {PP 139.2}

We know from this that the “Son of God” or Jesus, before His incarnation, interacted with the characters from the Old Testament. And while the inspired testimony do not reveal any clues as to the physical appearance, we can be certain that, at least on this occasion, the Son obviously veiled His glory and appeared no differently than a normal human being. Concerning His incarnation, we are told, “HAD CHRIST COME IN HIS DIVINE FORM, HUMANITY COULD NOT HAVE ENDURED THE SIGHT. The contrast would have been too painful, THE GLORY TOO OVERWHELMING. Humanity could not have endured the presence of one of the pure, bright angels from glory; therefore Christ took not on Him the nature of angels; He came in the likeness of men.” {5BC 1131.1}

Moving on below are a few more accounts of theophanies:

Genesis 35:11 “And God said unto him [Jacob], I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;”

Genesis 48:3 “And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,”

Exodus 6:1-3 “Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.”

Exodus 24:10 “And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.”

Exodus 33:11 “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.”

Exodus 33: 19-23 “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live……And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.”

Note: There are also 9 times in the New Testament where God is called “Almighty.” First time in 2 Corinthians 6:18 and the last remaining 8 verses are all found in the Book of Revelation. Last time it occurs is at the end of the Bible, telling us that there is no special temple in the holy city, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (Revelation 21:22).

The Scriptures describes how “God Almighty” appeared and spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets, including Abraham, Jacob and Moses, who spoke with Him face to face and was even allowed to view the back side of Him. 

Does this mean that it was actually the Father Himself who vacated heaven and descended to earth, literally appearing in some physical form (perhaps having veiled His glory) and spoke to men in the Old Testament?  

It is generally understood by many (perhaps more within the non-trinitarian camp) that the “Almighty” of the Old Testament refers primarily or exclusively to God the Father and this notion is supported by John in Rev 21:22 wherein he identifies “Lord God Almighty” as the Father while Christ is distinguished as the “Lamb.”

But due to some confused ideas derived from both the trinitarian (God being one) and the non-trinitarian ideas (being strictly monotheistic and not wanting to properly acknowledge Christ as “God”), many conflate the personalities of the Father and the Son (even the Holy Spirit) and are confused as to how to properly distinguish these early theophanies of the Old Testament. One has to give an answer to, who actually showed up in the Old Testament and communicated with men. Was it the Father? Was it the Son? Was it both? And where does the Holy Spirit fit in? Or was it an angel representing God? Or was it a composite god made up of all three personalities, appearing is some kind of astral manifestation as a single god, etc.?

But before we answer that, let’s consider a few passages in the New Testament.

NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD

John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 5:37 “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” 

1 Tim. 6:13-16. “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things…who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting.”

Note: John 1:18 says that “no man hath seen God at any time.” And in John 5:37, the passage actually identifies the Father as the God, whom no man has heard nor seen His shape. 1 Tim 6:13-16 further affirms, that, “no man hath seen, nor can see” this God whom dwells in the light.  

Thus, we know that Jesus cannot be this “God” whom no one has heard nor seen, for many have certainly heard Him and seen Him while He lived on earth for thirty-three and a half years.  

Moreover, if you believe that the “God Almighty” of the Old Testament is God the Father then there’s a seeming contradiction, considering the fact that there are numerous accounts in the Old Testament describing “God Almighty” speaking directly to men and having made various personal appearances. In fact, in Exodus 33:23, we are told that Moses actually saw God’s “back parts.”

Therefore, how is it that no man has neither heard God (Father) nor has seen Him in person and yet Old Testament Scriptures seems to reveal otherwise? Could it be that the “God Almighty” who appeared in the Old Testament is not God the Father but someone else?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the statements from Pen of Inspiration below to discover who this “God Almighty” was in the Old Testament. 

APPOINTED MEDIUM-PERSONIFICATION OF THE ONLY TRUE GOD

“The world is not improving. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. By rejecting the SON OF GOD, THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE ONLY TRUE GOD, who possessed goodness, mercy, and untiring love, whose heart was ever touched with human woe, and choosing a murderer[Barabbas] in his stead, the Jews showed what human nature can and will do when the restraining power of the Spirit of God is removed, and men are under the control of the apostate. Those who choose Satan as their ruler will reveal the spirit of their chosen master.” {RH January 30, 1900, Art. A, par. 6}

“The world that could reject the divine, PERSONIFICATION OF THE INFINITE GOD, are repeating the same history as transpired when Jesus was in the world, refusing Jesus but choosing Barabbas.” {Lt93-1893.21}

“Jesus came to teach men of the Father, to correctly represent him before the fallen children of earth. Angels could not fully portray the character of God, but Christ, who was A LIVING IMPERSONATION OF GOD, could not fail to accomplish the work.” {ST, January 20, 1890, par. 6}

Note: Father and Son both have their own distinct and separate personalities and yet Jesus is described as the personification of His Father (the only true God/infinite God). In other words, the person of Jesus embodied all the attributes (name/character/authority) of the Father; Jesus in essence acted in his Father’s stead as the Father Himself. 

“In plain language the Saviour taught the world that the tenderness, the compassion, and love that he manifested toward man, WERE THE VERY ATTRIBUTES OF HIS FATHERS IN HEAVEN. Whatever doctrine of grace he presented, whatever promise of joy, whatever deed of love, whatever divine attraction he exhibited, HAD ITS SOURCE IN THE FATHER OF ALL. IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST WE BEHOLD THE ETERNAL GOD engaged in an enterprise of boundless mercy toward fallen man. Christ clothed his divinity with humanity, that his humanity might touch humanity, and divinity reach divinity.” {ST August 20, 1894, par. 8}

“AFTER THE FALL, Christ became Adam’s instructor. HE ACTED IN GOD’S STEAD toward humanity, saving the race from immediate death. He took upon Him the work of MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.” (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times. 29th May 1901, ‘God’s purpose for us’, see also Letter 91 1900)

“The wrath of God still hung over Adam, but the execution of the sentence of death was delayed, and the indignation of God was restrained, because Christ had entered upon the work of becoming man’s Redeemer. Christ was to take the wrath of God which in justice should fall upon man….THE HOLY AND INFINITE GOD, WHO DWELLETH IN LIGHT UNAPPROACHABLE, COULD NO LONGER TALK WITH MAN. NO COMMUNICATION COULD NOW EXIST DIRECTLY BETWEEN MAN AND HIS MAKER.”{Confrontation p.19.3}

“We see a Father, infinite, DWELLING IN LIGHT UNAPPROACHABLE, YET RECEIVING US TO HIMSELF THROUGH THE MERITS OF HIS SON. The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and despair, in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God: Live, sinner, live! ye penitent, believing souls, live! I have paid a ransom.” {AA 333.2}

“Adam, in his innocence, had enjoyed open communion with his Maker; BUT SIN BROUGHT SEPARATION BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, and the atonement of Christ alone could span the abyss and make possible the communication of blessing or salvation from heaven to earth. Man was still cut off from direct approach to his Creator, but God would communicate with him through Christ and angels.” PP 67.2

Note: The above statements reveal to us that because of sin men were no longer able to directly communicate with God the Father, “who dwelleth in light unapproachable.” But Christ, through His merits, “took upon Him the work of mediator between God and man.” He took on the role of bridging the gap between the Father and men. 

