A Better Understanding of The Character of God

By Tom Stapleton

A pastoral, careful response to the teaching that God’s character is solely defined by love — and therefore that He has not and will not destroy. Tom Stapleton engages five interconnected false beliefs and shows where they go wrong.

A teaching has been gaining ground in some Adventist circles: that God is love, and only love — and therefore that He has never destroyed and never will. Satan does the destroying; God simply withdraws His protection. Even more troubling, this teaching ultimately denies that Yeshua’s death was a substitutionary payment for sin.

Tom Stapleton wrote this book in response. He sees the impulse behind the teaching — God is love — and he engages it with respect. But he also believes the teaching, followed to its conclusions, leads away from Scripture and away from the gospel itself.

This book takes five interconnected beliefs at the heart of the teaching and examines each one against the Word. It uses the Bible as the primary authority, and engages Ellen White’s writings where the proponents of the teaching cite her — showing that her own writings, read in full context, support the historic understanding rather than the new one.

If you’ve encountered this teaching, or you have a friend or family member who has, this book is a careful, gentle, scripturally rigorous response.

What you’ll explore in this book

• Why God’s character is revealed through all His doctrines, not solely through His love
• The proper translation of “thou shalt not kill” — and what God’s law actually forbids
• Whether Satan would destroy all life if given the opportunity
• The seven angels of Revelation 15 and 16 — God’s holy angels, not Satan’s
• The substitutionary nature of Yeshua’s death — and why this is the heart of the gospel
• How Ellen White’s own writings, read in full context, support the historic understanding
• Why a single doctrinal error often opens the door to greater error

Format

Available in two formats: 1) printed copy by mail, and 2) instant PDF download. Both formats include the same content. The soft cover ships from Canada — US and international readers, please allow extra time and shipping.

Want to know more before you decide?

Read more about the book here.

Bulk orders

Many readers want to share this book with friends or family who have encountered this teaching. Contact us about discounted suggested donations for larger quantities.

A note on suggested donations

All prices are suggested donations. We trust the Spirit to lead readers to give what they’re able. If the suggested amount is out of reach, give what you can — we’ll do our best to fill your order.