Ellen White comments on the Heavenly Parents

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Our Heavenly PARENTS

EGW in fullest context:"Your letters I have read with interest and sympathy. I would say your son now needs a father as he has never needed one before. He has erred; you know it, and he knows that you know it; and words that you would have spoken to him in his innocency with safety, and which would not have produced any bad results, would now seem like unkindness and be sharp as a knife.... I know that parents feel the shame of the wrongdoing of a child that has dishonored them very keenly, but does the erring one wound and bruise the heart of the earthly parent any more than we as the children of God bruise our heavenly Parent, who has given us and is still giving us His love, inviting us to return and repent of our sins and iniquities and He will pardon our transgression? {CG 266.1}

Do not withdraw your love now. That love and sympathy is needed now as never before. When others look with coldness and put the worst construction upon the misdeeds of your boy, should not the father and mother in pitying tenderness seek to guide his footsteps into safe paths? I do not know the character of your son’s sins, but I am safe in saying, whatever they may be, Let no comments from human lips, no pressure from human actions, of those who think they are doing justice, lead you to pursue a course which can be interpreted by your son that you feel too much mortified and dishonored to ever take him back into confidence and to forget his transgressions. Let nothing cause you to lose hope, nothing to cut off your love and tenderness for the erring one. Just because he is erring, he needs you, and he wants a father and a mother to help him to recover himself from the snare of Satan. Hold him fast by faith and love, and cling to the all-pitying Redeemer, remembering that he has One who has an interest in him, even above your own.... {CG 266.2}

ROB: Now dear readers can you see the poetry parallels such a message is making about our Heavenly Parents? How can we "bruise GOD our heavenly parent"?  Such a term "GOD" refers to Elohiym, a term meaning "divine family power".

EGW in fullest context: "If ye, then, being human and evil, “know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13. The Holy Spirit, the representative of Himself, is the greatest of all gifts. All “good things” are comprised in this. The Creator Himself can give us nothing greater, nothing better. When we beseech the Lord to pity us in our distress, and to guide us by His Holy Spirit, He will never turn away our prayer. It is possible even for a parent to turn away from his hungry child, but God can never reject the cry of the needy and longing heart. With what wonderful tenderness He has described His love! To those who in days of darkness feel that God is unmindful of them, this is the message from the Father’s heart: “Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:14-16. {MB 132.1}

ROB” Notice the poetry parallels, the earthly father to the Heavenly Father, and the woman never forgets her sucking child, to the Son who died on a Cross with your name engraved in the palms of His hands.

EGW: Oh, what amazing love and condescension! The Lord Jesus encourages His believing ones to ask for the Holy Spirit. By presenting the parental tenderness of God, He seeks to encourage faith in the reception of the gift. The heavenly Parent is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children. {YRP 284.3


ROB: Notice the twice repeated phrase with added words:


1) how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13.

2) The heavenly Parent is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.

Lu 11:13 .. how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Notice how the message from Ellen White declares the Heavenly Father , as a Heavenly Parent. If one member is a heavenly parent with a heavenly Son, it's logical as to whom the other parent is.

By the laws of association, the gift of the Holy Spirit must be the other heavenly Parent.


EGW fullest context: "Every blessing the Father has provided for those of more mature experience, has been provided for children and youth through Jesus Christ. When the Lord sees the youth studying the life and lessons of Christ, he gives his angels charge over them, to keep them in all their ways, as he gave his angels charge over Jesus, his beloved Son. The angels attended Jesus when he lived upon earth under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, doing his heavenly Father’s will, that he might give a correct sample of character, that might be an example to children and youth. He desired that, in every action of their lives, they should do those things of which God could approve. He knew that every good work, every deed of kindness, every act of obedience to father and mother, would be registered in the books of heaven. Those who honor their parents would reap a reward in the fulfilment of the promise that they should live long upon the land which the Lord their God giveth them. Children are to continue in well-doing, praying that through the merits of Jesus, the Lord will give them his grace, his mind, and his beauty of character. God has withheld no blessing that is necessary for shaping the character of children and youth after the divine pattern given them in the youth of Jesus. They are to ask for the graces of his character, in simple, trusting faith, and in the name of Jesus, just as a son asks a favor of his earthly parent. {YI August 23, 1894, par. 3}

ROB: Notice the richest blessings and the poetry pictures of the heavenly parents, the earthly parents and the example of Jesus show us what the Divine Family is like.