The statements below further demonstrate how, due to sin, it was necessary that Christ had to become our mediator along with the help of angels, in order for men to communicate with God the Father:  

“God forbears for a time the full execution of the sentence of death pronounced upon man. Satan flattered himself that he had forever broken the link between Heaven and earth. But in this he was greatly mistaken and disappointed. The Father had given over the world into the hands of his Son for him to redeem from the curse and the disgrace of Adam’s failure and fall. THROUGH CHRIST ALONE CAN MAN NOW FIND ACCESS TO GOD. AND THROUGH CHRIST ALONE WILL THE LORD HOLD COMMUNICATION WITH MAN.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 24th February, 1874, Redemption No. 1′)

“After the transgression of Adam, THE LORD SPOKE NO LONGER DIRECTLY WITH MAN; the human race WAS GIVEN INTO THE HANDS OF CHRIST, and ALL COMMUNICATION CAME THROUGH HIM TO THE WORLD.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, November 28, 1893, ‘Christ as Teacher’)

“After the transgression of Adam, GOD NO LONGER COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY WITH MAN; EARTH WAS SEPARATED, AS IT WERE, FROM THE CONTINENT OF HEAVEN: but Jesus was made our substitute, our surety, that he might bring us back to the Father….” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 10th June 1890, ‘Conditions for obtaining eternal riches’)

“Since the sin of our first parents there has been NO DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. THE FATHER HAS GIVEN THE WORLD INTO THE HANDS OF CHRIST, that THROUGH HIS MEDIATORIAL WORK He may redeem man and vindicate the authority and holiness of the law of God. ALL THE COMMUNION BETWEEN HEAVEN AND THE FALLEN RACE HAS BEEN THROUGH CHRIST. It was the Son of God that gave to our first parents the promise of redemption. It was He who revealed Himself to the patriarchs. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses understood the gospel. They looked for salvation through man’s Substitute and Surety. These HOLY MEN OF OLD HELD COMMUNION WITH THE SAVIOUR who was to come to our world in human flesh; and some of them talked with CHRIST AND HEAVENLY ANGELS FACE TO FACE.” {PP 366.1}

“The transgression of that law had caused a fearful separation between God and man. To Adam in his innocence was granted communion, direct, free, and happy, with his Maker. After his transgression, GOD WOULD COMMUNICATE TO MAN THROUGH CHRIST AND ANGELS.” (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, 30th January 1879, ‘The great controversy: The plan of salvation’) {SR 50.3}

“Up to the time of man’s rebellion against the government of God, there had been free communion between God and man. But the sin of Adam and Eve separated earth from heaven, SO THAT MAN COULD NOT HAVE COMMUNION WITH HIS MAKER.” (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 184, ‘Jacob’s flight and exile’)

“Up to the time of man’s rebellion against the government of God, there had been free communion between God and man. But the sin of Adam and Eve separated earth from heaven, so that man could not have communion with his Maker. Yet the world was not left in solitary hopelessness. THE LADDER REPRESENTS JESUS, —>THE APPOINTED MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION. <— HAD HE NOT WITH HIS OWN MERITS BRIDGE THE GULF THAT SIN HAD MADE, THE MINISTERING ANGELS COULD HAVE HELD NO COMMUNION WITH FALLEN MAN. Christ connects man in his weakness and helplessness with the source of infinite power.” PP 184.2

“The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy beings, all waiting to do His will. THROUGH THESE MESSENGERS He is in active communication with every part of His dominion. BY HIS SPIRIT HE IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT. THROUGH THE AGENCY OF HIS SPIRIT AND HIS ANGELS HE MINISTERS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN.”  {MH 417.2} 

Note: Jesus, through “His own merits bridge the gulf that sin had made.” The ladder on which the angels of God are ascending and descending represents Jesus, our “appointed medium.” Jesus, “through the agency of His Spirit” became the connecting conduit in allowing the ministering angels to communicate with men. 

Question: If Jesus is the “appointed medium” then why would another divine being (aka “God the Holy Spirit”, according to trinity), without any merit, take the place of Jesus? Suffice to say, it is Jesus (no one else) who stands between us and God the Father. 

Again, the above statements indicate how Christ “ACTED IN FATHER’S STEAD”. Christ, as the mediator, stood in His Father’s place as His equal. Christ, being the Word, spoke as though it was His Father speaking; He was in essence, His Father’s mouthpiece. Christ also appeared to the patriarchs of old as though He was the Father, in that He personified His Father as “God Almighty.” 

GIVING OF THE DECALOGUE 

“To leave them without excuse, the Lord Himself condescended to come down upon Sinai, enshrouded in glory and surrounded by His angels, and in a most sublime and awful manner made known His law of Ten Commandments. He did not trust them to be taught by anyone, not even His angels, but spoke His law with an audible voice in the hearing of all the people. He did not, even then, trust them to the short memory of a people who were prone to forget His requirements, but wrote them with His own holy finger upon tables of stone. He would remove from them all possibility of mingling with His holy precepts any tradition, or of confusing His requirements with the practices of men. {SR 148.1} 

“He then came still closer to His people, who were so readily led astray, and would not leave them with merely the ten precepts of the Decalogue. He commanded Moses to write, as He should bid him, judgments and laws, giving minute directions in regard to what He required them to perform, and thereby guarded the ten precepts which He had engraved upon the tables of stone. These specific directions and requirements were given to draw erring man to the obedience of the moral law, which he is so prone to transgress.” {SR 148.2} 

