Emergent Theology and The Omega of Heresies

by Adam Hendron

Ellen White’s 1904 prophecy regarding “the omega of heresies” appears to be fulfilled in today’s Emerging Church movement. This blossoming belief system was just budding in her day, with a new theory that the seer of Seventh-day Adventism identified as the “alpha of deadly heresies.” (Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet; omega is the last.) “The omega will follow,” she said, “and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given.”¹

With chills of foreboding, Mrs. White heard a lecturer: “The subject upon which he was speaking was life, and the relation of God to all living things. In his presentation he cloaked the matter somewhat, but in reality he was presenting scientific theories which are akin to pantheism.”² 

Pantheism is the idea that God is everything. Emergent theology teaches something akin to this, called panentheism—the idea that God is in everything. “God is enfolded in the world, so he has to be unfolded, and that’s where you get the concept of emergence.” So teaches Emergent leader Jürgen Moltmann, as summarized in the video, “Quantum Lie.” 

Jesus says, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,” Revelation 3:20.  But the new theology says Christ is already built into us; we just need to tease him out. “Part of the goodness of Creation is an inherent potential to generate new possibilities so that more and more goodness can emerge.”³

While he doesn't come out and call it “panentheism,” Emergent leader Rob Bell indeed uses scientific theories to cloak this heresy, just as the prophet described.  In his “Everything is Spiritual” lecture, Bell sees God in sub-atomic particles. The Mars Hill pastor says quantum physicists are finding that “the universe at its core made up of some sort of relational energy.” All matter, that is, contains some of its Creator. 

The Bible says Christ is Creator.⁴  It also says that Jesus will make his abode only in those who keeps his words.⁵  “Many will depart from the faith,” White warned, “giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature.” Startling it is, to see that only a century later, a foundational tenet of Christianity—the need to invite Jesus into your heart—has been eliminated.

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¹ First Selected Messages, p. 200
² Fifth Manuscript Release, p. 375
³ The Language of the Emerging Church, p. 109
⁴ Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17
⁵ John 14:23