There are four places in the KJ that state that WE are the sons of God. John 1:12, Romans 8:14, Phil. 2:15 and 1John 3:1.
Nowhere does it say that any angels are sons of God.

He's supposed to know everything Ellen White wrote by heart, or he's "unfamiliar with EGW"? That seems rather harsh. If you're familiar with her, it should be easy for you to answer his request, shouldn't it?



Maybe his idea is that she never said what is commonly thought. There are a lot of apocryphal EGW statements running around. I get misquoted all the time, and often ask for quotes regarding things I've said. Asking for evidence is a very reasonable request.



His idea may be that there is no such quote. He's addressing the issue by asking you to produce a quote.

There are places where the phrase cannot be referring to human beings. For example:

I understand the approval of Christ's sacrifice in Christ's first ascension was something just between Christ and the Father, whereas the approval in His second ascension was a public one, before all the universe. It seems to me the sheaf weaved at Passover represented Christ's resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20, 23), not the resurrection of this special group. And, finally, I don't believe the resurrected saints and Christ were in heaven during the 40 days. Trying to ascertain where they were is speculative, but the ascension of the resurrected saints is associated with Pentecost, and so with the second ascension of Christ. "Therefore He saith, 'When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men'" (Eph. 4:8). Both the biblical context and EGW make clear that the "gifts" mentioned here are the spiritual gifts showered upon Christians on Pentecost.

Rosangela,
I would like to know more about these 2 ascensions you wrote about:


In my reading I understood that when Christ arose, and a special group also was risen, that these represented the first fruits as represented in the Sanctuary Services.

If there is more to it I would like to know, it's been an interesting theme for me to study.
God Bless,
Will

These are interesting replies Rosangela, but they are variously, and in various degree, actually not exegetically, deeply rooted enough:



I do not see anything in the SOP, as presently organized/related, that describes what happened between Christ and God in the first ascension. So to say anything of that first ascension is only speculation. What I see described in EGW’s 40th-day ascension in DA 834.2 all speak of spiritual themes and elements that would have been needed to be approved at that first meeting, as they all focus on the triumph of Christ at the Cross.

Also, as related by EGW in that passage, the meeting with the Father in this vision took place in seclusion with the Father and was not a public one. It was only when this was approved, in seclusion, that Jesus reappeared before the awaiting “public”, not to be publically approved, but to receive the worship due to him, and also that these beings had, without any doubt or question, always wanted to give to him. So they were not at all first desiring to have a “public” approval done.



In saying “first fruit” and not actually “wave sheaf”, was Paul not actually saying that Jesus was the “wave sheaf” but simply a “first fruit of those who are asleep”. I.e., he may not have been making any connection to the Sanctuary “wave sheaf” symbology here even though he mentions the thematically linked “first fruit” term. Indeed/of course, not every time that the term “first fruit” is mentioned does it mean ‘the sanctuary’s “wave sheaf” symbol, but merely something that occurs first/as a prime example. (E.g., Rom 8:23; 11:16; 16:5; 1 Cor 16:15; James 1:18; Rev 14:4). Indeed the Law on this symbol in Lev 23:10 implies that many things could be associated with “first fruit” and so in that passage “sheafs” (Heb. “omer” = Greek (LXX) “dragma”; and simply is ‘a (handful) measurement’) had to be specified as what is understood as these “first fruits”.

EGW also pointedly apply this meaning to the resurrected saints: e.g., DA 834.2:



Notice also what EGW says of the wave sheaf in 1SM 306.4 (August 11, 1898):



It seems to me here that EGW was also saying that the wave sheaf symbol itself was an antitype of Jesus and that it came to have a fulfillment in those who were resurrected with him.



I’ve tried to avoid a Mormonic quip here, but where else would Christ and these saints be during these 40 days -preaching to Native Indians and transplanted Jews from Jeremiah’s time (supposedly) living in North America then???