“After the transgression of Adam, the Lord spoke no longer directly with man; the human race was given into the hands of Christ, and all communication came through Him to the world. IT WAS CHRIST WHO SPOKE THE LAW ON MOUNT SINAI, and He knew the bearing of all its precepts, the glory and majesty of the law of heaven.” {FE 237.1} 

“IT WAS CHRIST WHO SPOKE THE LAW FROM SINAI. It was Christ who gave the law to Moses, engraven on tables of stone. It was his Father’s law; and Christ says, “I and my Father are one.” The Pharisees held the reverse of the modern-position, but were in just as great an error. They rejected Christ, but exalted the law. {RH September 27, 1881, par. 15}

“Jehovah was in the burning bush by the wayside; the same God, with ten thousand of His saints, proclaimed His fiery law from Sinai. God revealed Himself to the prophets and writers of the Old Testament, and the same Father of us all spoke through Christ to the apostles, and opened the eyes of the prophet on Patmos. SSP 181.1

“Then, lest there might be some mistake in writing out the law which He had given, God called Moses up into the mountain, and gave him two tables of stone, upon which He had engraved with HIS OWN FINGER the SAME TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT HE HAD SPOKEN in the hearing of the multitude.” CIS 360.1 

Note: Having looked at volumes of inspired statements related to the giving of the Decalogue, it becomes quite evident that the “God” or “Jehovah” who spoke the Law and the “God” who wrote the tables of stone with His own finger is none other than Christ Himself.  

There is however an issue of Father’s appearance on Mt Sinai mentioned in the Testimonies. 

“With the Father at Sinai—When they [Israel] came to Sinai, He took occasion to refresh their minds in regard to His requirements. Christ and the Father, standing side by side upon the mount, with solemn majesty proclaimed the Ten Commandments.—Historical Sketches, p. 231. (1866). {Ev 616.3} 

Note: I may stand corrected later but having reviewed various of statements thus far on theophanies, including aforementioned statements having to do with how, due to sin, “ALL THE COMMUNION BETWEEN HEAVEN AND THE FALLEN RACE HAS BEEN THROUGH CHRIST”, I am more incline to think that the Father “standing side by side upon the mount” was not in the literal sense but more in a figurative sense.  

CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST 

As a servant of his chosen people, it was the Son of God who appeared to Joshua as the Captain, or the Leader of the Lord’s host, the angels: 

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him, with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? And the Captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy; and Joshua did so.” Josh. 5: 13-15.  

“The CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST communicated only with Joshua. He did not reveal Himself to all the congregation, and it rested with them to believe or doubt the words of Joshua. They could not see the host of angels who attended them under the leadership of the Son of God. They might have reasoned: “How ridiculous, marching daily around the walls of the city, blowing trumpets of rams’ horns. This can have no effect upon those towering fortifications.” But it was to be impressed upon their minds that their strength was not in the wisdom of man, nor in his might, but only in the God of their salvation. God will do great things for those who trust in Him. He will help His believing children in every emergency, if they will place their entire confidence in Him and faithfully obey Him.” {EP 349.3} 

“Again: Christ is called the Word of God. John 1:1-3. He is so called because God gave His revelations to man in all ages through Christ. It was His Spirit that inspired the prophets. 1 Peter 1:10, 11. He was revealed to them as the ANGEL OF JEHOVAH, the CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST, Michael the Archangel.” {PP 761.5}

THE NAME, ALMIGHTY, IS IN HIS SON

The following statements reveal how Christ assumed the title of the Father, including “Almighty”, “Jehovah” and “I AM”.

“Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath BY INHERITANCE OBTAINED A MORE EXCELLENT NAME THAN THEY.” (Heb 1:4) 

In Hebrews 1:1-9 we note that the speaker is God the Father and that He is addressing His Son and calling Him “God.” 

Verse 2 says that Christ was “appointed heir” of all things. An HEIR is defined as a person who is legally entitled to inherit the property or rank of another on that person’s death or at the appointed time when the person is to receive his recognition. In this case, Christ, the Son, received an “INHERITANCE” from His Father. If Jesus was the Heir, then whatever he was to receive as the rightful heir, He received it by the virtue of His begetting.  

But what did He receive? 

His “NAME,” His authority and His power! In other words, Jesus being the one and only begotten Son of the living God received by virtue of His birthright all of the attributes that His Father possessed.

Verse 4 says, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by “INHERITANCE” obtained a more excellent “NAME” than they.” Verse 8 says that this more excellent “NAME” is the name, “God,” which was given by the Father to His Son.  

“Unto the Son He [God] saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.” 

And so this name “He has by “INHERITANCE” is not merely a “NAME” that was bestowed but a “NAME” that was “INHERITED” from His Father. 

Christ not only inherited His name but other things as well. Name means authority (Mark 11:9, John 5:43), and it also means character and nature (Exodus 33:18-19, Exodus 34:5-6). The name Adam means human for example.

When people have children, they not only inherit the name of their parents, but they also inherit the nature of the parents, which of course is human nature. likewise, Jesus inherited the same name as His Father, just as a child inherits the name of the parents, and not unlike a human offspring, Christ also inherited the nature of His Father, which is His divine nature.

“Behold, I send an ANGEL before thee, to keep thee in the way, and TO BRING THEE INTO THE PLACE WHICH I HAVE PREPARED. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: FOR MY NAME IS IN HIM.” (Ex. 23:20,21)  

“And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, BY THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Ex. 6:3) 

“JEHOVAH IS THE NAME GIVEN TO CHRIST. ‘Behold, God is my salvation,’ writes the prophet Isaiah; ‘I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day ye shall say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.’ ‘In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.'” {ST May 3, 1899, par. 18} 

Note: Both the Scripture and the Pen of Inspiration affirms the idea that Christ inherited the Father’s appellation, “God Almighty” and also “Jehovah.”  

WHOSE GLORY DID MOSES ASKED TO SEE? 

“And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. [19] And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. [20] And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. [21] And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: [22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: [23] And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen…. [34:5] And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. [6] And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” (Exodus 33:18-34:6) 

“The priest went through the ceremony of his official work. He took the child in his arms, and held it up before the altar. After handing it back to its mother, he inscribed the name “Jesus” on the roll of the first-born. Little did he think, as the babe lay in his arms, that it was the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. The priest did not think that this babe was the One of whom Moses had written, “A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.” Acts 3:22. HE DID NOT THINK THAT THIS BABE WAS HE WHOSE GLORY MOSES HAD ASKED TO SEE. But One greater than Moses lay in the priest’s arms; and when he enrolled the child’s name, he was enrolling the name of One who was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. {DA 52.2}

AN ANGEL WHO SPEAKS AS GOD

Gen. 31:11-13 “[11] And the ‘ANGEL OF GOD’ spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. [12] And he said, … [13] I AM THE GOD OF BETHEL, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.”  