EGW: "Drawing the contrast between the heavenly and earthly parent, Christ adds, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” {20MR 198.4

ROB: Notice the poetry parallels and similes Mrs White is making. The term contrast implies both pictures are true and the functions of both pictures are also true.

EGW: "Trust in your Heavenly Father as a little child trusts its earthly parent, and you will be faithful, active children of God. .. Glorify God by trusting in Him. {Lt30-1893.


ROB: As the child trusts in the power of it’s earthly parents, so the child have have a living active faith trusting in the power of the heavenly Parents.  This is a simile or parallel.

EGW: "(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” [Verses 31, 32.] Listen to these precious, precious, assuring words. You see, it does not say God, but “your heavenly Father.” It places God in the relation of a tender, careful parent. “For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” If He has given us the gift of His precious Son, how much more will He not freely give us all things? Let us show that we will risk it. His word is pledged and we will believe Him. {Ms20-1894

ROB” Ellen White is firmly declaring the heavenly Father as a Heavenly Parent who cares.

EGW:” Fullest context” Let children obey their parents in every command that is right, but let parents and children both remember that God is the Father and the Owner of us all. If parents should ask their children to swear falsely, to steal, to bear false witness, to break the Sabbath, or to violate any other one of the ten commandments, they are not to obey. God has the first claim upon them. He is the heavenly Parent, the Creator and Redeemer of the whole human family. But if the children who are under age, are compelled to do things that are contrary to that which is plainly prescribed by the commandments of the Lord, then sin is charged to the parents and they will have to answer for their own sins and for causing their children to transgress. {Ms75-1895.}

ROB: Whom is "He" ? It must be Elohiym, the whole of the Divine Family power.

“Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” [Verses 2, 3.] How precious is this promise to all who obey the commandments of God. But parents should remember the part that they have to act in order that the child may fulfill God’s requirements. “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” [Verse 4.] But there are many parents who have no inclination to love and serve God, and yet as is often the case, some of the children are converted from sin to righteousness; but for such there is a continual, daily cross to bear, in conscientiously seeking to follow Jesus where he may lead them, and still obey their parents who refuse to obey our heavenly Father. Such a child or youth is placed where he needs help every moment in order that he may move wisely in the fear of God, and neither dishonor God nor disobey his parents. Satan will sometimes cause the father or the mother to think that their child belongs to them, both soul and body. They act as though they were sole proprietors of the child; but their children are the property of God, both by creation and by redemption. Under the inspiration of Satan, a wicked father or mother may do very strange things, and work enormous iniquity in seeking to compel the child to dishonor God. This is not a rare thing. But the child is in God’s world, eating the bounties that God’s providence has supplied, and his first duty is to honor God. The father or the mother may even turn the child from home, but however trying it might be, let him trust in his heavenly Father, whose claims to obedience cannot be evaded. The Lord will open ways for those who would do righteousness, in order that they may not practice iniquity. {Ms75-1895.}

Children are to obey God when the commands of their parents conflict with the commands of God, but none are at liberty to hate their parents. This would be expressly contrary to the requirements of the fifth commandment, and every Scripture must be interpreted in such a way as to harmonize with the plain commandments of God. The plain meaning of that which Jesus said is that we should respect his words as of superior authority to that of the words of father and mother, and unless we do this, we cannot be his disciples, “The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. {Ms75-1895

EGW: “Where it is the wife who is opposed by an unbelieving husband, she has to suffer the same disagreeable tantalizing temptations. The husband makes a continual effort to turn the wife from her loyalty to God. If the husband succeeds in his efforts, and is an efficient agent of the evil one, he will finally cause his wife to make a concession to his wishes in order to have peace. But does the attainment of his purpose bind his wife to him in stronger affection? No.

