With the pantheistic theories of John Harvey Kellogg as the prototype of the great and deadly heresy to come into the church at the end-time, I’d like to explore how certain ideas already present in Adventism might mutate into equally scientific and pantheistic sophistries akin to Kellogg’s pantheism.

Let’s start with the idea that “God does not kill” as some Seventh-day Adventists teach it. In what follows, I’ll be purposely distorting this new but popular belief by mutating it into truly pantheistic expressions. Let’s discuss these strange strains. Are they truly pantheistic expressions? Could they fulfill the omega prophecy? Obviously, the true omega heresy will be one of the most subtle delusions to ever captivate the minds of men. How might we modify our overtly pantheistic simplicities to make them charming sophistries: - subtle, deceptive, but pantheistic nonetheless? (I’m not suggesting that we manufacture the omega heresy but that to understand and be aware of the danger is to be alert to the forms it could take).

Consider this brief but imaginary collection of myths:

The true Power that determines our destiny and that we must fear is Natural Force. We are sinful creatures and there are natural consequences to sin. God the Father is a mediator, restraining the power of this Great Force, and one day the Father’s mediatorial work will stop. If we fail to come into harmony with Nature and Nature’s Law before the close of probationary time, then we will be destroyed by Natural Force at the final judgment.

Version 2

Our kind and loving heavenly Father has nothing to do with executing judgment on sin. Sin is dealt with, but only because the natural consequences of sin arise from a process of forces outside of God. Thus, when it appears that God is executing judgment on sin, He’s really not. He is simply removing His protection and thus only allowing sinners to be destroyed by sin itself. Hence God does not punish the sinner. God is simply permitting nature to do His unholy and strange work.

Just so everyone understands this new pantheism, let’s illustrate the pantheism. Here are my preliminary questions.

A myth asserts that God will not punish the wicked or make them undergo any kind of suffering: It would be a monstrous evil for Him to do so. If nature does all this, then it’s OK. How is this not exalting nature above God?

Is God above nature? If God can prevent the natural consequences of sin from working, why doesn’t He? If the natural consequences of sin didn’t work, would God be obligated to impose punishment for sin? Would it be the exact same punishment?

Please explain why God is cruel for punishing the transgressor of His Law but innocent if He simply allows the natural consequences to take over. How can God’s Law be Holy and God’s execution of His own Law be unholy? Is God the God of nature, and therefore above nature, or are you some kind of pantheist?

Pantheism removes God from His rightful position of sovereignty. It attacks the character of God, His honor, His greatness, His majesty! Do you think God is happy with that?

God is a judge and in the final judgment He will judge according to deeds (Da 7:9,10; Mt. 12:33-37, 18:21-35, 25:14-46; Jn. 5:28-29; Rom. 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 2:23, 20:12,13, 22:12). It’s kind of pointless, don’t you think, that God would judge the world (i.e. make an assessment) but then do nothing about it?

All those who hate God love death (Prov. 8:36). What kind of a God would refuse to kill the wicked and not grant them the desires of their heart?

If I pull back on a bowstring knowing that if I let go, an arrow will eject at high velocity and pierce your heart, and if I do so and you die instantly, did I kill you? Or is your death purely natural, due to the elastic kinetic energy of the bow delivered to the bowstring via tension, which is thereby imparted to the arrow via contact acceleration? Am I innocent because it takes zero energy to release a “taut” string? Would it help if I were to cry, “How can I give you up, How can I let you go?”