Gen. 35:6,7,9,11 “[6] So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. [7] And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there ‘God appeared unto him,’ when he fled from the face of his brother.” “[9] And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.” “[11] And God said unto him, I AM GOD ALMIGHTY: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.”

Note: What is significant in these passages is that it was the “Angel of God” who spoke to Jacob as though He was God. He appeared to Jacob and proclaimed Himself as the God of Bethel, and as God Almighty. We shall see later that this Angel of God is none other than the very person of Christ. 

Exodus 3:1 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” 

Exodus 3:2 “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”

Note: Interestingly, again, it was actually the “Angel of the LORD” who appeared before Moses, “in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush,” (Exo 3:2) and told him that it was Him who also appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bearing the name, “God Almighty” but that He apparently went by another name, which was Jehovah, but was not known by that name to the patriarchs.  

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. [2]And the ANGEL OF THE LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire OUT OF THE MIDST OF A BUSH: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. [3]And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. [4]And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, GOD CALLED UNTO HIM OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE BUSH, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. [5]And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (Exodus 3:1-5)

Note: Again, it was the “angel of the LORD” who is the mouthpiece for the “God” and “LORD”

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? [14]And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. [15]And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15 )

“Behold, I send an ANGEL before thee, to keep thee in the way, and TO BRING THEE INTO THE PLACE WHICH I HAVE PREPARED. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for HE WILL NOT PARDON YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS: FOR MY NAME IS IN HIM.” (Ex. 23:20,21)  

Note: It was the “Angel of the Lord” who appeared in the midst of the bush and spoke as though he was God saying, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…” This was the Father speaking through Christ (who appeared as an “Angel of the Lord”); Christ was His Father’s mouthpiece:

Also, we find Stephen in the 7th chapter of the Book of Acts, just before he was stoned to death, giving evidence to who this “Angel of the Lord” might be. We read:

“And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an ANGEL OF THE LORD in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, THE VOICE OF THE LORD came unto him, Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. THEN SAID THE LORD TO HIM, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.” (Acts 7:30-33)

vs 35 “This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer BY THE HAND OF THE ANGEL WHICH APPEARED TO HIM IN THE BUSH.” (Acts 7:35)

“This is he [Moses], that was in the church in the wilderness with the ANGEL which SPAKE TO HIM in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” (ibid v. 38) [bracket supplied]

Note: It becomes apparent that this “angel of the Lord” (Christ) assumed the role of “God” (Father) and also spoke as though He is “God” and “LORD”

CHRIST AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

“It has been declared by some that Christ favored the moderate use of fermented wine, in witness whereof they refer to his miracle of changing water into wine. But we protest that Christ never made intoxicating wine; such an act would have been contrary to all the teachings and example of his life. HE WAS THE ANGEL who led the children of Israel in the wilderness. HE SPOKE THE LAW from Sinai.” {HR July 1, 1878, par. 11} 

“SPEAKING THROUGH HIM, the Lord says, ‘I AM THE LORD THY GOD, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee; therefore I will give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I AM with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory; I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified. Or let them hear and say, It is truth. Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour, I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I AM He; and there is none that can deliver out of Mine hand. I will work, and who shall let [hinder] it? . . . I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” Isa. xliii. 3-15.” (EG White – Present Truth, May 30, 1895, par. 4) 

Note: The Father was “speaking through” the Angel of the Lord, who was Christ.

“Christ is the One THROUGH WHOM God has AT ALL TIMES revealed Himself to man. “BUT TO US THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. “This is he [Moses], that was in the church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” Acts 7:38. This Angel was the Angel of God’s presence (Isaiah 63:9), THE ANGEL IN WHOM WAS THE NAME OF THE GREAT JEVOHAH (Exodus 23:20-23). THE EXPRESSION CAN REFER TO NO OTHER THAN THE SON OF GOD.” {PP 761.4} 

“This character of Moses does not simply mean passive resistance of evil, but perseverance in a firm, consistent course. He kept the Lord ever before him, and the Lord was at his right hand to help him. Moses had a deep sense of the personality of God. He saw God. He was not only looking down through the ages to a Christ that would be revealed, BUT HE SAW CHRIST IN A SPECIAL MANNER ACCOMPANYING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN ALL THEIR TRAVELS. God was real to him and present in his thoughts. When called upon to face danger, to bear insult, and to be misunderstood for Christ’s sake, he was persevering to endure without retaliation. Moses believed in God as one whom he needed and one who would help him because he needed His help. God was to him a present help in time of need. {Lt42-1886.2}

“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for He was before me.” Yes, He was before John. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, HE LED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. “And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” John was a burning and a shining light, but he was not That Light which was to lighten the whole world with the brightness of redeeming love. He was before John; for He existed FROM ETERNITY with the Father. {Ms187-1903.20}

“Moses saw a bush in flames, branches, foliage, and trunk, all burning, yet seeming not to be consumed. He drew near to view the wonderful sight, when a voice from out of the flame called him by name. With trembling lips he answered, “Here am I.” He was warned not to approach irreverently: “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground…. I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” It was HE WHO, AS THE ANGEL OF THE COVENANT, had revealed Himself to the fathers in ages past. “And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” {PP 251.2}

“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…. HE WHO WAS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER IN THE CREATION OF MAN WAS COMMANDER, LAWGIVER, AND GUIDE TO HIS ANCIENT PEOPLE.” {TMK 101.3} 

Note: We read, “THE VOICE OF THE LORD came unto him, Saying, ‘I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Who was saying this? “Angel of the Lord.” We are told, “FOR MY NAME IS IN HIM.” (Ex. 23:20,21)” Thus, the Father’s NAME is IN this Angel…and what would that name be? God Almighty. 

Also note, “HE WILL NOT PARDON YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS” (Ex. 23:21) Can an angel “pardon your transgressions”?  Thus, we know that this was not an ordinary angel. Only being who can pardon our transgressions other than the Father is Christ. 

These passages show that the Angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses is indeed Christ… and we can see that the Inspired Testimony is in harmony with Scripture. 

AN ANGEL WHO WAS THE SON OF GOD 

“When Nebuchadnezzar throws Daniel’s three companions into the fiery furnace, he is surprised to see a fourth person in the furnace with them. He explains that “THE FORM OF THE FOURTH IS LIKE THE SON OF GOD.” בַר אֱלָהִין” (Dan 3:25).

