Unequally Yoked
WHO IS AN UNBELIEVER?
The Bible (2Corinthians 6:14-18) forbids associations with “unbelievers” in all spheres of life “that give undue influence to those who do not love God over those who profess His name” or “where the worldly element can have a prevailing influence over believers”. (See MANUSCRIPT RELEASES, Vol. 8, p. 107.2-108.1) This principle apparently touches on such matters as courtship and marriage. “Marriage between believers and unbelievers is forbidden by God (THE ADVENTIST HOME, p. 63.)” But, to be more explicit, who is an unbeliever?
Giving counsel to a young lady who intended to marry an “unbeliever” Mrs. White advises, “Though the companion of your choice were in all other respects worthy (which he is not), yet he has not accepted the truth for this time; he is an unbeliever, and you are forbidden of heaven to unite yourself with him (LETTERS TO YOUNG LOVERS, p. 87).”
Writing along similar lines, Mrs. White gives the following counsel , “The unbelieving may possess an excellent moral character, but the fact that he or she has not answered to the claims of God and has neglected so great salvation is sufficient reason why such a union should not be consummated. The character of the unbelieving may be similar to that of the young man to whom Jesus addressed the words, ‘One thing thou lackest’; that was the one thing needful {THE ADVENTIST HOME, p.63}.”
According to the passages above, not answering to God’s claims and neglecting His great salvation, is to not accept the truth for this time and vice versa. Thus, an unbeliever is one who has not answered to the claims of God and has neglected [His] great salvation by not accepting the truth for this time.
So, what is the truth for this time? According to COUNSELS ON HEALTH (p. 516) the truth for this time “embraces the whole gospel”, this constitutes of among others “the proclamation of the third angel’s message (p. 518).” The third angel’s message, moreover, “[embraces] the messages of the first and second angels (EVANGELISM, p. 196.)” Mrs. White writes, “The third angel's message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels, is the message for this time (COUNSELS ON HEALTH, p. 357).”
Thus, we can infer that an unbeliever is one who “has not answered to the claims of God and has neglected [His] great salvation by not accepting “the truth for this time” that “embraces the whole gospel” which is also “the proclamation of the third angel's message” that in turn “[embraces] the messages of the first and second angels.”
Therefore, to be more specific, we can conclude that an unbeliever is one who has not accepted the light of the three angels’ message of Revelation 14: 6-12, especially as embraced in the third angel’s message (verse 9-12), or one who has not accepted teachings of the Bible as covered by the message of these angels. (It is highly significant to know what this message entails.)
REFERENCES:
1. COUNSELS ON HEALTH, p. 357, 516, 518.
2. EVANGELISM, p. 196.
3. LETTERS TO YOUNG LOVERS, p. 87.
4. MANUSCRIPT RELEASES, Vol. 8, pp. 107-8.
5. THE ADVENTIST HOME, p. 63.
