WARNING ! Any One! ... thinking to acquire truthful scriptural understanding from people like @Dino246 & @GWH, et.al. should "test their spirits" first, as to which of the two spirits in the world, God's Holy Spirit, OR Satan's anti-Christ spirit, ... WHO are these people representing ? Who are the False Prophets ?
Testing the spirits is a vital necessity, especially in these end times, paralleling the days of Noah. Because Satan works through deception and false prophets, God has provided clear, infallible Biblical tests to determine whether a spirit or a prophet is truly from Him.
Here are the primary Biblical tests to "test the spirits":
1. Harmony with the Word of God (Isaiah 8:20)
Summary Conclusion; Ellen White warned that in the final days, Satan would perform miracles and even appear as an angel of light to deceive, "if it were possible, the very elect" (Matthew 24:24, KJV). Therefore, Adventist pioneers firmly established that we cannot rely on feelings, signs, or miracles to test a spirit. Miracles can be counterfeited by demonic forces (Revelation 16:14).
The only safe safeguard is the Word of God. When a spirit or prophet arises, their message must be laid alongside the KJV Bible. If they do not point to the righteousness of Christ, His Obedience to the Father, if they do not lead to keeping the commandments of God, and if they contradict "the law and the testimony," they must be rejected as false.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ~~ Blessed Sabbath Folks ~~ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That is excellent advice for participants on CC, so thanks for posting it. "Testing the spirits" (1Thes. 5:21) is the starting point of my hermeneutic also. And yes, the choice is binary: "
God's Holy Spirit, OR Satan's anti-Christ spirit". I agree that the test consists of comparing what people say with Biblical texts.
However, instead of Isa. 8:20, I prefer the following as key points from which to triangulate or use to guide interpretation of the Scripture, especially problematic statements:
First, God loves and wants to save everyone. Scriptures teaching divine omnilove include: John 3:16, 1John 4:7-12, Rom. 5:8, Matt. 5:44&48, Gal. 5:6&14, Eph. 3:17b-19, Eph. 5:2 and 1Tim. 2:3-4. Christ died to show God’s love and the possible salvation of all including His enemies, the ungodly, atheist, and anti-Christ (Rom. 5:6-8).
Second, God is just (2Thes. 1:6a, cf. Rom. 3:25-26 & 9:14, Deut. 32:4, Psa. 36:6, Luke 11:42, Rev. 15:3). Explanations of God’s Word should not impugn God’s justice and love for all people (Joel 2:13, John 3:16). This parameter is affirmed in the OT (Psa. 145:17): “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
Even the wrath of God is an expression of His love and justice. The writer of Hebrews (Heb. 12:4-11) indicates that divine wrath is intended as discipline for the purpose of teaching people to repent of their hatefulness and faithlessness (Pro. 3:12, Isa. 33:14-15 Rev. 3:19). If a righteous explanation cannot be found for a passage of Scripture purporting to describe God’s will (such as Josh. 6:17-24, 8:2&24 & 10:28-40, 11:6-23), then it should be considered as historical or descriptive of what people perceived rather than as pedagogical or prescriptive of God’s nature. Unrighteous rage should not be attributed to God.
Regarding the Ten Commandments, Christians cite the new command of Christ as fulfilling all OT moral commands (John 13:35, Matt. 22:37-40, Gal. 5:6), as John teaches in 1John 4:1-3 & 7-21.
Regarding Christ, I understand His Gospel as including the following:
1. There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or God (Deut. 6:4, John 3:16, 2Thes. 1:6), who is both able (2Tim. 1:12) and willing (1Tim. 2:3-4, Ezek. 33:11) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
2. Human beings are selfish or sinful (Rom. 3:23, 2Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5), miserable (Gal. 5:19-21), and hopeless (Eph. 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (Matt. 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (John 3:18, Rom. 2:5-11).
3. Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Phil. 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (Rom. 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1Cor. 15:14-28).
4. Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God’s justification in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (Luke 2:11, John 14:6, Acts 16:31), which means trying to obey (Phil. 3:12, 1John 1:8) His commandment to love one another (Matt. 22:37-40, John 13:35, Rom. 13:9)—forever (Matt. 10:22, Psa. 113:2).
5. Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with those who freely accept Him (Rev. 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven when by means of persevering in learning Truth/God’s Word/sanctification everyone cooperates fully with His will (John 14:6, 17&26, Rom. 8:6-17, Gal. 6:7-9, Eph. 1:13-14, Heb. 10:36, 12:1, Jam. 1:2-4).
Regarding Ellen White: I have no idea why you esteem her, but I do not disagree with most of what you quoted by her.
I agree that the "only safeguard" for testing the HS is GW, such as the two guiding teachings I cited at the beginning.
Now, I trust in the future you will include @Rob7 in the list of those whose spirit needs to be tested.