But then, only a few verses later Nebuchadnezzar declares:

“…Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, WHO HATH SENT HIS ANGEL (מַלְאֲכֵהּ), and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.” (Dan 3:28)

Thus when Nebuchadnezzar sees a man with the appearance of “a son of God” he knows this to be an “Angel” (מַלְאָךְ) of God.

Uriah Smith, in his book, Daniel and Revelation, also affirms this thought:

“Let us in all our trials, afflictions, persecutions, and straitened places, but have the “form of the fourth” with us, and it is enough. (DAR 82.1)
The king said, “And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” This language is by some supposed to refer to Christ; but it is not likely that the king had any idea of the Saviour. A better rendering, according to good authorities, would be “like a son of the gods;” that is, he had the appearance of a supernatural, or divine being. NEBUCHADNEZZAR SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED HIM AN ANGEL.” (DAR 83.1) 

Prophet Isaiah says,

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Isaiah 63:9 

Note: Christ is here depicted as the “Angel of His presence.” In other words, Christ as an “Angel of the Lord” represented or personified the Father’s presence.

I AM

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, WHAT IS HIS NAME? what shall I say unto them? AND GOD SAID UNTO MOSES, ‘I AM THAT I AM:’ and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, ‘I AM’ hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: THIS IS MY NAME FOR EVER, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:13-15) 

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, ‘I am.’” (John 8:58)

Note: Looking at these two passages, we can see that Jesus assumed the very name, “I AM”, as His own, the same name the God of the Old Testament who spoke to Moses identified Himself as.   

Thus, one can deduce that Jesus is essentially equating Himself with the God of the Old Testament. This however presents some ambiguity as to the identity of “God” who actually spoke to Moses. Was it the Father or the Son?  

I believe the Pen of Inspiration provides some clarity: 

“With solemn dignity Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.’ Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed AS HIS OWN BY THIS GALILEAN RABBI. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One, He who had been promised to Israel, ‘whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.'” Micah 5:2, margin. – (DA 469.4,5)  

“Christ is the wisdom of God. He is the great “I AM” TO THE WORLD.” (ST, December 12, 1895).  

Note: Again it is important to recognize that the titles were “given” to Christ by the virtue of His begetting. Christ “BY INHERITANCE OBTAINED A MORE EXCELLENT NAME” (Heb 1:4). In other words, God Almighty, Jehovah, or I AM are all the appellations which ultimately belongs to the Father and yet Christ was given “an excellent name” and thus He can claim these “names” as His own… therefore Christ is rightly “the great “I AM” TO THE WORLD.”  

Again, this is to illustrate that while Christ may share the same name (along with divine attributes), Father and Son are not the same person; they are two distinctly separate individuals though sharing the same name (not unlike how my son and I share the same last name; we are both “Mr. Chung” but are not a same person). 

SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHICH WAS IN THEM

Following statements demonstrate how it was the Spirit of Christ (aka “Holy Spirit”, not an entirely separate individual) operating in the Old Testament, Who inspired/spoke through the patriarchs and the prophets:

“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHICH WAS IN THEM did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:9-11

“By the inspired testimony of Moses and the prophets he clearly proved the identity of Jesus of Nazareth with the Messiah and showed that from the days of Adam IT WAS THE VOICE OF CHRIST which had been speaking through patriarchs and prophets.”– {AA 221.2}

“It was Christ who spoke with Abraham under the oaks at Mamre; with Isaac as he went out to pray in the fields at the eventide; with Jacob on the hillside at Bethel; with Moses among the mountains of Midian; and with the boy David as he watched his flocks. It was at Christ’s direction that for fifteen centuries the Hebrew people had left their homes for one week every year, and had dwelt in booths formed from the green branches ‘of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook.’” Leviticus 23:40. {DA 290.3}

THE MAN CHRIST WAS NOT THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY(?)

Within the non-trinitarian community, many argue (perhaps in an effort to assert the preeminent position of the Father) that the title, “God Almighty” must exclusively belong to the Father only. Following statement is often cited to defend this argument, but let’s closely examine whether this is a tenable position. One thing to keep in mind is that in giving Christ all the attributes He rightly deserves does not in anyway negates the begottenism nor does it denigrate the Father’s position; in fact the Father Himself see fit that the Son is made equal with the Father in all things.

“There is no one who can explain the mystery of the incarnation of Christ. Yet we know that He came to this earth and lived as a man among men. THE MAN CHRIST JESUS WAS NOT THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, yet Christ and the Father are one. The Deity did not sink under the agonizing torture of Calvary, yet it is none the less true that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” {Ms140-1903.28} {5BC 1129.7}

There, you see, the Man Christ Jesus IS NOT the Lord God Almighty! Please pay attention to the words carefully friends. Please note that the quote does not say, “the Man Christ Jesus IS not the Lord God Almighty” rather the quote says “the Man Christ Jesus WAS not the Lord God Almighty.” The tense of the verb to be is important here.

Let’s compare this with the RH, March 12, 1908 quote where the angels actually worship Christ as the Lord God Almighty:

“The crowning glory of Christ’s attributes was his holiness. The angels bow before him in adoration exclaiming, Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. He is declared to be glorious in his holiness. Study the character of God. By beholding Christ, by seeking him in faith and prayer, you may become like him. {RH March 12, 1908, par. 4}

Note: The rules of grammar clearly indicate that the antecedent for the pronouns, “His” and “Him” and “He” is clearly Christ. The angels worship Christ exclaiming “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”

So then what is going on here? Why does sister White say He WAS not the Lord God Almighty? I would like to propose that the answer to that question is due to His incarnation. When He stepped down from the throne of heaven, He actually handed the scepter back into the hand of God (which, by the way, indicate where He first got it from).