ROB: Notice the way Ellen White comments on the Evil one as The Opposer of GOD and His ways of Faith that empowers living.

EGW fullest context: "Parents who acknowledge the claims of God upon themselves and have brought their own will into subjection to the will of God, and are obedient children to their heavenly Parent, can much better teach their children the grace of submission. God-fearing parents may lead their children to regard God as their best Friend ready to help and bless them when they shall seek His favor. Such parents can teach by example as well as by precept the most precious lessons to their children. Parents who are learning daily in the school of Christ are taking important lessons in the way and manner of properly educating their children to practice self-denial, self-control, and obedience. {Ms 43, 1900, par. 33}

If a field is left uncultivated, a crop of noxious weeds is sure to appear which will be very difficult to exterminate. Then the soil must be worked and the weeds subdued before the precious plants can grow. Before these valuable plants can grow, the seed must first be carefully sown. If mothers neglect the sowing of the precious seed and then expect a harvest of precious grain, they will be disappointed, for they will reap briars and thorns. Satan is ever watching, prepared to sow seeds which will spring up and bear a plentiful harvest after his own satanic character. {Ms 43, 1900, par. 35}

In order to prevent Satan from doing his work, parents must preoccupy the soil. The mother especially must give thought and care in regard to the character of the seed which she places in the soil of the heart, or her reaping will be with bitterest regret. ... The work of the mother must commence at an early age, giving Satan no chance to control the minds and dispositions of their little ones. {Ms 43, 1900, par. 36}

It is positively essential that your children have a mother’s care. Whatever shall arise, her children are her first charge. She should avoid being a slave to her children, but should teach them every day to care for themselves. She should teach them lessons which will be beneficial in their future life. One precious lesson which the mother will need to repeat again and again is that the child is not to rule; he is not the master, but her will and her wishes are to be supreme. Thus she is teaching them self-control. Give them nothing for which they cry, even if your tender heart desires ever so much to do this, for if they gain the victory once by crying they will expect to do it again. The second time the battle will be more vehement. {Ms 43, 1900, par. 37}


In this way, the mother would bind up the child’s heart and happiness with her own. She is to them what God is to us. {Ms 43, 1900, par. 38


ROB: Notice the parallels between earthly parents and the Heavenly Parents.


Shalom

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Notice this quotation from my fellow SDA colleagues on the Heavenly Parent

In the beginning God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He desired a relationship with them, much like a parent feels toward their newborn baby. "https://www.adventist.org/father/"

The word "like" implies the SDA writers see the heavenly Parent only as a simile of an earthly parent.

Just like earthly parents need to lovingly discipline their children, God also disciplines His children.

The word "like" implies the SDA writers see the heavenly Parent disciplines humans like an earthly father might discipline his own children.


These are the only development of this theme among our SDA writers.

How much more does our Hebrew English translator develop the theme of a heavenly parent?


(1) "LOVE" "we as the children of God bruise our heavenly Parent, who has given us and is still giving us His love, ..{CG 266.1}

(2) "SALVATION" He is the heavenly Parent, the Creator and Redeemer of the whole human family. Ms75-1895.

(3) "GIVER" The heavenly Parent is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children. {YRP 284.3}

(4) "Heavenly Parents" We are required, by this commandment, to honor our parents, and we are unnatural children if we do not obey this precept. But if love and reverence are due our earthly parents how much more is reverence and love due our heavenly Parent. {ST February 28, 1878, par. 5

(5) "SUBMISSION" Parents who acknowledge the claims of God upon themselves and have brought their own will into subjection to the will of God, and are obedient children to their heavenly Parent, can much better teach their children the grace of submission.

Mrs White does not mention disciple as a theme for the heavenly parents, however she lists those above.

Now does this mean the use of similes is meant to be a fiction theme for Scripture, that similes do not function as true comparisons?

Ps 119:105 ¶ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

                                   and a light unto my path.

This prayer poem is arranged in blocks based on letters of Hebrew. Here we have NUN, the letter N meaning "over the nations" so this verse is based on human people.

It is a poetry parallel.