EGW says that these resurrected saints were raised up and ascended upon Christ’s ascension:



They therefore would have been, and could only have been, on the earth until this ascension. Since, as stated priorly here EGW also says that they convinced people of the resurrection. Then, if they were doing this for 40 days, as it is strongly, and solely implied by the “ascending (from earth)” notion involving them then how did they not convince everyone in Israel of the resurrection, including the disciples earlier on??

Also, going around to unfallen worlds, if that is thought to be the case, would really futile since if His sacrifice was not yet approved of by the Father, indeed in the only way that it needed to, there was really not substantive “proof” that it was accepted and complete and parading these resurrected said to these other worlds would not be saying/showing anything definitive.



From what I’ve seen and as further shown below, that is merely from EGW’s understanding.



Paul’s statement here does not say that these “gifts”, indeed the Pentecost gifts, were immediately given to men. Indeed 10 more days passed between Christ’s final ascension and the outpouring of these Gifts to the Church. So that statement could just as easily apply to an understanding that ‘Jesus ascended (e.g., with his first ascension) and some time in the future (in this case 50 days later), these gifts were given to men.’

In Matt 28:16-20, which manifestly is the final ascension, Jesus tell his gathered disciples that:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” and he also accepted worship, as in prior times. However that does not seem to be in agreement with a claim that he refused to receive worship from the Angels just a few instances later when he ascended to heaven for the final time.

Indeed upon his resurrection, he had not merely told Mary no to detain him (John 20:17), but had actually refused for her to even begin to worship him. He had literally said, as exegetically shown, (see in this post): “I prohibit you to even begin to affectionately (= worshipfully (Matt 28:9)) cling to me. EGW points out that she was beginning then to adoringly lunge for his feet (DA 790). As EGW adds there:



This all shows to me that after that first ascension Christ had all the assurance and authority to no longer put off any worship of him.

Fair enough. God never told Ellen the door was shut or that Paul wrote Hebrews. Not everything she wrote was inspired by God. Again, she is clearly speaking for God when prefaced things with "I was shown", "I saw", "Said the angel", etc. For example:


Of course, there are many other ways in which we know she saw details not recorded in the Bible. For example:

Hi, Will. In the day Christ arose, He ascended to heaven and was there during some hours:

Jesus quickly ascended up to his Father to hear from his lips that he accepted the sacrifice, and that he had done all things well, and to receive all power in heaven, and upon earth, from his Father. {1SG 73.1}
Angels like a cloud surrounded the Son of God, and bid the everlasting gates be lifted up, that the King of glory might come in. I saw that while Jesus was with that bright, heavenly host, and in the presence of his Father, and the excellent glory of God surrounded him, he did not forget his poor disciples upon earth; but received power from his Father, that he might return unto them, and while with them impart power unto them. The same day he returned, and showed himself to his disciples. He suffered them then to touch him, for he had ascended to his Father, and had received power. {1SG 74.1}

And then He ascended a second time after 40 days (Acts 1:9).

Thanks Rosangela, I think I'm more confused and this is just due to my narrow understanding of something so wonderful, vast, and eternal as Jesus Christ's ministry, and eternal Glory

My confusion stems from looking at the Sanctuary Services as they pointed to Christ and how those services typified Christs ministry and resurrection, and I am confused if there is anything that points to that which would illustrate His ascension briefly right after He rose from the grave.
My purpose is to learn more, cause I don't doubt that He could have gone up briefly, anything is possible. However in considering comparing Scripture upon Scripture, it would really help me.
God Bless,
Will

In the DA quote above she clearly says that on Sunday Jesus was raised from the grave, spoke to Mary, ascended to heaven, met with the Father, returned to earth, and met with His disciples.


In the quotations above Ellen makes it clear "the multitude of captives" Jesus raised on Sunday ascended to heaven with Him 40 days later.


In the quotes above she makes it clear Jesus, not the people who were raised with Him, is the first fruits of the wave sheaf.