Here it is in its more complete literary context and I will put a caps emphasis on a few things. Please note the phrase, “MAN CHRIST JESUS” which specifically points to Christ’s incarnation: 

“CHRIST LEFT HIS POSITION IN THE HEAVENLY COURTS and came to this earth to live the life of human beings. This sacrifice He made in order to show that Satan’s charge against God is false—that it is possible for man to obey the laws of God’s kingdom. EQUAL WITH THE FATHER, honored and adored by the angels, in our behalf CHRIST HUMBLED HIMSELF and came to this earth to live a life of lowliness and poverty—to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Yet the stamp of divinity was upon His humanity. He came as a divine Teacher, to uplift human beings, to increase their physical, mental, and spiritual efficiency.” {Ms140-1903.27}

“There is no one who can explain the mystery of the incarnation of Christ. Yet we know that He came to this earth and LIVED AS A MAN among men. THE MAN CHRIST JESUS WAS NOT THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, YET CHRIST AND THE FATHER ARE ONE. The Deity did not sink under the agonizing torture of Calvary, yet it is none the less true that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” {Ms140-1903.28}

 “He stepped down from the throne of honor, laid off his royal robe and his royal crown, GAVE BACK INTO HIS FATHER’S HAND THE SCEPTER, and veiling divinity with humanity, humbled himself, and came to a world all seared and marred with the curse. “For your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” Although he was the Majesty of heaven, he bore the cross of shame. {YI May 27, 1897, par. 3}

Thus, what is being intimated here, in this giving back of the scepter into the Father’s hand, is the Son temporarily giving up His rights as the Almighty. Again the following quote clarifies:

“When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. BUT HE RESTED NOT IN THE POSESSION OF ALMIGHTY POWER. It was not as the “Master of earth and sea and sky” that He reposed in quiet. THAT POWER HE HAD LAID DOWN, and He says, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. He trusted in the Father’s might. It was in faith—faith in God’s love and care—that Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God.” (Ellen White, Desire of Ages, page 336)

Did you catch it? When Jesus met the raging storm “HE RESTED NOT IN THE POSESSION OF ALMIGHTY POWER.” for that power He had laid down. Now let’s reason this further. If Christ laid down “that [almighty] power” then that means He previously did possess it! You cannot lay down what you originally did not have. It was His but He voluntarily gave it up. So, in His pre-incarnate existence He truly was almighty not unlike His Father! However, during His time here on earth, He was not.

This is why the “MAN” Christ Jesus WAS not the Lord God Almighty during His time here on earth. That power He had laid down. However, since His ascension He has now been reinstated to His original glory that He had in His oneness with the Father. Thus, He is also currently carrying that title once again for the angels worship Him as such.

“Thus the prayer of Christ was answered. He was glorified with the glory which He had with His Father before the world was. But amid this glory, Christ does not lose sight of His toiling, struggling ones upon earth. He has a request to make of His Father. He waves back the heavenly host until He is in the direct presence of Jehovah, and then He presents His petition in behalf of His chosen ones. {ST May 10, 1899, par. 16}

“Father,” He says, “I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” And then the Father declares, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” The heavenly host prostrate themselves before Him, and raise their song of triumph and joy. Glory encircles the King of heaven, and was beheld by all the heavenly intelligences. No words can describe the scene which took place as THE SON OF GOD WAS PUBLICLY REINSTATED IN THE PLACE OF HONOR AND GLORY WHICH HE VOLUNTARILY LEFT WHEN HE BECAME A MAN. {ST May 10, 1899, par. 17}

“Christ’s ascension to heaven, amid a cloud of heavenly angels, glorified Him. His concealed glory shone forth with all the brightness that mortal man could endure and live. He came to our world as a man; HE ASCENDED TO HIS HEAVENLY HOME AS GOD. His human life was full of sorrow and grief, because of His cruel rejection by those He came to save; but men were permitted to see Him strengthened, to behold Him ascending in glory and triumph, surrounded by a convoy of angels. The same holy beings that announced His advent to the world were permitted to attend Him at His ascension, and to demand a triumphal entrance for the royal and glorified Being. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates,” they cry as they near the heavenly portals; “and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” The angels at the gates respond in lofty strain, “Who is this King of glory?” And from thousands and ten thousands of voices the answer comes: “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” Again the angels at the gates cry, “Who is this King of glory?” and again the response swells triumphantly upward, “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” {ST May 10, 1899, par. 15}

“Father,” He says, “I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” And then the Father declares, “LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM..” The heavenly host prostrate themselves before Him, and raise their song of triumph and joy. Glory encircles the King of heaven, and was beheld by all the heavenly intelligences. No words can describe the scene which took place as THE SON OF GOD WAS PUBLICLY REINSTATED IN THE PLACE OF HONOR AND GLORY WHICH HE VOLUNTARILY LEFT WHEN HE BECAME A MAN. {ST May 10, 1899, par. 17}

Thus, when He returned to His former position it is evident that He took back up this power. Or, to put it in other words, it was returned to Him by His Father. I believe this is why the angels currently worship Him exclaiming Lord God Almighty. He has His almighty power back again and is using it for our benefit. I hope these things are clear to you. I hope that it is also equally clear that none of this is a denial of who and what He is as the only begotten Son of God.

“Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.” That is, My Father has so loved you, THAT HE EVEN LOVES ME MORE FOR GIVING MY LIFE TO REDEEM YOU. In becoming your substitute and surety, by surrendering My life, by taking your liabilities, your transgressions, I AM ENDEARED TO MY FATHER. {DA 483.5}

And that shows how much God the Father loves us too! He loves us so much that He loves His Son even more because of what He did to save us! What an awesome big, majestic Father He truly is! And how awesome and wonderful is His only begotten Son – the express image of Him.

“But although Christ’s divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet HE DID NOT CEASE TO BE GOD WHEN HE BECAME MAN. The human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine of the human. This is the mystery of godliness. The two expressions human and divine were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, AND YET THEY HAD A DISTINCT INDIVIDUALITY. Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, THE GODHEAD WAS STILL HIS OWN. His Deity could not be lost while He stood faithful and true to His loyalty. Surrounded with sorrow, suffering, and moral pollution, despised and rejected by the people to whom had been intrusted the oracles of heaven, Jesus could YET speak of Himself as the Son of man in heaven. He was ready TO TAKE ONCE MORE HIS DIVINE GLORY WHEN HIS WORK ON EARTH WAS DONE. {ST May 10, 1899, par. 11}

“When Satan and the Son of God first met in conflict, Christ was the commander of the heavenly hosts; and Satan, the leader of revolt in heaven, was cast out. Now their condition is apparently reversed, and Satan makes the most of his supposed advantage. One of the most powerful of the angels, he says, has been banished from heaven. The appearance of Jesus indicates that He is that fallen angel, forsaken by God, and deserted by man. A divine being would be able to sustain his claim by working a miracle; “if Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” Such an act of creative power, urges the tempter, would be conclusive evidence of divinity. It would bring the controversy to an end. {DA 119.2}