Word is a simile of light AND Word is a simile of Lamp.
Feet is a simile of path.

Here is another verse using more similes based on the same Hebrew words

Pr 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Commandments {simile} lamp
Law {simile} light
Instruction {simile} life

Let's combine what is declared.

Light and lamp are similes of the Word,
Bit more specifically the law is light and instructions are life.

If we assume like my Adventist people might say, the similes are just fiction themes, not real comparisons or similes of real things. If we go with this idea, poetry becomes meaning less.

Consider this simile

Pr 1:8 My son, hear the instruction   of thy father, 

         and forsake    not the law        of thy mother:

Instruction {simile} father {simile} life
Law (teaching) {simile} light {simile} word

We could consider the Teachings as a whole as Jews do and say all the teachings are important.

Or we could consider the Moral laws and Ceremonial Laws as different, for as the Scriptures teach the Father's moral laws are instructions of faith, while the teachings are the Mothers laws of salvation. But because these are based on similes, we assume the function similes of a mother are fiction or imagination.

Is this how we should consider poetry similes is Scripture?

For example humans are similes of trees. Does this mean this is just some fiction? Or are humans functioning as trees as the Bible declares? How far or not far can we take similes? Well that depends upon the poetry simile.

Another example is bread dough and fighting is the same basic word meaning. Strange? Yes but when you make bread dough and knead the dough you really do punch and fight with the dough, hence the simile is real, was real to the Hebrew people.

So is the famous poetry simile of "rain bread". Both pictures are real and embedded with poetry pictures of faith concepts of God's power to His people. The problem is we consider the poetry as fiction and dismiss the comparisons and miss the true intension.

Here is a poem I wrote as a youth way back in 1978, some 40 years ago :

(39) Life is a rewarding experience,
When shared.
A mother loves a child, a mother cares,
Life is a rewarding experience
When shared.
A singer sings to one only, someone who cares,
Life is a rewarding experience,
When shared.
Two couples love to experience together,
Two couples share,
Each to each other the qualities of life,
Life is a rewarding experience,
Where experience is shared.

Question: Did the Author intend the similes here to be fiction comparisons, or real comparisons?

(164) One day a mother will age
But she will not grow old,
Her life is like a page,
From which her love is told,
Records of seeds sown,
Patterns of children grown,
Places where she has failed,
Times when grace triumphed.
She scattered his seed,
And many have grown,
Some on rocky soil,
Only to pass away from turmoil,
Some on weedy ground,
Choked by pleasant sound.
And some fell into good soil,
Where fruit did toil.
But a Mother did her best,
Now time has come for her to rest,
Her children carry on her work,
A mother's work is never done,
Till God doth take her from the sun,
One day, a mother will die,
Surely I will cry,
For my life's force just died.
No one knows her mother,
Than her children,
No one knows a fruit,
Than those who formed it.
Through her you were blessed,
Now has come time to rest. Amen


ROB:"Here is another poem written by a youth 40 years ago, about the Holy Spirit functioning as the Heavenly Mother, a simile of my earthly Mum, who also did her best with her own earthly children. A tribute to my Mum, now passed away.

Question: is the similes here meant to be fiction or real?

Who is the Mother here in Scripture?


Ps 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.(KJV)

I present to readers the King James Version unchanged and translated nicely. Who is this God where Jesus was cast upon from the womb from my mother's belly?

One cannot say Mary, for Mary was never a God, and the KJV translate the Hebrew correctly. Is this another example of similes or metaphors, a fancy word for big similes talking about themes of fiction?

I have never met a Poetry writer who writes similes as fiction.

Is the verse only saying "thou art my God" while I was upon my earthly mother Mary? so we whittle away the simile?


Ps 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

Here is more of the context. The LORD must be the Father-YHWH, who delivers His Son Jesus, as a fetus inside the womb of Mary?
Later Jesus is a babe upon His earthly mother's breast. Mary. Is this all the simile is?

If the Father is the only Strong Authority referenced here, why does the Hebrew use "el" rather than not use "eloah" ?
More importantly why doesn't the Hebrew use "shadday", instead the reference for verse 10 is "el".