“NOT WITHOUT A STRUGGLE COULD JESUS LISTEN IN SILENCE TO THE ARCH-DECEIVER BUT THE SON OF GOD WAS NOT TO PROVE HIS DIVINITY TO SATAN, or to explain the reason of His humiliation. By conceding to the demands of the rebel, nothing for the good of man or the glory of God would be gained. Had Christ complied with the suggestion of the enemy, Satan would still have said, Show me a sign that I may believe you to be the Son of God. Evidence would have been worthless to break the power of rebellion in his heart. And CHRIST WAS NOT TO EXERCISE DIVINE POWER FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT. He had come to bear trial as we must do, leaving us an example of faith and submission. Neither here nor at any subsequent time in His earthly life did He work a miracle in His own behalf. His wonderful works were all for the good of others. Though Jesus recognized Satan from the beginning, He was not provoked to enter into controversy with him. Strengthened with the memory of the voice from heaven, He rested in His Father’s love. He would not parley with temptation. {DA 119.3}

“The Jews were looking for a Messiah to be revealed in outward show. They expected Him, by one flash of overmastering will, to change the current of men’s thoughts, and force from them an acknowledgment of His supremacy. Thus, they believed, He was to secure His own exaltation, and gratify their ambitious hopes. Thus when Christ was treated with contempt, THERE CAME TO HIM A STRONG TEMPTATION TO MANIFEST HIS DIVINE CHARACTER. By a word, by a look, He could compel His persecutors to confess that He was Lord above kings and rulers, priests and temple. But IT WAS HIS DIFFICULT TASK TO KEEP TO THE POSITION HE HAD CHOSEN AS ONE WITH HUMANITY. {DA 700.4}

“There are many who fail to distinguish between the rashness of presumption and the intelligent confidence of faith. SATAN THOUGHT THAT BY HIS TEMPTATIONS HE COULD DELUDE THE WORLD’S REDEEMER, TO MAKE ONE BOLD MOVE IN MANIFESTING HIS DIVINE POWER, to create a sensation, and to surprise all by the wonderful display of the power of his Father in preserving him from injury. HE SUGGESTED THAT CHRIST SHOULD APPEAR IN HIS REAL CHARACTER, and by this masterpiece of power, establish his right to the confidence and faith of the people, that he was indeed the Saviour of the world. If Christ had been deceived by Satan’s temptations, AND HAD EXERCISED HIS MIRACULOUS POWER TO RELIEVE HIMSELF FROM DIFFICULTY, HE WOULD HAVE BROKEN THE CONTRACT MADE WITH HIS FATHER, TO BE A PROBATIONER IN BEHALF OF THE RACE. {RH April 1, 1875, par. 1}

“IT WAS A DIFFICULT TASK FOR THE PRINCE OF LIFE TO CARRY OUT THE PLAN WHICH HE HAD UNDERTAKEN FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN, IN CLOTHING HIS DIVINITY WITH HUMANITY. HE HAD RECEIVED HONOR IN THE HEAVENLY COURTS, AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH ABSOLUTE POWER. IT WAS AS DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO KEEP THE LEVEL OF HUMANITY AS IT IS FOR MEN TO RISE ABOVE THE LOWER LEVEL OF THEIR DEPRAVED NATURES, AND BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE. {RH April 1, 1875, par. 2}

“Christ was put to the closest test, requiring the strength of all his faculties TO RESIST THE INCLINATION WHEN IN DANGER, TO USE HIS POWER TO DELIVER HIMSELF FROM PERIL, and triumph over the power of the prince of darkness. Satan showed his knowledge of the weak points of the human heart, and put forth his utmost power to take advantage of the weakness of the humanity which Christ had assumed in order to overcome his temptations on man’s account. {RH April 1, 1875, par. 3}

“WONDROUS COMBINATION OF MAN AND GOD! HE MIGHT HAVE HELPED HIS HUMAN NATURE TO WITHSTAND THE INROADS OF DISEASE BY POURING FROM HIS DIVINE NATURE VITALITY AND UNDECAYING VIGOR TO THE HUMAN. BUT HE HUMBLED HIMSELF TO MAN’S NATURE. He did this that the Scripture might be fulfilled; and the plan was entered into by the Son of God, knowing all the steps in his humiliation, that he must descend to make an expiation for the sins of a condemned, groaning world. What humility was this! It amazed angels. The tongue can never describe it; the imagination can not take it in. The eternal Word consented to be made flesh! God became man! It was a wonderful humility. {RH September 4, 1900, par. 6}

“I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” While as a member of the human family He was mortal, AS GOD HE WAS THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE FOR THE WORLD. HE COULD HAVE WITHSTOOD THE ADVANCES OF DEATH, AND REFUSED TO COME UNDER ITS DOMINION; BUT VOLUNTARILY HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE, that He might bring life and immortality to light. He bore the sin of the world, endured its curse, yielded up His life as a sacrifice, that men might not eternally die. “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6. {DA 484.1}

I have done a bit of research into titles/names as applied to the Father and Son exclusively and inclusively. While the Son has several Names or titles that are His alone which reveal His relationship to God and work with respect to the angelic host and/or mankind (i.e. only begotten Son, Michael, Archangel, Prince, Captain of the host, Jesus, Lamb, Christ, Messiah etc,…) it does appears that the vast majority of appellations that belong to the Father also belong to His only begotten Son including “only true God” (see 6T 311.1) and “the self-existent One.” (see DA 469.5).

Truly the Two are so close and unified on so many levels that one can very easily understand why our trintiarian brethren have such a hard time distinguishing Them, with some even thinking they are One Being. Yet God the Father and His only begotten Son truly are Two Beings with distinct and separate form, personality and individuality. 

So, despite the inclusive sense and many shared titles/names (i.e. the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled Both) there does appear to be a few notable exceptions that help us maintain the exclusive sense (the Two-ness of Father and Son, if you will).  

Eugene Prewitt notes, and this is quite the surprising admission from a SDA trinitarian, there is an exclusive sense in which the Father alone is the one God. 

“My non-trinitarian friends are certainly right that there is only one God, the Father. (See John 17:2-3). The word God is used that way very many times in Scripture. And in those many cases it means “the ultimate executive of the universe.” So there is just one, and that is the Father.

 “(There is another sense to the word “God” that means simply “one with the attributes of Divinity.” That sense would include Jesus as you see in John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:8. And the Spirit is the third person of the “godhead” in that sense. That is why our bodies are temples to the Spirit.)