Is the Divine Author intentionally hiding the Hebrew from casual readers?

Once a fellow SDA scholar say things in the Bible should be clearly stated with lots of clear Bible statements? Really?

What does Scripture say of Bible themes?

Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

More similes. Strong drink and vomit are very powerful similes. So is this fiction too?

Isa 28:9 ¶ Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

This is about how the Bible teaches how the Bible is supposed to be read. Notice the simile of milk and breasts.

Let me guess, another fiction theme, not real.

Doesn't a baby begin on milk from earthly mothers?
Does the human live on the living powers from divine mothers, first in simple doses?
Isn't the breath of life a power from the Father carried inside is us as the medium of the Holy Spirit? A simile of a Heavenly Mother?

Or is the Author carrying this simile too far? Its a fiction theme? A poetry fiction theme?

Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

Why is the Bible sealed and the readers sealed with a deep sleep?

Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

So the learn of the Scriptures from those of traditions and precepts of men, not from the Inspiration of the Lord.

Isa 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent

Why is this simile mentioned in this huge theme on how the Bible teaches the Bible should be read? Who is the fiery flying serpent?


Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

We do not intend to be rebellious, or are we ignorant, trapped by the serpents deception of the fuzzy translations. Does not the Scripture teach we have fuzzy translations?

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Yes the Scriptures do teach this, another tongue is prophesied here, First Greek now English.

Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Who is this Divine Being who speaks inside of us?

Isa 31:5 As birds flying,

Here is a clue

Isa 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind

Another clue

Isa 32:9 ¶ Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

Even more a clue, yet a simile we ignore..

Isa 32:20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters,

Another clue - So Who is a Divine Being, that is a simile of a bird, wind, water and women? So are all these similes mere fiction, or real comparisons of function, about a Divine Being?

Isa 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

As so we ignore the similes a different Divine Being? who is termed YHWH-Jesus? The "cela" rock mentioned here, the "bread" from heaven? His waters that are sure also mentioned? As these similes also fiction, and not real comparisons of function?

If these poetry similes of Jesus-YHWH are just fiction, why does Paul speak of them

1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

In Greek the word rock is "petra" , in Hebrew the rock is "cela".

1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Here PAUL quotes the OT, so we have

Ex 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Ex 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

The rock mentioned here us tsuwr, the flint rock, a simile of the Father.

IN greater detail we find this

Ps 78:15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

Here is mentioned the tsuwr rock and the cela rock. One rock, the cela rock sits upon the foundation flint rock. but only the foundation rock is mentioned mostly.

Here is a picture of this enormous cela rock of Jesus, a simile of a real rock.

This Cela Rock is 5 stories high, Photographed in Jordan by Dr Kim Young, a doctor to the Jordan Leaders, and sits upon the Father foundation rock, from which the deeper water flowed, heaps of it, after Moses showed faith in the simile, and spoke to the rock. Do we suppose that a literal 5 story rock never followed Israel, or do we suppose as similes are, that a real powerful Being followed Israel, who is functionally like a 5 story rock that sits all the while upon the great Foundation Rock? Similes make comparisons of real things to other real things, to help us understand Divine things, or other things not easily understood.

Isa 33:19 ... a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.


We are back to the beginning of this long poetry simile about how the Scriptures is read?

Isa 33:20 .... neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.

Cords are similes of faith...

Isa 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

Who is this? Has to be Jesus-YHWH.

Poetry is hard to fathom? Maybe, maybe not. All see the similes differently and this add fun and flavor to the poem
We are allowed to see things differently in similes.

But the comparisons that are made are real, similes point to real comparisons.

The word is a light for our living, we see the way in our living by the word, that makes the living light instead of darkness.

When we say the words of GOD, the power behind those words come alive and do works of God in us because we invite God to do those works of righteousness because we wish to be straight instead of being crooked in your walking before God. This process is termed faith and works, His powers and His works are appropriated to us, a term Ellen White uses to refer to the way the Divine communes with us in a yoked relationship only by your invitation.

Shalom