 “But we shouldn’t deny to our non-trinitarian friends the pleasure of showing us that there is One True God, again, in that ultimate sense. (Eugene Prewitt “The Godhead for Seventh-day Adventists)

I believe that the Son of God shares the title of Lord God Almighty along with the Father. The entire phrase is being put into the mouth of the Lord Jesus. While we could argue that this is simply the Son serving as a mouthpiece for the Father (i.e. it is the Son speaking on His behalf telling John what the Father says of Himself) I believe that this would be incorrect. As a second witness please consider this quote as well: 

“The crowning glory of Christ’s attributes was his holiness. THE ANGELS BOW BEFORE HIM IN ADORATION, EXCLAIMING, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. He is declared to be glorious in his holiness. Study the character of God. By beholding Christ, by seeking him in faith and prayer, you may become like him. {RH March 12, 1908, par. 4}

Here we see that angels bow before Christ in adoration exclaiming “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.” Now these are unfallen angels so there is no way that their worship is incorrect or that they are confused about the matter. Yet what do they worship the Son of God as? The answer is Lord God Almighty. 

Again we read: 

“But there is a picture of greater condescension than this: the Lord, THE SON OF THE INFINITE FATHER, He who styles Himself as the Faithful Witness, the First-begotten of the dead, the Prince of the kings of the earth, Him that loved us, Him that washed us from our sins in His own blood. HE SAYS, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, …WHICH IS, AND WHICH WAS, AND WHICH IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.[Revelation 1:8.] {Ms75-1886.11} 

I believe the correct solution here is that the only begotten Son of God has the titles of God (such as King of kings and Lord of lords or Lord God Almighty) by virtue of Divine inheritance. He is God’s established co-regent and is actually co-equal to Him. This is why He, in His full glory, is correctly referred to as Lord God Almighty right along with the Father.

I’m fairly certain that brother Prewitt (as a trinitarian) may not yet see that the Father is the ontological Father of preincarnate Christ, yet I think he has definitely taken a step in the correct direction with the admission above. Anyhow, I digress but I think it’s worth pointing this out because some in the SDA anti/non-trinitarian camp attack all SDA trinitarians when some of them are not far from the truth. 

Returning back to the issue of the title, and besides the “Almighty”, “Most High God” is another but fairly rare title in both the Bible and the Testimonies and I do not know of a single direct application of it to the Son of God. If anyone is going to apply it that way, then I’m fairly certain they would have to infer it. I would have to hear their argument before I could say “yea” or “nay” but I am very hesitant to support any inferred application. If it’s not directly there in inspiration (whether Scripture or EGW) then I won’t use it.

Also, to the best of my knowledge, the title of “God the Father” is never used when referring to the Son either. Finally, the expression “great Source of all,” without any disclaimers or modification, also appears to be used of the Father alone.

Nevertheless, even though the title of “Most High God” is not said directly of God’s Son we know that the only begotten of God was God essentially (which would mean by the constitution of His nature or in His essence) and in the highest. He is not a lesser or inferior God Being in comparison to His Father, no more so than I am a lesser or inferior human being in comparison to my father. 

“The world was made by him, “and without him was not anything made that was made.” If Christ made all things, he existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. {RH April 5, 1906, par. 6} 

Christ is NOT God Almighty (Father) in “personality” nor in “identity” (quantitatively) but He is God “Almighty” in the “highest sense” (qualitatively), equal in every way with the Father in respect to his divinity, substance or form. 

Conclusion: 

• Jesus is the Begotten of the Father and has received by inheritance the same substance/nature.
• He is the express image of His Person.
• Has received a more excellent name by inheritance.
• Has been given an exalted position, authority, and power as equal to the Father and yet still subject to the Father.
• This does not destroy the Father/ Son relationship for the Father is the great source of all even of Christ… they are two separate individuals and yet recognizing that Christ received all things from His Father. Christ is in essence the Father’s second-self.
• Because of sin, the Son of God acted in His Father’s stead-He acted as though He was the Father in the Old Testament.
• While the Father is primarily designated as the One God of the Bible in the exclusive sense, Christ acted as the One God of the Bible (in an inclusive sense) in order to bridge the gulf caused by sin.

“The Father then made known that it was ordained by Himself that Christ, His Son, should be equal with Himself; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out His will and His purposes but would do nothing of Himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in Him.”—Lift Him Up, p. 18

Note: “wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence.” 

“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON”

But didn’t the Father spoke to Christ directly during His baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration?

“And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” (Luke 9:35, Mk 9:7, Mt 17:5)

“And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11, Mt 3:17, Lk 3:22)

“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. AND THIS VOICE WHICH CAME FROM HEAVEN WE HEARD, when we were with him in the holy mount.” (2 Peter 1:17, 18)

“At the Saviour’s baptism, Satan was among the witnesses. He saw the Father’s glory overshadowing His Son. He heard the voice of Jehovah testifying to the divinity of Jesus. Ever since Adam’s sin, the human race had been cut off from direct communion with God; the intercourse between heaven and earth had been through Christ; but now that Jesus had come “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3), the Father Himself spoke. HE HAD BEFORE COMMUNICATED WITH HUMANITY THROUGH CHRIST; NOW HE COMMUNICATED WITH HUMANITY IN CHRIST. Satan had hoped that God’s abhorrence of evil would bring an eternal separation between heaven and earth. But now it was manifest that the connection between God and man had been restored.” DA 116.2

Note: “He had before communicated with humanity THROUGH Christ; now He communicated with humanity IN Christ.” 

“The world’s Redeemer was equal with God. His authority was as the authority of God. He declared that he had no existence separate from the Father. The authority by which he spoke, and wrought miracles, was expressly his own, yet he assures us that he and the Father are one.”—The Review and Herald, January 7, 1890, p. 1. {7ABC 439.1}

Just as a final note, here’s something to consider… As shown above, there are various statements of Christ designated as the Almighty or Jehovah, but whenever the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy uses the term, “Almighty” in the context of the Father and the Son being mentioned TOGETHER, without exception, the Father is consistently referred to as the Almighty Jehovah but never the Son: 

“JEHOVAH, OUR FATHER, AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST ARE ALONE TO BE EXALTED. The knowledge of God is eternal life to those who receive it. His holy banner is to stand elevated above all the greatness of the greatest men, above all the honor and glory of the world.” {Ms11-1898 (June 29, 1898) par. 11} – EGW 

“Christ declared, I have pledged myself, AS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, to carry out God’s plan to win souls from Satan.” {R&H, November 10, 1910}